Greetings and salutations! This month, the door is opening to spring and St. Patrick’s Day. As we continue to strive to serve our Veterans and community, we would like to invite you to join the Sons for a fundraising Catfish & Chicken Fry on March 15. Also, mark your calendars for April 13, as the […]
Jeff Yocum Prologue Observations from the Woodpile” is a collection of essays bundled together and given as a birthday present for my wife, Nancy, in 1997. Twenty-seven years have passed since the collection was given. The two main subjects of the essays, my sons Justus and Jacob, have grown into men with families of their […]
Prostatitis Inflammation of the Prostate Prostatitis is a frequently painful condition that involves inflammation of the prostate and sometimes the areas around the prostate. Scientists have identified four types of prostatitis: Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Acute bacterial prostatitis. Chronic bacterial prostatitis. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. Men with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis do not have […]
by Kristen Bodmer Winter has brought us some crazy weather this year. We have had to close a few times due to bad weather. We want to keep all of our seniors safe. If you weren’t able to make it in last month, make a plan to come on in this month. I know you […]
BY Caitlyn Kirby Last month, the Emmitsburg 50+ Center (a.k.a Senior Center) had many exciting and engaging programs! The highlight of the month was definitely the Valentine’s Day Lunch, featuring Elvis Tribute Artist Taylor Brown. Everyone enjoyed singing and dancing along to the classic hits of Elvis. We also enjoyed a history presentation by The […]
The Changing Landscape of Relationships February is here, and love is in the air! As Valentine’s Day approaches, restaurants will fill with couples enjoying romantic dinners, while florists will scramble to deliver beautiful bouquets. But have you ever wondered how couples first meet? Well, not surprisingly, the way people meet the love of their lives […]
By JEFF YOCUM It was the night before Christmas / And all through the house / Not a creature was stirring / But for the guy crying, “OUCH”! That guy was me, and I was having the first, real medical emergency of my 70-year life. Getting up from bed to go to the bathroom, I […]
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Streetlight Replacement Approved The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners approved a bid from Catoctin Lighting to replace 114 streetlights in the Pleasant Acres and Bennett Estates subdivisions with LED streetlights. The cost of the contract is $48,564 and is funded by a grant from the Maryland Smart Energy Communities Grant. The […]
Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird Can you believe that it’s February already? The winter has been hitting us pretty hard with the snowfall and freezing temperatures; hopefully, it will warm up a little for us. When the temperatures drop, please watch family, friends, and neighbors to ensure they are safe and warm. Make sure your outdoor […]
Chesapeake Bay: 2006 Richard D. L. Fulton On May 27, 2006, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a set of 39-cent stamps commemorating Wonders of America, one of which focused on the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Stamp depicted a blue heron flying within a background of a sunset over the Chesapeake Bay and a […]
James Rada Jr. Instead of feeling rushed to get a nutritious meal on the table or spending a small fortune eating out, many people are using a meal delivery service. Thurmont has its own service delivering delicious meals like Balsamic Pork Tenderloin with Cauli-Mash and Brussels Sprouts, Grandpa’s Maryland Crab Soup, and Steak Tips with […]
Alisha Yocum As her craft space in her basement started overflowing, Stephanie Fish of Westminster knew it was the right time to take her hobby to the next level! “Growing up, my mom was very crafty,” Fish said. As a child, she spent many hours doing crafts, decorating for the holidays, and wrapping gifts with […]
Taneytown’s Rainbow Roller Rink by Richard D. L. Fulton Taneytown’s Rainbow Roller Rink, located in Big Pipe Creek Park in Taneytown, was in operation from 1940 until eventually closing its doors sometime in the 1970s. The building that housed the rink was specifically located at 3939 Old Taneytown Road. The address of the site is […]
Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry Recently, while browsing in one of my favorite thrift shops, I found a 2007 cookbook. The cover signified that it was written in celebration of the 275th Anniversary of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Creagerstown. Along with the wonderful recipes, there was the following interesting story about a flagon, a […]
The following are the statuses of new businesses and developments coming to Emmitsburg from the town planner’s report: Federal Stone (Creamery Road, east side of U.S. 15) — Under construction. Recent activities include installation of overhead doors and storefront windows, framing of interior office walls, and completion of most of the concrete slabs and masonry […]
Alisha Yocum Thurmont resident, Lousie Schafer, had an idea to inspire kindness throughout the town of Thurmont, her idea being to spread kindness and joy through rock painting and creating several “Be Kind” rock gardens throughout the town of Thurmont. With Kindness Day approaching on February 17, Schafer approached the town with her idea to […]
Each year, The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) holds an annual event to recognize the accomplishments of those who advocate on behalf of rural communities in Maryland. “It was a true privilege to meet and honor our Rural Community Advocates, each of whom exemplifies the spirit of service and dedication. Their work uplifts entire communities and […]
Lion Ruth Heaney Here is a trivia question: How many national parks are in the United States with “national parks” in their title? Answer: There are 63 national parks with “national parks” in their titles. Here is another trivia question: How many national park sites are in the United States? Answer: There are 433 national […]
Members of Squadron 239 Sons of the American Legion in Cascade visited Heroes Ridge at Raven Rock to present a donation to Operation Second Chance on Saturday, January 10. Squadron 239 is very active in the community, annually raising more than $50,000 to donate to Veterans and various community organizations. To raise this money, the […]
Inspired by Lousie and the “Be Kind, Inspire Thurmont” campaign, The Catoctin Banner will be doing random acts of kindness (RAOK) throughout the month of February. If you are the recipient of one of our RAOK, we simply ask that you pay it forward and complete an act of kindness for someone else. Our goal […]
Controversial Dollar General Approved for Site Near Fort Ritchie Challenged In Ongoing Court Appeals Geraldine Otremba, Cascade Resident, on Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain Background In August 2022, the Washington County Zoning Board voted 4-1 to approve a new Dollar General Market at 14413 McAfee Hill Road, granting to Outdoor Contractors Inc. […]
The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) has announced a grant-funding opportunity, the Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grant (MVAPG), to encourage Maryland’s agricultural producers to engage in value-added activities and pursue financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grants Program (USDA-VAPG). The USDA-VAPG is a highly competitive nationwide grant program […]
July 11, 1936 – December 29, 2024 Harold “Dick” Bittner of Thurmont died December 29, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born at home on July 11, 1936, in Lantz (now Sabillasville), Maryland, to the late Harold A. and Helen E. (Miller) Bittner. He was 88. He is survived by his […]
Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry Excerpted from a 1979 article in The Record Herald, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Nearly four decades ago (before 1979), an innocent–looking radio shop in Waynesboro turned out to be the front for the leader of a gang of bank robbers. It put the town of Waynesboro in the headlines and cost the […]
Richard D. L. Fulton The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (or more simply referred to as being the B&O) traces its origins back to Baltimore’s economic struggles, which the port city had faced in the mid-to-late 1820s. Prior to that time, the port city had thrived on engaging in exporting and importing, actually since the founding […]