Alisha Yocum Each year, Frederick County Public Schools holds a celebration to honor students who exemplify the leadership and character traits shown by Martin Luther King, Jr. Those characteristics include responsibility, caring, fairness, trustworthiness, citizenship, and respect. King was a visionary leader whose unwavering commitment to justice and equality shaped the course of history. The […]
Thurmont’s Masonic Lodge Offering Three Scholarship Awards Since 1995, Thurmont Masons have awarded scholarships worth over $100,000 to area students! Scholarships are available to all graduating high school level seniors from a Maryland State accredited public, private, and/or homeschool program who reside within the Catoctin High School district boundaries, as per the Frederick County Public […]
by Daniel Hoyle, CHS Student Writer Moving to Frederick CountyI was born in Westminster, a short 40-minute drive from Thurmont. I lived in Hampstead for the majority of my formative years. While the distance between the two may appear short, the cultures between the two couldn’t be more different to me. My grandparents own the […]
Alisha Yocum All the schools in the Catoctin High School (CHS) feeder pattern came together for a Community Night on January 28 at CHS. This annual tradition is supported by the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) of CHS, Emmitsburg Elementary, Sabillasville Environmental School, Thurmont Middle, Thurmont Primary, and Thurmont Elementary. During the event, […]
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. THE CLASS OF ‘16 3: The First To Fall Brian Peyton’s eyes followed his former classmate, Thomas Hardcastle, as he hurried from the 10-year reunion of the Catoctin High School Class of 2016. Thomas’ complexion was pale, and Brian couldn’t help but wonder […]
by Mitchell Tester, College Student It’s cold out tonight. I open the slide door, and the frigid air hits me as I walk out my back door, telescope in hand. I make my way over to the table and set down the piece of equipment. I adjust it up to what appears as a bright […]
Love and Money by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP®, Partner, Bestgate Advisors February is the month of love, a time when hearts and chocolates take center stage. But amidst the romance, there’s one topic that often gets overlooked: Money. For many couples, money can be a source of tension, misunderstandings, and even conflict. However, it can […]
February 1925, 100 Years Ago Warrant 2 Years Old Causes Arrest After a search extending for nearly two years, James Spear, about 30, formerly a Frederick lunchroom proprietor, was arrested on Saturday by County Constable Charles W. Smith on a warrant charging him with assault with intent to kill. The charge against Spear is the […]
By James Rada, Jr. Famous Inventor Dies in Waynesboro Peter Geiser could have been the patron saint of farmers in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. He made farmers’ lives easier and brought prosperity to Waynesboro. When Geiser died in 1901, both mourned his passing. “In the home from which he often looked over the town he had done […]
MICHEL TESTER Love is a Verb I LOVE YOU. Three powerful words. Yet, the truth is, they are just that, words, unless they are followed up by actions. Love is a verb. It requires doing. The fact is that nothing truly worth having is ever without effort and sacrifice. There are many types of love. […]
Maxine Troxell Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Goulash recipe is a classic meal that has been passed down through generations. There’s nothing quite like a big pot of grandma’s goulash simmering on the stove on a cold winter evening. The rich, hearty flavors are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. And best of all, this dish is […]
by Buck Reed The Pleasures of Pickling Pickling likely originated in 2400 BCE in Mesopotamia using vegetables stored in vinegar. Making vinegar itself can be considered a culinary art form, but using it to flavor and preserve a food product would be considered the masterpiece. I actually feel bad for people who do not eat […]
by Richard D. L. Fulton Cpl. Kenneth H. McGrew Saved by a Harmonica Kenneth McGrew (pictured right) of Woodsboro was born on October 12, 1924, in Fairpoint, Ohio, to parents Pinkney Ellis and Etta Mae Hepner McGrew. He died at age 85 on October 20, 2009, at the Glade Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in […]
with Michael Betteridge Over the past 13 years, the average snowfall in our area has been 22 inches per year. In the 2022-2023 snow season, we received two inches of snow for the entire year. Last winter season, our total was 16 inches. In the past three years, we have received 33.1 inches of snow. […]
American Legion Post 168, Thurmont On January 12, 2025, we had our first Junior Auxiliary members gathering in a very long time. The Auxiliary and the Juniors worked together to make “No Sew/Knotted” blankets for two very good causes. One, a homeless shelter based in Frederick County that right now is a home to six […]
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 […]
Gut-Brain Connection What Is It & How To Support It by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center You’ve probably used the phrases: “I have butterflies in my stomach,” “I have a gut feeling about this,” and “There’s a pit in my stomach.” Have you ever wondered why so many of these […]
by Kristen Bodmer Winter has set in, but don’t let the cold weather get you down. Come in and spend some time with us, warming up with good coffee, tea, and fellowship. February is full of activities. Call the center or check online to get an updated calendar for our lunches and activities for this […]
BY Caitlyn Kirby January was a cold one, but we were still able to stay warm and have fun indoors! In January, we beat the winter blues with our lunch bunch, a time to talk and laugh with friends. We were able to relax during chair yoga class, get creative in the stained-glass lab, and […]
How Hunting Sustains Tradition, Nature, and FamiliesAlisha Yocum When I took over the newspaper a year ago, one of the most common questions I heard was, “Are you bringing back the deer hunting photos?” For years, this was a regular feature in The Catoctin Banner. Why is it so important? Hunting has been a time-honored […]
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Simmers Property Annexation Proposal Cross & Company, LLC recently reintroduced a new annexation plan for the Simmers Property at 304 Apples Church Road. Nearly 8 acres of the 24.5-acre property is already within the town property. The property was previously presented for annexation in 2022 and was denied at a […]
Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird Wow, here we are in 2025—it seems time goes by faster every year! Karen and I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas. Spending time with friends and family makes for very special times and memories. We also want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! We both hope the new year […]
Maryland’s State Bird & Flower Richard D. L. Fulton The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a 20-cent stamp, featuring the Maryland state bird; the Baltimore Oriole; and the Maryland state flower, the Black-Eyed Susan, on April 14, 1982. The stamp was one of 50 stamps issued featuring state birds and flowers. The 1982 Maryland […]
James Rada, Jr. Although Fort Ritchie closed as a military base in 1998, its best days may still be yet to come. The area began as the Buena Vista Ice Company, the southernmost ice company in the country. Then, in the early 1900s, it became a Maryland National Guard camp, and then an Army camp […]
Emmitsburg Shoe Factory by Richard D. L. Fulton The Emmitsburg Shoe Factory, formerly located on Chesapeake Avenue, served as a primary place of employment for the residents of Emmitsburg and surrounding areas for decades. Talk of the possibility of establishing a shoe factory surfaced during February 1946, when that topic became the subject of discussion […]