Shingles Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus can remain dormant in your body and reactivate itself, causing shingles, an illness characterized by red skin rashes, blisters, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and headaches. According to the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention (CDC), about one in three people […]
by Kristen Bodmer We are right in the middle of winter now. I hope everyone is staying safe and warm. You will be greeted here at the Thurmont Senior Center with a friendly face and a warm smile. Be prepared for fun and laughter while visiting us. We look forward to seeing you. The Thurmont […]
BY Caitlyn Kirby February is here! The month of heart-and-heart health. As 2024 moves along, let us take a moment to reflect on health and love. There are some advantageous opportunities to aid in self-appreciation and care through offered instructions and activities at the Emmitsburg 50+ Center. There’s no better way to begin than to […]
The Catoctin Banner is Set for Transition Deb Abraham Spalding I wear a ring that is inscribed with the saying, “Life is happening for us.” This concept has been my motto for several years and reminds me of my belief that our purpose in this life is to learn lessons that allow each of us […]
Maryland’s Ancient Dogs Richard D. L. Fulton Long before humans traversed the plains and forests of Maryland, and millions of years before the Chesapeake Bay even existed, there were the “Bone Crushers.” This Maryland version of The Land That Time Forgot occurred some 12 to 20 million years ago, when the Atlantic Ocean had made […]
Richard D. L. Fulton Residents of the Emmitsburg area were probably not shocked at reading the news regarding the great blizzard of March 1-2, 1914, that “Emmitsburg was in the midst of the severest portion of the storm…” But, in fact, the destruction was ultimately countywide, so much so, that the March 3 The (Frederick) […]
Hoffman’s Market Closes Deb Abraham Spalding Should auld acquaintences be forgot? We don’t think so! Hoffman’s Market has closed and its building has been sold, but local children of all ages in Thurmont remember stopping at the market across from Thurmont Middle School and purchasing subs, sodas, and penny candy. These memories will not be […]
by Helen Xia, CHS Student Writer There are a few commonplace practices during this time of year—or should I say, “new year?” We’re all familiar with New Year’s resolutions, but there are far more traditions to this rousing new beginning. After all, it only comes once every 365 days! Beyond watching the Times Square Ball […]
by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Town Moves to Twice-a-Month Meetings at Least Temporarily The Thurmont town meetings will switch from weekly to twice a month for the next three months. At that point, the mayor and commissioners will evaluate the impact of the change and decide if it should continue. For January, the meetings will […]
Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis It is hard to believe the holiday season has passed by so quickly, and for the next month, I will still be dating documents 2023. With another year behind us, I hope we can all look back on our accomplishments and find the good in last year. Things are changing in […]
James Rada, Jr. Don’t be surprised if you missed the opening of the Seton Avenue Barber Company in Emmitsburg. Paula Socks was able to open her new business in one month. Socks is a familiar name to many residents of Emmitsburg. She cut hair at another business in town for two-and-a-half years. “I left for […]
James Rada, Jr. Dr. Olumide (Olu) Bolarinwa (pictured right) used to drive by Emmitsburg Family Dentistry on his way to go skiing at Liberty Ski Resort. It caught his attention because he was a fellow dentist. He then got to know Dr. Timothy Bringardner, and the two became friends. So, when Dr. Bringardner retired, it […]
Emmitsburg New Business and Development Briefs The following are the statuses of new businesses and development coming to Emmitsburg from the town planner’s report: Federal Stone (Creamery Road, east side of U.S. 15) — Groundbreaking for this project was held last month. Village Liquors & Plaza Inn (Silo Hill Parkway) — A preconstruction meeting is […]
The Thurmont Lions Club held a Christmas Cookie Contest on Friday, December 1, with participants bringing six of their finest Christmas cookies on a paper plate to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Thurmont. Judging was done in two sections: Lion judging was Friday evening, and public judging was on Saturday during Christmas in Thurmont. There […]
Wreaths Across America is an annual collaborative that honors our nation’s veterans around the holidays by placing wreaths on their graves. Several organizations went to work to transport, deliver, unload, and distribute wreaths in the Thurmont area on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. A Sheetz truck delivered 72 boxes containing 12 wreaths per box for a […]
The Mount St. Mary’s University Board of Trustees announced that Gerard “Jerry” J. Joyce, Ph.D. (pictured right), will be the 27th president in the university’s 215-year history. Joyce, a 32-year higher education veteran, currently serves as executive vice president of DeSales University. He will join the Mount effective July 1, 2024. In announcing the board’s […]
The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society won three grants related to historical preservation in November. The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Mini Grant will fund the purchase of a 27 foot historically accurate marquee tent for outdoor events. The second grant is from the Delaplaine Foundation to perform a traffic calming feasibility study, and […]
On Saturday, October 28, 2023 the Frederick County Health Department partnered with the Frederick Police Department, Maryland State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to host a drug and sharp take-back day as part of “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.” Between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., 105 residents turned in over 150 pounds of […]
Jeanne Angleberger, former author of the “Health Jeanne” column in The Catoctin Banner, attended the Florida State Senior Games on December 3, 2023 held in Wesley Chapel at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. She participated in three basketball events. In the Free Throw and Spot Shooting events, she scored a silver medal. In the Timed […]
Members of the Thurmont Grange No. 409 recently presented dictionaries to all Northern Frederick County third-grade students. This is a community service project called “Words for Thirds,” and all of the third-grade students in the Catoctin feeder system received dictionaries (Sabillasville Environmental School, Lewistown, Thurmont, and Emmitsburg Elementary Schools). The Grange is an agricultural organization […]
Five students from the Catoctin High School’s Spanish Honor Society spent an evening serving as Spanish translators for a Christmas event at the Thurmont Community Closet. The event is held annually at the start of the Christmas season. The purpose of the event is to serve families in need and provide them a way to […]
Mr. Trice’s Catoctin High School Forensic Science students received some real-life advice from the Guardian Hose Company of Thurmont for their arson experiment. This was a thoroughly engaging activity for the students. The fire company personnel provided very in-depth and interesting information about what they look for and how they can tell when a fire […]
A New Year with Michael Betteridge Traditionally, the start of a new year signals a time for reflections, resolutions, and predictions. Let’s take some time to do that together. Looking back at the 2023 high school sports year, we have many reasons to smile. Our Catoctin Lady Cougars basketball team was amazing in March 2023. […]
written by James Rada, Jr. 2: Age Old Issues Stacy Lawrence and her 12-year-old son, Peter, climbed out of the tow truck when it stopped in front of the Super 8 Hotel. They waved to Jack, the driver, who had a friendly smile on his face as he drove away. Stacy put her arm around […]
Birthplace of American Armor Richard D. L. Fulton “No tank is to be surrendered or abandoned to the enemy. If you are left alone in the midst of the enemy, keep shooting. If your gun is disabled, use your pistols and squash the enemy with your tracks… You must establish the fact that American Tanks […]