Alisha Yocum Our local community is known for its love of baseball, and 12 local players will get to take that love of the game to Cooperstown Dream Park in New York this August. Jeff Potter of Potter Baseball, an organization based out of Odenton, Maryland, has taken over 200 players to Cooperstown to play […]
with Michael Betteridge This month, we tack on an extra day to the end of the month: February 29. This is called a leap year. We do it every four years. But, since the advent of the atomic clock, which is even more precise than the Gregorian calendar that Western civilization has used for hundreds […]
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 3: Job Hunting Saturday morning, Stacy Lawrence slowly woke from her slumber, feeling disoriented and unsure of her surroundings. She looked at the ceiling and then at the nightstand. She didn’t recognize them. With a jolt, she remembered that she and her son, […]
by Christine Maccabee (Songbird) It feels like a fairytale a “once-upon-a time” my life with my children so long ago. At the store yesterday I saw a mother with a child upon her hip, and I saw myself as I once was… […]
Emmitsburg filmmaker Conrad Weaver’s latest documentary film, PTSD911, is now accessible to the public on Prime Video at Amazon.com. This marks a significant milestone, as the documentary was initially exclusive to public safety agencies and screening events. With a primary focus on first responders, Weaver’s ultimate goal has always been to reach a wider audience, […]
Richard D. L. Fulton Nearly all 50 states in the United States have designated one or more species of prehistoric life as a state fossil. Of the 47 states having done so, 3 state fossils are plants, while the remaining 44 states have prehistoric animals as their state fossils. The State of Maryland opted to […]
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 own. I […]
January 9, 2006 – December 30, 2023 Lane Michael Miesner, affectionately known as “Bub,” was born on January 9, 2006, in La Plata, Maryland. He left this world on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at the young age of 17, at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Although his time with us was tragically cut short, […]
January 6, 1940 – December 15, 2023 Charles E. Ridge, age 83, known affectionately as “Chuck,” passed away on December 15, 2023, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon, IL. He was born on January 6, 1940, in Frederick, MD, to Laura nee Eckenrode and Ernest Ridge. He grew up in Thurmont and graduated from Thurmont […]
September 27, 1948 – January 14, 2024 Frank Stephen Warner, 75, of Thurmont, passed from this life suddenly on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at Frederick Health Hospital. He was the loving husband of Donna Warner. They were married for 55 years. Born on September 27, 1948, in Carroll County and raised in Lewistown, he was […]
Who Let the Dogs Out? by James Rada, Jr. Mint juleps bring to mind southern plantations with well-dressed men and women sitting on wide porches, sipping a drink to bring a bit of relief to the heat and humidity. You don’t think of dog sledding. That’s for the wilderness of Alaska and Canada… and Frederick […]
“Helping You Find Plants That Work” Historic Aphrodisiacs (Love Potions) Enchanté, dear reader! ‘Tis the month of romance, rose petals, and breathy sighs: February! Maybe you’re trying to figure out what candy to get for your spouse, romantic partner, or class of 30 kiddos (where the sugar high is inevitable). Or perhaps you’re looking to […]
by James Rada, Jr. February 1924, 100 Years Ago Collided With Policeman Miss Clara Landers, of Thurmont, who is spending the winter in Brooklyn with her sister, Mrs. R. J. Royer, met with a serious accident last Wednesday. She was walking rather fast to attend a session of “lip reading” school, when she collided with […]
by Buck Reed For me, the best meals are the ones made simple. Yes, I like steak and lobster as much as the next person, and I can appreciate a wonderful sauce on a painstakingly made dish. But, for me, I really enjoy simple, well-made meals. Simple means uncomplicated, and it also means nowhere to […]
by Maxine Troxell Fastnacht Day is the PA Dutch or German tradition associated with Fat Tuesday. It occurs on Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. Because many Christians choose to fast or deny themselves sweets and treats during Lent, it was common to indulge on Fat Tuesday. Fat/Shrove Tuesday is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which […]
Medic John W. Bennett Survived Being KIA by Richard D. L. Fulton John W. Bennett was born (“at home”) on March 13, 1948, in Takoma Park, a Montgomery County suburb of Washington, D.C., to parents J.W. and Elmira Bennett. He graduated from Westminster High School. Bennett subsequently met his wife Shirley (“on a blind date”). […]
American Legion Post 168, Thurmont Wow, things sure have slowed down a bit. We hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year! Thank goodness the first snowfall of the year was not as bad as they were calling for, but the wind was something else! Hopefully, you were able to join us for Candy […]
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 […]