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Roddy Road Covered Bridge Reopens

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

Deb Spalding

The Roddy Road Covered Bridge is a coveted link to our local history in Northern Frederick County. It is one of three historic covered bridges in the area, along with Loy’s Station and Utica bridges. The forty-foot-long single-lane structure was originally built in the mid-1800s.

Last June, it was struck and partially carried away by a box truck. The resulting damage made the bridge unsafe, so it had to be closed. Repairs to the bridge began in October and were completed by Dean Fitzgerald’s Heavy Timber Construction, Inc., in cooperation with the Frederick County Department of Public Works and Frederick County Department of Parks and Recreation.

While the bridge was closed, Frederick County took the opportunity to re-route Roddy Creek Road away from Roddy Creek in order to open space for a new park that includes a playground, walking trail, bathroom, parking area, and a (future) bridge-like pavilion. They also took action to prevent future damage to the bridge by installing a passive over-height warning system that a too-large-to-pass-through-the-bridge vehicle will hit before getting to the bridge.

Several Frederick County officials and staff came out to celebrate the reopening of the bridge and park on Monday, April 17, 2017. Frederick County Public Works Director Chuck Nipe welcomed guests. He extended sincere appreciation to the residents who attended public meetings and provided recommendations about how to avoid future bridge damage incidents. He also thanked several entities, including Jeff Yokum, the bridge neighbor who provided land for the turnaround at the bridge; Fitzgerald Heavy Timber Construction, Inc. employees who rebuilt the bridge; HMF Paving employees who were instrumental in the apprehension of the individual who damaged the bridge; Frederick County Highway Bridge Construction Crew, District 1 Crew, and the sign crew who fabricated and installed the signage and protective devices; Frederick County maintenance personnel who completed the electrical work; and the Transportation Engineering staff who coordinated the project and the reconstruction efforts.

Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner said, “In Frederick County, we are passionate about our historic covered bridges.” She talked about the historic significance of the bridge, and thanked all parties involved in its reconstruction and the formation of the surrounding park.

Other speakers included Frederick County Council President Bud Otis, Frederick County Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis, Frederick County Parks and Recreation Director Jeremy Kortright, Frederick County Parks and Recreation Commission members, Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird, and several other guests and staff.

Dean Fitzgerald, president of Fitzgerald’s Heavy Timber Construction, Inc., the contractors for the project, shared his memories of playing in the creek and on the bridge as a youngster. He said that at a young age he never imagined he would have a part in its reconstruction. He reminded us that we must continue to be vigilant about our covered bridges and our community. “These are blessings we don’t even realize we have.”

Dean remembered Shaeffer Bailey. Bailey was the bridge neighbor who lived in the brick house nearby, and the man who gave the land to Frederick County for Roddy Road Park. He was vigilant in protecting the bridge, taking Dean to task [and surely others] when he was caught throwing mudballs at the bridge. Bailey rallied the community to put the bridge back together in 1992, after it received damage. At the time, it took two days work for community volunteers to repair the bridge.

Dean announced that his company is partnering with Frederick County Parks and Recreation to construct a pavilion. “We want it to be similar to the covered bridge and potentially use some of the timber that was salvaged from the original bridge. The community is invited.”

Jeremy Kortright coordinated the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon. “This is an exciting day for the community,” he expressed, and thanked the parties involved in the restoration of the bridge.

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird, reminded us that the bridge opening is eight feet, six inches tall and not every vehicle is going to fit through that opening.

Once the ribbon was cut for the bridge’s official opening, the first to pass through it were people on foot, followed by bicyclists. The first vehicle through was a Chrysler minivan driven by Thurmont resident, Joe Eyler.

Dean Fitzgerald, president of Fitzgerald Heavy Timber Construction, Inc., the contractor for the bridge repair project, is shown as the sun shines on the beautifully completed bridge.

Honored guests and elected officials cut the ribbon to open the reconstructed Roddy Road Historic Covered Bridge.

A Bridge to Remember A Fallen Hero

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

James Rada, Jr.
November 29, 2004, was Army Specialist Erik Hayes last day alive. He didn’t know it. The decorated soldier had just turned twenty-four a couple of weeks earlier, and was a young man with dreams. He wanted to attend college and become a veterinarian; but most of all, he wanted to return home to his family.

As he sat on the roof of an Iraqi police station with Sgt. Daniel Hopson, watching the streets, Hopson posed a question. If Erik could go anywhere for a vacation, and money was no object, where would he go?

Hayes turned to his friend and said, “All I want to do is go home and work three jobs and get my brother home healthcare and get him taken care of.”

Bradley Hayes had been injured in a car accident two years earlier when he was only eighteen, and was being cared for in a Hagerstown facility.

Hopson, who has six sisters, was moved by how much Hayes loved his brother. “I need a brother like you,” he told Hayes.

Hayes looked at him with a bit of surprise and confusion in his expression. “Hopson, we are brothers, brothers in arms.”

Later that night, Hopson was with Hayes on the mortar tank that hit an improvised explosive device. Hayes died far from his home and became the sixth Marylander to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On Saturday, April 15, 2017, Hopson, Hayes’ family, friends, politicians, and Veterans gathered near the Monocacy River to celebrate Hayes’ life, remember his service, and honor his sacrifice.

More than one hundred people were at the State Highway Administration building, where Maryland 140 crosses the Monocacy, to take part in the dedication of the bridge sign for the nearby bridge in honor of Hayes. The sign that would be installed at the beginning of the bridge was unveiled, and Hayes’ parents were given miniature versions that they could keep with them.

Maryland State Delegate William Folden, who is also a Veteran, said getting the bill passed that allowed the bridge to be named in Hayes’ honor was the first bill he had ever introduced in the legislature. More than a “feel good” bill, he expressed that acts such as this mean something to servicemen and their families. He said the idea for the bill had been inspired by a trip that he and his son had taken to West Virginia, where many bridges and other structures have been named in honor of fallen West Virginians. His son had asked about the people named, which had led to him looking up information about the serviceman.

“I hope that every time someone crosses that bridge, they will keep in mind the sacrifice he [Hayes] made, and other young men and women are making for the freedom we have,” said Frederick County Commission President Bud Otis.

To date, 145 Marylanders have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Frederick County Councilman Kirby Delauter was the emcee at the event. Also in attendance were Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner; Carroll County Commissioners Stephen Wantz, Richard Weaver, and Dennis Frazier; Taneytown Mayor James McCarron; and members of the local VFWs and American Legions. Patriot Guard Riders and Desert Knights also escorted a procession of cars to the ceremony.

Hayes was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, but he grew up in Thurmont and Harney. He graduated in 1998 from the Living Word Academy in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania. Before he had joined the military, he had worked at a dairy farm and trained to be an electrician.

He had enlisted in the army in 2001 to be able to use the GI Bill to get a college education when his duty was complete. He had trained at Fort Benning in Georgia, and served in Germany, Bosnia, and Kosovo before being trained in Iraq.

Hayes’ father, Daniel, said of his son, “He was a good boy. He loved people. He loved animals.”

Hayes was also an artist, drawing whenever inspiration hit him. His father remembers a drawing on the cover of one his son’s army notebooks that showed a camel smoking a cigarette out in the dessert.

His fellow soldiers also remember him with love and respect.

SSgt. Erik Pisauro of Charlotte, North Carolina, first met Hayes when he was eighteen and said that Hayes watched out for him and kept him from getting in too much trouble. “He was a big brother to a lot of us younger guys,” Pisauro said.

Sgt. Tim Grossman of Lexington, Kentucky, said, “Even though I outranked him, I learned to listen to what he said. He had a lot of wisdom for someone his age. When he spoke, you had to respect his answers; he wasn’t rash in his thinking.”

Grossman and others also noted that Hayes was generous to a fault. “He would give you the last five dollars he had until the next pay,” Grossman said.

SSgt. Andre Topaum of Raleigh, North Carolina, first met Hayes when he was eighteen. One memory that continued to shape his career in the military was something that Hayes said to him early on. “Dang it, Topaum, pay attention and take notes.” Topaum said it is something that he still continues to try and do.

Hopson, who is from Oklahoma, arrived in Iraq as a sergeant and didn’t have experience on mortar tanks where he was assigned. One of the first things Hayes said to him was, “I won’t ever let you get embarrassed, Sergeant; if you don’t know the answer to something, I’ll tell you.”

Hayes has touched the lives of these men so deeply that they were willing to travel hundreds of miles sixteen years after his death just to pay him one final honor.

“Just remember Erik’s name, and he will become a legend forever,” Hopson said.

(above) Army Spec. Erik Hayes’ parents, Debora Reckley and Douglas Hayes, stand next to the bridge sign for the MD 140 bridge over the Monocacy River that was named in honor of their son.

(below) The VFW Color Guard prepares to retire the colors during the April 15 ceremony that dedicated the MD 140 Monocacy River Bridge in honor of fallen Spec. Erik Hayes.

Bags for Ben’s Bunch Cornhole Tournament to Benefit Six-Year-Old Ben Myers

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

Just after his first birthday, six-year-old Ben Myers (pictured right) began having hundreds of seizures a day, for over a year, and was diagnosed with a catastrophic form of epilepsy caused by a rare mutation of the SCN2A gene. There is currently no cure for SC2NA. Due to the seizures, Ben can no longer talk, but he can give the best hugs! Please come out and support this sweet little boy and his family and help fight for a cure for SCN2A. All proceeds from the tournament go to Ben and his family to cover therapy, equipment, and other medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Bags for Ben’s Bunch Cornhole Tournament will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at 13702 Graceham Road in Thurmont. The cost is $40.00 per team. The tournament will feature food, raffles, and prizes. To reserve your team’s spot today, call or text Renee Lawyer at 301-639-4585.

View the advertisement on page 33 for more information.

Free PowerPoint Presentation: “From Shangri-La To Camp David: A History of the Presidential Retreat”

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

On Friday evening, May 26, 2017, the Myersville-Wolfsville Area Historical Society will sponsor a free PowerPoint presentation, exploring the rich history of the presidential retreat at Camp David.

The program is open to the public and will be followed by a social hour with refreshments. There is no charge.

Since 1942, the Catoctin Mountains have provided presidents of the United States with a respite from the pressures and stresses of Washington, D.C.

Camp David—formerly Shangri-La—has evolved from a highly secret, rustic facility to a resort-like mountain retreat, easily reached from the nation’s capital.

Established during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the “camp” was originally reached via a two-hour drive from Washington, through Frederick and Thurmont. Today, it is minutes away from the White House via helicopter.

This presentation will trace the fascinating 75-year history of Camp David, detailing the day-to-day activities of its occupants and the momentous decisions and events that have taken place there. In addition to anecdotes about the chief executives and their families, highlights include FDR’s wartime deliberations with Winston Churchill, Eisenhower’s talks with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Nixon’s intense days at Camp David during the Watergate crisis, and Carter’s successful efforts to piece together the Camp David Accords with Anwar Sadat and Menachim Begin.

The presentation will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Myersville Fire Hall, located at 301 Main Street in Myersville.

From The Mayor

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Featured Articles

Thurmont

Mayor John Kinnaird

The Town of Thurmont celebrated Arbor Day on April 22 by planting more trees in the Community Park. This planting was undertaken by the Thurmont Green Team, as part of their ongoing efforts to ensure a clean environment for our current and future residents. The damages inflicted on our Ash trees by the emerald borer resulted in many of the mature trees having to be removed from the Community Park. The planting of new trees will, over time, replace the cooling canopy we enjoy in the park. The Green Team also sponsored a Hunting Creek Clean Up Day and managed to remove 690 pounds of trash from the steam and its banks. The Green Team also wants to remind everyone that garden spots are still available in the Community Garden. Many thanks to Thurmont’s Green Team for their hard work!

The Board of Commissioner (BOC) recently approved a bid for street improvements within town. The work includes blacktop overlays of East Street, Lombard Street, and Shipley Avenue. This work will be completed during the summer months; please be aware of these projects and, as with all of our street repairs, please be careful when driving through the construction areas.

The BOC is currently working on the 2017-2018 Budget. I am hopeful that we will use the Constant Yield Tax Rate for the upcoming year. This means that we will be collecting the same amount of taxes as during the 2016-2017 fiscal year. With recent increases in property values, everyone should realize a very small decrease in property taxes. We hope to adopt the final budget in May.

In recent weeks, you may have noticed underground work being completed at the intersection of Rouzer Lane and Rt. 550. This work is part of the ongoing effort to ensure dependable electric service for Catoctin High School and the Catoctin Heights subdivision. Currently, Catoctin Heights is at the end of a service line that starts on the Emmitsburg Road and crosses Rt. 15. The improvements will include new underground service lines, as well as a new loop connected to Sandy Spring Lane, to provide a backup circuit should there be a problem with the current feed line.

I was recently appointed to serve on the Frederick County Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC). SWAC is charged with reviewing the County Solid Waste Plan, and we have been following closely the What’s Next initiative, established by County Executive Gardner to investigate improved recycling options for our residents. The State of Maryland has mandated a recycling level of 90 percent for organic waste, including food waste and grass clippings, by the year 2040. This goal will require a massive undertaking within Frederick County to start a program of collection and composting to realize these levels of recycling. The current recommended plan calls for as many as 10-14 small composting facilities across the County and new methods of collection. Ultimately, all residences, businesses, schools, and other facilities will be included in this plan. I encourage all of our residents to pay attention as this plan moves forward and to get involved! For more information about What’s Next, visit www.frederickcountymd.gov/whatsnext.

Please take the time to enjoy the newly rebuilt Roddy Road Covered Bridge, as well as the improvements to Roddy Road Park and Loy’s Station Park!

I can be reached at 301-606-9458 or by email at jkinnaird@thurmont.com.

Emmitsburg

Mayor Don Briggs

In April, I was given the opportunity to speak at three events.

On April 8, at the Doughboy statue, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the town commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the United States declaring war on Germany and entering World War I. Commissioner Blanchard and I spoke. Thank you, Commissioner Blanchard, for putting this event together.

In addition to a quote of General Douglas MacArthur, I referenced, in a humble tribute to the soldiers who fought in WWI: “There, for those soldiers, in the prime of their lives, it was a hope for a tomorrow and a prayer for their – now. For us, because of them and what they did and gave, we have a tomorrow of tomorrows and prayers for our now and those nows to come.”

Also on April 8, I joined the more than two hundred people who attended the dedication of the sprinkler system at the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum National Fire Heritage Center on South Seton Avenue, sharing in awe of the live-burn demo, which used a “Side-by-Side Burn Trailer.”

“Welcome. They say every story has a protagonist, a leading character. The good person, the good people. In our town, there are many protagonists for the many stories that form our community story. And what a story it is, with a rich history that includes both an emphasis on education and spiritualty… Today, we gather for one such story to recognize the collaborative efforts of suppliers, installers, fire service personnel, and all levels of government, to bring about the installation of the sprinkler system in the Fire Museum and National Fire Heritage Center…But underlying this effort has been the quiet efforts of a group of amazing people, lifelong fireman, rooted here in Frederick County and from all over the country… To these founders, it is an honor and pleasure to know and work with you,” I said during my remarks.

On April 10, Libby and I dined with Korey Shorb and Conrad Weaver. Korey is doing great things for the county to educate and understand addiction through his “Up & Out” Foundation. Our Emmy-Award-winner Conrad is producing a documentary on drug addiction, with a focus on Frederick County. More to come on the town’s collaboration with these gentlemen.

On April 12, Libby and I, along with Commissioner Buckman, attended the presentation on addiction at Catoctin High School, sponsored principally by the Schildt family: “CHRIS for Family Support in Recovery.” It was a moving program that touched all the sensibilities of those in attendance, in the nearly packed-full auditorium. I am blessed to have coached young men, in either football or rugby, over a span of five decades, during which I attended funerals for five of my players. Recently, I have been blessed to be mayor of Emmitsburg for the past five years, and during this time, I have already attended five funerals for drug-related deaths.

It is written, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Our treasure is our families. In the face of this insidious onslaught, put away petty distractions, and, yes, everything is petty when it comes to our families, as well as our friends and community.

They say that our grandparents—and for some, great-grandparents—were the greatest generation in what they did during WWI. We need another greatest generation in this fight for our children. We can be the next greatest generation—we have to be the next greatest generation.

I am so blessed to live in Northern Frederick County.

Wild Song Farm Offers Farm-Raised Natural Products to the Community

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Business News

Wild Song Farm operates on a historic property known as Father’s Farewell on Moser Road in Thurmont. In 1738, the farm was part of the 500-acre Taylor’s Lot, owned by Johann Jacob Weller. Fifty acres were later passed to his stepson, John Henry Firor, who is believed to have built the beautiful stone home on the property, from 1765 to 1780. The property earned its name, Father’s Farewell, when son John Leonard Firor inherited it from his father, who moved west. The farm stayed in the Firor family until about 1872.

Since then, the farm has seen a dairy operation, beef cattle, sawmill and woodshop, horses, and even a goldfish-growing operation. Since 2015, when Thomas and Nicole Luttrell purchased the property, they have been preparing a farm business called Wild Song Farm. The name is appropriate because of the music of nature heard every day on the farm—song birds, frogs, and crickets. After big storms, you can hear Big Hunting Creek roar. Lately, the sound of clucking chickens and quacking ducks can also be heard.

Thomas grew up in Frederick and Nicole grew up in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. They met while attending Washington College on the Eastern Shore. Thomas studied economics, and Nicole studied biology and chemistry. While in school, they became interested in growing food and learning how to be self-sufficient. They both worked for a successful small produce farm called Colchester Farm, where they were part of the strong local food movement in Chestertown, Maryland.

After graduating, the couple moved to Frederick. Thomas worked for Hometown Harvest, a home delivery service for local food, while Nicole worked for the Frederick County Office of Sustainability, helping homeowners get energy-efficiency upgrades. She then worked with Ecologia Design, installing edible landscapes. Nicole still offers design and consultation services for edible and natural landscapes and homesteads through her business Deeply Rooted Design (www.deeplyrooteddesign.us).

On the farm, Thomas tends to take charge of the machines and animals, and Nicole tends to take charge of the produce and business management. They come together for many projects and to develop plans for the future. There are many reasons why the Luttrells decided to start a farm. The main reason was for their own health. They wanted to be in control of the food they eat. They also wanted to become more self-sufficient.

Nicole said, “It seems that so many skills are being lost. Farming has pushed us to learn about a very wide range of subjects. Not just plants and animals, but machines, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and business management. We’re very excited about the possibilities of agriculture and all of the opportunities for innovation.”

While their current focus is on short-term crops like eggs and produce, they are also working on establishing some long-term crops like shiitake mushrooms grown on logs, unique and disease-resistant fruits such as paw paws, and even nut crops such as hazelnuts and Chinese chestnuts.

Another aspect of the farm that is very important to the Luttrells is connecting with the local community. There is something very special about knowing where our food comes from, and knowing the farmer who grows it. Thomas said, “We love this property because it is tucked right into Thurmont, a short walk to the library and to the trolley trail that leads to Main Street. We are surrounded by neighborhoods, including Jermae Estates just up Moser Road. There are many farmers that understandably drive to the D.C. area to sell produce, where there are more people and higher prices. But for us, we really want to feed the local people and do our part to help Thurmont’s local economy grow. And what better place to do it than a farm so close to town?”

The Luttrells have a flock of about 130 chickens living out of a big coop on a hay wagon that is moved around on pasture and through their gardens to do soil prepping. They make their own soy-free, non-GMO feed with local grain to ensure quality and freshness. They have a small flock of ducks that free range in their yard. They are currently selling eggs from the farm, and the eggs are also sold at The Lion Potter Market in Gettysburg.

They grow produce using organic practices, building rich and healthy soil. It’s important to the Luttrells that their soil is rich in nutrients and minerals, which then are passed into the food that customers eat. This year, they will grow a variety of greens, carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, summer squash, melons, garlic, winter squash, and shiitake mushrooms.

If you want to see a show, stop by and watch them cut and bale fifty-pound round bales of hay with a walk-behind two-wheel tractor, hay rake, and baler. They use that hay for chicken bedding and composting, and plan to start selling it this year.

Their farm stand will open soon, starting Saturday, May 13, at 13720 Moser Road. Expect Saturday and Sunday hours at the start of the season, with some weekday hours added as they move into summer. Eggs, produce, baked goods, and plants are available for sale. They are looking into offering some specialty items for sale from other local farms as well. Stop by their stand on Saturday, May 27, during Thurmont’s Sip N’ Stroll event for a special “buy two dozen, get one free” on eggs. Customers can also enter their names in a drawing for a $20.00 gift certificate.

Customers can call or text an order to 240-405-7622, email wildsongfarm1780@gmail.com, or just stop by the farm.

For more information, visit www.wildsongfarm.com or check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wildsongfarmthurmont.

Are You Clever Enough to Escape Gettysburg?

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Business News

James Rada, Jr.

For entertainment, Emmitsburg resident Rick Oleszczuk, along with his wife, Erin, and children, were once trapped in an underground playground in Nashville. They barely escaped, and decided that they had so much fun that they wanted to trap other people. That’s why they opened Escape Gettysburg.

“We didn’t want to do it at first, but then we talked about it for days afterwards,” Rick said of his family’s experience in the Nashville escape room.

Back in Emmitsburg, he and his wife started talking about opening one. They decided on Gettysburg because of its nearness to their home, its large number of tourists, and its limited indoor entertainment offerings.

They rented the old Department of Motor Vehicles space at 59 N. Fifth Street in Gettysburg, and opened with two escape rooms in March. By summer, they should have four rooms open.

For those unfamiliar with escape rooms, a group of people are locked in a room that has been designed around a theme. The group that I was part of was locked in a room called the Mad Hatter’s Tea Parlor. It was a Victorian room with a fireplace, furniture, unusual pictures, and odd clocks. We had one hour to find and decipher clues and to work our way through a series of surprises, in a race against time. The pressure to find a way to unlock the door builds as the time we had to free ourselves vanished.

However, my group also laughed, got frustrated, and cheered when we solved a tough clue. When the locked door finally popped open, with less than ten minutes to spare, everyone felt a great sense of success and accomplishment.

The other rooms include: the wizard’s chamber, where you must unravel the clues to escape the room before the head wizard returns; and museum heist, where the group is attempting to steal the Gettysburg Address from a museum before the police arrive. You are given an hour to escape the room, and not every team is successful.

“Our rooms tend to be more challenging than some of the escape rooms that are part of a chain,” Rick said.

The rooms are designed to hold eight to ten people, although larger groups can be accommodated. Participants should be at least thirteen years old to be able to fully participate in the adventure.

“We’ve already had some return customers. We had one group come in for a birthday party, and they had so much fun, they came back the next weekend to do the other room!”

Escape Rooms are great family activities, but businesses also use them as a team-building exercise.

Escape Gettysburg is a family-run business. Even the Oleszczuk children—Noah, Ella, and Eva—participate in the business. They either act as greeters or game masters. Game masters monitor the progress of the trapped people, and may give them hints from time to time about how to escape.

If you would like more information and/or you would like to schedule your ‘escape’ at Escape Gettysburg, visit the website at www.escapegettysburg.com or call 717-769-5397.

Commemoration of the World War I Centennial

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

Theresa Dardanell

A solemn, respectful crowd gathered in Emmitsburg on Saturday, April 8, 2017, for the ceremony to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I on April 6, 1917.

The event, sponsored by the Town of Emmitsburg, along with the Francis X Elder Post 121 American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6658, was held in front of the Doughboy statue in town. The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance, an opening prayer by Father John Holliday, and a welcome by Emmitsburg Mayor Donald Briggs. Commissioner Glenn Blanchard gave a brief history of the war and added a personal story about his own grandfather, who served in the war. The ceremony continued with the American Legion and VFW Color Guard and the laying of the wreath by the commanders of the Post.

The Doughboy statue was erected in 1927. Doughboy is the name of a World War I foot soldier. On the pedestal are the words, “This memorial erected and dedicated in honor of those from Emmitsburg district who served in the world war.” It includes the names of those who made the supreme sacrifice.

2017 Emmitsburg Trail Days

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

The mountain bike trails above Emmitsburg, around Rainbow Lake, are in need of upkeep. Volunteers are invited to Trail Work Days on May 21, June 17, and August 5, during which trail work takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Free coffee, juice, bagels, fruit, and donuts are provided before the work begins, and a free barbeque in town is provided afterwards. You may win a free prize.

Please direct any questions to Tim O’Donnell at todonnell@emmitsburgmd.gov or visit www.MORE-MTB.org for information about the trails.

Side-by-Side Burn Live Demonstration and Dedication Ceremony

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

Theresa Dardanell

A large crowd gathered in Emmitsburg on April 8, 2017, to watch as two identical rooms, set up in a special apparatus in the parking lot of the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum/National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC), were set on fire. The room with the fire sprinkler protection sustained some damage, but the room without this protection was completely destroyed. First responders from the Vigilant Hose Company and the Emmitsburg Volunteer Ambulance Company participated in support of the demonstration, which was coordinated with the governments of the Town of Emmitsburg and Frederick County.

This event followed the dedication ceremony for the newly installed automatic fire sprinkler system in the Museum/NFHC. The sprinkler system was paid for by donations from the National Fire Sprinkler Association and the Capital Region Fire Sprinkler Association, and was installed by Livingston Fire Protection of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Reliance Fire Protection of Baltimore. It will not only protect the irreplaceable contents of the Fire Museum and Heritage Center, it will be also used for sprinkler system training for members of fire departments.

In attendance were members of Frederick County fire departments, Frederick County officials, and representatives from the sprinkler system industry. Chief Ronny Coleman, NFHC president, began the program with the Pledge of Allegiance and introduction of guests; Museum President Chief James Deater welcomed everyone involved. Speakers included Emmitsburg Mayor Donald Briggs, Frederick County Council Member Kirby Delauter, and Maryland State Fire Marshall Brian Geraci.

The Frederick County Fire and Rescue Museum contains many interesting items, including pictures, artifacts, and histories from all twenty-six fire companies in Frederick County, as well as an 1821 “Old Lady” Hand Tub Pumper.

The National Fire Heritage Center, located in the same building, is dedicated to preserving America’s Fire History. Among the many documents is the September 11 incident report from Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All of these valuable documents and artifacts are now protected from fire by the newly installed sprinkler system.

Crowds gather to watch the side-by-side burn live demonstration in Emmitsburg (above), witnessing first-hand how a room without the fire sprinkler protection is completely consumed (below).

Lower Energy Costs for Emmitsburg in 2017 than in 2011

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

James Rada, Jr.

Energy costs for the Town of Emmitsburg will be lower at the end of FY2017 than they were six years earlier, and that is with the addition of the new, larger wastewater treatment plant that came online last year.

Emmitsburg Town Staff gave a presentation to the Board of Commissioners last month, outlining the town’s efforts to reduce its conventional energy costs by 20 percent by 2022. The town has instituted a number of changes since 2011 to achieve this including: (1) Using LED light bulbs in Emmitsburg street lights; (2) Installing the PowerStar system to reduce wasted electrical power; (3) Leasing solar power.

By installing energy-efficient LED bulbs in the street lights, the electricity costs for town street lights was reduced by 40 percent. “And the LED bulbs cut the town’s overall electrical use by 9 percent,” Town Manager Cathy Willets told the commissioners.

The Powerstar Voltage Optimization System, which was installed at the sewer pumping station on Creamery Road last year, optimizes the power that station draws. It also rejects excess power, which means that the town doesn’t have to pay for it. The system cost the town $17,587, and it is currently saving the town around $2,059 a year in electricity costs.

The use of solar power is the element of energy reduction that has become a point of contention on the board, with Commissioner Joe Ritz, III, questioning the accuracy of town’s staff’s presentation.

“Everything we’ve seen tonight looks like we’re saving money, but are we really saving money?” Ritz asked.

His concerns were based on a media report, predicting that the town could lose $1 million over the life of the twenty-year contract. The report apparently focuses on the narrow element that the town has leased more power than it currently needs, and while it can sell back excess solar power to First Energy, it does not receive as much as it cost to produce that excess power.

The town’s intention is not to have excess power to need to sell back, though. Cole Tabler, the town’s accountant, said more than once during the presentation that the excess solar power would disappear as the wastewater treatment plant was utilized more and when the Emmitsburg Ambulance Company comes onto the system.
“When we get to a point that we don’t generate excess, that’s when the savings really come in,” said Willets.

A portion of the excess was planned for. The new wastewater treatment plant did not come into service operating at its peak capacity. It currently operates at 65 percent capacity. However, when planning for how much solar energy needed to be leased, an amount was chosen to run the plant at full capacity. Another portion of the excess was planned for the Emmitsburg Ambulance Company, but it was not able to come onto the system when originally planned. The circumstances that caused the delay have changed now, and it should be eligible to come on the system by the end of the year.

Other savings have also been seen as a result of the solar energy use that isn’t seen in the solar energy numbers. For instance, the use of solar energy has severely reduced the cost of the energy being bought from Potomac Edison, including fees such as the distribution charge, which has been reduced about 90 percent each month.

Overall, the use of solar energy has saved the town money. According to figures from the town office, total energy costs for the town government for FY2017 is projected to be $167,000. This includes the cost of running the new larger wastewater treatment plant. This is lower than the town’s energy costs in FY2011 of $175,400 with a smaller treatment plant.

The difference in opinion of board members of the value of solar energy seems to be one of focus. The single item of the cost of unused solar energy is a loss, while the overall energy costs show a gain.

Chart shows Emmitsburg’s energy costs between FY2010 and FY2017. Column A is the amount paid to Potomac Edison, Column B is the amount paid to UGI for solar power, and Column C is the rebate amount for unused solar power. In FY2015 and FY2016, the new wastewater treatment plant was being tested and brought online. This accounts for the increase in total energy costs those years. Now that the plant is functioning, the power consumption is at its normal level, and the projected total energy cost for FY2017 is expected to be around $167,000.

Support Jayden’s Journey

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

Jayden Myers’ journey of pain began the day before a family vacation in August of 2012, when a rash broke out all over her body, along with pain in her right leg, foot, and ankle. A first diagnosis, and several thereafter, was hives due to a food allergy. After additional diagnoses and follow-up visits to the pediatrician’s office, she was referred to a pediatric rheumatologist at Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

In October of 2012, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, enthesitis-related. With treatment, most of the joint pain she was having was eased; unfortunately, the extreme pain continued in the right foot, ankle, and leg.

Finally, Jayden was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Amplified Muscular Pain Syndrome (AMPS) and evaluated by Dr. Sherry, a specialist in Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome. His final diagnosis was two forms of AMPS: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Diffuse Amplified Pain Syndrome.

When experiencing AMPS, there is an abnormal short circuit in the spinal cord. The normal pain signal not only travels up to the brain, but also goes to the neurovascular nerves that control blood flow through the vessels. These nerves cause the blood vessels to constrict. This constriction restricts blood flow and oxygen to muscles and bone and leads to an increase in waste products such as lactic acid. It is the lack of oxygen and acid build-up that causes the pain. The new pain signal also goes across the abnormal short circuit and causes decreased blood flow, leading to more pain. The pain becomes extremely severe through this cycle.

Jayden participates in a multi-disciplinary pain management program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She attends school when she is able and continues with Home Intermittent School Teaching. Jayden is part of the Thurmont Kountry Kitchen Restaurant Family. Her parents, Rob and Sherry Myers, travel to Hershey Medical Center two times weekly for Jayden to receive the intense physical therapy she needs.

To help support the Myers in handling the unending medical bills that result from Jayden’s treatments, the Patty Pollatos Fund has been a blessing, hosting fundraisers in Jayden’s benefit.

A Wing Feed will be held on May 20, 2017, at the Emmitsburg Firehall. Please reference the calendar for more information about this fundraising event. You may purchase tickets, a Jayden’s Journey t-shirt, or submit a donation at the Thurmont Kountry Kitchen Restaurant in Thurmont. You can also go online to www.ppfinc.org and click on Jayden Myers’ photo to donate.

Pictured during an April 15 bake sale and shirt sale (left to right), Owen Ott, Easter Bunny, Madison Ott, Jayden Myers, and Kendall Stuart

Thumont Business Showcase Sees Great Turnout

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

Grace Eyler

Dreary weather didn’t deter Thurmont’s Business Showcase from a delightful turnout on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the new Thurmont Ambulance Company Event Complex. The building’s bright chandeliers lit the large event area with plenty of seating for families to comfortably enjoy a fresh meal, which was provided by the ambulance company.

“I’ve been here for one hour, and I’m very pleased,” said Heather Heier, owner of Harmony Healing. Heather provides her Reiki services from her office in the Center of Life Holistic Center on Park Lane in Thurmont. Thurmont’s favorite Chiropractor, Dr. John Hagemann, is the proprietor of the space, and his wife, Márcia, teaches pilates there as well.

“There were people already here, so that’s a good sign!” said enthused owner, Champ, from Complete Auto Diagnostics on Roddy Road. Champ and his staff members were surprised to see people waiting at the door for the event to begin.

Carol Robertson, long-time volunteer with the Showcase, was also impressed with the turnout. “I’ll tell you what has been really nice: I’ve seen so many people that I know. Sometimes you don’t see them for months and now, today, I see them!”

At noon, spectators gathered to watch the ladies from Anytime Fitness demonstrate the popular “Zumba Workout.” Anytime Fitness’ Bette Troxell sat back and cheered them on. She exclaimed,” They rocked it, they got compliments, it was good.”

Following the high energy demo, “Out of the Blue” provided live entertainment. Local entertainer, Harold Staley, followed their act. He has performed at previous Showcases.

John Nickerson, a.k.a. Gnarly Artly, stood near the stage at his booth, enjoying the band. “This is great; I hope everybody comes back next year.”

Some businesses provided a taste of the everyday products that consumers will find in their shops. Some of the most creative booths included J. Rothrock Outfitters, a family owned business on East Main Street in Thurmont. They displayed a tent and other unique decorative pieces that would pique the interest of outdoor enthusiasts. “I love the live band; the facility is fantastic,” said proprietor, Hillary Rothrock. This being her second time at the showcase, she already looks forward to next year.

Eyler’s Flea Market also displayed a unique set-up, with a montage of items from their flea market vendors’ booths.

For some business owners, it was their first time at the Showcase. Jason Thakkar, the new owner of Super 8 Motel in Thurmont made it a point to greet other business owners and welcome the community to visit the motel, which is also now under new management.

The Irons family, from Old Mink Farm Resort, offered a hand-painted cabin scene for visitors to take a fun photo “in the woods,” while advertising some of their beautiful mountain get-aways for rent. The Irons even noticed that some of the people dropping by for information weren’t from the Thurmont area, a sign that the showcase had a bigger draw than expected.

Local non-profit groups like the Lions Club, Civitan, and Girl Scouts were also present at the Showcase. Two of the Girl Scouts were dressed as “Thin Mint” cookies. The costumes reminded many that it was time to show their support and purchase some of their favorite sweet treats. When asked if she was having fun, Miss Harrison, eight years old, exclaimed, “YES! It’s sooo fun!”

The ladies of the Thurmont Lion Club sold tickets for upcoming raffles and commemorative Thurmont memorabilia. The Civitan Club proudly displayed projects and fundraisers they’ve been promoting during the past year. Frederick County Executive Jan Gardener dropped by their booth to thank them for their service to the community.

Cunningham Falls State Park Ranger Travis Watts brought his feathered friends from the aviary to advocate upcoming events at the park. Parents and kids stood aside while Ranger Travis handled a screech owl.

In the next booth, Cindy Poole was busy promoting both The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society and Thurmont’s Green Team. While she was showing artifacts from Catoctin Furnace and promoting future events, she was also busy encouraging residents of the community to go green in Thurmont.

Lowman Keeney, president of the Thurmont Ambulance Company, worked behind the scenes to make sure everything was in order. His sister, LaRue, along with other volunteers, made sure no one went hungry during the event. Jim Wolfe and Tim Wiltrout manned the enormous grills in the kitchen, while others served up the meals and took orders. Many visitors were impressed with the size of the building and kitchen.

Vickie Grinder, Thurmont’s Economic Development director and Main Street coordinator, said there were forty-five vendors—seventeen more than the previous year. “We had a great crowd, with people of all ages. That’s what you want.”

Mayor Kinnaird was spotted making his rounds with his camera, capturing all aspects of the community-enriching event.

Overall, the 2017 Thurmont Business Showcase was very much anticipated by the community and a success for our local businesses and organizations. It’s safe to say that everyone looks forward to a prosperous year and to the next Showcase in 2018.

(left) Thurmont Commissioner Wes Hamrick chats with local Melaleuca representatives, Kellie Bevard and Carla Longenecker, during the Thurmont Business Showcase.

(below) Park Ranger Travis Watts, with “Scales and Tales” educates visitors on upcoming programs from Cunningham State Park, along with his side-kick, the screech owl.

Commissioners Get Green Update

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Community News

James Rada, Jr.

Although the Emmitsburg Town staff comprehensive energy plan presentation in April focused primarily on financials, it also looked at how Emmitsburg was becoming a greener and more sustainable community.

Maryland currently has only thirty-five certified sustainable communities out of sixty-seven towns and cities that are working toward that goal. Emmitsburg has been certified a sustainable community in 2015.

A number of projects that the town sponsors haven both improved the quality of life in Emmitsburg and contributed toward the town achieving its certified sustainable status. These projects include: the community gardens; the Emmitsburg Farmers Market; the town’s multi-user trails; the sidewalk project that made it easier to walk from place to place throughout the town; the pet waste ordinance; the Emmitsburg Business and Professional Association; solar fields; LED street lights; and the new algae-control system in Rainbow Lake.

Also, as benefit to being a certified sustainable community, Emmitsburg gets priority when applying for state grants.

“We do get grant priority because we are certified, which opens the door to a lot of funding we would not get otherwise,” said Town Manager Cathy Willets.

This priority helped the town get $250,000 in Community Legacy Grants, which have helped improve business facades in town.

While the use of LED street lights save the town money, they also use 60 percent fewer kilowatt hours. The PowerStar System on the sewage treatment plants optimizes the power used at the plant so that less energy is used.

The new algae-control system not only saves the town 642,250 gallons of water a month, but it significantly reduces the amount of chemicals needed to treat that water. The installation of the system has freed up the equivalent of 85 water taps.

While the new wastewater treatment plant was a state-mandated project, it has allowed the town to reduce the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, which is good for the Chesapeake Bay.

The solar fields have allowed the town to avoid producing 5.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide since their installation.

Future green projects planned for the town include: the installation of two electric car charging stations in town; rain barrels and composting; a water conservation plan; watershed stewardship; and tree planting.

Food Brings Community Together

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In School News

Theresa Dardanell

Everyone who attended the Free Community Meal at Catoctin High School (CHS) on April 11, 2017, enjoyed pizza, pasta, garlic rolls, salad, and cake. The dinner was provided at minimal cost by Rocky’s Restaurant in Thurmont, and the cakes were donated by Trinity United Church of Christ. The CHS Outreach Committee sponsored this event to show unity and to bring people in the community together. Susan Weaver, CHS guidance counselor and Outreach Committee chairperson, said that many of the students, school staff, and families, in the Catoctin feeder area, attended the dinner. It was a time to relax and enjoy the company of neighbors and friends. Tables were set up with activities for children and teens. The “smaller kiddo activities” table had coloring books, Easter craft activities, markers, and pencils; the “bigger kiddo activities” table had board games.

Weaver said that the first community dinner, which was held in the fall, was a great success. She shared a heartwarming story with me. During that dinner, a couple sat down with a woman who was sitting alone. Because it was close to Thanksgiving, they asked her what she was doing for the holiday. She began to cry and said that she had nowhere to go. They immediately invited her to have dinner at their home. Food really does bring people together!

The Outreach Committee also has a BFF (Backpacks For Food) program to provide food on the weekends for students who might otherwise go hungry. Each week, food donated by parents, staff, students, and community organizations is collected, sorted, and packed in backpacks by volunteers. These backpacks are distributed to about sixty students at Catoctin High, Thurmont Middle, Sabillasville Elementary, and Thurmont Elementary.

Friends and Neighbors enjoy a Free Community Meal at Catoctin High School

Grease WAS the Word at Catoctin High School

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In School News

Theresa Dardanell

Record crowds attended the performance of Grease at Catoctin High School (CHS) in March. According to director Cheryl Ehrlich, it was the highest attendance ever for a show at the school. Ehrlich expressed, “I couldn’t be more proud of the students, especially since many of the cast members had never been in a performance on stage before.” This was Ehrlich’s first year as the director at CHS, and she has made it a policy to give a large number of students the opportunity to be involved.

After the show, I spoke to cast members Colleen Slotwinski, Victoria Hoke, Tyler McNally, and Lauren Wotring. Slotwinski, a senior, who has been involved in every performance since her freshman year, said that dancing in the poodle skirt was the best part of being in Grease.

Wotring, a junior, said that she enjoyed the partner dancing, but her favorite part was the opportunity to sing “Freddy My Love.”

Hoke, a senior, loved singing the song “Mooning” and dancing with her partner. She has been involved in nine shows during her four years at CHS.

“Greased Lightning” was McNally’s choice for the most fun. Grease and Oklahoma were the two performances he especially enjoyed being in during his four years at CHS.

Catoctin High teacher Benjamin Zamostny was the music director/tech manager, and Kylie Reed was the choreographer. The cast also included Jeffrey Wilson, Tara O’Donnell, Madelyne Jones, Eliza Phillips, Maddi Wehler, Aubrie Gadra, Matt Imes, Casey Ecker, Christopher Reed, Emma Appel, Jean Pembroke, Samantha Casperson, Sean Miller, Zavier White, Madeline Godlove, Adrianna Bussey, Mackenzie Myers, Emma Ford, Amelia Myers, Mackenzie Myers, and Teairah Velasquez. Crew members were Matthew Wilson, Josephine Isaacson-Echavarria, Sami Starkey, Lauren Haller, Jude O’Donnell, and Warren Corbin.

Grease cast performing “We Go Together.”

A Chromebook for Every Student

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In School News

Theresa Dardanell

Catoctin High School (CHS) is one of four Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) high schools chosen to participate in the One-To-One Device pilot program, in which all students receive a Chromebook to use at school. Students have the option to also take the Chromebooks home or choose the “bring your own device” option and use their own devices, to include laptops, tablets, or smartphones, at school as well as at home.

A Chromebook is similar to a laptop but is designed to be used primarily while connected to the internet. Most applications and documents “live in” the cloud.

CHS English Teacher Kathy Herrmann explained that her students work with Google Classroom. This web service allows students to check assignments, get extra help, and communicate with the teacher at school and at home. She also uses websites like Kahoot and Quizlet, which promote interaction between students in class.

CHS Media Specialist Kate Mills said that students have many databases and reference books available online; with the Chromebook, they can access them at any time, instead of just during computer lab. Teachers incorporate “acceptable and responsible use of the internet” as a part of their lessons.

Assistant Principal Kelly Kirby said that because the students are enthusiastic about using technology, the teachers can redirect that interest into their instructions. Lessons have been redesigned for online use, and teachers were given training on how to use online resources. “The response to the One-To-One program has been positive for teachers and students.”

Students in Kathy Herrmann’s class use Chromebooks, with the website Kahoot.

Thurmont Little League Holds Season Opening

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Sports News

Deb Spalding

Brian Mo, a WFRE radio deejay, served as master of ceremonies during the Thurmont Little League’s 66th Season Opening Day on April 15, 2017. The Thurmont Little League (TLL) teams were introduced starting with Tee-Ball. This season, the Cubs are being sponsored by the Thurmont Free Masons with Manager Justus Yocum, and Assistant Coaches David Ohler, Chad Hahn, Brandon Green, and Chris Cassidy; the Nationals are being sponsored by Roy Rogers with Manager Jon Barton, and Assistant Coach, Ted Belanger; the Orioles are sponsored by Tobacco Free Frederick with Manager Jeremy Johnson, Assistant Coaches Ryan Tokar, and Eric Renner; the Pirates are sponsored by Bekwarm with Manager Devin Bradshaw with Chris Santos, Josh Workman, and Chris Kehne; the Royals are sponsored by Roddy Creek Auto with Manager John Veronie, and Assistant Coaches BJ Schildt, Chris Emert, and Kevin Riffle; the White Sox are sponsored by Gateway Orthodontics with Manager Nick Whetzel, and Assistant Coaches Chad Dewees, Justin Misner, and Troy Tyler.

The Instructional League teams were introduced including the Cubs sponsored by Dave Seiss Construction with Manager Brandon McQuay, and Assistant Coaches Ron Lewis, and Chris Merriman; the Indians are sponsored by Davis Systems with Manager Chris Morlan, and Assistant Coaches Lane Strobel, Jimmy MCCauley, and Matt Gallion; the Mets are sponsored by Affordable Glass with Manager Chris Hewitt, with Jason Braner, and Rob Bassler; the Orioles are sponsored by Mearl R. Tyler Painting with Manager Dan Austil, and Assistant Coaches Adam Cregger and PJ Nicholson; the Pirates are sponsored by 40 West & J. Rothrock Outfitters with Manager Joey Youngerman, and Assistant Coaches Tommy Odeon, Matthew Rolko, and Luke Humerick; the Rangers are sponsored by Ashby Transportation Consultants with Manager Michael Courtney.

The Minor League teams include the Brewers sponsored by Ace Hardware with Manager Matt Myers, and Assistant Coaches Craig Mayne, Karl Williams, and Chris Stahley; the Cubs are sponsored by American Legion #168 with Manager Keith Myers, and Assistant Coaches Jay Code, Chris Buyers, and Jordan Snyder; the Nationals are sponsored by PJ’s Roofing with Manager Devin Bradshaw, and Assistant Coaches Justin Bowley, Marc Clauson, and Jason Savage; the Orioles are sponsored by Amber Hill Physical Therapy with Manager Joe Wehage, and Assistant Coaches Melissa Kinna, Tony Scarzello, Jeremy Johnson; the Rays are sponsored by A Step Up Physical Therapy wit Manager Rob Beloumo, and Assistant Coaches Greg Mehall, and Bill Salonis; the Red Sox are sponsored by Shamrock Restaurant with Manager Phil Morris, and Assistant Coaches John Reese, Michael Smith, and James Martin.

The Major League Teams include the Cubs sponsored by Concur with Manager Erik Krauss and Assistant Coaches Tim Cramer, Tom Fraley, and Clint Moore; the Nationals are sponsored by Thurmont AMVETS with Manager Bill Utermahlen, and Assistant Coaches Wayne Watkins, George Puvell, and Bob Buffington; the Orioles are sponsored by Catoctin Dental with Manager Bobby Shugars, and Assistant Coaches Paul Kovalchik, Brent Reynolds, and Craig Wangness; the Reds are sponsored by Med One Pharmacy with Manager Jeremiah Stull, and Assistant Coaches Chris Skowronski, Ryan Ferrell, and Jake Baker; the Yankees are sponsored by Woodsboro Bank, with Manager Tim Castellow, Assistant Coaches Jason Crum, Dave Manning, and Dave Shipton.

Congratulations were extended to the 2016 All-Star Team 11/12 District 2 Champions managed by Jessie Williams and coaches Ed Lowry and Chris Skowronski with players Griffin Puvel, Logan Simanski, Will Gisriel, EJ Lowry, Joshua Skowronski, Braden Bell, Connor Crum, Dylan Nicholson, Ayden Shadle, Dalton Williams, Devin Baxter, and Dylan Cevario.

The 2016 All-Star 9/10 District 2 Maryland State Champions were introduced with Manager Tim Castellow, coaches Dave Manning and Dave Shipton, and players Keith Castellow, Jacob Bell, Rylan Manning, Garrett Worth, Caden Diggs, Donovan Baker, Peyton Castellow, Braden Manning, Joseph McMannis, and DJ Shipton.

The Little League Pledge and Little League Parent Pledge were recited. A tribute to Jackie Robinson was presented in this 70th anniversary of the first time he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. Since 2009, Major League Baseball has celebrated Jackie Robinson Day. Each TLL player was given a number 42 to hold during this special tribute and one TLL player, Peyton Morris, chose to wear number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson this season.

The National Anthem was sung by Thurmont resident, Bridey Puvel. She had just finished her last show at the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre in Frederick, Maryland in the production of The Little Mermaid. She completed studies at Shenandoah University’s Music Conservatory and will be leaving in May for an internship in Music Therapy at the Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The First Pitch of the season was thrown by Wyatt Black whose dad, Chris Black, spoke about Wyatt’s journey battling and healing from bacterial meningitis and thanked the community for their support.

A group of TLL players closed out the ceremony with the song, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Players, coaches, parents, and spectators excitedly await the commencement of Thurmont Little League’s 66^thSeason Opening Day on April 15, 2017.

Members of the Pirates Tee-Ball Team are shown exiting the field following the opening day ceremony.
Wyatt Black throws the first pitch to open the 2017 Thurmont Little League season of baseball.

2016 Championship Team players proudly display their championship banners during the opening day ceremony.

Catoctin Kids

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

by Anita DiGregory

Conquering Spring Fever

With spring break over, and the end of the school year in sight, this time of year can be especially challenging. Final testing, graduation ceremonies, weekend team games, teacher gifts, and other end-of-the-year demands require added energy and motivation; however, the warmer weather and mere exhaustion from the year can lead to the exact opposite. It seems that just about the time allergy season kicks in, so does the dreaded and very overwhelming “spring fever.” Symptoms include uneasiness, sluggishness, lack of motivation, and inability to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Worst of all, spring fever seems to be very contagious, spreading from child to child, and child to parent, quite effortlessly. Since the CDC has yet to offer a vaccine for this motivation slayer, here are a few tips that may help you to reach that light at the end of the tunnel, otherwise known as summer.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

With all the added demands of the end of the year, things can feel a bit overwhelming, while our energy tanks may be pretty close to empty. Prioritize your to-do list. Try focusing on those events that are the most important, and letting the others slide a bit for now. When you are busy running your kids to different activities and team sports games, while also trying to help them complete end-of-the-year projects and study for finals, now may not be the best time to take on other big projects like remodeling or reorganizing the house.

Set a Schedule

During these last few weeks, a little planning may prove helpful. Recording events on a large calendar, and displaying it where everyone in the family can regularly see it, can be a powerful tool for effective time management. Prioritize your schedule to include only those events most necessary to accomplish. Displaying the calendar for all to see helps to instill family teamwork.

Schedule Free Time

It is especially important during stressful times that families take time to just be together and have fun. Former Director of the National Park Service and Board Co-chair of the U.S. Play Coalition Fran Mainella said, “Families that play together, stay together…so when tougher situations come up, the fact that they’ve played together makes it so they can better communicate in those situations, too.”

With the nicer weather, spring is the perfect time to get out and enjoy a family hike, picnic, or outing together.

Plan a Family Vacation

By planning a summer adventure, parents and children alike have something exciting to look forward to, and that in itself can be a great motivator. According to a scientific study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, the effect of anticipating a vacation boosted happiness levels for eight weeks. With more than 1,500 individuals evaluated, the study concluded that happiness was higher in anticipation of travel than even after the trip. In fact, there was little difference found between vacationers’ and non-vacationers’ post-trip happiness. By planning the getaway together, family members can, therefore, find that extra incentive to accomplish all those not-so-fun, year-end tasks.

If all else fails, remember that you’ve almost made it! Summer is almost within reach…and look at all of the amazing things you accomplished this year!

Trinket or Treasure

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

by Lisa C. Cantwell

“When I was young woman, I visited an antique shop in Hanover, New Hampshire. The elderly owner of the shop asked me if I was attending Dartmouth College there. I told her no, that I was an actress. She shared with me that she had been a silent film actress and a Ziegfeld Follies girl. She then showed me this dress that she’d worn in a film in 1920. She also told me that she and the other actresses of the day swallowed tape worms to stay thin! I regret that I don’t remember her name. She was so excited about my acting career that she gave me the dress!”

— Holly O., Cascade

This lady gave you a remarkable TREASURE of a hand-beaded shift dress that hangs from the shoulder to just above the knee.

This authentic, early flapper dress is in very good condition with no holes in its mesh fabric. It also doesn’t appear to be missing any beads! There is some loose threading here and there, which needs to be trimmed and secured so as not to cause fraying. The silver and clear glass beads are in a lovely, swirled pattern throughout the dress. A silk or chiffon chemise would have been worn under this see-through garment, with its dropped waist and scalloped hem. Although the color has faded to a nice sepia tone, it probably began as a much lighter, ecru tone. As for the swallowing of tapeworms to lose weight, I hope she was kidding! There’s evidence that the “tapeworm diet” was marketed in the 1900s, when beef tapeworm cysts were advertised in pill form, but the idea never took off because of lethal side effects. Tapeworms grow up to thirty feet in length and cause headaches, eye problems, meningitis, epilepsy, and dementia, just to name a few ills. It’s likely that the owner of this dress didn’t use that method of weight loss for long, or she wouldn’t have lived to give you this dress. Beaded dresses from the 1920s are highly sought after in the vintage market. Similar treasures bring $500 to $1,200. Thank you for sharing it!

“This clock belonged to my great grandparents, Harvey and Alice Tyson, from Norristown, Pennsylvania. My mother, Catharine Anderman, spent many summers with them, and tells me that it was located in the sitting room on the second floor of their home, on top of an oak roll top desk. She was born in 1926, and has no idea how they acquired it. She inherited it and passed it on to me. What can you tell me about it?”

— Beth Helmick, Thurmont

Your heirloom TREASURE dates to the 1850s and is a Royal Bonn, “1755” porcelain clock.

The maker’s mark on the back has the characteristic crown and denotes the style “LaVar.” It is in very good condition, save for a hairline crack between the 10 and 7 hour on the face. There are several of these hand-painted beauties that date from the late 19^th and early 20^th century, on various internet auction sites, but yours is definitely a rarer, early type. Royal Bonn was the 19^th and 20^th Century Trade Name used by the renowned craftsman Franz Anton Mehlem, who produced pottery in Bonn, Germany, from 1836 to 1931. Fine porcelain and earthenware were also manufactured in the factory, to include dishes and vases. These clocks were imported to America by the Ansonia Clock Company of New York. In 1921, the firm was purchased by Villeroy & Boch, and closed in 1931. The value of these clocks ranges from $299.95 to $3,500. Based on the age of your clock, and taking into account the face crack, consider its value between $800 and $1,200.

TRINKETS…Some We Just Can’t Part With

So far, all of what readers have shared in this column have been treasures. Yet, we all have trinkets, those heirlooms that have little to no value, that we cannot part with. Things like Dad’s felt letter from his high school football jacket, Mom’s butterfly pin, Grandma’s baby spoon, Granddad’s pen knife, an old key to the family farmhouse, Great Uncle Joe’s dog tags, and so forth. These items often end up in junk drawers or are stored in boxes stashed in a basement, only to be forgotten.

Why not display your trinkets in an old store case? Pictured is one that sits on a counter or table, has a red felt bottom and a lid that can be left open or closed for viewing. Your trinkets will turn into family heirloom treasures, each with its own unique story, which can be passed from generation to generation. If you have an abundance of doodads, whatchamacallits, and thingamajigs from times past, then change up your display with the seasons. Table top size, old store cases in good condition can be found for $50 to $125. Search your stuff for conversational, precious trinkets to determine the size of case you might need. If it’s too sentimental to throw away, why not display?!

Do You Know If Your Website Is Secure? Why Is This Important?

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

Maxine Troxell

When you visit a website, if the web address starts with http://, all the information that your browser sends to the web server, and receives, is in open text. So, for instance, if you log into your WordPress admin panel, your user ID and password are transmitted across the internet in clear text that anyone could read. So, it’s entirely possible that someone who is watching the web traffic to your website could grab your user ID and password as it was sent.

But if you have set up an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate correctly on your web server, the URL becomes https:// (the “s” for “secure”), and all data transmitted back and forth is encrypted. This is especially important if you’re collecting any private data on your website such as credit card information. You don’t want someone snagging your client’s credit card information.

If you visit a website that is not secure and is asking for a credit card to subscribe, immediately back out and go somewhere else.

Current PCI banking standards require that all credit card transactions are done on a secure website.

What can happen if a Hacker gets access to my site?

Can you imagine a stranger—or even worse, a thief—sitting in front of your computer, going through your files and doing whatever they want?

That’s what happens once a hacker has used Sub7 to take control of your computer.

It’s as if they are sitting in your cozy computer chair, using your computer and seeing all of your data and files on your computer monitor. And you have no idea that this is going on.

The hacker could be across the street or across the country. No matter where they are, they can copy photos from your computer onto theirs, or delete your tax records. They can steal your personal data or delete the programs you have on your computer.

Worse yet, they can download more viruses.

Why set up a SSL certificate?

Many websites are informational and don’t actually sell things online. So why would you want to set up an SSL certificate? Security.

As mentioned before, it’s remotely possible that someone could sniff your user ID and password and gain access to your content management system. If you haven’t changed the login alias, it’s actually pretty easy to find your login ID. So, if I have that information, now all I’d need is your password (if I were a hacker looking to break in).

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

SEO is a marketing discipline focused on growing visibility in organic (non-paid) search engine results.

Google says that it’s actually a ranking factor. They’ve backed away from all the “usual” SEO factors like links, and so on. But they are telling us we need three things: (1) A mobile-responsive site; (2) A fast website (small graphics); and (3) A secure website. They want peoples’ experiences to be secure.

I personally believe that people are looking for the green padlock in the web browser. It’s a small, subtle sign of trust. This seems to ring true for some of my clients who are getting pushback from their clients because they don’t want to schedule online appointments or interact on the website without it. This is smart. Therefore, we’re getting more requests to set it up for our clients.

How do I set up an SSL certificate?

There’s a little bit of a process to get your website set up with an SSL certificate. You don’t just change the web address to https://, and you’re done. In a nutshell, these are the steps you need to take:

Generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) from your web host, which identifies your web domain and your company information. That gets uploaded to the certificate generating authority.

Obtain a trusted certificate from your domain registrar (like GoDaddy) which will cost you about $200 for 3 years (or more). I prefer to buy the certificate for as long as I can so that I don’t have to reinstall the new certificate each year when it expires.

You will need to install the certificate after you purchase it. Your hosting company can give you instructions on how to do this or you can hire someone to do this for you. That person would need your hosting login credentials.

Test all pages on your website for a green padlock. If the https:// version of your web address is working, but you’re not getting a green padlock, you’ve got some more work to do. ALL graphics, files, JavaScript and so on have to load with https:// and not http.

It’s interesting to me that a large number of websites that I have visited don’t have an SSL Certificate, which means they are not secure.

If you are not sure if your website is secure or if you want more information, please Contact E Plus Graphics, Printing, and Promotions at 301-447-2804. We would be happy to assist you.

Happily Ever After

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

Can’t Live Without Them

by Valerie Nusbaum

We can pick our friends, our seats, and, well, our noses, but we can’t pick our families (other than our spouses, of course). Randy and I have had some amusing family encounters recently, and I thought I’d share some of them with you.

There’s a bit of Irish in my family on my dad’s side; but even if there weren’t, we’d still enjoy celebrating St. Patrick’s Day—green shamrock-shaped pancakes and all. It’s been a tradition for years that Mom and I have lunch on St. Patrick’s Day at the Shamrock Restaurant. We love the decorations, the music, and the food, and it doesn’t hurt that everyone is there with the intention of having a good time. Last year, Mom and I invited our cousin, Pat, to join us; and, this year, we gained Pat’s husband, Keith, and Randy. My hubby had never participated in the celebration because he was always working, but he took some time off to be with us this year and was glad he did. He particularly enjoyed the corned beef, and he even wore his two-foot-tall beer-mug hat.

After lunch, we all came back to our house for dessert. I had made a green coffee cake and shamrock brownies, and served them with green mint chip ice cream. We had a good time and shared lots of memories and laughs.

About a week after that celebration, I was in the kitchen getting things ready for dinner. I’d decided to have baked potatoes, and when I went to my potato bin to get them, I discovered that the bin was full of trash. Huh? Then I recognized some of the wrapping paper from a gift that Mom had given to Pat. Cousin Pat evidently thought my potato bin was a trash can. I’m just glad there was nothing stinky in there!

Not long after that, our nephew, Andrew, came up from Florida for a long weekend. The only thing more entertaining than a Nusbaum man is TWO Nusbaum men. Andrew was here to help his Uncle Randy clean out the garage at Randy’s parents’ house. That small, delicate little boy with the big glasses has grown into a 6’5” strapping linebacker-of-a-man, and we were glad to have his help with all the lifting and carrying. I don’t mean to imply that Andrew ever played football, or even basketball. The athletic prowess of the Nusbaum men runs in other directions. They are outdoorsmen and excel at fishing, hunting, and picnicking.

I went over to the house at lunchtime on Saturday. I’d been assured that the two of them had been hard at work for hours. When I called Randy to ask if Andrew liked sloppy Joes, there was an awful lot of giggling going on; I was happy that they were finding some fun in a rather dismal task. The men were at the landfill when I got to the house, so I went inside and got things ready for lunch. I saw Randy’s truck come up the driveway, and I walked out to the garage to tell them that lunch was ready. I found the pair of them in the garage, each wearing a huge sombrero, playing with toy trucks.

Andrew headed back to Florida with a truckload of stuff and two sombreros. Actually, he was wearing one of them as he waved goodbye.

My husband is the only family member I actually chose. Mostly, I’m glad I married him, but there are some times when all I can do is sigh and get on with it. Randy had to return to the eye doctor’s office three times to repeat one of his tests. His results were always inconclusive, but bordering on something serious. The technician was thoroughly perturbed with Randy, because he had so much trouble clicking the button when certain lights came into view. It was finally determined that there was nothing seriously wrong with Randy’s eyes. His hand/eye coordination could use some work, though. He also needs to work on concentrating and not letting his mind wander during important life-saving tests.

That leaves my mother. Mom’s landline was out of order. I had been calling her for hours and kept getting a busy signal. This didn’t alarm or surprise me, as Mom has a lot of friends, and she talks on the phone often with her next-door neighbor, even though they live twenty feet apart. When we finally realized that Mom’s phone wasn’t working, Randy called the phone company and reported it. The next morning, I still wasn’t able to reach my mother. She has a cell phone, but doesn’t turn it on unless she’s going to make a long-distance call. I knew that eventually Mom would think it was odd that she hadn’t heard from me, since I check on her several times each day. I hoped that Mom would use her cell phone to call me, so I went and got my own cell phone. I knew that my dear mother would assume that she couldn’t call my landline with her cell. I was right. My cell phone rang shortly after that.

It could be worse.

I’m sending a big shout out to Susan Storer this month. “Susan, thanks so much for your kind words about my columns and for all your help.”

On The Wild Side

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

by Christine Maccabee

Springtime!

To say that spring is my favorite time of year is putting it mildly. I love spring and can barely keep myself indoors on a beautiful day like today. Every morning, the birds create a symphony of music, too incredible for words. Then, as early evening approaches, the frogs and toads begin tuning up for their cascade of mating sounds, which to my ears is music—profound music of the spheres and an expression of our earth’s on-going mind-blowing beauty.

Several years ago, I began recording bird songs, notating them on staff paper. Luckily, I have a good ear and lots of training in timings and keys, as bird songs can be very complex; each bird, usually the male, has a repertoire unique to itself and the occasion of calling for a mate or declaration of territory. However, I am of the opinion—and am quite sure it is true—that sometimes birds simply sing on and on just for the joy of it!

To say that I live for spring is true for me, and likely many others. No longer do we have to pull on heavy boots, layers of clothes, hats, and gloves. Devoted mothers no longer have to make sure their children are dressed for twenty-degree weather as they wait for the bus. And the elderly, who sometimes struggle just to get dressed, are freed up as well. Things are lightening up, you might say.

Yes, keeping me inside today will be next to impossible, so I will take a break from typing and go out to plant onions. I must have my store of onions for the winter. See you soon…

Well, I am back, but I only got so far as hanging out the laundry; no onions planted yet. I have so many thoughts, so many feelings today because of spring; I am not certain which song to sing first. I am like the mockingbird with his repertoire of untold numbers of songs, twittering about today. Maybe I have spring fever. It has been known to happen.

As I chased the cat away from the bird feeder, while hanging clothes, I thought of my good friend Walter. Whenever I would ask him if he knew what sort of bird was singing, he always would reply, “Oh, that’s a Tweety Bird!” Funny. Guess that’s me today, twittering away about everything, and nothing.

Now it’s time to get serious, right? Or maybe not. After days and days of stress and worry, we all need time off to go take that long walk or simply plant petunias. I could go on and on about the wild edibles you can put in your salads (violet and dandelion flower petals are so rich in vitamins and minerals). I could instruct you as to how to build a cold frame, so as to eat salad greens all winter, or inspire you to be a seed saver. Or I could tell you the secrets of planting onions properly (I once had a caretaker here who insisted that he knew how to plant onion sets; he told me to leave him alone, and that year, we had no onions because he planted the bulbs upside down!).

However, I need this downtime today to simply enjoy the beauty of this incredible springtime; time to renew my spirit after some rough times. Every day, there are things to deal with: some simple problems and some seemingly insurmountable. But, somehow, we surmount them. I just finished reading a book called Grandma Gatewood’s Walk, and I now have a new heroine, who surmounted far more problems than I ever had. After far too many years of horrible abuse by her husband and devotedly raising eleven children, in 1955, at the age of sixty-seven, she completely turned her back on it all. Setting out in Georgia with a 15-pound sack of essentials, thrown over her shoulder, and wearing tennis shoes, she hiked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. She even did it two more times and became renowned for trailblazing in Ohio.

I figure if Emma Gatewood could do that, I can deal with my little problems. Think I will just plant those onions and then go take a nice long walk!

Looking Back

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

1971: The Mount Goes Co-Ed

by James Rada, Jr.

Although Mount St. Mary’s University was named for a woman, she wouldn’t have been able to attend the college until 1971. It was only in its 164th year that the college decided to admit female students.

Some females from nearby St. Joseph’s College had been attending a limited number of classes at the Mount beginning in 1970. The two colleges had entered into a cooperative agreement that allowed students from either school to take a class at the other school if it wasn’t offered at their home college. The schools even provided transportation between the two campuses to aid the students. During the 1970-71 school year, 119 men from the Mount attended one or more classes at St. Joseph’s, and 100 women from St. Joseph’s attended one or more classes at the Mount.

While the agreement seemed to address the educational reasons for the Mount going co-educational, it didn’t address the cultural or financial issues.

St. Joseph’s College announced that it would close in 1973. This caused concern at Mount St. Mary’s, which had also seen its enrollment dropping. The school had 1,100 students during the 1970-71 school year.

“We are, of course, saddened by the Saint Joseph announcement but we do not feel that the wave of bleak prophecy which has pervaded our own campus is justified. Our situations are in no way similar even though we face the same serious problems of most of the nation’s private colleges,” Mount President John J. Dillon Jr. said during a speech.

In June of 1971, it was announced that the Mount would begin admitting women as non-resident students beginning with the 1971-72 school year. They would be admitted as resident students the following year.

To ensure that students from St. Joseph’s College wouldn’t be delayed in their graduation because of the transition, the Mount also waived some of the curriculum requirements at the Mount for students who needed it, according to the Emmitsburg Chronicle.

While admitting female students helped the women of St. Joseph’s College, it also helped the Mount, which had been seeing fewer applications.

“I feel that the tragedy at Saint Joseph can make us a stronger college if we all work in that direction,” Dillon said. “Mount St. Mary’s is, after all, your college.”

The Mount student body celebrated the decision. David Fielder wrote in the Mountain Echo, “This year, however, we have witnessed the emergence of the Mount into the twentieth century with the administration’s radical new policy concerning co-education. We actually have female names listed in the registrar’s office, and, come next year, Mounties may even find men and women living near each other within the campus grounds. Thus one might conclude that we’ve been granted the other half of what it takes to have a student body.”

While the males were certainly happy to see women on campus, the Mountain Echo pointed out that it was a good academic decision for the school. According to the newspaper, in 1969, 40 colleges and universities had gone co-ed. It was a move being made to attract high-caliber students, of which, 81 percent said in a Princeton University survey that they wanted co-educational schools.

However, not everyone was happy. Women who were losing their college with the closure of St. Joseph’s College lead the way with this group. One woman wrote a letter against the move in The Valley Echo called “Better Dead than Co-Ed.”

The overlapping between the admittance of female students and the closing of Mount St. Mary’s allowed for a gradual transition. Today, women make up the majority of the student body (55 percent) at the Mount.

Our Neighborhood Veterans

By Maxine Troxell On April 28, 2017 · Add Comment · In Columns

by Jim Houck, Jr.

Lance Corporal Paul Joseph Humerick

U.S. Marine Corps

Born at Annie M. Warner Hospital in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in June of 1947, was a son to Paul E. and Ida G. (Brawner) Humerick. They named him Paul Joseph and gave him the nickname “Sonny.” Paul and Ida took Sonny home to Emmitsburg, where they resided in a house on North Seton Avenue. This is where Sonny spent his entire childhood. He said it was the best of all places to grow up. Right below his house ran Flat Run creek, where he and his friends could go wading and fishing, and there were nearby woods to hunt mushrooms. They had many fields to run and play in. All-in-all, Sonny had a very happy childhood growing up in Emmitsburg.

Sonny said he had two very close friends that he grew up with: Mike Shorb and Billy Weidner. Sonny had a part-time job during the summers mowing grass out by Natural Dam and helping his dad mow at the Sharpe farm. This gave him a little spending money, and Sonny, Mike, and Billy could hardly wait until the week’s end to go and listen to Wayne Sanders’ band play some rock and roll music. Wayne Sanders had a rock and roll band called “Dwayne and the Sounds” and was the hometown entertainment; they had a lot of local followers. When Sonny turned sixteen, he was at the Tropical Treat in Taneytown, where Dwayne and the Sounds were playing. There, he met Linda Wetzel; and, although he knew Linda’s brother, he did not know her. They hit it off that night, and that marked the beginning of a fifty-four-year relationship, married fifty-one of those years. They got married the April 15, 1966. Sonny says he kinda took a “liking to her” and she kinda took a “liking to him.” I would think it was kinda more like a “loving to each other.” What do you think?

In February of 1966, Sonny got a notice from the Draft Board to report to Fort Holibird in Baltimore. Sonny, Denny Staley, and Leroy Shealey were all on the bus to Fort Holibird. Leroy passed the physical, but Sonny and Denny did not. So, they put Sonny and Denny in a big room—about the size of two basketball stadiums combined—and a sergeant came in and walked up and down and looked them over and said, “I’m going to tell you right now, you have thirty days to take care of any business you have, because the Army has you.” Well, Sonny and Linda had plans of getting married in April; they also had a piece of ground cleared and were planning on building a house. When Sonny got home from Holibird, he told Linda and his mom and dad that he had been drafted and he was going in the Army; it wasn’t his choosing but that was the way it was. Sonny said that a few weeks later he received some papers from the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps that said “congratulations, you were accepted in the military.” He explained that the Marine Corps had a ninety-day plan, and that meant that if he joined, then he wouldn’t have to go for three months. That meant one thing to Sonny: he could still get married. So, Sonny and a friend of his, Johnny Eckenrode (who worked with Sonny at the Provincial House), decided to go to Frederick and join the Marines. The recruiter sent them back to Fort Holibird for another physical and, from there, they were sent to Gay and Lombard street to be sworn in. That was on the March 3, 1966, when he became a Jarhead, and he was going to wait to get married in April. Johnny didn’t want to wait, so he volunteered for Vietnam and went in right away. When it was time for Sonny to leave, he went from Baltimore to Georgia, and then arrived at Parris Island on June 2, at 2:00 a.m. The drill instructor got on the bus and was talking to the driver and then turned to Sonny and the rest of the recruits. Sonny said you never saw such a commotion, with forty-five guys trying to get out of that little bus door at one time. Sonny remembers thinking to himself “What in the world am I doing here?” He made it through boot camp and got twenty days of leave, so he went home. After his twenty days of leave at home, he was sent to Camp Lejeune for Infantry Training; in the meantime, he had a MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) as a cook. He was sent to Camp Gardner and went through cook school. Sonny was then shipped to Camp Pendelton in San Diego, California, where he spent his entire Marine career; he was Honorably Discharged from there. Sonny got to visit several of his friends and relatives while at Camp Pendelton: his cousin, Jerry Wagerman; friend, Johnny Knott; friend, Jimmy Wastler; and friend, Phil Mort. Sonny and Linda never had a honeymoon, and he really missed her and his mother and father, so he was very happy to be going home.

After he arrived back home, he went back to work at the Provincial House, where he worked before he joined the Marines, and remained there for forty-seven years.

Sonny is now retired, and he and Linda are still living on the mountain and are very happy with their family-life. They have two children: Stacy and Stephanie. Stacy has a son and a daughter, Zachary and Samantha; and Stephanie has a son, Riley. Sonny regrets that his parents didn’t survive long enough to meet their great-grandchildren; he lost his mother in 1972 and his father in 1992.

Linda and Sonny still go to the Rock and Roll dances at the Ambulance Building in Emmitsburg. They are active and love to get out and about! So, if you meet them at Jubilee or anywhere around the neighborhood, say “Hi” and thank Sonny for his service.

I really enjoyed the little chat I had with Sonny and Linda. I tried to get Linda to put her two cents worth in, but she was not having any of it.

They are the perfect example of a very happy couple and family, who stay positive and enjoy their lives together

God Bless the United States of America, God Bless the U.S. Veteran, and God Bless You.

Lance Corporal Paul Joseph Humerick, United States Marine Corps.

Thurmont

Mayor John Kinnaird

Emmitsburg

Mayor Don Briggs

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