by Aditi Dhananjaya, High School Student Summer rarely announces itself in an obvious way. It does not arrive like the turn of a calendar page or a temperature change by a single degree. A lot of the time, it shows up through sound first. Long before anyone ever says “it feels like summer,” there is…

Buckets of Fun by bayley grossnickle Mother Seton School Student, 6th Grade Have you ever done a summer bucket list? Now, you may be thinking this summer bucket list is just for students, but it’s actually for families, friends, students, teachers, and, oh, pets, too. You could go swimming at your own pool or a…

Makayla Comer is a junior at Catoctin High School and a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). She is serving as the 2025-2026 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Ambassador and currently serves as Social Media Coordinator. In this monthly series, Comer will take readers behind the scenes of what it takes to raise…

by Mitchell Tester, College Student Time ~ Part 1 ~ There is something definite that we all live by every day, as we chase the sinking sun for it to come around again. Time. It dictates what we do, when we do it, and how we judge our progress. In a much more trivial way,…

by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP® Owner, AAA Advisory LLC Is Your Insurance Still working for you? If you’re like most people, you buy insurance with good intentions and then don’t think about it again unless your premium changes or something goes wrong. That’s understandable. Insurance is one of those things we hope we never really…

Huckleberry Fires Devastate Catoctin Mountain by James Rada, Jr. Picking huckleberries may have caused one of the largest fires ever that ravaged Catoctin Mountain in 1902. In April, wildfires sprang up at different locations on Catoctin Mountain. Fueled by gusty winds, they grew and spread. Within a few days, the fires had grown to encompass…

by Michele Tester Regrets? Maybe A Few I believe that when you look back on your life, you will always have more regrets for what you didn’t do than what you did, even if it turned out less than desirable. The events and plans that you let fear or anxiety drive your decision to go…

James Rada, Jr. July 1926, 100 Years Ago Kelly’s Sister Dead Death has failed to heal a rift between Frank Kelly, Democratic boss, and his sister, Mrs. Julia Kelly Jarvis, which, according to friends, had existed for more than a quarter of a century. At Thurmont, two days after Mrs. Jarvis’ death, Kelly declined to…

by Buck Reed Bring Something to the Table! As I have said before, I don’t care who you voted for or what you choose to support; I judge people a different way. When you are invited to someone’s home for a party—such as for dinner, a cookout, or even to watch the game—showing up with…

by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center . Osteoporosis Strategies for Strong Bones Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens your bones, making them brittle and easily broken. It is often called a silent disease because it’s largely symptomless until it’s not. Many people don’t realize they have osteoporosis until a minor…

by Jeff Yocum toothing When our children were young, my wife and I were always on the scout for outdoor activities that were fun, healthy, educational (without them realizing it), and above all, cheap. In that pursuit, we discovered “toothing.” Not to be confused with “teething” that involves a crying infant constantly gnawing on something…

Summer is in full swing at the Thurmont Senior Center, and July is shaping up to be a month filled with friendship, fun, learning, and community spirit. Whether you’re looking to stay active, enjoy a delicious lunch with friends, or participate in one of our many social activities, there’s something for everyone at the center.…

BY Caitlyn Kirby Happy July! With the weather heating up, it is a great time to visit the Emmitsburg 50+ Center to cool off with an activity. Every Monday, we have lunch bunch offered at noon. Just reserve your meal by Wednesday, or bring your own lunch. Arrive at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays to play…

At Cuddles Cat Rescue, each day begins with volunteers arriving for morning and evening shifts to care for the cats awaiting their forever homes. As an all-volunteer, appointment-only rescue, much of the work happens behind the scenes. Volunteers prepare food and fresh water, scoop litter boxes, sanitize cages, and make sure every cat is healthy…

The Magma World by Mitchell Tester, College Student The universe has been an outlet for curiosity since the beginning of mankind. One thousand years ago, some humans believed that the Sun was either a massive ball of fire or, in some cases, a divine entity. Fast forward to modern astronomy, and we have a better…

by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP® Owner, AAA Advisory LLC The Hidden cost of putting off financial decisions Most people don’t avoid financial decisions because they’re lazy or irresponsible. They avoid them because life is busy. Work deadlines pile up. Kids need attention. Aging parents need help. Summer schedules get chaotic. And financial decisions often fall…

The Summer Blue Ridge Summit Burned by James Rada, Jr. Blue Ridge Summit was not a heavily populated area in 1925. Only a few hundred people lived there year-round, but that summer, the small community suffered three fires that caused a lot of damage to the town. On June 16, the engine house of the…

by Michele Tester The Wisdom Keepers I recently watched two movies that I’ve seen several times over: Father of the Bride and The Pursuit of Happyness. Reflecting on these two favorites of mine, it got me thinking about fathers and the significant role they play in a child’s life. Sometimes, there isn’t a father figure…

by Richard D. L. Fulton PFC Dale M. Ford, Sr. First Thurmont 29th Division KIA Dale McDannell Ford was born on August 9, 1921, in Thurmont to parents Zach and Mary Ford. He had five brothers: James, David, Jacob, William, and Robert; and three sisters: Lillie, Dorothy, and Charlotte. Ford attended “grammar school” (elementary) in…