A Unique Experience to Benefit the Leader Dogs for the Blind Alisha Yocum Imagine performing everyday tasks—taking a shower, climbing stairs, or eating dinner—without sight. The Glade Valley Lions Club’s Dinner in the Dark aimed to give attendees a firsthand experience of the daily challenges faced by nearly one million Americans living with blindness. Members…

The 2025 Lewistown Ruritan Club Officers were sworn in by Zone 3 Governor Trevella Foster on March 4. Pictured (from left) are Steve Moser (Director), Patricia Goff (Director), Ron Demory (Director), Trevella Foster (Zone 3 Governor), Jim Brown (President), and Odale Martin (Treasurer). Not pictured: Jeff Barber (Vice President) and Sam Roop (Secretary).

James Rada, Jr. Not much has been heard about the Richard W. Kanode Farm Park—a new county park that will focus on agricultural and equestrian pursuits—since the public hearings last year. Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater approved the park master plan in May 2024. Later in the year, Phase 1 Design began with an emphasis…

The Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum, located at 300B South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg, will open for the 2025 season on Saturday, April 4. The museum will be open on weekends, from noon to 4:00 p.m., except for holiday weekends. The collection on display includes several pieces of apparatus and equipment from the early…

The Town of Thurmont is proud to announce that they have partnered with the Transit of Frederick County for its Adopt-A-Stop program. This is a statewide movement to sustain public transportation ridership, reduce pollution, and keep the community beautiful for years to come. Pictured are Jim Humerick; CAO Town of Thurmont, Jaime McKay; Deputy Director…

Twenty-four volunteers got out bright and early on the morning of March 22 for the Spring Community Tree Planting at East End Park in Thurmont.  A demonstration on proper tree planting was conducted by Anna Twigg from the Maryland Forest Service. Twenty-four trees were planted, including American Linden, Pin Oak, Burr Oak, Sycamore, Eastern Red…

Lion Ruth Heaney Life is filled with milestones, beginning with being born. From there, an explosion of milestones occurs, including taking your first step and saying your first word, which may sound a bit garbled! A milestone for parents is when diapers are no more! Daycare or school marks another milestone, as you learn to…

Mountain Gate Family Restaurant in Thurmont hosted the 5 Guys and a Pi Contest on Pi Day, March 14, to benefit a non-profit of the winner’s choice. In the running were several well-known faces around Thurmont: Thurmont Police Chief Dave Armstrong – Supporting Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Commissioner Bill Blakeslee – Supporting Thurmont Food Bank.…

By Alisha Yocum Ed and Karen Schildt Nominated by: Bill Derbyshire Ed and Karen Schildt (pictured right) have become pillars of the Catoctin community, dedicating themselves to raising awareness and offering support to those struggling with addiction or grieving the loss of a loved one to addiction. Their journey began with their son, Chris, who…

March Community MeetingGeraldine Otremba, Cascade Resident, on Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain The Fort Ritchie Community Center welcomed Cascade residents eager to learn of the latest developments in what is now a three-year legal challenge to a proposed Dollar General Market directly across the street from Historic Fort Ritchie on McAfee Road.…

Alisha Yocum The Town of Thurmont proclaimed Friday, March 21, as Robert Black Day. Black and his family are the owners of Catoctin Mountain Orchard in Thurmont. The proclamation was made for Black for following the principles set forth by his father, Harry Black, when he opened Catoctin Mountain Orchard in 1948, his “community stewardship”…

Jennifer Joy The vibrant community of Emmitsburg is uniting to extend a helping hand to its residents. Beginning on March 12, the Neighborhood Meals Initiative will generously offer a complimentary sit-down dinner at the VHC Activities Building, located on Creamery Road in Emmitsburg. This event will take place every second Wednesday of the month, from…

Alisha Yocum Robert “Bob” Black (pictured right), owner of Catoctin Mountain Orchard, was recently honored with the International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) Hall of Fame Award at their 68th Annual Conference in Rochester, New York. The organization of 450 members honored Black with this award. “Bob exemplifies the dedication and passion that define this honor.…

Starting in 2025, Rev. Marti Steiner Unger was called as Harriet Chapel’s new priest-in-charge. Rev. Marti received her BA in Education from Glenville State University and her theological certificate from Seminary of the Southwest through the Iona Collaborative. She previously served as a supply priest at Grace Episcopal Church in Middleway, West Virginia; St. Phillips…

Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry Article from Good Dog Paws We are incredibly grateful to Butch Wilhide, a true champion of our service dog program, Operation Save-A-Vet, Save-A-Pet, which supports Veterans with service-connected disabilities by providing them with highly trained service dogs, which can greatly improve their quality of life. Over the past eight years,…

The Thurmont Food Bank (TFB) does not have a paid staff. Everyone who works at the food bank is a volunteer. Most of the volunteers are senior citizens, but there are volunteers ranging from 16 to 80-plus years of age. The food is not all given by the government. Approximately 40 percent of the food…

Meet Attorney Michele Rosenfeld, Interviewed by Laura Apelbaum* On Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain Geraldine Otremba, Cascade Resident, on Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain Concerned residents of Cascade have been fighting the granting of a special exception that would allow the building of a Dollar General Market directly across…

Alisha Yocum Robert “Bob” Valentine was recently recognized as the 2025 Contemporary Guest of Honor at the Maryland Dairy Shrine Annual Banquet and Meeting in February. Valentine was one of four recipients recognized as a dairy leader who has made outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to the dairy industry. Valentine is a third-generation Ayrshire breeder,…

By Alisha Yocum Brenda Gonder Brenda Gonder of Thurmont has a gift for bringing smiles and comfort to everyone she meets. Affectionately known as the “Queen of Weis,” many recognize her as the friendly face greeting them at the self-checkout at Weis Markets in Thurmont. For 18 years, Gonder has gone beyond her role, brightening…

While Frederick County is still the largest county by land area in Maryland, it used to be even larger. It comprised present-day Montgomery, Washington, Allegany, Garrett, part of Carroll, and Frederick counties. In 1776, Montgomery County formed from Frederick’s southern portion, and Washington County formed from the western end of Frederick County. Then, in 1837,…