Cover Photo:  Carrie Wivell Wolf and Jonathan Wolf’s son, Jackson, grandson of Phil and Shelly Wivell, celebrates his first Halloween!

Part 2: West of Frederick by Richard D. L. Fulton For hundreds of millions of years, the land that Maryland presently resides upon had rested predominantly at the bottom of the ancient oceans. Around 335 million years ago, two continental plates—one referred to as the African Plate and the other known as the North American…

…from the Past Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry 1889 The Board of School Commissioners of Frederick County, Maryland, Frederick County School No. 4, Election District No. 5. (1889)    To use books and stationery for three pupils fall term ending November 18, 1889 at .75 x 2 + .50 cents total of $2.00. Each pupil shall,…

by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont ARPA Funds Reallocated With the North Church Street water and sewer project substantially complete, Thurmont Chief Operating Officer Jim Humerick recommended that the remaining $272,111 for the project be reallocated to deal with one of the town’s infiltration and inflow problems. The 2,610-foot sewer line from the sewer plant to…

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird It’s hard to believe that Colorfest has come and gone! We had beautiful weather both days with nice crowds. I am certain that our local organizations did very well and the funds they raised will benefit our community. Colorfest is the largest fundraising opportuntiy of the year for many local non-profits…

‘President’ John Hanson:1972/1981 Richard D. L. Fulton John Hanson was born in Port Tobacco Parish, Charles County, in 1721, to parents Samuel Hanson and Elizabeth Storey Hanson, and in 1781,  arguably became the first president of the United States, eight years before the election of George Washington. On September 1, 1972, the United States Postal…

Cover Photo: Jason and Addelynn Green with their Ayrshire dairy heifers. Jason received 3rd place in the March Calf Class, and Addelyn won Overall Reserved Champion Dairy Heifer. 2024 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Winners of the 68th Annual Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show, held September 6-8, 2024, at Catoctin High School in Thurmont, are…

by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Water and Sewer Rates Increasing The Town of Thurmont recently approved new proposed water and sewer rates for Fiscal Year 2025, which may be increased by 15 percent at all usage levels. The rates were last raised in 2013, and costs since that time have risen dramatically. Colorfest Services and…

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Town of Thurmont will be hosting the Gateway to the Cure fundraiser in support of the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund at Frederick Health. Patty Hurwitz and her husband, Jeff, established the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Patty…

Thurmont’s Catoctin Colorfest Turns 60 James Rada, Jr. For 60 years now, Catoctin Colorfest has turned the second weekend in October into an appreciation of beauty both natural and created. Nowadays, around 125,000 people travel to Thurmont to admire the color of the changing leaves in the Catoctin Mountains and browse through the art and…

Naval Academy,1937/1995 Richard D. L. Fulton You may fire when you are ready, Gridley. — Naval Academy Admiral George Dewey, Opening of the Battle of Manila Bay, 1898. On May 16, 1937, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a five-cent stamp commemorating the establishment of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis. The…

Joan Bittner Fry Today, I’m going to Trout’s Market. Should I call them at 5074 or go to their store on East Main Street? They would probably have that nice, young kid deliver my groceries, but it’s a beautiful day, so I’ll go to their store. Maybe I’ll run into some friends. Let me look…

Part 1: From the Bay to FrederickDuring the course of hundreds of millions of years, the land that comprises Maryland had undergone countless transitions, from being located under oceans to being locked up in a mountain chain as high as the present-day Himalayans. In the beginning, after billions of years of “cooling off” following its…

A Family Tradition Burrier Becomes FFA State Officer Alisha Yocum For Ella Burrier, agriculture has always been a way of life. From the age of eight, she was actively involved in 4-H, where she raised rabbits and turkeys and took part in various craft projects. So, when she began her freshman year at Catoctin High…

by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Public Hearing on Water and Sewer Rates The Town of Thurmont held a public hearing on the new proposed water and sewer rates for Fiscal Year 2025, which may be increased by 15 percent at all usage levels. The rates were last raised in 2012, and costs since that time…

Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird It is hard to believe that summer has almost come to an end. A sure sign that fall is coming soon is when school is back in session. Chief Armstrong and I had the privilege of attending the first day of school flag ceremony at the Thurmont Elementary School. It is…

Antietam,2012Richard D. L. Fulton Such a storm of balls I never conceived it possible for men to live through. Shot and shell shrieking and crashing, canister and bullets whistling and hissing most fiend-like through the air until you could almost see them…                                           – Lt. Col A.S. Pendleton, CSA On April 24, 2012, the United…

Submitted by Joan Bittner Fry On my way home from Thurmont today, I drove under the railroad bridges (High Bridges). The train “ran over” me twice. I was reminded of the stories I’d read and heard about of the head-on collision over High Bridges in 1915 (119 years ago). At that time, the bridges were…

In an age where online shopping and big-box retailers dominate the market, local businesses often struggle to stay afloat. Yet, these small enterprises are the heart and soul of our communities, providing unique products, personalized service, and a boost to the local economy. Supporting local businesses isn’t just about making a purchase, it’s about fostering…

Richard D. L. Fulton Coyotes were first reported in Maryland in 1972, and have spread throughout the state, while coywolves (wolf and coyote hybrids) seem to have concentrated in the Chesapeake Bay areas. Coyotes were once considered endemic to the “Wild West,” often playing the role of those menacing, howling inhabitants among the shadows of…