Columns
Fresh, Local, and Full of Flavor
The Many Benefits of Shopping at Farmers Markets As warm weather returns and produce begins to ripen, farmers markets are springing to life across towns—offering more than just fruits and vegetables. These vibrant, open-air markets are becoming weekly traditions for many shoppers, and for good reason. From fresh food to stronger communities, farmers markets bring…
Book of the Month
Home for Wayward Elephants by y James Rada, Jr.- published in 2004 – a a coming-of-age novel by Michele Tester This month’s book pick is a novel written by The Catoctin Banner’s very own James Rada, Jr., an Amazon.com bestselling author who writes nonfiction history and historical fiction, as well as fantasy, horror, and young…
A Change of Scenery
Jeff Yocum “A Change of Scenery” is a new column, focusing on day trips from Thurmont that are within 150 miles (give or take). These trips will not include “Disney-level” destinations, but rather, lesser-known points of interest. The purpose of the article is to suggest venues for folks seeking a short, easily accessible change of…
Look Up
Mitchell Tester, College Student With the recent news of the Soviet-era spacecraft crashing back to Earth from our friends on the other side of the world, I thought it would be fitting to talk about one of my favorite planets: Venus. Venus is the second most inner planet, roughly the size of the Earth. Often,…
The Best Time to Start a Financial Plan is Now
by Tricia Bush, CPA, CFP®, Owner, AAA Advisory LLC Question of the Month Which Assets Should You Use First Once You Retire? Great question. When you retire, you flip the switch—from decades of saving for retirement to finally drawing from your nest egg. That shift can feel emotional and overwhelming. After all, most people have…
Looking Back
By James Rada, Jr. Vandal Attacks Monuments on Multiple Nights In 1913, Gettysburg prepared to welcome tens of thousands of veterans back to the battlefield to remember the 50th anniversary of the battle and to celebrate the peace between North and South. Amidst this hopeful time, someone let it be known that he didn’t agree.…
MY TW0 CENTS
MICHEL TESTER The Greatest Teacher Of All My dad passed away unexpectedly four days before Thanksgiving, seven months after he walked me down the aisle at my wedding. I was only twenty-four years old. I was sitting at home writing him a poem that I intended to give him as a gift on Christmas. I…
Veteran Spotlight
Joseph C. Reaser A Gettysburg HeroRichard D. L. Fulton Joseph C. Reaser was born to parents Clayton S. and Annie E. Reaser on September 27, 1913, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He had four sisters, Catherine, Helen, Ruth, and Esther, and two brothers, Paul and David. Reaser was a graduate of Gettysburg High School. Reaser registered for…
American Legion Post 168, Thurmont
May was a very wet poppy month. We even had to dodge rain drops to meet with Mayor John Kinnaird to present him with the first Poppy of the season. For God and Country is Sunday, June 8, at Camp West Mar at 1:00 p.m. To the Legion’s founders, service to country was service to…
Taste of the Past
Maxine TroxellThis recipe came from the Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook. I have won numerous prize ribbons with this cake. It’s perfect to serve with fresh fruit, and the recipe makes a large cake. This cake has been taste-tested by my late dog, Trixie. I usually make this cake for the Community Show, but one year,…
The Supermarket Gourmet
by Buck Reed The Art & Science of Picnicking So, summer is here. This is a time when a person’s attention might turn to picnicking. Nothing piques someone’s interest quite like packing some carefully planned foods into a basket and traveling to a not-too-crowded park or riverbank. From there, a nice meal Alfresco can be…
once upon a time...
James Rada, Jr. June 1925, 100 Years Ago At Thurmont, Man Dies In Hospital Missing his footing and falling between two cars from a Western Maryland freight train on which he was a brakeman, John P. Vaughn, 32, of Hagerstown, sustained injuries this morning, which resulted in his death a few hours later at the…
health Matters
nutritional response testing What Is It and How Does It Work?by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center Note: This column originally appeared in the January 2023 issue of The Catoctin Banner. Dr. Lo felt it was important to inform our readers again. Let me start by telling you when and how…
Thurmont Senior Center
by Kristen Bodmer Summer is here. I hope you are all taking the time to enjoy the beautiful weather. But, if you need to beat the heat, come in for a visit. You will be happy you did. We hit a new record in April with a total of 650 meals served, 255 of those…
