Community News

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”…