From May To December
A serial fiction story for your enjoyment written by James Rada, Jr. 1: Breakdown Stacy Lawrence glanced anxiously from the dashboard to the winding road ahead of her, as the temperature needle steadily climbed. She had been a teenage mom, but now she was trying for a fresh start. The rising gauge reminded her, though,…
CYA Shoot-a-thon Scores Big Again
Ryan Tokar, CYA Basketball On Sunday, February 5, Catoctin Youth Association (CYA) Basketball held its annual Shoot-a-thon fundraiser. This is the largest annual fundraiser for our program, and proceeds go toward necessities like gym rentals, uniforms, equipment, paid officials, and league fees. With registration numbers up this year now that the majority of COVID-19 restrictions…
Cooperstown: The Dream Continues
Last year, a local group of players and coaches from Thurmont Little League (TLL) teamed up to plan the baseball trip of a lifetime to participate in the prestigious Cooperstown Dreams Park Tournament in Cooperstown, New York. This tournament is well-known nationwide and attracts hundreds of youth baseball teams each summer. However, as was the…
TLL Fall Season Winding Down
Ryan Tokar, Thurmont Little League Thurmont Little League hosts first-ever Family Movie Night in September. Courtesy Photo As the leaves continue to fall, the 70th season of Thurmont Little League (TLL) is winding down, bringing another successful year of baseball to a close. Despite the challenges that COVID-19 has brought forth, the league has continued…
The annual Mount Tabor Church Big Picnic and Baby Show
The annual Mount Tabor Church Big Picnic and Baby Show was held on Saturday, August 14, at Mt. Tabor Park in Rocky Ridge, after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. A total of 27 babies—18 girls and 9 boys—participated in the show. The youngest baby was nine-day-old Elijah Pescatore, son of Bryan and Brittany…
Returning Home
Stories of What It’s Like Returning Home After 25 Years by dave ammenheuser How do you honor the death of a loved one in the midst of a pandemic? It’s not easy. When my parents, John and Elizabeth Ammenheuser, died in the last few months of 2020, our family faced many difficult decisions. Among the…
Thurmont High School Alumni Reunion to be Held
The Thurmont High School Alumni Association will hold its annual banquet on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at the Thurmont Event Complex, located at 13716 Strafford Drive in Thurmont. Due to COVID-19, masks will be required inside the complex. Social hour will begin at 5:00 p.m., with the meal served promptly at 6:00 p.m. The anniversary…
Free Baton-Twirling Course Offered by Catoctin-Ettes
A new and exciting free baton-twirling course is being offered by the Catoctin-Ettes, Inc. This four-week course is for the beginning baton-twirling student, ages five and up. Batons are available and loaned free for class time and are also on hand for optional purchases. Participation in the course costs absolutely nothing! The classes will be…
Thurmont Little League’s Spring Season Underway
After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Thurmont Little League was excited to kick off its 2021 spring season. As the weather began to warm up and all the snow and ice melted, players and coaches resumed practicing in early March. The response to baseball this year was extremely positive, even with the pandemic, as…
A Middle Schooler’s Guide to Solving the Boredom During a Pandemic
Jayden Myers, Eighth-Grade Student at Thurmont Middle School While people have been carefully navigating the daring dance with COVID-19, the world has been faced with lockdowns and restrictions. In the resulting chaos, everyday life changed for us all. The stressful situation took a toll on those who were confined to their homes, sending some into…
Thurmont Discussing Town-Run Internet Service
James Rada, Jr. The Town of Thurmont is considering building its own internet service to provide residents faster service at a lower cost. The Thurmont Internet Commission presented a pilot program to the Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners in February. The plan would be a gradual build-out of service using the town’s electric company rights of…
Thurmont Little League: 70 Years and Going Strong
As the 2021 spring season approaches, Thurmont Little League is looking to the future, yet reflecting on the past as well. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the league. Although COVID-19 restrictions will not allow for the grand celebration deserving of such a milestone, the board of directors is still working hard to plan…
Facing Challenges of Virtual Learning
Jayden Myers, Eighth-Grade Student at Thurmont Middle School As COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, it has left many establishments and businesses closed down, including schools. Following the closings of schools, students and teachers began using an alternative to in-person classes in the form of virtual school. This has been a hard transition for…
Frederick County Vaccine Update
In Frederick County, as of January 21, 2021, over 12,000 residents have received their first vaccination for COVID-19. Currently, the county is vaccinating people in group 1A and those who are 75 years and older who live or work in Frederick County. Residents who are interested in receiving the vaccine must visit the website at…
Thurmont Lions Club Makes Fudge
The Thurmont Lions Club had another great opportunity to hold a fundraiser to help in giving back to the community to support local and charitable organizations during COVID-19. The club conducted its first fudge fundraiser on December 19, 2020, just in time for the holidays. They sold vanilla, chocolate, peanut butter, maple, eggnog, and peppermint…
Happily Ever After
A Clean Slate by Valerie Nusbaum Happy New Year! I’m hoping that 2021 will be a great year for all of us. I know a lot of you were miserable in 2020. Many people we know suffered job losses, business closings, and illness. Randy and I were fortunate that, so far, we haven’t been visited…
Catoctin KIDs
Counting Our Blessings by Anita DiGregory In celebration of the last day before an extended holiday break, my daughter’s lovely and very talented tutor had created a “Grammar Bingo” game for the class. Each child chose their own card from her stack of handmade bingo cards. My daughter chose hers and then proceeded to win…
Frontline Workers Continue to Stand Strong and Steadfast in the Face of COVID-19
Blair Garrett For frontline workers, the approach to each workday remains the same. While the world changes rapidly around us with global pandemics and novel vaccines, the essential workers who have put the time in day after day have realized a new normal. It’s going on ten months since COVID-19 reached the United States, and…
Emmitsburg Council of Churches Cancels 2020 Christmas Tour of Churches
George Tuggle, Emmitsburg Council of Churches Secretary What a year! How many events have been canceled? How much fellowship postponed? The Emmitsburg Council of Churches (ECC) regretfully cancels the 2020 Christmas Tour of Churches. The Tour would have placed tour participants and congregations at an unacceptable risk for COVID-19. Our greatest priority is the well-being…
Thurmont Little League: A Fall Season to Remember
As the leaves turned colors and the temperatures began to drop, Thurmont Little League brought an end to a season that will not be forgotten any time soon. With COVID-19 bringing about the cancellation of the spring season, an extended fall season, jam-packed with raffles, spirit wear sales, sandlot games, and a Fall Showcase Tournament,…
