by Valerie Nusbaum It was quiet inside the toy factory. Oh, Santa insisted on calling the wood and glass facility a workshop, but everyone knew it was a factory with assembly lines, conveyor belts, and noisy machines that belched and snorted and spit out toys. The elves still did some of the work by hand,…

James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg residents turned out in what many people felt were record numbers for the 29th Annual Evening of Christmas Spirit on December 4, 2017. The evening began with the lighting of the town Christmas tree. It is something usually done on the town square, but because of the work on the square…

Deb Abraham Spalding “It was a Great day for everyone. Christmas in Thurmont is always a very special event,” said Vickie Grinder, Thurmont’s Main Street manager, about the 2017 Christmas in Thurmont event, held on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Mild and sunny weather made for a pleasant trip for participants to stroll through town, traveling…

by Anita DiGregory Memory-Making Moments Last month, when we visited together, we talked about fostering an attitude of gratitude in our little ones.  This transitions beautifully into the mystical season of Christmas. But if your home is anything like mine, this season can get more than just a bit stressful. As lovely and magical as…

Your Holiday Questions by Valerie Nusbaum The holidays are difficult enough without wondering why we’re doing the things we’re doing, right?  We all follow certain traditions and customs, but do we really know why? I got curious and started doing research, and I asked some other people to tell me what puzzles them about their…

The Best Christmas Present Ever by Valerie Nusbaum I’ve given and received a lot of Christmas gifts over the years. I remember most of them fondly, and some have funny stories attached.  Choosing the best gift ever was posing a problem for me, so I asked some friends and family to share memories of their…