Bob Jester Captures First Place Alisha Yocum When The Catoctin Banner announced its 1st Annual Photography Contest, celebrating local landscapes, the response from the community was overwhelming. We published the top ten finalists in the February issue and left it up to you—our readers—to determine the winner. One image rose above the rest: a stunning…

by Richard D. L. Fulton “Wherever he saw a hole, he always wanted to know the depth of it. To him this was important.”  ~Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth For over a million years, and even in modern times, caves and caverns have often provided humans with places to live, to…

by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Charter Review Committee Established The Thurmont Mayor and Commissioners passed a resolution to establish a charter review committee, which will review the current town charter and make recommendations to the mayor and commissioners of suggested changes by September 1, 2027. The mayor and commissioners also approved the following residents to…

ThurmontMayor John Kinnaird Thurmont will be celebrating its 275th Anniversary this year, having first been settled in 1751 by families of Pennsylvania-German descent. The settlement grew into a successful community of small businesses dependent on Hunting Creek to power mills and machinery. The town was initially known as Mechanicstown due to the number of manufacturers.…

Friendship Airport Dedication Richard D. L. Fulton A special cover was issued, commemorating the dedication in recognition of the opening of the Friendship International Airport, which had been located nine miles south of Baltimore in Anne Arundel County, on June 24, 1950. Celebratory covers, such as the Friendship International Airport cover, were not printed by…

The Let Them Theory | by Mel Robbins | published in 2024| Self-help My book pick for this month is The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. I have not featured a self-help book yet, so I thought it was time. To be honest, I’m not usually a big fan of self-help books. Can they…

By Ronald Aruldass, Marketing & Volunteering Manager at Seton Center In Northern Frederick County, Maryland, and Southern Adams County, Pennsylvania, many families face daily challenges that can feel overwhelming—from putting food on the table to managing unexpected financial emergencies. Seton Center, a nonprofit organization based in Emmitsburg, is dedicated to providing hope, support, and essential…

Alisha Yocum Sara Kep, owner of Sara Kep’s Kitchen in Thurmont, saw her dream come true after starring in the “Farm to Skillet” segment of Maryland Farm & Harvest. The show, which airs on PBS, has reached more than 19 million viewers since its debut in 2013 and showcases agriculture-related stories from across the state.…

Alisha Yocum Midnight Hour Tattoo, owned by Shawn LaFramboise (pictured right), has opened its doors in downtown Thurmont at 113 East Main Street, offering custom tattoo work in a studio that feels more like an art gallery than a traditional shop. LaFramboise relocated to Maryland from Maine in mid-2025, and he chose Thurmont as the…

Meritus has a new option for when you need to visit a health care professional in the evening, but don’t necessarily need the Emergency Department. Meritus Fast Lane Care is open from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in Suite 147 of the Robinwood Professional Center, located at 11110 Medical Campus Road in Hagerstown. Staffed by…

by Richard D. L. Fulton Boyle’s Store Boyle’s Store, also known as the B. H. Boyle Store and as the B.H. Boyle and Sons, opened in Emmitsburg in 1933 in an empty 25-foot by 16-foot storeroom, located at 304 East Main Street, that had been vacant for 20 years, according to a June 6, 1946,…

The following are the statuses of new businesses and development coming to Thurmont from the town planner’s report: Subdivisions: Hammaker Hill, Phase 2 (Westview Drive) — 22 single family lots in R-2; Under construction. No remaining lots. Mechanicstown, LLC (Emmitsburg Road) — Final Plat conditionally approved for 31 single family lots in R-2/ ARP. Mountain…

James Rada, Jr. On March 2, Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis will be homeless… for a day. For the second year, Davis will be staying outside from 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 2, to 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3. It is part of a special project he started last year called “Spend a Day in…

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering free tree seedlings to landowners across the state through its Backyard Buffers program. The initiative is available to residents who have a creek, stream, drainage ditch, or other waterway on or near their property and aims to improve water quality while supporting local wildlife. Each “buffer…

by Alisha Yocum Prices have continued to rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult for many local families to keep up with everyday expenses. A 2025 United Way of Frederick County ALICE Report shows about 33 percent of households in Frederick County struggle to afford basic necessities, including food. Many of the local food…

Members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sabillasville recently held the first annual Show Your Love Community Food Drive. The idea behind the event was to offer an easy drop-off spot for individuals wanting to support the Help Hotline Food Bank, which serves the Sabillasville, Blue Ridge Summit, Cascade, Fairfield, and surrounding mountaintop communities. The…

MASYN SANDERS, Club Reporter, Lewistown Mt. View 4-H Club The past two months have been very busy for the Lewistown Mt. View 4-H Club.  On December 5, 2025, some club members volunteered at the Rocky Ridge Fire Company Christmas event by assisting children with making crafts. Several members also participated in the Breakfast with Santa…

Alisha Yocum Many in the community may attend sporting events at Catoctin High School (CHS), but they may not know and understand the importance of the Catoctin Sports Boosters and the role they play for Cougar athletes. Catoctin Sports Boosters, Inc. is a nonprofit that assists and supports athletics programs at CHS. Through sponsorships, donations,…

Over 100 Catoctin High School (CHS) and Thurmont Middle School (TMS) students raised over $15,000 for the Maryland Special Olympics through the Polar Bear Plunge.

With Michael Betteridge Madness In March I’m mad! I’m mad because every time I get comfortable, something changes.  Just about the time I get used to a routine…wham! Somebody changes something. Change has become routine. It doesn’t matter whether it’s politics, work, health, or sports.  Change is everywhere. I’m sick and tired of change. Back…