Richard D. L. FultonDuring the days of televised dance programs, such as Baltimore’s The Buddy Deane Show (precursor of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand), Maryland turned out several rock and roll bands in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, some of whom achieved stardom.Below are a few of the more-renowned individuals from Maryland or who became…

By E. Catherine Curtis Catoctin Banner staff writer Richard D. L. Fulton, the author of “Maryland: The Age of Rock ‘n Roll,” also dabbled in Maryland’s rock ‘n roll era when, at age 15, he had formed a group entitled The Nautiloids, with himself as lead guitarist, and composed Nautiloid Reef and Nautiloid Surf. The…

Calling all photographers—amateurs and pros alike! Show off your best shots of local landscapes and get a chance to be featured in our newspaper. The submission deadline is January 18, 2026. How It Works: Submit your vertical, print-quality photo (horizontal photos cannot be accepted as photo needs to fit our cover format). Our newspaper staff…

First Flight Baltimore/Bermuda Richard D. L. Fulton A special cover was issued to commemorate the first transatlantic airmail flight from Baltimore, Maryland to Bermuda on March 16, 1938. United States stamps used on these covers were variable. On the example provided with this article, the sender posted an eight-cent, winged globe airmail stamp with a…

by James Rada, Jr. Thurmont Impact Fees May Be Raised The Town of Thurmont is considering raising its impact fees paid for new construction in town by 2.81 percent. They are paid for water, wastewater, roads, and parks. The fees currently total $23,320. If the increase is approved, the fees will total $23,965. The commissioners…

Alisha Yocum A new locally owned business is bringing compassionate, dependable in-home care to families in the Northern Frederick County area with the opening of Heartfelt Homecare.  “I wanted to create a service where care truly comes from the heart—where clients feel seen, respected, and treated like family,” Kendra Williams-Ingle said. Williams-Ingle founded the company…

The following are the statuses of new businesses and development coming to Emmitsburg from the town planner’s report: Federal Stone (Creamery Road, east side of U.S. 15) — As-builts for water, sewer, lighting, and landscaping were received and are being reviewed. The town engineer inspected the property on December 2, 2025. Creamery Court Extension (Creamery…

by Richard D. L. Fulton Emmitsburg Water Company The incorporation and first board of commissioners of the “Emmitsburgh (sic) Water Company” was initially approved by the Maryland General Assembly in 1816. The board consisted of Robert L. Annan, Patrick Reid, John Agnew, Lewis Motter, and Daniel M. Moore, according to waterworkshistory.us. A Private Corporation The…

Zo Wetzel, CHS Student Catoctin High School (CHS) Class of 2026 was invited to witness the 10th Annual Distinguished Graduates Induction Ceremony on November 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The event—presented by the Catoctin High School Distinguished Graduate Organization—serves to honor CHS graduates who have found success in the following areas: arts and humanities, athletics,…

A lifetime resident of Thurmont, Chester Stull (pictured above,  sitting, and right) celebrated his 85th birthday on December 27, 2025, at the Thurmont Senior Center. The celebration featured a lively 1950s sock hop. It was attended by many family members and friends, including numerous nieces and nephews, local friends, and his sister, Shirley. Happy Birthday,…

by Joan Bittner Fry Mr. Billy R. Hodge, Sr., passed away October 11, 2025, at the age of 94. He was born in Ashland, West Virginia, and after graduating from Elkhorn High School in 1948, he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. Early on, Billy…

Alisha Yocum Volunteers once again gathered at the Vigilant Hose Company Activities Building in Emmitsburg on Thanksgiving Day to serve up a free meal, with all the holiday fixings, to anyone in the community. Seton Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to offer resources for emergency support services and skill development, catalyzing systemic change for…

The Thurmont Lions Club and the Lions Clubs of District 22-W know how important it is to share our American Heritage and how to use that knowledge to inspire volunteerism. July 4, 2026, marks 250 years of American independence from Great Britain since July 4, 1776. As we reflect and celebrate this important milestone for…

James Rada Jr. In what has been a contentious development project and annexation process, the Thurmont Mayor and Board of Commissioners approved the annexation of the 16.7-acre Simmers property for the development of 61 single-family homes after a public hearing. The parcel is currently zoned for agricultural use. Following the end of the public hearing…

Alisha Yocum Sheetz, along with the partnership of Thurmont American Legion and the Thurmont Lions Club, came together to honor and remember Veterans through the annual Wreaths Across America program in December. Over 5,200 locations nationally gathered to lay fresh evergreen wreaths at the headstones of U.S. Veterans. “For the past two years, I have…

Alisha Yocum The bell of the newly completed St. Joseph’s Chapel rang out through the crisp December air on December 3, as Mother Seton School (MSS) in Emmitsburg celebrated the chapel’s completion with Mass and a dedication ceremony. The latest addition to the school was made possible through the donation of TJ and Donna (Fitzgerald)…

The Town of Emmitsburg donated $2,304 to the Emmitsburg Food Bank from registration fees collected during the Turkey Trot in November. This is the largest donation made to an organization to date and the town is excited to keep growing the event to raise even more money in the future. Jessica Housaman (Town Employee), Julie…

Alisha Yocum One might be hard-pressed to find another small town that rallies with such strong support for a great cause. From pink house lights to community members and businesses sporting pink shirts and displays, it is clear that Thurmont is on a mission to help fight breast cancer. At a recent Town of Thurmont…

by Aditi Dhananjaya, High School Student Imagine being locked up in a cell, stripped of your identity, and told to obey a group of strangers who hold complete authority over you. Every move you make is watched. Every mistake is punished. This was not a scene from a dystopian novel; it was the reality of…

With Michael Betteridge Never Say Anything Bad About Someone January is always the time of the year during which we reflect on the past year and prepare for the new year. We use the successes and failures of 2025 to shape our plan to increase the former and limit the latter. We take stock of…