text stringlengths 237 126k | date_download stringdate 2022-01-01 00:32:20 2023-01-01 00:02:37 ⌀ | source_domain stringclasses 60 values | title stringlengths 4 31.5k ⌀ | url stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ | id stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Frederick girls cross-country team has been winning big meets all season, taking titles at four of the five events they have attended.
Constructing a winner: Frederick girls cross-country dominating behind Gregory, fully stocked roster
Frederick High School girls cross-country runners eagerly waited for the Bull Run Invitational medium school race results to be revealed after the meet at Hereford High School on Sept. 17.
Eventually, they learned they had won the team title.
“We were all going crazy,” Cadets sophomore runner Juliana Brawner said. “Since that was such a big meet, we were really, really excited.”
As noteworthy as that triumph was, coming on the very course where MPSSAA state championships will be held in November, it was merely part of a season-wide trend.
Frederick has captured girls team titles at four of the five meets it’s competed in this season — the Brunswick Invitational, the Rebel Invitational, the Bull Run Invitational medium school meet and the Carlisle Invitational.
The meet it didn’t win, the Run at the Valley at Middletown High School, came when the Cadets sent their B team to compete. Their top runners were being saved for the Bull Run Invitational four days later, and it was an opportunity for their up-and-comers to meet a requirement — competing in a varsity race — needed to earn a varsity letter.
A confluence of factors has produced Frederick’s impressive run this fall.
The Cadets have a bonafide star runner in junior Caroline Gregory, who’s been piling up individual wins all season as she looks to successfully defend her Class 3A state title.
They’ve got another consistent high-finisher in Brawner and a stable of eight runners with times of 21:50 or better battling for Frederick’s seven spots in each meet.
Those athletes also work in a competitive yet collaborative atmosphere nurtured by coaches Frank Strakonsky and Sage Norton, who look to enter the Cadets in meets where Gregory can be challenged and the team can be successful.
“There’s a lot of moving parts,” Strakonsky said.
Gregory has been the centerpiece, of course. A former home school student and precocious distance runner, she helped usher in this era when she arrived at Frederick as a freshman during the 2020-21 school year.
“I came to Frederick High School mainly so I could run cross-country,” said Gregory, who started running with the Frederick Spires youth club when she was 11. “I’ve just really enjoyed being on the team and everything. I’ve really grown to love running.”
Mentioning that Gregory lived in Frederick High’s district, Strakonsky said he and Norton knew they had a special runner. It didn’t take long for others to catch on.
When high school sports resumed in early 2021 after the coronavirus shutdown, Gregory won the Frederick County Public Schools girls cross-country title.
The MPSSAA didn’t hold state cross-country meets that school year, so Gregory had to wait until her sophomore season for a crack at that crown. She didn’t disappoint, becoming the first Frederick girl to earn an individual state title by winning the Class 3A race at Hereford with a personal best time of 18 minutes, 35 seconds, which set a state record.
“That was the catalyst of everything. That was the tip of the iceberg there, and then you just build around that,” Strakonsky said of Gregory’s addition to the team. “We tell the kids, ‘Hey, we can’t get any more points out of her, when she gets the one stick, there’s no more points available there.’ So we’ve been working to build that.”
A crucial part of the building process is getting people to come out for the team, and Strakonsky — in his 25th year as Frederick’s head coach — has tirelessly tried to stock his roster while manning Frederick’s school store.
“Probably the last year and a half, I’ve asked 500 students if they want to run cross-country,” he said. “And if we get somebody interested, I’ll approach [team captains] Caroline or Sofia [Driver] and say, ‘Here’s the name of this person, go talk to them.’ And they do a great job doing that.”
For the second year in a row, Frederick has 10 freshmen in the program. They don’t need to win races like Gregory or place high like Brawner. They just have to put forth effort.
Strakonsky said the team doesn’t make cuts. It’ll take anyone willing to work hard. He mentioned junior Mary Joy Johnson, who is usually Frederick’s third-best finisher behind Gregory and Brawner.
“At the second meet of the year at South Hagerstown last year, she ran 29:30 up there,” Strakonsky said. “This year she ran 21:09. and it has everything to do with eight months of hard work on her part. She decided that she wanted to be a factor.”
And improvement tends to beget improvement.
“One of our freshmen, Ysebelle Soto, ran like a 21:45,” Strakonsky said. “So, six of the seven girls in the next race all ran faster than that because they knew that they had to pump up the jam on that.”
Being a well-rounded athlete helps. Brawner, for instance, considers lacrosse her main sport, and she’s a defensive-oriented player for Frederick girls basketball team. Gregory and her sister/teammate, freshman Olivia Gregory, are competitive swimmers.
Also, Norton’s presence has been invaluable when it comes to motivating runners. She’ll often run alongside athletes in practice, a testament to her 25 years as a competitive runner, including at Dickinson University in the early 2000s.
“One of the things I tell them Day 1, whether they’re a brand-new runner or they’re seasoned like Caroline and Juls, I will never make you do a workout that I won’t do alongside you or haven’t done myself,” Norton said.
Norton thought it was important for athletes to see her go “that extra step with them.” Strakonsky agreed.
“Now it’s easy for a 64-year-old man to sit here and tell these guys, ‘This is what you need to do,’ and it’s easy to write the workouts,” Strakonsky said. “But Sage brings validity to those workouts.”
As Strakonsky stressed, though, the athletes are the most crucial ingredients. It’s up to them to get motivated, and it’s all on them to convert that motivation into results on the course, be it individually or as a group.
Gregory, for instance, never dreamed of becoming complacent after winning a state title. She wanted to top the personal best that produced that crown, and she got to cross that off her want list by running an 18:33 on the 5,000-meter course at the Carlisle Invitational on Sept. 24.
“Now I’m looking at sub-18,” she said.
Gregory has won all four races she’s competed in this fall, looking to steadily build herself up for the state meet.
“It’s definitely more pressure this year. Professional athletes always say it’s harder to repeat something than it is to do it for the first time,” she said. “So I’m just trying to look at this season as like digging in and just continuing to do my best. We’ll see what comes of that.”
Unlike Gregory, Brawner didn’t start running cross-country until her freshman year of high school, inspired to try it after watching her older sister, Samantha, run. She placed 25th at last year’s state meet.
“I was pretty good for freshman year. I went in not knowing anything and not expecting anything,” said Brawner, who raised her expectations for this year.
Brawner is usually Frederick’s second-highest finisher. When Gregory won the Bull Run Invitational, Brawner placed sixth.
“She always gets our team off to a good start in the races, and we have a solid pack of girls after her,” Gregory said. “We also have a really solid group of freshmen.”
As newcomers develop and proven performers like Gregory and Brawner become even more seasoned, perhaps Frederick can take a shot at becoming the first Frederick County girls cross-country team to win a state team title since Middletown in 2000.
While intra-team competition has strengthened the Cadets, it hasn’t weakened their sense of camaraderie.
Gregory and Brawner talked about how Driver came up with idea of designing tie-dye shirts that could be worn before meets.
“So we’re all twinning,” one of them said.
The runners recently spent time together painting homecoming posters. After the Carlisle meet, the team went to Hershey Park.
Strakonsky thought it was important for runners to have more in common with each other than just running.
“You really have to learn what makes each other tick,” he said. “And when you figure out what makes each other tick, that’s when you really start to mesh and you realize that you’re running for something more than just Caroline or just Juls or just Sofia. You realize, OK, I’m running for 20 other people that are on this team. If you can build that, it’s really a good place to start.”
There’s another good thing for the Cadets — none of their top 20 runners are seniors. Their success this year might just be a precursor.
“We definitely didn’t expect to be winning all the meets. That was a surprise,” Gregory said. “We’re going to try to keep the success going.”
Juls Brawner
Juliana Brawner | 2022-10-05T06:17:47Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Constructing a winner: Frederick girls cross-country dominating behind Gregory, fully stocked roster | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/constructing-a-winner-frederick-girls-cross-country-dominating-behind-gregory-fully-stocked-roster/article_8a7c1200-d546-5793-9468-3b7c485e4e1b.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/constructing-a-winner-frederick-girls-cross-country-dominating-behind-gregory-fully-stocked-roster/article_8a7c1200-d546-5793-9468-3b7c485e4e1b.html |
Washington has had poor luck with injuries, dating to last year. It continued into the summer, when soft-tissue injuries sidelined many players in camp, and now, four games into the season, the Commanders’ luck has hardly changed.
“When you start seeing some steps go forward, and then all of a sudden you go backward, that’s a tough pill to swallow,” Rivera said. “... To lose a player of Jahan’s caliber who’s done a lot of good things for you, that’s even more frustrating.” | 2022-10-05T06:17:53Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Commanders lose another O-lineman as RT Sam Cosmi has thumb surgery | Professional: All Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/commanders-lose-another-o-lineman-as-rt-sam-cosmi-has-thumb-surgery/article_63828d25-1f4d-5733-ae55-11fcae01583c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/commanders-lose-another-o-lineman-as-rt-sam-cosmi-has-thumb-surgery/article_63828d25-1f4d-5733-ae55-11fcae01583c.html |
John Linnell, left, and John Flansburgh make up They Might Be Giants. The band will perform in Leesburg, Va., this weekend to
They Might Be Giants talks upcoming Leesburg show to support the Arc of Loudoun
By Patrick Kernan Loudoun Times-Mirror
They Might Be Giants, pioneers of alternative rock, will bring their eclectic mix of quirky lyrics and catchy pop hooks to Leesburg, Virginia, this week to support the Arc of Loudoun.
And while the band has garnered a large, devoted following over the years, founding member John Flansburgh said the charity performance might even be more interesting for those who are hearing the band for the first time.
“It’s just a big, interesting, barnstormer of a rock show,” Flansburgh told the Loudoun Times-Mirror during a phone interview on Friday. “I think there’s certain songs that we do that the first time you hear them is the most intriguing. I think it will be really interesting for somebody to just walk into our universe.”
The band will be bringing their “universe” — built piece by piece across 23 records since their 1986 debut — to the Shocktober Haunt Party on Oct. 8 at Ion International Training Center in Leesburg.
Proceeds from the show will go toward the Arc of Loudoun, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving people with disabilities. The Haunt Party replaces the Shocktober haunted house the Arc had become known for, which had been held at the Carlheim Manor in Leesburg.
In the nearly 40 years since They Might Be Giants released their self-titled debut, the band has introduced eager listeners to bizarre characters like a sentient night light on the 1990 song “Birdhouse in Your Soul,” a rock band made up of figures from ancient myths on 2007’s “The Mesopotamians” and a dinosaur feeling rather anxious about the thought of being born on 2021’s “Brontosaurus.”
Considering that the band’s tour stop in Leesburg is a Halloween-themed show, Flansburgh suggested the band’s blend of quirky humor and a sense of just-out-of-reach dread makes them a good fit.
“We incorporate our sensibilities and our sense of humor in what we’re doing, and that’s a tricky balancing act right out of the gate,” Flansburgh said. “On paper, it just seems like a terrible idea for anything in rock not to be sort of self-serious. But we took on the challenge of having a little dash of humor in what we’re doing.
“And I think we found an interesting balance,” he went on, “but I guess the sort of shock value of just reminding the listener that there is some existential dread around the corner … it’s sometimes just too hard to resist.”
Underneath the humor, weird characters and healthy dose of existential dread, though, the core of what makes up a They Might Be Giants song is simply solid pop song-writing, Flansburgh said.
As kids, Flansburgh and the band’s other founding member, John Linnell were “very attracted to pop songs,” Flansburgh said. “Pop songs from the heyday of pop music, from, like, the ’60s … songs that were really in the ‘pop song’ format, like choruses and verse and things really oriented towards melody. Then when punk rock, new wave came around, one of the big, simple side effects of it was it kind of resurrected the idea of ‘the song,’ rather than, like, sonic experimentation. In some ways, I think we think of ourselves as the last new wave band, because the thing about the popular song is that it has a form, but the style is kind of the experiment. You can do any kind of sonic work you’re intrigued by, but it’s still in this verse-chorus-riff format, and it’s somehow quite accessible to the listener.”
They Might Be Giants’ stop in Leesburg this week is one of the very few stops on their tour that hasn’t sold out already. Flansburgh said the tour has been a great, if emotional, experience.
Like many bands, They Might Be Giants had been sidelined by COVID-19 and were just getting back to touring when Flansburgh got into a serious car accident after leaving the first night of tour in New York City this summer. After several months of recovery requiring shows be postponed, they’re back on the road.
He said it’s been an eye-opening experience.
“I’m just really grateful to be back upright and be able to do shows, and it just gives you a completely different perspective,” he said. “I just have such gratitude. … We just did a couple of weeks of shows, and it was a blast.”
While They Might Be Giants have released a handful of educational children’s records across their career, this concert will be a PG-13 show.
Patrick Kernan is the regional editor with the Loudoun Times-Mirror and The Frederick News-Post. He lives in downtown Frederick after moving from Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he grew up. He splits his time between Frederick and Leesburg, Va.
Shocktober Haunt Party with They Might Be Giants
Where: Ion International Training Center, 19201 Compass Creek Pkwy. SE, Leesburg, Va.
Tickets: $40 general admission, $50 arena seat, $65 premium arena seat, $125 per person for the Really Important Person (or R.I.P.) package, available at etix.com
Info: 703-777-1939, thearcofloudoun.org
John Flansburgh | 2022-10-05T21:51:41Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | They Might Be Giants talks upcoming Leesburg show to support the Arc of Loudoun | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/they-might-be-giants-talks-upcoming-leesburg-show-to-support-the-arc-of-loudoun/article_622b8270-1854-5754-bf2a-99faeba89942.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/they-might-be-giants-talks-upcoming-leesburg-show-to-support-the-arc-of-loudoun/article_622b8270-1854-5754-bf2a-99faeba89942.html |
UnCapped: Pittsburgh Brewers Guild
Lauren LaRocca,Chris Sands,
Lauren LaRocca,Chris Sands
In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Jen Walzer, social media chair for the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild, about the craft beer community in the Pittsburgh area. Here is an excerpt of their talk.
UnCapped: So many cities have canceled their Beer Weeks, so it’s pretty cool that Pittsburgh is carrying on with that. It’s fairly new, right?
Jen Walzer: It is and it isn’t. Pittsburgh had a Beer Week, and I think it was on the verge of extinction. Towards the end, it pretty much became just a bunch of tap takeovers at local bars, which is fine, but the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild kind of revitalized it and took it over, and it’s really now a Beer Week ran by the breweries, which is really fun. Each brewery has a feature event of the week. In Pittsburgh we now have 47 breweries on the guild, so we can have up to 47 events.
UnCapped: When a Beer Week becomes just a tap takeover or something barely different than a normal day at a bar or restaurant, that is when the Beer Week tends to stop existing.
Walzer: That’s exactly what was happening here. And we wanted to add a few new elements, like finding a sister city to partner with each year brings a new element and just shows how friendly the beer atmosphere is. Last year, we did a collaboration with Asheville. … This year, Cleveland.
UnCapped: How old is the Pittsburgh Brewers Guild? It’s not super old, right?
Walzer: Right. The Pittsburgh Brewers Guild was started in 2017, so almost five years.
UnCapped: I’ve always thought the beer scene in Pittsburgh kind of lagged a lot of other areas by a good five to 10 years. Once it took off, though, it took off very strong.
Walzer: Yeah, that’s exactly how we feel, too. And it’s just not stopping. We’re seeing more and more breweries opening all the time. Right now, we’re at 47 in the guild; by the end of the year, I’m sure we’ll be close to 50, if not at 50.
UnCapped: What would you say is the No. 1 thing in the Pittsburgh area that breweries would want to see change, from a legal standpoint, or are you able to operate pretty much how you’d like to?
Walzer: Things have really loosened up here, as far as our brewery license and what you can do with it, and I think that’s why you’re seeing a big increase in Pittsburgh. I think we’re all just happy to come out of COVID and be able to operate and have our doors open. For the most part, everything’s working good. I now have a brewery in city limits, so I’m having a lot of fun dealing with that, because there’s a lot more red tape.
UnCapped: Is the Pittsburgh area having trouble with CO2? From what I understand, while it’s definitely a national issue, it seems to be more localized for whether or not it’s a huge issue.
Walzer: None of us have hit that level yet. We’re all very concerned about it. I know for us, personally, it had us take a step back and see what we could do in our production side to recapture and reuse and that kind of thing. I think it’s making us all very conscious about how we’re doing things.
Pittsburgh Brewers Guild
pittsburghbreweries.com
Jen Walzer | 2022-10-05T21:51:47Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | UnCapped: Pittsburgh Brewers Guild | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/uncapped-pittsburgh-brewers-guild/article_06b4ac59-f79b-59f0-8695-87e7b98bc241.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/uncapped-pittsburgh-brewers-guild/article_06b4ac59-f79b-59f0-8695-87e7b98bc241.html |
Three members of a family are accused of defrauding the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, or Medicaid, of at least $100,000 over the course of four years.
The indictment did not go into detail about the allegations. Raquel Guillory Coombs, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, said that since the case was still in litigation, her office could not provide more details on the alleged fraud.
However, Tahir Afzal’s attorney, Mark Schamel, said the case should last one or two weeks. He was with Ayesha Afzal’s attorney, Peggy Bennett.
Mehmood Afzal’s attorney, David Benowitz, was busy with another case on Monday and wasn’t present.
Schamel said jurors wouldn’t need to hear all of the testimony from Medicaid recipients, who are some of the witnesses the state identified. He asked for hearings to figure out which witnesses should testify, to streamline the trial to a couple of weeks.
“The recipients don’t really have a connection to whether the defendants committed a crime,” he said.
“There’s storylines behind each of their testimonies,” she said, referencing the potential Medicaid recipient witnesses.
Pascale said five to seven weeks takes into consideration cross-examination. But Schamel said there’s a lot of overlap between the defendants and there would be no need to repeat some cross-examinations.
Mark Schamel | 2022-10-06T01:11:27Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Three members of family are accused of Medicaid fraud | Courts | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/courts/three-members-of-family-are-accused-of-medicaid-fraud/article_e666468d-8a01-5a63-bad1-3cb711ac267c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/courts/three-members-of-family-are-accused-of-medicaid-fraud/article_e666468d-8a01-5a63-bad1-3cb711ac267c.html |
More than 18 million residents live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are affected by the pollution reduction efforts by member states in the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.
Those are the findings in a report released Tuesday during a video press conference by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, an environmental watchdog of the bay watershed.
The assessment comes days before a meeting in Washington of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, a high-powered consortium that includes the governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and New York; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser; and the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.
During the Oct. 11 meeting, members are expected to discuss accelerating efforts to clean up the bay by 2025. Their decisions will directly affect more than 18 million people and 3,600 species of plants and animals that live in the watershed’s 64,000-square-mile expanse.
The council established the pollution-reduction goals in the 2010 Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a regional effort between the watershed states.
Hilary Harp Falk, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said that while the states that make up the bay’s watershed are making progress, they are not moving fast enough to fulfill the blueprint’s goals.
Under the blueprint, the Environmental Protection Agency enforces restoration efforts, but foundation officials said the EPA has been lax. | 2022-10-06T01:11:33Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Maryland, bay states criticized before big environmental meeting | Environment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/pollution/maryland-bay-states-criticized-before-big-environmental-meeting/article_5908e6b9-d163-58ea-9888-4003a3da1e45.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/pollution/maryland-bay-states-criticized-before-big-environmental-meeting/article_5908e6b9-d163-58ea-9888-4003a3da1e45.html |
ABOVE: Volunteer curator Kelly White looks through historical garments at the Brunswick Heritage Museum on Monday. The museum received a grant for the care and inventory of historical garments. LEFT: A historical garment is displayed.
A historical garment is displayed at the Brunswick Heritage Museum on Monday. The museum received a grant for the care and inventory of historical garments.
Volunteer curator Kelly White displays details on a historical black wedding dress at the Brunswick Heritage Museum on Monday. The museum received a grant for the care and inventory of historical garments.
A historical black wedding dress is displayed at the Brunswick Heritage Museum on Monday. The museum received a grant for the care and inventory of historical garments.
Antique garments tell the story of Brunswick’s past
By Erik Anderson Special to The News-Post
Articles of clothing are among the best museum exhibits for helping visitors feel a personal connection to history, according to James Castle, director of the Brunswick Heritage Museum.
“I think a visitor to a museum [mentally] puts themselves in the textile, and that provides an enhanced experience when visiting,” he said. “The one thing we can always relate to in history is, No. 1, food, and No. 2, clothing.”
The museum staff feels an especial obligation to care for their collection of approximately 200 historical garments that date from the late 1700s through the mid-20th century, Castle said. Donated by families with deep connections to Brunswick’s past, especially to its railroad history, the clothing items were among the first of the museum’s artifacts and a large part of the rationale behind the museum’s founding in the 1970s.
In addition to their importance for educating the public, clothes can tell professional historians a lot about a community’s past, Castle said. A given era’s popular fashions can reveal everything from cultural preferences to concrete economic realities.
Unfortunately, these valuable sources of information have short shelf lives compared to other classes of artifacts, like pottery or metalwork. If garments are to survive intact for centuries, they need attention and care.
When Kelly White recently stepped into the role of the museum’s volunteer curator, she recognized the need to protect the collection and applied for a special conservation grant from the Costume Society of America, an organization focused on the “understanding of appearance and dress practices of people across the globe,” according to its website.
The CSA granted the museum $1,500 to fund the first of a three-step process White plans for the garment collection: preservation, conservation and display.
During the preservation step, White says the grant will cover the costs of assessing the current condition of each textile item and purchasing the most up-to-date storage materials. If any items require conservation (i.e., repair), she will apply for another grant to cover the costs of professional care. The final stage of the plan — displaying all the items in the collection — is a goal for several years into the future.
While White believes the collection is in good shape because it has always been well cared-for by past staff mebers, only about 5% of it is currently on display to the public due to a lack of exhibition space.
Castle said that renovating the existing museum space and employing new exhibition technologies will make it possible to display a larger portion of the garment collection in the relative near-term. But in order to realize the goal of displaying all the archived artifacts, including its textiles, the museum will need to consider expanding beyond its current location, a step that Castle says is far in the future.
Meanwhile, during the early stages of White’s historical garment care plan, she and Castle are enjoying exploring the collection and contemplating what the individual pieces reveal about Brunswick’s history.
Castle feels particularly drawn to the collection’s baseball uniforms because of his personal family connection to the town’s athletic history. He said the sport became more than a mere pastime for the town. Brunswick served as the main train yard of the B&O Railroad from 1890 through the 1960s, and the railroad saw baseball as a vital component of their operations.
“It was the most popular sport of the time, and the railroad wanted to keep their workers out of trouble and also physically fit, so they sponsored adult baseball leagues,” he said. “The railroad actually provided land and a stadium for multiple baseball fields.”
White’s favorites in the collection are the everyday clothes worn by townspeople of the late-Victorian and early Edwardian period. Because most of the town was built during this time and has changed little since then, White feels especially connected to the town’s history when looking at the clothes from that time.
“I have a particular love of mourning dresses, the wedding dresses, things that sort of tell their own story,” she mused. “There were very specific customs for how you wore them and how you were not supposed to wear them.”
Castle and White both emphasized that the collection encapsulates the story of the slow American shift from wearing custom handmade garments meant to last a lifetime to regularly buying new clothes to keep up with the latest fashions.
White said the earlier pieces of the collection reveal a high level of quality, “because it had to last.” But as Brunswick became firmly connected by rail to big costal cities like Baltimore and New York, the town became increasingly fashion-conscious, Castle added, and soon hosted several retailers who sold off-the-rack fashions.
“The main place you shopped was a place called Kaplon’s Department store. And Fanny Kaplon, many times a year, would actually travel to New York City to see what the latest fashions were,” Castle said. “A favorite story of a lot of our locals is that during Christmas, the Kaplons would decorate the store windows with everything you needed for the holiday season, and then all of the townspeople would gather in front of the window, and [the store] would do a big reveal welcoming in the holiday season.”
One of the museum’s mandates is to serve as a repository for those types of community stories, and displaying clothing artifacts can often spark those still-living memories in local visitors.
“It is really rewarding to be in the museum when we have things on display and people come in and recognize an artifact that belonged to their relative,” he said. “People come in and say, ‘That was my great-grandfather or that was my uncle or great-uncle,’ and it’s kind of rewarding to be there when they make that connection at that moment.”
Brunswick Heritage Museum | 2022-10-06T04:14:04Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Antique garments tell the story of Brunswick’s past | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/antique-garments-tell-the-story-of-brunswick-s-past/article_52c43192-1abc-5df1-824d-71d951a93867.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/antique-garments-tell-the-story-of-brunswick-s-past/article_52c43192-1abc-5df1-824d-71d951a93867.html |
State Del. Neil Parrott speaks at a press conference outside the Frederick County Courthouse on Wednesday morning.
Del. Neil Parrott speaks at a press conference outside the Frederick County Courthouse on Wednesday morning as his wife, April, listens.
State Del. Neil Parrott, second from left, speaks at a press conference outside the Frederick County Courthouse on Wednesday morning. With him are delegate candidate William Valentine, left; Parrott’s wife, April; and Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins.
Parrott objects to Trone's congressional race ad about HIV tattoos
Republican congressional candidate Neil Parrott has accused incumbent David Trone of misleading voters on Parrott’s previous position that people who are HIV-positive could get tattoos to mark their status and get access to treatment for the disease.
Parrott, a state delegate from Washington County, accused Trone, D, of “stigmatizing this disease” in campaign ads and materials. Parrott and Trone are competing for Trone’s 6th District seat.
Parrott attacked a Trone campaign ad that used material from a 2005 letter to the editor of The Herald-Mail in Hagerstown. Parrott said he publicly recanted that position 12 years ago.
“I don’t need to lie to win this seat. I think Trone’s voting record speaks for itself,” Parrott said at a press conference Wednesday in Frederick.
Trone’s ad says that “if Neil Parrott had his way,” every HIV-positive American would have to be tattooed to show their status. The ad shows images of children with tattoos on their forearms, even though that is not specifically what Parrott proposed in his letter.
Parrott’s March 2005 letter to the editor, written before he was elected a state delegate in 2010, cited an earlier article in the paper that reported a rise in HIV cases in Washington County and that there had been “cases in which people knew they were infected and continued to engage in risky behavior.”
Parrott’s letter called for a “compassionate and serious solution” that could protect the dignity of people who are infected while effectively preventing the spread of the disease.
“One such solution is a tattoo for those who are infected,” Parrott wrote. “This mark could be inconspicuously placed, perhaps in a spot covered by a bathing suit, warning only those who might engage in intimate encounters with the infected person.
“An effective way to enforce the consistency of the tattoo would be to provide medicine to the infected individual only after they have received the HIV tattoo.”
The tattoo would prove “a 100 percent unmistakable sign allowing all parties involved to make an informed decision,” he wrote.
Parrott said Wednesday that he wrote the letter at a time HIV infections in Washington County were rising, and medication to control it wasn’t as mainstream as it is now.
The first antiretroviral therapy medications to treat HIV were developed in the late 1980s, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first preexposure prophylaxis medication to help prevent the spread of HIV in 2012, according to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a statement on Wednesday, Trone campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said Parrott’s explanation was an attempt to cover up his extreme views.
“Whether Neil Parrott supported government-mandated tattoos for people living with HIV in 2005 or yesterday, it doesn’t change the fact that this so-called solution was extreme and cruel. Even today, he did not apologize or show remorse for his position but rather fumbled through a half-hearted explanation saying he only changed his mind because of the availability of new medication,” the statement said.
Asked about the location of the tattoos in the ad, Bruce added in a subsequent message: “The specific location of Parrott’s government-mandated tattoo doesn’t change the fact that this is a cruel and extreme measure against people living with HIV.”
Parrott spoke Wednesday at a press conference outside the Frederick County Courthouse in Frederick, where he took questions from reporters, supporters, and observers, including one from former County Commissioner Billy Shreve on energy independence and a question about inflation from Justin Wages, a Republican candidate for delegate from District 3.
Parrott also promoted a poll of 400 likely voters in the district that found Parrott three points behind Trone, at 47% to 44%. The poll was done by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Virginia, which says on its website that it “understands the importance of Republican control of state legislative bodies.”
“It’s a toss-up. I know it and he knows it,” Parrott said Wednesday.
Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said Wednesday that he has the district as leaning Democratic, but still competitive.
“It’s a gettable district for Republicans in a year like this,” Kondik said in an earlier interview in August.
Even after being redrawn to a more Republican-friendly makeup in the latest round of redistricting, the district isn’t as conservative as it was when Congressman Roscoe Bartlett represented it in the 1990s and 2000s, Kondik said.
As the battle for the House of Representatives has evolved, Kondik said, he doesn’t think either party looks at the race as especially critical.
It’s likely not in the first tier of districts that Republicans are targeting to take control of the House but is likely in a second wave of districts that could build a majority, he said.
Parrott’s chances may hinge on how Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox performs, Kondik said.
He said that while the district is less Democratic than Maryland as a whole, Parrott could struggle if Cox loses the district by double digits.
University Of Virgine Center For Politics
Hayduke2 Oct 5, 2022 11:08pm
Parrott is a poor candidate and poor choice. Add to that these types of statements and it should result in a big NO...
senorris Oct 5, 2022 11:41pm
I agree. We deserve better.
FrederickFan Oct 5, 2022 11:07pm
Parrot's comments about requiring a tattoo in exchange for medication is heinous. It speaks to his extreme views and his total lack of care and compassion for people. Parrot is unfit for dog catcher! Why would he hold a press conference to point out his own stupid and inexplicable position?
Pro-Choice/Privileged W. Woman Oct 5, 2022 11:35pm
That political ad has been running for at least a month if not longer, why didn’t Mr. Parrot clutch his pearls before now? Or at the very least clarify his position with his own political ad?
A press conference is going to accomplish what exactly? It’s going to show Trone that his advertising dollars have been well spent…
public-redux Oct 5, 2022 9:48pm
Neil who?
Greg F Oct 5, 2022 9:09pm
Can’t un-say that ignorant statement by just saying you recant it. Cat’s outta the bag on that one and running wild. | 2022-10-06T04:14:10Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Parrott objects to Trone's congressional race ad about HIV tattoos | Election Coverage | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/parrott-objects-to-trones-congressional-race-ad-about-hiv-tattoos/article_329cc7b5-5d2f-5289-a2da-08b5ba26740f.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/parrott-objects-to-trones-congressional-race-ad-about-hiv-tattoos/article_329cc7b5-5d2f-5289-a2da-08b5ba26740f.html |
county council race
Six candidates for the Frederick County Council answered questions about numerous topics, including public safety, the county’s budget and education funding, in a virtual forum Wednesday.
The League of Women Voters of Frederick County hosted the forum for candidates running for the council’s two at-large seats, the District 1 seat and the District 2 seat in the Nov. 8 general election.
The League of Women Voters is scheduled to host a virtual forum for County Council District 3, District 4 and District 5 candidates on Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Like Wednesday’s forum, the organization will stream the forum on its Facebook page, facebook.com/FrederickCountyLWV, and archive it for people to watch later.
Wednesday’s forum included at-large candidates Brad Young and Renee Knapp, both Democrats, and Republican Tony Chmelik; District 1 candidate Councilman Jerry Donald, D; and both District 2 candidates, Democrat Lisa Jarosinski and Councilman Steve McKay, R.
Councilman Phil Dacey, a Republican running for another term representing the county at large, and John Distel, a Republican running in District 1, did not attend the virtual forum.
The candidates were granted two minutes for opening and closing statements, and they had one minute to respond to questions about various topics.
Some counties in Maryland have police departments that report directly to the county executive and County Council, said moderator Betty Mayfield, a past co-president of the League of Women Voters. The county funds the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office through its operating budget, but the Sheriff’s Office acts independently of the county.
Mayfield asked each candidate whether they’d be in favor of shifting the Sheriff’s Office’s responsibilities and having a police department that reports directly to the county.
“I haven’t paid that much attention to how the police functions because that’s not in my purview. It’s not something I think about as a citizen,” Jarosinski said.
Jarosinski said there are no checks and balances between the county and the Sheriff’s Office and she would be open to the county changing its system of policing.
She wasn’t the only candidate who didn’t have strong opinions about the issue.
“I don’t have a preference at this point,” Knapp said. “I don’t think that there’s a particular need to change at this point.”
Knapp said she would be open to changing the system of policing in the county, but the county’s existing set-up — which includes municipal police departments in Frederick, Brunswick, Thurmont and Mount Airy — “is working well.”
Her at-large opponents were more outspoken in their support of the county’s current system of policing.
“I’m not really certain why this question is actually coming up these days,” Chmelik said.
Young said he, too, would not support shifting the county’s police system. He was the only Democrat who said they would not be open to the idea.
While a few candidates said they would be open to shifting the Sheriff’s Office’s responsibilities and having a police department that reports directly to the county, all said they would be OK with maintaining the relationship the county adopted in 2014 during the shift to a charter form of government.
“I am perfectly happy with the sheriff’s department we have now,” McKay said.
In reference to Jarosinski’s comment that there is not currently a check and balance between the county and the Sheriff’s Office, McKay said that having a sheriff and a county executive who are elected is a check and balance itself.
“They’re both chosen by the voters. They’re both accountable to the voters,” he said.
Donald said he would only be open to shifting the county’s system of policing if the elected sheriff also supported changing it.
“In the eight years I’ve been in office, I’ve always tried to stay in my lane,” Donald said. “I’ve never been a person who tried to be the supervisor of the sheriff or anything like that.”
When Mayfield asked the candidates about their budget priorities, McKay and Chmelik — the two Republicans — said the county must slow the rate of growth of its budget and lower the property tax rate.
The county’s budget for the fiscal year that began in July is 10% larger than last year’s. The budget grew 8% in 2021 and 4% in 2020.
McKay said he wants the budget growth to be in the range of 3% each year.
He also said the county should lower its property tax rate, which would also decrease the county’s property tax revenue.
Rather than cutting funding from part of the budget to account for the lost revenue, McKay said, the county should draw from the more than $200 million in surplus revenue it has accrued in the last four or five years to maintain services with a lower tax rate.
“We can do better, in terms of reducing our taxes and still maintaining our services,” McKay said.
Chmelik echoed this. He also said the council should take a more in-depth look at county department budgets to find ways to trim them.
The Democrats at the forum, though, said that lowering the property tax rate would take away revenue the county has relied on to fund its budget and advance long-term projects, including building new schools for a school system struggling with overcrowding in classrooms.
The candidates also responded to questions about development, broadband internet access, public transportation and mental health resources. | 2022-10-06T04:14:16Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Six council candidates focus on public safety, taxation in virtual forum | Election Coverage | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/six-council-candidates-focus-on-public-safety-taxation-in-virtual-forum/article_df42bed7-6505-5b45-8c98-2e3eb0d76557.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/six-council-candidates-focus-on-public-safety-taxation-in-virtual-forum/article_df42bed7-6505-5b45-8c98-2e3eb0d76557.html |
A sign welcoming visitors to Thurmont
With rapidly increasing recycling costs, Thurmont asks county for more support
Thurmont is asking Frederick County for more money to support the town’s recycling program, after the cost to run it greatly increased — from $11,480 in fiscal year 2021 to a projected $38,220 this fiscal year.
Although the county handles curbside recycling pickup for residential areas across Frederick County, Thurmont maintains a recycling dumpster for the public near the Thurmont Regional Library.
Under the terms of an agreement the town drew up with the county eight years ago, the county reimburses Thurmont for up to $10,000 of the cost to maintain the recycling dumpster every year, Linda Joyce, the town’s chief financial officer, said at the town meeting on Tuesday.
In March 2021, because the recycling program was popular, the town started paying for the dumpster to be emptied twice per week, instead of once per week.
That year, the county agreed to also reimburse the town for the additional load. It paid $10,800 of the $11,480 it took to maintain the recycling program in fiscal year 2021. The town covered the other $600.
During the following fiscal year, the cost of maintaining the dumpster nearly doubled, increasing to $20,495. The town paid $10,495, and the county paid $10,000.
In January 2022, the cost to empty the dumpster increased from $170 per load to $275.
“That’s when our costs started to skyrocket,” Joyce said.
With rising fuel costs and a tanking commodities market, prices have continued to increase in fiscal year 2023 for Thurmont’s recycling program. Now, it costs the town $350 per load to empty the dumpster, Joyce said.
Thurmont is projected to pay $28,220 for the program this fiscal year, she said — far exceeding the $10,000 the town budgeted.
Mayor John Kinnaird said during the town meeting on Tuesday that’s not a number he would even think about funding.
As he sees it, the town has two possible solutions, he said. It could ask the county to increase its reimbursement to the town for the program each year, or it could remove the dumpster.
He would be sorry if the town had to give up the dumpster because the town has invested a lot into the program, Kinnaird said.
“But that may be what happens,” he said.
Because of how quickly the dumpster is filled, the town could not go back to emptying it once a week, Thurmont Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick said at the meeting.
Joy Schaefer, director of government affairs and public policy for County Executive Jan Gardner’s office, participated in the discussion.
She suggested that the town submit a budget request for fiscal year 2024, and said county staff members could assess the source of the recycling material being dumped each week.
If the dumpster is taken away, she said, people might throw away what they would have recycled. The county is concerned that if the town removes the dumpster, the cost it would have paid for recycling would be transferred to what it pays for solid waste removal, Schaefer said.
The town will submit a budget request for next fiscal year, Humerick said, but it still has many months before fiscal year 2024 starts in July.
In the meantime, Kinnaird said, he and Humerick will ask the county executive for additional assistance this fiscal year.
Follow Angela Roberts on Twitter:
@24_angier
County Executive Jan Gardner | 2022-10-06T04:14:29Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | With rapidly increasing recycling costs, Thurmont asks county for more support | Environment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/with-rapidly-increasing-recycling-costs-thurmont-asks-county-for-more-support/article_d6d7959b-356a-55f7-a160-eb0072470c27.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/with-rapidly-increasing-recycling-costs-thurmont-asks-county-for-more-support/article_d6d7959b-356a-55f7-a160-eb0072470c27.html |
Urbana quarterback and kicker Keegan Johnson throws during football practice at Urbana High School on Wednesday.
Along with his quarterback duties, Urbana’s Keegan Johnson, right, is the Hawks’ kicker and punter.
Urbana QB Johnson throwing himself into it
Already a standout pitcher, Urbana's Johnson garnering more attention for throwing — and kicking — footballs
As a young kid, Keegan Johnson would often pick things up and throw them.
“Rocks, sticks, whatever I could get my hands on,” he said. “I would always go to my sister’s soccer games and throw whatever I could. ... It was kind of fun. I would try and hit stuff and be accurate.”
As Johnson got a little older, rocks and sticks evolved into baseballs and footballs. His throwing arm (his left) got stronger, and his accuracy improved even more.
And now his ability to throw baseballs and footballs with velocity and accuracy is what Johnson is best known for. It’s a skill that figures to shape his immediate and foreseeable future in a very significant way.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Johnson is the starting quarterback and kicker for Urbana High’s unbeaten (5-0), virtually unscored upon (three points allowed all season) football team.
He’s having the type of season that will generate serious interest from colleges as a quarterback and a kicker.
Except Johnson has already committed to play Division I baseball at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, a decision that is unlikely to change no matter how the rest of this football season at Urbana plays out.
With a fastball that hovers around 90 miles per hour and a biting curveball, delivered by a tall left-hander, Johnson has been one of the best starting pitchers in Frederick County for two seasons running.
“My heart is in baseball,” he stated firmly this week at an Urbana football practice.
But it’s hard to watch Johnson play football and not wonder about his potential in that sport, too.
He’s poised, mobile and reads the field well. His coaches and teammates positively gush over his ability to throw the deep ball.
“No [high school] quarterback can sling it 50 yards down the field, and you don’t have to wait under it,” said Riley Smith, Urbana’s leading receiver this season and Johnson’s life-long best friend on the baseball and football fields. “You can still catch it in stride.”
In the Hawks’ season-opening win over Richard Montgomery, Smith did just that on a ball that was thrown beautifully over the middle for a 64-yard touchdown.
“It was the most perfect ball a receiver could ask for,” Smith said.
Urbana head coach Brad Wilson said Johnson throws the ball as well as any high school quarterback he has seen.
“The thing about Keegan is he can place a ball, whether it’s a short route or an intermediate route,” said Wilson, who has been coaching high school football for more than 30 years. “And you don’t see a lot of kids that can place a deep ball like he can.”
Being the starting quarterback at Urbana, a job he took over in the middle of last season, has brought the normally introverted Johnson out of his shell a bit more.
Smith said Johnson is an unflappable leader who keeps everyone in check in his understated way, while Wilson has noticed a more poised and more confident quarterback this season.
“Once he became the starter, he had to be more vocal,” Wilson said.
Johnson could well be steaming toward the greatest individual scoring season in the rich history of Urbana football. Except the Hawks have never kept reliable program records, according to athletic director Ryan Hines. So, it’s impossible to know.
At the midpoint of the season, he’s already thrown for more than 800 yards and 18 touchdowns, next to only one interception in 79 overall attempts that Smith said wasn’t even his fault.
“It was a messed up scheme or something,” Smith said.
Johnson has also rushed for two touchdowns.
On the kicking front, he has converted three of his five field-goal attempts, with a long of 36 yards, and 24 of his 26 extra-point tries. All of that was done with his right leg, for the record.
Urbana’s offense has been so proficient that Johnson has only punted six times in five games with a long of 55 yards and an average of 43.8 yards per punt.
The only record Johnson cares about at the end of the season, though, is his team’s record.
“I think it’s going pretty smooth so far,” Johnson said, as Urbana prepares to face its first Frederick County opponent of the season Friday against Middletown. “Our line is giving me time, which I love, and our receivers are getting open. That’s all you can ask for.” | 2022-10-06T04:15:05Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Urbana QB Johnson throwing himself into it | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/urbana-qb-johnson-throwing-himself-into-it/article_9ecfdabd-b0f5-5e24-8a24-559ec798fc1e.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/urbana-qb-johnson-throwing-himself-into-it/article_9ecfdabd-b0f5-5e24-8a24-559ec798fc1e.html |
Mrs. Deborah K. Livingston, Boston, national director of the W.C.T.U. and an officer of the world’s organization, was the principal speaker last night at the second day of the annual convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union of Maryland, at Walkersville. She took her theme, “World Wide Prohibition,” and predicted that every civilized country will eventually become dry.
Resenting a statement alleged to have been made by Mrs. Howard Lease, which included the term of chicken thief, Oscar Joy, Liberty, has brought suit against Mrs. Lease, who also lives at Liberty, for $2,000. The bill filed in the clerk of the court’s office yesterday sets forth that the defendant falsely and maliciously spoke the words “Oscar Joy stole chickens up at Harold Hammond’s.” The bill continues that said slander had caused the plaintiff great damage and mortification.
Back to 1811, the Maryland Penitentiary was put into commission. Since this time the records of the prison show that out of a total of 154 prisoners sentenced to life terms, only 13 have served more than 15 years of their sentence. The records show that 34 of the 154 “lifers” died a few years after they began serving their sentences; 44 had their sentences cut down, while others went insane before they had served five years and were transferred to insane asylums.
EDINBURG, Texas — Smugglers abandoned a truckload of illegal aliens from El Salvador in the stifling south Texas desert, and four Salvadorans suffocated, authorities said. Eight others, suffering from dehydration, were hospitalized. “It wasn’t a pretty sight,” said Patrolman Henry Trevino, one of the first officers to arrive at the 18-wheel truck where some of the dozen survivors were unconscious, some were dazed, and others were too weak to stand. The victims, ranging in age from 14 to 37, had been in the truck more than 24 hours. They told authorities they paid $1,500 each for the trip to the United States.
Installation of a new traffic signal at the Baughman’s Lane, Rosemont Avenue and Military Road intersection is being completed this week, according to City Director of Public Safety Richard J. Ashton. He said city police have “received constant complaints over the years” concerning heavy traffic from Fort Detrick emptying onto the uncontrolled intersection. The lights were placed “to remedy the problems the motoring public has experienced over the years.
Maryland schoolchildren are reading better, writing better and adding and subtracting numbers better, state School Superintendent David Hornbeck told the Frederick County Commissioners Tuesday in a progress report meeting.
Deborah K. Livingston
Women's Christian Temperance Union Of Maryland
World Wide Prohibition
Mrs. Howard Lease
Oscar Joy
Chicken Thief
Slander Lawsuit
Maryland Penitentiary
Lifers
Illegal Aliens Die
Rosemont Avenue
David Hornbeck
Howard Lease | 2022-10-06T06:57:41Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 6 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-6/article_346e8841-ba3d-5ebd-b65b-7a515c969b5c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-6/article_346e8841-ba3d-5ebd-b65b-7a515c969b5c.html |
Aura Manjarrez speaks at the 72 Film Fest Launch Party at Spinners Pinball Arcade on Sept. 22. The 72 Film Fest will happen Oct. 7-8 at the Weinberg Center.
Mikael Johnson, left, and Aura Manjarrez stand for a portrait at the 72 Film Fest Launch Party at Spinners Pinball Arcade on Sept. 22. The 72 Film Fest will happen Oct. 7-8 at the Weinberg Center.
Mikael Johnson, left, and Aura Manjarrez host on the stage during the 72 Film Fest Launch Party at Spinners Pinball Arcade on Sept. 22.
Mikael Johnson, left, hands Oscar Rizkaloah a card at the 72 Film Fest Launch Party at Spinners Pinball Arcade on Sept. 22. The 72 Film Fest will happen Oct. 7 and 8 at the Weinberg Center.
72 Film Fest co-host talks Weinberg screening, performing and a youth movement for this year's event
After competing in the 72 Film Fest so often over the past several years, Aura Manjarrez will now step into the co-host role as the screening portion of the festival kicks off at the Weinberg Center for the Arts this weekend.
In this interview, she talks about what it’s been like to make that transition, what she’s looking forward to most this year, why astrology was at the center of her favorite installment of the event and why she believes this year’s theme gives participants more freedom than they’ve ever received.
So, when did you come on to the 72 Film Fest, and how did you get involved?
I started doing the fest in 2016 and I started doing it because I saw this posting on those boards that universities have in their hallways. I saw one of those at FCC, which is where I started taking classes once I graduated high school. It was a casting notice for actors and actresses and the actress they needed matched my description. I had been acting since I was very young, so I saw that and I was like, “OK, this is something I can do because they’re asking for someone who matches my description.”
So, I texted the number and got in contact with this girl named Courtney. We became really good friends. She started out her university life in the film department, and she’s very talented in all of those aspects. After the project she casted me for, she wanted to move on and do other things, so 2016 was the first year she had enough people to do the fest. She was like, “Hey, would you be interested in helping us out? It is very laborious and it’s an entire weekend.” She explained the mechanics of it to me. I said, “Yeah, for sure,” and I instantly fell in love with the concept of the whole thing. Not really knowing what you’re doing until the night of, that was always very exciting to me. That’s how I got involved with it for the first time, and after that, I kept doing it because I liked it so much.
How did you finish that first year you competed? Did you win anything?
Every single year that I’ve participated, either my team got many nominations or we got one. So, from the instances in which we got many nominations, sometimes we would win and sometimes we wouldn’t. Getting nominated and winning are two very different things. The team mentality is that we would want to be nominated for many different categories and win none, then to get nominated for one and win that one because that means you get to shine in several different areas. For me, personally, I was lucky enough to be nominated for best actor in several years. I never won, but that’s OK because even though I didn’t win, I’m helping the fest work and be a thing, so it worked out for me.
That brings me to my next question — you are the co-host this year, as well as an assistant producer. What does that entail? Are you in a busy season right now?
Yeah, basically. Even before, we kind of started to do preparations toward the end of July, the start of August. Whether you are participating or you help to make it happen, it is a very laborious process, it is very busy. What it entails is we come up with the theme, the criteria, the posters, the artwork of the trophies, the sticker designs. All of that, we put our brains together and come up with that. This is the thing with film and filmmaking — regardless of what it says on the credits, we multitask. That’s just film. Even if it says that you were the writer, you still did a little bit of character, you did a little bit of editing, a little bit of sound, because you never know when someone’s going to be missing and you have to be ready for everything at every moment. That’s the most exciting aspect of it all — it carried on from me being a participant to me being a staff member. It’s not a demand, but it’s a requirement that if I want to do right by all of the teams, I should know and I should be ready to get all these things done in a timely manner in a good way.
Do you have a favorite theme from years past when you competed?
Constellations was by far my favorite — not just because it was a very enjoyable script to put on the screen but because of all the teams, and what they all did, every category, it just blew me away. They were so emotional, so deep. Astrology started to become a big thing back in 2017 for people my age, and I think everyone took inspiration from Pinterest boards and things like that. There were all these bohemian-looking clothes, really bright, glittery makeup and this feeling of mystery and tragedy and sorrow and love at the same time. For me, astrology was probably my favorite thing.
What was the hardest?
We had to do professions. It was so hard because you do have people who are accountants and plumbers and teachers and a lot of these people will be part of your teams. Imagine you get an electrician and an electrician is on your team and he’s so fed up with his work, he’s like, “I don’t want to think about it; this is my zen moment and I don’t want to bring it into my art.” But you have to. So, to try and mix labor and work and office and all these things that you’re looking to escape by doing something like this, you have to bring it in. That’s part of art — it’s all about being uncomfortable.
What can you tell me about this year so far?
The theme this year was Clean Slate and Classroom, and the criteria was basically Lab Partner, which meant the teams could do whatever they wanted artistically and creatively, but they had to collaborate with another team. It’s really cool, and it gives them a lot of room to do whatever they want with their art. If you have a script that you really wanted to get on screen, you can offer that to the other team and say, “Hey, man. I’ve been looking at this script for a while; what do you think of it? Would you like to try it out?” It gives them a lot of options, unlike the other years, where they had a specific set of things they could and could not do. They were very limited and you had a lot of people that would ... let’s say the theme for one year was a theme park, but you have a lot of people whose thing is abstract art or horror, and it’s going to be difficult to navigate around that without using cliches like a ride falling apart with people on it. It’s like, do they really want to do that? No. And here, they can do what they want, which I think is really exciting.
What’s your role at the Weinberg screening? Will you be an emcee?
Yes. People are welcome to come see the films. I and my co-host, Mikael Johnson, will be emceeing the event on both days.
Being the host, I’m assuming that means you can’t compete. Is that correct?
Yeah, I can’t compete this year, and when I was given this opportunity, I did ask about that. Clark Kline [festival cofounder] was like, “Yeah, yeah, you [can’t]. Pretty much forever or until you decide to stop doing this.” But before I auditioned for the co-host position, I did ask my team, “Do you mind?” And they were like, “No, go for it. If this is what you want to do, we will still love you.” Once I let them know I got it, it took us a little bit, on both sides, to get used to the idea of me not being on the team — so much so that until a few weeks ago, we were all texting back and forth, and I was like, “What am I going to do this year? Writing? Acting?” And then it clicked in our heads and they were like, “We have to kick Aura out of the group chat.” Now, they’re doing their thing and I’m looking at Snapchat and their Instagram stories and I feel sad, but at the same time, it’s going to be so awesome to see what they come up with, without me being part of the equation. It’s so great to see that they’re so excited about what I get to do at the fest as part of the staff now. So, it’s one thing for another.
What are you looking forward to the most when it comes to this year’s festival?
The submissions. I’m definitely excited to watch them. Behind-the-scenes, like pre-event, I’m really excited about that. But the thing I’m most excited about is seeing what the new teams come up with this year. A lot of them are high school kids, and I am just so happy and so excited to see what these kids can do because they’re seeking this out, and they’re so interested in this and they’re willing to go against other people who are university level and learn from them and compete against them and showcase their art — that’s what I’m most excited about.
Every year, I would always look for the names of new teams on the roster and that would always interest me the most. What do they like to do? What is their style? How do they act? And I think that now being part of the staff, to be able to see them from afar, I think that’s going to be very interesting for me because I won’t be clouded by my own anxiety. I’ll finally be able to sit down and watch everything and appreciate it for what it is, and I think it will be a great learning experience for me both as an artist and a person.
The 72 Film Fest submissions will be screened on the big screen Oct. 7 and 8 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick. Prizes and awards will be given in a variety of categories, including writing, acting, cinematography, editing and more. Tickets to the event are available through the Weinberg Center box office. For more information, visit 72Fest.com.
Aura Manjarrez | 2022-10-06T06:57:47Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 72 Film Fest co-host talks Weinberg screening, performing and a youth movement for this year's event | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/72-film-fest-co-host-talks-weinberg-screening-performing-and-a-youth-movement-for-this/article_c3d07a46-4db3-58d9-9bfd-db03f88157ee.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/72-film-fest-co-host-talks-weinberg-screening-performing-and-a-youth-movement-for-this/article_c3d07a46-4db3-58d9-9bfd-db03f88157ee.html |
The 72 Film Fest ends each year with a screening on the big (Weinberg) screen of all the films that were submitted during the competition, followed by an awards ceremony. Who will take home the Best of the Fest award? Who will win Best Sound and Audience Choice? This year brings with it a new host, Aura Manjarrez, who will emcee the weekend events alongside Film Fest mainstay Mikael Johnson, who always gets the audience laughing. Film premieres are on Oct. 7, and the awards ceremony is Oct. 8. Go and vote on your favorite. Maybe the experience will entice you to participate next year and make your own film.
FASHION FORWARD?
Clothing through history can tell us so much about the time and place when it was worn. Brunswick Heritage Museum knows this well, as it has in its possession a large collection of antique garments from the people of Brunswick that date back hundreds of years. Through a recent grant, the museum staff is working to sort through the approximately 200 costume and textile collection objects (wedding and funeral dresses, uniforms, hats, accessories, quilts), give them the proper care they need, and eventually showcase them to the public at the museum.
IT’S FALL FESTIVAL SEASON
It’s really been feeling like fall, and with this crisp in the air comes a slew of fall festivals. Fallfest at Catoctin Furnace on Oct. 7 and 8 takes you back in time with apple butter boiling in a copper kettle over an open fire and blacksmithing demonstrations in a historical setting. Head over the river and through the woods to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, for its annual Apple Butter Festival, which has become a family tradition for many folks — and organizers are particularly excited to bring it back to town on Oct. 8 and 9 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. And we would be remiss if we did not mention Cactoctin Colorfest, which takes place on the first full weekend of October every year in Thurmont and draws some 100,000 visitors to peruse hundreds of arts and craft vendors, get lunch from one of the food trucks, and enjoy local beer in the beer garden.
MIDDLEBURG FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS
In its 10th year, Middleburg Film Festival quickly garnered a name for itself on the festival circuit for its serene setting and impeccable choices of feature and documentary films. This year is no different. The festival runs from Oct. 13 to 16 and brings dozens of films, plus conversations with filmmakers and actors, concerts, wine tastings at local vineyards and breweries, and farm-to-table dinners. Launching the festival this year is “White Noise” from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Noah Baumbach, who will be in attendance. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” will screen on Oct. 14 and will include a discussion with writer/director Rian Johnson. The Friday Spotlight Film is “The Whale,” directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Brendan Fraser, and based on Samuel D. Hunter’s acclaimed stage play. Fraser and Hunter will be on hand for a post-screening conversation.
FREDERICK SPEAKER SERIES ADDITION
Frederick Speaker Series recently added Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour to its 2022-23 season. Armour was America’s first Black woman combat pilot who, after military service, became an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author. She will visit the Weinberg Center on April 20 to deliver her hard-hitting advice and incredible anecdotes from her life to a Frederick audience. If you’re having trouble setting a goal in life and sticking with it, this is the inspiration you need. Tickets went on sale this week at weinbergcenter.org. | 2022-10-06T06:57:53Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | NEED TO KNOW: Week of Oct. 6 | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/need-to-know-week-of-oct-6/article_04310cd9-96f8-5155-b918-992e4fbe9ee9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/need-to-know-week-of-oct-6/article_04310cd9-96f8-5155-b918-992e4fbe9ee9.html |
FCPS searching for special education community liaison
Four months after a long-awaited hire ended an eight-month vacancy, Frederick County Public Schools' special education department is again working to hire a community liaison.
Whoever fills the role — which the state requires in each county school system and partially funds — will report to the district's special education directors. They will assist parents of children with disabilities in navigating the complex world of special education, plan community events, organize workshops and more.
Linda Chambers and Troy Keller, FCPS' special education directors, said an important function of the position was to make caregivers feel comfortable seeking help or clarification from the district.
"Obviously, with our circumstances, that is key," Keller said in an interview Wednesday. "People may not feel comfortable reaching out to Linda and I, and we understand that."
In December 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had investigated and subsequently settled with FCPS over the district's misuse of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities.
In the months since then, the school board and some members of the community have called for an increased focus on FCPS' special education programs.
The community liaison position is a "critical" piece of the district's response, Chambers said.
"We want to connect with families," she said. "We want to support them."
Cara Phillips, one of the leaders on the school board's Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee, held the position for four years before she vacated it in October 2021.
The district spent months searching for Phillips' replacement — a process that included raising the compensation for the position more than once — and hired Katie McCormick in June.
McCormick left the position in late September, citing personal reasons.
The position has been a challenge to fill partially because of salary constraints, Chambers said. The state only provides so much money for the role, and if that doesn't prove to be enough, the district has to come up with additional funding on its own.
According to a recent job posting, FCPS is currently offering between $21.78 and $23.11 per hour for the role.
It's a 12-month position, meaning the liaison wouldn't have the summers off.
That presents a separate challenge, Chambers and Keller said, given that their ideal candidate is a parent of a child with special needs.
Keller said a similar position has existed in other districts he's worked in, and those also saw regular turnover.
Ideally, the directors said, FCPS could have a team of people help with the work of the liaison.
"Certainly, we know that the work of helping to support families of students with disabilities is not a one-person job," Chambers said. "However, it is a one-person job as allocated through the state."
The Blue Ribbon Task Force, formed in the wake of the DOJ investigation, recently recommended the school board establish an "advocacy center" to aid special education families in each of the district's 10 feeder patterns.
"We'd love for that to be the case," Chambers said Wednesday. "But at this one point, we want to fill this one vacancy." | 2022-10-07T01:30:07Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | FCPS searching for special education community liaison | Funding | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/funding/fcps-searching-for-special-education-community-liaison/article_b21c557a-7e2e-5745-8698-b90b9856bd13.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/funding/fcps-searching-for-special-education-community-liaison/article_b21c557a-7e2e-5745-8698-b90b9856bd13.html |
In this 2021 file photo, attendees walk through the starting point of the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's outside Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.
Tom Whalen
Walk to End Alzheimer's: Frederick DJ inspired by late brother's memory
Tom Whalen thinks of his twin brother every day.
John Michael Whalen, known as Mike to his loved ones, was a father, husband, coach and accountant.
At 62 years old, Mike died from Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia.
"He was the good Whalen," Tom recalled in an interview Wednesday.
Tom, a DJ for WFRE radio and host of the Free Country Wake Up Crew, will honor his brother's memory at the Walk to End Alzheimer's on Sunday in Frederick.
The Western Maryland Walk will take place at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, 21 Stadium Drive, according to a news release from the Alzheimer's Association. Registration is set to begin at 11 a.m. and the walk will start at noon.
Tom will serve as emcee. A ceremony will be held before the walk.
The Walk to End Alzheimer's is held annually in hundreds of communities across the country. The funds raised benefit Alzheimer's disease care, support and research.
Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Alzheimer's Association. More than 6 million Americans are living with the disease or another form of dementia.
After his brother was diagnosed at 52, Tom spent 10 years helping care for him.
"He was the man all of us aspired to be," Tom said.
Tom drove from Maryland to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, every other weekend to see Mike. Their sister often traveled from California to lend a hand.
It was difficult to watch the disease progress.
"He got pretty rough," Tom said.
Mike could not work or drive. He needed help with personal care.
And though memory loss is common among those with Alzheimer's disease, Tom said Mike never failed to recognize his fraternal twin.
Growing up, the two had a strong sibling rivalry. That is, until another person tried to mess with one of them; then they would defend each other.
"We were brothers first," Tom said.
Mike died in 2015, according to his obituary.
Tom has participated in about 15 Alzheimer's walks. He's hosted several.
"It means a lot to me," Tom said.
As he walks, Tom hopes for an end to Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
The Frederick Walk to End Alzheimer's has a goal of fundraising $286,000, according to the Alzheimer Association's website. As of Thursday afternoon, 545 participants and 118 teams raised $196,297, the website said.
"[The] Walk brings together neighbors supporting other neighbors impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia," Marilyn Herbert, constituent events manager for the Walk, said in a news release. "It is inspiring to see so many people willing to give of their time and energy to raise funds and support their community."
What: 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's
Where: 21 Stadium Drive, Frederick
When: Oct. 9, check-in starts at 11 a.m. The walk and opening ceremony start at noon.
How: Register at alz.org/Maryland/walk | 2022-10-07T01:30:13Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Walk to End Alzheimer's: Frederick DJ inspired by late brother's memory | Treatment And Diseases | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_diseases/walk-to-end-alzheimers-frederick-dj-inspired-by-late-brothers-memory/article_05886b1c-ff8f-5bf2-8227-61fb1c6a2a41.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_diseases/walk-to-end-alzheimers-frederick-dj-inspired-by-late-brothers-memory/article_05886b1c-ff8f-5bf2-8227-61fb1c6a2a41.html |
Former Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jason Deater has retired and now is a program director of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management and Public Safety at Frederick Community College.
After 20 years with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Jason Deater retired last month to oversee a police and fire program at Frederick Community College.
Already an adjunct professor at the college, Deater will also start as a first responder program manager for FCC’s Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management and Public Safety.
“I really enjoy teaching the newer generation coming into public safety or just in the criminal justice system in general. It’s been such a reward,” he said.
“When you sit there and think of complete chaos, and we’re still coming together and doing an outstanding job, it’s kind of awesome to be able to experience that,” he said.
There’s some fun memories, too, he said, like when he and his colleagues were chased by a groundhog while responding to a drug complaint.
“It went to the two guys that were my backup and they jumped up on a fence and held themselves in the air. It was just hilarious. We were laughing so hard,” he said.
Deater’s desire to teach started after he became a police instructor and was teaching his own deputies at the sheriff’s office. He said he enjoyed it, so when he got the opportunity to be a public safety adjunct professor at FCC, he took it.
Deater has an associate’s degree in police science, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in criminal justice and emergency and disaster management.
Deater was the commander for the K-9 and traffic units, the Proactive Criminal Enforcement Team (PACE) and School Resource Officer program, a news release from the sheriff’s office said. He was also in charge of more than 180 sworn deputies as the assistant patrol operations commander.
Deater started at the sheriff’s office in 2002 as a patrol deputy, the release said. He later became a detective with the Frederick County Narcotics Task Force, the release said.
During his time as a detective, he also became a certified K-9 handler and represented the sheriff’s office on the U.S. Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force.
Deater never thought he’d have a dog, he said.
“My daughter was born and she would dress him up in, like, a tiara,” he said. “So that was very memorable.”
“Getting that opportunity to work with my brother, who got me into law enforcement, who introduced me to it, and who I always looked up to in this profession, that’s something that really stood out.”
“Jason Deater will inspire and manage an academic team of instructors to create the next generation of public safety workers and leaders — leaders guided by the core principles of service, justice, and fundamental fairness,” Kathy Francis, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management and Public Safety, wrote in an email.
Jason Deater | 2022-10-07T03:38:08Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Sheriff's office commander retires to teach next generation of first responders | Cops And Crime | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/cops_and_crime/sheriffs-office-commander-retires-to-teach-next-generation-of-first-responders/article_9d3884a6-265f-5e80-9e9d-812343c0f4f5.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/crime_and_justice/cops_and_crime/sheriffs-office-commander-retires-to-teach-next-generation-of-first-responders/article_9d3884a6-265f-5e80-9e9d-812343c0f4f5.html |
County Executive Jan Gardner, D, delivers her eighth and final State of the County address Thursday at the New Spire Arts Stages.
Staff photo by Jack Hogan
Audience members look on as County Executive Jan Gardner, D, delivers her eighth and final State of the County address Thursday at the New Spire Arts Stages.
“I’m proud to have laid the foundation for how charter government operates and will work into the future,” Gardner said during her address, held at the New Spire Arts Stages. “It depended upon a strong and productive working relationship with the County Council, with our federal, state and municipal partners, and the entire community.”
Gardner said that having an executive has given Frederick County a representative with the county’s delegation to Congress, with bond rating agencies in New York and with businesses seeking to locate in the county.
Since the shift to charter government and under her administration, the county has improved education funding, development planning, farmland preservation, economic growth, library access, ethics in government and more, Gardner said.
Funding for Frederick County Public Schools has comprised a substantial portion of Gardner’s general operating budget each of the last eight years. This year, she allocated $365 million — or 46% of the budget — for the Frederick County Board of Education, which oversees the school system’s budget.
Her budgets have funded the county’s public schools $113 million more than the state-required “maintenance of effort” levels, a minimum legal threshold that requires counties to provide at least the same amount of money per student from year to year.
Over the last eight years, Gardner invested $525 million in school construction projects in her capital projects budget. The county’s $215 million capital budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 included funding for nine school construction projects.
Since 2014, the county has completed the construction of Frederick High School and five elementary schools. The county also undertook a limited renovation project at Thurmont Elementary School.
Gardner said the county has been innovative in its approach to public education, starting up the LYNX (Linking Youth to New Experiences) program, which provides students with work, arts and trades experience. And the Early College partnership with Frederick Community College has granted students the chance to earn associate’s degrees while completing high school.
Development planning
Gardner spearheaded the county’s adoption of the Livable Frederick Master Plan in 2019. The plan guides growth, development and preservation in the county.
The Livable Frederick plan includes the framework for area plans that will outline land use, transportation and community facilities in specific regions of the county.
The County Council is expected to voted on the first Livable Frederick area plan, the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan, on Oct. 18. If the council votes to approve the plan, it will go to Gardner for her signature and final approval.
The county has preserved more than 73,000 acres of farmland, and Gardner said she expects the county to exceed its goal of preserving 100,000 acres of farmland by the early 2030’s, 10 years earlier than expected.
Under Gardner, the county created agricultural innovation grants to keep the industry economically viable and help farmers expand or diversify their businesses.
Since 2014, Frederick County has attracted large employers like the pharmaceutical company Kite, Texas-based data center development company Quantum Loophole, Australian-based biopharmaceutical company Ellume, and grocery giants The Kroger Co. and the United Kingdom-based Ocado Group.
Gardner said more than 100 businesses opened or expanded in the county during the height of pandemic.
The county opened branch libraries in Walkersville and Myersville, and expanded the Point of Rocks library, under Gardner. The county has begun construction on a new, much larger Middletown library, too.
Ethics in government
Under Gardner, the county’s ethics laws were rewritten and the county established an Ethics Commission to ensure an open government and hold elected officials accountable. Frederick County is the only county in the state with an independently appointed Ethics Commission, Gardner said.
During her State of the County address, Gardner also highlighted progress the county has made in public health, public safety and emergency response, fiscal management, parks and recreation opportunities, transportation options, senior care, and diversity, equity and inclusion in both government and health care.
phydeaux994 Oct 6, 2022 11:06pm
The difference Jan had made in Frederick County over the past 8 years is obvious. Our economy is strong. Our schools are better despite the tragic blow the Pandemic caused. The population has moderated politically, bringing the County into the 21st Century. All of this and more despite the relentless attacks from the MAGATS who want to destroy all the progress she has achieved. They hate Frederick County, they hate Maryland, and they hate the United States of America. Jan has fought that and she has succeeded. Can we sustain that come November and December? We can only hope. We will miss Jan.
We owe her a major debt of gratitude. Excellent, thoughtful governance in a time of idiocy. Thank you, Jan. | 2022-10-07T03:38:14Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Gardner looks back on eight years during her final State of the County address | Agriculture | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/agriculture/gardner-looks-back-on-eight-years-during-her-final-state-of-the-county-address/article_be29ad53-8736-5dc0-b1bc-1be8a1e81750.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/agriculture/gardner-looks-back-on-eight-years-during-her-final-state-of-the-county-address/article_be29ad53-8736-5dc0-b1bc-1be8a1e81750.html |
Aldermen approve funds for Culler Lake improvements
Frederick's aldermen on Thursday unanimously approved a contract for nearly $900,000 for the second phase of improvements to Culler Lake.
The $899,848 contract with the Baltimore-based contracting company DSM Properties for work that will improve walkways, lighting, landscaping, and benches at the lake in the city’s Baker Park.
The contract also includes a $50,000 contingency, bringing the final purchase order for the work to $949,848.
The city finished improvements to the lake in 2016 to remove silt and put in stormwater management devices that can remove silt and debris from stormwater runoff before it reaches the lake.
Alderman Derek Shackelford asked Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Bob Smith how the project fits into the city's Parks and Recreation master plan that the aldermen discussed at a workshop last week.
The project provides additional amenities, including more paths, connecting paths, and more lighting, Smith said.
The project will be funded through a $150,000 state bond bill, with a $150,000 city match, the $228,155 grant from the state, $275,000 from Friends of Baker Park, and $146,693 in additional city funds.
Friends of Baker Park President Peter Brehm said this phase of the work will be about transportation and making the plaza at the lake a destination in the city.
Friends Of Baker Park | 2022-10-07T03:38:20Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Aldermen approve funds for Culler Lake improvements | Environment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/open_space/aldermen-approve-funds-for-culler-lake-improvements/article_1076eb2a-3ae5-5b1e-b0bf-fa7bc6dbb771.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/open_space/aldermen-approve-funds-for-culler-lake-improvements/article_1076eb2a-3ae5-5b1e-b0bf-fa7bc6dbb771.html |
n Frederick (5-0) at Walkersville (2-3): A slow start last week at Catoctin created the first deficit of the season for Frederick High. The Cadets eventually found their form and were able to overcome it with relative ease on their way to a 49-6 victory. And it could be a beneficial experience for them going forward when they face better teams later in the season, knowing they can rally when they aren’t playing their best. They are back on the road this week against Walkersville, which has posted back-to-back blowout wins over Thomas Johnson and Tuscarora. Frederick thumped Walkersville 49-28 last season, a result that sort of announced the Cadets’ arrival as a team to be reckoned with on their way to the Class 3A state semifinals. Now, the shoe is on the other foot, and the Lions are the ones hoping to produce the eye-opening result this season.
n Middletown (3-2) at Urbana (5-0): The Hawks are off to their best start since 2013 when they won their first six games. Even more impressively, they have outscored the opposition 200-3 so far. The players say they discuss their defensive prowess in small circles, but they try not to make too big of a deal about it because they understand the likelihood of surrendering points to some teams. Middletown will be the first Frederick County team Urbana has faced all season. The Knights are riding the high of last week’s 7-0 home win over Linganore when their defense held the Lancers to fewer than 100 yards of total offense. Middletown also has a running back in Carson Smith who should provide a nice test for that Urbana defense. Smith rushed for 286 yards on 42 attempts in the win over Linganore.
n Tuscarora (0-5) at Linganore (2-3): Over the last six quarters, the Lancers have barely produced any offense, and their trademark running game has been totally stymied. They didn’t produce one first down in the second half of a 28-14 loss at Oakdale on Sept. 23, then, last week, they were held to under 100 total yards in a 7-0 loss at Middletown. It’s a stunning turn of events for a team that has played in each of the last four Class 3A state finals. Linganore will hope to get back on track this week against winless Tuscarora, which is coming off a 42-0 home loss to Walkersville.
n Oakdale (4-1) at Gwynn Park (3-2): The Bears are looking to bounce back after getting run off their home field by Fort Hill last week in a 49-21 loss. The Sentinels gouged the Oakdale defense for 487 rushing yards and six touchdowns, including 314 yards and four touchdowns in the first half. The first half has been a major sticking point for Oakdale over the last two weeks. The Bears trailed Linganore 14-0 at halftime two weeks ago, then faced a 28-0 deficit at the break last week. They are hoping for a much better start at Gwynn Park, which had strung together a pair of blowout wins before getting shut out at Wise last week, 43-0.
n Brunswick (4-1) at Liberty (4-1): The Railroaders put their four-game winning streak to the test this week against a talented Liberty team. The Lions’ only blemish so far is a one-point road loss to Boys’ Latin on Sept. 9. They beat Walkersville 34-14 in the season opener and also have blowout wins over Manchester Valley, Winters Mill and Francis Scott Key. Meanwhile, Brunswick has scored 40 or more points in three of its last four games. Last week, the Railroaders earned a 44-0 homecoming win over Clear Spring. Last season, Brunswick earned a 29-27 home win over Liberty.
n Poolesville (5-0) at Catoctin (2-3): The last three weeks have been confidence builders for the Cougars. They posted back-to-back wins over Thomas Johnson and South Hagerstown and then had a small lead in the second quarter last week against unbeaten Frederick. They are hoping to take another big step in the right direction this week with a home game against unbeaten Poolesville. The Falcons earned a 34-14 home win over Catoctin last season before losing to Walkersville in the first round of the playoffs. Poolesville is coming off a 38-14 win at Magruder. The Falcons opened the season with an overtime win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and they also earned a one-point win over Rockville on Sept. 23.
n Thomas Johnson (0-5) at South Hagerstown (1-4): The Patriots will take aim again at their first win of the season against another struggling team. TJ is coming off a 23-7 home loss to South Carroll last Thursday. Meanwhile, South Hagerstown fell to Jefferson (West Virginia) last week, 48-6.
n MSD (5-1) at Valley Forge Military Academy (1-2): The Orioles have two of the leading rushers in the county in Ethan Guettler and Zion Ortiz. Both found the end zone last week in a 36-8 home win over Delaware County Christian, which marked the fourth straight win for MSD. This week, the Orioles will travel to Eastern Pennsylvania to take on Valley Forge Military Academy, which is coming off a 22-14 road win last week against Randolph-Macon Academy (Virginia).
n St. John’s Catholic Prep by forfeit over Trinity Christian: The Vikings improved to 4-2 on the season with the forfeit victory, according to coach Nate Marr. This game was scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Christian. The Vikings were coming off a 41-6 home loss to Severn last Friday in their MIAA C Conference opener. They are scheduled to play their next conference game at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Annapolis Area Christian School. | 2022-10-07T03:38:57Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Week 6 High School Football Capsules | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/week-6-high-school-football-capsules/article_d6b28cc2-b4cd-5662-9d40-13a08593aa4e.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/week-6-high-school-football-capsules/article_d6b28cc2-b4cd-5662-9d40-13a08593aa4e.html |
Julia Kahan, 8, has been safely delivered to her father in America after having journeyed 7,000 miles from Bavaria in the care of postal authorities.
The weather yesterday shattered all Frederick county records for October when the temperature reached halfway between 91 and 92 degrees at the official weather observer’s station. Yesterday was the twenty-fifth day without rain in this county. The farmers are literally praying for rain. From all sections come the reports that pasture lands are scorching brown under the burning sun.
A deputy warden at the lookout tower near Foxville is watching day and night to protect anything like a forest fire at this time. From the top of towers strategically located near timberland communities of the state, men are straining their eyes to discover the least vestige of fire. All the fire towers are in telephonic communication, so that it is possible to summon additional forces to danger points in a minimum of time.
How the outbreak of anthrax, which was found on the farm of A.A. Boyer, near Jefferson, had its origin here is not known. Those who have charge of the fight against the disease say they haven’t an idea from what source it originated in this county. Anthrax is one of the oldest diseases known. For years, there was no way of controlling it, but later a vaccine was discovered that did not cure but prevented a spread of the disease. Sheep, cattle, hogs, horses and man are most susceptible to the disease, it is said. In order to keep the disease from spreading in this county, Dr. R.V. Smith, veterinarian, and Dr. R.C. Reed, chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry of the State Board of Agriculture, are inoculating herds adjoining the Boyer farm.
Frederick City officials will again ask the county commissioners to sell the old county courthouse to use as a city hall after the upcoming county election, Mayor Ronald N. Young said at his weekly press conference Wednesday. The city has investigated expansion of the present city hall, which officials say is too small for their needs. If, after the election, the next board of county commissioners is not interested in selling the building, the city will continue to develop prospects for city hall expansion, Young said.
William Rice is not one to gloat over attaining personal goals, but lately he has been smiling about a major improvement in Thurmont’s wastewater treatment plant. Rice, Thurmont’s town superintendent, has been the guiding force behind the project, which will cost $3.7 million. “It has been in the planning stages for six years,” Rice said. “It’s now in the building stage ... at last. It has been a long time. Dealing with the EPA, the state Department of Natural Resources, federal and county agencies has been hectic.”
The U.S. Navy decommissioned the USS Frederick in a ceremony Saturday at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The ceremony marked the end of an era for a class of ships that dominated the United States’ World War II efforts. Tank-landing ships (LSTs) such as the Frederick were first used to transport tanks and troops in World War II and were the most abundant vessel in the war. Although Frederick will no longer serve the Navy, the ship is slated to continue service in the Mexican navy.
A Frederick boy was mugged and robbed of cash early Friday evening on West Patrick Street, according to Frederick police. The boy reported at 6:30 p.m. Friday that he had been assaulted and robbed by other youths in the area, police said. Officers rounded up several suspects, and the boy positively identified those who had assaulted him, according to police. Three Frederick juveniles were arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, malicious destruction of property and theft under $500, according to police. Charges are pending against three other suspects who were identified as a result of the investigation.
Julia Kahan
Postal Authorities
Fire Lookout Tower At Foxville
Anthrax On Jefferson Farm
Dr. R.v. Smith
Mayor Ronald Young
William Rice
Thurmont Wastewater Treatment Plant
Uss Frederick
Tank-landing Ship
Youth Mugged
Ronald N. Young | 2022-10-07T05:34:52Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 7 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-7/article_202161f9-c823-5aa8-b5c8-ef4a8f870a7e.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-7/article_202161f9-c823-5aa8-b5c8-ef4a8f870a7e.html |
Clark Warfield Clarksburg
When reading the article, “Truck trap,” in Wednesday’s edition of The Frederick News-Post, I had to wonder about the statement credited to Mr. Dale Grimm: “He doesn’t ever see the issue being resolved.”
At about the time the Costco warehouse began operating, and trucks started getting stuck under the railroad bridge, I wrote to the FNP a common sense solution to this issue, which was obviously ignored. In this letter, the simple solution that would eliminate the problem was to excavate the Md. 75 road surface for an appropriate distance, approaching and exiting the railroad bridge, to achieve an additional 2 feet of bridge clearance for a total of 14 feet, 6 inches (the minimum standard for interstate bridges). This excavated area would probably be 100 yards on each side of the bridge to allow a gradual grade down to the bridge and back up to the existing road surface.
If the concern for this kind of fix would be the closing of Md. 75 road to traffic; the commuters from the Lewisdale and Browningsville communities using Clarksburg Road dealt with this condition for many months while a bridge was being replaced, and everyone survived. I would think that the above modification to Md. 75 at the railroad bridge could be accomplished much quicker. Additionally, if drainage of accumulated water at the bridge is a concern, I would think the State Highway Administration would have an engineer that could address and solve this problem.
Clark Warfield | 2022-10-07T07:32:17Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | A solution for the "truck trap" on Md. 75 | Letters to the Editor | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/a-solution-for-the-truck-trap-on-md-75/article_8926dde2-3fac-50d9-b8ce-565b112d654c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/a-solution-for-the-truck-trap-on-md-75/article_8926dde2-3fac-50d9-b8ce-565b112d654c.html |
John Miller Frederick
Sadly, free speech for many people means only if you agree with me.
I hold a sign at Planned Parenthood on Thomas Johnson Drive as do several others. We’re there to help a woman or girl that’s had an abortion or considering one. It’s heartwarming to get positive responses from so many people driving by.
The sign I hold reads: “Ask me about healing after an abortion”. One would think this isn’t offensive to anyone, but one would be wrong. Every time we’re there, we get at least a few obscene gestures and/or vulgar language shouted at us.
Many moms face depression after their abortion. In a story she wrote for liveaction.org, Sarah Terzo cites a 2017 study by The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons that supports this claim. According to the study, “67.5% of respondents sought help from a mental health professional after their abortions; only 13% sought help before their abortions.”
Terzo also states that “teen girls are 10 times more likely to attempt suicide if they have had an abortion in the last six months than girls who haven’t had an abortion, and two to four times more likely to die by suicide after abortion compared to adult women.”
According to Elliott Institute research on afterabortion.org, a study published in the Southern Medical Journal reveals that women who have abortions are at significantly higher risk of death than women who give birth. Over the eight-year period studied, women who aborted had a 154 percent higher risk of death from suicide.
Terzo also touched on the post-abortion suicides of Australian model and TV star Charlotte Dawson and “22-year-old ‘Haley Mason’ (name changed), whose abortion was committed by infamous abortionist LeRoy Carhart. Before her abortion, she wrote a message to God in her journal which read, ‘I sit here alone with my thoughts wondering if you will ever forgive me … Will you still love me as a child of yours? Will I still love me after today?’”
Sarah Terzo
public-redux Oct 7, 2022 2:34am
I strongly support Mr. Miller’s right to stand around holding a sign that he knows will offend some people.
Tenet IV: “The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.” | 2022-10-07T07:32:23Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Free speech without harassment? | Letters to the Editor | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/free-speech-without-harassment/article_2b3de991-feeb-5154-9dcf-3ba8f75dea02.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/free-speech-without-harassment/article_2b3de991-feeb-5154-9dcf-3ba8f75dea02.html |
175th anniversary of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Wolfsville will celebrate its 175th anniversary on Oct. 9 with a special service at 2 p.m.
St. Mark’s was organized in 1845 by the Rev. C.C. Culler of the Funkstown church. In 1847, the cornerstone was laid for the church building. Land for St. Mark’s was donated by the Samuel Marken family. Located just north of Wolfsville, the tract of land was known as Good Hope. Charter members of the new Wolfsville Lutheran Church were the Markens and their relatives and neighbors who desired to follow the Lutheran doctrine.
In 1954, a Sunday School building was constructed.
A two-story addition was built in 1977.
Pastor Eric Moser has been the minister at St. Mark’s since 2020.
The public is invited to attend the anniversary service, a culminating event following several special programs during this 175th year.
St. Mark’s is located at 12704 Wolfsville Road, Smithsburg. For more information, call the church office at 301-293-2301.
C.c. Culler | 2022-10-07T18:25:05Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 175th anniversary of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church | Religion | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/175th-anniversary-of-st-mark-s-lutheran-church/article_ebc021e6-4d05-55c3-a6fe-6c89f8ccc394.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/175th-anniversary-of-st-mark-s-lutheran-church/article_ebc021e6-4d05-55c3-a6fe-6c89f8ccc394.html |
Annamarie Poole, left, and Avonell Watson set up their booth on Friday for the Catoctin Colorfest at Thurmont Community Park. The festival, which will offer a variety of arts, crafts, food, and vendors, runs Saturday and Sunday.
Tye Brydges steps out of a trailer on Friday while setting up for the upcoming Catoctin Colorfest at Thurmont Community Park. The festival, held Saturday and Sunday, will offer a feature of arts, crafts, food, and vendors.
Catoctin Colorfest President Carol Robertson surveys items on a table while setting up her area for this weekend's event in Thurmont. The festival, held Saturday and Sunday, will feature a variety of arts, crafts, food, and vendors.
Catoctin Colorfest President Carol Robertson sets down a tablecloth while setting up her area on Friday before this week's event in Thurmont. The festival, held Saturday and Sunday, will feature a variety of arts, crafts, food, and vendors.
James Scott, of Hot and Fresh Grill, cuts onions on Friday while preparing for the upcoming Catoctin Colorfest at Thurmont Community Park.
Colorfest vendors get ready for two-day festival in Thurmont
Carol Robertson tears up when she thinks about what happens on the first day of the Catoctin Colorfest each year.
Things are usually pretty quiet when she arrives at Thurmont’s Community Park in the early hours of Saturday morning. But before long, the area is bustling with activity, as food and craft vendors prepare for thousands of potential customers to flock to the two-day arts and craft festival.
It’s like a small town coming to life, said Robertson, president of the Catoctin Colorfest.
“It’s worth all the hard work,” she said, smiling as she stood beneath the tent where she will sell handmade decorations this weekend.
The Community Park was alight with motion on Friday, as the town of Thurmont and hundreds of vendors buckled down for the first wave of Colorfest visitors to arrive on Saturday.
Though the town estimates that about 100,000 people attend the festival each year, Thurmont Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick said he wouldn’t be surprised if even more came this year. The weather is forecast to be beautiful on both days — sunny and with temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s.
It’s a busy few days for town employees leading up to the festival, but at this point, Humerick said, they’ve got it down to a science. This year marks the 58th iteration of the festival.
“We could do it with our eyes closed,” Humerick said.
As of 2 p.m. on Friday, the town had sold 566 permits for the event, Humerick wrote in an email. That includes permits for parking and information booths, as well as for crafts and food vendors.
The town office planned to stay open later on Friday to handle last-minute permits, Humerick wrote.
A huge pile of onions sat beneath the awning of Taleb Awad’s food stand on Friday. Awad expects to use them for a lot of the dishes he and his coworkers will sell over the weekend.
This will be the second year the Richmond-based business — which sells Greek, Middle Eastern and American food — will be participating in the festival, Awad said.
Other vendors have been involved for much longer.
On Friday, Patty Henry, who runs the quilting business Patty’s Piecework, stepped under Robertson’s tent to give her a big hug.
She’s been participating in Colorfest for about 35 years, she said — about as long as Robertson has been a vendor.
What she really respects about the festival is how strictly officials monitor whether a vendor’s products are handmade, she said.
Even if an artisan has been participating in the event for years, they must provide photos of themselves making what they will be selling with their Colorfest application.
And if someone gets caught selling something that’s been “Made in China”? They’re shut down that day, Robertson said.
Colorfest also serves as a big fundraiser the town, Robertson said.
Each year, the organization gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships for students at Catoctin High School. The event also raises money for the town food bank, the Lions Club, the Community Ambulance Service and other organizations.
Robertson has known some of the vendors who participate in the annual festival for decades.
They’ve been through a lot together, she said — good and bad. On Friday, as she chatted with Henry, another vendor came to her tent to seek comfort for a personal problem. Robertson held her hand as she cried.
“This is a family,” she said.
Jim Humerick | 2022-10-08T01:19:25Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Colorfest vendors get ready for two-day festival in Thurmont | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/colorfest-vendors-get-ready-for-two-day-festival-in-thurmont/article_2b018ddb-ce47-5d4c-8ee7-3433e60ac99a.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/colorfest-vendors-get-ready-for-two-day-festival-in-thurmont/article_2b018ddb-ce47-5d4c-8ee7-3433e60ac99a.html |
Filming project to disrupt Monocacy Boulevard traffic Monday
Traffic along a section of Monocacy Boulevard may be disrupted for several hours Monday for a filming project.
A production company will be filming, which will involve periodic traffic control on Monocacy Boulevard and Hughes Ford Road with police assistance, according to a release from the city.
Parts of the filming will be taking place in the areas of Monocacy Boulevard, Hughes Ford Road, and East Patrick Street on Monday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The production company has committed to ensuring that inconveniences are kept to a minimum, according to the release. | 2022-10-08T01:19:50Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Filming project to disrupt Monocacy Boulevard traffic Monday | Tourism | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/tourism/filming-project-to-disrupt-monocacy-boulevard-traffic-monday/article_e9fe48ea-dcfd-526b-a0a5-89792f933f11.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/tourism/filming-project-to-disrupt-monocacy-boulevard-traffic-monday/article_e9fe48ea-dcfd-526b-a0a5-89792f933f11.html |
A voter deposits her ballot in a secure drop box outside the Frederick County Board of Elections facility on Montevue Lane in Frederick in 2020.
Mail-in voting is underway in Frederick County
The Maryland State Board of Elections sent mail-in ballots on Oct. 1 to voters in Frederick County who requested one.
The State Board of Elections had sent 24,500 mail-in ballots to Frederick County voters as of Thursday, the last day for which the state board has made data available.
As of Thursday, the State Board of Elections had received 114 of the ballots back.
More than 24,800 Frederick County voters requested a mail-in ballot.
The State Board of Elections has delivered the ballots through the mail, the web, fax and more.
Nearly 90% of voters who requested a mail-in ballot will receive it in the mail. The U.S. Postal Service may take up to five days to deliver ballots, according to a news release from the Maryland State Board of Elections.
Frederick County voters who submit their ballot through a drop box can use any official drop box in the county. Voters can have until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8, to drop off their ballots. The drop boxes will be locked promptly at 8 p.m. on Nov. 8, according to a news release from the State Board of Elections.
The Frederick County Board of Elections has set up eight drop box locations across the county for mail-in ballots:
Frederick County Board of Elections Office, 340A Montevue Lane, Frederick
Brunswick Middle School, 301 Cummings Drive, Brunswick
Catoctin High School, 14745 Sabillasville Road, Thurmont
Governor Thomas Johnson High School, 1501 N. Market St., Frederick
Myersville Town Hall, 301 Main St., Myersville
Oakdale High School, 5850 Eaglehead Drive, Ijamsville
Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick
William R. Talley Recreation Center, 121 N. Bentz St., Frederick
Early voting will be held from Oct. 27 through Nov. 3. Early voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day during that window.
Voters in Frederick County can visit one of four locations to vote during the early voting period:
Trinity Recreation Center, 6040 New Design Road, Frederick
Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont
Eligible Marylanders who aren’t registered to vote, or who wish to change their party affiliation or personal voting information, have until Oct. 18 to do so. Registration is available on the State Board of Election’s website and in person at the Frederick County Board of Election’s office on Montevue Lane in Frederick. | 2022-10-08T03:54:37Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Mail-in voting is underway in Frederick County | Election Coverage | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/mail-in-voting-is-underway-in-frederick-county/article_03315663-52b3-5416-85be-0c17229d9ff3.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/mail-in-voting-is-underway-in-frederick-county/article_03315663-52b3-5416-85be-0c17229d9ff3.html |
President Joe Biden speaks at the Volvo Powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
Ian Rathgeb of Frederick listens to President Joe Biden speak during Biden's visit to the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
Pres. Joe Biden leans on the podium as he speaks at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
President Joe Biden talks with employees after speaking at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
People listen to President Joe Biden as he speaks at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
President Joe Biden jogs to the podium to speak at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
Employees at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown listen to President Joe Biden speak on Friday.
President Joe Biden sits down with employees for a photo after speaking at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
President Joe Biden talks with people at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
U.S. Rep. David Trone, left, shakes hands with Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller before President Joe Biden’s speech at the Volvo powertrain plant near Hagerstown on Friday.
Biden's visit to Volvo facility near Hagerstown energizes local employees
During a visit to Volvo’s powertrain manufacturing facility near Hagerstown on Friday, President Joe Biden painted an optimistic picture of the nation’s economy — but said Republican victories in the November midterm elections would undo progress the country has made.
Frederick County residents who work at the Volvo facility said the president’s visit energized the company and brought attention to the advancements it’s made in manufacturing electric Mack Trucks.
The day before his visit to Volvo’s manufacturing facility, Biden proclaimed Oct. 7 as National Manufacturing Day.
“For everything we’ve been through, I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s prospects in my entire career,” Biden said as he addressed Volvo employees and guests at the manufacturing facility on Friday. “Just remember who in the hell we are. We’re the United States of America.”
Roughly 74% of Democrats in Maryland approve of the job Biden has done as president, compared with 37% of independents and 14% of Republicans, according to a Goucher College Poll released Sept. 19.
“Regardless of people’s [political] affiliation, I think we’re all excited that we’re getting this type of attention,” said Breanna Jordan, a manufacturing engineering manager for Volvo who lives in Frederick. “It gives me a lot of pride in our company.”
Jordan, 33, was distributing snacks and water along a walkway in the sprawling facility before Biden spoke. She said she saw Biden’s visit as a sign of his support for Volvo’s shift from solely manufacturing diesel Mack Trucks to offering electric trucks.
Volvo’s facility produces the powertrain, which makes up the engine, axel and transmission for the trucks.
The facility’s slogan, Jordan said, is “we are the heart,” a reference to the engine as the beating heart of a Mack Truck. In the next few years, the facility will transition to producing more of the modular power boxes that will drive electric Mack Trucks.
“We still are that heart, even if it has an electric heartbeat instead of a diesel heartbeat,” Jordan said.
The United Auto Workers endorsed Biden in 2020, and the union leans Democratic. But, Jordan said, it was a big deal for Biden to visit a part of the state that is home to large swaths of people who did not vote for him two years ago.
Biden won more than 65% of the vote in Maryland in his 2020 presidential victory over then-President Donald Trump, R. Trump, though, defeated Biden in Western Maryland.
Trump received 77% of the vote in Garrett County, 68% in Allegany County, 60% in Carroll County and 59% in Washington County.
Frederick County was the only county in Western Maryland to go for Biden. The president received 53% of the county’s vote in 2020.
Trump’s support in the region was evident on the roads leading up to the Volvo facility. Small crowds gathered on street corners to display red, white and blue MAGA (Make American Great Again) signs and flags. Some signs displayed or insinuated profanities aimed at Biden.
“Our Republican colleagues have a very different view. And I know many of you are probably Republicans,” Biden said to those gathered at the Volvo facility. “Many of my Republican friends are basically arguing that good news for the economy is bad news for America.”
“That’s all part of this trickle-down mentality that says, ‘It doesn’t matter what’s happening on Main Street, what really matters is what’s happening on Wall Street,’” Biden said. “That’s not my plan.”
Jordan said there was surprise among the manufacturing facility’s workers that Biden would be visiting. Employees were told Tuesday that they’d have a visitor later in the week, but their bosses wouldn’t disclose who it was.
Jordan said she and her coworkers learned on Wednesday that their guest would be Biden.
Zachary Beene, a 26-year-old manufacturing engineer who works under Jordan, volunteered to be a guide for the day’s guests before knowing who would be showing up.
“I was a little nervous,” said Beene, a Frederick resident. “I wasn’t sure what I was volunteering for.”
He wasn’t assigned to give Biden a tour, which calmed his nerves, but he was stoked to have the president in town.
He said he figured that Biden came to the facility to support a manufacturer that hires a large number of middle-class workers in Maryland and a company that is part of the global shift to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
“It makes a lot of sense,” Beene said of the president’s visit. “He’s pretty close by, so it’s not too hard to get here.”
The president focused much of his 15-minute speech Friday on the nation’s economic woes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy and taxes are the most important issues for Maryland voters heading into the state’s Nov. 8 general election, according to the Goucher College Poll released in September.
“We have to move from a historically strong economic recovery to a more steady, stable recovery. We need to bring inflation down without giving up all the historic economic progress that working-class and middle-class people have made,” Biden said.
Van Johnson, 52, another manufacturing engineering manager for Volvo, said it was significant for the facility and for the company to have “the leader of the free world” stop by. Johnson saw the president’s visit as a sign of his commitment to Western Maryland and to American automotive manufacturing.
“It’s gonna give us more energy,” said Johnson, an Urbana resident. “It’s gonna give us the recognition that we probably think we deserve in this area.”
Biden also used his visit to Western Maryland to drum up support for U.S. Rep. David Trone, a Democrat locked in what is expected to be a close reelection race with Maryland state Del. Neil Parrott, a Republican who represents Washington County.
“It’s great to be with Congressman David Trone, who is always, always, always working for the working people of this district,” Biden said. The president’s remarks came after a short speech from Trone.
The website fivethirtyeight.com has dubbed the race for Maryland’s District 6 congressional seat “highly competitive.”
Trone won the seat in 2018 with 59% of the vote, but new congressional lines in Maryland that the state legislature settled on after the release of 2020 U.S. Census data have shifted the district away from the solid blue that gave Trone his commanding victory four years ago.
In photos: President Joe Biden at Volvo Powertrain plant in Hagerstown
Breanna Jordan
Aslan19 Oct 7, 2022 9:37pm
"optimistic picture of the nation's economy??" 😂 If someone thinks this economy is optimistic, they have serious mental problems and detached from reality. | 2022-10-08T03:54:43Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Biden's visit to Volvo facility near Hagerstown energizes local employees | Economy & business | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/bidens-visit-to-volvo-facility-near-hagerstown-energizes-local-employees/article_51c9b6b2-dbe7-563d-aff5-da5d2ca8429e.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/bidens-visit-to-volvo-facility-near-hagerstown-energizes-local-employees/article_51c9b6b2-dbe7-563d-aff5-da5d2ca8429e.html |
Ruth Horner, left, plays a game with her granddaughter in their apartment. Ruth has raised her granddaughter since she was young, and the two have received help from the nonprofit Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership.
Leilani, 3, the daughter of Raena Goodwill, goes down a slide at a park in Frederick County.
Raena Goodwill embraces her daughters Brielle, 16 months, left, and Leilani, 3, at a park in Frederick County.
Sherri Lewis, left, watches as her son Liam Kalbskopf, 9, reads a book in the children’s section of the Walkersville Public Library. Liam’s father is incarcerated, and both Lewis and Liam have received help from the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership.
Ruth Horner talks with her granddaughter in their apartment. Ruth has raised her granddaughter since she was young, and the two have received help from the nonprofit Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership.
It was 2017, and Liam had just entered pre-K. Even though the little boy was well-behaved at home, he would often have emotional outbursts at school. Lewis suspected it was partly because he wanted to spend time with the male principal.
When she’d take Liam to the park, he’d run up to random men and beg them to play catch with him or go for a walk. Then, when they would leave, he’d cry.
“Every time,” said Lewis, who lives in Walkersville with Liam. “‘I want to go with the daddy!’ It was brutal.”
Lewis scoured the internet for advice, read every book to her son that his guidance counselor recommended and begged his pediatrician to tell her what to do. But nothing seemed to be working.
Then, about three months after Liam started pre-K, his teacher put Lewis in touch with Shari Ostrow Scher, the executive director of the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership.
For almost two decades, COIPP, a Frederick-based nonprofit, has supported families in Frederick County who have been affected by the prison system.
“There’s so much selflessness and heart in it. There’s love in it,” Lewis said of the nonprofit. “It isn’t a task, it isn’t a duty, it isn’t a job. They care about you.”
‘They gave him an escape’
Three years ago, on a morning in early fall, Lewis woke up, unable to move.
She had planned to go to a pumpkin patch in Middletown with her mom and Liam. Instead, she spent the day in the emergency room.
Lewis was eventually diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a rare connective tissue disease. It took her two long years of physical therapy to become fully mobile again, she said.
“You know if you swim for a really, really long time, you just float and float and when you finally get to get out, you can kind of feel your own body weight?” she said in an interview in the Walkersville Public Library, as Liam, 9, played nearby. “It was like I was dragging my own body weight all the time. Like I was trying to run through water and I was just shuffling my feet.”
Lewis only recently started working again. While recovering, she had to quit her job as a massage therapist, where she had worked for 10 years.
At the time, she had three months of savings. Because of that, she didn’t qualify for food stamps. It would take a year for her to qualify for long-term disability.
Liam was supposed to start pre-K that fall, but Lewis kept him home for one more year. He knew his ABCs and some basic math when he started school, but he was behind socially, Lewis said. He couldn’t tie his shoes.
While scared for her health and Liam’s development, Lewis worked to legally separate from her ex-husband, William Kalbskopf.
Kalbskopf is incarcerated at the Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, where he is serving 12 years for armed robbery. A letter mailed to him by The Frederick News-Post, requesting comment, went unanswered.
Lewis got in touch with Ostrow Scher about a year after she was diagnosed with dermatomyositis. Even though she knew it wasn’t her fault that Liam’s dad was incarcerated, she felt guilty for how much her son was struggling.
But COIPP became their “village.”
Classes hosted by the nonprofit helped Liam better understand and work through his emotions. Volunteers helped Lewis get in touch with a local organization called City Youth Matrix, which gave Liam the adult male role models he so desperately needed.
When Lewis couldn’t walk, COIPP volunteers drove her to workshops. She participated in support group meetings over Zoom, when she was feeling too sick. If she couldn’t make the session, volunteers sent her pamphlets with parenting advice and toys and gifts for Liam.
“They gave him an escape,” she said. “A lot of kids just need that glimmer of hope, that flicker of an alternative life.”
‘Like a family’
When her children were young, Ruth Horner knew where to send them to summer camp and where to find resources for them in Frederick County.
But that was a long time ago. Now, she’s 72 years old and is raising her 9-year-old granddaughter.
Horner asked The Frederick News-Post not to publish her granddaughter’s name, to protect her privacy. The girl’s mother, Horner’s daughter, has substance use problems and has been incarcerated off and on, Horner said.
There are a lot of challenges that come along with being the little girl’s primary caregiver.
When her granddaughter wants to go for a walk or bike ride, Horner isn’t able to run after her. And during the early days of the pandemic, when school went online, Horner became her substitute teacher and playmate.
Then, there are the finances. Horner retired from her nursing career when she started taking care of her granddaughter. She gets about $1,960 each month from Social Security, which she uses to pay her mortgage and buy groceries.
Though her granddaughter gets money because she has a disability, there isn’t a lot of money left each month for other purchases. Horner was denied the last time she applied for food stamps.
“I always hate when I have to go to the grocery store and buy cleaning products and detergent and fabric softener,” Horner said in an interview at the News-Post offices as her granddaughter spun around in a swivel chair. “Because that’s a lot of money. And it’s nothing we can eat.”
Since an employee at the Frederick County Department of Social Services connected her with COIPP, the nonprofit has been her family’s saving grace.
“It is, honestly, like a family,” Horner said. “The women at COIPP are so kind and so caring, and you just never feel like a charity case or anything.”
Horner has been raising her granddaughter since she was 6 months old. There were some spans of time when her daughter wasn’t using drugs or incarcerated, Horner said. She would come to see her daughter and spend time with her.
But Horner hasn’t heard from her daughter in almost two years. The last time they spoke, she said, her daughter was homeless in Baltimore.
It was really hard on Horner’s granddaughter when her mom stopped calling her or coming to visit, Horner said. Her granddaughter can sometimes say mean things to Horner, which Horner thinks is her way of processing the loss.
But there is joy for Horner in raising her granddaughter.
“At the end of the day, she grabs her favorite blanket that she calls lovey —” Horner started.
“No, I don’t!” her granddaughter cut in.
“She’s getting old enough now that she’s embarrassed,” Horner said with a laugh. She continued, even as her granddaughter squirmed.
“She’ll come over and she’ll say, ‘Can we snuggle?’ And then she still climbs on my lap. And we’ll sit there.”
‘The only way around something is through it’
Ostrow Scher, the founder of COIPP, once said something to Raena Goodwill that made her stop and think.
“Raena,” she told her, “I want you to know you look amazing.”
When Goodwill started accepting help from the nonprofit, she would always keep her head lowered, Ostrow Scher said. But now, when she walks into a room, Ostrow Scher said, her head is held high.
“‘You have confidence and strength,’” Goodwill remembers Ostrow Scher telling her.
She choked up at the memory as she sat in the driver’s seat of a car parked outside a playground in Frederick County. As rain lashed at the windows, her two daughters sat in the back, buckled into their car seats.
Leilani, 3, was fussy, sometimes letting out a loud wail. But Brielle, about 1 1/2, was quiet. She looked at her mom, her huge brown eyes attentive.
A long and difficult road led Goodwill and her two girls to COIPP. Goodwill asked the News-Post not to report her daughters’ last names to protect their privacy.
She and her girls are survivors of domestic violence, Goodwill said. Their experience ended with Brielle and Leilani’s father being incarcerated.
A little more than three years ago, Larissa Metzger — a COIPP volunteer who works for Healthy Families, a Frederick County home visiting program — suggested that Goodwill try attending one of COIPP’s virtual workshops.
“I don’t know about this,” Goodwill remembers telling Metzger. “I don’t trust people.”
But today, Goodwill feels glad she decided to trust the women of COIPP. They are amazing, she said. As a single mom, she said, the support they’ve given her has meant the world.
Goodwill is on disability, so the gift cards her family receives from COIPP help pay the bills. Leilani is attending preschool with a scholarship the organization helped her get.
Goodwill is thinking about going to Frederick Community College to study asset management, and find a job she can work remotely.
Beyond the educational assistance, diapers and books, COIPP has helped Goodwill recognize that she’s a good mom, she said. She grew up in a household that also suffered the blows of domestic violence, and she feels proud of herself for breaking that cycle.
It’s not easy, revisiting her past, she said. But it’s worth it. She wants people to know that help is out there for those who need it.
“The only way around something is through it,” she said, looking at her daughters in the backseat. “As much as I would love to hide away, I want them to live and see the world and do things and have fun.”
“People need to know that it’s possible to get out of the situation they’re in.”
Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series looking at families affected by incarceration. In part 2, learn more about an organization that helps them.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series looking at families affected by incarceration. In part 2, learn more about an organization that helps them.
Sherri Lewis
Liam Kalbskopf
Ruth Horner | 2022-10-08T03:54:49Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 'There's love in it': Caregivers of children affected by incarceration reflect on nonprofit | Social issues | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/theres-love-in-it-caregivers-of-children-affected-by-incarceration-reflect-on-nonprofit/article_567333e2-f7aa-56cb-8ad3-3301e2b48fb8.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/theres-love-in-it-caregivers-of-children-affected-by-incarceration-reflect-on-nonprofit/article_567333e2-f7aa-56cb-8ad3-3301e2b48fb8.html |
The Philadelphia-based modular construction company Volumetric Building Cos. puts a module into place at the Edgewater II apartment community at 23rd and Race streets. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
The Philadelphia-based modular construction company Volumetric Building Cos. brings a module to the job site at the Edgewater II apartment community in Philadelphia. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
The Philadelphia-based modular construction company Volumetric Building Cos. puts a module into place at the Edgewater II apartment community. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
Apartments are being built in a factory and put together later like LEGOs
by Michaelle Bond The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)
One morning last month, a crane swung massive boxes across a clear blue sky and gently slotted them among the apartments under construction at 23rd and Race Streets in Philadelphia. Inside the boxes were toilets in bathrooms, closets in bedrooms, countertops in kitchens — all the makings of homes.
The 160-unit Edgewater II is one of the latest projects by Alterra Property Group that uses modular construction — in which homes are built in pieces off-site and fitted together like LEGOs. LVL North at Broad and Spring Garden Streets is the Philadelphia developer’s largest modular property with 410 apartments. It began leasing this spring.
That’s also when the company broke ground on another mixed-use modular project with 275 apartments at 43rd and Chestnut Streets. The firm plans to keep building this way as much as possible. Given the pace and scale of the projects, Leo Addimando, cofounder and managing partner, said he’s gotten calls from fellow developers seeking tips.
As construction costs have risen, developers “are more willing to try new things,” he said. “And for them, it’s a new thing, even though it’s not a new thing.”
Philadelphia developers have tried the building method on and off for decades with various success. It’s still only a sliver of the total construction industry — between 5% and 10%. But in recent years, modular construction has gotten more popular in the city, and industry watchers say its appeal will only grow, as builders strive to cut increasing costs, attract more workers, and meet renter demand.
The method won’t take over how builders build, said Laura Dwyer, chair of the Building Systems Council Board of Trustees at the National Association of Home Builders. But more association members are building portions of their projects off-site.
Projects in Philadelphia also have gotten bigger. Off-site building mostly used to be reserved for single-family homes. Now, more multifamily developers are going modular and building more units.
Philadelphia-based Mosaic Development Partners has been using modular construction for more than a decade and sees it as a way to keep rents down.
“It’s something we believe in that makes a lot of sense from a design and affordability perspective,” said Greg Reaves, cofounder and chief executive officer. “We are firm believers that it is the way to build.”
In recent years, he’s seen bigger players dive into modular.
“That’s what intrigued us to want to think about it on a larger scale,” he said. The company is nearly finished building a 98-unit, mixed-income apartment complex in North Philadelphia’s Sharswood neighborhood. It plans to use modular construction in its development at the Navy Yard.
The demand for apartments in the Philadelphia region is exceeding supply, and “modular construction is definitely going to help the industry meet that demand,” said Carol Christner, chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Apartment Association.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for many of our PAA members to be able to expand their portfolio” and “provide housing at various price points,” she said.
Why more developers are going modular
The increasing interest in modular “is being driven by all the cost pressures every developer is under right now,” Addimando said. This spring, costs of building materials were up 19% from the year before, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
“We had to figure out a way to make the equation of construction work,” he said.
Building modularly can save 20% on total construction costs, he said. Projects can be constructed in half the time, and rental revenue comes in sooner. Workers build apartments in pieces in a factory as others lay the foundation. Factory work doesn’t have to pause for inclement weather.
Alterra Property Group has found that modular construction is cost- and time-effective when it builds between 100 and 500 units and between four and six stories. Under that, building on-site is more efficient, Addimando said. Above that, builders can run up against building code restrictions.
Philadelphia-based Volumetric Building Cos., which works with Addimando, started as a construction company in 2009 but has become a major player in modular manufacturing for multifamily buildings in Philadelphia and beyond. This spring, it bought a 356,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Berwick, Pennsylvania, to serve major cities in the Northeast.
Vaughan Buckley, founder and chief executive officer, said he plans to expand from five factories around the world to 12 over the next five years, while keeping his Philadelphia headquarters and growing his business here.
More builders and consumers are thinking differently about modular than they did years ago. Union builders have warmed up to the approach. The method is more accepted in building high-end homes. Modular designs and systems have improved, and more architects, engineers, and contractors have become comfortable and skilled with the building method.
”I don’t think our buildings look like modular buildings,” said Sara-Ann Logan, vice president of design for Volumetric, “but I think they absolutely will not look like modular buildings in the future because we’re just playing more.”
Modular construction “for many years had a negative stigma,” particularly that it was low quality, Addimando said. But pieces are stored and assembled in moisture-controlled factories, and perceptions are changing.
“It becomes a very efficient, very high-quality product once you figure it out,” said Gary Jonas, president of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia and managing member of the Conshohocken-based real estate firm HOW Group, which has worked on a few modular projects.
“In the past you only heard horror stories about it,” he said. “And now you’re seeing success stories of people doing it right.”
Expanding and diversifying the industry
The industry also sees modular as a way to address a longstanding problem that is only projected to get worse: a lack of workers. Older workers are retiring and younger ones are not choosing the trades.
The construction industry would need to attract almost 650,000 additional workers in 2022 to meet the demand for labor, according to Associated Builders and Contractors, a national construction industry trade association. A 2017 publication by the National Center for Construction Education & Research said that roughly 41% of the construction workforce will retire by 2031.
Offering construction work in a climate-controlled factory with more automated machinery can help attract more workers who can’t physically work or don’t want to work in traditional construction environments. This can diversify the worker pool, including bringing in more women and people of color.
With a more diverse workforce and a technology-heavy factory environment, off-site construction “can help drive innovation,” said Dwyer at the National Association of Home Builders.
Reaves at Mosaic Development Partners said the industry essentially has been building homes the same way for a century.
“The question we should be asking ourselves,” he said, “is ‘why?’”
How modular construction works
When modules leave a factory, they are as complete as possible, with finishes, appliances, wiring and plumbing. When pieces get to a site, the project “basically gets put together like a huge Erector Set,” said James Hocker, a regional manager with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.
Modular construction depends on precision. Measurements cannot be even slightly off.
General contractors finish work on-site that can’t be done in a factory, such as connecting wiring and plumbing between units.
Trade unions used to be more skeptical about modular construction, but, Hocker said, “you have to stay with the trends and how things are moving forward as an industry. Or you’re gonna be on the outside looking in.”
Rates for entry-level positions at Volumetric Building Cos.’ factory in Berwick start between $18 and $25 an hour.
Challenges and hesitations
Unlike in traditional construction, all the planning for modular projects must happen up front. Builders don’t have room to change their minds mid-production or make adjustments on the jobsite.
Jonas at the Building Industry Association said he knows people who haven’t planned enough, “and it’s gone horrifically.” Developers thought they could save time and money, he said, but they found they didn’t have the technical expertise.
“I think people are still a little afraid of it,” Jonas said. “Because the skillset to do it right is so narrow.”
The speed of modular construction also can work against developers as supply chain delays continue. Efficiencies shrink if workers have to return to modules to add missing parts.
In Philadelphia specifically, transporting modules down narrow streets and around sharp corners is a challenge. Space for large developments is hard to find. Building rules in the city’s Council districts vary widely.
From a tax perspective, a regulatory and affordability perspective, Philly is the toughest of the cities in which Volumetric Building Cos. operates, Buckley said.
“If we can do it here,” he said, “we can do it anywhere.” | 2022-10-08T06:18:28Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Apartments are being built in a factory and put together later like LEGOs | | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/apartments-are-being-built-in-a-factory-and-put-together-later-like-legos/article_eaf7a5c1-27de-565a-a7aa-53b3e045e260.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/apartments-are-being-built-in-a-factory-and-put-together-later-like-legos/article_eaf7a5c1-27de-565a-a7aa-53b3e045e260.html |
“The Furrows” by Namwali Serpell
'The Furrows' captures the disorienting nature of grief
By Jake Cline The Washington Post
“The Old Drift,” Namwali Serpell’s big-in-every-way 2019 debut novel, covers more than a century in the lives of three families in Zambia, the author’s birthplace. At more than 560 pages, the book demands, and earns, a significant commitment from even the speediest reader. “Imagine the equation, or picture the graph, of the Archimedean spiral,” Serpell, a Harvard English professor, writes in the novel’s closing paragraph. “This is the turning that unrolls the day, that turns the turns that the seasons obey, and the cycle of years, and the decades.” The novel progresses in a similar fashion, with lives deliberately twisting forward and around one another.
For Cassandra Williams, the haunted young woman at the center of Serpell’s dynamic second novel, “The Furrows,” life moves forward, of course, but with a turbulence that upsets the past. “Time doesn’t creep like a worm or fly like an arrow anymore,” she laments. “It erupts. It turns over. Shocks. Revolutions. Cycles.”
It’s been much that way since Cassandra, also known as Cee or C, was 12 years old and witnessed her brother’s death. “I don’t want to tell you what happened,” Cassandra insists throughout the novel. “I want to tell you how it felt.” In her first telling, 7-year-old Wayne drowned off a Delaware beach, where the Williams family was vacationing from Baltimore. As Cassandra attempted to bring the boy to shore, she felt “something inside him” move into her body until all the life left his. She awoke on the sand, coughing up water, her arms strung with seaweed. She saw — or thinks she saw — her brother disappear into the ocean.
Cassandra has told the story “a thousand, a million” times, to quote another of her go-to phrases. Often, she changes the manner of Wayne’s death. One time, he was hit by a car while the children were walking to school. Another time, he suffered a freak accident on a carousel. Always, Cassandra ends the story with roughly the same words: “I felt him die. He was dead.” And always, no corpse existed to back her up. The boy was simply gone, “like a light switched off.”
Wayne’s absence became “the drain toward which everything ran” in the Williams home. Cassandra’s father, a Black engineering professor, accepted that his son was forever lost. Her mother, a White painter, formed Vigil, a national foundation that attempts to locate missing children. Cassandra’s paternal grandmother, meanwhile, suspected the girl of wrongdoing. “Where’d you put that boy?” she asked her.
So what happened to Wayne? As Serpell makes clear, that is the wrong question to ask. For all the mysteries that spin out from Wayne’s disappearance and probable death, the novel is most interested in the riddle of grief: What happens to us — where do we go — when someone we love dies? And how do we make it back?
When Cassandra was a teenager, a therapist told her she was experiencing melancholia — “bad mourning” — and the only way out of it was to accept her brother’s death. “Death is quite literally unacceptable, unreasonable, unimaginable,” she responded. “Imagining death would presuppose a consciousness that death itself would negate.”
Grief, too, can seem unreasonable, and “The Furrows” captures its brain-scrambling, time-altering power. Serpell, who grew up in a multiracial family in Baltimore, has said that the novel was partly inspired by the death of her sister from a drug overdose more than 20 years ago, when the author was 18 and Chisha was 22. Much of the book feels painfully, tragically accurate. Cassandra describes “the crisis” of waking from a dream of a living Wayne. She notes how death can divide a family “the way a missing tooth grows gaps between the others.” Even the numbness she experiences when telling yet another person about her brother’s death cuts deep.
Halfway through this 266-page novel, the narration shifts from Cassandra’s perspective to that of the man lying beside her in a hotel room. He’s having a nightmare about drowning, hails from Baltimore and has stolen the name of Cassandra’s brother, whom he believes he knew as a teenager back home. As with the mystery of young Wayne’s disappearance, the question of who this man really is — if he really is — goes unanswered. Resolution is not the point. The lack of it is.
“The best kind of tale tells you you in the end, unveils the unsolvable riddle,” Serpell writes in “The Old Drift.” Her new novel is that type of story. Its ambiguities and enigmas add up to not more eddying confusions but to a stark reminder that the only reasonable response to grief is “lifelife life.”
A response isn’t necessarily an answer, though. Cassandra becomes aware that no matter which way time moves, she is only “here to watch and hear and sense it, to record its events and ruptures, its growing and its rotting, its dismal spin.” | 2022-10-08T06:18:40Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 'The Furrows' captures the disorienting nature of grief | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/the-furrows-captures-the-disorienting-nature-of-grief/article_7cd0eebd-1928-58d6-9346-1a6babc800d7.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/the-furrows-captures-the-disorienting-nature-of-grief/article_7cd0eebd-1928-58d6-9346-1a6babc800d7.html |
Frederick Women's Distance Festival attracts 607 runners
By THE FREDERICK NEWS-POST
The 33rd annual Frederick Women’s Distance Festival, hosted by the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club, attracted 607 runners and walkers Aug. 6 at Frederick Community College.
The run/walk demonstrates support for women’s running, health and fitness, and it raised $26,585 for the Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County grant program, supporting local nonprofits that help women in the Frederick community. In addition to race registration fees, more than 200 businesses and individuals made donations or funded sponsorships to support the race and the Women’s Giving Circle. Since 2010, the event has generated over $207,000 for the Giving Circle.
Lauren Cramer, of Hagerstown, won this year’s race in 19 minutes, 45 seconds. Claire Heasman, a member of the running club, finished fourth after starting behind all of the other runners. By passing all but three of the other participants, she raised an additional $860 for the Giving Circle in a unique sponsorship agreement with Orangetheory Fitness.
In 1979, the Road Runners Club of America started the Women’s Distance Festival in response to the lack of distance running events in the Olympic Games for women.
The Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club has been supporting the local running community since 1975. The four Signature Races hosted by the Steeplechasers typically raise over $60,000 for the wider Frederick community.
See steeplechasers.org for more information about the Steeplechasers and frederickwdf.com for details of the race, which will be held next year on Aug. 5, 2023. | 2022-10-08T06:18:58Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Frederick Women's Distance Festival attracts 607 runners | Community news | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/community_page_news/frederick-womens-distance-festival-attracts-607-runners/article_e2c63b40-4a58-5fe2-a22c-8a5ba6d0ec19.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/community_page_news/frederick-womens-distance-festival-attracts-607-runners/article_e2c63b40-4a58-5fe2-a22c-8a5ba6d0ec19.html |
Clinical signs of mange include intense itching, mild to severe hair loss, thickened and dry skin covered by scabs found often around the face and ears and possibly altered behavior such as undeterred by human activity and poor body condition.
Outdoors Notes — Oct. 8
Diversity highlights hunting and shooting sports report
The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, along with the Outdoor Foundation, recently released the 2022 Special Report on Hunting and the Shooting Sports, which provides a snapshot of the more than 30 million Americans ages 6 and over who participated in hunting or target shooting with both firearms and archery equipment in 2021. While the report notes trends, Swanny Evans, the Council’s director of research and partnerships, notes that “these data will not always align with hunting license sale data, but that tracking both sale and survey data go a long way to providing a better overall picture of the trends in hunting and shooting sports participation.” Highlights from the report include: • 27 percent of hunting participants were female, up from 16 percent a decade ago; share of hunters who were Black or Hispanic increased 4 percent and 1 percent, respectively, on average for the past three years. • “For food/meat” was the No. 1 motivation for hunting. “For recreation” was the No. 1 motivation for firearms and archery target shooting. •32 percent of firearms target shooting were female, up from 25 percent a decade ago; 39 percent of archery target shooting participants were female. The full report can be found at cahss.org.
Trout stocked in Md. waters
On Oct. 4, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources began fall trout stocking with a total of 3,400 rainbow and brown trout stocked in Morgan Run in Carroll County; Upper Gunpowder Falls in Baltimore County; and in Garrett County, at Bear Creek, North Branch Potomac River at Kitzmiller and Westernport, and the catch-and-release section of the Youghiogheny River as well as at Friendsville. For an update on weekly fall trout stocking around the state, visit dnr.maryland.gov.
Where is Maryland’s best “dark sky park”?
According to onlyinyourstate.com, Maryland is home to one of the best dark sky parks in the world — Assateague State Park and island. With little to no light pollution, notes the website, “it’s perfect for those who want to look up and see millions of stars all at once.”
OWL Fun Day rescheduled
The Outdoor Women’s Life Fall Fun Day is rescheduled to Oct. 15 due to Hurricane Ian remnant rain forecasted the first weekend in October. The day begins at 8 a.m. and activities include archery, shotgun and handgun shooting, tomahawk and knife throwing, dog demonstrations and using a chainsaw. The cost is $45 and includes lunch; the cost is $20 for ages 16 and under. The Fun Day takes place at the Smith Farm in Taneytown. To register or for more information, email melodys@verizon.net or call 410-756-6579.
Fall colors hike at New Germany
Enjoy the beauty of the changing fall foliage at New Germany State Park on the fall colors hike at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 16, weather permitting. This will be a moderate to difficult 2-mile hike. Meet at the park’s lake house on McAndrews Hill Road, Grantsville. For more information or to register, call 301-895-5453. For weekly updates on the changing fall foliage across the state, visit dnr.maryland.gov.
Mange continues to impact Va. black bears
Virginia’s first mange-affected bear was diagnosed in a bear from Rockingham County in 1994. Since 2018, reports have increased in frequency and geographic spread of mange, which is now confirmed in 14 counties, primarily Frederick and Shenandoah counties in Virginia, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Mange is a highly contagious skin disease, caused by a mite, which affects many animals. The mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) burrows into the skin. Clinical signs include intense itching, mild to severe hair loss, thickened and dry skin covered by scabs found often around the face and ears and possibly altered behavior such as undeterred by human activity and poor body condition. Mange is likely spread through congregation of bears, either naturally in dens or unnaturally at places including garbage cans, bait piles, bird feeders and other food sources. Learn more at dwr.virginia.gov.
Council To Advance Hunting And Shooting Sports
Dark Sky Park
Assateague State Park
Owl Fall Fun Day
Fall Foliage Hike
Mange In Black Bears | 2022-10-08T06:19:23Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Outdoors Notes — Oct. 8 | Travel And Outdoors | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/travel_and_outdoors/outdoors-notes-oct-8/article_0198292f-fa16-5af6-8ec1-e1ef5e2e6764.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/travel_and_outdoors/outdoors-notes-oct-8/article_0198292f-fa16-5af6-8ec1-e1ef5e2e6764.html |
A new study of commuting in this area revealed two conflicting trend lines — one encouraging and one distressing.
The 2022 State of the Commute survey, done every three years by the Commuter Connections program of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, found that telecommuting exploded during the pandemic.
The report stated that 66% of commuters in the Washington region telework occasionally, up from 35% in 2019, before COVID-19 transformed the world.
Nick Ramfos, director of the Commuter Connections program, told News-Post reporter Ryan Marshall that the amount of telework likely indicates a long-term trend in how people work.
“It’s definitely here to stay,” Ramfos said.
That would be excellent news. As we wrote recently, the region needs to add road capacity by building new roads and widening some existing ones. But we cannot build our way out of congestion.
A significant expansion of telecommuting is the fastest and easiest way to ease traffic congestion, by keeping more cars off the roads to begin with.
Now, for the bad news.
Ramos said the survey also indicated that occasional commuters, who only go to the office a few days a week, may be more likely to jump in their car and drive alone. And solo drivers are a big problem when we look to reduce traffic.
According to the survey, more than 78% of commuters drove alone in 2022, compared to nearly 65% in 2019, after accounting for telecommuters.
The percentage of people using a train to get to work dropped 10 percentage points, but the number taking carpools or vanpools dropped 1.8 points, and those going by bus dropped 1.7 points.
Even among younger workers, the most common users of mass transit, far fewer boarded a bus or a train. In 2019, 30% of workers younger than 45 mostly used transit to get to work, but in 2022, only 16% used it as their primary method of commuting.
The farther from the central city commuters live, the more likely they are to drive alone.
The most shocking number in the report? Among people who commuted from outer counties like Frederick, 93% drove alone to work.
If large numbers of commuters permanently switch from mass transit to solo driving, our efforts to ease congestion are doomed, no matter how many roads we build.
A certain number of commuters cannot reasonably switch to telecommuting or rely on mass transit. If you work in a factory or in a retail store, you have to be present at your workplace, and you cannot telecommute.
If you need a car to go from place to place for your job during the day or to take your children to and from day care or school, it is difficult to depend on mass transit.
So, policy makers and public and business leaders need to find ways to encourage every worker who is able to give up driving alone in their car.
Cowork Frederick, which provides office space for people to work remotely, recently announced it was expanding. The firm, at 122 E. Patrick St., has acquired a neighboring building.
It has 54 members and now hopes to expand to 100. It is a small step but a good one.
We will need hundreds of new ideas and programs if we ever hope to ease the traffic congestion that grips this region. The Commuter Connection report will give traffic planners a good road map to the future, but it also shows clearly that much work remains to be done. | 2022-10-08T06:19:59Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Telecommuting helps ease congestion; solo driving doesn't | Editorials | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/editorial/telecommuting-helps-ease-congestion-solo-driving-doesnt/article_f35353f2-7184-587e-8576-888169d95557.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/editorial/telecommuting-helps-ease-congestion-solo-driving-doesnt/article_f35353f2-7184-587e-8576-888169d95557.html |
Proper regulation of marijuana production and use will best address risks
Paul Armentano Middletown
Letter-writer Christine Miller’s concerns regarding the public health impact of marijuana (“Legalization will marijuana will have a negative impact on our youth,” Oct. 3 edition of The Frederick News-Post) are best addressed by a policy of legalization and regulation — not by perpetuating the failed policy of criminal prohibition.
Let’s be clear: Legalization neither creates nor normalizes the marijuana market. This market already exists in Maryland, and it is widespread. But under a policy of prohibition, this market remains underground, and those involved in it largely remain unaccountable. Criminal entrepreneurs don’t pay taxes, they don’t check IDs, and they don’t test the purity of their product. Disputes that arise in the illicit marketplace are not adjudicated in courts of law.
By contrast, legalization and regulation allows for state and local lawmakers to establish legal parameters regarding where, when, and how the cannabis market may operate. These regulations also provide oversight regarding who may legally operate in said markets and provides guidelines so that those who do can engage in best practices.
Such regulations already exist with regard to the retail production and sale of alcohol and tobacco — two substances that are far more dangerous and costlier to society than the responsible adult-use of cannabis. The imposition and enforcement of tobacco and alcohol regulations, coupled with evidence-based public awareness campaigns highlighting these products’ risks and acknowledging the clear distinctions between their use versus abuse, has proven effective at reducing the public’s overall consumption of these substances, especially among adolescents. In fact, according to the latest federal government survey data, teens’ use of alcohol and cigarettes now stand at or near historic lows.
Similarly, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a decrease in lifetime marijuana use by young people over the better part of the past decade. Data published in JAMA Pediatrics (“Association of Marijuana Laws with Teen Marijuana Use: New Estimates from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys”) concluded: “[M]arijuana use among youth may actually decline after legalization for recreational purposes. This latter result is consistent … with the argument that it is more difficult for teenagers to obtain marijuana as drug dealers are replaced by licensed dispensaries that require proof of age.”
Today, some 4 in 10 Americans in 19 states reside in a jurisdiction where marijuana is legal. None of these jurisdictions have ever repealed their legalization and regulation laws. In fact, public support for these policies has grown significantly in recent years — reflecting the fact that these policies are working in a manner that voters and lawmakers intended.
The establishment of a pragmatic regulatory framework allowing for the legal, licensed commercial production and retail sale of marijuana to adults best reduces the risks associated with the plant’s use or abuse and acknowledges the reality that consumers’ demand for marijuana is here to stay. By contrast, advocating for the marijuana’s continued criminalization denies this reality and compounds the public safety risks posed by the illicit, unregulated marketplace.
Paul Armentano is the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws | 2022-10-08T06:20:05Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Proper regulation of marijuana production and use will best address risks | Letters to the Editor | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/proper-regulation-of-marijuana-production-and-use-will-best-address-risks/article_847976bd-7014-5b7b-9bb5-f1185d489ab9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/proper-regulation-of-marijuana-production-and-use-will-best-address-risks/article_847976bd-7014-5b7b-9bb5-f1185d489ab9.html |
Despite the mischief this masked mammal can sometimes cause, raccoons play an important role in the ecosystem by serving as gardeners, pest control, and the “clean-up crew.” Raccoons are also beneficial to ecosystems for the distribution of plant seeds.
Photo by Unsplash, Henry Dinardo
Nature Notes: Raccoons are very adaptable
By Frederick County
Forest Conservancy District Board
A common animal found throughout most of the United States is the raccoon (Procyon lotor). Raccoons are native to North America, although similar animals, also known as raccoons, exist in Central America and the Caribbean Islands.
“Raccoon” comes from the Powhatan word meaning “one who rubs, scrubs, and scratches with his hands.” These animals have very dexterous front paws that they often use to wash food, and a very well-defined sense of touch, with more nerve endings in their hands than nearly any other mammal.
Raccoons are very good climbers. They are one of the few animals that can climb both forward and backward. This animal is fast, reaching speeds of 15 miles per hour. They are also very good swimmers. Raccoons are omnivores, consuming both meat and plants, and they are not very picky. Raccoons weigh 8 to 20 pounds at maturity. A raccoon in captivity can live 20 years, but their lifespan averages only 2 to 4 years in the wild, mainly due to predation, traffic, and disease. They are mostly nocturnal, possessing excellent night vision and acute hearing. They sometimes group by gender in loosely formed groups of males or females.
Raccoons will become inactive during the winter, sleeping much like a bear, but they are not true hibernators. Early naturalists classified raccoons as part of the bear family, but that changed, and the raccoon was given its own designation (Procyon), which means “dog-like.”
Before European settlement, raccoons were mostly found in forested areas around streams in the North East, with a smaller subspecies in Florida. The very adaptable raccoon learned to thrive with humans, and their numbers spread across the U.S. and Canada as these areas were settled. Raccoons were brought to Europe to be used for fur. Enough raccoons escaped captivity so that they are now found throughout much of that continent.
This is one animal that has all the tools to live with humans, even though they can be a pest by knocking over your garbage can once in a while. | 2022-10-08T06:20:14Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Nature Notes: Raccoons are very adaptable | Frederick County | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/places/local/frederick_county/nature-notes-raccoons-are-very-adaptable/article_5ca3a858-ef9a-5d4d-95c5-7567797a8136.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/places/local/frederick_county/nature-notes-raccoons-are-very-adaptable/article_5ca3a858-ef9a-5d4d-95c5-7567797a8136.html |
Nathaniel Neuland proudly holds his first grey squirrel taken as a new hunter in the fall of 2008. Squirrel hunting under the watchful eye of a mentor is an important step towards becoming a responsible hunter.
Today's Sportsman: Becoming a hunter is a gradual, multi-step process
For hunters young and old, squirrel hunting is a great season starter as well as a perfect introduction to the sport. For many, a squirrel in the bag is the first wild game taken afield with a rifle or shotgun. A successful first squirrel hunt is a culmination of discipline, patience and a practical demonstration of firearm safety and marksmanship. It is the beginning of a journey that develops hunting skills that lead to successful hunts for more challenging game species such as wild turkey and white-tailed deer.
Introducing my sons to hunting was an intuitive process for me, having been raised in a hunting family myself. My father was my mentor for hunting and fishing. My brothers and I were very fortunate to have a parent as a role model who guided us on the path to becoming competent and safe marksmen and most of all, ethical sportsmen in all of our outdoor pursuits. My father would not have wanted it any other way.
The process of becoming a hunter should be a gradual, multi-step process. An important first step is to accompany an experienced hunter in the field just to observe and learn without the necessary concerns of carrying a firearm and taking game. Hunting wild game is a serious activity that requires an understanding of ethics, conservation concepts and game management regulations. Days spent afield with a good role model in this manner creates a better understanding of the wildlife and habitat. It also creates a bond between the new hunter and the mentor. This connection is the key to proper growth and development of a new hunter.
The next step has to do with safe firearm training. Before new hunters carry a firearm afield, they will require appropriate firearm instruction from an experienced mentor or trained instructor. Most importantly, safe firearm handling takes conditioning and training to always keep the muzzle of the firearm pointed in a safe direction. Safe gun handling skills require discipline and control as well as a level of emotional maturity.
There is a certain level of marksmanship skills that need to be practiced depending on the game being hunted. For example, squirrel hunting with a shotgun is not the same as shooting at a deer at 200 yards with a high-powered rifle. Practice on the firing range is an essential component that cannot be overlooked.
Hunter education requirement
Safety is the primary focus of the Maryland hunter safety course. Conservation, game laws, outdoor survival and game care are some of the topics covered. Hunting tips and hunting techniques and strategies are gleaned from the experience hunter instructors, but the course is only an introduction. The development of a responsible and successful hunter is the duty of the mentor.
All new hunters are required to pass a hunter safety course before purchasing a hunting license. There are exemptions that allow qualifying landowners to hunt on their own land without purchasing a hunting license. The hunter education and safety requirement applies to all individuals hunting in Maryland, even if they are exempt from the requirement to purchase a hunting license.
Traditional classroom course
The traditional hunter safety classroom course is provided free of charge by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This class provides the most direct instruction by certified hunter education instructors. There is no minimum age to enroll in a traditional class but the 50-question multiple-choice test is a challenge for most students 10 years and younger. These courses are typically offered in the evenings and weekends. They require a minimum of 10 hours of class time.
There are two options for enrolling in a Maryland hunter safety class: the traditional course and an internet-based course. Both courses require three main components that must be successfully completed — a multiple-choice test, live fire on a gun range and a field-day event. The field day involves a hunter safety trail where participants demonstrate safe gun handling skills using training firearms that are provided. The live-fire exercise uses either working shotguns or .22 rifles or both under the direction of certified range safety officers. Safe firearm handling is the main objective of the live-fire exercise rather than marksmanship.
Online hunter safety course
The internet-based course costs $24.95. It is a service provided by a private company and not administered by the Maryland DNR. This course is available to students 13 years old and over. The online classroom component includes a multiple-choice test that must be completed before registering for the required in-person field day. Successful online students are issued a voucher that will be used to register for a field-day workshop that is administered by the Maryland DNR. It is important to consider the availability of workshops before considering the internet-based class option.
The field-day event can take between 4 to 8 hours, depending on how each program is offered at the available locations. A brief classroom component may include a review of hunting ethics, treestand safety and safe firearm handling. The field-day portion does include a 50-question multiple-choice test, hunter safety trail and live fire on a gun range.
Apprentice hunting license
The only exemption to the hunter education requirement for a new hunter is the apprentice license. This license allows for a new hunter to hunt with a licensed hunter who is at least 18 years old. The apprentice license requires the successful completion of a short, online hunter safety course prior to purchasing this license. The role of the mentor in this case is extremely important, as there is no formal hunter safety training requirement.
The apprentice hunting license is a one-time purchase, good for one year only. With this in mind, parents need to consider the age and maturity when purchasing an apprentice license for a young hunter. To hunt the year following an apprentice year, successful completion of the hunter safety course is required. | 2022-10-08T06:20:20Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Today's Sportsman: Becoming a hunter is a gradual, multi-step process | Frederick County | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/places/local/frederick_county/todays-sportsman-becoming-a-hunter-is-a-gradual-multi-step-process/article_b3536259-5b2d-56c0-8645-8a860acbd6fe.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/places/local/frederick_county/todays-sportsman-becoming-a-hunter-is-a-gradual-multi-step-process/article_b3536259-5b2d-56c0-8645-8a860acbd6fe.html |
Cougars enjoy first-half highlights before Poolesville takes over for win
THURMONT — It was a feel-good halftime for Catoctin's football team on Friday night.
And not just because the Cougars brought a pair of their former longtime coaches, Doug Williams and Paul DuMars, and a slew of former Catoctin players onto the field to be honored during the intermission.
As time expired in the second quarter, Catoctin's Logan Malachowski somehow managed to secure a catch near the back of the end zone after bobbling quarterback Connor Crum's 31-yard pass a few times, completing a touchdown play that allowed the Cougars to enter the break tied with unbeaten Poolesville.
After falling to undefeated Frederick the previous week, Catoctin suddenly seemed fully capable of handing a team its first loss of the season. But the Falcons rode another productive night from running back Evan Taylor and held Catoctin scoreless in the second half en route to a 28-13 win over the Cougars.
Taking advantage of holes opened up by his linemen and then either breaking tackles or outright eluding them, Taylor rushed for 347 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries.
"He's tough, and we knew he was tough," Catoctin coach Mike Rich said. "I don't know that anybody's been able to tackle him all year long, and he's going to be a problem come 2A playoffs. But luckily, we don't play 2A playoffs, we play 1A playoffs.
"So we're focusing on getting better, and we're focusing on keeping of our things in front of us and keep working hard," he said.
Taylor put the Falcons in front for good on the opening possession of the third quarter, darting through a hole up the middle and racing to the left side for a 30-yard touchdown run that gave Poolesville a 20-13 lead.
He also broke an 18-yard run on the final play of the third quarter to start a nine-play, 61-yard drive the produced the game's final touchdown, which came on quarterback Ashton Gaddis' 1-yard run with 8 minutes, 34 seconds left in the fourth.
Needing two scores well into the final period, Catoctin was forced to all-but abandon its run game. But several drops and an interception by Poolesville's Mason Hopkins helped keep the Cougars from getting any closer.
"They're 6-0 for a reason. They're a good football team, they're a physical football team," Rich said. "We just need to find a way to keep getting better. Everybody makes the playoffs in the state of Maryland now. Just find ways to get better every day. I'm excited for Monday morning to get back to work."
Poolesville seemed poised to build on its 13-6 lead in the final minutes of the first half. Gaddis threw a 37-yard pass to Tyler Shefter, who made a jumping catch in traffic, giving the Falcons a first-and-10 at Catoctin's 40 with a little less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter.
But three plays later, a heavily pressured Gaddis fumbled, and Catoctin's Charles Dougherty pounced on the ball at his own 25.
Rather than be content with stopping the Falcons, the Cougars urgently looked to score. And they got within striking of distance of the end zone when Joseph McCallion broke a 25-yard run and alertly stepped out of bounds on the left sideline with 2.6 seconds left.
During the series, Catoctin had backup quarterback Haydn Mathews take some snaps. He took another one after McCallion's run, but this time he handed off the ball to Crum, who then heaved a long pass to Malachowski.
"It was a play we drew up on the spot," Crum said. "We've never practiced that, it's never been a thing we've done, but we were just able to adapt, and it somehow worked."
Malachowski got open after initially making it look like he planned to block before taking off for the end zone. His ability to grab the ball after bobbling it only added to the drama.
"At first I thought he was like five yards out of the bounds, and then I saw the ref put the hands up," Crum said.
Despite being backed up five yards because of a false-start penalty, Crum — who at least had a strong wind at his back — kicked the extra point to tie the game at 13.
"A great play by our kids, get in the hands of two of our best guys and let 'em make a play for us," Rich said. "But we made too many mistakes offensively, and they're a good football team. You can't do that against good football teams."
Catoctin scored the game's first touchdown on Crum's 4-yard touchdown pass to Vincent Reaver, who reached the end zone by juking out a defender.
But the Falcons jumped ahead later in the first quarter, getting a 14-yard Gaddis-to-Ethan Zhang touchdown pass and a 32-yard scoring run from Taylor.
Next up for Catoctin (2-4) is Walkersville.
"We're playing a lot of good teams and we're battling," Crum said. "So we're getting better each week."
Logan Malachowski | 2022-10-08T06:20:45Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Cougars enjoy first-half highlights before Poolesville takes over for win | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/cougars-enjoy-first-half-highlights-before-poolesville-takes-over-for-win/article_d6b4d814-36bf-5867-9787-2d8997f1b3b2.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/cougars-enjoy-first-half-highlights-before-poolesville-takes-over-for-win/article_d6b4d814-36bf-5867-9787-2d8997f1b3b2.html |
This sort of insight is generally true for individuals, so it’s often considered equally true of nations. Hence vast amounts of antiwar activism and state-level diplomacy rest on the assumption that nations are like people, and if we can just get adversaries to talk to each other, and thereby to understand each other’s perspective, the bloodshed will end or be avoided in the first place.
Consider the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Vladimir Putin, Ukrainians are Russians. He’s long insisted that they are “one people.” In 2021, he issued a 5,000-word manifesto on this theme. I have only revulsion for Putin’s criminal invasion of Ukraine, but Ukraine and Russia do have a deeply intertwined past. That connection doesn’t justify Putin’s attempted annexation of Ukraine any more than it would justify Ukraine in attempting to annex Russia. But it does illuminate how mutual understanding isn’t a safeguard against war. | 2022-10-08T06:20:57Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | The Russia-Ukraine war is not the result of a failure of dialogue | | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/the-russia-ukraine-war-is-not-the-result-of-a-failure-of-dialogue/article_5f458394-6918-5952-a3c7-f9ee45c28931.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/the-russia-ukraine-war-is-not-the-result-of-a-failure-of-dialogue/article_5f458394-6918-5952-a3c7-f9ee45c28931.html |
Rabbi David Wolpe speaks to congregants at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. “It is not easy to keep people comfortable with each other and as part of one community,” he says.
Rabbi David Wolpe speaks to congregants at Sinai Temple Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, in Los Angeles. One member of Rabbi David Wolpe’s diverse congregation left because Wolpe would not preach sermons criticizing Donald Trump. Scores of others left over resentment with the synagogue’s rules for combating COVID-19. But Wolpe remains steadfast in his resolve to avoid politics when he preaches. | 2022-10-08T08:32:02Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Clergy strive to reconcile politically divided congregations | Religion | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/clergy-strive-to-reconcile-politically-divided-congregations/article_f528ad44-d53d-54e2-ba28-9065fed24d5a.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/clergy-strive-to-reconcile-politically-divided-congregations/article_f528ad44-d53d-54e2-ba28-9065fed24d5a.html |
Simarjeet Kaur Sandhu
When one sees a kirpan, there is more than meets the eye.
Kirpan: More than meets the eye
By Simarjeet Kaur Sandhu | Words of Faith Special to The News-Post
On what seems to be a usual Thursday, a young man sits at his student union, wearing his article of faith. Little does he know, students around him have already made a judgment about a small sword that he wears. They assume it is a weapon and that the student poses a safety risk, so they call campus police. When campus police arrive, without asking, they decide that the student poses a threat.
On Sept. 22, a Sikh student at the University of North Carolina was handcuffed and detained by campus police for wearing a “kirpan.” To many who look at it with no knowledge or understanding, it looks like a small sword or knife, but for those who are observant baptized Sikhs, it is an article of faith.
Let’s look at this sword or knife before jumping to conclusions and assuming it is a weapon of some sort. In all honesty, a pencil is more of a weapon than this small sword.
The kirpan is given to a Sikh who is baptized or one who participates in Amrit Sanchar. Amrit Sanchar was started by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Sikh spiritual teacher, in approximately 1699. When one takes part in this religious initiation, he or she wears the five kakkars, or five symbols that aid in Sikhs living a righteous life. One of the five kakkars is the kirpan.
Broken apart, “kirpa” means kindness, and “an” means honor or self-respect.
It is also important to keep in mind that most kirpans are kept blunt and are in no way sharp.
When a Sikh wears a kirpan, he or she does so with the understanding that by wearing it, they must keep their mind calm and protect themselves and others against evil, both physical and spiritual. They must do so in their everyday lives. In modern times, the kirpan has been kept dull and is used in gurdwaras (Sikh houses of worship) for blessing offerings. Spiritual leaders at gurdwaras are often seen cutting the soft, buttery-sweet offering.
The kirpan is a constant reminder to Sikhs that we must remain in a calm state of mind and not allow emotions or worldly affairs to deter us from our path. Remaining in a calm state of mind enables us to have control of our actions and reactions. Mind you, in today’s world, anything can be used as a weapon if one is unable to have control over their minds and emotions.
When one sees a kirpan, there is more than meets the eye. My hope is that this short description of the kirpan will help you be more understanding of Sikhs who may come to your workplace or school wearing one. And if you do see a Sikh wearing a kirpan, and others are questioning their safety, you can now help raise awareness, so Sikhs such as the young man attending the University of North Carolina are not arrested and detained for a misunderstanding.
Simarjeet Kaur Sandhu is a graduate of Hood College and an English as a Second Language teacher for Montgomery County Public Schools. She is the author of the Simran and Sehaj book series that is geared toward raising awareness for the Sikh community and creating more multicultural books for classrooms across the U.S. | 2022-10-08T08:32:14Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Kirpan: More than meets the eye | Religion | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/kirpan-more-than-meets-the-eye/article_ce69d15b-3696-57fa-9ebe-fa4a0b3ad9d7.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/kirpan-more-than-meets-the-eye/article_ce69d15b-3696-57fa-9ebe-fa4a0b3ad9d7.html |
A large painting by Brandon Donohue depicting the right to vote hangs in the hall outside the Wilbert Truman Exhibit Hall at the new Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia. The Harriet Tubman School opened in 1949 as Howard County’s only all-Black high school until it was closed through desegregation in 1965 and subsequently used for more than 50 years by the Howard County Public School system.
Harriet Tubman in seen in a photograph dating from 1860-75.
Harvey B. Lindsley/Library of Congress
‘The power of this place is undeniable’: Harriet Tubman School reopens as cultural center, museum
By Ethan Ehrenhaft The Baltimore Sun (TNS)
It’s been 60 years since Bessie Bordenave graduated from the Harriet Tubman School in Columbia, Maryland, but the place still feels like a part of her.
“We were just like a big, happy family here,” said Bordenave, 78, a 1962 graduate of Howard County’s last segregated public school, an all-Black high school that operated from 1949 to 1965.
Bordenave, president of the nonprofit Harriet Tubman Foundation, has worked with many others in the county to preserve the school’s legacy for two decades. On Saturday, under blue skies, the building officially reopened as the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, dedicated to highlighting the history of Black Howard County residents.
“I can’t believe that it has taken us so long,” Bordenave said. “However, the long wait has been well worth it. The building is fabulous.”
At Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, a crowd gathered in front of the school’s former gymnasium and listened to speeches by several alumni and county, state and federal officials who helped make the transformation possible. The podium stood beneath a red brick facade, now emblazoned with Harriet Tubman’s name. When the building was originally dedicated in 1948, the Board of Education refused to place Tubman’s name on the building, according to the foundation.
The school was slated to be called Atholton High School, but the Black community advocated to name it after abolitionist and Dorchester County native Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and led more than a dozen missions to rescue enslaved people. Tubman’s name finally went on the building in 2004, thanks to the foundation’s lobbying efforts.
“The power of this place is undeniable,” said U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, a Democrat whose district covers part of Howard County. “Over the last few years, we’ve had occasion to lift that up and to realize its full potential.”
In addition to a recreated classroom and museum, the building includes a library, dance room, recording studio and other rentable spaces.
“I’m just hopeful that this will be a building that will help to teach our children and their children the importance of civil rights and the importance of what happened here in Howard County in the civil rights movement,” said former County Executive Allan Kittleman, whose administration oversaw the transfer of the building from the Howard County Public School System to the county for preservation in 2015. Kittleman, a Republican, will face current County Executive Calvin Ball, a Democrat, in the general election this fall.
‘In spite of all of this, we’re going to make it work’
Secondary education opportunities for Black residents were severely limited in early 20th century Howard County. In 1935, the Board of Education voted to extend the Cooksville Colored School to eighth grade, and two years later the facility, which still used outdoor toilets and potbelly stoves, became the county’s first Black high school.
“At one point, the school in Cooksville only had one bus that came out of Ellicott City,” said 1952 Harriet Tubman graduate and former Cooksville student the Rev. Douglas Sands, 88. “That was driven most of the time by one of the students.”
Black educators and community members pushed for better facilities, and efforts paid off when the Harriet Tubman School opened for students in fall 1949 with a principal and 12 teachers.
“We had great teachers, and we turned out some great students,” said Howard Lyles, 88, a 1952 graduate and the first president of the Harriet Tubman Foundation, who can still point to where his locker, number 258, stood in the hall.
Former students reflected fondly on their time at the school and praised teachers and principals Silas Craft and Elhart Flurry, who made the most of inadequate resources.
“Everything that we got was always secondhand,” Bordenave said. “We always got whatever was leftover from Howard High School or from other schools. But we said, ‘In spite of all of this, we’re going to make it work.’”
After the school closed in 1965 because of desegregation, alumni preserved heirlooms such as yearbooks and met annually to discuss the future of the building. It was used by the Board of Education as a maintenance facility for the next 50 years.
“We always met with the hope that Harriet Tubman would be open again,” Sands said.
Acknowledging the past while forging the future
Alumni voices were front and center as plans to preserve the Harriet Tubman School gained traction.
In 2015, the Howard County Public School System transferred ownership of the property to the county in order to create a historic cultural and education center. The project ultimately received $1.85 million from the state and $7.53 million in county funding.
“The most exciting piece for me is that we renovated this facility alongside the community,” said center manager Kori Jones, whose grandparents attended the school.
The center’s museum space covers Howard County history from slavery through the Jim Crow era to the present day. Jones hopes current county public school students can learn the history while also using the wide array of modern facilities offered by the renovation.
“I think sometimes we don’t always fully acknowledge the history,” Jones said. “So to be able to say, ‘Hey, here’s the history of this space, and let’s create new history’ and do it in a very intentional way is literally something that I would never imagine doing [before].”
Baltimore City resident Kahlilia Woodlon’s great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother lived across the street from the school property, where she played softball at family reunions.
“All the young generations will know this way was paved for you many, many years ago,” said Woodlon, 44, who brought her 6-year-old daughter, Xzuriana, with her to the opening.
“I love this building; it’s amazing,” Xzuriana said. “I get to read things that I don’t know about and get to learn more about Harriet Tubman.”
Harriet Tubman School | 2022-10-08T08:32:20Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | ‘The power of this place is undeniable’: Harriet Tubman School reopens as cultural center, museum | Lifestyle | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/the-power-of-this-place-is-undeniable-harriet-tubman-school-reopens-as-cultural-center-museum/article_93b53914-4da5-57e0-a70a-31048700e0dc.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/the-power-of-this-place-is-undeniable-harriet-tubman-school-reopens-as-cultural-center-museum/article_93b53914-4da5-57e0-a70a-31048700e0dc.html |
Crowds are seen at the entrance to Thurmont Community Park on Saturday, the first day of Catoctin Colorfest.
Joel Gregory, left, and his wife, Ericka, interact with customers at their TieBro Handmade Bow Ties booth at Catoctin Colorfest on Saturday.
Kim Coleman, left, chats with a customer at her Global Treasures booth at Catoctin Colorfest on Saturday.
Catoctin Colorfest in Thurmont on Saturday.
Catoctin Colorfest draws massive crowds to Thurmont
Beyond the fascinating crafts and displays, the endless variety of food and the sea of humanity, it's the Thurmont area that has drawn Melia Peisinger, 60, and her family to Catoctin Colorfest for more than a generation.
"It's just beautiful, with the changing of the leaves and just to see the mountains when you're driving up here," said Peisinger, a Baltimore resident. "It's just a beautiful, surreal type of area. And everyone is very friendly. It's just a nice community."
The annual Catoctin Colorfest, which sprawls through the entire town of Thurmont and into the surrounding area, returned on Saturday.
The festival, which according to Carol Robertson, president of the Catoctin Colorfest, featured roughly 250 different vendors and drew well over 100,000 visitors to a town of 6,000. The festival continues Sunday.
Peisinger and her family have regularly attended the festival since her daughter-in-law, Rachel Peisinger, 39, was just a child.
On Saturday, they went to the festival with Peisinger's teenage children, who were off exploring on their own.
"It's just so much fun," said Melia Peisinger's husband, Don Baker, 64. "There's always something new, there's new crafts to look at and, you know, maybe buy as you're looking."
"I like homemade stuff, too," Rachel Peisinger said. "Small businesses are good to support, so this is a good event for that."
"And the food," Melia said. "It's like something for everyone here. You don't know what to buy first."
Robertson, who has served as the festival's president for more than a decade, said the festival draws a great deal of attention to the small community of Thurmont.
Robertson has been involved with the festival in various capacities for the last 35 years, she said.
"The crowd is out and everybody's in a really good mood. And I think they're just happy to be here," Robertson said.
Robertson directs vendor fees toward scholarships for seniors graduating from Catoctin High School. She put $11,000 toward the scholarships this year, she said.
The festival also raises money for the town's food bank, the Community Ambulance Service and other organizations.
The festival brings vendors, who travel from as far as California, to Thurmont's hotels and restaurants for the weekend, too.
Some of the vendors have been attending the festival for years. And most, Robertson said, traveled from outside Frederick County.
Saturday was the fourth time that Noel Gregory, 52, and his wife, Ericka, 50, made the three-plus hour trip from Maplewood, New Jersey to Thurmont for the festival.
When asked what has kept them coming back year after year, Ericka Gregory said, "The people." She has family in the area, but she and her husband would make the trip even if that wasn't the case, she said.
"We have a really good time," Ericka Gregory said.
Noel Gregory owns and, with Ericka's help, operates TieBro Handmade Bow Ties, which offers spiffy bow ties in just about any color or design imaginable — from professional sports teams and colleges across the county to superheroes, cartoons, country flags, funny sayings and countless other designs.
The Gregory's don't limit their clientele to humans, either, as evident from the banner draped in front of their white festival tent, which read "Bow ties for People and Pets."
Their setup included a selection of bow ties specifically for dogs.
"During the pandemic, everyone got a pet," Ericka Gregory said. "It was the big thing, and we were like, 'let's just go with it.'"
As a special education teacher, Noel Gregory dresses up each day because he believes it's important for the students to see a male role model dress professionally.
One day, Gregory's students asked him why bow ties weren't a part of his wardrobe. He decided to buy a shirt from a thrift store and cut it into a bow tie.
"it just kind of took off from there," Ericka Gregory said.
Over time, the bow ties became an incentive for Noel Gregory's students to behave well. His students can accrue credits for good behavior that they can use to purchase one of their teacher's bow ties.
"They affected actual behavior in our school," Noel Gregory said. "Some kids are like, 'Let me behave a little better because I want that bowtie.'"
Ericka Gregory's professional background is in marketing, so she said that her mind went to different ways that she and her husband could turn a profit from the bow ties.
They've been selling the bow ties for seven years now, she said.
For other vendors, like Global Treasures Handmade Coin Jewelry, Saturday was their first time at the festival.
"It's been great," said Kim Coleman, who co-owns the business. "People are friendly. It's been super crowded. My only complaint is all the food lines are very packed."
Coleman and her business partner and longtime friend, Jody Hess made the roughly 50-minute-long drive south from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania to Thurmont after hearing rave reviews about Catoctin Colorfest from vendors at other festivals.
Coleman, 50, and Hess, 51, go way back. They attended grade school together and now live on the same street. And Coleman married Hess's cousin, so being business partners wasn't the only thing bringing them together.
The pair has made jewelry together for the last decade, but they only began utilizing coins four years ago.
"It's something unique," Coleman said. "When we wanted to get into some of these craft shows, some of the things that we were doing [were] not unique. It was like a bead on a string."
Their coins come from all over, too — Australia, Iceland, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Ireland and even the New York subway tunnels. Along with Irish coins, jewelry from New York subway tokens are Global Treasure's most popular creations.
Currency the U.S. Mint stopped producing many decades ago, like Mercury dimes and Buffalo nickels, are part of their collection too.
Some coins come as gifts from family who've been traveling or acquaintances at craft festivals, and others come from online purchases.
Coleman and Hess turn the coins into necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings that feature a variety of designs.
Once the vendors leave at the end of the weekend, they'll receive a package with their application to return for next year's festival.
Robertson said she expects that she'll receive some applications back by next week. She anticipated that those staying in hotels may book their rooms for next year on their way out, too.
"It never ends," Robertson said of the festival. "It just keeps rollin, rollin, rollin." | 2022-10-09T06:54:12Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Catoctin Colorfest draws massive crowds to Thurmont | Tourism | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/tourism/catoctin-colorfest-draws-massive-crowds-to-thurmont/article_00b74a1f-6940-5ab5-b541-ed8761f7d66e.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/tourism/catoctin-colorfest-draws-massive-crowds-to-thurmont/article_00b74a1f-6940-5ab5-b541-ed8761f7d66e.html |
Families of 148 fallen firefighters gather for candlelight service
Being at a firefighters event without her husband was "surreal" for Kate Muñoz, 49.
Her husband, Henry Muñoz, died in July 2021 at the age of 50 after a two-year battle with brain cancer, related to his 20 years as a firefighter. He was a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department when he died.
"Every fire event we've ever been to was with our husbands. So it's strange to be here without them," Muñoz said. "But we're very honored to have our husbands be here in any capacity and be honored here."
More than 700 family members, from as far away as Alaska and the U.S. Virgin Islands, gathered at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg on Saturday for a candlelight service to remember 148 fallen firefighters.
The candlelight service was held on the eve of the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
Among those honored was Joshua Laird, who was a battalion chief with the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services. Laird died on Aug. 11, 2021 battling a two-alarm house fire on Ball Road in Ijamsville. He was 46.
Laird's widow, Sara, attended Saturday's service.
In addition to Muñoz, four widows whose husbands were firefighters in the Los Angeles Fire Department traveled with their families to Emmitsburg.
Heidi Perez, 44, lost her husband, Jose, in July 2020 after he died from COVID-19 at the age of 44. He was a firefighter for 17 years, and was a firefighter and paramedic with the Los Angeles Fire Department at the time of his death.
Perez said it was an honor to be at Saturday's candlelight service. It was a sentiment shared by others she was with.
"It was a beautiful ceremony and we're very proud to be here," said Michelle Ruedy, 55.
Her husband, John, or "J.R.," died in May 2021 at the age of 54 from lung cancer, which he contracted from smoke exposure over the course of 32 years as a firefighter. He was a captain II with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Michelle Ruedy's children traveled with her, too, including her 23-year-old son, Derek.
"Being a part of this community is really special," Derek Ruedy said. "It's a lifelong group that you're a part of across the county. And it's nice to hear different stories, meet different people and the legacies that they have will last a lifetime."
As dusk fell during Saturday's ceremony, an electric remembrance candle was lit, and the family and friends of the 148 fallen firefighters being honored touched candles with those seated next to them to share the electric light and honor their loved ones.
Families also lit candles inside bags that they decorated with pictures of their lost loved ones and notes to them. The bags lined a walkway leading from a stage to the memorial.
The families gathered for the ceremony also said that people must make sure to honor the firefighters who continue serving their communities each day.
"There [are] people day in and day out that sacrifice their lives and go away from their families to be able to help their communities," Derek Ruedy said.
"They're all heroes," his mom said. "They're definitely all heroes."
Heidi Perez | 2022-10-09T06:54:18Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Families of 148 fallen firefighters gather for candlelight service | Public Safety | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/public_safety/families-of-148-fallen-firefighters-gather-for-candlelight-service/article_a9b37045-7555-53af-9028-a17af42f4e25.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/public_safety/families-of-148-fallen-firefighters-gather-for-candlelight-service/article_a9b37045-7555-53af-9028-a17af42f4e25.html |
Call for Art: Cumberland Valley Artists and Cumberland Valley Photographers exhibitions
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has announced a call for entries for the Cumberland Valley Artists and Cumberland Valley Photographers exhibitions. Entries will be accepted until 3 p.m. Nov. 9.
An annual tradition since 1933, the Cumberland Valley Artists and Cumberland Valley Photographers exhibitions showcase, celebrate and support artists of the Cumberland Valley region. Each year, hundreds of works are submitted for consideration for inclusion by exhibition jurors. The exhibitions will be on view from Feb. 11 to April 23, 2023.
Entries are to be submitted online at smarterentry.com/callsforentry.
The Best of Show Award for the Cumberland Valley Photographic Salon includes a $1,000 cash award.
Each photographer may submit up to four photographs. The Best of Show Award for the Cumberland Valley Artists Exhibition includes a $1,000 cash award. Each artist may submit up to four works.
This year’s jurors are Mary Morton for CVA and Leo Hsu for CVP.
Morton is curator and head of the French paintings department at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in history, and her doctorate from Brown University, concentrating on 19th and early 20th century European painting. Morton began her curatorial career in the European art department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and then as associate curator of paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Her exhibition projects prior to arriving at the NGA include “Courbet and the Modern Landscape” (2006), “Oudry’s Painted Menagerie” (2007) and “The Spectacular Art of Jean-Léon Gérôme” (2010).
Hsu’s life has been spent with photography. He is the interim executive director of Silver Eye Center for Photography in Pittsburgh and is an instructor in the photography program at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a managing editor for the online photography resource Fraction Magazine and was the director of online development for the photojournalism/documentary photography magazine and website Foto8. Hsu holds a doctorate in anthropology from New York University and a certificate in the program in Culture and Media (New York). He has written extensively about photography and worked as a newspaper photographer.
More information can be found at https://wcmfa.org/call-for-entries. For questions, contact the museum at 301-739-5727 or info@wcmfa.org.
Call For Art
Leo Hsu | 2022-10-10T03:51:16Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Call for Art: Cumberland Valley Artists and Cumberland Valley Photographers exhibitions | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/call-for-art-cumberland-valley-artists-and-cumberland-valley-photographers-exhibitions/article_7b723b13-2d1a-5cdc-9bca-3f9a6720653a.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/call-for-art-cumberland-valley-artists-and-cumberland-valley-photographers-exhibitions/article_7b723b13-2d1a-5cdc-9bca-3f9a6720653a.html |
kb saine
Shepherd theater professor’s podcast offered on new theater-themed streaming service
When Broadway on Demand, a streaming platform that offers livestreamed and pre-recorded plays and educational resources, launched a podcast service, among the 10 inaugural offerings was the “black theatre history podcast” by Shepherd University professor kb saine.
She’s excited that her podcast is included.
“The Broadway on Demand clientele is predominately academic,” she said. “It is largely colleges and high schools that use them for streaming services to watch plays that are done across the world. Knowing that many educators and students have access to learning from the podcast is exciting to me.”
Saine has been producing the “black theatre history podcast” — which celebrates African American artists, theaters and plays — since 2017. As a college professor, one motivation for developing the podcast was to give students another way to do research.
“I didn’t see anyone else in the podcast world documenting the history of and doing interviews with those in Black theater,” saine said. “This podcast gives students who are better auditory learners the opportunity to listen to an artist talk about their own work and their own history before writing a paper and to experience those things from the source, or one source removed.”
One of saine’s first interviews was with director and producer Woody King, Jr., founder of the New Federal Theatre in New York City. Other podcasts include talks with costume designer Greg Horton, actor Blair Underwood, and playwright Chisa Hutchison, whose play “Whitelisted” is featured at this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival.
A director, author, educator, and theater historian with more than two decades of experience, saine served for six years as the producing artistic director of Sycamore Rouge in Petersburg, Virginia. She has worked with Greenbriar Valley Theatre, The Vintage Theatre Company, and Buckhannon Community Theatre in West Virginia; and the Dallas Theater Center in Texas.
She began building her career as a high school English teacher in Richmond and Petersburg city schools in Virginia.
“I was able to choose material that was specific to the student body, which was overwhelmingly African American. It just became an area of interest and area of study,” saine said, crediting mentors in Virginia with encouraging her interest in Black theater.
“I learned early and very quickly that theater is a window into other worlds,” she said. “It evoked in me an empathy and understanding that I saw there was a need for in the broader world. Particularly living in the south, I saw the need for telling these stories.”
Her interest in African-American theater led to involvement in the Black Theatre Network, an organization of artists, educators, scholars, students and theater lovers dedicated to the exploration and preservation of Black theater.
After serving as BTN’s president from 2014-2016, saine decided her role was to be an amplifier and to do what she could to provide access to a history that wasn’t being recorded or celebrated to the degree she thought it should, so she started the podcast.
“Representation matters and I hope that there’s a growing audience for the podcast,” saine said. “I hope educators are able to expand the cannon that they teach because this information is available in ways that they can link to it with their learning management systems.”
She also wants young artists to find inspiration when they listen to the podcast.
“I hope that by bringing a multiplicity of voices to what exists in our media, that our future generations of theatergoers won’t find it exceptional to hear from a Black artist,” saine said. “That it might be something normal for them, that they may expect it, and that they may perpetuate that in their own artistry.”
Through a $5,000 grant from Shepherd’s Faculty Senate, saine spent the summer expanding the podcast.
Episodes of the “black theatre history podcast” can be heard at blacktheatrehistory.com. | 2022-10-10T03:51:22Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Shepherd theater professor’s podcast offered on new theater-themed streaming service | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/shepherd-theater-professor-s-podcast-offered-on-new-theater-themed-streaming-service/article_a01447a5-e408-5144-8670-64881f42697b.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/shepherd-theater-professor-s-podcast-offered-on-new-theater-themed-streaming-service/article_a01447a5-e408-5144-8670-64881f42697b.html |
In 2017, The Make a Difference in Thurmont Fund presented its first grant to the Creeger House in Thurmont to help with repairs and maintenance. Front row, from left: Wes Hamrick, Robert Eyler, Donna Voellinger, Susan Favorite, Community Foundation trustee Michael Delauter. Second row, from left: Liz Stitely, Carol Newmann. Third row, from left: Joe Fontana, Grant Johnson, Steven D. Hoke.
This 2002 photo shows, from left: Elizabeth Prongas, a former Community Foundation trustee; Christine Smith, a former church council president; and Betty Brown.
Thurmont reaps benefits of generous donors
Known as the “gateway to the mountains,” the town of Thurmont is alive with activity.
In a small town with a big heart, residents can be found cheering on the Catoctin Cougars at a Friday night football game, learning something new at the Thurmont Historical Society or celebrating fall at the annual Catoctin Colorfest.
Many folks have lived in Thurmont their entire lives. Some have turned their love for the town into a legacy of giving back to the community.
The Community Foundation of Frederick County is proud to partner with donors who want to affect Thurmont for generations to come.
Susan K. Favorite was born and raised in Thurmont, and lives there today.
In 2011, she was recognized with a Community Foundation Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism award. She was honored for selfless volunteerism on behalf of organizations and programs, including the Thurmont Lions Club, Thurmont Make a Difference Day and the Thurmont Teacher of the Year Program.
With her award, Susan founded The Make a Difference in Thurmont Fund. Over the last few years, the fund has supported programs at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, the Thurmont Historical Society, Frederick County Public Libraries and the TLC Foundation.
“The area is family. People I know since childhood still live here,” Favorite said. “To me, Thurmont means home.”
Favorite said her parents instilled a lifelong sense of ethics in her and her siblings that includes working hard, fulfilling commitments and giving back. “This fund helps me to live up to that life ethic,” she said.
Betty Brown and her husband, John, owned Brown’s Jewelry and Gift Shop in Thurmont for 29 years. A member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Betty was dedicated to the mission and work of the St. John’s Christian Preschool.
A teacher and later a board member at the preschool, Betty spent 36 years ensuring that children in the community receive a good educational experience. In 2002, Betty founded The Betty L. Brown Endowment Fund for St. John’s Christian Preschool of Thurmont.
At the time the fund was created, Betty said, “Having an endowment fund in my name is an honor. I believe in the educational values provided to the students of St. John’s Christian Preschool. That I can be associated with such a good cause and help children obtain a quality education is equally rewarding.”
In addition to funds that support grants to nonprofits, the Community Foundation also holds funds that provide scholarships for Thurmont-area students.
Calvin Sayler was a business leader and philanthropist. He owned the Claire Frock Company of Thurmont for 30 years and participated in organizations like the Thurmont Lions Club, The Catoctin Medical Association and the Francis Scott Key Investment Club while also supporting local youth athletic and agricultural programs.
Sayler created The Catoctin High School Youth Fund in 1994 to support programs and scholarships for Catoctin High School students. The fund has been making a difference in the lives of Thurmont area youth for almost 30 years.
The Community Foundation is proud to partner with donors across Frederick County who want to have a lasting impact.
“Thurmont is a wonderful place,” Susan Favorite said. “I love that I can, in a small way, help to keep it wonderful and make it better for all who are fortunate enough to live here.”
Christian Preschool Of Thurmont | 2022-10-10T03:51:41Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Thurmont reaps benefits of generous donors | Social issues | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/thurmont-reaps-benefits-of-generous-donors/article_3e4789a4-3080-50fd-8d22-ed215674835f.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/thurmont-reaps-benefits-of-generous-donors/article_3e4789a4-3080-50fd-8d22-ed215674835f.html |
Although all the changes in the geography of Europe are not noted in the textbooks in use in the public schools of the county, the situation does not seem to be so bad here as it is reported to be for some of the larger cities, notably in Washington. A new shipment of history textbooks has just been received in Frederick county, and the United States history gives an account of the conclusion of the second administration of Woodrow Wilson and the beginning of the term of President Warren G. Harding. In the sketch on the World War is an account of the overthrow of the Czar and Kaiser and, too, the various changes in the map of Europe.
Frank C. Hargett, this city, will take about 200 dahlia blooms to Hagerstown today, which he will exhibit at the fair. The blooms include a large number of new varieties, among them being “President Harding,” hybridized by Mr. Hargett and named in honor of the president.
The insurance companies of the United States have given the people rain insurance, jewelry insurance, whisky insurance and a hundred other types of protection against the evils and maladies of life, and now there is talk of divorce insurance. It is only talk yet but is being seriously considered by some of the brightest minds in the insurance world.
History Textbooks
Frank C. Hargett
Dahlia Blooms
Hybridized
Divorce Insurance | 2022-10-10T08:27:29Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 10 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-10/article_e6253932-d097-5d6f-913e-0521b95a77b8.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-10/article_e6253932-d097-5d6f-913e-0521b95a77b8.html |
“Emanations,” a collection of abstract figurative portraits of Abraham Lincoln by artist Wendy Allen, is on display at the Majestic Theater’s art gallery through the end of November.
“I set out to create individual works of art that would combine to convey a singular experience,” Allen said of the pieces. “Guided by color and use of the iconic photographs of Lincoln for reference, I wanted to create abstract figurative interpretations — emanations — of Lincoln.”
Allen has painted portraits of Lincoln since 1983. A native of Pittsburgh, for 30 years she pursued a career in educational publishing. She operates her studio and gallery, Lincoln Into Art, on Baltimore Street in Gettysburg.
Majestic Theater is at 25 Carlisle St., Gettysburg. Metered parking is available at the Gettysburg Borough Parking Garage in Race Horse Alley, as well as along Carlisle Street.
"From the Pages of PAN: Art Nouveau Prints, 1895-1900" — through Jan. 29, 2023, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This exhibition features brilliant lithographs, etchings and woodcuts by renowned artists such as Auguste Rodin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, Käthe Kollwitz, Peter Behrens and Aubrey Beardsley, among others. PAN was an avant-garde periodical that sought to represent an overview of cutting-edge international graphic art. Works encompass the art nouveau movement, expressionism, post-impressionism, and symbolism and give a view of the both artistic and intellectual life of this period. This exhibition is from the collection of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and is organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions. Free admission. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Nov. 24-25; Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1. Go to www.wcmfa,org. | 2022-10-10T08:27:35Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Art Exhibits | Visual Arts | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/art-exhibits/article_58331cf1-ec29-54bb-b1a7-b2cf3b423f30.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/art-exhibits/article_58331cf1-ec29-54bb-b1a7-b2cf3b423f30.html |
Shelley Aloi Frederick
I wish to respond to the Sept. 30 “As I See It” opinion piece titled “Time for truth, representation in county,” written by community members seeking to speak for disenfranchised residents in District 3.
The column calls for “the county executive and council president to finally approve a library at the city-owned West Side Park.”
These elected leaders — County Executive Jan Gardner and County Council President M.C. Keegan-Ayer — have been in power for at least eight years. Each had plenty of opportunity to demonstrate concern for residents in District 3, but they turned a deaf ear, ignoring requests from residents whose voices have been silenced repeatedly.
The real tragedy is that this behavior is far more widespread than the larger community may realize.
Elected officials are unresponsive to concerns of other groups, as well, including those in the agricultural, development and business communities, and taxpayers in general.
The opinion piece calls for change, for more fairness and equity, saying, “Many residents voted for the first time because they saw a candidate who shared similar struggles as a working-class immigrant or person of color.”
I agree. I am a generation away from that reality.
My grandfather was a short, dark-skinned, immigrant who worked hard to provide for his family. My father, his first-born son, “made it out” of their largely disenfranchised neighborhood. Here in Frederick, he spent his career helping families achieve the dream of homeownership.
Elected officials should focus interest on helping Frederick families. They should be concerned when communities feel neglected or disenfranchised. They should empower the residents of these communities, like those in District 3, by making government more representative.
County government should be more efficient, less bureaucratic, and more responsive to the needs of its residents, including those in underserved communities. For example:
• A community should have its public library and other important services located in a place that serves the needs of its residents.
• County government should work with private organizations like Centro Hispano de Frederick, the Asian American Center of Frederick, the Ausherman Family Foundation, and other agencies to help residents in underserved communities create and bring programs and services to their neighborhoods, not throw up roadblocks to forestall private-public partnerships.
• Transportation is about more than the efficient flow of traffic on major routes. It is also about making public transportation work better for those who rely on it to get where they need to go for work, groceries, medical appointments, and recreational activities for themselves and their children.
• All schools need to be supported in equipping students with the superior reading, writing and mathematics skills needed to advance themselves and, in turn, their families in this challenging world.
• The County Council must become good stewards of its tax revenue, finding ways to fund new initiatives, while holding government agencies accountable to streamline operations and cut unnecessary red tape. They must seek more efficient ways of operating in order to serve the whole community.
Our elected leaders had plenty of time to listen and act. It is time for a change.
Shelley Aloi is a candidate for Frederick County Council in District 3.
M.c. Keegan-ayer | 2022-10-10T08:28:11Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Time for a change, representation in the county | Columns | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/time-for-a-change-representation-in-the-county/article_58ec1dcd-7f22-5a6a-a273-2b00dabadbae.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/time-for-a-change-representation-in-the-county/article_58ec1dcd-7f22-5a6a-a273-2b00dabadbae.html |
Happy PA week
Marilyn Radcliffe-Marshall Frederick
Happy PA week. The demand for quality health care is higher than ever, and physician associates were developed specifically to help this demand.
I have been a PA working with Frederick Health Hospital for almost 13 years. I have a master’s degree in PA studies, and passed the national certification exam that earns the “-C” you see after PA. Every two years, I participate in at least 100 hours of continuing medical education and pass a re-certification exam every 10 years. PAs are qualified medical health professionals who have been able to increase accessibility for patients in all fields of medicine, from primary care to surgery.
The reason I chose to become a primary care PA is because I wanted to treat patients through their lifespan and support them in leading a healthy, fulfilling life. Being able to do this in the same area in which I grew up has been an added bonus.
Over the past two years, the demand for all of us has been more than we ever could have imagined. I am thankful for all the support our profession has, and I hope that the community will continue to support PAs. Today’s health care challenges require modern solutions.
The next time you seek a medical appointment, ask whether a PA is available. You’ll experience, firsthand, the excellent patient care PAs provide. I also invite you to look at the Frederick Health social media over the next week and learn about the local PAs who are here to help you.
Thank you to all the PAs in our community, and Happy Physician Associate Week.
Marilyn Radcliffe-Marshall | 2022-10-10T08:28:18Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Happy PA week | Letters to the Editor | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/happy-pa-week/article_40af613c-23f3-5dfb-98da-463b64f5eb8a.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/happy-pa-week/article_40af613c-23f3-5dfb-98da-463b64f5eb8a.html |
Dylan Strome wants 'to feel wanted.' The Caps are giving him that chance
When Dylan Strome talks about his future, he is careful to not move too far ahead. The newcomer to Washington isn’t naive; he knows this season offers a chance for him to establish himself with a new franchise and set roots in the District. But if there’s anything Strome learned from growing up in a competitive hockey family, it’s that success not only requires skill and hard work but also the right situation.
As much as Strome, 25, believes he is a good fit in Washington, there is still a long season ahead — and plenty to prove. He signed a one-year deal during the offseason, becoming a key piece of the team’s forward corps. Chicago, where he played the past four seasons, decided to let him hit free agency instead of offering him another deal to spearhead the organization’s rebuild.
Strome, who scored a career-best 22 goals and recorded 26 assists in Chicago last year, has let that decision fuel him in Washington.
“I just want to feel wanted,” Strome said. “ . . . You got to work your way up and show the team that they want to sign you for long term, not that you are forcing their hand. I want to just enjoy it and have fun. You don’t get to play this game forever so I’m just having fun, living in the moment.”
He’s learned that lesson in part from his older brother, Ryan, a 10-year NHL veteran who also changed teams in the offseason and now plays for the Anaheim Ducks. Dylan and his younger brother Matt have had front row seats as Ryan navigated his own difficulties and successes in the league.
“My message to them is, ‘Don’t get too high and don’t get too low,’” said Ryan, 29. “I think through our minor hockey careers and junior careers, we didn’t face adversity. Then I got to pro hockey and I had some ups and down and faced some challenges and some roadblocks. I think them seeing me go through it and them seeing firsthand the challenges that pro hockey has and stuff like that, they’ve learned from it.”
The brothers talk to each other every day, a task made easier when Matt and Dylan both participated in Capitals training camp. Matt, 23, signed an American League Hockey contract for the 2022-2023 season with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate in Hershey, Pa.
That training camp was the first time any of the Strome brothers were on the ice together in a team environment since they were young. Ryan said that while it “sounds cheesy,” it was something their parents were “over the moon” about.
During Washington’s camp, Matt lived for two-and-a-half weeks in Dylan’s house in Arlington, becoming a live-in roommate in an already-crowded household. Matt got to be around his sister-in-law, Tayler, in addition to the couple’s young daughter, Weslie, and their energetic golden retriever, Benny.
Matt said he loved being around his niece, always willing to lend a hand after long days at the rink. Weslie, who is 11/2, loves all the attention she can get. She is already running around, blurting out words here and there. Dylan said she’s taken to her mother more than her father, though there might be some controversy over her first word.
“There are some question marks around that, but I think her first word might have been ‘dada’ — but when she knew what ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ meant, it was ‘mama,’” Strome said with a chuckle.
The couple, who got married this summer then spent their honeymoon in Hawaii, also have a house in Oakville, a town in Halton Region, located in Southern Ontario. Their home is 20 minutes away from Dylan’s parents’ house, as well as Ryan’s house in Mississauga. In the summers, Matt and Dylan work out daily at Ryan’s house. When they aren’t in the gym or on the ice, they’re likely golfing.
Ryan and Matt agree that Ryan is the best golfer out of the brothers. They also agree that Matt, if he hasn’t already surpassed Dylan on the links, is challenging him for the No. 2 spot.
Jokes aside, Ryan and Matt are thrilled about Dylan’s opportunity in Washington. They see it as a fresh start for their brother, and hope he can have a breakout season with the Capitals.
Dylan, who was a healthy scratch for stretches under two different head coaches in Chicago, said he is ready to prove he can be a contributing force on a contender. As a member of the Capitals, Strome could get a chance to not only solidify his place in the league, but help an aging core make a run at another championship.
“For him to get to play with those [Capitals veterans], it is unbelievable,” Matt Strome said. Dylan had “a smile on his face every day when I [got] home from the rink. He’s happy to be here and this is a big shot for him, and he is going to make the most of his opportunity.”
Matt Strome | 2022-10-10T08:28:36Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Dylan Strome wants 'to feel wanted.' The Caps are giving him that chance | Professional: All Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/dylan-strome-wants-to-feel-wanted-the-caps-are-giving-him-that-chance/article_dc4c43e1-6d7e-5914-8711-ac91e236b4e7.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/dylan-strome-wants-to-feel-wanted-the-caps-are-giving-him-that-chance/article_dc4c43e1-6d7e-5914-8711-ac91e236b4e7.html |
John Brown's fort.
163rd anniversary of John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry
Experience John Brown’s Raid through the stories of U.S. Marines, townspeople, formerly enslaved men and women and John Brown himself on Oct. 15 and 16 at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Join park staff and living-history volunteers of the U.S. Marine Corps Historical Company for “At All Times Ready,” an interpretive presentation of how the raid unfolded and transformed Harpers Ferry into a key site in American civil rights history.
This program will begin in historic Lower Town on The Green and end at the U.S. Armory Fire Engine House (John Brown’s Fort) each day at 1 and 3 p.m.
On Oct. 16, 1859, fiery abolitionist John Brown and 21 fellow raiders attacked the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry in what was at that time Virginia, the largest slave-holding state in the Union. Brown hoped to use armory weapons to equip a liberating army that would spark uprisings against slavery and protect those escaping enslavement. Although the failed raid ended two days later with Brown’s capture by Marines, it electrified the country. John Brown’s Raid polarized the country’s slavery and anti-slavery factions and political parties, even influencing the 1860 presidential election and sparking political violence when Abraham Lincoln was elected president.
John Brown’s Raid stands as one of the flash points that ignited the Civil War. His complex legacy continues to influence American conversations on slavery, race and the role of force in fighting injustice.
For more information, visit nps.gov/hafe.
John Brown was antislavery and was hung in Charles Town for his attempts to raid the arsenal at Harpers Ferry to arm his group. Bloody Kansas was far worse, which happened before Harpers Ferry. The South refused to compromise and separated from the Union. At the time, Maryland was a slave state, but was held by federal troops. I had a great grandfather that was at Antietam and Fredericksburg, Va. His unit was held back at Antietam by McLellan and Fredericksburg he was in the hospital, when his unit, the 14th New York Volunteers attacked the Stone Wall. A great uncle fighting for the North was wounded during the Penninsula Campaign.
C.D.Reid Oct 10, 2022 9:37am
Today, John Brown would be called a "Domestic terrorist," which is exactly what he was.
He was a radical, but he forsee what was going to happen and as far as I am concerned, I think he was great.
Do you think it was "great" the way he butchered five unarmed men, two of whom were the sons of one of those men, in front of their families? Slaughtering them with swords? | 2022-10-10T18:24:51Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 163rd anniversary of John Brown’s Raid at Harpers Ferry | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/163rd-anniversary-of-john-brown-s-raid-at-harpers-ferry/article_2d139ecc-73b8-51e2-97d6-c292db3e7125.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/163rd-anniversary-of-john-brown-s-raid-at-harpers-ferry/article_2d139ecc-73b8-51e2-97d6-c292db3e7125.html |
The fairies are coming
Once upon a time in Appalachia, there was a very special traveling show, made up of the strangest folk anyone ever saw. Straight out of storybooks they were, with pointed ears and gossamer wings, furry faces and tails that twitched, men with goat legs, even a mermaid. When they came to town, they brought the magic of Faerie with them: wishes could come true, animals could talk, the imaginary became real — or so the story goes.
Celebrate autumn, fairies and fairy tales at the Shepherdstown Fairy Festival on Oct. 15 and 16, an immersive experience where you can interact with goblins, fairies, giants and other magical creatures. The festival also includes live music, appearances by children’s authors and more than 70 vendors.
The intent is to promote community spirit and interest in fairies, said organizer Emma Casale, the owner of a gift shop in Shepherdstown.
Frenchy and the Punk, a dark-folk cabaret duo, and John Sprocket, the lead singer and guitarist of the steampunk band The Cog is Dead, will perform twice each on both days.
Children’s book authors Bruce Coville and Michael Buckley will present and sign autographs on Saturday. Author and illustrator Kevin O’Malley will give away drawings all weekend and invite audience members to participate in the retelling of fairy tales on Sunday.
Folk musician Steve Haug, as Maugorn the Stray, and fiddler Keith Engle also will perform, as will a variety of wandering and stationary characters.
Kids can join in activities, including 50-cent carnival games and $5 crafts, as well as interactive exhibits of snakes and raptors.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
For anyone 13 or older, admission is $15 per day or $25 for two days. A special $60 ticket includes an autographed art poster and a tote bag. Children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. Parking is free.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/fairiesarecoming.
For more information, including a detailed schedule of performers and their performances, go to thefairiesarecoming.com.
The festival will be held rain or shine at Sam Michael’s Park, 235 Sam Michael’s Lane, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
Emma Casale | 2022-10-10T18:24:57Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | The fairies are coming | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/the-fairies-are-coming/article_af215a85-c215-55fe-8b98-2c2870131925.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/the-fairies-are-coming/article_af215a85-c215-55fe-8b98-2c2870131925.html |
Tyler Jackson, a member of Tuscarora High School's marching band, bangs on the bass drum during FCPS's Marching Band Festival on Monday evening at Brunswick High School.
G. Owusu, a member of the marching band at Frederick High School, plays the tenor drums.
Hundreds turn out for annual FCPS Marching Band Festival
A full orange moon rose slowly overhead Monday night as young performers marched across Brunswick High School’s field. Four more than two hours, their music swelled and their brightly colored flags fluttered in a chilly breeze.
“You can just feel the vibe in the air tonight,” said Scott Murphy, Frederick County Public Schools’ director of curriculum, instruction and innovation. He smiled as he looked around.
Each of FCPS’ 10 high schools participated in the county’s annual Marching Band Festival on Monday evening.
The event is special, participants said, because it allows students from across the county to appreciate each other’s work without the pressure that comes along with a competition setting.
Plus, since FCPS high schools and bands vary so much in size, many of the 10 bands never encounter one another in competitions.
Kate Hartinger, a junior and the assistant color guard captain for Middletown High School’s band, said she looks forward to watching each school’s performance at the showcase each year.
Middletown’s program this year is inspired by “The Greatest Showman,” featuring shimmery red costumes and songs from the film.
Each school chose a distinct theme for the season, which informed their song and costuming choices. Other themes on display Monday included Día De Los Muertos, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix.
Searlait Hoyt, a freshman member of Middletown’s front ensemble, said she was nervous before performing Monday. The bleachers were packed with hundreds of people. Hoyt said it represented “the biggest crowd that pays attention” she’s ever encountered.
She paused, considering the band’s usual halftime performances during Friday night football games, then added with a laugh: “The student section is not very polite.”
That’s another reason the annual festival is important, attendees said. The students get to play for an audience that came out just to hear their music.
“This night is 100% for them,” Murphy said.
Natalie and Shane Eyler brought their 7-year-old daughter, Anastasia, to the festival to hear drums and xylophones, her favorite instruments.
Anastasia is visually impaired, her parents said, and she has a burgeoning love for percussion.
She sat curled in her dad’s lap Monday, wrapped in a blanket and listening intently to the staccato beats emanating from the field.
Liam Wood, a senior trumpet player at Oakdale High School, said it was sad to think Monday was his last countywide festival.
Wood isn’t planning to study music in college, but he said he wants to keep playing.
“Marching band has really cemented in me a love for playing the trumpet,” he said.
As the performances wound to a close and the air got colder, Wood reflected on his four years in the band.
“I like the energy of showcases more than competitions,” he said. “We’re working as a team. No one’s focused on a score. It’s more focused on group effort and just enjoyment of the show.”
Fellow Oakdale trumpet player Alex Powers agreed.
“I just like the feeling of walking off the field and feeling like you’ve really made an impact,” he said. “That’s what we all strive for.” | 2022-10-11T03:50:43Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Hundreds turn out for annual FCPS Marching Band Festival | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/hundreds-turn-out-for-annual-fcps-marching-band-festival/article_5d7605f9-215e-5374-a8ec-dfad0dc94fe7.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/hundreds-turn-out-for-annual-fcps-marching-band-festival/article_5d7605f9-215e-5374-a8ec-dfad0dc94fe7.html |
Upcoming shows at New Spire Arts
The Weinberg Center for the Arts brings a variety of music to its newest stage at New Spire Arts this fall with a mix of Americana, folk and symphonic music.
The blackbox theater, located at 15 W. Patrick St., is housed in the iconic downtown building formerly home to McCrory’s Five and Dime and is now being managed by the Weinberg Center for the Arts.
First on the schedule is Americana duo Chatham Rabbits, performing in concert at 8 p.m. Oct. 15. The married duo Sarah and Austin McCombie favor minimalist acoustic arrangements that showcase the deftness and maturity of their songwriting. They will perform tracks off their latest album, “If You See Me Riding By,” with a traditional folk sound.
The Tivoli Discovery Series, a long-running concert series for emerging artists, is moving from its home at the Weinberg Center to the more intimate space of New Spire Arts this season. The first pay-what-you-want concert of the series will be Americana band Bill and the Belles at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3.
Described as “what may be the most innovative modern interpretation of vintage roots music,” Bill and the Belles will perform music from their delightfully deadpan album “Happy Again.” Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, this Americana country group brings their string-band format combined with signature harmonies, candid songwriting and pop sensibilities as they perform tracks full of life, humor and tongue-in-cheek explorations of love and loss.
Nov. 4 brings The Harry Chapin Band to New Spire Arts at 7:30 p.m., celebrating their fifth decade of presenting the music of Harry Chapin. Beginning in 1971, they helped Harry create the music. Since 1981, they have been keeping the music alive. The Harry Chapin Band has been delighting fans for decades as they continue to celebrate and perform the late songwriter’s most beloved records. Preserving his spirit and talent, The Harry Chapin Band has been committed to keeping the music authentic as they recreate Harry’s best-known songs in a two-hour program.
The National String Symphonia returns to New Spire Arts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Founded in 2013, the National String Symphonia is a fully professional symphonic string orchestra, reaching beyond the archetypical orchestra audience to become an integral part of the musical life of listeners at all ages and stages. With a body of work spanning nearly 500 years, the NSS seeks to innovate the concert experience, exploring new and different ways of presenting the music, including the use of video elements and educational presentations. Their goal is to increase accessibility to and relevance of the music while ensuring high-caliber performances.
More shows will be added to both theater schedules in the coming months
Ticket sales for New Spire Arts will be handled through the Weinberg Center box office and may be purchased online at weinbergcenter.org, by calling 301-600-2828, or in person at 20 W. Patrick St. | 2022-10-11T03:50:49Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Upcoming shows at New Spire Arts | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/upcoming-shows-at-new-spire-arts/article_307d0882-ce4e-5434-a5f5-c8c85f29a22c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/upcoming-shows-at-new-spire-arts/article_307d0882-ce4e-5434-a5f5-c8c85f29a22c.html |
Land in the 1500 block of Wheyfield Drive in Frederick is shown on Monday.
A Frederick Planning Commission sign is displayed in the 1500 block of Wheyfield Drive in Frederick on Monday.
City Planning Commission approves change to Dearbought site
A vacant former school site in Frederick’s Dearbought neighborhood will be converted into a senior living facility.
The city’s Planning Commission voted 3-0 on Monday to approve a change to the master plan for the Dearbought Planned Neighborhood Development. The change allows the construction of a four-story building with 176 multifamily units on the 10.62-acre site.
The Dearbought development was annexed into the city in 1988. The developer set aside the site on Wheyfield Drive at the intersection of Md. 26 and Sebastian Boulevard as a possible school location, according to a report city staff members prepared for Monday’s meeting.
The county later decided not to use the site for a school, and solicited proposals to develop the site for affordable housing.
The project will be funded through low-income housing tax credits.
The project is being developed by the Greenville, N.C.-based Taft-Mills Groups, New Harbor Development, the Housing Authority of Frederick, and the Interfaith Housing Alliance.
The site will include both active and passive amenities for residents, said Sherry Kelly of the city’s Planning Department.
David Lingg, of Lingg Property Consulting, who represented the applicants at Monday’s hearing, said those features will evolve as the site plan for the project is developed, but they could include walking paths through a wooded area, as well as a gazebo in the facility’s courtyard.
While some raised concerns about walkability in the project, it will include sidewalks that connect to sidewalks in the rest of the neighborhood, allowing residents to walk to nearby stores without having to walk along Md. 26, Kelly said.
The Wheyfield Drive property is zoned Institutional, which allows senior living and retirement facilities. The initial plan for the project called for 193 units, but it has been reduced to 176 units.
At a hearing in March, people who live in and near the community on the north side of Frederick expressed their worries about the plans to add so many senior housing units in a neighborhood where parking can already be hard to find.
Residents also expressed concern about speeding, traffic, and other issues.
The project was exempted in August from testing to meet the adequate public facilities standards for roads, since it’s not expected to create more than 50 new weekday peak-hour trips in either the morning or evening.
Wheyfield Drive
Dearbought Planned Neighborhood Development
Dwasserba Oct 10, 2022 10:39pm
“…it's not expected to create more than 50 new weekday peak-hour trips in either the morning or evening.” With 176 units? Some with couples? My husband goes out every day, sometimes up to three times, not including trips with me. “Combining errands” is one of my running nag themes. | 2022-10-11T03:50:55Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | City Planning Commission approves change to Dearbought site | Real Estate And Development | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/real_estate_and_development/city-planning-commission-approves-change-to-dearbought-site/article_1e88efcb-871a-5768-9441-4a45d96d9046.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/real_estate_and_development/city-planning-commission-approves-change-to-dearbought-site/article_1e88efcb-871a-5768-9441-4a45d96d9046.html |
Children who are not eligible to get vaccinated from their health care provider, have insurance that doesn’t cover immunizations costs or don’t have health insurance at all can get the free shot, the release said.
To schedule an appointment, visit marylandvax.org.
The Maryland Department of Health is supplying the shots, the release said. The county doesn’t have flu vaccines for adults 19 or older, the release said, but encourages adults to get shots at the many locations in the county.
Children getting a flu shot must be accompanied by one person who is 18 or older. If no one can accompany the child, a parent or guardian must send a written note that authorizes that the child can receive the vaccine, the release said. | 2022-10-11T03:51:07Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Frederick County Heath Department offering free flu shots for children | Insurance | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/insurance/frederick-county-heath-department-offering-free-flu-shots-for-children/article_b7169f04-a856-52f5-9ae2-47690b52f5a4.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/insurance/frederick-county-heath-department-offering-free-flu-shots-for-children/article_b7169f04-a856-52f5-9ae2-47690b52f5a4.html |
Vials and a box for the smallpox and monkeypox vaccine are displayed at the Frederick County Health Department.
Frederick County Health Department to host monkeypox vaccine clinic on Wednesday
The Frederick County Health Department is scheduled to host a monkeypox vaccine clinic on Wednesday at Frederick’s Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ on West Church Street.
Up to 130 doses of the two-shot vaccine will be available at the clinic, which will be held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., health department spokeswoman Rissah Watkins said.
Although the health department recommends that people make an appointment to receive a vaccine, walk-ins are also welcome on a first-come, first-served basis, Watkins said.
At a vaccine clinic on Oct. 4 at The Frederick Center, the health department administered 13 shots, Watkins said.
As of Monday, there were 682 monkeypox cases in Maryland, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Maryland Department of Health is tracking monkeypox cases reported across the state on a public dashboard, but it is not reporting the case count for jurisdictions with fewer than 10 cases.
To make an appointment at the upcoming clinic, visit bit.ly/3RFwltH.
Rissah Watkins | 2022-10-11T03:51:13Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Frederick County Health Department to host monkeypox vaccine clinic on Wednesday | Treatment And Diseases | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_diseases/frederick-county-health-department-to-host-monkeypox-vaccine-clinic-on-wednesday/article_86b99a2c-42c9-5d53-9e11-59e1f2edd89c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_diseases/frederick-county-health-department-to-host-monkeypox-vaccine-clinic-on-wednesday/article_86b99a2c-42c9-5d53-9e11-59e1f2edd89c.html |
Carrying out the policy of the International organization, the local Kiwanis Club devoted yesterday’s luncheon meeting at Wayside Inn to the farmer and his problems. County Agent John McGill was the speaker. After explaining the difficulties that the farmers face at the present time, he called upon the members to give their moral support to the efforts that are being put forth by the farmers themselves to better their own conditions. On account of the low prices of farm products and the hight cost of everything that he must buy, the farmer is about as hard hit as is any time in the history of agriculture.
The drought would seem to have broken. Yesterday was one wet day and such a day the people of the county have been looking forward to for some weeks. It rained hard the night before and continued the greater part of the day. The precipitation in the city totaled .67 of an inch, bringing the total since the wet spell started, up to 1.05 inches. And the rainfall in the county was still heavier. This cheered the heart of the farmer, who has been anxious about the wheat crops for 1923.The colportage committee of the Young Men’s Bible Society of Frederick county has just received a shipment of 210 copies of the Bible which it intends placing in the Francis Scott Key Hotel building as soon as that building is ready to be occupied. The furnishing of Bibles in the various hotels of the country is generally left to the Gideons but local pride prompted the local bible Society to donate the copies for the Key Hotel.
Despite the closing of Sagner Inc. in 1973, workers of the clothing company still get together each year for a banquet. The reunion was held Sunday at Independent Hose Co. Speakers were Arthur Richell, once supervisor of mechanics for all of Sagner Inc., and Miss Sarah Barron, once head of the workers union AC-WA.
Ludwell Catlett, director of Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, has issued an urgent appeal for donation of used goods, clothing and household items. In making his appeal, Catlett noted that the requirements for inexpensive merchandise, especially clothing for school-age children, had increased significantly with the current economic downturn.
GAITHERSBURG — The single bullet that killed a Gaithersburg man in Manassas, Va., on Wednesday night was positively linked to the gun of a spree shooter, bringing the death toll to seven. Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose announced the results late Thursday, saying “forensic work linked the shooting to Montgomery County, Spotsylvania, Va., and the District of Columbia. Manassas is about 35 miles southwest of Montgomery County, where five people were killed last week. One man was killed in Washington, and a woman was wounded by the sniper last Friday in Fredericksburg, Va.
As of late Thursday night, half the town of Woodsboro was without water after a sinkhole in the area of Copper Oaks caused a break in the town’s pipeline in the afternoon, said Burgess Donald Trimmer. The break left all residents without water for at least six hours, he said. By late Thursday afternoon, Woodsboro had lost a quarter of a million gallons of water, its entire reservoir. The town has a population of under 1,000 people and normally uses about 60,000 gallons of water per day.
Plight Of Farmers
Colportage
Young Men's Bible Society
Francis Scott Key Hotel
Sagner Inc. Workers Reunion
Ludwell Catlett
Goodwill Industries Of Monocacy Valley
Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose | 2022-10-11T07:36:31Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 11 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-11/article_144b505a-811a-55f7-863d-16d62a8dd3e4.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-11/article_144b505a-811a-55f7-863d-16d62a8dd3e4.html |
When the researchers analyzed the data, they were surprised to find a statistically significant connection between the presence of a family dog in early childhood and a decrease in the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. They did not find the same link in study participants with bipolar disorder or among those whose childhood pet was a cat. To understand the significance of this finding, further study is needed. But among the theories getting a closer look will be whether or not beneficial microorganisms in the microbiomes of dogs may have provided a measure of protection against schizophrenia later in life.Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1955, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided. | 2022-10-11T07:36:43Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Ask the Doctors: Owning a dog may protect against later mental illness | Fitness And Wellness | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/fitness_and_wellness/ask-the-doctors-owning-a-dog-may-protect-against-later-mental-illness/article_9f7ab49d-a5f4-5086-914d-bc599805b14f.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/fitness_and_wellness/ask-the-doctors-owning-a-dog-may-protect-against-later-mental-illness/article_9f7ab49d-a5f4-5086-914d-bc599805b14f.html |
Brink of implosion: Commanders are 1-4 and having QB problems as rest of NFC East passes them by
“Be more consistent,” Rivera offered Monday. “One thing we can’t do is have penalties — silly penalties. ... We’ve got to continue to work at it. It’s interesting because when you put all the pieces together that you want and you get them there for that period of time, it starts to happen. And so we just got to continue to work hard at it.”
“The disappointing part is you learn, ‘OK, that’s what we did last week; we can’t do that.’ And when it’s something new, that’s the frustration of it,” Rivera said. “We just corrected this, and now we have something over there. It’s that inconsistency that gets you.”
“We played well enough to win,” he said. “We just didn’t play consistently. ... You give up a couple of big plays, and then you miss a couple opportunities. I know I’ve said that before, but that’s the truth.”
“The truth is, this is a quarterback-driven league,” he added. “And if you look at the teams that have been able to sustain success and been able to build, [they’ve done it] around a specific quarterback.”
“I have no regrets about our quarterback,” Rivera said of Wentz. “I think our quarterback has done some good things. There have been a couple of days that he struggled. ... [But] the way he performed [Sunday], it just shows you what he’s capable of. We chose him because we believe in him.”
“He’s got to work with those pieces. It’s like walking into a new job,” Rivera said Monday. “The job’s already been there. ... You walk in, and you’re the new guy. You’ve got to learn everybody, don’t you? You’ve got learn to work with everybody, got to learn to do your job with everybody.” | 2022-10-11T07:37:32Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Brink of implosion: Commanders are 1-4 and having QB problems as rest of NFC East passes them by | Professional: All Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/brink-of-implosion-commanders-are-1-4-and-having-qb-problems-as-rest-of-nfc/article_83b12eef-1ca5-5e79-818b-7fac0797ddba.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/brink-of-implosion-commanders-are-1-4-and-having-qb-problems-as-rest-of-nfc/article_83b12eef-1ca5-5e79-818b-7fac0797ddba.html |
Washington, which kept 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, made its final cuts Sunday by waiving forwards Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Brett Leason and Henrik Borgstrom and defenseman Lucas Johansen. On Monday, Jonsson-Fjallby was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets, and Leason was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks. Johansen and Borgstrom cleared waivers and were sent to the Hershey Bears, the Capitals’ American Hockey League affiliate.
McMichael had nine goals and nine assists in 68 regular-season games, then notched one assist in four postseason games. He appeared to be a lock to make the lineup at the start of training camp, but Protas’ showing might have pushed him out. Protas looked like a natural fit on the second line next to Dylan Strome and Anthony Mantha in the final preseason game Saturday. McMichael, a 21-year-old who was a first-round pick in 2019, had a decent training camp — but wasn’t as noticeable as Protas.
“I think he’s responsible. I think he’s smart. I think he uses his speed to defend,” Laviolette said. “ ... Playing offense is the best defense, and maybe he can contribute to that.”
Joe Snively | 2022-10-11T07:37:38Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Capitals lose a pair of forwards on waivers, set opening night roster | Professional: All Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/capitals-lose-a-pair-of-forwards-on-waivers-set-opening-night-roster/article_f32e2ea9-d64b-57af-a5d6-88363f543ad9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/professional/capitals-lose-a-pair-of-forwards-on-waivers-set-opening-night-roster/article_f32e2ea9-d64b-57af-a5d6-88363f543ad9.html |
Four-time Grammy-nominated artist Oleta Adams at the Weinberg Center
Multi-platinum selling R&B, soul and gospel artist Oleta Adams will take the stage at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick at 8 p.m. Oct. 14.
Celebrating nine albums and 45 years in the music industry, Adams is no stranger to the spotlight and delivering a captivating performance full of soul. The gospel singer has inspired a growing legion of fans worldwide from her roots that cross into R&B, urban and popular music. The velvety-voiced songstress has four Grammy nominations and over 2.5 million records sold under her belt.
In 2017, Adams was the honoree of the Legends Award at the televised Black Music Honors that acknowledged her influence and significant music contributions to African American culture and American music worldwide. In 2019, Oleta was inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri, the city she also calls home. Adams has toured across the U.S. and Europe as her powerful voice connects with audiences in a moving performance full of emotion.
Tickets start at $30 and may be purchased online at weinbergcenter.org, by calling 301-600-2828, or in person at 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. A complete listing of artists and performers scheduled for the 2022-23 season can be found at weinbergcenter.org. | 2022-10-11T16:00:31Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Four-time Grammy-nominated artist Oleta Adams at the Weinberg Center | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/four-time-grammy-nominated-artist-oleta-adams-at-the-weinberg-center/article_4c1f857a-fcf1-5bbe-957f-f520de28177a.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/four-time-grammy-nominated-artist-oleta-adams-at-the-weinberg-center/article_4c1f857a-fcf1-5bbe-957f-f520de28177a.html |
The Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery, at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, examines the history and science of the planets.
Ekaterina Pechenkina/Capital News Service
Multiple aircraft hang from the ceiling of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, which partially reopens to the public on Oct. 14.
Smithsonian's popular Air & Space Museum readies for a relaunch
and EKATERINA PECHENKINA Capital News Service
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will partially reopen to the public on Oct. 14, featuring eight new and renovated galleries along with the Albert Einstein Planetarium and a new Mars Cafe.
At a media preview on Thursday, Christopher Browne, John and Adrienne Mars director of the National Air and Space Museum, said the museum will be operating at roughly 50% capacity because the National Mall entrance will not reopen with the facility’s west wing.
“Even if the code said, ‘Sure, pack them in shoulder-to-shoulder,’ we wouldn’t want to do that, because it would ruin the experience,” Browne said.
The museum will feature interactive and digital experiences, as well as hundreds of new artifacts, including the WR-3 air racer built by Neal Loving, the first African American certified to race airplanes, and a T-38 flown by Jackie Cochran, the first woman to break the sound barrier.
“Since the time the museum opened in 1976, a lot has changed,” Browne said. “The aviation and aerospace world has changed incredibly, and who’s participating in it has changed. It’s become a much more diverse and inclusive space that we want to celebrate.”
Expansions of existing exhibits focused on making storytelling accessible and available to those with physical impairments, Browne said, through the introduction of tactile models and places to plug hearing-assistive devices into most interactive displays.
Exhibitions opening next week include “Destination Moon,” where visitors can stand face to face with Neil Armstrong’s A-7L lunar spacesuit from his first step onto the Moon. From the Apollo 11 mission, the exhibit also includes astronaut survival kits, tactile models of the F1 engines and Armstrong’s spacesuit gloves.
“Part of the benefit we have from being half to go is we’re going to learn. We want to hear from our visitors about what’s working… especially from folks who may not have mobility or vision or hearing,” Browne said.
“We are living right now in the golden age of planetary exploration, and this gallery is capturing it as best as possible,” said Robert A. Craddock, planetary geologist and the curator for the gallery, who has worked at the museum for 34 years. Ever since Craddock watched the Apollo 8 astronauts take off to the Moon on television, he’s been inspired to get involved in planetary science.
“Today we get more data from the planets than we did in the first 15 years of space exploration. We are trying to capture that and bring it to the American public,” Craddock said.
The gallery features a unique collection of artifacts that represent different planets and the phases of the history of human planetary exploration, as well as a tour of the solar system.
“Every airplane that flies embodies this one. Every airplane that you fly on is essentially a Wright Flyer,” Peter Jakab, former chief curator of the museum, told Capital News Service. “[Visitors] have a few minutes to come here, engage with this object, and really think about how the world we live in today, in a large measure, stems from this object.”
Renovations have placed iconic artifacts in new settings to celebrate their impact on history, Browne said. But the museum also strives to be a place of learning, gathering new artifacts to highlight the stories, like Cochran’s, that allow visitors to connect at a personal level.
The museum is holding weekly meetings to tackle the issue of how to present new discoveries to the public.
“Any given day there are probably over a dozen different new discoveries that we are discussing. ... It’s a firehose, basically,” Craddock said.
Robert A. Craddock
Christopher Browne | 2022-10-11T16:00:38Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Smithsonian's popular Air & Space Museum readies for a relaunch | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/smithsonians-popular-air-space-museum-readies-for-a-relaunch/article_d60e18d4-2e92-50e9-91b2-88136edef2f7.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/smithsonians-popular-air-space-museum-readies-for-a-relaunch/article_d60e18d4-2e92-50e9-91b2-88136edef2f7.html |
Liz Barrett, left, and Karen Yoho
School board ethics panel sides with Yoho in dispute over union contributions
The ethics panel for the Frederick County Board of Education has ruled that member Karen Yoho did not violate board policy by accepting support from school employees' unions in her re-election bid.
Yoho is the only incumbent in the race for four seats on the school board in the Nov. 8 general election. She is one of four candidates endorsed by the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA), which represents more than 3,000 educators across the county.
Between April and July, that endorsement earned Yoho about $2,000 worth of in-kind contributions from the Maryland State Education Association's Fund For Children And Public Education PAC, according to campaign finance reports.
MSEA is the parent organization of the Frederick County Teachers Association. Its PAC uses funds donated by teachers and their immediate family members to help elect "pro-public education candidates" across the state.
The PAC's contributions to Yoho took the form of direct-mail materials, publicity cards and other advertisements.
Board member Liz Barrett — who dropped her re-election bid after finishing seventh in the July 19 primary — filed an ethics complaint against Yoho in July, taking issue with the fact that Yoho accepted support from MSEA while the board was still in contract negotiations with FCTA.
The board ratified FCTA's contract for this school year on June 1.
Barrett did not seek the unions' endorsement this year. She applied for it in 2018, but did not receive it.
A quorum of the ethics panel heard arguments on Sept. 21 from Barrett and from Yoho's attorney.
The ethics panel released its opinion on Sept. 26, siding unanimously with Yoho.
Panel members noted that the board's ethics policy specifically excludes campaign contributions from the definition of a "gift," as does the Maryland Public Ethics Law.
"Based upon the plain and unambiguous language in the Board’s Ethics Policy and the Maryland Public Ethics Law, Ms. Yoho did not receive a 'Gift' from any of the employee associations or unions at issue," the opinion reads.
Yoho said she thought it was unreasonable to argue that employee unions shouldn't be allowed to support incumbent candidates.
"My thought was always, 'How is it fair to silence teachers and other education personnel from having a say in who they want to be elected?'" Yoho said.
Plus, she took issue with Barrett's argument that the timing of the contributions was problematic. Yoho argued that board members "are really always in negotiations" with the employees' unions, regardless of the time of year.
The ethics panel's findings are confidential unless a respondent chooses to publicize them.
Yoho said she shared the opinion with the News-Post because the facts of the dispute had already been reported in the newspaper and discussed in the community.
"Because people did hear the beginnings, I thought they should be able to hear the endings," she said.
Barrett wrote in a statement sent via text message that she appreciated the ethics panel's work, but disagreed with its ruling.
"If a Board of Ed candidate received campaign contributions and promotional advertising from a roofing contractor and then the Board of Ed member voted to approve a contract with that roofing contractor for FCPS roofing, we'd have an issue," she wrote. "This is no different."
Yoho didn't receive any contributions directly from the employees' unions, and the contributions she received from their parent organizations weren't monetary donations.
Still, Barrett argued that Yoho's actions gave the wrong impression and went against the spirit of the board's ethics policy, which says that "trust is eroded when the conduct of public business is subject to improper influence and even the appearance of improper influence."
"[M]y experience and perspective is in good business practices and avoiding even the appearance of conflict of interest," Barrett wrote. "Polar factions in politics dilute independence and critical thinking."
School board members disagree over ethics of union contributions
The two Frederick County Board of Education members running for reelection this year disagree over whether accepting advertising support from …
FrederickFan Oct 11, 2022 11:03pm
Liz has turned into an unhappy, complaining person in recent years. Her role is to antagonize other board members and even staff. Not productive.
There is a big difference between a union representing it's members and a contractor doing work or seeking a contract from a organization at a later time. | 2022-10-12T03:17:25Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | School board ethics panel sides with Yoho in dispute over union contributions | Board Of Education | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/board_of_education/school-board-ethics-panel-sides-with-yoho-in-dispute-over-union-contributions/article_b48eb6e3-bd9c-53e9-a49c-445a5ae835f7.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/board_of_education/school-board-ethics-panel-sides-with-yoho-in-dispute-over-union-contributions/article_b48eb6e3-bd9c-53e9-a49c-445a5ae835f7.html |
Museum Director Robert Wilson displays the properties of a leg vise in the shop at the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy in Middletown on Tuesday.
Museum Director Robert Wilson touches a 500-pound anvil in the shop at the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy in Middletown on Tuesday. The anvil was stolen in 2018 and was returned by police after two years once Wilson identified specific characteristics of it.
Equipment sits inside the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy shop in Middletown on Tuesday.
Museum Director Robert Wilson looks at equipment in the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy in Middletown on Tuesday.
Museum Director Robert Wilson points to a small nick on a 500-lb. anvil in the shop of the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy in Middletown on Tuesday. After the anvil was stolen in 2018, Wilson was able to identify it by his recollection of specific physical characteristics.
A photo of William F. Moran is displayed through an old newspaper article at the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy in Middletown on Tuesday.
At the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy in Middletown on Tuesday, Museum Director Robert Wilson looks at a contact sheet with photos of William F. Moran.
Middletown facility keeps master bladesmith's legacy alive
For decades, Bill Moran was an institution in the Middletown Valley, earning a national reputation for designing knives and other blades at his shop along Alternate U.S. 40.
This weekend, Moran's legacy will be renewed as the W.F. Moran Bladesmith and Artisan Academy celebrates the opening of its new facility in Middletown.
The museum's official opening will be on Sunday, but on Saturday, it will hold its seventh annual All Forged Knife Show and Auction, beginning at 10 a.m.
The 3,500-square-foot facility near Moran's old shop, nestled along the road at the foot of Braddock Mountain, will train and educate people in the trades that Moran loved, said Robert Wilson, president of the William F. Moran Jr. Museum and Foundation.
Knifemaking and bladesmithing will always be at the core of their mission, Wilson said, but they'll also teach woodworking, leathermaking and other skills in the classroom and workshop areas of the museum.
The foundation, begun after Moran died in 2006, has grown from its original 64 members to more than 300 members around the world, Wilson said.
He said Moran loved teaching, and although he didn't have much formal education, he read widely and could discuss a broad variety of topics.
“He was quite a character,” Wilson said.
Moran was born in 1925 and grew up on a dairy farm along the Monocacy River outside of Frederick.
While he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping in the woods and fields near the farm, school interested him less, Wilson said.
He needed a reliable knife for hunting, but couldn't find a good one, Wilson said.
So, he created his own knife and began experimenting with the form and process. By his early 20s, he was known for the quality of his knives.
More than half a century later, he still loved the art of crafting one knife at a time, a process that could take weeks.
“It's not a real efficient way, but it's the way I like doing it,” Moran told the News-Post in 2003.
The museum's shop area has eight forging station and an area with various types of grinders, as well as Moran's original forge from the farm where he grew up.
There's also a 500-lb. anvil that Wilson said was stolen from a pavilion outside the old shop in 2018 and was missing for two years.
When it turned up, Wilson was able to identify it for sheriff's deputies with photographs of the distinctive nicks and notches on its surface.
The facility can accommodate classes of up to 16 people at a time, but Wilson said many of the people he talks to don't necessarily want to become a master smith.
They just appreciate the process, the metallurgy involved and developing the skill of grinding a blade, he said.
While the desire for learning how to forge a blade has “just exploded” in recent years, it's important to keep the knowledge alive for future generations, Wilson said.
Otherwise, “eventually, it just goes away,” he said.
People can retain some of the skills and knowledge Moran had whether they end up becoming a smith or not, he said.
At the time he died, Moran had a 20-year waiting list for his products, Wilson said.
“It's quite a story," Wilson said, "and he was quite a guy.”
What: William F. Moran Jr. Museum and Foundation All Forged Knife Show and Auction
When: Saturday, Oct. 15 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 4246 Old National Pike, Middletown, MD 21769
William F. Moran Jr. Museum And Foundation Inc.
W.f. Moran Bladesmith And Artisan Academy
William F. Moran Jr.
They have been working on the building for almost a year and it is beautiful.
gabrielshorn2013 Oct 11, 2022 9:18pm
Looking forward to the show! | 2022-10-12T03:17:43Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Middletown facility keeps master bladesmith's legacy alive | Services | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/services/middletown-facility-keeps-master-bladesmiths-legacy-alive/article_2619683a-f3a5-59af-9693-f770d0ce0ce1.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/services/middletown-facility-keeps-master-bladesmiths-legacy-alive/article_2619683a-f3a5-59af-9693-f770d0ce0ce1.html |
A $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will let Frederick Community College offer low-cost training programs for aspiring cell and gene therapy technicians.
National Science Foundation grant to fund FCC biotech training
The training will address what the college says is a “growing need” for two different positions in the Frederick region: cell therapy technicians and flow cytometry technicians.
Cell therapy technicians handle the process of modifying or replacing diseased cells in the body, the college wrote in a news release, while flow cytometry technicians analyze the quality and purity of those therapies.
Both jobs require specific training that’s expensive and often inaccessible, said Savita Prabhakar, who manages FCC’s biotechnology program.
“So we’re trying to bridge that gap,” Prabhakar said.
Cell therapies are mainly used to treat cancer and rare diseases, Prabhakar said. Technicians need to learn how to prepare and preserve samples, and they must be familiar with specific types of costly machinery, she added.
“It’s not something that’s very difficult to train. It’s just that the opportunity to do it is not there,” she said. “Because the instrument itself is expensive.”
Often, students or professionals hoping to get trained in these techniques have to pay thousands of dollars for a three- or four-day workshop, Prabhakar said.
In those cases, they have to learn fast — and they don’t have a facility they can go back to afterward to practice or refamiliarize themselves with the process.
“You have to be in a research lab to be able to get the chance to work with this instrument,” Prabhakar said. “But we want to make it accessible to anybody who wants to enter the field.”
The grant will let FCC offer seven-week courses both to FCC students and working professionals who want to expand their skill set, Prabhakar said.
The trainings are set to begin in the spring. Prabhakar said she hopes to have trained at least 25 people in the next three years.
Prabhakar said the courses could help meet the growing demand for workers with these skill-sets in Frederick, a hub for biotechnology companies.
And the focus on flow cytometry “will make FCC one of the first community colleges in the country to offer education in this innovative technique,” the college wrote in a news release.
The grant is part of the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program for two-year higher education institutions to educate technicians in fields that drive the national economy.
Savita Prabhakar | 2022-10-12T03:17:49Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | National Science Foundation grant to fund FCC biotech training | Frederick Community College | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/higher_ed/frederick_community_college/national-science-foundation-grant-to-fund-fcc-biotech-training/article_872833b8-d944-5f3c-92a9-ce9027932529.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/higher_ed/frederick_community_college/national-science-foundation-grant-to-fund-fcc-biotech-training/article_872833b8-d944-5f3c-92a9-ce9027932529.html |
Two men held up five men and robbed the general merchandise store of Charles Waskey at Catoctin Tuesday evening at 6 o’clock, rifling the Lander post office, which is in the store, turned the pockets of their victims inside out, obtained a sum of approximately $40, and made good their getaway.
The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad is planning to experiment with gasoline-propelled trains, which are now being used in other states, on the run between Baltimore and Bel Air.
On Monday afternoon, the home of Mr. and Mrs. George McC. Miller, near Lewistown, was the scene of a very pretty event, the occasion being the celebration of the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Culler, of near Feagaville. An elegant dinner was served, and it was followed by a course of ice cream and cake. Mr. Culler wore the swallow tail coat in which he was married fifty years ago. He has outgrown the rest of his wedding suit.
WASHINGTON — An icy stretch of water above Alaska named Diapir Field may hold the biggest reserves of oil and gas found in the United States in 14 years. The oil industry is gearing up for the 1.8 million-acre lease sale this week, which could bring in a record $3 billion in bids. The Diapir Field is named for the type of geological formation. The Interior Department estimates that Diapir holds 2.4 billion barrels of oil and 1.8 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Frederick volunteer fire companies have decided they need legal protection when they go into nearby counties to fight fires. They also feel Frederick County should be able to offer the same protection to other outside fire companies that assist in fighting Frederick County fires. The county volunteer Firemen’s Association proposes the county commissioners enter mutual aid agreements with surrounding counties to protect firemen from liability while on duty.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A man filling up his car at a Virginia gas station was shot to death Friday in the most brazen attack yet by the Washington area sniper, committed as a state trooper investigated an accident across the street. The trooper heard the shot and saw the victim fall. The gunman vanished into the gray drizzle. “Obviously, we’re dealing with an individual who is extremely violent and doesn’t care,” Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Howard Smith said. Authorities did not immediately confirm the shooting was the eighth slaying committed by the sniper over the past 10 days. But like the other attacks, witnesses described a single shot fired apparently at random at someone going about his everyday activities. And three earlier attacks occurred at gas stations.
As of Friday night, all but about 35 Woodsboro town residents had water, said water and sewer commissioner Gary Smith. The entire town was left without water for six hours Thursday afternoon after a sinkhole burst in Woodsboro Town Park, breaking water and sewer lines on the east side of Israel’s Creek near the Copper Oaks neighborhood.
Charles Waskey Store
Gasoline-propelled Trains
Maryland And Pennsylvania Railroad
Mr. And Mrs. William L. Culler
Diapir Field Oil And Gas Field
Frederick Volunteer Fire Companies
Liability Protection
Woodsboro Water
Israel's Creek | 2022-10-12T06:15:36Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 12 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-12/article_8f35e072-7a23-5ef0-82e7-28bc9d36a6fb.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-12/article_8f35e072-7a23-5ef0-82e7-28bc9d36a6fb.html |
Cook’s kicks help keep Brunswick girls soccer undefeated
BRUNSWICK — Leah Cook was not thrilled about being an outside defender for the Brunswick High girls soccer team at the start of the season.
She had always played around the opposing goal as a striker.
The issue was her right leg is so strong that her shots would often sail high over the net. So, the coaches decided to move Cook back, thinking the senior captain could help generate some offense from the back line with that strong leg.
“I was really unsure about it, and I really didn’t want to do it at all,” the senior captain said. “I was like, ‘I never thought I’d be a defender.’”
But the move is paying big dividends, both for the Brunswick girls and for Cook, as it did in Tuesday night’s 5-1 home win over Williamsport.
Near the midpoint of the first half, Cook sent a long pass from the right flank across the goal mouth that teammate Atiya Jackson was able to take out of the air for the game’s first goal.
It’s the second time this season the two have connected on a scoring play in that fashion.
“I actually enjoy it,” Cook now says of her new role. “I enjoy being able to see the game from a different perspective. It’s also made me a much more versatile player.”
At the onset of the season, Cook was an outside back for the Railroaders, who improved to 12-0 with the win.
The team felt she could help generate some scoring from the wing.
But then they moved her into a center-back role to help push the ball forward and set up chances for her teammates, like she did Tuesday.
“She’s played excellent back there,” Brunswick coach Dara Demich said of Cook. “She’s a solid defender. I think she’s looking more for those crosses now. She’s definitely been an asset back there. Her big kicks help us to get out of the back zone.”
Brunswick had five different goal scorers against Williamsport. Among them was senior midfielder Jaden German.
In her brief write-up for Senior Night, German shared that one of her fondest high-school soccer memories was scoring a goal with her left foot earlier in the season. It was the only goal she had scored to that point.
But, with 3 minutes, 53 seconds to play in the first half, she received a pass in space on the left flank and put her left foot into it, sliding it inside the near post for another goal.
“It was obviously exciting,” German said. “It was shocking, too. I didn’t really think about it. It just went in.”
The Railroaders might not have played their smoothest game offensively. But they still were able to fill up the scoring sheet, and that’s what really mattered to Demich as the playoffs get closer.
“We are finding ways to win,” she said. “That is what’s important.”
Dara Demich
Jaden German | 2022-10-12T06:16:31Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Cook’s kicks help keep Brunswick girls soccer undefeated | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/cook-s-kicks-help-keep-brunswick-girls-soccer-undefeated/article_49f8520d-f135-5e8a-822a-5eb2b5229de5.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/cook-s-kicks-help-keep-brunswick-girls-soccer-undefeated/article_49f8520d-f135-5e8a-822a-5eb2b5229de5.html |
William Moran.
News-Post file photo
W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy opens this week
The William F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation, located in Middletown, is ready to open its new facility, the W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy, to the public.
The project cost over $1 million.
Following the annual All-Forged Knife Show & Auction on Oct. 15, the W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy grand opening and ribbon cutting will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 16 at 7304 Hollow Road, Middletown. Guests can tour the new state-of-the-art facility.
See williammoranmuseum.com for more information.
William F. Moran Jr. Museum | 2022-10-12T14:50:57Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy opens this week | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/w-f-moran-bladesmith-artisan-academy-opens-this-week/article_749de927-03f4-597a-b20c-513a69bcc69a.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/w-f-moran-bladesmith-artisan-academy-opens-this-week/article_749de927-03f4-597a-b20c-513a69bcc69a.html |
UnCapped: North Park Beer Co.
In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Kelsey McNair and Mac McAlister from North Park Beer Co. in San Diego, California, about the history of the company, California beer and what they have going on these days. Here is an excerpt of their talk.
UnCapped: First question: Do you have to have “Mc” in your last name to work for North Park?
Kelsey McNair: No, just if you want to be in charge.
UnCapped: 100% of the people I’ve talked to from North Park all had a last name that started with “Mc,” so I’m not sure I believe you. So, let’s rewind even further than six years, because you just celebrated your sixth anniversary — congratulations. What were you doing before North Park was even an idea in your head, Kelsey?
McNair: It had been in my head for quite a while before the brewery actually came together. I spent 16 years in the video game industry, prior to taking the jump to entrepreneur mode and opening up the brewery.
UnCapped: As a developer?
McAlister: Yeah, I was going to college in Tampa, Florida, and a friend of mine dropped this opportunity on my lap. I used to work for him. He had a hobby shop with a small video game network hooked up to a cable modem. Me and my friends used to play a lot of network games. Just as a hobby, I started dabbling with level editors and video games. He was beta-testing a game that was being developed in San Diego, and he applied for a customer service manager position and got offered the job. He approached me and several of my friends and said, “Hey, if you guys want to come work in the customer service department of a video game studio, I don’t know anyone in San Diego and I’m moving out there — and if you show some initiative, maybe you’ll get into the development side.” … So, I went 3,000 miles and started at the bottom but slowly but surely worked my way into development. I moved through the ranks and finished out the career as an art director.
It was just a many hours as I work now … but I enjoy [what I do now] so much more. Rarely was I writing my own script or controlling the path I was on in that career. This is a much more rewarding place to be.
UnCapped: I think you are the first former game developer I’ve interviewed. It’s very common for brewers to have worked in finance or, in Maryland and Virginia, to have worked in IT or some sort of government job. How did you get into craft beer?
McAlister: I moved out to San Diego in ’99. There weren’t a ton of breweries in San Diego at that point, but before I moved out, before I was of age, when people were grabbing the Ice House and Coors Light or whatever, I was always into food and always made sure we were getting something new. That didn’t mean it was great beer; I just liked to taste new stuff. Over time, I gravitated toward things like Bass, Guinness, Newcastle — things like that that weren’t hard to get but certainly had more flavor.
Then, after I turned 21 in San Diego, I’m browsing the beer selection at the grocery store and see the Stone Arrogant Bastard bottle. You know, it’s got this whole thing on the back that’s just mocking you — “You’re not worthy of this beer” — and I’m like, this is silly. It was a small investment, so I bought that. Then I saw a beer a little down the aisle, which was an Old Rasputin Imperial Stout from Lost Coast. Here I was drinking Guinness on the regular when I see this beer that’s almost 10% alcohol, and I’m like, what the … just seemed like something I had to give a try. Those were the first two craft beers that ended up in my fridge. I opened the Arrogant Bastard and was like, oh, crap: This is bitter, it’s got a ton of flavor. By today’s standards, it’s just a strong amber ale.
UnCapped: It’s a malt bomb now.
McAlister: For sure. But back then, it was like, holy cow. I was just blown away. Next thing you know, I wanted to try every style I could find. It was a deep dive from there. I discovered the local beer community, and there was some really great beer bars in San Diego back in those days. Not many. I quickly realized I was definitely an IPA guy.
UnCapped: Is that the influence of why you guys seem to be very IPA heavy, West Coast IPAs, and focusing on that?
McAlister: Yes. When I decided I wanted to make beer at home, I’d casually dropped that to my girlfriend at the time, who’s now my wife. Like, “I like to cook. Maybe making beer would be fun.” I didn’t think anything more of it for a bit. It turned out that my wife saw [a Mr. Beer kit] and was like, “I should get one of those for Kelsey. I think she got it from Bed Bath & Beyond or something. I opened it up for Christmas and broke that thing out after the holidays and made one beer and was just kind of hooked on the magic of the fermentation aspect. The beer I made was certainly crap, but it was totally drinkable. The first thing I did was: Alright, I’m gonna go to a home-brew shop and ask a million questions.
North Park Beer Co.
3038 University Ave., San Diego, Calif.
northparkbeerco.com | 2022-10-12T20:53:40Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | UnCapped: North Park Beer Co. | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/uncapped-north-park-beer-co/article_65086532-efe5-540d-b538-ca10dcedd828.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/uncapped-north-park-beer-co/article_65086532-efe5-540d-b538-ca10dcedd828.html |
District 3, 4, 5 County Council candidates discuss public health, TransIT, taxes
Candidates running to represent the east and west sides of Frederick and the northern part of Frederick County answered questions on Wednesday about the county's responsibilities in public health emergencies, access to public transportation, and property taxes.
The League of Women Voters of Frederick County hosted the virtual forum for candidates running for the council’s District 3, 4 and 5 seats in the Nov. 8 general election.
Julianna Lufkin and Mason Carter, who are running against each other to represent District 5 — which encompasses the northern part of Frederick County — offered drastically different answers when asked about the role the County Council should have in public health emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lufkin, a Democrat, said the county government should "lead the way" when responding to public health emergencies.
The Frederick County Board of Health, which was responsible for instituting temporary countywide mask mandates during times of spiking community COVID-19 transmission rates beginning in 2020, currently includes just one health professional — county Health Officer Dr. Barbara Brookmyer, who leads the body. Other members include County Executive Jan Gardner, D, and the seven members of the County Council.
Carter, a Republican, said the county government should "scale itself back" in times of public health crisis.
The role of the government is "not to tell you to eat your veggies, it's not to tell you to wear a mask or to get a vaccine," Carter said.
"All of these things can be done on an individual basis," he said.
Shelley Aloi and Council President M.C. Keegan-Ayer, each of whom is seeking to represent the west side of Frederick in District 3, both responded to questions about their plan for "helping or fixing the transportation issues in Frederick County."
"Our TransIT system is really cumbersome," Aloi, R, said. "People who need to use it can spend a whole day getting to one appointment and back home."
Aloi said the County Council needs to "look at what we can do with that." The council should also consider adding shared-use pathways and multimodal transportation, she said.
Keegan-Ayer, D, said the county's TransIT division has been studying the county's public transportation routes to determine whether to reconfigure them.
Some council members recently rode TransIT buses to determine where in the county public transportation is most used. They provided input to TransIT for the study, she said.
Results from the TransIT study are expected "sometime in the next couple of months," Keegan-Ayer said. Council candidates elected in November's general election will take office in December.
John Fer and Kavonte Duckett, who are running to represent the eastern part of Frederick in District 4, offered opposing takes on the county's property tax rate.
The county’s property tax rate has remained $1.06 per $100 of assessed value for the last eight years. Fer, R, has said the county should lower the county’s rate to the constant-yield rate of $1.02 per $100 of assessed value.
The constant-yield rate is the real property tax rate necessary to generate the same revenue from year to year. If tax revenue is expected to rise because of higher property assessments, the tax rate would drop to reach the constant yield. Lowering to the constant-yield rate for this fiscal year’s budget would have decreased revenue by $13 million.
Duckett, D, said the county should maintain its property tax rate at $1.06 per $100 of assessed value.
Duckett said the county must continue to provide funding for local nonprofit organizations and community partners, which he said "do amazing work" and "provide wraparound services to our constituents on a daily basis." Funding for nonprofits is personal for Duckett, the director for the Alan P. Linton, Jr. Emergency Shelter for The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs.
The six candidates also answered questions about shifting the responsibilities of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, local growth and development, broadband internet access, and addressing mental health and addiction in the county.
This was the League of Women Voters' second forum for County Council candidates. The first forum, for Districts 1 and 2 and for at-large seats, was held on Oct. 5.
Six candidates for the Frederick County Council answered questions about numerous topics, including public safety, the county’s budget and edu… | 2022-10-13T01:53:47Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | District 3, 4, 5 County Council candidates discuss public health, TransIT, taxes | Election Coverage | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/district-3-4-5-county-council-candidates-discuss-public-health-transit-taxes/article_09e1c7da-53ca-55e4-a9e3-3b83b6768617.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/district-3-4-5-county-council-candidates-discuss-public-health-transit-taxes/article_09e1c7da-53ca-55e4-a9e3-3b83b6768617.html |
Brunswick will soon apply to become a certified Appalachian Trail Community, a designation that helps communities show their commitment and connection to the trail.
Abbie Ricketts, who has been involved in Brunswick economic issues, said she has been working on an application for the city to file. She asked city officials during a meeting on Tuesday to sign on so she can continue the effort.
The city would apply to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to become an Appalachian Trail Community, she said.
“They don't take applications from a group of people or a nonprofit,” Ricketts said.
The council unanimously voted to allow the application process to continue.
The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, according to the ATC's website. It's 2194.3 miles long, stretching from Georgia to Maine and passing through 14 states.
More than 3 million people visit the trail each year, the website said.
Brunswick is roughly three miles east of the Appalachian Trail.
Ricketts is the chair of the Board of the Canal Towns Partnership, which focuses on economic activity for towns and cities along the C&O Canal National Historical Park, according to the Canal Towns website.
If all goes according to plan, Brunswick could become an Appalachian Trail Community as soon as March 2023, Ricketts said.
There are 51 Appalachian Trail communities, according to the ATC website.
These communities provide food, supplies, recreation and more to people who are traveling and hiking along the Appalachian Trail. They also provide history and educational opportunities and host special events.
Ricketts said she decided to pursue the application since she believed Brunswick would be an ideal location for an Appalachian Trail Community. Additionally, Brunswick would be the first Appalachian Trail Community in Maryland, she said.
Brunswick has a downtown with stores and restaurants that people hiking the Appalachian Trail can use, she said.
Ricketts outlined the various benefits the city would see as an established Appalachian Trail Community through recognition, visibility, promotion and economic health.
“We think it fits in perfectly with the other plans here for Brunswick and the C&O,” Ricketts said.
Council members raved about the application after Ricketts' presentation.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Councilman Andrew St. John said.
“I just want to say I’m grateful that this group is together and working on this because it makes a lot of sense,” Councilwoman Angel White said.
Abbie Ricketts | 2022-10-13T01:53:49Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Brunswick supports Appalachian Trail Community application | Tourism | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/tourism/brunswick-supports-appalachian-trail-community-application/article_85d531df-e881-54b5-b2ae-9ac72a595cc9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/tourism/brunswick-supports-appalachian-trail-community-application/article_85d531df-e881-54b5-b2ae-9ac72a595cc9.html |
U.S. Army Sgt. Yuting Yang demonstrates how she would process samples for analysis in the Biosafety Lab 3 in the Diagnostic Systems Division of the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick.
U.S. Army Sgt. Yuting Yang, left, demonstrates how she would process samples for analysis in Biosafety Lab 3 as Diagnostic Systems Division supervisor Bill Dorman watches at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick.
Army researchers seek authorization to expand use of monkeypox test
U.S. Army researchers in Frederick are working to get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expand where their monkeypox diagnostic tool can be used.
Currently, the test — which determines whether a patient has been infected with the monkeypox virus — can only be operated in laboratories run by the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick.
But if researchers receive an emergency use authorization from the FDA, they could set the test up at other laboratories run by the U.S. Department of Defense, said William Dorman, who runs the Special Pathogens Lab at USAMRIID.
“Instead of them having to package up a sample, get it shipped out to us, wait for us to test it, get the results back,” Dorman said, “we could potentially pre-position the [test] at their laboratory. And then they could run it right there, as soon as they had a sample, and get a result.”
Before this year, monkeypox — an infectious disease caused by a virus similar to the one that causes smallpox — was rarely reported in the United States.
But USAMRIID researchers had already created a diagnostic tool for the virus when it started spreading in the U.S. in May.
With monkeypox already endemic in several countries in West and Central Africa, Army researchers developed a test in the early 2000s to track the spread of the virus, said Jeffrey Koehler, a branch chief in the Diagnostic Systems Division at USAMRIID.
Though scientists updated and refined the test over the years as technology became more advanced, it was used for research purposes, rather than clinical ones. Results weren’t used to help guide the treatment of patients.
But when the virus started spreading in countries where it wasn’t endemic, such as the U.S., USAMRIID researchers began testing the diagnostics tool to see whether it could be used to diagnose specific patients.
Col. Kurt Schaecher, who directs the clinical laboratory at USAMRIID, verified the accuracy of the data collected. The lab started accepting samples in August.
So far, the lab has only tested around a dozen samples, Dorman said, and only from medical treatment centers run by the Department of Defense.
But, he added, if the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention became overwhelmed by a surge in possible monkeypox cases, the lab would help the federal agency test samples.
That hasn’t been necessary yet, he said, and hopefully things will stay that way.
The number of monkeypox cases reported each week in the United States has declined regularly since August, according to CDC data. Since May, there have been 27,022 cases identified in the country, including 687 in Maryland.
The Maryland Department of Health, in its breakdown of cases by county, does not list a specific count in jurisdictions with fewer than 10 cases. Frederick County is one of those jurisdictions.
The monkeypox test used by state health departments answers two questions, Dorman explained. The first is whether the patient is infected with an orthopoxvirus — a genus that includes monkeypox, cowpox, smallpox and other pox viruses.
And second: Is the patient infected with smallpox?
“Because everybody’s really concerned about variola,” Dorman said, referring to the virus that causes smallpox. “If we have an outbreak of variola, we’re in trouble.”
But unlike the test used by state health departments, the one USAMRIID developed — and the one the CDC uses — can answer the specific question of whether a patient has monkeypox.
The CDC test can also determine whether a patient is infected with the monkeypox strain from West Africa, which is the one causing the current U.S. outbreak, or the Central African strain, which is more severe.
The USAMRIID test currently can't differentiate between strains, but Army researchers are working to create a test that can, Dorman said.
The Special Pathogens Lab is run by a small team, which includes Dorman, another civilian scientist, and Sgt. Yuting Yang, who is the only soldier trained to test samples for monkeypox.
Dorman said Yang has played a key role in collecting data, so that USAMRIID can receive the Emergency Use Authorization for the test, coming in on nights and weekends to test samples.
“I’m pretty honored to be part of the team,” Yang said. “I didn’t think it would be a really big deal, but now that I’m thinking about it, we are really supporting the country.”
William Dorman | 2022-10-13T01:54:07Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Army researchers seek authorization to expand use of monkeypox test | Treatment And Diseases | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_diseases/army-researchers-seek-authorization-to-expand-use-of-monkeypox-test/article_92ab8d09-90fc-5946-b08c-328ba40545c5.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_diseases/army-researchers-seek-authorization-to-expand-use-of-monkeypox-test/article_92ab8d09-90fc-5946-b08c-328ba40545c5.html |
Jay Mason speaks at a Frederick County Board of Education meeting in December 2020.
School board members again debate Mason's request to teach
Members of the Frederick County Board of Education on Wednesday again sparred over a request for an exception to a policy that says outgoing board members must wait a year before taking a job in the school district.
Jay Mason — who was elected in 2018 and whose term is ending in December — requested the exemption in August, saying he wanted to teach in Frederick County Public Schools this school year.
His colleagues denied his request, and advised him to approach the board's policy committee if he thought the one-year rule was unfair. Mason later announced he had taken a teaching job in Montgomery County Public Schools.
At its work session on Wednesday, the board examined — and ultimately rejected — newly proposed policy tweaks that came about from Mason's request.
The policy committee recommended the following sentence be appended to the one-year rule:
"Note: The Board may evaluate exceptions on a case-by-case basis due to a compelling need of the school system; provided: (a) the exception and rationale are publicly disclosed; and (b) concerns of prestige of office or conflict of interest are addressed."
Board members Jason Johnson and Sue Johnson expressed staunch opposition to the proposal, while member Karen Yoho said she supported it.
Sue Johnson said the new sentence would undermine the intent of the original policy.
"We've already got an exception built right into it," she said of the proposal. "I think it's atrocious."
Jason Johnson agreed.
"It almost negates the entire policy," he said. "It's a large loophole."
Board President Brad Young told the News-Post in August that the one-year provision was introduced more than a decade ago, after an outgoing board member applied for an FCPS job before their term had ended.
Other board members at the time felt that was inappropriate, Young said.
The rule is meant to ensure integrity in the district's hiring practices, Young said, since supervisors could feel pressured by a board member's perceived prestige or power if they were to apply for a job.
Yoho said Wednesday that logic made sense for board members who were seeking high-paying positions in FCPS' central office, but not for those who wanted to become classroom teachers.
"Once you're off the board, and you become a non-tenured teacher, I would argue that you've pretty much lost any power that you had," Yoho said.
Jason Johnson, a former FCPS teacher, criticized Yoho for that remark, speaking for several minutes about how he took it as a dig to educators. At one point, he invoked George Washington and spoke about the peaceful transition of power.
"It's a disrespect to teachers to say, like, 'It's a nothing job,'" Johnson said. "It's been my career for 20 years, and it's not a nothing job. I have inspired. I have changed the world."
Yoho, who taught in FCPS for 25 years before joining the board, was clearly emotional as she responded.
"I was in no way, shape, or form disparaging teaching," she said. She said she was talking about power in the workplace, not about the power teachers have to affect their students.
Mason was not present at Wednesday's work session or at the board's subsequent meeting.
Board members kicked the proposal back to the policy committee, and suggested that it work on a change that would distinguish between high-ranking administrative positions and positions like teachers, bus drivers or food service workers.
You’re having trouble recruiting teachers, especially minority teachers, and you reject this obviously qualified man who is familiar with FCPS because……???? Ridiculous.
This is stupid and whatever counsel proposed it has no real world understand of a "rule". Either terminate it or keep it. | 2022-10-13T01:54:14Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | School board members again debate Mason's request to teach | Fcps Board Of Education | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/county/fcps_board_of_education/school-board-members-again-debate-masons-request-to-teach/article_336e7fce-c886-5ca3-b940-11baa7100786.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/county/fcps_board_of_education/school-board-members-again-debate-masons-request-to-teach/article_336e7fce-c886-5ca3-b940-11baa7100786.html |
Frederick kicker Hugo Merry practices his field goals Wednesday afternoon at Frederick High School. The former soccer player holds the Cadets’ school record for extra points with 120 and has booted 32 touchbacks.
Frederick High’s Hugo Merry is the kicker for the football team.
New mindset kicking in: Cadets' Merry leaves soccer behind to concentrate on football
Hugo Merry defies just about every stereotype for football kickers there is.
For starters, he doesn’t look like a kicker or do things that kickers are normally associated with doing.
The Frederick High senior is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. He bench presses more than 300 pounds, squats more than 400 pounds and dead lifts more than 500 pounds.
“I was trying to recruit him as an eighth grader when he came over and lifted [weights] with the football team,” Cadets coach Kevin Pirri said.
Kickers also have a reputation for being the quirky outcasts on a team full of alpha males.
Except Merry is one of the alpha males on Frederick High’s team. He’s laid back but works hard. He’s respectful of others and blends right in with his teammates in just about any setting.
“He is super mature,” Pirri said. “So, it’s like talking to an adult. You don’t have to treat him like a baby where you have to explain to him every little nuance. You can talk to him like an adult, and he responds like an adult. He is fun to have around.”
Kicking footballs wasn’t really the future that Merry had mapped out for himself. He was a soccer player, and played on the team at Frederick High until this fall.
When Pirri tried to convince him to play football as an eighth-grade visitor in the weight room, Merry told him, “No, Coach, I am a soccer player.”
Pirri looked at him and shot back, “One day.”
Kicking footballs has opened doors for Merry that he would never have imagined.
In August, he was offered the chance to play Ivy League football for Columbia University in New York City. The opportunity stemmed from a football camp that he excelled at over the summer, when he got to meet some of the coaching staff at Columbia.
Merry and his weighted grade-point average of 4.50 will fit right in on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
“It’s pretty much a dream school for me, being in New York and in the Ivy League,” he said. “It’s the perfect opportunity for me.”
Frederick High is 6-0 this season with legitimate hopes of raising the school’s first state-championship banner in school history for football.
Friday’s 6:30 p.m. home game against Linganore (3-3) represents a significant milestone on that journey since it was the Lancers that handed the Cadets two of their three losses last season, including the decisive one in the Class 3A state semifinals.
In the waning seconds of a close playoff game this fall, it would not be surprising if Frederick’s fate rested on Merry’s right leg.
“I like that. I kind of get excited when I am in that position,” he said. “When I am practicing, I try and imagine myself in those types of positions. It’s a lot of stress. But I try not to think too much and just trust my training. It’s just another kick.”
All of this football stuff sort of happened by accident for Merry.
He was goofing on the stadium field at Frederick High a few years ago with close friends Adam MoeZaw and Zavian Johnson, who at the time played for the Cadets’ football team but have since graduated.
Since Merry was the soccer player in the group, they teed one up for him on a cone from 50 yards away, and he put the ball through the uprights.
Cell-phone video of the kick was texted to Pirri, who promptly proceeded to launch a full-scale recruiting campaign.
“It was an impressive kick,” Pirri said. “I thought, man he could be a better football player than a soccer player.”
Merry decided to join the football team last fall, in addition to playing for the Frederick High soccer team.
During one week last season, Merry made seven extra points for the Cadets’ football team in a blowout win and scored a goal for the soccer team. It was believed to be one of the first — if not the first — times in Frederick County high school sports that a player had registered a point in football and soccer in the same week.
The rule prohibiting students from participating in two sports during the same season had just been relaxed prior to the start of that season.
Merry maintained his soccer-first posture through the school year until the summer, when he started generating serious interest at football camps and the opportunity at Columbia came about.
He made the difficult decision to give up playing soccer and to concentrate strictly on playing football, in part because he was growing out of his soccer body.
“I like the fact that I can gain more weight [playing football],” he said. “In soccer, it’s more about endurance. A lot of the players are skinnier, and you need that body type to run around all of the time.”
Merry said his background in soccer made the transition to kicking field goals much easier for him.
“But definitely not where I am at now,” he said. “That took many months of practice and coaching sessions.”
Frederick’s offense is so proficient that Merry doesn’t get the chance to kick a lot of field goals or even punt. But he does hold the school record for extra points (120 and counting), and his ability to kick the ball out of the end zone consistently forces teams to drive 80 yards against the Cadets’ defense on most possessions.
“When I was playing soccer, my friends would always joke with me, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if you started playing football?’” Merry said. “And here I am now playing football. It was actually a pretty easy decision once I started playing.”
Hugo Merry | 2022-10-13T04:04:25Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | New mindset kicking in: Cadets' Merry leaves soccer behind to concentrate on football | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/new-mindset-kicking-in-cadets-merry-leaves-soccer-behind-to-concentrate-on-football/article_fee5b9fc-da96-5b5a-b08c-8be5c3bd0e77.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/new-mindset-kicking-in-cadets-merry-leaves-soccer-behind-to-concentrate-on-football/article_fee5b9fc-da96-5b5a-b08c-8be5c3bd0e77.html |
THE NEXT CHAPTER OF BILL MORAN’s Legacy
William F. Moran, aka Bill Moran, quickly became a local bladesmith legend for his technique of using welded steel to make modern knives, and he’d go on to receive national acclaim for his work. He founded the American Bladesmith Society and shared his knowledge of bladesmithing until his death in 2006. After more than a million dollars and years in the making, the new W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy in Middletown will open its doors to the public this weekend. After a daylong All-Forged Knife Show & Auction on Oct. 15, the Bladesmith & Artisan Academy grand opening and ribbon cutting will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 16, when guests can tour the new facility and shop, as well as the nearby museum. Mr. Moran would be proud.
TAKE YOUR EARS ON A TRIP
Thanks to longtime music author and journalist Bill Shoemaker, Frederick audiences will have the opportunity to hear world-renowned experimental and jazz musicians in an intimate setting at the Y Arts Center beginning this month. Founder of the Frederick Experimental Music Association, Shoemaker has created a series of four concerts — two this fall, two more in the spring — he calls the Improvisers Forum. The first show of the series, on Oct. 15, pairs Susan Alcorn (pedal steel guitar) with Robert Dick (flutes), who will perform as a duo for the first time. Where they’ll take the show, no one knows. Stop by to be witness to the experiment.
Time to don your favorite fairy wings and glitter and flit on over to West Virginia for the Shepherdstown Fairy Festival, an all-weekend event where you can interact with goblins, fairies, giants and other magical creatures. Hear live music from a dark-folk cabaret duo and a steampunk band, visit with children’s book authors, and stroll through more than 70 vendors. Kids can make crafts and jump on carnival rides, and entrance for kids 12 and under is free.
GET LOST IN SPACE
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum reopens to the public this week, with eight new and renovated galleries. Stop in and see “Destination Moon,” and stand face-to-face with the spacesuit Neil Armstrong wore when he first step foot on the moon. The museum also features interactive and digital experiences and hundreds of new artifacts, including the WR-3 air racer built by Neal Loving, the first African American certified to race airplanes. Perhaps most fun, though, is the exhibit that simulates standing on the surface of various planets, which gives you, through immersive curved screens, a sense of what it would be like to actually be there. Located in the heart of D.C., the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except for Christmas, starting Oct. 14. Reserve free, timed-entry passes at airandspace.si.edu. | 2022-10-13T06:07:12Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | NEED TO KNOW: Week of Oct. 13 | Arts & entertainment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/need-to-know-week-of-oct-13/article_3962ebec-fdce-52a0-a6fd-427dc0ca6af9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/need-to-know-week-of-oct-13/article_3962ebec-fdce-52a0-a6fd-427dc0ca6af9.html |
BOARD of CONTRIBUTORS I Matt Edens
My last piece about Sen. Michael Hough’s “Montgomery County North” rhetoric generated a fair amount of pushback, including three letters to the editor in response.
What was interesting is how little, if anything, those letters had to say about the land-use issues the senator is supposedly campaigning on. Instead, they were loaded with culture war ravings about “radical left-wing social justice warriors” that would seem more at home in the flailing gubernatorial campaign of Hough’s fellow Republican Dan Cox.
While Hough isn’t above the occasional MAGA rant, he generally has the discipline to stay on message. He’s spent almost his whole career as a political insider — not only through his service as a delegate and senator but also in his day job as the chief of staff for Trump-endorsed West Virginia Congressman Alex Mooney. Before taking the Capitol Hill job, he also spent several years as director of Special Projects at ALEC — the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate-backed conservative nonprofit that drafts business-friendly bills for red state legislatures to rubber stamp for the purpose of weakening labor unions, loosening gun laws and rolling back environmental regulations.
But as much as focusing on land use and supposedly fighting sprawl is a handy way for Hough to avoid talking about his history of pushing far right and corporate agendas, it also comes with the added bonus that Hough’s legislative history is pretty slim on the subject. In fact, when questioned about growth beyond his glib talking points, he tends to fall back on the dodge, saying in a Facebook post that it “is a local issue controlled by the county and not the State Senate.”
When confronted by Maryland Matters about his actual far-right record on things like abortion rights and a woman’s right to choose — including co-sponsoring a state constitutional amendment on fetal personhood as a state delegate and serving as senior policy advisor to Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition — he flips the script and points out that those aren’t county issues.
With so much of Hough’s actual record apparently irrelevant, we’re asked to take him at face value when he talks about stopping “overdevelopment,” reducing traffic gridlock, preventing overcrowded schools and preserving open space and agricultural land. But even then, in the Frederick News-Post’s voters guide, he leaves plenty of room for sprawl by saying that, outside of municipalities and designated growth areas, the remainder of the county should remain not just rural but “suburban and rural.”
And at a recent Rotary Club of Frederick forum, when asked about the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Plan that is currently before the County Council — perhaps the largest piece of open space and agricultural land preservation legislation in the county’s history — Mr. “Stop Overdevelopment” responded by asking for a do-over, saying the County Council should remand the plan back to the Planning Commission.
Hough craftily couched his objections and his desire to start over in focus-group tested terms about family farms, but his position was indistinguishable from other opponents of the Sugarloaf plan: the Frederick County Association of Realtors, the Frederick County Building Industry Association, the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce and Natelli Communities, the Montgomery County based developer behind the Villages of Urbana.
Matt Edens is a downtown Frederick resident who has spent more than two decades writing true-crime documentaries for cable television. | 2022-10-13T08:05:12Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | An 'overdevelopment' do-over | Columns | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/an-overdevelopment-do-over/article_63ece62e-a4a3-5b81-bda3-065964d3227b.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/columns/an-overdevelopment-do-over/article_63ece62e-a4a3-5b81-bda3-065964d3227b.html |
Tree planting in Middletown
The Town of Middletown will hold a tree planting event on Oct. 21 along the Foxfield walking path behind the Village of Foxfield beginning at 10 a.m. and running until about noon.
he holes for the tree planting on town-owned property will be pre-dug, so volunteers will just need to put the trees in the holes and put the soil back in the hole.
Bring a shovel and gloves and join in.
Schools are closed that day, so this is a great opportunity for families to participate, as well as students needing community service hours. | 2022-10-13T21:16:03Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Tree planting in Middletown | Environment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/tree-planting-in-middletown/article_3fbd3896-07a6-5c66-acbb-7ce9f1bf88c3.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/tree-planting-in-middletown/article_3fbd3896-07a6-5c66-acbb-7ce9f1bf88c3.html |
Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner on Thursday announced that four local organizations will receive a combined $1.5 million from the county's $50.4 million federal American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
The Maryland Deaf Community Center will receive up to $500,000 to build a community center in Frederick for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
"There is not one community center for the Deaf in the state of Maryland, at all. So, Frederick will be the first, and we're really proud of this," Lori Bonheyo, vice president of the Maryland Deaf Community Center, said through an American Sign Language interpreter at a press briefing that Gardner held Thursday.
The Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County will receive up to $395,000 for providing one-on-one support to help unhoused teenagers complete a driver's education course and make a financial plan for purchasing a vehicle.
"The cost and steps involved in becoming licensed, obtaining and maintaining a vehicle are unapproachable to many of our students who struggle to find a place to sleep at night," Melissa Muntz, executive director for SHIP, said Thursday.
The county allocated $313,000 for The Love for Lochlin Foundation — whose mission is to prevent, educate and raise awareness about the impacts of infectious disease — to pay for a mobile unit to hold testing and vaccination clinics in underserved communities, Gardner said.
"They are eliminating the need for clients to find transportation, which can be a major obstacle to access for good health care," Gardner said.
The United Way of Frederick County will get up to $250,000 to implement a ride-hailing program, Ride United Network (RUN). The program is an extension of the pilot Ride United program, a partnership between the nonprofits Good Works Frederick and the United Way of Frederick County. Volunteer drivers will give rides in rural areas.
Ken Oldham, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Frederick County, said the program will provide more than 8,000 rides to asset-limited, income constrained, employed (ALICE) households.
Including the four initiatives that Gardner announced funding for on Thursday, the county has allocated or signed memorandums of understanding with organizations for a total of $42.7 million of the $50.4 million American Rescue Plan Act allocation.
The county is vetting two more projects to receive American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Gardner wrote that she expects the county's remaining $7.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to be formally allocated in the next four to six weeks. | 2022-10-14T01:07:04Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Gardner announces $1.5 million in federal funds for four local organizations | Services | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/services/gardner-announces-1-5-million-in-federal-funds-for-four-local-organizations/article_c6912ef2-b920-5143-9db9-4d53eed6e62c.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/services/gardner-announces-1-5-million-in-federal-funds-for-four-local-organizations/article_c6912ef2-b920-5143-9db9-4d53eed6e62c.html |
Report: Region's greenhouse emissions drop by nearly a quarter since 2005
Greenhouse gas emission decreased by at least 24% in the Washington, D.C., region between 2005 and 2020, according to preliminary information presented to local leaders.
A cleaner electrical grid, less driving, and lower commercial energy intensity have all helped the region meet its goal of reducing emissions by 20% less than 2005 levels by 2020, the staff from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments told the council's board of directors Wednesday.
The region also saw more electric and hybrid cars and certified green buildings, as well as more than 100 times as many grid-connected rooftop solar installations, between 2009 and 2020, according to a release from the council, whose membership includes Frederick County and the city of Frederick.
“Our achievement of the 2020 goal shows that we can be both ambitious and successful as we look to build a cleaner, sustainable future,” COG Executive Director Chuck Bean said in the release. “Reducing vehicle miles traveled, cleaning up our grid, and increasing access to electric and fuel-alternative vehicles have all proved to be essential in reducing our carbon footprint.”
A final report on the region's greenhouse emissions is expected to be released later this year.
In a resolution approved Wednesday, the region's governments will now focus on accomplishing a 50% reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, largely through increased use of solar power, net-zero energy buildings, and increased use of alternative types of transportation such as transit, telework, walking, and biking.
The council created a Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee in 2009, and incorporated its climate goals into its long-term vision in 2010.
More than 40% of greenhouse gas emissions were produced by buildings in 2005, compared to less than 30% in 2020, according to information presented to the COG board on Wednesday by Maia Davis, a senior environmental planner with the council.
Carbon dioxide emissions from the region's power grid dropped from more than 1,100 pounds/megawatt hour in 2005 to 650 or less by 2020, while the number of third-party certified green buildings increased from fewer than 90 in 2005 to more than 5,300 in 2020.
Meanwhile, the number of electric vehicle charging stations in the region increased from 124 in 2012 to more than 1,200 in 2021.
Metropolitan Washington Area Council Of Governments | 2022-10-14T01:07:10Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Report: Region's greenhouse emissions drop by nearly a quarter since 2005 | Climate | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/climate/report-regions-greenhouse-emissions-drop-by-nearly-a-quarter-since-2005/article_02a11775-d2e9-5a80-9f13-4dbb8ce8a5aa.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/climate/report-regions-greenhouse-emissions-drop-by-nearly-a-quarter-since-2005/article_02a11775-d2e9-5a80-9f13-4dbb8ce8a5aa.html |
Stacie Smith, managing director at the Consensus Building Institute, talks to members of the Restoration Advisory Board during a meeting Wednesday.
A nonprofit hired to help improve how an Army advisory board is run has found that members would like information to be made more accessible and for more patience, respect and appreciation from everybody involved.
The Consensus Building Institute, a Massachusetts-based organization, spent two months interviewing people involved in the clean-up of Fort Detrick's Area B.
Stacie Smith, managing director at the institute, summarized the nonprofit’s progress at a meeting on Wednesday of the advisory board that monitors clean-up efforts.
In the mid-20th century, the Army used Area B — a 399-acre plot of land between Kemp Lane and Shookstown Road — as a test site for its biological warfare program.
Because of how scientists disposed of hazardous waste on Area B during this time period, the land’s groundwater is contaminated. The Army has spent decades studying the extent of the contamination and trying to figure out how to address it.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has overseen these efforts since 2009, when the federal agency placed the site’s groundwater on its National Priorities List.
This action grouped the groundwater with other Superfund sites around the country that are contaminated from having hazardous waste dumped, left in the open or otherwise improperly managed.
The Army keeps civilians apprised of clean-up activities on Area B through the Restoration Advisory Board, a committee that holds public meetings regularly.
To help improve how the board meetings are run and better engage with community members, EPA employees Jenna O’Brien and Angela Ithier applied for the Area B Superfund site to work with the EPA’s Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center.
The site was accepted into the program in March, O’Brien, the EPA remedial project manager for the Area B site, wrote in an email.
Over the summer, representatives of the Consensus Building Institute arrived in Frederick to begin assessing common concerns about clean-up efforts at the site and how information is shared with the community.
Throughout August and September, the nonprofit interviewed 22 people, including federal, state and local government employees; members of the advisory board; and other Frederick community members.
Though many expressed confidence in technical aspects of the clean-up effort, Smith said, some shared concern about uncertainty surrounding the extent, content and location of the contamination.
Some also expressed worry about the potential of “vapor intrusion” in current and planned homes around Area B. This is the process by which chemical vapors move from contaminated groundwater through the soil into the basements or foundations of buildings.
Though vapor intrusion can cause health risks when chemical vapors are inhaled by the occupants of buildings, effects can be mitigated through a variety of methods.
People interviewed by the nonprofit listed the accessibility of historical materials and information; timely sharing of advisory board materials and summaries; and consistency of advisory board meeting schedules and protocols as areas of improvement.
Some said that while discussions were usually respectful at advisory board meetings, there should be more patience, respect and appreciation between everyone involved.
Others said community members should have the chance to influence decisions about the clean-up effort.
People who were interviewed also suggested ways the advisory board could better share information with the community about the effort.
Jen Peppe Hahn, a community advocate and longtime member of the advisory board, thanked the nonprofit for the work it has completed.
“For those that didn’t have the chance to speak with them, they did an incredible job of being really laid back and encouraging and [not] pointing fingers at anyone and really pulling thoughts together,” she said at the meeting on Wednesday. “And they did it very professionally.”
Next, Smith said, the institute will share a summary of its findings with those who were interviewed to give them the chance to suggest revisions or additions.
It plans to present a final report from the interviews and share recommendations for improving community engagement and processes within the advisory board at the next meeting, which is scheduled for January.
The Consensus Building Institute is still open to conducting additional interviews with community members and those involved in the clean-up effort. Those interested may email afullem@cbi.org.
Consensus Building Institute
Area B Superfund Site | 2022-10-14T01:07:16Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Conflict resolution nonprofit studies group monitoring clean-up of Fort Detrick's Area B | Military | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/military/conflict-resolution-nonprofit-studies-group-monitoring-clean-up-of-fort-detricks-area-b/article_ad6cfb30-6462-5aaa-add6-8ee4e3049348.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/military/conflict-resolution-nonprofit-studies-group-monitoring-clean-up-of-fort-detricks-area-b/article_ad6cfb30-6462-5aaa-add6-8ee4e3049348.html |
Julie Nguyen
Frederick County Public Schools on Thursday announced its new director of human resources.
Julie Nguyen — who most recently worked in human resources for Howard County Public Schools — will take over the role Monday. She replaces Chantress Baptist, who left the position in August.
Nguyen was the human resources business partner on the Classification and Compensation team for HCPS, FCPS wrote in a news release.
"She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to FCPS, including knowledge of supervisory responsibilities in recruitment, certification, compliance with federal and state employment laws, labor negotiations and employee classification and compensation," the release said. "She is also a certified professional through the Society of Human Resource Management."
Nguyen is FCPS' third HR director in roughly three and a half years. Baptist served in the role for about nine months, replacing Timothy Thornburg, who was hired to the position in early 2019. | 2022-10-14T02:58:16Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | FCPS appoints new director of human resources | Public K-12 | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/public_k-12/fcps-appoints-new-director-of-human-resources/article_47785c66-e57c-53fe-88e0-6b53545bc782.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/public_k-12/fcps-appoints-new-director-of-human-resources/article_47785c66-e57c-53fe-88e0-6b53545bc782.html |
The hole's location in relation to the drainage ditch — which the city's Department of Public Works said was installed as it was designed and was functioning properly before the hole formed — is one factor that contributed to the sinkhole's formation, according to the MDE report.
But the amount of water that the drainage ditch carried could have contributed to the hole's formation over time.
The report also found that the fact that the drainage ditch is made of earth and aggregate material, while the discharge point of a culvert is made of concrete, could have increased the infiltration of water over time and may have contributed to the sinkhole's formation.
The report lists a “previously mitigated” sinkhole near the May sinkhole as another factor in the formation.
When Ryan Streett, the chief of MDE's Minerals, Oil, and Gas Division, who prepared the department's report on the sinkhole, visited the site on June 28 during the excavation phase of the repairs, he saw “what appeared to be a non-native material, similar to cement or grout” in the northeastern part of the excavation area, the report said.
The Department of the Environment investigation couldn't determine whether the dewatering activities of the nearby Frederick Quarry were a proximate cause of the sinkhole.
A test in which dye is used to trace the flow of water underground “support the Department's opinion that the Frederick Quarry's dewatering operations are creating a cone of depression and exacerbating the negative impacts that the limestone quarry has on the surrounding karst environment,” according to the report. | 2022-10-14T02:58:22Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Report outlines causes of Monocacy Blvd. sinkhole | Public Safety | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/public_safety/report-outlines-causes-of-monocacy-blvd-sinkhole/article_853532b6-e1ae-5462-8856-2b33e6fb7586.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/public_safety/report-outlines-causes-of-monocacy-blvd-sinkhole/article_853532b6-e1ae-5462-8856-2b33e6fb7586.html |
n Urbana (6-0) at Oakdale (5-1): Arguably the most intriguing matchup on a good schedule of games pits finally tested Urbana at rebounding Oakdale. The Hawks’ defense finally surrendered some points to star running back Carson Smith and Middletown last week before making the game-saving stop on fourth down on its own 10-yard line to pull out a 24-19 victory over the Knights. The Urbana coaches and players feel they will benefit from passing a tough test. Meanwhile, Oakdale bounced back from a lopsided home loss to Fort Hill and rolled to a 38-13 road win over Gwynn Park last week. Both of these teams have talented quarterbacks who operate high-powered offenses. The key might be which team plays better defense. Oakdale has won six of the last seven meetings with Urbana, including a a 39-14 road win last season.
n Linganore (3-3) at Frederick (6-0): The Cadets have a chance to take a big step forward in this game. They have not beaten Linganore since 2012. They were wiped off the field by them during the spring season in 2021 (61-14) and then lost to them twice on the road last season, including once in the Class 3A state semifinals. A win over the Lancers would symbolize how far the program has come in its quest to raise its first state championship later this season. Meanwhile, Linganore got its offense going again last week in a 63-0 home win over Tuscarora after struggling mightily to move the ball at all over the six previous quarters. The Lancers are hoping to generate some momentum heading into the playoffs and maintain their grip as the dominant 3A team in Frederick County.
n Brunswick (5-1) at Middletown (3-3): Brunswick is looking for its first win over Middletown since 2003. The Railroaders stretched their winning streak to five last week with an impressive 21-17 victory last week at Liberty. The win over the 4-2 Lions was sealed with a tremendous goal-line stand, as Brunswick stopped Liberty after it had a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line late in the game. Sophomore quarterback Ethan Houck accounted for a pair of touchdowns for Brunswick, including one on a 45-yard run. The Railroaders will face the difficult task of trying to stop Middletown running back Carson Smith this week. Smith surpassed 200 yards rushing once again last week and scored a pair of touchdowns in a 24-19 loss at Urbana. The Knights were the first team to put up more than three points against the Hawks this season, and they kept the explosive Urbana offense in check for the most part. However, Middletown was ultimately doomed by a missed two-point conversion attempt, which prevented them from trying a game-tying field goal near the end of the game, and a failed fourth-down play in the final minute.
n Catoctin (2-4) at Walkersville (2-4): Walkersville has not lost to Catoctin since 2013. The Lions were the only team to beat the Cougars during their state-championship season in 2019, 34-31 in overtime. Both teams are looking to get back on the winning track. After winning two in a row, Catoctin has dropped back-to-back games at home to unbeaten Frederick and unbeaten Poolesville. Meanwhile, after winning back-to-back games, Walkersville fell to Frederick 21-0 last week.
n Thomas Johnson (0-6) at Tuscarora (0-6): One team will stake claim to its first win of the season, while the other will be bitterly disappointed at a missed opportunity. Tuscarora has dominated this matchup over the last decade, with the Titans’ only loss to TJ since 2012 coming by one point (14-13) in overtime during the spring season in 2021. Last year, Tuscarora earned its only win of the season over TJ, 27-21 on the road. The Titans are coming off a blowout loss at Linganore last week, while TJ fell at South Hagerstown, 31-19.
n St. John’s Catholic Prep (4-2) at Annapolis Area Christian (0-6): This will be the first game the Vikings have played since Sept. 30 after last week’s forfeit win over Trinity Christian (West Virginia). It will also mark their second MIAA C Conference game they have played this season, ahead of next week’s rematch with conference rival Severn, which beat them earlier in the season. Annapolis Christian has really struggled this season. The winless Eagles have been outscored 233-77 so far, with 40 of their points coming in last week’s 16-point loss at Severn.
n Randolph-Macon Academy (0-3) at MSD (6-1): The Orioles will host the winless Yellowjackets from Northern Virginia in their annual homecoming game. MSD will be looking for its sixth straight win and has outscored the opposition 306-67 so far. Last week in a 42-0 victory at Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, Zion Ortiz led the way offensively for the Orioles with three touchdowns. He rushed for 161 yards and two scores on eight attempts and completed 6 of 8 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Ortiz produced an interception. | 2022-10-14T04:42:11Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Week 7 High School Football Capsules | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/week-7-high-school-football-capsules/article_3b6db334-e6e5-54d3-9d5a-0eda44a90119.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/week-7-high-school-football-capsules/article_3b6db334-e6e5-54d3-9d5a-0eda44a90119.html |
Although the great Frederick fair will not begin until Tuesday, setting up of tents has already been commenced and the grounds are beginning to assume the appearance of a city. Canvas restaurants, lunch rooms and other booths are being opened all over the grounds, and more are expected to set up business today.
The Silver Springs farm, belonging to L.C. Powell, Woodsboro, is located along the county dirt road leading from Woodsboro to Liberty, about one mile from the former place. He purchased it April 1 last from Charles W. Smith, Walkersville. The Smith family owned the farm for about a century. The tract was named by its present owner. There are several excellent springs on the farm, one of which has been named Silver Spring by the present owner, who has given that name to the farm also. It is both an agricultural and a dairy farm. Registered Holsteins cattle are raised on the tract.
The U.S. Army Wednesday released previously classified information that verifies a disabled Frederick County man was one of 15 civilian employees injured by exposure to dangerous bacteria at Fort Detrick in 1964. Meanwhile, Lena Dinterman continues her fight against the bureaucracies of the Army and the Department of Labor to see justice served her husband, Howard Dinterman. Eighteen years ago, Dinterman was accidentally exposed to a potentially lethal airborne bacteria at Fort Detrick’s biological warfare laboratories. Dinterman initially suffered pulmonary disorders and a fever of 106 degrees. Since then, his situation has deteriorated to the point that his symptoms resemble Parkinson’s disease, and he requires help for simple movements. He was a civilian caring for monkeys at the labs and was one of 15 individual exposed to aerosolized staphlococcal enterotoxin B.
The ramp off Interstate 70 eastbound to Md. 355 was closed more than six hours Wednesday after a tractor-trailer carrying explosives from Arkansas to Aberdeen Proving Ground jackknifed. There were no injuries nor imminent danger, investigative officials reported. One canister of the explosives, approximately 6 feet square, fell off the trailer when a support strap broke.
Almost two inches of rain fell across Frederick since late last week, giving the city’s reservoir and emergency well a much needed break. Up to two more inches are possible Tuesday and Wednesday, as a low pressure system winds its way up the east coast.
Just off Main Street, Middletown, is a forlorn storm door with a handprinted sign that reads “Ice Cream.” On Sunday night the sign came down, ending both a 91-year community tradition and Allen “Brownie” Brown’s seven-year run as the local ice cream man. Since 1911, Main’s Ice Cream has been serving up cones, sundaes, milk shakes and more. Until 1967, the family-owned business made its own ice cream. Mr. Brown, former owner of the Chat ‘n’ Chew Restaurant in Frederick, came on board in 1995. He knew the building housing the ice cream shop was for sale and that one day he would have to close the doors for good. “I would’ve stayed here till I couldn’t dip any more,” said Mr. Brown. “I love this business. It is a happy business, never any complaints.” The building was sold and a new owner plans to open an upscale restaurant.
Great Frederick Fair
Silver Springs Farm
Registered Holstein
Dangerous Bacteria Exposure
Aerosolized Staphlococcal Enterotoxin B
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Allen "brownie" Brown
Chat 'n' Chew Restaurant
Main's Ice Cream
Allen Brown | 2022-10-14T06:21:21Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 14 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-14/article_02a2aeda-39c6-5f97-afd2-08e6f51f0083.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-14/article_02a2aeda-39c6-5f97-afd2-08e6f51f0083.html |
These eastern larches, also known as tamarack trees (Larix laricina), have donned their beautiful golden autumn costume and will be shedding their needles soon. Tamaracks have a wide range, growing across the Canadian North, New England and the Great Lake states. They are at the southernmost limit of their range in Western Maryland, found mostly in swamps or boggy soils.
Oddball Evergreens: Larches, Douglas fir and cedar trees
There is a group of evergreens whose members don’t fully fit the typical mold of conifers and must have been a brainteaser for the early botanists to name and classify.
Case in point, the larch tree is a deciduous conifer that sheds its needles every fall and grows them back in the spring. In this sense, larches really aren’t evergreens, but they do have needles and seeds encased in a woody cone.
Larch trees are found in northern latitudes in North America, Europe and Asia and display single deciduous leaves that connect to the branch in a spiral arrangement. The eastern larch, or tamarack tree, has a wide distribution across most of the northern section of North America. In the southern part of its range, it is normally found in cool, swampy areas or sphagnum bogs. In the northern part of its range, it is found in a variety of sites. Tamarack is a fast grower and needs plenty of sunlight to develop.
The Douglas fir is another tree with an identity problem. The genus name for this tree, Pseudotsuga, means false hemlock. So is it a hemlock? Not really. The common name “fir” would put it in the fir family correct? Not quite. Some of the early settlers to the Pacific Northwest named this tree the Oregon pine tree. Really? Most early botanists that studied this tree believed that the tree most resembled a spruce tree. Not really. In fact, the pointed buds, spiral leaves and characteristic cone with three-lobed bracts are unlike hemlocks, firs, pine or spruce. Finally botanists concluded that the Douglas fir fits into its own unique genus. There are six species of pseduotsuga found across the globe, mostly in countries such as China, Japan and Taiwan. The lone species found in North America is the Douglas fir. Douglas firs are one of the fastest growing and largest trees found in North America, with some specimens growing to height of 250 feet. There is a coastal form and Rocky Mountain form of this tree, with the coastal becoming much larger at maturity. Douglas fir is an important lumber tree in the Pacific Northwest. In the East, Douglas fir is a very popular Christmas tree.
Speaking of perplexing, the cedar family contains 15 genera, six of which have a single member. Members of the cedar family have scale-like leaves, not pointy needles. The exception to this is the Eastern red cedar, which has scale-like leaves and needles. Some cedars have cones, while others have fleshy fruits. Most cedar wood is very aromatic, like the incense cedar, Alaska yellow cedar, Port Orford cedar, Western red cedar and Eastern red cedar. Cedar wood is rot resistant and often used for shingles, decking material and siding. The Northern white cedar is also known as arbor vitae, or tree of life. This tree was given its name by the French, who learned how to concoct medicines from its bark to cure ailments such as scurvy. Arbor vitae were exported to France, where they gained favor as an ornamental. Today there are numerous cultivars of arbor vitae grown as ornamentals.
The cedar family contains a group of trees more commonly known as cypress trees that are scattered around the globe, especially in the Mediterranean region, where they provide a valuable wood resource. The Maryland native bald cypress is not part of this group. Go figure.
The Atlantic white cedar is a tree native to the eastern part of Maryland. Normally found on wetter sites, it belongs to the genus Chamaecyparis, meaning false cypress. Atlantic white cedars are found along stream banks, in freshwater swamps and in bogs. The Atlantic white cedar has a long but narrow distribution, extending from the coast of Maine down to the Florida swamps. The Frederick County native Eastern red cedar is actually a juniper, which produces a berry as a fruit. Junipers are slow-growing trees that need plenty of sunlight. Found growing on many different sites, they are a common component of old field communities. Junipers thrive in the limestone soils located around Walkersville and Woodsboro and wide sections of Washington County. The slow growth, dense form and fleshy fruit of the Eastern red cedar makes it a good choice for planting for wildlife habitat since it has many attributes that provide winter food and cover for birds and other wildlife. Eastern red cedar is an alternate host for the fungus that produces cedar apple rust in fruit trees. Though this third group of evergreens does not easily conform to the rules of scientific classification, its members are important from an ecological and economic standpoint and are just plain fascinating. | 2022-10-14T09:40:28Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Oddball Evergreens: Larches, Douglas fir and cedar trees | Environment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/oddball-evergreens-larches-douglas-fir-and-cedar-trees/article_cec26aa2-9445-5ae4-be0d-e4558aa2fbe1.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/environment/oddball-evergreens-larches-douglas-fir-and-cedar-trees/article_cec26aa2-9445-5ae4-be0d-e4558aa2fbe1.html |
Reita Green, left, and Beverly Pate hang wallpaper at a client's home in Newhall on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Christina House
Reita Green, center, photographed in 1957 as a young actress, is displayed at Green's home in Burbank on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Beverly Pate, left, and Reita Green are photographed at Green's home in Burbank on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Reita Green, left, and Beverly Pate, back right, hang wallpaper at a client's home in Newhall on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
She's 86. She's 28. They love their hang time as the wallpaper queens of Los Angeles.
Deborah Netburn Los Angeles Times (TNS)
LOS ANGELES — Ask Reita Green the Wallpaper Queen what makes a successful wallpaper hanger and she'll tell you it's practice, patience and believing in yourself.
"You can't be upset if it's not working right away," said the 86-year-old, who has been hanging wallpaper in and around Los Angeles for more than half a century. "You just pull the paper back and put more paste on it. It's not an art that is wham, bam, thank you, ma'am."
Since 1960 the former dancer and actress has run her own wallpapering business — lugging buckets, ladders and a folding table from her car to her clients' homes by herself, well into her 80s. But a few years ago, even the Wallpaper Queen had to acknowledge that eventually she might need some help.
And then in 2020 she met Beverly Pate — a warm young woman 58 years her junior, who exudes patience, kindness and a can-do attitude. Within months Pate had become Green's partner in wallpapering, her protégé and — most important — her best friend.
"Without Beverly I couldn't have made it this far," Green said on a recent evening after the two women had wrapped up for the day. "We respect one another and we bring the best out of each other."
In October of 2020, Pate, a former dialysis technician who had recently moved from Hollywood to Burbank, was looking for someone to install the white marble wallpaper she had long dreamt of hanging in her living room.
"So I'm in the living room and I hear brrrp brrrp," said Green, taking over the story. "And I say, 'Miss Beverly, are you working with power tools?' And she said, 'Yes. I hung all the drapes in here.' And I said to myself, 'I've got to get to know this woman.'"
"I said, 'I love your spirit, and you can do things like I can,'" Green said. "I said, 'I need a wallpaper hanger and I would love to teach you how to do this.'"
Beverly Pate | 2022-10-14T17:53:15Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | She's 86. She's 28. They love their hang time as the wallpaper queens of Los Angeles. | Visual Arts | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/shes-86-shes-28-they-love-their-hang-time-as-the-wallpaper-queens-of-los/article_dc8d1247-38a7-54b2-82dc-2c91cb52c4c5.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/shes-86-shes-28-they-love-their-hang-time-as-the-wallpaper-queens-of-los/article_dc8d1247-38a7-54b2-82dc-2c91cb52c4c5.html |
John Distel
Distel would look to freeze property taxes if elected to County Council
John Distel, the Republican nominee for Frederick County Council District 1, said his number-one priority as a council member would be lowering the county's property tax rate.
"I'm not a career politician. I don't plan on being a career politician," Distel said in a podcast interview with the News-Post. "A lot of it is just trying to maintain the level of services we have now [and] ensure that people want to come to Frederick [County]."
Distel said he wants the county to freeze its property tax rate, which would mean dropping it from $1.06 per $100 of assessed value — where its been for a decade — to the constant-yield rate.
Distel said he would want to have each county department director justify their budget requests to the County Council.
The county's budget process already includes multiple days in which the council meets with officials from more than 20 departments. The council asks questions about each department's budget and hears about current projects and pressing needs, before voting on the county executive's proposed budget.
Distel won the July primary election over Bill Miskell.
Distel has been a sergeant in the Montgomery County Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division for 20 years. He was a part-time attorney for Ashcraft & Gerel LLC, which has locations in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, but he reduced his role to focus on campaigning.
The Democratic nominee for District 1 is County Councilman Jerry Donald, who has represented the district since 2014.
General Election Day will be Nov. 8. Early voting will be Oct. 27 to Nov. 3. The Maryland State Board of Elections has begun sending mail-in ballots to voters.
In his podcast interview, Distel also discussed maintaining county funding for public safety, the plan to preserve Sugarloaf Mountain and its surrounding area, the next regional plan that the County Council will vote on, and what he'd like to see built at the 26-acre property along Himes Avenue that the county purchased in 2021. | 2022-10-15T01:12:39Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Distel would look to freeze property taxes if elected to County Council | Election Coverage | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/distel-would-look-to-freeze-property-taxes-if-elected-to-county-council/article_6512d194-7c67-57e7-a7ab-80bab58879b2.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/distel-would-look-to-freeze-property-taxes-if-elected-to-county-council/article_6512d194-7c67-57e7-a7ab-80bab58879b2.html |
Jerry Donald
Frederick County Councilman Jerry Donald, the Democratic nominee for County Council District 1, said he would use a third term on the council to advocate for funding for several long-term projects underway in the county.
Donald said he wants to ensure that the new Middletown branch library, Othello Regional Park in Knoxville and new school buildings across the county continue to get funding allocated for them in the county's capital projects budget.
"It's not a Democratic or Republican thing — anybody can use a trail, anybody can use a park, anybody can use a library. And those are the things I'd like to see built in Frederick County," Donald said in a podcast interview with the News-Post.
Donald ran unopposed in the July primary election.
Donald has been a social studies teacher at Middletown High School for the last 19 years, and he's been a teacher for the last 30. He has represented District 1 on the County Council since 2014.
The Republican nominee for District 1 is John Distel, a Montgomery County police sergeant.
Donald said the county should continue to add trails and pathways to its various parks, too. He'd like to see the county eventually implement a trail network to connect the parks and municipalities in the region to make them more accessible for people, especially children.
The county, Donald said, should maintain its property tax rate of $1.06 per $100 of assessed value. Lowering the property tax rate, which Republicans running for the County Council have all advocated for, would decrease the revenue available for long-term projects, he said.
Donald said he's worried that a lower property tax rate would also take money from the county's program used to preserve farmland. The county has preserved more than 73,000 acres of farmland and is on pace to exceed its goal of preserving 100,000 acres by the early 2030s, 10 years earlier than expected.
In his podcast interview, Donald also discussed his vision for the county's Board of Health, the plan to preserve Sugarloaf Mountain and its surrounding area, the next regional plan that the County Council will vote on, and what he'd like to see built at the 26-acre property along Himes Avenue that the county purchased in 2021. | 2022-10-15T01:12:45Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Donald would push to further fund new libraries, parks, schools during third term | Election Coverage | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/donald-would-push-to-further-fund-new-libraries-parks-schools-during-third-term/article_b6311c5d-95b3-5f6f-8101-3b6549b2868e.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/election_coverage/donald-would-push-to-further-fund-new-libraries-parks-schools-during-third-term/article_b6311c5d-95b3-5f6f-8101-3b6549b2868e.html |
Monday’s workshop is scheduled for 2 p.m. at City Hall. It will summarize information collected at a design charrette held in August with members of the public and provide an update on the project’s process.
The change would emphasize elements such as moving buildings closer to the street, creating inviting areas for pedestrians and providing connections between neighborhoods in a zoning process that focuses on creating a particular type of place or environment rather than how a property is used.
The mayor and aldermen were briefed in June on the use of a form-based code. The August charrette included a residents’ planning session to gather ideas for the project.
The area of the study stretches from East Street’s intersection with Monocacy Boulevard on the south side of the city to the intersection with North Market Street near Gov. Thomas Johnson High School to the north.
One main focus of the redesign project will be making the corridor safer and comfortable for bikers and pedestrians by adding or widening sidewalks, putting in more crosswalks and adding shared use paths.
The plan will also provide opportunities for walkers and hikers who are looking to do more than just get around their individual neighborhoods.
Included in the long-term vision for the redesign of East Street will also be a pedestrian and bicycle trail stretching from near the MARC station near downtown, over the interchange of U.S. 15 and Md. 26, to just past the Clemson Corner shopping center.
That trail will link up with an asphalt trail running 1.79 miles along the right of way for the Walkersville Southern Railroad to the Fountain Rock Nature Center near Walkersville, and ultimately out to Heritage Farm Park in Walkersville. | 2022-10-15T04:32:39Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Planning workshop to include update on East Street plans | Employment | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/employment/planning-workshop-to-include-update-on-east-street-plans/article_5b7cbb21-b689-54b0-9dfc-8401eac2cdd9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/employment/planning-workshop-to-include-update-on-east-street-plans/article_5b7cbb21-b689-54b0-9dfc-8401eac2cdd9.html |
Two big plays by Thompson allow Bears to hand Hawks first loss of season
Heading into Friday's showdown against unbeaten Urbana, Oakdale junior Hunter Thompson led Frederick County in catches and receiving yards.
With the Bears leaning heavily on their ground game against the Hawks, though, Thompson only caught two passes all night. Granted, one of them produced a touchdown.
But Thompson's not just a wide receiver anymore. He started playing defense this season, manning a cornerback position, and he's a member of Oakdale's hands team for onside kicks. And he came up huge performing those latter two roles.
When Urbana tried for a game-tying two-point conversion with 39.8 seconds left, Thompson broke up the pass play by diving toward the left pylon and deflecting the ball.
Then on the ensuing onside kick, the 6-foot-3 Thompson jumped up to pluck the bouncing ball out of the air to help the Bears preserve their biggest win yet this season, a 28-26 victory over the visiting Hawks.
"This is a huge rival for us. Homecoming game. They were undefeated," Thompson said. "So this is a very big win for us. It's going to put us up higher in the standings."
The Bears (6-1) needed Thompson's late-game heroics after the Hawks (6-1) scored two touchdowns in the final 1 minute, 43 seconds. Urbana's final score, a 4-yard Keegan Johnson-to-Elijah Jean-Jacques touchdown pass, came after linebacker Addison Steigner recovered a fumbled handoff to give Urbana the ball at Oakdale's 38 with 1:32 left.
Trailing by two, the Hawks then lined up for a 2-point conversion. Johnson fired a pass to Yannick Siewe in the left side of the end zone. Thompson was ready.
"In practice, they said that was the goal-line play," he said. "And I saw the formation. I knew it was coming. I just had to make a play on the ball."
"When we needed Hunter to make a big play, he made it," Bears coach Kurt Stein said. "We talked in the huddle, we thought they were going to try to run a speed out to the pylon there. Hunter did a good job of getting in the guy's hip and making a break."
Cornerback is a relatively new role for Thompson.
"Last year I only played offense," he said. "But we had a lot of our skill positions graduate, so they asked me to step up and I did."
Given his ability to catch footballs, Thompson also was a no-brainer to be on Oakdale's hands team for onside kicks. So after forcing an incompletion on Urbana's 2-point conversion try, he was tasked with making one more clutch play.
"I saw it bounce over the front line, and I just to go up, grabbed it with my hands and came down with it," he said.
Stein praised Thompson and slot receiver Shaun Wright, who came down with another high-bouncing onside kick after Urbana narrowed Oakdale's lead to 28-20 on Aidan Stone's 1-yard run with 1:43 left.
But the Bears then lost a fumble on a handoff attempt, putting the ball back into the hands of Johnson, who fired two completions to Riley Smith before connecting with Jean-Jacques.
Johnson completed 25 of 40 passes for 329 yards.
"I can't give him enough credit, how good he is," Stein said of the quarterback. "There were plays where we had them covered and he still completed it."
Conversely, Oakdale spent most of the night running the ball. Rory Blanchard rushed for 112 yards on 22 carries, including touchdown runs of 8 and 9 yards.
"He helped us big time there, got a lot of first downs for us, too. And we needed those," Oakdale quarterback Evan Austin said.
Austin rushed for 79 on 16 carries, including a 6-yard touchdown run that gave the Bears a 7-6 lead with 10:53 left in the third quarter, a score set up when the Hawks lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of the half.
Oakdale's ground game picked up steam as the game progressed, thanks to holes opened up by linemen Taylen Caliskan, Tom Katrivanos, Joshua Crummitt, Mason Wiles, Chase Haught and tight end Dom Nichols.
"Our five offensive linemen and tight end do a great job," Stein said. "I feel like they really wear teams down, which is one of the reasons we're a second-half team because they really beat people down. Our run game in the second half was outstanding. It's because those guys were blocking people."
Oakdale took the lead for good when Austin threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Thompson on a slant.
"Our coach came up with that this week. I was waiting for them to call it. I knew it was going to be open," Thompson said. "It was a perfect time to call it. I got right between them, a good throw, good catch."
Urbana's Sidney Joseph scored on runs of 14 and 3 yards.
While Johnson's passing was a dangerous thing for Oakdale's defense to tangle with, the Bears often made plays at crucial times to get stops.
"We have tough kids that want to fight, they want to get after it," Stein said. "They want to establish the run, they want to stop the run. And I think if we can do that, we can make a run in the playoffs."
Dom Nichols | 2022-10-15T04:33:10Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Two big plays by Thompson allow Bears to hand Hawks first loss of season | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/two-big-plays-by-thompson-allow-bears-to-hand-hawks-first-loss-of-season/article_eb802c53-58b1-5c7a-b369-b29722f1cf9b.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/two-big-plays-by-thompson-allow-bears-to-hand-hawks-first-loss-of-season/article_eb802c53-58b1-5c7a-b369-b29722f1cf9b.html |
Frederick's Davian Pryor comes down with a catch late in the second qaurter against Linganore Friday night.
Frederick's Hugo Merry, left, has a late second quarter field goal attempt blocked by Linganore's Mason Farster in Friday night's game.
Linganore's Matthew Hauptman tries to elude Frederick High's Travon Neal in the first quarter.
But Pirri keeps his head on a swivel. He has a keen sense of what is happening around him at all times, and he can be pretty elusive. A few buckets usually get dumped onto the field before they finally drench him, if they drench him at all. Pirri's track record at avoiding these baths is better than most coaches.
But following Friday's 17-0 home win over Linganore, which marked the Cadets' first win over the Lancers since 2012 and raised their record to 7-0 for the first time since 1968, Pirri was wrapped into a bear hug by a few of his players, and there was no escaping the eventual ice bath.
"It's huge," Pirri said of the win over Linganore (3-4), which avenged a pair of big-game road losses to the Lancers last year, including one of the Class 3A state semifinals. "It shows what we have going on for this year."
As the Cadets celebrated on the field and with their friends and family along the fence line that separates the field from the stands, senior receiver Travon Neal, who caught a pair of touchdown passes, including one that glanced off the hands of teammate Reggie Snowden, said, "This is going to do great things for us.
"This [victory] gives us the hope that we needed. It shows everybody that we really are who we say we are."
That being a prominent contender to win a state championship.
Frederick is a much more complete team than the one that went 10-3 last fall and made its first run to the state semifinals since 1985.
While the offense is still very explosive and capable of taking over a game, it is no longer the driving force behind a lot of these victories.
The defense has been mauling the opposition all season, from only giving up one first down by penalty in the season opener against Aberdeen to holding Linganore to well under 200 yards of total offense and out of scoring position Friday night.
Pirri said the team's offensive statistics have suffered this season because the defense has been so good at creating short fields for the offense. The Cadets haven't had the time and space to rack up as many splashy plays and big offensive numbers.
"The field position is different this year," he said.
Frederick Linganore Football
Frederick's Travon Neal makes an interception intended for Linganore's Dylan Reyes in the second quarter.
In photos: Frederick vs. Linganore Football
Frederick, the lone unbeaten football team in Frederick County, has only allowed 26 points in seven games, and more than half of that was given up in an otherwise dominant 42-14 home win over Middletown on Sept. 9.
In fact, the Knights are the only team to score more than six points in a game against Frederick this season. The Cadets have posted four shutouts and have not given up a point since the first play of the second quarter in a Sept. 30 win over Catoctin, a span of 10 quarters.
"All of us are doing our part together," said senior linebacker Sean Smith. "Everybody does their job, and nobody does anything else. When we do what we do [on defense], we finish out teams."
Senior defensive tackle Jamill Love has been a force that teams have struggled to block. He has helped stuff the opposing running game and put pressure on the passer.
"It's how much work we put in at practice," said the 5-foot-7, 300-pound Love. "We come together as a unit."
Special teams have also been a major factor for Frederick this season.
Senior kicker Hugo Merry made a 45-yard field goal Friday to tie the school record for longest field goal, originally set by Dwayne Danner in a 1973 game against Boonsboro.
Merry's consistent kickoffs into the end zone force teams to drive at least 80 yards for a touchdown on most possessions, and his punting is pinning opponents deep into their own end.
"We have a kicker, and we play great defense," Pirri said, succinctly summing up huge reasons for the Cadets' success so far this season.
Despite vanquishing a nemesis like Linganore, in the regular season anyway, Frederick knows its mission is far from over.
The Cadets have another big game next week at 6-1 Oakdale.
"We've got to stay together," said Neal, who caught five passes from senior quarterback Brian Mbuthia for 101 yards and two touchdowns. "We can't get too cocky. We've got to keep our heads up." | 2022-10-15T04:33:16Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 'We really are who we say we are': Frederick shuts down Linganore, proves contender status | High School Sports | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/we-really-are-who-we-say-we-are-frederick-shuts-down-linganore-proves-contender-status/article_c9d2bdf0-2ee3-59f4-b848-a8a031b774e9.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/level/high_school/we-really-are-who-we-say-we-are-frederick-shuts-down-linganore-proves-contender-status/article_c9d2bdf0-2ee3-59f4-b848-a8a031b774e9.html |
Calling his proposal a “cooperative end to the recent impasse,” Gov. Harry R. Hughes Wednesday detailed the state’s proposals for the transfer of the 65-year-old former Frederick post office to the state and city, thus saving the Greek architectural structure from demolition. The News-Post obtained a letter from Hughes to Robert L. Hardesty, chairman of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service, in which the governor agreed that the state would assume financial obligations, which may be due the demolition contractor — previously a major obstacle in efforts to save the structure. J. Rodney Little, director of the Maryland Historical Trust, said the action cleared the way for the Postal Service’s transfer of the building to the city of Frederick and the state, which in turn would sell it to a private developer. However, the building would be sold with so-called historical “easements” that would give the state total control over any future changes to the structure and require it to be maintained in the original form.
Blessed with good weather Thursday afternoon, Gov. Harry R. Hughes and over 100 Frederick Countians gathered on U.S. 15 North for groundbreaking ceremonies of the new tourist information center. Whisked by helicopter to the pastureland that will soon be Frederick County’s second “first class” tourist information center, Hughes congratulated the county and the people involved in promoting the project.
Mirroring the life of the Frederick community for almost a century, The News marks its 99th birthday today and proudly changes its front page volume number to 100. This generally routine change of numbers has taken place each year since Oct. 15, 1883, when Frederick’s afternoon daily newspaper was founded by William T. Delaplaine, grandfather of the president editor and publisher, George B. Delaplaine Jr. The Frederick Post is now in its 72nd year of publication.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A woman was killed outside a Home Depot store Monday night, and police were trying to determine whether the shooting was related to the sniper spree responsible for eight deaths in the region in the past 12 days.
The Frederick City Planning Commission gave unanimous approval Monday night to the final site plan for the Lakefront Village Center at Whittier, a mixed-use commercial center to house a restaurant, child care business and office and retail space on 5 acres at Christopher’s Crossing and Whittier Drive.
Even well-intentioned people make mistakes when it comes to political correctness. “No matter how well-intentioned we are, there are people or situations that trigger a reaction causing us discomfort,” said Paulett McIntosh, director for the office of intercultural development at Mount St. Mary’s College. “Cultural Etiquette for the Well-Intentioned” was the second in a diversity series held at the college Monday afternoon. The key, she said, is to be cognizant of your reactions. “Because while you might not say what you are thinking, you will project it, and that is still offensive,” she said.
Gov. Harry R. Hughes
Robert L. Hardesty
Tourist Information Center
William T. Delaplaine
George B. Delaplaine Jr.
Sniper Sree
Frederick City Planning Commission
Lakefront Village Center
Harry R. Hughes | 2022-10-15T06:08:19Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | 20-40-100 Years Ago — Oct. 15 | News | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-15/article_75f5d0db-86af-5135-9593-2d13288935de.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/20-40-100-years-ago-oct-15/article_75f5d0db-86af-5135-9593-2d13288935de.html |
Fall trout stocking update
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources continues to stock trout for the fall season. The week of Oct. 2, DNR stocked a total of 7,700 trout throughout the state, that included the waters of Cunningham Lake in Frederick County, Morgan Run in Carroll County, and Greenbrier Lake in Washington County. Around Oct. 11, another total of 2,900 trout were stocked in waters around the state, including the South Branch Patapsco River in Carroll County and Blairs Valley Lake in Washington County. And on Oct. 12, a total of 2,300 trout were stocked in Garrett and Howard counties, and in Beaver Creek in Washington County. For updates on when and where trout have been stocked, visit dnr.maryland.gov.
Black bears are on the move
Winter is coming and black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for hibernation. Maryland’s DNR reminds residents that during this time bears will travel across roads more frequently and can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people. Human-provided food sources includes bird feeders and trash. In Maryland, the black bear population is concentrated in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties but are known to roam about other northern and central counties. Bears will begin entering dens around mid-November, with most being inside dens by mid-December, notes a DNR news release. Maryland’s black bear hunt is Oct. 24 to 29, and permits to hunt bear were awarded last month, via a lottery system, for those who entered. Learn more at dnr.maryland.gov.
Trapper education course to be held
Maryland’s DNR offers a trapper education course from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at New Germany State Park, in Grantsville. Registration is required by Oct. 28; lunch is $5. Participants must complete the trapper education workbook prior to the Nov. 5 event and those under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. In addition to the workbook, students will participate in trap handling/field exercises and pass a written test to receive a certification card. For more information, call the DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service at 301-777-2136.
Ohio man convicted of selling hunting leases on land he did not own
An Ohio man was convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to prison for one year and one day for his role in an illegal scheme to solicit payments and sell hunting leases on properties where he had no authority, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. Nathan Knox, 30, was found guilty of operating a scheme in 2019 where he placed advertisements on social media pages for supposed hunting leases in Ohio. The scheme was exposed by two victims from Florida who traveled to Ohio to scout the property they had supposedly leased. When confronted by the true landowner, they realized they had been defrauded and contacted the local sheriff’s office. In total, Knox had solicited payments from at least 68 different individuals, all residing outside of Ohio, and received payments totaling $34,000 from at least 59 of those individuals.
Assateague trails closed for construction
The Life of the Marsh Trail and Life of the Forest Trail at Assateague Island National Park are closed for construction. Trails and parking lots are closed to vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. The project will reconstruct the deteriorating sections of each trail’s boardwalk at overlooks; some portions were replaced following the damage from Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The National Park Service notes that the project is funded by park entrance and pass fees with 80 percent of all revenue from the park’s entrance fees staying in the park to fund this type of visitor-related project. Reconstruction, weather dependent, is expected to be completed no later than March 2023. For more information, visit nps.gov/asis.
Cunningham Lake
Hunting Leases Scam
Ohio Department Of Natural Resources Division Of Wildlife
Trails Closed
Boardwalk Replacement | 2022-10-15T06:08:22Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Outdoor Notes — Oct. 15 | Travel And Outdoors | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/travel_and_outdoors/outdoor-notes-oct-15/article_cf8ab4b4-12a7-501a-bc88-41056f6611db.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/travel_and_outdoors/outdoor-notes-oct-15/article_cf8ab4b4-12a7-501a-bc88-41056f6611db.html |
It is really just a small project — 176 housing units on less than 11 acres. It is nobody’s idea of the solution to the housing affordability problem in Frederick County.
But this can be an important piece of the puzzle, and one that both the county and the city of Frederick should seek to duplicate at every opportunity.
The project will be built at a vacant former school site in the city’s Dearbought neighborhood. Now, it will become home to a four-story building that will provide affordable homes for low-income seniors.
When the Dearbought community was annexed into the city in 1988, the developer set aside the lot on Wheyfield Drive, which is near the intersection of Md. 26 and Sebastian Boulevard, as a possible school location, according to a report by the city staff.
The county later decided not to use the site for a school and solicited proposals to develop the site for affordable housing.
The winning proposal was developed by the Greenville, N.C.-based Taft-Mills Groups, New Harbor Development, the Housing Authority of Frederick and the Interfaith Housing Alliance.
The property was already zoned Institutional, which allows senior living and retirement facilities. The initial plan for the project called for 193 units, but it has been reduced to 176 units.
The city Planning Commission this week approved a change to the master plan for Dearbought to allow the building on the 10.62-acre site. The project will be funded through low-income housing tax credits.
Sherry Kelly of the city’s Planning Department said the project will include both active and passive amenities for residents. David Lingg, a consultant representing the developers, told the commission that those features will evolve as the site plan for the project is developed, but they could include walking paths and a gazebo.
Kelly also told the commission that sidewalks on the project will connect to sidewalks in the rest of the neighborhood, allowing residents to walk to nearby stores without having to walk along Md. 26.
Some residents near the project said they were concerned about adding so many units in a neighborhood where parking can already be hard to find. However, these are homes for seniors, many of whom will be retired.
The project is not expected to create more than 50 new weekday peak-hour trips, according to the staff. That is probably less traffic and less need for parking than if the site had been used for its originally intended purpose, as a school.
Since the traffic impact is expected to be minimal, the project was exempted from testing to meet the adequate public facilities standards for roads.
This is the kind of flexibility and common sense needed for city and county officials to be creative in coping with the housing affordability problem in other communities, as well.
Both governments should be taking inventory of unused land and determining whether it could be developed for affordable housing for seniors and for younger people. The problem of scarce moderately priced housing does not just affect senior citizens. Younger people and families are coping with the high cost of living in this county, too.
Local governments should be actively seeking sites that are usable for projects, such as this one in Dearbought. These kinds of “in-fill” projects are a great way to use idle assets such as land donated or purchased for one purpose that is no long pressing.
Most communities in our county that were developed as fully planned projects like Dearbought included some land set aside for schools and other public uses. If those parcels are no longer needed, they could be repurposed for housing. | 2022-10-15T06:09:10Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Frederick County needs more projects like new one at Dearbought | Editorials | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/editorial/frederick-county-needs-more-projects-like-new-one-at-dearbought/article_0930fadc-fbda-591d-bde7-668f599eb399.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/editorial/frederick-county-needs-more-projects-like-new-one-at-dearbought/article_0930fadc-fbda-591d-bde7-668f599eb399.html |
Sea Raven Frederick
While discussing Jessica Fitzwater, Rick Blatchford makes reference to a video recording that serves as a political ad for the Hough campaign (“Voters should be careful about supporting Fitzwater,” FNP, Oct. 10, 2022). Video recordings are routinely edited by political opponents to take quotes completely out of their context. Unsuspecting folks like Mr. Blatchford are then led down the garden path into wildly inaccurate conclusions.
I should point out — in case Mr. Blatchford or others are further misled — that the “realJessicaFitzwater” website is a fake. Racism and white privilege are concepts not easily encapsulated into sound bites. The sound bite that Mr. Blatchford quotes from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King has been misconstrued to support rather than challenge the ease with which some folks define their neighbors as less worthy of such inalienable rights as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Ms. Fitzwater declines to respond to Trumpian attacks such as those mounted against her by the Hough campaign, and echoed in Mr. Blatchford’s letter. Instead, she just invites us to join her, and continue to do the work necessary to assure that Frederick County continues to be a welcoming and equitable place for people of all varieties to live and raise a family.
Sea Raven | 2022-10-15T06:09:22Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Voters should be careful about misleading political ads | Letters to the Editor | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/voters-should-be-careful-about-misleading-political-ads/article_d5bd036e-7a31-5650-8a30-cb9af9efd861.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/opinion/letter_to_editor/voters-should-be-careful-about-misleading-political-ads/article_d5bd036e-7a31-5650-8a30-cb9af9efd861.html |
Walker may be lying about ex-girlfriend's abortion. Does it matter?
Given that Walker has so many demons and skeletons in his closet — he’s like a one-man haunted house — it seems a safe bet the story is true. Even Walker’s denials are taking on a bit of an “even if I did it” hue as he leans into how he’s been “redeemed,” and so therefore, his past actions (which he didn’t do!) shouldn’t count against him. | 2022-10-15T06:09:28Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Walker may be lying about ex-girlfriend's abortion. Does it matter? | | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/walker-may-be-lying-about-ex-girlfriends-abortion-does-it-matter/article_8051299e-51db-5dd1-8534-a94642d74154.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/walker-may-be-lying-about-ex-girlfriends-abortion-does-it-matter/article_8051299e-51db-5dd1-8534-a94642d74154.html |
A member of the Zion Ahmadiyya Muslim community attends Friday prayer in Zion, Ill. A century after the Ahmadis’ prophet, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, challenged Zion’s founder, John Alexander Dowie, a Christian faith healer, to a prayer duel, the community has built its first official mosque in the city.
Tariq Naseem, imam for the Zion Ahmadiyya Muslim community, stands for a portrait in the newly constructed Fath-e-Azeem mosque in Zion, Ill., on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. The Ahmadis’ view this small-sized city, 40 miles north of Chicago, as a place of special religious significance for their global messianic faith after a century-old prayer duel between prophet and founder of the Ahmadi movement and the founder of Zion.
The newly constructed Fath-e-Azeem mosque, which means “a great victory” in Arabic, in Zion, Ill., on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community believes their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, defended their faith from Zion founder John Alexander Dowie’s verbal attacks against Islam, and defeated him in a sensational prayer duel. A century after this historic challenge, the Ahmadi community has built its first official mosque in Zion. | 2022-10-15T07:41:53Z | www.fredericknewspost.com | Two prophets, century-old prayer duel inspire Zion mosque | Religion | fredericknewspost.com | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/two-prophets-century-old-prayer-duel-inspire-zion-mosque/article_e3fed493-8a31-525e-91fc-cc2b5d2c2fd6.html | https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/religion/two-prophets-century-old-prayer-duel-inspire-zion-mosque/article_e3fed493-8a31-525e-91fc-cc2b5d2c2fd6.html |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.