(5/1) Route 77 to be closed for repairs

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will close and detour MD 77 (Foxville Road) until May 21 to complete a culvert replacement project.

The work will take place between Catoctin Hollow and Stottlemyer roads. Crews will work on the last three culverts in a project that targeted 46 aging culverts. These culverts allow water to flow under the roadway and prevent flooding. Crews will also clean existing drain pipes and inlets, and pave and restripe the roadway. The project is expected to be complete this summer.

Motorists will be detoured from MD 77 to US 15 followed by MD 550 (Sabillasville Road), Foxville Deerfield Road and back to MD 77. There is a separate route for tractor trailers using MD 550 to MD 491 (Raven Rock Road).

Detour signs, barrels and cones to guide motorists through the work zone. MDOT SHA coordinated with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. National Park Service regarding the project and the impacts. Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park will remain accessible to visitors during the closure.

Food bank sees increased use

The Thurmont Food Bank, located in the old town office at 10 Frederick Road, has experienced an increase in those in need of food in the wake of the COVID-19 driven surge in unemployment numbers.

Coordinator Sally Giffin said: "We have seen an increase in people coming" to the food bank for provisions, and estimates that the food bank has experienced a 30 to 40-percent increase in individuals and families seeking assistance.

"We have volunteers inside bagging the food, and volunteers outside loading the food into the backseats or trunks" of those seeking aid said Giffin. Aid recipients will be provided with two weeks’ worth of food, she said, or about a shopping cartload. Provisions can entail all kinds of things, such as milk, meats, frozen vegetables, and fresh produce. The amount of food provided is also determined by family size.

The food bank is open on Tuesday evenings, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and on Fridays, from 4 to 6 p.m. For additional information, visit thurmontfoodbank.com.

Fire & Ambulance Companies postpone events

The Guardian Hose Company remains undecided as to whether or not they will be holding its annual, July carnival. Regarding other social and fundraising events being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fire company states on its website, "Effective Immediately and until further notice, all fundraisers have been canceled or postponed. Our activities building has been closed to everyone." "If you had the activities building rented for an event in the near future, we will be in contact with you. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused," the department posted.

The Thurmont Community Ambulance Service has postponed a number of events as a result of the viral infestation as well, including its carnival. Ambulance Company Secretary Joyce Stitely stated that as of now, all May events have been postponed or canceled, including the highly popular Friday night bingos. However, hope remains that the summer will bring a return to normally, and as of right now, the Ambulance Company’s Car Show, currently schedule for July 18, is still on.