(6/2021) Town awarded Little League tournament
Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick told the town commissioners at their May 11 meeting that the town has been awarded the 11 through 13-year-old state Little League Baseball Tournament this year. The event will be held July 10 through July 16.
Humerick stated that staff has been talking with Chief Gregory Eyler, of the Thurmont Police Department, Chief Charlie Brown, of the Guardian Hose Company, and Chief D. J. Ott, of the Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, to make sure they know the details - as they are known regarding holding the event, including the potential for additional cost for services rendered as the event is held.
"It’s going to obviously bring a lot of out-of-town into Thurmont. We’re very happy to have that," he said, adding, "We’ll be working with our businesses and other folks around town to make sure they (visitors and attendees) feel welcome."
The Maryland State Little League Baseball Tournament presently consists of eight little league baseball districts. According to the state website, "The champions from seven of these districts meet in a tournament that determines the Maryland state champion."
The eighth district, District of Columbia, competes in a different series of tournaments.
Town park projects awaits funding
Chief Administrative Officer Humerick told the commissioners at their May 11 meeting that the town has received a Community Parks and Playgrounds Grant for $160,000 to do the entire Woodland Park Phase II playground replacement.
Final approval must be done by the state Department of Public Works, which could take around 60 days to complete. The proposed work on replacing playground equipment at the Woodland Park, which was to utilize Project Open Space (POS) money, was postponed indefinitely at the commissioners’ April 13 meeting tin order to use that POS funding for a new skate park at the East End Park.
However, Humerick stated that garnering $160,000 through the Community Parks and Playgrounds program will allow the town to proceed with both proposed park projects, improvements at Woodland Park, and the new skate park at East End.
Regarding other park improvements, Humerick noted that the Lions Club, who has donated money for the Skate Park Committee, has also donated money to the Hagerstown & Frederick Trolley Trail Association for improvements being made on the Trolley Park Trail extension.
Mayor John Kinnaird said the work on the trail extension is progressing, and that he recently noticed foot bridges being constructed at low points in the trail that can be subject to water flowing across the path.
"The trolley trail is an amazingly well-used facility," the mayor said, adding, "There’s always people on it. Any of the hour, day or night, there seems to be people walking on it."
Shamrock sold for nearly $4 million
The Shamrock Restaurant was sold as of the last week of March for $3,950,000, which included the 2.9-acre parcel upon which the eatery is located. The sale did not include the balance of the 8.96 total acreage of the entire property.
According to a document obtained by the News-Journal, the restaurant was acquired by Two Farms, Inc., of Baltimore. Two Farms, Inc., conducting business as, Royal Farms, operates a chain of convenience stores, according to Bloomberg. The seller was listed as being All Dees LLC.
The News-Journal has learned that the vintage Fitzgerald Motel and the Shamrock Restaurant will both likely be demolished, with the new Royal Farms being cited within that general area, but that has yet to be confirmed.
The Shamrock Restaurant was on its way to hitting its 60th anniversary but fell short in 2019 when the operation ceased when Donna Demmon and Dawn Knox, owners, had decided to retire, resulting in the decades-old establishment and property being put on the market.
According to Friend Commercial Real Estate realtor Ted Kroos, the property (et al) will remain commercial, and a new restaurant may open there, and/or some other retail operation(s) "which does not compromise the site.
YMCA to hold art classes
The Frederick YMCA will be holding two art sessions in June for Thurmont area youth and their families.
Commissioner Wes Hamrick stated at the town commissioners’ May 11 meeting that the art classes will be held at Apples United Church of Christ, Apples Church Road, and there will be a $15 per family charge for each class, regardless of the size of the family.
The first class to be held will be on June 12 from 10:30 a.m. until noon, and will feature "Under the Sea Watercolor Painting," in which the participants will use watercolor paint and sea salt to produce their own underwater seascapes.
The second class, dubbed "Painted Rocks," will be held on June 19 from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Participants will be given an opportunity to try their hand at panting their favorite animals, insect or plants on rocks.
Commissioner Hamrick said the classes sound like a "fun way to get the summer started." To register on-line, or for additional information, visit the county YMCA website at frederickymca.org.
