Catoctin Mountain Orchard Welcomes International Growers

Catoctin Mountain Orchard of Thurmont hosted an international group of fruit growers last month as part of the 49th Annual Conference of the International Fruit Tree Association held in Hershey, Pa. Over 100 growers from around the world came to visit the Catoctin Mountain Orchard operation, to see first-hand the very diversified 125-acre orchard.
 
Catoctin Mountain Orchard is a family-owned orchard along U.S. Route 15 north of Thurmont at North Franklinville Road. Shown above is Robert Black giving a tour of the apple orchard.

Scholarship Offerings

• The Northwestern Frederick County Civic Association announces a new $1,000 scholarship available to any graduate from Catoctin or Smithsburg High Schools pursuing a career in the automotive technology field.  Students of private schools within these two school districts may also apply.   Applications may be obtained from the guidance offices.  The Civic Association meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  at Sabillasville Elementary school.  The group addresses social, political and recreational needs of the community.  All residents of Sabillasville and surronding rural areas are encouraged to attend.   Another scholarship, the  $1000 John A. Cliber Memorial Scholarship Fund,  is available to students of the same districts or adults pursuing continuing education.  For more information about these scholarships or the association, call 301- 241-3687.
   

• Sabillasville Elementary School PTA announces a $300 scholarship available to former students whom attended at least four years at the school. Alumni of Sabillasville who are currently high school seniors or those enrolled in a college or trade school are encouraged to apply. Applicants must provide a copy of their current GPA, a 100 word essay about their future plans and the name of the collgeg/trade school they plan to attend or are currently enrolled. For more information call PTA President Janet Fogle at 301-271-9192.
   

• The Thurmont High School Alumni will be awarding two $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school senior students who are related to Thurmont High School Alumni. Scholarship applications are available at Catoctin High School or can be obtained by contacting, Clinton Rhodes at 301-271-7994. All completed information must be received by May 12, 2006.

Hoffman and Walters Celebrate 90th Birthdays

In February, two long-time residents of Thurmont celebrated their 90th birthdays at parties given by their respective families.

John Hoffman (shown above on left) moved to Thurmont from Creagerstown in 1949. He worked for several years at Charlie Hobb’s grocery store on East Main Street (now Hoffman’s Market). When Moore Business Forms came to town, Mr. Hoffman went to work there until retirement.

Charles Walter (shown above onright) was the owner and operator of the Thurmont Movie Theater. After working in sales for several years, he joined the staff at the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk at the Thurmont office where he worked until retirement.

Clarke To Show Cattle At Regional Preview Junior Angus Show

Taylor A. Clarke, Rocky Ridge, Maryland, will exhibit Angus cattle at the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Junior Angus Classic (MAJAC) Regional Preview Junior Angus Show in Harrisonburg, Virginia, March 11 through 12, reports James Fisher, director of activities and junior activities at American Angus Association.

Taylor, a junior member of the American Angus Association with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Missouri, is one of 242 young people from 10 states who have entered a total of 294 Angus to compete for championship honors.

Cheryl Linthicum, Comfort, Texas, will judge divisions for bred-and-owned heifers and bulls, owned heifers, cow-calf pairs and steers.

The MAJAC Show is sponsored by the American Angus Association and the Northern Virginia Junior Angus Association. It is one of seven regional junior Angus shows the national organization sponsors each year for its more than 10,500 active junior Angus members in the United States.

CHS ’81 Reunion Planned/In Search of Classmates.

The reunion committee for the Catoctin High School Class of 1981 is currently planning their 25th year class reunion. The reunion dinner/dance will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2006. A classmate social will be held at The Ott House on Friday, June 16. The Class will sponsor a fundraiser Golf Tournament on Friday, May 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Maple Run Golf Course in Thurmont. Contact information is needed for the following classmates: Diane Baker-Stambaugh, Mary Bollinger, Mike Bomango, John Buhrman, William Carey, Lori Dammann-Betlyon, Tracey Dick, Dean Ehlert, Anna Fisher, Lisa Fogle-Harley, Kenny Hahn, Tim Icard, Sharon Knott, John Fisher, Julie Gelwicks-Portner, Anna Getz, Charlene Holt, Tim Hope, Bonnie Horn, Ernest Hurley, Melanie Late-Cornwell, Pam Martin-McNair, Kathy Newcomer-Shuff, Laura Perry, Charles Poole, William Portner, Dwight Ramsburg, Ron Shelton, Roger Smith, Jeff Stevens, Brenda Tyler-Bentz-Semler, Arlene Waggonner-Kuykendall, Mike Welch. If you have information regarding these graduates, contact Tina (Zanella) Delauter 301-271-3078, TinaD463@msn.com or Kim (Ridenour) Benjamin 301-271-3477, klben5@hotmail.com. 

Catoctin High School Safe-n-Sane Golf Tournament

Catoctin High School Safe-n-Sane will be holding a Golf Tournament to benefit the 2006 graduating class. The tournament will be held Friday April 28, 2006 at Maple Run Golf Course in Thurmont. The format four-man scramble will have a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. The cost is $65.00/single and $260.00/ team. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top teams. For more information contact John Cuddahee at 301-271-4420 or 301-271-2554.

Therapeutic Riding Program Receives Donations Thurmont Co-Op After Fire

A New Year’s Day fire that caused severe damage to the Thurmont Cooperative resulted in a windfall for the Frederick County 4H Therapeutic Riding Program (TRP). Kevin Donnelly, Manager of the Thurmont Cooperative, contacted TRP and offered to donate a variety of horse supplies such as fly spray, horse treats, wormers, supplements, halters, lead ropes and grooming supplies, which had been salvaged from the fire. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Donnelly, these donated items will be invaluable for maintaining the 16 horses and ponies that serve as key partners with the students in TRP.

TRP, a 501c3 non-profit organization, has just completed its 22nd year of service to Frederick County citizens with emotional, physical or mental disabilities. The Program serves students ranging in age from 5 years old to 60 years old. Virtually all of the animals used in the Program are donated, and many are over 25 years of age. Horses and ponies over 25 years old are considered by many owners to be "past their prime" for hard use by everyday riders. However, with good health care and limited work hours, these animals can lead healthy and happy lives, and can be valuable participants in the Program. All of the items donated by the Thurmont Cooperative will go a long way towards helping to ensure the health and utility of these animals.

Therapeutic riding provides education, socialization, recreation and therapy to more than 60 students each Spring and Fall at no charge to the participants. Students ride one hour per week for seven weeks during each session. Class instructors and physical therapists design specific programs for each student, direct the implementation of these programs, and monitor the progress of the students. For more information visit us on the web at www.fc4htrp.org or call 301-898-3587.

Local Church to Offer Spanish/English Bi-Lingual Service

Thurmont Seventh-Day Adventist church is launching a new bi-lingual Spanish and English speaking Christian church service on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. beginning March 18, 2006. Led by Pastor J.S. Damazo, the church service will feature an interactive, color large screen multi-media presentation complete with cultural concert music and sacred music. “We have begun this program by request and hope to fill a need in the community,” said Pastor Damazo.

Thurmont Seventh-Day Adventist Church is located at 15601 Catoctin Mountain Highway (US Rt. 15), in Thurmont. For more information, call 301-271-2346.

Community Invited to 2nd Annual Thurmont Business Expo

Thurmont Economic Development Council will host the second annual Restaurant and Business Expo on Friday, March 31, 2006, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Catoctin High School. The theme for this year’s event will be Mardi Gras.

Visit the Expo free of charge to sample food from area restaurants and learn more about your area businesses. Over 80 businesses are expected to attend this year’s event.

Restaurants scheduled to attend this year include Cozy Restaurant, Country Kitchen, Creekside Restaurant, and Mountain Gate Family Restaurant. Jubilee Foods, Hoffman’s Market, and the Thurmont Lions Club will also be providing food for the event.

Lee’s Retreat: Battle of Monterey Walking Tour

Take a walk through history on the land where the Battle of Monterey was fought nearly 150 years ago. Join licensed Gettysburg Battlefield guide Michael Vallone for an intriguing history of the battle where George Armstrong Custer and his Michigan Cavalry brigade attacked and captured part of Robert E. Lee’s retreating Army of Northern Virginia after the Battle of Gettysburg. Learn about the background of the retreat and the incredible circumstances under which this action took place.

The 90-minute history walk on the Battle of Monterey will be held on Saturday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m. and on Sunday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m. The narrated and guided tour will begin at Hawley Presbyterian Church and continue east to railroad tracks, then up the mountain, ending at Brown’s Springs at Lions’ Club Park. Walkers should meet at the Hawley Presbyterian Church for both walks. Tickets for the walk are $10.00 each available locally at Flohr’s True Value Hardware and The Lily Pad in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania and at Sander’s Market in Cascade.

All Aboard for the "Cherry Blossom" Special

The Hagerstown Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is sponsoring a special train excursion to Washington, D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival and Parade on Saturday, April 8, 2006.

This special train will take passengers from Martinsburg and Brunswick direct to Union Station in Washington, just a short walk from the route of the annual Cherry Blossom Parade at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue. Enjoy a day in the Nation’s Capital, that this special train and avoid the traffic, parking and even save gas in the bargain.

The train will leave Martinsburg promptly at 7:30 a.m. and from Brunswick at 8:10 a.m., arriving in Washington at 9:00 a.m. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. Following the parade there will be time for visiting Potomac Park, to view the Cherry Trees and other attractions along the Mall, between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The train will depart from Union Station at 4:30 p.m. and have you home in time for supper.

The train fare is $25 for children, $45 for seniors and $50 for adults. Tickets are available at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum located at 300 South Burhans Boulevard in Hagerstown and at Mainline Hobby Supply in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.

Telephone orders are accepted at 301-739-4665 Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For additional information call the Hagerstown Joint Trip Committee at 301-739-4665.