Frederick Magazine - February 2024

FREDERICK / FEBRUARY 2024 / ISSUE 464

®

BEST OF FREDERICK / SCHOOL DESEGREGATION / DJ YOUNG FRESH PRINCE

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ISSUE 464

MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS Shawn Dewees / Joseph Silovich Editor-in-Chief Guy Fletcher Assistant Editor Nancy Luse Graphic Designers Ian Sager Alexandra Werder Contributing Writers April Bartel Amy L. Metzger Hunt Jody Brumage Jeni Lubbert Gina Gallucci-White Colin McGuire Karen Gardner Kate Poindexter Scott Grove Jake Wynn Contributing Photographers Michael DeMattia Turner Photography Studio Advertising Account Executives Terri Davis / tdavis@fredmag.com Shawn Dewees / sdewees@fredmag.com Stephanie Dewees / stephdewees@fredmag.com Debra Tyson / dtyson@fredmag.com Distributor Josh Ensor / alloutdist@fredmag.com Subscriptions Stephanie Dewees / subscriptions@fredmag.com Events Calendar and Proofreader Niki DeSanto / events@fredmag.com

Telephone: 301-662-8171 FAX: 301-662-8399

WWW.FREDMAG.COM Letters to the editor: editor@fredmag.com Frederick Magazine, Volume XXXIX, Number 2 is a monthly publication of Diversions Publications, Inc., 6 N. East Street, Suite 301, Frederick, MD 21701-5601 (ISSN 006-923). Periodicals postage paid at Frederick, MD 21701 and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions, $24.95 per year, which includes the Frederick City/County Guide, Homegrown, and all other annual guides (available through the business office). Back issues w/in the last 12 mos./$3.95. Prior to 12 mos. ago/$7.00. POST­MASTER: Send address changes to Frederick Magazine, 6 N. East Street, Suite 301, Frederick, MD 21701-5601. Customer inquiries to same address or call 301-662-8171. Distributed through mail subscriptions, home delivery, and sold at newsstands and other locations in Frederick, Upper Montgomery counties, and throughout the Central Maryland region. Advertising rates available on request. Manuscripts, drawings, and other submissions must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Frederick Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited material. All rights to submissions, including letters and e-mail, will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as subject to Frederick Magazine’s unrestricted right to edit and to comment editorially, unless otherwise negotiated with the author. © DIVERSIONS PUBLICATIONS, INC. 2024. Frederick Magazine, Best of FrederickTM, and People to WatchTM, are owned exclusively by Diversions Publications, Inc. All contents of this publication are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part for any reason without prior approval of the publisher.

Printed on Recycled Frederick is a registered trademark of Paper Diversions Publications, Inc.

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Find It Inside FEBRUARY 2024, VOL. XXXIX, NO. 2

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DEPARTMENTS

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11 Editor’s Note 15 Uncovered— Paper Portraits

MIXING IT UP

16 Up Above 18 FDK 22—Pix 26—Then & Now

BEST OF FREDERICK!

A senior at Frederick High School, LaVon Thomas II has already achieved many of his life goals. Using the stage name DJ Young Fresh Prince, Thomas has met several of his idols in the entertainment industry even as he carves his own path behind the turntables.

BY COLIN McGUIRE AND TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

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The original and only “Best of Frederick” list, generated by our annual readers’ poll, is the source of much debate and discussion. What truly is the best restaurant in Frederick County? Where is the best place to get your car repaired? Where should you go to buy flowers, grab a good book or take your dog for a walk? Opinions about the best things about our community will always differ. Check out the poll results and see if you agree.

TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

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CLASS DISMISSED

Their journey began in 1958, four years after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling that desegregated schools and other public accommodations across the nation. The original Black students at Frederick High School share their memories of anxiety and anguish that came with being civil rights pioneers.

BY KATE POINDEXTER AND TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

36 Business— Sharon Riser 38—Biz Bites 40—On Tech 42 Spotlight— Young Fresh Prince 44—Artsy 54 Talking History— Todd Johnson 56 Trending— Seton Shrine 58—Stylin’ 60—Tell Us 62 On the Table— 10Tavern 64—Tiny Bites 66—Cravings 74 On the Road— Fort McHenry 76—Postcards 78—You’re Here 80 February Calendar of Events 94 Reflections— Luke Tiernan Brien 96 Past Time— Education Advocate fredMAG 7

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Redesign Response Guy Fletcher / Editor-In-Chief / gfletcher@fredmag.com

There was great excitement (and a touch of exhaustion) when we completed the January issue of Frederick Magazine. Months of work, along with planning that started years ago, went into a dramatic redesign unveiled in that issue. Many parts of the magazine were greatly changed, some were shortened and others lengthened. Some sections were renamed and others deleted.

In the end, I truly felt that we improved Frederick Magazine with its first major redesign in two decades.

I was happy with the strong positive reaction from friends and magazine contributors who saw preview pages.

But reader reaction is trickier to predict, especially when it comes to changing a product that has been a part of the community for nearly 40 years.

I would be lying if I said there was no apprehension on my part when I

approved the final pages for January.

When the issue hit the streets on Jan. 1, reaction came quickly via social media, text messages and email.

So, what did you say?

For the most part, your response was positive. The readers who reached out to me seemed happy about the new flow of information, the logical placement of content and the improvements like starting the feature stories earlier in the

magazine and keeping the calendar of events in one place with no page jumps.

One mild complaint I received concerned the rebranding of the former Insider section in the front of the magazine. Over the years, Insider had grown into something of a catch-all for any small item not big enough for a full story in the magazine. As a result, what was 14 pages when I arrived here in November 2008 had ballooned to 20 pages by December 2023.

In reworking Insider, we removed much of its content and moved it to other, more relevant parts of the magazine. For example, the Wish You Were Here page of vacation photos is now Postcards and included in a new On the Road travel section that includes day trips and local tourism.

I knew that kind of disruption would throw some for a loop, but the complaint I received had nothing to do with Insider’s new format. It had to do with the name.

The name Insider felt dated, so during the redesign process we looked for a new word to describe the section. At first, I considered FRD as an abbreviation for Frederick, but scrapped that in favor of FDK, which is the official federal designation for Frederick Municipal Airport. But at least one reader informed me that she does not know what FDK means.

As I said in this space last month, while the large components of the redesign are complete, smaller changes will continue to be made as we work on some finer points you might notice in the coming months.

If confusion persists, we might even find a new name for FDK. During this process, I appreciate your continued feedback.

Thank you and have a safe and happy February. FM

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“My employer just informed us that they are going to be offering a new 401k retirement plan. Is this something I should participate in and contribute to? How does it work?”

C.M. - Frederick, MD planners generally say A: Financial you’ll need between 75 percent and 85 percent of your annual preretirement income to live comfortably in retirement. Do you know where your retirement income is going to come from? One of the best ways to supplement social security income and help ensure your future financial comfort is by saving in an employer-sponsored 401(k) plan today.

A 401(k) plan is a valuable employee benefit, and saving can be effortless.

Your employer will automatically deduct your contribution from your paycheck, so you don’t have to remember to set the money aside. Plus, you decide how much you want to save each pay period.

Here are some additional benefits: • Pretax contributions mean you don’t pay income tax on the money you contribute to your plan, so your annual taxable income will be lower. Additionally, because the government doesn’t tax any contributions or investment earnings until they are withdrawn, you benefit from tax-deferred growth.

• 401(k) plans allow for higher contributions than other types of retirement savings plans, such as IRAs.

Contribution limits are set annually by the IRS. • Catch-up contributions are allowed for individuals age 50 or older based on the limits set annually by the IRS. • Many employers match a portion of 401(k) contributions. For example, a common match may be dollar-for-dollar up to 5 percent of eligible pay. In this scenario, an individual with an annual salary of $35,000 who contributes 10 percent to the plan ($3,500) would receive an additional $1,750 in matching contributions. It’s hard to find a comparable savings option like this in a bank.

• Many 401(k) plans offer the opportunity to make Roth contributions.

A Roth contribution is made on an after-tax basis, meaning that you’ve already paid income tax on it. Since it is taxed at the time of deferral, you won’t have to pay taxes on it again when you withdraw it from the account.

• Most 401(k) plans provide a variety of investment options from which you may choose. You can save time by selecting from a list of investments prescreened by your employer. Or, you can take the guesswork out of the process by investing your money in

a target-date fund—a professionally managed mutual fund that automatically allocates the appropriate mix of stocks, bonds, and fixed income products according to the date that you expect to retire.

• The sooner you start saving, the faster your account has the potential to grow. Through the power of compounding, as your invested assets generate earnings, that money is continuously reinvested to potentially generate even more earnings.

• Through a time-proven investment technique called dollar-cost averaging, over the years, you can buy more shares of each investment option when prices are low and fewer when prices are high.

As a result, the average price per share of your investments may be lower than if you invested all your money at once.

• Your 401(k) belongs to you. When you change jobs, you can take the money with you by rolling it over to your new employer’s 401(k) plan or to an IRA. Remember, if you don’t participate in a 401(k) plan, you’re missing out on a golden opportunity to save for your retirement while lowering your current tax burden. Saving today is the first step toward a secure retirement.

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE:

WWW.MCCASKILL-FINANCIAL.COM FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, FINANCIAL ARTICLES AND INFORMATION To submit questions for future articles

Email to scott@mccaskill-financial.com or Call our office at 301.668.7366 Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services are separate from and not offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®.

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UNCOVERED

Portraits on Paper

By Amy L. Metzger Hunt / Curator, Heritage Frederick

One of Joshua Johnson’s most famous paintings is The Westwood Children, which appears in the National Gallery of Art.

E. Frederick Klein was born in 1790 in the town of Walheim in Württemberg, Germany, and immigrated to America in October 1817, arriving in Philadelphia. He spent time in several Pennsylvania towns, working in bakeries, before traveling to Baltimore to set up shop for himself. Klein married Anna Lillich, also a native of Württemberg, and from about 1820 to 1840 they lived in Baltimore, raising their children while Frederick ran a bakery on Pearl Street.

Because of health complications, Frederick moved the family out of the city and into the rolling hills of

Frederick County, first purchasing land in Libertytown. Then, 19 years later, the Kleins moved to a small

farm three miles west of the City of Frederick. The Kleins can be seen in the early years of their marriage in this pair of portraits on paper; Anna is pictured with one of their firstborn children in about 1822.

These paintings have been listed as “attributed to Joshua Johnson.”

Johnson lived in Baltimore and is considered one of America’s first professional African American artists. He usually painted his middle-class neighbors, many of whom were immigrants like the Kleins.

In 2022, experts and conservators determined that, without a doubt, Johnson painted these works. E. Frederick and Anna Klein by Joshua Johnson will be unveiled in a new exhibit at Heritage Frederick celebrating this newly confirmed attribution. The festivities will begin with a lecture on Feb. 29 by Mark Letzer, retired president and CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, who was a contributing writer for the 2021 book Joshua Johnson Portraitist of Early American Baltimore. The exhibit of the Klein portraits and the rest of the 2024 newly installed exhibits opens to the public March 1. FM

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UP ABOVE A thin layer of snow coats Brunswick on a frosty winter day. FM Photography By Michael DeMattia

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Experience F R E D E R I C K ’ S E A S TS I D E S H O P P I N G & D I N I N G A DV E N T U R E

We make Frederick sweeter!

Come visit us for sweet treats including ice cream, homemade fudge, and chocolates.

SHOPS BEAUTY SERVICES, SALONS & SPAS Daisy’s Salon Frederick Wig Company JKW Beauty Unique Studio Hair Salon GALLERIES / HOME DESIGN Eastside Artists’ Gallery Primitive Homespuns Pure Home Collection Take Root

Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream www.fredicecream.com

Shab Row Tea Emporium 325 Varieties of Loose Leaf Tea www.fredericktea.com

Valentine’s Day Gifts for All Your Loved Ones

GIFT SHOPS The Frederick Basket Company The Lerner Collection The Little Pottery Shop CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES Bella’s Closet Footlights Ivy’s Haven A Perfect Fit Bra Boutique Talbots & Talbots Petites Teresa’s Treasures CRAFTS & SUPPLIES Charlotte’s Cottage Quilt Shop Frederick Clay Studio I Made This!

Primitive Homespuns Wool & Needleworks FOOD & DRINK Frederick Coffee Co. & Café Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream Sanctuary: Modern Kitchen Shab Row Tea Emporium SERVICES Amada Senior Care The Cook’s Kitchen The Cutting Board Sir Speedy Printing Stadtkind Photography Steve Hissey Guitar Studio Wolfe’s Antique Furniture Restoration & Refinishing

PLENTY OF FREE PARKING

Take Root

Specializing in vibrant houseplants, home décor, and plant education. www.takerootplants.com

The Frederick Basket Co.

Unique Gift Baskets for All Occasions www.frederickgiftbasket.com

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Located at the Intersection of East Church Street & East Street in Downtown Frederick

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FDK

Finding the Way to Parking Karma

Above: The 393-space Church Street parking garage is planned to be rebuilt and expanded, increasing its capacity

By Douglas Tallman

by more than 100 vehicles.

You have $10 burning a hole in your pocket, and you’d really like to interrupt your Downtown drive to sample a new coffeeshop. You hope and pray you can park nearby. Meters? You’re short of change. And you don’t have the city’s parking app on your phone. And you don’t have enough cash for one of the parking decks.

Where’s good parking karma when you need it?

Frederick does, however, have an alternative—the city has a number of unmetered spots, some just a short walk from Downtown. The hitch is, of course, finding a place to land. Many spots are limited to residents, others aren’t available on certain days of the week.

You’ll need more than parking prosperity.

Sadly, things are expected to get worse with the city exploring the options of renovating the 50-year-old parking deck on East Church Street.

The deck, the city’s first, requires an enormous amount of maintenance, says Richard Griffin, the city’s economic development director. Charting out solutions, the city is planning a full parking and circulator study.

In the meantime, parkers will have to content themselves with finding

their own car niche—like the west side of Baker Park near the tennis courts, South Market near the Maryland School for the Deaf or West Patrick Street, west of College Avenue.

Stray too far from Downtown and “transients,” as Griffin calls them, take spots that residents might consider theirs.

The network of one-way, east-west streets in the historic district mostly have unmetered spaces, especially a few blocks from Market Street.

Old-time residents might remember the Harry Grove circulator bus that carried commuters from the ballpark’s copious asphalt to Downtown. The circulator ended during the Randy McClement administration as a cost-savings measure, Griffin says.

Speaking of costs, the city collects north of $5.4 million a year in

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parking fees, according to the City of Frederick Annual Budget Report for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. That covers nearly 2,500 parking deck spaces and 1,400 on-street parking spaces, the report says.

Griffin says the city wants to consider what hospitality businesses— the city’s restaurant workers and store

“

The city hopes the Church Street parking deck will gain access to 2nd Street, as well.

NEW APP DESIGNED FOR PARKING HELP The Frederick City Parking Department recently launched its new “Park Frederick” app, which allows residents and visitors to use their mobile devices to check real-time parking availability in select Downtown Frederick garages.

”

—Richard Griffin, Frederick City Economic Development Director

employees—need, anticipating they might be more price sensitive than other employees. Some businesses will pay their employees’ costs for parking, others let the employees figure it out.

“We know what [workers] are willing to pay,” Griffin says.

In the meantime, the city has made no permanent decisions, he points out.

Looking for a Few Good People to Watch Once more, we’re preparing our annual “People to Watch” list, which will be featured in the May issue of Frederick Magazine.

This is a salute to local people who are making contributions to the community. Their gifts and talents may be in the arts, business, education or helping the less fortunate—just for starters.

If you have a special person in mind, we’d love to hear from you. Send nominations telling us what makes them watchable to editor@fredmag.com.

The app, available for free on Google Play and the Apple Store, offers a user-friendly experience with a clean and intuitive design, making parking convenient and effortless. Through the app, Downtown Frederick residents and visitors will be able to receive turn-by-turn directions to parking locations and stay informed with timely updates.

“This app was designed with residents, workers and visitors in mind and to provide them with confidence to effortlessly navigate Downtown parking in a way that is more convenient for them,” says city Parking Manager Steven Johnson. www.cityoffrederickmd. gov/207/Parking

MORE GOOD TO GO AROUND Seven Frederick County nonprofits recently received $10,000 each from Maryland Humanities through its Hatza Memorial SHINE (Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity) Grant Program. The fund honors the late Marilyn Hatza, a staffer at Maryland Humanities.

The 95 recipients statewide include museums, historic sites, preservation and historical societies, and community and cultural organizations. Funds can be used for general operating expenses including salaries, rent, utilities, supplies and programs. The grants, funded by the state of Maryland via the Maryland Historical Trust, are flexible, allow-

ing funds to go where most needed.

Local recipients are the African American Resources Cultural Heritage Society, Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, City Youth Matrix, Global Z Recording Project, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, Maryland Foreign Language Association and Women Solve. www.mdhumanities.org

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Periodicals VALENTINEINSPIRED WEDDINGS to Fishing Poles

Sometimes couples will choose their wedding date to coincide with a holiday, so that it’s easily remembered. This time of year, you have a choice of Groundhog Day or Valentine’s Day. Guess which one wins out?

Sandra Dalton, Clerk of Frederick County Circuit Court, knows her weddings, having been in that job since 1998. She remembers the years when she bought two dozen long-stemmed roses on Valentine’s Day to give to brides. She used them all. Today, she’s seeing some of the popularity of the romantic holiday courthouse wedding taking a bit of a slide.

“You can go online and become a minister,” so you don’t need the services of her office, she offers as one reason for the decline, “but that’s OK.” Another explanation: “I think the younger generation feels that Valentine’s Day is sappy.” Still, she and chief deputy clerk Gloria Lewis believe that you can’t beat their workplace for your nuptials, regardless of the time of year.

“We have a lovely little marriage room,” Dalton says. “We haven’t had anyone leave here unhappy.”

Lewis says, “Many choose to get married here for monetary issues,” considering the cost of a fancy wedding venue as opposed to the $25 fee to exchange vows in the courthouse. “It’s cheaper and still just as nice,” she says. Plus, you don’t have to have the ceremony inside with nearby Carroll Creek Park and other outdoor spaces available once winter weather is past.

The women said the Valentine’s couples tend to dress up more than at other times of the year. “People still believe Valentine’s Day is the love day,” says Dalton. Lewis adds, however, “If you want to see a big dress-up day, hit us on Halloween.”

The Frederick County Public Libraries are amazing. Not only are they stocked with books (some in large print), magazines and newspapers to meet the needs and desires of all ages, as well as books on CD and DVDs of TV shows and movies, you can go online and access all manner of knowledge and enjoyment, including learning a foreign language or streaming music. Some of the branches offer notary services and at the Downtown library you can arrange for a passport.

But perhaps the most unusual library offering is at the Brunswick branch, 915 N. Maple Ave., where folks can check out a fishing pole for a week of dunking worms and other lures in the Potomac River, a stocked pond in Brunswick’s municipal park or anywhere else they might want to try their luck.

“It is definitely popular,” says assistant branch manager Becca Reeves. “The rods get checked out all spring and summer.”

Along with the rod and reel comes a box of tackle, but anglers are responsible for getting their own license. The program has been offered for roughly five years and has about a dozen rods. “We like to think that we can connect people to resources of all kinds,” Reeves says. www.fcpl.org

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pix FDK

OLD MAN WINTER DELIVERS

After last winter’s flake-free weather, Frederick area snow lovers were rewarded for their patience with a succession of snowfalls that were deep enough to merit shoveling and close schools.

MARDI GRAS KINGS

The Frederick Woman’s Civic Club crowned its annual Three Kings of Mardi Gras during its Twelfth Night celebration. Dr. Raymond Ediger (center) was named Rex, King of Mardi Gras. Guy Fletcher (left) was named King Proteus and Chris Martin (right) was named King Comus. The club will hold its Mardi Gras event on Feb. 10 at Holly Hills Country Club at 7 p.m. Tickets and information are available by calling 301-798-2435.

STATE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR

Frederick High School’s Sheri Murphy is the 2024 Maryland Assistant Principal of Year, an award bestowed by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals and given to just one assistant principal in the state annually.

Murphy is in her sixth year as an assistant principal at Frederick High, where she promotes a culture of academic achievement for all students. She “works tirelessly for students and staff and does not quit until the job is done,” Frederick High Principal Dr. David Franceschina said.

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HOUSES OF WORSHIP TOUR

The self-guided candlelight tour of Downtown Frederick’s historic houses of worship, sponsored by Visit Frederick, was held the day after Christmas. The event, featuring special music, celebrates the city’s tradition of religious diversity, local history and the holiday season.

LAST NIGHT AT TERRACE LANES

Frederick took on some Hollywood flair for the premiere of the horror movie Last Night at Terrace Lanes at Warehouse Cinemas.

As the name suggests, the movie was shot at Frederick’s Terrace Lanes. The bowling alley was closed to the public in May 2022 after more than 60 years in business.

Photos courtesy of Marie Gatien

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NOTHING BUT SOLUTIONS Nothing but the Best!

SEE WHAT LEE CAN DO FOR YOU 240-651-0433 • leebuildingclean.com

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then & now FDK

SQUARE CORNER

THEN: CIRCA 1908

Now: 2024 26 fredMAG

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When putting together the annual poll of our readers’ favorite things about Frederick County, we often notice some voting trends and gather input that help us decide which categories we should keep and delete on future ballots.

One thing we will note is if an existing category feels out of date or if it only garners a few votes. These are usually good indications that retirement is in order for that category. For the latest poll, we said goodbye to categories such as men’s fashion, hiking trail, high school marching band and cocktail, among others.

But in true “circle of life” fashion, we added several new categories, mostly in professional categories such as accountant, insurance (agency and agent) and travel (agency and agent). Other new categories include nonprofit, podcast and dispensary.

This year’s list of “Best of Frederick” winners includes many familiar names and sadly we again had a longtime winner who

is no longer in business. Champion Billiards Sports Bar took first place in sports bar, despite closing its doors in Westview Prominade last year. (Champion would have also been eligible as the best billiards bar, where it took first place last year, but that category was since deleted.)

The debate over the winners will continue, which has been the case for “Best of Frederick” for 32 years. So, check out the following pages and see for yourself. Do you agree with this year’s winners? Also, feel free to email us at editor@fredmag. com and let us know what categories you would like to see added or removed for the next “Best of Frederick” poll, which kicks off in September of this year.

FOOD AND DRINK Special Occasion/Romantic: Dutch’s Daughter 2nd Place: The Tasting Room

Overall Restaurant: Dutch’s Daughter 2nd Place: The Tasting Room 3rd Place: Madrones

Asian: Modern Asia

2nd Place: China Garden 3rd Place: Lucky Corner

3rd Place: The Wine Kitchen

Service: Dutch’s Daughter 2nd Place: The Tasting Room 3rd Place: Tapia’s on Main

Steak: Red Horse Steak House

2nd Place: The Tasting Room 3rd Place: Dutch’s Daughter

Kid-Friendly: The Derby Restaurant & Bar

2nd Place: Mountain Gate Family Restaurant 3rd Place: Golden Corral

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill New Restaurant: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

2nd Place: Ricci Italian Restaurant 3rd Place: Cugino Forno

Pizza: Il Forno Pizzeria

2nd Place: Bellisario’s Pizza 3rd Place: Frank’s Pizza of Libertytown

Manalù Italian Restaurant Italian: Manalù Italian Restaurant 2nd Place: Cucina Massi

3rd Place: Fratelli’s Italian and Seafood

Sushi: Lazy Fish

2nd Place: Old Dominion Grill and Sushi 3rd Place: Matsutake Sushi & Steak

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Lunch: La Paz Mexican Restaurant

2nd Place: May’s Seafood Restaurant 3rd Place: Firestone’s Culinary Tavern

Deli/Carryout: Brown’s

2nd Place: Trout’s Market 3rd Place: Crabapples

The Orchard Vegetarian: The Orchard

2nd Place: Hippy Chick Hummus 3rd Place: Frederick Social

Latin American: Plaza Mexico 2nd Place: Café Bueno 3rd Place: Cacique

Burrito: Cafe Bueno

2nd Place: Fajita Grande

Sandwich: a.k.a. Friscos

2nd Place: South Market Sandwich Company 3rd Place: Crabapples

Hamburger: Wag’s 2nd Place: Fifty Fifty

3rd Place: Beef ‘n Buns ‘n Paradise

Worth the Drive: Bavarian Inn 2nd Place: Antrim 1844

3rd Place: The Anvil Restaurant

Overall Barbecue: P.I.G.S. 2nd Place: Black Hog BBQ 3rd Place: CarterQue

Barbecue Ribs: Black Hog BBQ 2nd Place: Blues BBQ Co.

3rd Place: Mackie’s Barbecue Co.

Chili: Wag’s

2nd Place: Mountain View Diner 3rd Place: Black Hog BBQ

Hot Dog: North Market Pop Shop 2nd Place: Costco

3rd Place: Anchor Bar

3rd Place: Plaza Mexico

Seafood: Avery’s Maryland Grille

2nd Place: Liberty Road Seafood and Steak 3rd Place: Ragin’ Reef

Crab Cake: Dutch’s Daughter 2nd Place: Fratelli’s Italian and Seafood

3rd Place: Liberty Road Seafood and Steak

Specialty: Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar 2nd Place: Padmini’s Pizza and Indian Grill 3rd Place: Analia’s Cafe

Sunday Brunch: Dutch’s Daughter 2nd Place: Wilcom’s Inn 3rd Place: Madrones

Breakfast: Silver Diner 2nd Place: Cafe Nola

3rd Place: Airways Inn

Bagel: Beans & Bagels 2nd Place: Zi Pani

3rd Place: Panera Bread

Coffee Shop: Dublin Roasters 2nd Place: Frederick Coffee Company & Cafe 3rd Place: 5 West Cafe

Il Forno Chicken Wings: Il Forno Pizzeria 2nd Place: Anchor Bar

3rd Place: Buffalo Wild Wings

Fried Chicken: Watson’s Carry-Out 2nd Place: Giant Eagle

3rd Place: Royal Farms

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Ed’s Country Bakery Food Truck: Mayta’s Peruvian Cuisine

2nd Place: Grilled Cheese Please!

Winery: Linganore Winecellars

2nd Place: Springfield Manor 3rd Place: Black Ankle Vineyards

3rd Place: Blues BBQ Co.

Dessert: Nana B. Sweets 2nd Place: Bakehouse 3rd Place: Madrones

Bakery: Ed’s Country Bakery 2nd Place: Stone Hearth Bakery 3rd Place: Bakehouse

Distillery: McClintock Distilling 2nd Place: Dragon Distillery

3rd Place: Tenth Ward Distilling Company

Liquor Store: Riverside Liquors 2nd Place: DJ Liquors

3rd Place: Trout Liquors

Ice Cream/Frozen Dessert: South Mountain Creamery 2nd Place: Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream 3rd Place: Rita’s

Chocolate: The Perfect Truffle 2nd Place: The Candy Kitchen 3rd Place: Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream

Brewery: Idiom Brewing Co.

2nd Place: Olde Mother Brewing 3rd Place: Attaboy Beer

Overall Bar: Firestone’s Culinary Tavern 2nd Place: Brewer’s Alley 3rd Place: Bushwaller’s

Happy Hour: Madrones 2nd Place: Brewer’s Alley 3rd Place: Magoo’s

Sports Bar: Champion Billiards Sports Bar (Closed) 2nd Place: Orioles Nest 331

3rd Place: Belles’ Sports Bar & Grill

ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION

Reception Venue: Ceresville Mansion 2nd Place: Dulany’s Overlook 3rd Place: Walker’s Overlook

Caterer: Canapés Catering 2nd Place: Renaissance Chef

3rd Place: Celebrations Catering

Charitable/Social Event: Catoctin Affair

2nd Place: Battle of the Bands 3rd Place: Team Hope

Festival/Event: The Great Frederick Fair 2nd Place: In the Streets

3rd Place: Greek Festival

Art Gallery: The Delaplaine Arts Center 2nd Place: Griffin Art Center 3rd Place: NOMA Gallery

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The Delaplaine Museum: Rosehill Manor Park & Museums

2nd Place: National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Cover Band: The Reagan Years

Pet-Friendly Venue: Baker Park

3rd Place: The Hubcaps

3rd Place: Camp Bow Wow

2nd Place: Crash the Limo

3rd Place: Monocacy National Battlefield

Park: Baker Park

2nd Place: Utica District Park

Theater Troupe/Group: Other Voices Theatre

3rd Place: Heritage Farm Park

2nd Place: Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Golf Course: Clustered Spires Golf Club

3rd Place: Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre

2nd Place: Musket Ridge Golf Club

3rd Place: Worthington Manor Golf Club

Entertainment Value: Weinberg Center for the Arts 2nd Place: Warehouse Cinemas 3rd Place: Sky Stage

Black Locust

Radio Station: Key 103

Original Music Band: Black Locust

2nd Place: 99.9 Free Country

2nd Place: Kindred Crow

3rd Place: 106.9 The Eagle

3rd Place: Half Heard Voices

Radio Personality: Dina Carole 2nd Place: Bob Miller

3rd Place: Jack Diamond

Podcast: Welcome to Crazy 2nd Place: OCB Podcast

3rd Place: Smells Like Otto’s Jacket

2nd Place: Downtown Frederick

Blog: Housewives of Frederick County 2nd Place: Out 40

3rd Place: Visit Frederick

High School Sports: Linganore High School

2nd Place: Frederick High School

Fitness Center: Burn Boot Camp 2nd Place: Gold’s Gym

3rd Place: Onelife Fitness

Personal Trainer: Victor Guerra 2nd Place: Kip Jawish

3rd Place: Michael Gaines

Dance Studio: 24/7 Dance Studio 2nd Place: Dance Unlimited

3rd Place: Elite Feet Dance Studio

3rd Place: Middletown High School

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Yoga Studio: Roots & River Yoga

2nd Place: Mountain Spirit Yoga 3rd Place: Life’sWork Yoga

Hidden Gem: Carroll Creek 2nd Place: Il Forno Pizzeria

3rd Place: Crash and Catharsis Rage Factory

Wish Frederick had: Trader Joe’s

2nd Place: Cheesecake Factory

Grocery Store: Wegmans 2nd Place: Common Market 3rd Place: H Mart

Florist: Freesia and Vine 2nd Place: Ory Florals

3rd Place: Flower Fashions

3rd Place: Top Golf

Wish Frederick would bring back: roller skating 2nd Place: Freez King 3rd Place: Cinnabon

Sweet Buds Dispensary: Sweet Buds 2nd Place: Green Goods 3rd Place: gLeaf

Photographer: Engin Photography 2nd Place: Turner Photography Studio 3rd Place: Amanda Summers Photography

Bookstore: Curious Iguana 2nd Place: Wonder Book

3rd Place: Barnes & Noble

Comic Book Store: Brainstorm Comics & Gaming 2nd Place: Beyond Comics 3rd Place: Wonder Book

Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites 2nd Place: Clarion Inn Frederick Event Center 3rd Place: Days Inn

Nonprofit Organization: Frederick Rescue Mission 2nd Place: Mission of Mercy

3rd Place: Mental Health Association

HOME, AUTO AND YOU

Home Furnishings: Dream House Furniture & Interior Design 2nd Place: Bailey’s Treasures 3rd Place: Fitzgerald Home Furnishings

Antiques: Old Glory Antique Marketplace

Lake Linganore Neighborhood: Lake Linganore

2nd Place: Libertytown 3rd Place: Downtown Frederick

Pet Store: Rick’s Fish & Pet Supply 2nd Place: PetSmart

3rd Place: Central Dawgma

2nd Place: Emporium Antiques 3rd Place: Great Stuff by Paul

Gift/Specialty Shop: Dancing Bear Toys and Games 2nd Place: Retro-Metro 3rd Place: Ec’clectibles

Farmers Market: Thurmont Main Street 2nd Place: Middletown

3rd Place: Frederick City

Garden Center: Dutch Plant Farm 2nd Place: Meadow Farms Nursery

3rd Place: Barrick Garden Center

Carpentry/Home Improvement: Dorman Home Remodeling 2nd Place: Talon Construction 3rd Place: Renovations by Ed

Landscaping: Clearwater Landscape & Nursery

2nd Place: Hawkins Landscaping 3rd Place: Royal Greens

Heating/Air Conditioning: N.E. “Bob” Waltz Plumbing & Heating 2nd Place: Frederick Air

3rd Place: Mick’s Plumbing & Heating

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Electrician: Brandenburg Electric

Jewelry: Colonial Jewelers

2nd Place: Dixie Electric

2nd Place: Gold Thumb Jewelry Creations

3rd Place: Ercole Electric

3rd Place: Olde Towne Jewelers

Dry Cleaners: ZIPS

2nd Place: J&M Cleaners 3rd Place: Magic Touch Cleaners

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Plumber: N.E. “Bob” Waltz Plumbing & Heating 2nd Place: Charles F. Murphy

3rd Place: Mick’s Plumbing & Heating

Doctor: Dr. Edward Fisher

2nd Place: Frederick Primary Care Associates

Computer Tech/Repair: Computer Enhancement Systems

3rd Place: Dr. Jill Durfee

2nd Place: Computer Doc

Lawyer: Arthur Crum

3rd Place: Digital Age Solution

Auto Repair: Carriage House Automotive 2nd Place: Tires Plus

3rd Place: Krietz Auto

Car Dealer: Shockley Honda 2nd Place: The Frederick Motor Company 3rd Place: DARCARS

Car Wash: Auto Spa

2nd Place: Frederick Shell Carwash 3rd Place: Dolphin Car Wash

2nd Place: Leo Keenan

Thomas Scott Hair Salon: Thomas Scott Salon and Spa

2nd Place: New York New York Hair Salon and Day Spa 3rd Place: Sam Wong Salon

Nail Care Salon: Rose Nails Spa

2nd Place: All About Men Barbershop

3rd Place: Molly’s Meanderings

3rd Place: Rosemont Dental Center

3rd Place: Verbena Day Spa

Barber: Gentlemen’s Choice

2nd Place: Talbots

2nd Place: Monocacy Valley Dental

2nd Place: Thomas Scott Hair Salon & Spa

3rd Place: New York New York Salon and Day Spa

Women’s Fashion: Velvet Lounge

Dentist: Tate Family Dentistry

Day Spa: New York New York Hair Salon and Day Spa

2nd Place: Thomas Scott Hair Salon & Spa

Velvet Lounge

3rd Place: Lusk Law

3rd Place: New York New York Salon and Day Spa

Tattoo Parlor: Key City Tattoo 2nd Place: Born of a Legacy Tattoo

3rd Place: Classic Electric Tattoo

Hauser Health Specialty Medical: Hauser Health 2nd Place: Frederick Internal Medicine 3rd Place: Anne Arundel Dermatology

Alternative Medicine: Namaste Studios (closed) 2nd Place: Holistic Health Associates

3rd Place: Center of the Four Winds

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Key City Tattoo Bank: Woodsboro Bank 2nd Place: FCB Bank

3rd Place: PNC Bank

Financial Planning: McCaskill Financial

Real Estate/Realtor: Jim Bass/ Jim Bass Group of Real Estate Teams 2nd Place: Marsh Realty

3rd Place: Impact Maryland Real Estate

Senior Living Community: Homewood at Frederick

2nd Place: Buckingham’s Choice 3rd Place: Edenton Retirement Community

Senior Living Services: Visiting Angels

2nd Place: Key Financial 3rd Place: RBC Wealth Management

2nd Place: Homewood at Frederick 3rd Place: Sunrise

Business Support: McCaskill Financial

Veterinarian: Glade Valley Animal Hospital

2nd Place: Woodsboro Bank

3rd Place: Copy Doc Business Solutions

2nd Place: Prospect Veterinary Clinic 3rd Place: Kingsbrook Animal Hospital

Accountant: Almacy & Company, CPAs

2nd Place: DeLeon & Stang

Travel Agent: Kelly Spore

3rd Place: James V. Rizzo & Company

2nd Place: Barb Cline

3rd Place: Maggie Ballantyne

Insurance Agent: Connie Snook 2nd Place: Frank Lebherz 3rd Place: Connie Phillips

Insurance Agency: State Farm 2nd Place: Lebherz Insurance 3rd Place: Erie Insurance

Noelker and Hull Associates Architect: Noelker and Hull Associates 2nd Place: Christopher Zoltan Designs

Travel Agency: World Travel Service 2nd Place: Magical Vacations 3rd Place: Welcome Aboard Travel

3rd Place: Bates Architects

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BUSINESS

Course Correction Business Owner Sharon Riser Finds Renewed Purpose in Pilates

By Karen Gardner / Photography by Turner Photography Studio From salon manager to co-owner of a cosmetology school to Pilates instructor, Sharon Riser has taken a roundabout journey to career fulfillment. But she’s found her niche, dividing her time between the school she co-owns with her husband Charles and her newfound role as a teacher of Pilates.

Riser, 48, owns The Temple, the Downtown Frederick school where future professionals in the beauty industry learn the ins and outs of the career, including hair, makeup and manicuring. “I always tell my students, ‘You have a gift to make people feel beautiful and today, especially, people are desperately looking for things to make them feel better,’” she says.

Riser’s talent is in the business end of the beauty industry. She learned the ropes starting at age 18 while managing New York New York, the Frederick salon owned by her mother-in-law, Mary Louise Riser. There she met Charles. A few years later, they married. The couple recently celebrated 26 years of marriage and are parents of two grown children. Sharon and Charles started The Temple as a Paul Mitchell Partner School on West Church Street in 2005. In 2015, they opened The Temple Annapolis.

“We’re partners in companies, and we’re partners in life,” Riser says. “He’s my soulmate. I didn’t expect to fall into the beauty industry. My plan was to go to school for fashion merchandising.”

Life had other plans. Riser manages and promotes The Temple, from which Right: Sharon Riser divides her time between the beauty business and teaching Pilates.

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1,800 students have graduated. She guided the school through the COVID pandemic, with a shift to virtual learning and a gradual shift back to in-person instruction. “Between both companies, I’m responsible for 350 students and 50 team members,” she says. “That’s a lot.”

More than ever during the pandemic, her students suffered mental health problems, and Riser sought to connect students to community resources. “You went from being responsible for someone’s education to being responsible for someone’s health,” she says. She also needed to take care of her own mental health.

For her, that means going to the gym.

Riser returned to her gym as soon as pandemic rules allowed, continuing her lifelong workout routines. But she wanted something even more. “I tried yoga,” she says. “The minute they said, ‘Close your mind,’ I couldn’t close my mind.”

What she could do was follow a Pilates program. She took an intro class at Frederick’s Club Pilates, and she was hooked.

“For the first time, I had to sit and listen to someone tell me what to do,” she says.

“If I didn’t listen, I’d lose my place.”

Pilates focuses on whole-body exercises that target structural imbalances. German immigrant Joseph Pilates opened the first studio in New York in 1926. The exercises incorporate pulleys and springs, with classes geared toward stretching, balance, control, flow and cardio.

About a year in, she decided to undertake the 500-hour instructor training program. After nine months of training and extensive testing, she became certified. She taught her first Pilates class in September. She’s continued to take other Pilates-related classes, especially anatomy.

“You’ll never learn everything you need to know,” she says. Pursuing Pilates certification put her in the position of her students at The Temple, which helped her understand the student mindset.

Riser spends two to three days each week teaching Pilates and two to three days at The Temple.

She has no plans to ever manage a Pilates studio, however. “I love that I get to walk through those doors and be an educator, and I get to go home, and I get paid for it,” she says.

Both careers are about making people feel better about themselves.

“The thing I love about Pilates is that we open people up,” she says. “If your core is strong, you will see less back issues, less knee issues. Pilates is good for people who work at a keyboard.” FM

Above: After nine months of training and testing, Riser was certified in Pilates.

“

You don’t have to stay stuck in one career. If you take your time, you get to figure out what makes your heart sing.

—Sharon Riser

”

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biz bites BUSINESS

Common Market at Half a Century It began in 1974 as a buying club operating from the home of Randy and Francy Williams, with volunteers transporting items from warehouses and taking turns waiting on customers. Since then, the grocery co-op now known as the Common Market expanded into two large stores, serving the needs of health-conscious customers who are

supporters of the environment and local growers.

The co-op’s first storefront opened on Commerce Street in 1982, when the name Common Market was first adopted.

Membership grew so that in 1990, the market moved to a larger location. That was followed by yet another move in 2006 to one of its current locations at

5728 Buckeystown Pike, a grocery that also offers a café and juice, coffee and smoothie bar. Not to rest on its granola and sprouts, the Common Market opened a second location on 7th Street in 2020.

Currently, more than 8,000 members/ owners belong—although shopping is available to all. In addition to being a full-service grocery, with space also devoted to health care supplements and environmentally friendly cleaning products, the stores have a community room for special programs and classes. Raise a glass of kombucha to another 50 years of the Common Market. www.commonmarket.coop

An Anniversary, Bus Boasts and a Retirement Celebrating a decade this year of helping clients downsize and transition into new homes is Stress Free Solutions, 7313 Grove Road, a company founded and owned by Ryan Burns, who realized the need for his services while working in the senior home care industry. The company offers a free estimate and will customize a project timeline to meet the client’s goals. It can help with a few tasks or facilitate the entire process. One customer says the team is “part movers, part counselors, part friends.” www.stressfreesolutions.com Starting off the year with a bang is Frederick County Transit Services, recognized as an Outstanding Advocate by United Way of Frederick County for providing reliable transportation for those in the workforce. Transit also received the Best Social Media Marketing Award from the Association for Commuter Transportation for its campaign, “Today is the Day to Try Transit.”

Additionally, Deputy Director Jaime McKay and data management analyst Stephen Bladey won kudos. Transportation Inter-

national cited McKay as a changemaker for transit services in rural areas and for riders with disabilities. TechFrederick named Bladey as an unsung hero for his innovation tracking vehicles in real time and quickly troubleshooting problems. www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/transit If you’ve been greeted by a friendly face at the front desk of Frederick Health Hospital, or received a helping hand in the gift shop, the cancer center or chronic care department—just to name a few—the person behind those volunteers was Sharon Hanaby, who retired last month as director of volunteers after 33 years at the hospital. “I love these people,” Hanaby says of the volunteers.

“They’re like a second family to me. Frederick is so lucky to have these people who are so dedicated.”

During her career, Hanaby oversaw as many as 800 volunteers at one time, a number now diminished to around 300 because of COVID-19. In retirement, Hanaby plans to take the volunteer route, working with Hospice.

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HISTORIC

DOWNTOWN FREDERICK MARYLAND

LOCAL jewelry bath & body FUNCTIONAL kids stationary HANDMADE home accessories 19 N. Market St., Frederick ★ 301.663.3632 www.shopthemuse.com ★ Facebook “shop the muse”

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on tech BUSINESS

Update Software Regularly Keep your operating system, antivirus software and applications up to date. Software updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities.

Use Strong Passwords

By Jeni Lubbert

Cybersecurity 101

In our increasingly digital world, cybersecurity has become a paramount concern. With the rise of online threats and sophisticated hacking techniques, protecting your devices and data is more critical than ever. Here are some essential tips to help you fortify your digital defenses and keep your information secure.

Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

When connecting to public Wi-Fi, use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection.

This safeguards your data from potential eavesdroppers.

Be Wary of Phishing

Secure Your Network

Change default router passwords and use strong encryption to protect your Wi-Fi network. Regularly update your router’s firmware to patch security vulnerabilities.

Be cautious of unsolicited emails, messages or links. Cybercriminals often use phishing techniques to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. Verify the authenticity of requests before clicking on links or providing personal information.

Install Reliable Antivirus Software

Back Up Your Data

Be mindful of the permissions you grant to applications and websites. Only provide access to essential information, and regularly review and adjust app permissions.

In the event of a cyberattack or hardware failure, having a recent backup ensures you can recover your information without significant loss.

Choose reputable antivirus software and keep it updated. This helps detect and remove malicious programs that could compromise your system.

Limit Access and Permissions

Create complex passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or names. Change your passwords regularly and use unique passwords for different accounts.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone, in addition to your password.

Awareness is key to recognizing potential risks and taking proactive measures against them. Make them part of your routine. Cybersecurity is an ongoing effort and staying vigilant is a must in the ever-evolving landscape of online threats.

Taking these steps will contribute to a safer and more secure online experience for you and your digital assets.

Jeni Lubbert is a Project Manager at 270net Technologies, a website design and digital marketing firm in Frederick.

Contact her at 301-663-6000, ext.

615, or visit www.270net.com.

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SPOTLIGHT

Mixing it Up LaVon Thomas Finds Fame As DJ Young Fresh Prince

By Colin McGuire / Photography by Turner Photography Studio For being a teenager yet to graduate high school, LaVon Thomas II sure has achieved his share of life goals.

There was the time he met his idol, DJ Jazzy Jeff, in Canada, on a trip his parents organized as a Christmas gift.

Thomas, who goes by the stage name DJ Young Fresh Prince, was merely in the moment, talking to one of Jeff’s collaborators, Dayne Jordan, when Jordan invited the Frederick High School senior backstage.

“It was one of the greatest moments of my life,” Thomas recalls. “We got to meet and take pictures and then after that, he started following me on Instagram. He’s been watching me ever since.”

Then, of course, there was the time he was tapped to remix a song from Nicole Michelle, who, it just so happened, was on Illtown Sluggaz, a record label created by KayGee and Vin Rock from hip-hop stalwarts Naughty by Nature.

Turns out, Thomas uploaded a blend of two of Naughty by Nature’s songs to his social media and it garnered the attention of the Naughty By Nature camp. One quick Zoom meeting later and Thomas got the job.

All of that says nothing of Thomas’s health, which has turned into perhaps his most pressing life issue. When his mother Zonia was six months pregnant with him, Thomas was diagnosed with Prune Belly Syndrome, which often leads to kidney problems.

As a result, Thomas was put on dialysis at just 2 months old. Less than a year Right: Frederick High School Senior LaVon Thomas II goes by the stage name DJ Young Fresh Prince.

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into his life, he was in need of a kidney transplant, and it was his mother who stepped up to donate hers. The surgery was one of 13 he endured by age 3.

These days, Thomas is decidedly in better health, even as he acknowledges that he and his family may have to address another kidney donation down the line.

“I feel pretty good,” he says of his present-day status. “I make sure I take my meds every day, drink a lot of water.

There’s no fatigue involved now, but there was one time I had to cancel a show because I was in the hospital for my kidney.

“But that,” he insists, “that was just one time.”

As for the shows he has made, Thomas was sure to give back to the community that helped save his life when he DJ’d the National Kidney Foundation’s Maryland Kidney Walk in September.

He also stepped on the-ones-and-twos for a gingerbread decorating contest in Rockville in December.

Thomas also notes how he plans to spend this year performing at an abundance of parties before he heads to Frederick Community College in the fall. He wants to spend two years there before

moving on to study music at somewhere like Howard University. Thomas would ultimately like to start his own record label because he wants to help other artists pursue their vision, unlike some record companies that notoriously treat artists as second-class citizens.

“I want to travel and listen to different music around the world,” he says, adding he hopes to bring what he learns during his travels back to the United States.

Music has always been in Thomas’s blood, he contends.

After spending a childhood Above: Giving back to the community “pounding on pots and pans,” that helped save his life, Thomas his parents took him to a music store for his 10th birthday.

DJ’d the Maryland Kidney Walk.

That’s how his DJing career kicked off; they bought him equipment that day and the rest, as they say, is history.

And yet after all that— meeting his idol, collaborating with hip-hop legends and overcoming uncommonly I want to travel and contentious health adversity at such a young age—there’s listen to different still one goal to achieve that music around Thomas has his eyes on in the immediate future. the world.

“I really want to DJ prom this year,” he says with excitement. “I did homecoming, so —LaVon Thomas they’ve seen what I can do.

If they don’t want me, that’s cool, too.

“But,” he adds after a quick pause and chuckle, “now they know what I bring.

“And I think I can do it.” FM

“

”

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artsy “ SPOTLIGHT

People appreciate bringing public art to this end of town.

—Maren Good

”

Associates Exhibit at TAG

TAG/The Artists Gallery, 501 N. Market St., will showcase work this month by associate members Gillian Collins, Sandra Fritter, Christine Mayo, Donna Quesada and Robert S. Hunter, offering visitors a wide variety of subjects and media.

Collins, a painter, will present creations from her recent journeys, including a sampling of her new series, Gillian’s Travels.

Fritter will show a collection of her vibrant paintings. Hunter’s contribution will be prints with multiple images, created using digital imaging techniques and computer software and printed using archival pigment inks on cotton rag paper.

Mixed-media artist Mayo’s work centers on a fascination with color, composition, texture and movement. “I use photos of interesting scenes or objects as my reference or inspiration to create an abstract composition. … [I]t is not long before the painting takes over and I just go where it wants me to go,’ ” she says. Quesada will exhibit both paintings and ceramics. Surface treatments on certain ceramic pieces use botanical forms, many from trees local to Frederick. Also showing are Asian-influenced Raku pots.

You can meet the artists from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 3 during the opening reception. www.theartistsgalleryfrederick.com

Mural Brightens East 6th Street

Even in the gloomiest winter days, there’s a splash of vibrant color to gladden your heart at The Center Sound Mind Body at 28 E. 6th St., where local artist Ronald Layman recently completed an outdoor mural that incorporates blue skies and water lilies. One admirer of the art says it makes her feel peaceful.

The Center, which offers Pilates, yoga, sound therapy and wellness sessions, is owned by Maren Good and Michael Unger, who came up with the design that Layman executed. “I originally wanted something with a gong-like image” reflecting their services, Good says, “but you can’t promote your business,” according to local public art regulations.

Instead, Good went with the idea of “bringing Downtown to uptown,” with a depiction of the Community Bridge in Carroll Creek Park. A mandala on the bridge that’s reflected in the water is a “concept of what we share collectively.” She says Layman expressed it as “bringing the good vibes [of the practice] inside, outside.”

The Frederick Arts Council wanted the mural to encompass the entire wall, Good says, as well as wrapping around the building’s corner. A heron is featured on this portion as a nod to the bird’s Baker Park habitat.

Layman started the project last summer, finishing in December, and could be seen atop a scaffold under a blazing summer sun with his brushes and a widebrimmed hat. “All the time people were stopping and complimenting, or they were just curious,” says the fourth-generation artist. Although he has created interior murals, “this is my first big mural in Frederick that people see.” The exposure has brought calls for him to do more, he says. “I have a couple lined up for this year in Frederick.”

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Joy Hall Onley clearly remembers her first day at Frederick High School, just not very fondly.

Four years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling integrated public schools across the nation, Onley and three friends from the all-Black Lincoln School on Madison Street walked the few blocks west to the previously all-White Frederick High. It was September of 1958.

“All we saw were older people, parents,” Onley recalls. “They yelled at us and called us names. I wasn’t hit with anything, but on the steps, there was a little shoving and tight quarters. We didn’t see a policeman; we didn’t have any protection.”

She was 15 years old. “At that age, verbal assault does a lot,” she says.

Prior to that day, Onley and her peers didn’t know much about the Supreme Court decision that ultimately changed their lives. They read, saw

photos and news footage, and heard there had been some trouble in the South. Their parents were already proud of them for their academic success and character, but integration tempted them with the chance to further their education with better textbooks and newer equipment, and to open up their minds and their world. Their teachers at Lincoln encouraged them to make their own decision

whether to change schools. When their principal offered them the chance to be the first Lincoln students to transfer to Frederick, they said yes.

Brown v. Board of Education transformed the public schools by legally ending the so-called “separate but equal” educational system that kept students segregated. Nearly 70 years later, Onley and three of her schoolmates recall how Frederick County’s adoption of the high court decision set them on a course that disrupted their thinking about race, education and society.

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She and 12 other African American students from K-through-12 Lincoln were selected as the first Black students to attend Frederick High. One student went back to Lincoln after the first day at Frederick, Onley recalls, but the others pressed on.

Now in their 80s, Onley, Ruth Ann Bowie Heath, Alphonso Lee and Patricia Ann Hill Gaither still keep in touch and occasionally talk about their high school days.

Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The Little Rock Nine gained entrance to the school only after President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened.

Frederick’s response to the court ruling on integration was more controlled. On June 5, 1955, the Board of Education issued a procla-

“

The Frederick County Board of Education accepts the decision of the Supreme Court as the law of the land and expects to cooperate with the decision by desegregating its schools. In the opinion of the Board a lack of building facilities in several areas of the county does not make it feasible to begin desegregation in the county schools until the fall of 1956.

”

THE PLAN

When Brown v. Board of Education was handed down on May 7, 1954, it profoundly affected the country at a time when segregation extended far beyond schools, to theaters, hotels and many other public accommodations. Frederick’s Baker Park, which neighbors Frederick High, was open only to White residents.

Reaction to the ruling came in the form of protests and demonstrations that made headlines as many Black children approached schoolhouse doors in the South only to be blocked and turned away. There are famous photos of police escorts for African American children and adults shouting racial epithets. Little Rock, Ark., became infamous for the mistreatment of children trying to enter

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mation that read in part: “The Frederick County Board of Education accepts the decision of the Supreme Court as the law of the land and expects to cooperate with the decision by desegregating its schools. In the opinion of the Board a lack of building facilities in several areas of the county does not make it feasible to begin desegregation in the county schools until the fall of 1956. The Board is now engaged in a building program and has three buildings in the planning stage which are expected to be finished by September 1956, or shortly thereafter. Their completion will make it feasible to begin desegregation on the junior and senior high school level.”

The school board then created a Lay Advisory Board consisting of parents, educators and community leaders whose mission was to help the public accept integration. The panel put together a five-part plan with these broad principles: • There should be integration in every area, but not necessarily in every school, because of physical limitations.

• There should be full integration as soon as facilities are available.

Joy Hall Onley

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• Children should be offered the option of attending the integrated school in their area or the school they are attending at present.

• Students who desire courses not offered at their own high school, but are given in another high school, may petition the Board of Education for a transfer.

• Transportation should be integrated this fall (1956).

The school board executed the school integration plan from 1956 through 1963.

On paper, at least, it seemed straightforward.

The reality proved to be bumpier, at least for many Black students moving into new schools.

COLD RECEPTION

Onley and her friends from Lincoln noticed on their first day at Frederick High that they did not share any classes together, so they were navigating the hallways on their own. The first weeks she spent trying to find her way through the large building, sometimes asking other students for directions to a specific classroom and being sent

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on a wild goose chase. In at least one classroom she was assigned a seat up front, which made her a target for paper and paperclips being thrown at her from behind. A couple of teachers showed warmth to her, she says, but others were cold, even dismissive of her concerns.

Ruth Ann Bowie Heath was also 15 in 1958.

She had all the jitters that came with going to a new school, but also became nervous about

Patricia Ann Hill Gaither keeping up academically with her new classmates.

She was chosen to go to Frederick High because she was a good student, but she found that she was falling behind. At Lincoln, she earned As and Bs. Initially at Frederick High, she was taking home Cs and Ds. She thought something was amiss.

“The teachers were very hard on us,” she says. “I really felt the grading was harsh by design. That’s just how I felt. I’m saying this because when I eventually went to college to study accounting, I got good grades.”

Heath says that although the environment at Frederick High was less than friendly, she is proud that she applied herself to her studies. She was able to go on to college and work for the federal government at Andrews Air Force Base. “I’m proud

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of what we did and that I was chosen,” she says.

“The only regret I have is that I didn’t have a normal high school social life. I didn’t make close friends. I wasn’t invited or accepted into clubs at school. It’s like you were there, but you were avoided. Nobody was overly friendly.”

“We didn’t know what to expect,” says Alphonso Lee. “So, we just accepted what came along.

There was name-calling, not directly at you, but you could hear what was going on.” Like Heath, Lee appreciated the new textbooks, not the hand-me-down books he had become accustomed to at Lincoln. He worked hard in school and even made friends with some White students along the way, although some friendships were governed by the clock.

WRONG DIPLOMA

Patricia Ann Hill Gaither was the first African American female to graduate from Frederick High in 1960. She started there as a junior and despite working on the rigorous academic, college-bound track since 1958, she received a general diploma.

“They deflated my balloon,” she says. It was not until 2023 that Gaither was given her rightfully earned academic diploma.

Gaither says choosing to attend Frederick High robbed her of the tight-knit community she knew at Lincoln. She did not find much encouragement or friendship at Frederick; some of her experiences with students and faculty were unpleasant and others were downright confusing. She says a history teacher once pulled her aside and asked if she would mind studying an upcoming lesson on African American (Negro) history. “I didn’t understand why he would ask me that. I just told him I didn’t have a problem. I was there to learn.”

The frustration she experienced even spilled over into her 10-year high school reunion. A White classmate encouraged her to attend the reunion but rebuffed her when Gaither and her

“Some of them were your friends when you were in school. But after 3:30 in the afternoon, they didn’t know you,” he says. Lee says his work ethic and his upbringing helped him get along with others and graduate. “I was raised to respect everybody, regardless of race,” he says.

After high school he joined the Air Force, worked at the National Institutes for Health for 26 years, and at age 81 still works at his own cleaning business in Frederick. He offers advice to young people. “Do the best you can in school.

Everybody can’t go to college. Do good with what you have at your disposal.”

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husband tried to pull up a chair at a table at the event. She was told those seats were taken.

After graduation, Gaither was employed by Dr. Vivian Thompson, an African American dentist, and then went to work for Farmers & Mechanics Bank. She also worked at Carmack Jay’s and Weis supermarkets. Now she looks back on her high school years and still considers race and its place in the classroom and the world. She even wonders about the utility of the terms “Black” and “White.”

“If you look at me, I’m brown,” she says. “Why does the world want to call me black?”

PERSPECTIVE

Joy Hall Onley says she is proud of her accomplishments at Frederick High and beyond. She graduated from Frederick Community College and enjoyed a long career at Frederick County National Bank. She has written two books and is considering another one about her high school experience. It’s still difficult for her to go back over the trauma of being a teenage girl caught up in the circumstances of the time.

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Would the four friends do it all over again?

Each says yes. They agree that what they did was important and opened doors for others. While they learned hard lessons about life, they hope their classmates and those that came after them learned lessons, too. They hope people continue to learn about civility, dignity and equality.

Alphonso Lee laments young people still need to navigate racism. “Things are more sophisticated,” he says. “Today, whites still let you know to some extent that you are black, no matter what you do.”

Ruth Ann Bowie Heath says she talked to her own children about navigating school when they were young. She admits the episodes of violence and intolerance she now hears about in schools concern her. “With antisemitism and other stuff, where are the parents? I think the parents, not just the schools, need to advise kids today,” she says.

Joy Hall Onley says even after all she has been through, she maintains hope for the future. She advises young people: “Go as far as you can. Don’t ever accept no!”

Patricia Ann Hill Gaither’s advice is simple.

“Don’t give up. Hang in there. Keep on praying.” FM

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TALKING HISTORY

Todd Johnson

By Scott Grove Photography by Turner Photography Studio Todd “Scuba” Johnson began work as an emergency medical technician (EMT) in 1976 when first responder medical care was in its infancy. Since then, he has both witnessed and been a part of our ever-advancing medical field practices that continue to save the lives of many local citizens each year.

Scott: Briefly provide a snapshot history of Frederick County ambulance transport prior to the advent of the modern emergency medical service (EMS) as we know it today.

Todd: Before local fire companies started EMS service, local funeral homes and the Maryland State Police operated ambulances that were dispatched by calling them directly. That worked in those days when doctors made house calls and medical science did not offer the interventions that grew rapidly in the latter half of the 20th century, both of which negated the need to go to a hospital. As an example, in the early 20th century when my great-great-grandfather suffered a paralyzing injury at work, he was taken by car to his son’s home nearby, attended to by his personal physician and died there shortly after. Today, he would have been loaded into a helicopter at the place of injury and sent to a trauma center while receiving advanced life support care along the way.

Scott: If memory serves me, transport vehicles were essentially station wagons—very different than the “truck”-type ambulances of today.

Todd: The use of sedan, station wagon-style ambulances was a natural choice for the day when very little patient care interventions were available. When I first began my EMS career in 1976, we had those and a

van-type ambulance at Juniors (fire company). It was a big deal when the box-style on a truck chassis came into vogue and coincided with advances in patient care that required additional equipment and work areas. The sedan ambulances were designed to transport up to four stretcher patients. Gov. Thomas Johnson High School alumni may also remember the Dailey’s Funeral Home ambulance being present at football games in the ’70s.

Scott: When were EMS services initiated from the firehouses?

Todd: The United Steam Fire Engine Company had the first ambulance service out of a firehouse. They started providing service in 1954 with paid staff under the City of Frederick system that was in place before the county assumed operation of fire and rescue services in 1989. Other companies soon followed suit but were operated by volunteers in their communities. The establishment of such a service was a great source of pride in those communities and the Junior Fire Company assisted several startup EMS companies with training and field experience opportunities until an ambulance was in service at their home station.

Scott: What did those services consist of?

Todd: Initially, American Red Cross training was the standard, with Advanced First Aid as the pinnacle of certification. Before national and state regulations and certification standards came into being in the early 1970s, many volunteers provided the best care available at the time with little more than the desire to help, on-the-job training and experience, and maybe some background from military experience.

Scott: How has EMS training evolved over time?

Todd: Essentially a paramedic level EMT can provide most of the lifesaving skills, short of surgical interventions, that can be delivered in an emergency room. So much so that it is now Maryland protocol to stay on the scene and deliver that quality care rather than focus on moving the patient to a hospital quickly.

Many lifesaving interventions are now available for both basic EMTs, and the lay public, that we did not have available in the 1970s. These include defibrillation, medications, sealing chest wounds and more.

These treatments, provided by immediate citizen responders, have saved and will continue to save lives.

The TV show Emergency! was regular viewing at firehouses and brought to light the best and newest practices. One of those possibilities was intravenous (IV) therapy to assure a route for medication delivery and fluid resuscitation for blood loss. I am proud to have been one of the first EMTs trained as an IV instructor in a 1978 pilot program at Juniors in collaboration with Frederick Memorial Hospital to start IVs in the field.

Many of those that I trained in IV therapy, including myself, went on to become Advanced Life Support providers when Frederick County was able to start that program in 1981.

Scott: Does each Frederick County firehouse have EMS services?

Todd: EMS calls account for 89 percent of the responses in the county’s fire service so it is a very transactional relationship. Each Frederick County firehouse provides EMS services at various levels from first responder to advance life support.

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events, but most importantly they can stop by to visit and find out how they may be able to serve as a member in their local fire company.

Scott: How are the fire companies funded?

Todd: As a fully integrated service of local government, all stations receive some level of county funding. This includes county general funds, EMS billing and subscription funds, and passthrough funding from state monies.

Funds are limited in use and amount to cover actual needs, so companies are appreciative of any support provided by the community. Community members can contribute monetary donations and support fundraising

Frederick native Todd Johnson, a former EMT and public health emergency planner for the Frederick County Health Department, is the past president and rescue chief at Junior Fire Company and current chair of the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Advisory Board.

Scott Grove is the owner of Grove Public Relations, LLC., a marketing and advertising firm. His work also includes interpretive planning and exhibit design for museums and historic sites. For more info, visit www.scottrgrove.com. FM

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Each Frederick County firehouse provides EMS services at various levels from first responder to advance life support.

—Todd Johnson

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TRENDING

A Saint’s Story Elizabeth Ann Seton Comes to Life In New Museum and Exhibits at her Shrine

By Gina Gallucci-White / Photography courtesy Seton Shrine EMMITSBURG—As the first person born in what would become the United States to be named a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, Elizabeth Ann Seton led a remarkable life.

A wife and mother of five that moved to Emmitsburg in 1809, she founded the first community for religious women in the country as well as St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School which focused on Catholic girls’ education. Dying at 46 years old, her remains are entombed in the shrine that bears her name.

Her legacy has been celebrated for more than two centuries here. The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton receives about 60,000 visitors a year from all over the world. To better share her story to new generations, the shrine recently opened a remodeled museum and visitor center.

The previous museum/visitor center was constructed in the 1980s and located inside the basilica’s lower level, which led to some challenges navigating to the worship area.

With four-decade-old exhibits, there was a desire to freshen up Seton’s story. The shrine had also received many Seton artifacts that had not been widely shared with the public before. “We just felt that her story deserved a whole new presentation about her life,” says Rob Judge, the shrine’s executive director.

Shrine officials decided to renovate and repurpose 19,000 square feet of space at the front end of the basilica. “It is an integrated, one-level experience for the visitor where you learn about [Seton’s] life and you move into the basilica where she is entombed.”

Judge says.

Right: The remodeled museum and visitor center at the Seton Shrine includes new artifacts about the first American-born saint in the Roman Catholic Church.

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Planning, design and fundraising efforts took three years for the $4 million project, with construction taking place from December 2022 until last September.

The museum features donated items and others on loan from religious congregations that have ties to Seton. “Those groups worked on this project with us and believed in the vision and as they saw that vision, they realized they had things in their own archives and collections that would help tell this story,” Judge says.

The artifacts include a christening gown worn by Seton’s daughter, Catherine, miniature portrait paintings of Seton and her husband, William, and a black habit hat she wore. Judge notes the pieces humanize Seton and help people to see her as a real person.

The space also features several interactive exhibits. One displays the locations where Seton’s sisters served all around the country and world. Utilizing a touch

screen, visitors can spin the globe and click on dots that pop up to learn about specific missions. “It both communicates the immensity of the sisters’ work but it allows you to [zoom] in and see specifically how they served and when they served,” Judge says.

Another interactive exhibit shows Seton’s writings, including letters and notes in the margins of prayer books. Visitors Above: The museum includes many can click on books to open and see the pages, with the writings new interactive exhibits, including presented in an accessible and a display of locations where Mother readable manner.

Seton’s sisters served worldwide.

While the main museum tells Seton’s life story in three galleries—seeker, servant and saint— the special exhibit galleries explore other meaningful parts We just felt of her life and legacy. One exhibit currently being shown focuses that her story on the needlework completed at deserved a whole the academy Seton founded.

The shrine’s mission is to new presentation educate visitors in their own about her life. spiritual journey. “We do that by telling about [Seton’s] life,” Judge says. “Our hope with the historical museum here is people know a little bit more about —Rob Judge, executive director, her—what she did, what she Seton Shrine overcame, what was important to her in her life so they can know her a little bit better.” FM

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stylin’ TRENDING

Designers suggest you vary the size of the pillows and play with different patterns and fabric textures.

Featured vendor: Pure Home Collection, 6 N. East St., Suite 100, 301-846-9767, www.annmarie.farran.design.

PILLOW TALK

In Old Testament times it was customary for people to use a stone as a pillow. Jacob is famously known for resting his head on a rock while dreaming of angels going up and down stairs leading to heaven. Today, pleasant dreams can be had with something much softer, pillows that you can scrunch into the right amount of support for your head and neck while also adding a design element to your sofa, bed or accent chair.

The folks at Pure Home Collection in Everedy Square have a great collection of unique pillows that store owner AnnMarie Farran sources from trade shows or has custom made. They say the right pillow will make a room look cozy and finished, adding a pop of color to an otherwise neutral colored sofa or make a bed even more inviting for a long winter’s nap.

Designers suggest you vary the size of the pillows and play with different patterns and fabric textures. Pillows are also a good and easy way to reflect the seasons, swapping out winter’s velvet number with a nautical stripped cotton pillow when spring returns.

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tell us TRENDING

much attention was being paid to it. After working in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, I returned and decided to take action, reaching out to the community to form East Frederick Rising. It was created to speak up for those already here, and the many that will come, to live up to its potential. Volunteers created a vision document accepted by the city government and pretty much shelved. East Frederick Rising is still attempting to rise and protect that document.

Alan Feinberg Citizen Planner Award Winner

tion, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development housing inspector all over the country, plus other jobs.

How would you like to see the former Frederick Brickworks property developed?

I would have preferred to see a development that would have been more in concert with the form-based code that has been carefully considered by our citizens and is about to be adopted. That would mean having the project thought of more incrementally as market forces change and community needs are appreciated. It would have also given local high-quality developers and builders a better chance to compete to do buildings that best fit the context and fill the needs of more different income levels and lifestyles. East Street could be an important gateway with more connections with our Downtown. More usable open spaces and less large surface parking lots would also be preferable and sincere consideration for a school would be critical.

What makes you such a champion of Frederick’s Eastside?

In the early ‘90s, I recognized that the only place our amazing Downtown would or could grow was to the east, but not

Do you really enjoy sitting through all those city hall meetings?

Absolutely not. By the time it comes to the public hearing it is all over but the shouting!

You recently received the Citizen Planner Award by the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association, what does this mean to you?

It was a surprise and an honor. I was shocked, however, because I’m not particularly used to accolades. Quite often I’m unpopular when I focus on not all the wonderful things happening here, but on what is not right—just yet. I consider my job to be a community planner, instigator and weaver without an official title or designated role—a gadfly. I tend to look at great places all over the world that have become “victims of their own success,” and, frankly, Frederick is quickly becoming too expensive and losing too many good people that we need here who provide essential services and the needed creativity for Frederick to stay unique and vital.

What is your planning background?

I have an architectural license but never practiced architecture. I was a base and command planner in the U.S. Air Force, a private sector urban designer, government reviewer for a large county, parking authority professional, private consultant working locally and abroad, a director of a peer support organiza-

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ON THE TABLE

American Favorites Thurmont’s 10Tavern Restauarant Part of Larger Downtown Plans

By April Bartel / Photography by Turner Photography Studio THURMONT— This town is known for its wildly popular festivals, its nearby and newsworthy presidential retreat, and its natural beauty, surrounded by Catoctin Mountain and all the myriad outdoor activities available there, including daytrip hotspots like neighboring orchards and wineries.

There’s even a zoo. Now, Scott Austin, CEO of Gulf Group LLC, wants to make the town a destination for dining.

Austin founded the holding company as an experienced entrepreneur.

“I started a small business 23 years ago,” he shares. Along the way, he added four more. “We struggled with everyday challenges like cash flow, accounting, IT and marketing. So, I created Gulf Group.” The entity fills in resource gaps, allowing affiliated company leaders to focus on what they do best.

Its latest portfolio addition is 10Tavern at 10 E. Main St. The bar and grill opened last summer with plenty of community support. The business owns four properties in downtown Thurmont. “The Quad” is envisioned as an enticing conglomeration of restaurant, brewery and event venues that will draw regional visitors. “Thurmont is a thriving community, and it doesn’t have anything like this.”

Gulf Group hired Ray Taylor as 10Tavern’s general manager. He comes with 20-plus years of experience, including previously working as

Right: Scott Austin, CEO of Gulf Group LLC, introduces the company’s latest offering, 10Tavern.

the head chef/general manager at the highly regarded Carriage House Inn. The team crafted a focused, full-flavored menu anchored with American classics. Austin insists that all their recipes are unique and made from scratch, vetted with heavy testing before hitting the menu. “We spent weeks dry-running everything before we opened.” Hundreds of dollars were spent just to find the right buns for the burgers.

Any new dish goes through the same regimen, like 10Tavern’s Philly cheesesteak. Introduced about two months ago, it’s now one of the most popular items, loaded with sliced ribeye, melted cheese, hot peppers, caramelized onions, mushrooms and tavern sauce.

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Wings are the number one seller.

Austin’s passion shines when he talks about the food. “We have a unique way of creating wings to give them that crisp, not fried, taste. It is a two-step process.” The result is a pile of juicy, meaty morsels that can be tossed with the guest’s choice of seasoning. “People try to figure out how the meat falls off the bone like it does.”

Each component on a plate gets the same thoughtful preparation, which is especially true with 10Tavern’s BBQ Mac Burger. It’s a saucy charbroiled beef patty topped with thick-cut bacon, crispy onion strings and house-made macaroni and cheese.

We tried the smash burger with caramelized onions and creamy American cheese, thick deli pickle slices and the signature sauce. And, yes, the buttery brioche bun stood up to its hefty deliciousness. Other inventive options include a salmon burger, vegetarian burger, loaded fajita burger and fresh lamb burger with refreshingly creamy tzatziki sauce, goat cheese and pickled red onions.

It wouldn’t be Maryland without a crabcake sandwich but there is also a Buffalo chicken wrap and a crispy Nashville chicken sandwich with pickles and slaw that gets raves from diners. The ahi tuna is coated with sesame seeds and quickly seared, then drizzled with teriyaki sauce and zesty Sriracha aioli.

There’s hand-breaded dynamite shrimp, gooey quesadillas and Southwest egg rolls. We tried the macaroni and cheese, finding its tender cavatappi curls rich and satisfying.

The fries were crispy but not greasy, which we enjoyed topped with luscious crab dip.

The place is bright and family-friendly, complete with a kid’s menu and numerous TV screens so patrons can keep up with whichever game is in play. There are two daily happy hours with food and drink specials, plus plenty of other events like regular karaoke and trivia nights or painting parties with discounts on wine by the glass. This month they’ll do something special for Super Bowl takeout and Valentine’s Day, with St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness celebrations on deck for March. Look for a seasonal menu update in April.

With a sister brewery in the works just steps away, there is definitely a new “X” on the Frederick County map. FM

Above: A menu favorite is the cheeseburger, piled high with onion straws, bacon and other tasty toppings.

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People try to figure out how the meat falls off the bone like it does.

— Scott Austin

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tiny plates ON THE TABLE

IRRESISTIBLE BUNS, BROWNIES AND MORE

Everybody loves a cinnamon bun, Abby Levine has discovered, and at the end of giving their order for her baked goods it’s not unusual for people to say, “Oh yeah, and I’ll have a brownie.”

Levine is the owner of Maple & Rye Bakery, which she started in 2017 out of the kitchen of her Brunswick home, getting orders through social media and word of mouth.

In 2022 she moved into a commercial kitchen and continued to build a following, particularly at the City Market on North Market Street where there’s always a long line of customers buying up her sweet and savory baked goods made from local whole grains and produce. This spring, Levine is opening her own bakery on Potomac Street in downtown Brunswick, partnering with Cody Marwine of The Perfect Truffle, who will be the general manager. Not to worry, Frederick customers, she will still be at City Market during its season.

The cinnamon buns are her top seller, she says, and when it comes to savory, people love the caramelized onion and cheddar croissant. As a self-taught baker, she says it involved “trying and failing” because, in the end, “it has to taste amazing. I bake what I like to eat,” she says.

While at the same time, “I’m trying to know my audience.” www.mapleandryebakery.com

DINE LIKE A HIGH-FLYING EXECUTIVE

she and her staff are operating out of her own brick-and-mortar store at 2401 Whittier Drive, Unit C. Even Young Park’s career as a flight attenmore exciting, she believes, is that dant for 20 years on South Korean starting this month she will be ofprivate jets made a course correction fering the same kind of fine dining when she decided to explore the prepared for flights to people here catering part of flying, satisfying on the ground. the appetites of Called First discriminating Chime, it will be passengers used to like having your top-notch restauI’m Korean, own restaurant rants. Park came when you visit. to the United Staes so Asian food Arranged by in 1994, traveling is what I like reservation and back and forth with one party at a to Korea for her to prepare. time being served, business, but when “it’s the ultiCOVID hit, she mate luxury for closed her business —Young Park someone to offer a and remained in service for you and Frederick. only you,” Park “That time was says. “Nobody orders off a menu; so bad, you couldn’t fly. It was a they tell me what they want. … very, very tough time,” Park says. “I Everything is made from scratch” by just needed to get something going trained chefs and includes a variety and I found Maryland Bakes,” a of cuisines. She is passionate about shared commercial kitchen at 1450 encouraging local chefs to join her W. Patrick St., owned by Terre Rowe. and is a mentor for Frederick High’s “It was the best business decision I Linking Youth to New Experiences ever made,” Park says.

(LYNX) with an intern now on staff In 2024, Park continues to cater and two more in the wings. “The meals for private jets, be it a family support has been great,” she says. on vacation, corporate executives www.firstchime.com or Middle Eastern royalty, only now

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cravings ON THE TABLE

H Voted “Best of Frederick” $ entrées $8 and under - $$ entrées $8–$15 - $$$ entrées $15 and over

10 Tavern 10 E. Main St., Thurmont. 301-271-7422.

Classic all-American cuisine. $

Agave 137 Tequila Bar & Kitchen 137 N. Market St, Frederick. 240-439-4367.

Best margaritas, tacos and entertainment on Market St. $$

Airways Inn 310 Aviation Way, Frederick. 301-228-2100.

Sandwiches, salads and more. Adjacent to airport. $

A.K.A. Friscos 4632 Wedgewood Blvd., Frederick.

301-698-0018. Upbeat sandwich shop also offering house-roasted meats, salads and potatoes. $$ ★

Aleko’s Village Café 4304 Old National Pike, Middletown.

301-371-3500. Greek, vegetarian and vegan specialties, subs and salads. $

Analia’s Café 480-A Prospect Blvd., Frederick.

301-378-8663. Greek cuisine, lunch and dinner. $$ ★

Anchor Bar 5605 Spectrum Dr., Frederick.

240-651-5580. Home of the Original Buffalo Wing. $$ ★

Antrim 1844 Smokehouse Restaurant 30 Trevanion Road, Taneytown.

410-756-6812. Open daily for dinner.

French-American cuisine. Reservations required. $$$ ★

Atlantic Grille 3531 John Simmons St., Suite D-05, Urbana. 301-810-5220. American steak and seafood restaurant. $-$$$

B. Anderson’s Backyard Experience 1448 W. Patrick St, Frederick. 301-898-2075.

Farm-to-table soul food with a Jamaican fusion experience. Serving lunch and dinner. $$-$$$

Beans & Bagels 49 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-620-2165.

Light breakfasts and lunches. $ ★

Beef ‘n Buns ‘n Paradise 1448 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-898-2075.

Big burgers and great ice cream selections. $★

Belles’ Sports Bar & Grill 1202 E. Patrick St., Frederick.

301-696-9623. Great ribs and other American fare. $

Bellisario’s Pizza 934 N. East St., Frederick.

301-662-9233. Sauce and dough made fresh daily. $$ ★

Big Papi’s 5711 Industry Lane, Frederick. 240-651-5969.

Authentic Mexican dishes. $-$$

Black Hog BBQ & Bar 118 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-662-9090.

221 Shorebird St., Frederick. 301-662-9600.

3323 Worthington Blvd., Urbana.

240-699-0070. 100 Middletown Pkwy, Middletown. 240-490-8147. Specializing in various styles of barbecue. $$ ★

Bollinger’s Restaurant and Uncle Dirtys Brew Works 210 N. Church St., Thurmont.

301-668-1522. Home-cooked meals, fresh baked pies, cakes and desserts. $$-$$$

Bonefish Grill

Avery’s Maryland Grille

9009 Baltimore Road, Frederick, 301-228-2722. Fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, burgers and wings. $-$$$ ★

1305 W. 7th St., Frederick. 301-271-3500.

Contemporary grill chain offering a seafood-centric menu, plus steaks and cocktails. $$$

Brewer’s Alley 124 N. Market St., Frederick.

301-631-0089. Contemporary American regional cuisine and microbrewery. $$

Buffalo Wild Wings 210 Shorebird St., Frederick.

301-662-1333.

3335 Worthington Blvd., Ijamsville.

240-699-0313.

Chicken wings, sandwiches and other family fare. $ ★

Bushwaller’s 209 N. Market St., Frederick.

301-695-6988. Irish fare in an attractive pub setting. $$-$$$

The Buzz Café 11801 Fingerboard Road, Suite 3, Monrovia.

301-865-4900. Scratch bakery and café that eatures breakfast and lunch items as well as custom cakes and goodies. $-$$

Cacique 26 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-695-2756.

Fine Spanish and Mexican cuisine. $$-$$$ ★

Café Bueno 255 E. 4th St. 301-620-8858. Authentic Mexican food. Burritos a favorite. $-$$ ★

Café Nola 4 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-694-6652.

Bistro café. Coffee, tea and sandwiches. $ ★

Callahan’s Seafood Bar & Grill 1808 Rosemont Ave., Frederick.

301-698-9596. Fresh seafood. $$

Carriage House Inn 200 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg.

301-447-2366. Traditional dishes served in a colonial setting. $$$ ★

Carroll Valley Golf Course 121 Sanders Road, Fairfield, Pa. 888-330-4202. American cuisine. $-$$$

CarterQue Barbeque & Grilling Co. 1310 S. Main St., Mount Airy.

301-829-2222. Award-winning barbecue and seafood dishes. $-$$ ★

Casa Rico 1399 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

301-663-3107. Mexican fare in a comfortable, pleasant setting. $-$$

Cellar Door Restaurant 5 E. Church St., Frederick. 301-695-8460.

American Casual Cuisine & Cocktail Lounge. $-$$$ ★

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Chatime Tea 5219 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick.

301-378-2530. Bubble tea. $

Chef Lin Buffet 417 S. Jefferson St., Frederick.

301-620-0664. Asian cuisine. $-$$

Chili’s Grill & Bar 5100 Pegasus Court, Frederick.

301-662-8130. Fresh Tex & Mex. $$

China Garden 506 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-695-5055.

Asian cuisine. $-$$ ★

Clay Oven Restaurant 1170 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-631-2004.

Indian, Nepalese cuisine. $$-$$$

Coal Fire 7820 Wormans Mill Road, Frederick.

301-631-2625. Coal-fired pizza, sand- wiches, salads and dinner entrées. $-$$

Common Market 927 W. 7th St., Frederick. 301-663-3416.

Organic fare and vegetarian specialties, takeout. $

The Comus Inn at Sugarloaf Mountain 23900 Old Hundred Road, Dickerson.

301-349-5100. Fine dining at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. $$$

Crabapples Delicatessen 101 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-694-0208.

Traditional New York–style deli. $ ★

Cucina Massi 111 E. Patrick St., Frederick.

301-624-1052. Italian and more. Small plate appetizers to share. $$-$$$ ★

Cugino Forno 1705 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-835-9575.

Neapolitan pizza. $$

Delizia Café 14 E. Patrick St. 240-439-4265. Great spot for coffee and pastries, along with Italian dishes. $-$$

The Derby Restaurant and Bar 83 W. Main St., New Market. 301-865-2222.

Casual family-friendly spin using locally grown produce and ingredients. Full bar. $$

Distilled 221 Shorebird St., Frederick.

301.228.3629. Craft cocktails and casual eats. $$-$$$

Dublin Roasters Coffee 1780 N. Market St., Frederick.

301-228-9367. Artisan, hand-roasted coffee, featuring organic and fair-trade products. $ ★

Dutch’s Daughter 581 Himes Ave., Frederick. 301-668-9500.

Seafood, steak and poultry specialties. $$$ ★

Fajita Grande 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick.

301-698-8989. Mexican cuisine. $-$$

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5201 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick.

315-850-0077. Steakhouse. $$

Firehouse Subs 1700 Kingfisher Drive, Frederick. 301-8982027. 5100 Buckeystown Pike, #194, Frederick.

301-668-6301. A variety of hot gourmet sub sandwiches. Dine in, takeout and catering available. $

Firestone’s Culinary Tavern 105 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-663-0330.

Elegant cuisine in a casual atmosphere. $$-$$$

Firestone’s Market on Market 113 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-696-8586.

Custom made-to-order sandwiches and salads. Wines, craft beers, specialty and locally-made goods. $-$$

Firestone’s Sidecar 109 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-663-0330.

Serving custom desserts & elegant milk shakes, as well as the full Tavern menu. $-$$$

Flaming Grill & Buffet 1003 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-664-3388.

Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine. $-$$

Fratelli’s Italian & Seafood 200 Middletown Parkway, Middletown.

301-371-4000. Made-from-scratch Italian classics, homemade pasta, award-winning crab cakes. $$-$$$ ★

Frederick Coffee Company & Café 100 N. East St., Frederick. 301-698-0039.

Coffee specialties, light fare and weekend ­ entertainment. $ ★

Frederick Social 50 Citizens Way, Frederick. 240-629-8525.

Brew pub and cafe. $$ ★

Frederick Soups 124 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Homemade comfort food and soups. $-$$

The Garage 440 Prospect Blvd., Frederick. 240-344-5340.

Wood-fired pizza, appetizers, sandwiches, salads and locally brewed beers. $-$$

Gladchuk Bros. Restaurant 489 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-662-7750.

Hearty international fare. $$$

Glory Days Grill 1305 W. 7th St., Frederick. 301-696-1112.

American grill with a sports theme. $-$$$

Gran Azteca Mexican Food Bar & Grill 6956 Crestwood Blvd., Frederick.

301-378-2785. Authentic Mexican Cuisine. $$-$$$

Hippy Chick Hummus 237 N. Market St., Frederick. 3240-815-7175.

Vegan restaurant. $$ ★

Hootch & Banter 49 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-732-4971.

New American, upscale casual cuisine. $$-$$$ ★

Ibiza Café 8 W. 4th St., Frederick. The best selections of coffee, teas, sandwiches and locally made pastries in a European-style café. $-$$ il Forno Pizzeria

1035 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-846-0422.

Wood-burning oven-cooked pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads. $$ ★ il Porto

200 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-620-7480.

245 Muddy Branch Road, Gaithersburg.

301-590-0735. Fine Italian food. $-$$

Indian Wok 8415 Woodsboro Pike, #J, Walkersvillle.

301-304-0103. Traditional Indian fare, along with Indo-Chinese food. $$

Isabella’s Taverna & Tapas Bar 44 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-698-8922.

Tapas. $$ ★

JB Seafood 308 Main St., Myersville. 301-293-2722.

“From the shore to your door.” Seafood, beef, poultry, pork. $$-$$$

Jasmin Mediterranean Grill 3532-B Urbana Pike, Urbana. 301-363-5877.

Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Dine-in, carryout and catering. $-$$

Jerk It Smoke It 2060 Yellow Springs Road, Frederick.

240-831-4157.Authentic Caribbean-American culinary experience. $-$$

Jerk n’ Jive Caribbean Kitchen 911 N. East St., Frederick. 240-439-4518.

Authentic Caribbean cuisine. $-$$ ★

JoJo’s Restaurant & Tap House 16 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-732-5197.

American fusion. $$-$$$ ★

King’s New York Style Pizza & Italian Restaurant 8415-G Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville.

301-845-4910. Classic pies, subs, pasta dinners. $-$$

Kittiwat Thai Kitchen 5205 Presidents Court, Frederick.

301-631-0999. Authentic Thai cuisine.

Lunch and dinner daily. $-$$$

LAVA Volcanic Grill & Wok 8925 Fingerboard Road, Urbana.

240-483-8475. Asian fusion. $$

La Paz 51 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-694-8980.

Mexican fare. $

Las Tunas 1043 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

240-629-8008. Authentic Mexican food. $$

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North Market Pop Shop 241 N. Market St., Frederick. 240-575-9070.

Trickling Springs Creamery ice cream.

400-plus soda choices. $-$$$ ★

Nutrition 4 UR Mind 5828 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick.

240-498-6798. Smoothies, Boosted Teas. $

Old Dominion Grill & Sushi 5732 Buckeystown Pike #18-20, Frederick.

301-682-6888. Family restaurant, American, Japanese, Thai, etc. $-$$$ ★

The Orchard

Modern Asia

1306 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-732-5193. A wide array of authentic Chinese and Thai food. $$ ★

Lazy Fish 10 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-695-9656.

Asian sushi bistro. $-$$$ ★

Ledo Pizza 490-1 Prospect Blvd., Frederick.

301-663-9800.

1293 Riverbend Way, Frederick.

301-694-0050.

3303 Worthington Blvd., Urbana.

240-699-0303.

Pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches in a casual setting. $-$$

Liberty Road Seafood & Steak 10524 Liberty Road, Frederick. 301-898-3181.

Home of the largest crab in Frederick County. Open all year round. $$$

Los Amigos 205 Frederick Road, Thurmont.

301-271-8888. Mexican food with specials

through the week. $$

Lucky Corner Restaurant 5100 Buckeystown Pike, Suite 174, Frederick.

301-360-5913. Vietnamese grill and noodle restaurant. $$ ★

Madrones 7810 Worman’s Mill Road #J, Frederick.

240-439-4010. Traditional American steak and seafood. $$-$$$ ★

Magoo’s Pub & Eatery 1-A W. 2nd St., Frederick. 301-378-2237.

Traditional Irish-American favorites. $$-$$$

The Main Cup 14 W. Main St., Middletown. 301-371-4433.

Casual café and coffeehouse. $-$$$

Manalù Italian Restaurant 5227 Presidents Court, Frederick.

240-578-4831. Authentic Italian restaurant serving traditional foods in a warm and cozy atmosphere. $$-$$$ ★

Mangia e Bevi Turning Point Center, 8927-J Fingerboard Road, Urbana. 301-874-0338. Italian comfort food at a good value. $-$$$

Mariachi Restaurant 5854 Urbana Pike, Frederick. 301-418-6367.

Fine Spanish and Mexican cuisine. $$ ★

Matsutake Sushi and Steak 5225 Buckeystown Pike (Westview Promenade), Frederick. 301-631-5060.

Hibachi and Japanese cuisine. $-$$$

May’s 5640 Urbana Pike, Frederick.

301-662-4233. Home-cooked meals, crabs. $$ ★

Mayta’s Peruvian Cuisine 5010 Buckeytown Pike, Suite 148, Frederick. 301-732-4441. Fresh, authen- tic Peruvian cuisine. Serving lunch and dinner. Catering available. $-$$$

Miyako 1005 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-620-0024.

Sushi, noodles, Japanese steak house, specialty cocktails. $$$

Mod Pizza 5256 Buckeystown Pike (Westview Promenade), Frederick. 240-877-7967.

Custom, artisan-style pizza and salads. $-$$

Monocacy Crossing 4424-A Urbana Pike, Frederick.

301-846-4204. American comfort food and fine wine. $$-$$$

Morgan’s American Grill 11717 Old National Pike, New Market.

301-865-8100. A family-friendly restaurant with big city dining. $$-$$$

Mountain Gate Family Restaurant 133 Frederick Rd., Thurmont.

301-271-4373.

Buffet and menu selections. $ ★

Mountain View Diner 1300 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

301-696-1300. All-American diner food. $

New York J&P Pizza 6103 Spring Ridge Pkwy., Frederick.

301-644-1372. Lunch and dinner daily. $$-$$$

45 N. Market St., Frederick.

301-663-4912. Flavorful healthy fare and vegetarian selections. $$ ★

Oscar’s Alehouse 906 N. East St., Frederick. 301-378-2793.

Buzzing bar and grill featuring updated American fare and craft beers on tap. $$-$$$

Outback Steakhouse 1007 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-662-9584.

Steak and seafood. $$-$$$

Pasquale’s 11670 Old National Pike, New Market.

301-882-7103. Italian restaurant and pizzeria. $$

Patowmack Farm 42461 Lovettsville Road, Lovettsville, Va. 540-822-9017. Seasonal organic cuisine. $$$

Peking Gourmet 5732 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick.

301-846-0001 or 301-846-0002.

Peking-style cuisine. $$

The Pham 1341 Hughes Ford Road, Unit 119D 240-651-0987. Vietnamese cuisine. $$

Pho An Loi 440 Prospect Blvd., Frederick.

301-378-9099. Specializes in Vietnamese dishes, along with Thai food. $$

Pho 52 701 Motter Ave., Frederick.

240-575-9479. Vietnamese dishes including noodle-based pho. $$

P.I.G.S. BBQ Restaurant 2401 Whittier Drive, Frederick.

240-629-8001. BBQ restaurant. $$ ★

Pistarro’s 221 N. East St., Frederick.

301-378-9536. Traditional Naples-style wood-fired pizza, hand-made pastas, beer and Italian wines. $-$$ ★

Plaza Mexico 2481 Merchant St., Frederick.

301-228-9889.

50 Carroll Creek Way #130, Frederick.

240-439-4041.

Mexican fare that’s beyond ordinary. $$-$$$ ★

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Prospect Pantry 1 W, Main St. New Market. 240-915-2238.

American Fare. $$

Pumpernickel + Rye 3538-Urbana Pike, Urbana. 240-397-9600.

Market and deli. $-$$

Ragin’ Reef 506 E. Church St., Frederick. 240-815-5438.

A casual seafood restaurant with top quality fresh food, affordable prices, and unmatched service. $-$$$ ★

The Red Horse 996 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

301-663-3030. A Frederick institution for great steaks and seafood. $$$ ★

Red Lobster 1020 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

301-846-9474. Fresh seafood. $$

Ricci Restaurant 1021 Mill Pond Road, Frederick.

240-578-4273. Restaurant and wine bar offering tasty Italian dishes, wood-fired pizza and steak. $$

Roasthouse Pub 5700 Urbana Pike, Frederick. 301-418-6098.

Craft beer, American fusion bistro. $$

Rosati’s Pizza 911 W. 7th St., Frederick. 301-694-4650.

Chicago-style pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salads. $$

Rube’s Crab Shack 17308 N. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg.

301-447-4116. All-you-can-eat seafood, dinner menu, lunch, full-service bar and carryout. $-$$$

Silver Diner 5120 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick.

301-694-9501. Award-winning burgers, all-day breakfast, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. $-$$$ ★

Simply Asia Pan Asian Bistro 120 Frederick Road, Suites B&C, Thurmont.

301-271-2858. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, sushi bar, Asian fusion, dine in, carryout, catering. $-$$

South Mountain Creamery 50 Citizen’s Way, Ste. 101, Frederick.

301-383-8790. We take your favorite sweet and savory treats to a whole new level.

Sweet: sundaes, milkshakes, and more.

Savory: Farm-fresh pizzas, made from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. $-$$

South Market Sandwich Co. 105 S. Market St., Frederick. 240-651-3797.

A quaint, gourmet sandwich shop. $$

Starvin Marvin Pizzeria and Subs 6942 Crestwood Blvd., Frederick.

301-695-7827. New York–style pizza, Philadelphia cheesesteaks and more. $

Sumittra Thai 12 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-668-2303.

Thai favorites including satay, pad thai and garden rolls. $-$$ ★

Surf House Island Cantina 8925 Fingerboard Road, Urbana.

240-341-7157. Authenic surfer food and drinks. $$

Sushi Nomu 4969 Westview Drive, Frederick.

240-656-1330. Asian sushi. $-$$

Sabor DE Cuba

107 Baughmans Lane, Frederick.

301-662-9348. Salvadorean and Mexican food. $-$$

Schroyer’s Tavern Maryland National Golf Club, 8836 Hollow Road, Middletown. 301-371-0000.

Contemporary American cuisine. $$$

Showroom 882 N. East St., Frederick. 301-835-7628.

Modern American diner with menu de- signed by celebrity chef Bryan Voltaggio. $$-$$$

The Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar 41 S. Market St., Frederick. 240-575-9876.

Seafood, friendly gathering place. $$

Texas Roadhouse 5105 Pegasus Court, Frederick.

301-682-7427. Hand-cut steaks, ribs, fresh-baked rolls and cold beer. $$

Thacher & Rye 228 N. Market St., Frederick. 240-332-3186.

Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s cuisine prepared with seasonal, local ingredients in a relaxed atmosphere. $$$

Thai Meric Eatery and Bar 1170 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 240-651-0998.

Authentic Thai cuisine. $-$$ ★

Thai Table 5221 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick.

240-877-7034. Thai + Lao cuisine. $$

The Tasting Room 101 N. Market St., Frederick. 240-379-7772.

European cuisine. $$$ ★

Thurmont Kountry Kitchen 17 Water St., Thurmont. 301-271-4071.

Family owned and operated serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Award winning broasted chicken. $-$$

Tin Corner 700 N. Market St., Frederick. 240-575-9374.

Serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine. $-$$

Up On Market Bistro 301 N. Market St., Frederick.

240-831-4847. Charming restaurant/ bistro offering full service breakfast, lunch and dinner. Uniqueness and variety with a touch of elegance. $-$$$

Hollow Creek Golf Club, 50 Glenbrook Drive, Middletown. 301-371-0400.

Contemporary American cuisine. $-$$

Santa Rosa Restaurant

5 W. Church St.., Frederick. 240-815-7079.

Fine Japanese and Korean dining. $-$$$

244 E. Church St., Frederick.

240-780-8517. Gourmet Italian dishes.

Handmade pasta. $$

Valley Grill Sports Bar

9 E. Patrick St., Frederick 301-663-1036.

Cuban cuisine. $$

Sapporo II

Tempo di Pasta

Wag’s 24 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-694-8451.

Classic hamburgers and fries. $ ★

Tempo di Pasta

244 E. Church St., Frederick.

240-780-8517. Gourmet Italian dishes.

Handmade pasta. $$

White Rabbit Gastropub 18 Market Space, Frederick. 240-651-1952.

Craft beer house serving high-end beer and food. $-$$

Wilcom’s Inn Taco Bar 1450 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-732-5716.

Authentic Mexican fast food. $

Taj Mahal Bar & Grill 1301 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-682-2213.

Authentic Indian fare featuring home made spices. Serving lunch and dinner.

Wine and beer available. $-$$

Tapia’s On Main 203 E. Main St., Middletown. 240-490-8461.

Signature brick-oven pizzas, pastas, paninis, house-crafted cocktails. $$-$$$

11234 Fingerboard Road, Monrovia.

301-798-8686. Iconic local landmark. International steakhouse and sports bar. $-$$

The Wine Kitchen on the Creek 150 Caroll Creek Way, Ste. 160, Frederick.

301-663-6968. Wine bar with American bistro fare. $$ ★

Zi Pani Café Bistro 177A Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick.

301-620-1932. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Casual dining with full bar. $-$$ ★

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ON THE ROAD

Still There Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine Tells the Story of Francis Scott Key and the National Anthem

By Guy Fletcher / Photography by Turner Photography Studio BALTIMORE—Most Fredericktonians are quite familiar with Francis Scott Key, or at least they know he authored the national anthem. Key’s name and likeness can be found throughout Frederick County, from minor league baseball uniforms and a radio station to the names of local businesses and social organizations. His final resting place is in Mount Olivet Cemetery, where a prominent statue is featured.

But to fully understand the story of Key, drive an hour east until you get here, at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, perched on a peninsula that juts into Baltimore Harbor. It was here—or more correctly, in the harbor itself—where Key, then a 35-year-old lawyer and self-styled poet, famously wrote about seeing “our flag was still there,” despite nonstop bombardment from British war ships.

The park’s most prominent feature is its star-shaped fort, restored to its period appearance, except for Civil War-era cannons. The surrounding grounds include a seawall walking trail—ideal for when the 152 cherry blossom trees bloom in spring—and the iconic statue of Orpheus, the Greek mythological hero of music and poetry. The visitor center includes an exhibit area featuring artifacts, displays and interactive programs that highlight the War of 1812, Battle of Baltimore and the history of The Star-Spangled Banner.

A closer examination of Key’s legacy, especially in recent years, reveals a man of complexity and contradiction. Despite Right: Following its use as a military hospital during World War I, Fort McHenry was restored to its 19th-century appearance.

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his adoration of “the land of the free,” he owned enslaved people, while publicly criticizing slavery’s cruelties. He defended the rights of free African Americans, but later in life also opposed the growing abolitionist movement in the country.

Fort McHenry does not shy away from the full telling of Key’s life, but the chief focus here is on Sept. 12-15, 1814, when Baltimore was threatened by British ships and soldiers. Key’s front-row seat to the Battle of Baltimore came courtesy of the enemy fleet, which he initially joined so he could negotiate the freedom of an American physician captured weeks before. He was eventually held captive himself until the bombardment of the fort was complete.

As dawn broke on Sept. 14, Key saw the large U.S. flag known as the Star-Spangled Banner, defiantly flying above the fort and inspiring him to write the poem Defence of Fort M’Henry. The poem was put to the music of a popular British song at the time. That tune was named The Star-Spangled Banner and soon became a

well-known U.S. patriotic song. In 1931, it was adopted by Congress as the official national anthem.

But the story of Fort McHenry doesn’t end with Key or the song. The fort continued to be used by the military into the 20th century, including use as a prison during the Civil War—earning the nickname “The American Bastille”—and as a hospital during World War I. General Hospital No. 2, which existed from 1917 until 1925, transformed the fort into a 100-building, 3,000-bed medical facility and marked the busiest time in its history. Following the closure of the hospital, work began to restore the fort to its 19th-century appearance. In 1933 the site was transferred to the National Park Service.

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Entry to the park, visitor center and seawall trail are free. A 10-minute orientation film plays every half hour.

For entrance to the historic star fort, a fee of $15 is required for a seven-day pass that can be purchased at recreation.gov or in the visitor center. FM

Above: Entrance to the park and visitor center at Fort McHenry is free, but walking the grounds and buildings of the historic star fort requires a $15 pass.

The history of The Star-Spangled Banner is only one chapter in the fort’s storied history.

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postcards ON THE ROAD

AUSTRALIA Cooper Gurrie gets ready for some Australian Football League action in Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.

ICELAND Joe and Barb Harris pose on Skólavörðustígur, better known to American tourists as simply Rainbow Street.

SLOVAKIA Frannie and Dick Kessler find Ganymede’s Fountain in the capital city of Bratislava.

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you’re here ON THE ROAD

By Jake Wynn

Black History Month All Year

Historic sites, museums and organizations around Frederick County share the central role played by African Americans in our region’s history.

February is Black History Month, but here in Frederick County you can explore the region’s African American heritage year-round. Through museum exhibits, guided walking tours and even public art, Frederick’s centuries of Black history is accessible for visitors and residents alike.

In the heart of Downtown Frederick, the African American Resources Cultural and Heritage (AARCH) Society hosts a monthly walking tour that explores the history of All Saints Street. Tours start at the future home of the AARCH Heritage Center on East All Saints Street. Across more than two centuries, this street served as the epicenter of Black life in the City of Frederick. Expert guides from AARCH Society lead the tours and tell stories from Emancipation through the modern day about how the neighborhood changed and evolved from the Civil War through segregation and integration.

A short drive up North Market Street will take you to Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums. In recent years, the staff at Rose Hill has reconstructed the story this historic site shares with visitors. The site, once the home of Gov. Thomas Johnson, was a plantation

where enslaved people lived and toiled. The team at Rose Hill has endeavored to share the stories of all those who lived and worked on the once-sprawling property, sharing accounts of enslaved people who escaped, those who became soldiers during the Civil War, and how the end of slavery in 1865 affected Black families with ties to the plantation.

Less than 20 miles north of Rose Hill is the historic village of Catoctin Furnace, built at the base of Catoctin Mountain.

Constructed adjacent to its namesake iron furnace, this village housed workers who kept the industrial operation in blast from 1776 until 1903.

Today, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society is re-examining its interpretation of history. In the early years of Catoctin Furnace, the operation utilized enslaved, skilled African ironworkers brought to Frederick County by the Johnson brothers (Roger, James, Baker and Thomas). At the Museum of the Ironworker and on the African American Cemetery Trail, exhibits share stories about the manufacturing of iron in early America, the use of enslaved workers and the stories of those who toiled in this often-dangerous

operation. Visitors come face-to-face with two forensic facial reconstructions of two enslaved workers who once lived in the village.

Essential to a visit to Catoctin Furnace is the walk to the African American cemetery located between the village and U.S. 15. This largely unmarked cemetery was rediscovered as construction work began on the highway in the 1970s. Today, signage near the site tells the story of the Black residents of the village and of those interred at this once-forgotten burial ground. It is a moving, memorable experience to stand in that location and read the names of hundreds of people whose stories are inextricably tied to this land.

These are just a handful of the places to encounter Frederick County’s rich African American heritage. Visit Monocacy National Battlefield where exhibits and programs share stories of a once-brutal plantation that became a Civil War battlefield and the recruitment site for Black soldiers fighting for freedom in the Civil War. Head to Downtown Frederick to the Laboring Sons Memorial Ground to learn the story of those interred at a cemetery that dates to 1851, and stand beneath the colorful, gleeful mural of Frederick-born jazz musician Lester Bowie on Carroll Creek Park. Everywhere in Frederick County has a Black history story—these sites, organizations, and locations help visitors to visualize the past that’s all around us.

Jake Wynn is the marketing and communications manager at Visit Frederick, the designated destination marketing organization for Frederick County. Contact him at 301-600-4023 or jwynn@fredco-md.net. Learn more about Visit Frederick at visitfrederick.org.

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EVENTS

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2

3

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Particles and Waves by Becky Borlan Through Feb. 1 Frederick Arts Council Gallery of the Arts, 1 N. Market St. An installation of sculptures that artist Becky Borlan states, “act as interventions that interrupt routine and invite the viewer to bask in the brilliance of vivid color, marvel at the dance of shadows, and fully embrace the present moment.” Tuesday– Saturday, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. 301-662-4190. www.frederickartscouncil.org

Reflections on the Human Condition by Esperanza Alzona Through Feb. 4 Frederick Arts Council Gallery of the Arts, 1 N. Market St. An installation by artist Esperanza Alzona that “focuses on representations of concepts and qualities of humanness— the characterization of various universal emotions, sensations, thought processes, the embodiment of self-identity and manifestations of spirituality.” Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 301-662-4190. www.frederickartscouncil.org

INKED: A Tattoo Inspired Exhibition Through Feb. 4 Frederick Arts Council Art Center, 5 E. 2nd St. A multimedia show that aims to serve as a homage to the art of tattooing, the history behind it and artists working in the field today. The show features tattoo memorabilia, flash and equipment from prominent artists, as well as flash, tattooed hide and work that explores the personal and cultural practices of tattooing from artists living in the greater Frederick area. Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 301-662-4190. www.frederickartscouncil.org

HOT PICK

9 Feb

Bootleggers Ball McClintock Distilling, 35 S. Carroll St. This Prohibition-themed event will include live music from Hard Swimmin’ Fish, appetizers from Union Mills Public House, and souvenir photo prints from Selfie Mode MD. Bring your cash, cheddar or greenbacks for more hooch and raffles. Period costumes are encouraged, but toy guns prohibited. 8 p.m. –11 p.m. $. www.celebratefrederick. com/events

FRIDAYS IN FEBRUARY MET Comedy Night Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. Enjoy comedy every Friday and some Saturdays at the MET, including The Comedy Pigs on Feb. 2 and 3, Oh Crit! on Feb. 16 and Yes And on Feb. 23. See website for show times. 301-694-4744. www.marylandensemble.org

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THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Debra Ambush Through Feb. 25 The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of works in a variety of media titled, “When We Can Say for Ourselves: Embodying Letters from Farmville, 1867-1964.”

Ambush’s work in this exhibition emerges from her exploration of her African American heritage that is tied to her ancestral home in Farmville, Va., and artifacts of place. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org

50 Shades of…Everything Through Feb. 25 DISTRICT Arts, 15 N. Market St. An exhibition of Mark Johnson’s digitally modified photography with an emphasis on a special effect called Color Sketch. An opening reception is scheduled Feb. 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 301-695-4050. www.districtarts.com

Dreamscapes Unveiled Through March 3 Frederick Arts Council Gallery of the Arts, 1 N. Market St. A juried group show of art by FAC studio artists. Artworks in this exhibit explore the multifaceted aspects of the dream world, inviting viewers to contemplate the landscapes of the mind. Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 301-662-4190. www.frederickartscouncil.org

Sailing Through the Winter Solstice Through March 9 Carroll Creek Linear Park, Downtown Frederick. Carroll Creek is lit up with 28 boats sponsored by local businesses for observers to enjoy. 301-514-1182. www.coloronthecreek.com

Aynex Mercado Through Feb. 25 The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition titled, “Quilting Frederick.”

The quilts in this exhibition are inspired by Mercado’s desire to draw attention to the charm around the city of Frederick and her hopes to inspire a greater appreciation of the city she enjoys. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org

A Murder Is Announced Through March 2 The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive.

An announcement in the local paper states the time and place when a murder is to occur in Miss Blacklock’s Victorian house. What follows is a classic Agatha Christie puzzle of mixed motives, concealed identities, a second death, and a determined inspector grimly following the case’s twists and turns. Fortunately, Miss Marple is on hand to provide the solution, in a dramatic final confrontation. See website for show times. $. 301-6626600. www.wayoffbroadway. com

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Carillon Recital Sundays in Feb. Joseph Dill Baker Carillon in Baker Park, Downtown Frederick. The tower is open for guests to hear John Widmann, City Carillonneur play the 49 bell carillon of bronze bells.

12:30 p.m.–1 p.m. www. visitfrederick.org

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Downtown Frederick Light Walk Through March Downtown Frederick. Explore five creative lighting installations (Disco Garage, Starlite, Light Drops, Kaleidoscope and Snowfall) on display in Downtown locations. See website for location map. www. downtownfrederick.org FAC After Hours: Meditative Dance Movement Mondays in Feb. Frederick Arts Council Art Center, 5 E. 2nd St. A weekly inclusive healing space that allows participants to move freely while tapping into divine bliss. 6 p.m.–7 p.m. 301-662-4190. www. frederickartscouncil.org

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EVENTS General Grief Support Group Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way. A drop-in group designed to provide support to individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one. Participants can share their stories and express their grief as they work towards healing. Feb. 1 and 15, 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m.; Feb. 8 and 22, 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. 240-566-3030. www.frederickhealthhospice.org

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2nd Annual African Americans of Excellence Exhibit Feb. 1 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. A multi-media exhibit featuring original work from local artists and students, showcasing the contributions of African Americans in Frederick County. 7 p.m. $.

301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org

First Saturday–Fire in Ice Feb. 2 Downtown Frederick. Downtown Frederick is transformed into a winter wonderland at this annual event.

Experience the magic of winter with ice sculptures, live carving demonstrations, fire dancers, a polar lounge, ice games center, ice putt-putt course, winter-themed family fun and more at this popular event. Many shops, galleries and restaurants will be open until 9 p.m. or later. 301-698-8118. www.downtownfrederick.org

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The New York Bee Gees Feb. 2 The Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac St, Hagerstown. A tribute to the music of this iconic group playing all the hits from every decade. 7:30 p.m. $. www.mdtheatre.org Daddy Daughter Dance Feb. 2, 3 Frederick Fairgrounds Null Building, 797 E. Patrick St. Take your little princess on a date to remember. Dress to impress while dancing the night away. Light refreshments will be served and photo opportunities will be available. Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Friday, 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m.–6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. $.

301-600-2936. www.recreater.com

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21st Annual Foreign Film Festival Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Enjoy screenings of a selection of contemporary international films every Friday in February: Past Lives (Feb. 2), R.M.N. (Feb. 9), Full Time (Feb. 16) and Not One Less (Feb. 23).

All screenings will be captioned. 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $.

410-848-7272. www.carrollcountyartscouncil.org

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EVENTS From the Heart Group Show Feb. 2–25 NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St. Feel the love at NOMA this month in a group show celebrating the artists’ passions. The eclectic group shines, filling the gallery with a wild and wide variety of artworks. An opening reception is Feb. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and an Artists’ Talk is Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. 240-367-9770. www.nomagalleryfrederick.com

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Faculty Recital: A Bouquet of Brahms Feb. 3 Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike. Faculty pianist Dr. John Wickelgren and former faculty James Tung, violin and Alice Tung, viola perform a special concert. 7:30 p.m. 301-846-2566. www.calendar.frederick.edu

Art Matters Artist Talks Feb. 3 The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Enhance your understanding and appreciation of art at these monthly talks. This month, Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association artists and solo exhibition artist Frank Cole describe their experience in art making and the work in their exhibitions. 2 p.m. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org

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Jamie Graham Bush Feb. 3–25 Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St. Enjoy works by f eatured artist Jamie Graham Bush.

A First Saturday opening is scheduled for Feb. 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays 1 p.m.–5 p.m. www.eastsideartistsgallery.com The Associates Exhibit Feb. 3–25 TAG/The Artists Gallery, 501 N. Market St. A group exhibition of works by Gillian Collins, Sandra Fritter, Robert Hunter, Christine Mayo and Donna Quesada. Friday and Saturday, Noon –8 p.m.; S unday, Noon–4 p.m.

301-228-9860. www.theartistsgalleryfrederick.com

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Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association Linda Sher Feb. 3–25 The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Members of the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association exhibit works in a variety of media. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org

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EVENTS Collage Collective Workshop Feb. 4, 8, 15 A drop-in group for all levels. Materials provided. $5 donation suggested. Feb. 8 and 15 at Frederick Arts Council Art Center, 5 E. 2nd St.; Feb. 4 at Frederick Arts Council Artist Studios Classroom, 7 N. Market St. 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m. 301-6624190. www.frederickartscouncil.org

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Frank Cole Feb. 3–25 The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of acrylic paintings titled, “Blue Mountains/High Water.” Influenced by the closeness of nature and his experience with them directly and indirectly thorough Chinese mural and scroll paintings, 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org

After the Thin Man Feb. 8 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Watch the 1936 American murder mystery comedy starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and James Stewart.

A sequel to the 1934 feature The Thin Man, the film presents Powell and Loy as Dashiell Hammett’s characters Nick and Nora Charles.

Presented by Wonder Book & Video.

7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www. weinbergcenter.org

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Intimate Apparel Feb. 9–March 10 Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. In 1905, Esther, a proud but shy black seamstress, sews intimates for her clientele. She’s saved quite a bit making beautiful undergarments for both posh Fifth Avenue boudoirs and upscale bordellos, all while daydreaming of romance and new beginnings. See website for show times. $. 301-694-4744. www.marylandensemble.org 24/7 PRIDE Company Concert Feb. 10 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. The award-winning 24/7 PRIDE dance company showcases their skills. 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. $. 301-6002828. www.weinbergcenter.org

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Art at Noon: Bruce Campbell, Master Copyist Feb. 9 The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Bruce I. Campbell discusses the importance of studying the old masters through copying their works.

Noon–1 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org

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EVENTS A Night of Hip-Hop, Comedy and Love Feb. 10 New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. A night of music and comedy featuring rapper/comedian Positive K, with music by DC Flyz, Kamanchi Pro with Mr. DJ Sneakydog on the 1s & 2s, comedy by Demakco, Mizz Dread Head & G Baby and R&B music by Simply Winter, Starr B and more artists to be announced. 8 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org

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62nd Annual Mardi Gras Gala Feb. 10 Holly Hills Country Club, 5502 Mussetter Road, Ijamsville. Celebrate the 62nd Mardi Gras Gala sponsored by the Frederick Woman’s Civic Club.

There will be a jazz band and singer, silent auction and more. 7 p.m. –10 p.m. $. Contact fwcc@fwccinc.org for tickets and other event information.

Romantic Serenades Feb. 10, 11 The Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac St, Hagerstown. The Maryland Symphony Orchestra performs a captivating concert featuring a stunning lineup of composers and pieces. Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m. $.

301-790-4000. www. marylandsymphony.org

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Tricks of the Trade: Prostitution in the Civil War Feb. 13 National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St. Museum staff member Rachel Moses examines the role of prostitution in the nation’s bloodiest conflict during this virtual discussion. Tune in by visiting www.facebook.com/CivilWarMed at the scheduled time. 2 p.m.–3 p.m.

301-695-1864. www.civilwarmed.org ESSL Special Events Feb. 13, 15 Earth and Space Science Laboratory, 210 Madison St. Explore the Earth and Space Science Laboratory and enjoy a show in the planetarium.

Mysteries of the Unseen World, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.; Black Holes, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.; Dynamic Earth, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.; and Journey to Space, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. $. 240-236-2694. www.edu.fcps.org/essl

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Community Concert Series: Brian Ganz, Pianist Feb. 11 Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. Second St. Brian Ganz returns for another “All Chopin” concert as he continues his quest to perform every work of music by the great composer. 3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. 301662-1464. www.calvaryumc.org/concerts

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EVENTS FAC After Hours: Bijou Film Screening Feb. 13, 20, 27 Frederick Arts Council Art Center, 5 E. 2nd St. A weekly film screening featuring films that fall under a general theme in order to cultivate discussion about film as a mode of artistic expression. Presented by Falling Squares. 7 p.m. 301-662-4190. www.frederickartscouncil.org World Ballet Series: Swan Lake Feb. 14 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. A part of the World Ballet Series, Swan Lake will be performed live by a multinational cast of 50 professional ballet dancers gathered to bring the most famous love story to life. 7 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org Frederick Speaker Series: Shannon Bream Feb. 15 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Presented by the Frederick Speakers Series, Shannon Bream currently serves as anchor of Fox News Sunday and chief legal correspondent for Fox News Channel. She joined Fox in 2007 as a Washington D.Cbased correspondent covering the Supreme Court. Tickets are also available for a private meet and greet reception following the show. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org TUSK-Fleetwood Mac Tribute Feb. 16 The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. No tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of one of the world’s top-selling bands. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-790-2000. www.mdtheatre.org Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Feb. 16, 17, 18 New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. Two con men, a beautiful woman and the elite of the French Riviera collide in this sexy and irreverent farce. Presented by Landless Theatre Company. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. $. 301-6002828. www.weinbergcenter.org 90 fredMAG

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2024 CSDC Showcase Scythian Feb. 16 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. With thunderous energy, contagious enthusiasm and technical prowess, Scythian delivers rousing and raucous music from Celtic, Eastern European and Appalachian traditions reflecting the musicians’ backgrounds.

8 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org 2024 Seed to Roots: A Black History Celebration Feb. 20 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Celebrate Black History Month with performances by Frederick County K-12th grade students, inspired by Black history and culture, past and present.

Children under 10 admitted free. 6 p.m. $.

301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org FAC After Hours: Improv Jam with Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band Feb. 21 Frederick Arts Council Art Center, 5 E. 2nd St. Keyes captivates audiences with his deep, commanding vocals, punctuated by tales of love, family and addiction from his six decades on Earth. 7 p.m. 301-662-4190. www. frederickartscouncil.org Mnozil Brass-Jubilee Feb. 22 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Mnozil Brass has been entertaining fans around the globe for 30 years with comedic brilliance, sensational programs and impeccable playing. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org fredMAG 91

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EVENTS CHARLES | FREDERICK

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Buckets N Boards Comedy Percussion Show Feb. 21 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. A hilarious, high-energy show full of amazing percussion, ridiculous songs, spectacular tap dancing and inventive instrumentation. 6 p.m. $. 301600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org Body and Soul Feb. 23 Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Enjoy a showing of the 1925 silent film, accompanied by the mighty Wurlitzer organ. 8 p.m. $. 301600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org The Little Mermaid Feb. 23, 24 The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. St. Maria Goretti High School Players present Disney’s The Little Mermaid live on the Maryland Theatre stage. 7:30 p.m. $. www.mdtheatre.org Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!

Feb. 24–March 17 Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. In this vaudevillian romp, Elephant and Piggie sing and dance their way through plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense. An elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best friends but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. Based on the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems. See website for show times. $. 301-694-4744. www. marylandensemble.org

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The “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” Show Feb. 24 New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. Enjoy the songs you want to hear when the 5 o’clock whistle blows, featuring music by award-winning duo Safe Harbor, from Jefferson.

Presented by Key West Productions.

7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org The Bucket List Book Club Feb. 25 Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way. Explore issues surrounding death and life through a variety of books and other media at this monthly support group. Reading the selected book each month is not required for book club attendance.

2 p.m.–4 p.m. 240-566-3030. www.frederickhealthhospice.org Joshua Johnson and His Baltimore Patrons Feb. 29 Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. Joshua Johnson or Johnston was one of the most important portrait painters in the early Republic. One of the first African American artists, he broke barriers by painting portraits of the rising merchant class in Baltimore. Mark Letzer, former CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, explores Johnson’s work in this Parsons Newman Lecture Series presentation. 6 p.m. 301-6631188. www.frederickhistory.org FM

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REFLECTIONS

Luke Tiernan Brien

By John W. Ashbury

When one thinks of industrialists who contributed mightily to Frederick’s illustrious history, names like McClintock Young, Manassas J. Grove, Louis McMurray, Outerbridge Horsey or even Samuel H. Rosenstock come to mind. However, there is another name whose impact had a more profound impact on the nation.

Born on Dec. 22, 1827, on a farm near Urbana, Luke Tiernan Brien was the son of Robert Coleman Brien and Ann Tiernan Brien, the daughter of Luke Tiernan, a pioneering merchant in Baltimore.

After a public school education in Frederick County and Baltimore City, he graduated from Georgetown College. He rose to prominence, first as a farmer in Baltimore and Washington counties before joining the Confederate Army in 1861.

Early on he became chief of staff for Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, fighting in the Second Battle of Manassas. When Gen. Robert E. Lee reorganized his Army of Northern Virginia, Brien was made a lieutenant colonel in the First Virginia Calvary. Two months later he rose to the rank of full colonel, ending his

military career in 1865 as chief of staff for Gen. W.H.F. Lee. Almost immediately after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Brien went to New York to pursue business interests. He made the acquaintance of James C. Clark of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1874 he traveled west as Clark’s general manager. In the years that followed, Brien oversaw one of the greatest engineering feats in American history.

Until then, railroads in the north were designed on regular gauge track—4 feet, 8 ½ inches wide.

However, railroads in the south ran on rails that were 5 feet wide. This conflict translated into a huge cost to the railroad companies as they had to purchase two sets of engines and cars. After years of negotiations, an agreement was

reached and the northern tracks were to be universally used. Brien was tasked with converting a large section of the southern lines to the new gauge.

According to The Frederick News at the time of Brien’s death in 1912: “Under Col. Brien, six hundred miles of trackage, from Cairo, Ill., to New Orleans, and a branch road to Aberdeen, Tenn., passing through Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana was torn up and relaid with ‘regular’ gauge in one day, without stopping a train, though there was some delay. A force of 4,000 men was employed for the work.”

Brien was later quoted as saying, “I am prouder of that piece of work than of anything else I ever accomplished.”

After he retired, Brien returned to Urbana and purchased a 180-acre farm, naming it “Tyrone.” This house, which still stands and is now known as The Landon House, was previously constructed near Fredericksburg, Va., but was dismantled, board by board, loaded onto barges and brought as close to Urbana as possible, using the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

The building was then taken overland and rebuilt on its present site, near the intersection of Md. 355 and Md. 80. After more than 12,000 bricks were added, the house contained 40 rooms. It was used as a school for girls until 1854 when it became a military academy operated by Robert C. Jones.

After the Civil War, a former mayor of Baltimore bought the property, who in turn sold it to Brien in 1883.

On Oct. 1, 1912, Brien went to Frederick to spend the winter but was taken ill and died on Nov. 25. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Urbana following a requiem high mass at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Frederick.

Brien married Mary V. Wilson in 1874. They were the parents of Robert, William, Lawrence, Annie and their youngest child, Mary, the only one to survive him. FM

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PAST TIME

Educational Advocate

By Jody Brumage / Archivist, Heritage Frederick

Enrollment at the first Black high school grew so quickly that the county opened the new, larger Lincoln High School on Madison Street in 1923.

Born near Burkittsville in 1880, John W. Bruner came from a family that valued education as key to success in life. John’s father, Noah Bruner, served as a trustee for the Burkittsville Colored School along South Mountain near the family’s home, part of Frederick County’s segregated public school system.

John and his sisters, Fannie and Mollie, all became teachers, the latter serving the Burkittsville Colored School for 35 years. John attended Storer College in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., and embarked on a teaching career during which he served as principal of the West Seventh Street School in Frederick.

In 1911, the Board of Education

appointed Bruner to be supervisor of the 26 segregated Black schools around Frederick County and two in the City of Frederick. He was a tireless advocate for the students under his supervision. Before Frederick County had a high school for Black children, Bruner worked with families of students to send them to Hampton Institute in Virginia and also offered

vocational training in the evenings at the West Seventh Street School. In 1920, Bruner’s years of lobbying the Board of Education for a high school serving Black students finally succeeded with the establishment of a high school for Black students on West All Saints Street.

Bruner also advocated for Black educators across the county and beyond.

He held annual workshops to train teachers with up-to-date instructional methods. In the 1920s, he worked with Howard University to expand these seminars to Black educators from across the state with special focus on teaching in rural communities. FM

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