This Spring marked two years since Attorney Clark’s dad passed away, leaving Attorney Clark, her brother, and her mom to settle his modest estate back in Estonia. Despite encouragement from Attorney Clark, her parents never created Wills and Revocable Living Trusts. At 68-years old, her dad thought he had years left to create an Estate Plan leaving his possessions to his beloved wife! Instead, Estonian law dictated that his estate, including his marital home of 38 years, would be split equally between his wife and children.
To make things worse, Attorney Clark couldn’t just forfeit her share of the estate because, by Estonian law, it would be passed to her then one-year-old son, who couldn’t disclaim until age 18! Attorney Clark’s mom was legally responsible for maintaining and paying taxes on a property that she wanted to sell. Eventually, Attorney Clark and her brother found an expensive solution and were able to “gift” their shares to their mom. Luckily, there was no Gift Tax issue, which would have applied under US law.
WHY IS ESTATE PLANNING IMPORTANT?
Life is unpredictable, and the unexpected can happen at any time. Having a solid Estate Plan can ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Our team is on a mission to make sure your family does not have to go through what Attorney Clark’s family had to endure.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR CREATING A WILL?
We ask all Potential Clients to submit an Estate Planning Questionnaire and consultation payment before the consultation so that the initial meeting time is used productively.
At the consultation, we review your questionnaire and discuss your goals. Within a few weeks, you will come in, review and sign the documents, and leave with peace of mind knowing that your loved ones are taken care of.
Attorney Clark has been working in Trusts and Estates law for twenty years and running this firm for nine years. We know Estate Planning!
If you need help protecting your money and loved ones in the event of death or disability, call us at 301-696-0567 or self-schedule online at lenaclarklegal.com.
Find It Inside
When you think tapas, Japanese food doesn’t typically come to mind. That might change, however, now that Sushi NOMU is blending the precision (and taste) of Japanese sushi with the inventive playfulness of small plates.
BY JOSEPH PETERSON / TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO
COOL PLACES
When they close the books on this summer, it could turn out to be one of the hottest on record. But rising mercury doesn’t have to mean uncomfortable or even dangerous conditions. Fortunately, Frederick County boasts many cool, fun escapes for beating the heat, no matter what the temperature says.
BY GUY FLETCHER AND NANCY LUSE / TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO
TEST IN PROGRESS
Home genetics tests give people the chance to learn more about their ancestry and perhaps fill in some missing branches of their family tree. But what happens when the test results take an unanticipated turn? There could be the discovery of new relatives, a new heritage and many new questions.
BY LISA GREGORY
Art Work
Guy Fletcher / Editor-In-Chief / gfletcher@fredmag.com
At least once a week, I will meet with Assistant Editor Nancy Luse to discuss stories in upcoming issues of Frederick Magazine . Despite being “word” people, much of our conversations are about photographs: What can we shoot for this story? What would be a good photo? Would it be a good cover for the magazine?
Nancy and I spent many years in newspapers, so we still use the anachronistic “art” to describe photographs. In those ink-stained days, having good art with your story was a real bonus and might have been the difference between a piece appearing “above the fold” on A1 or being stuffed behind the classified ads.
In the hyper-visual world of magazines, good art is even more important, almost critical. It is nearly impossible for us to publish anything longer than 100 words in Frederick Magazine without some photograph or graphical element.
That’s why I often make a face when I hear of a good story idea that doesn’t have much of a visual
component. And when a writer comes to me and says, “This is a great story, but there are no photos,” my eyes roll and my knee jerks to killing the piece.
That was probably my reaction many months ago when writer Lisa Gregory pitched me a story about people who used home genetic tests like 23andMe and received surprising, even life-changing, results. The topic interested me because I have a relative who was adopted and found her birth parents with the help of this kind of testing.
But I also knew the art here would be tough, probably impossible. The people Lisa interviewed were working through some tough personal issues because of their tests. None of them even wanted their real names published, so photographing them was not a possibility.
In cases like these, I lean on our creative team here at the magazine, led by Creative Director/Co-Publisher Joseph Silovich and Graphic Designers Ian Sager and Alexandra Werder. I don’t like bringing them a story with no photos, but in those rare cases when it is unavoidable, I know they are more than up to the task with creative alternatives.
That was the case with Lisa’s story, “Test in Progress” which starts on page 46 and is illustrated via a clever graphic design that makes my job much easier.
Our other feature story this month—the one with the good art—is about things we can do in Frederick County to beat the heat in this blistering hot summer. Check out “Cool Places” starting on page 28.
I hope you enjoy these stories and the rest of Frederick Magazine this month. Have a safe and happy August. FM
Hawkins Landscaping
Celebrates 50 Years of Service
David Hawkins started the award-winning Hawkins Landscaping Inc. right after graduating high school in 1974 with a used pickup truck, a $100 bill, a strong back and an unwavering work ethic. This year, the family owned and operated business will be celebrating their 50th anniversary of turning homeowners’ dreams for their yards into reality.
Serving Frederick, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties, the company offers a wide
variety of landscape options including planting, hardscape patios, walls, outdoor kitchens, lighting, maintenance, sustainable drainage, water features and more.
Their most popular service is their design build options where the staff works with homeowners on creating custom layouts for spaces that will fit their needs. They strive to create outdoor environments that are not only inviting but also captivating.
Landscaping increases property market value with investments recov -
ered fully and sometimes doubled by increasing the home value of 7 percent or more, according to a joint study by researchers at the University of Alabama and University of Texas at Arlington.
Hawkins’ skilled and certified staff work closely with clients to discuss what they are looking for, show them a portfolio of their past collaborations, including 2D and 3D models and develop a realistic budget for the projects.
Communication is one of the keys to the company’s longevity. Customer satisfaction rates are very high and client referrals and return customers make up much of their business. David Hawkins prides himself on being an honest man who aims daily to do the right thing. If something goes amiss, he wants clients to know his company will rectify the situation so everyone can move forward together. Over the years, he often gets the same response from clients: “I should have done this sooner!”
To celebrate this milestone anniversary, Hawkins Landscaping is planning a large gathering this month with staff, clients, Frederick County Chamber of Commerce members, community officials and local politicians.
For more information on Hawkins Landscaping, go to HawkinsLandscaping.com.
Formal Invite
By Amy L. Metzger Hunt / Curator, Heritage Frederick
Tucked away in a gallery display case at Heritage Frederick sits a small, framed item that might get overlooked. It is a single-sided card with a hand-painted invitation to one of the earliest meetings of the Frederick Art Club, dated March 31, 1898. The club had been established the previous year by Florence Doub and still exists today as one of the oldest of its kind in the United States.
Doubt dedicated her life to art education in Frederick, first as student at the Frederick Female Seminary, graduating in 1868. She
became a professor of drawing and painting for the seminary and ended her career with that institution as the head of the art department
Invitations to Frederick Art Club meetings are now issued by email rather than on hand-painted notecards.
at the renamed Hood College. Doub was also a member of the faculty at the Maryland School for the Deaf, where she taught art for more than 50 years. She also established a private studio in her house where students learned to paint and displayed their works in an annual exhibition. In 1897, Doub further expanded her educational work by establishing the Frederick Art Club. She remained an active participant and promoter of the arts in Frederick until her death in 1932.
You are invited to learn more about Doub and the Frederick Art Club, as well as many other remarkable local artists, by visiting the current “Brushes with History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick” exhibit at Heritage Frederick. FM
The bridge carrying U.S. 17 across the Potomac River fittingly traverses two other transportation routes that have played critical roles in Brunswick’s history—the railroad and the C&O Canal. FM
Photography By Michael DeMattia
BEAUTY,
The
Footlights
Ivy’s
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Fun Fridays
By Nancy Luse
Sara Ratcliffe had just finished her run to Costco and decided to treat the kids to some fun at the Frederick Municipal Airport as part of its initiative called—appropriately enough—Summer Fun Fridays. No reservations needed, just show up outside the tarmac fence. No standing in line, either, unless you count queuing up for a refreshing treat from Kotei Kids Shaved Ice, a Summer Fun Fridays feature.
Ratcliffe says her crew regularly visits the airport to watch planes taking off and landing and recalls a pilot who once offered them a closer look at his plane. “It’s different,” she says of the attraction that prompts scanning the skies, and the shaved ice being quickly eaten in the face of a hot day was icing on the cake. Jackie Kotei, who owns and operates the truck with her husband, Alex, can
be found at events around town with the confection that’s free of artificial colorings or preservatives and comes in a wealth of different flavors. She especially enjoys the gig at the airport. The kickoff event included facepainting, hula hoops and blowing bubbles, as well as a visit from the C. Burr Artz Public Library’s bookmobile, something that could make a repeat appearance on future Fridays.
Summer Fun Fridays give the chance for children of all ages to watch the planes take off and land at Frederick Municipal Airport.
“Did you know that Frederick Municipal Airport is the second busiest in the state of Maryland?” Kotei says. Only Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is bigger. This makes for great watching, not only of planes, but also helicopters belonging to the Maryland State Police.
Joanna Quiros and her 22-month-old son, Jake, are joined by friends in the back of a vehicle where they can watch the planes while enjoying some shade. “Every time he sees one, he says, ‘Look, look,’” Quiros says as the youngster points excitedly.
Kotei says she wants to put Summer Fun Fridays on the list of “the best place to spend your Fridays this summer.” www.koteikidsshavedice.com
TRIO OF LOCALS LEADING STATE FFA
Three of the six newly elected 2024-25 Maryland FFA officers are Frederick County Public Schools graduates, as announced recently during the 96th Maryland FFA State Convention. FFA is a youth organization that prepares members for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
From left: Mia McGuffin, Brunswick FFA; Katelyn Bullock, Southern FFA; William Moore, Boonsboro FFA; Scarlett Heffner, Hereford FFA; Ella Burrier, Catoctin FFA; and Abigail Effland, Frederick FFA.
Frederick High graduate Abigail Effland was elected president. Effland served as the Frederick FFA Chapter president and was also the 2023-24 Frederick County Dairy Princess. Catoctin High graduate Ella Burrier was elected vice president and was the Catoctin FFA Chapter president. Brunswick High graduate Mia McGuffin will serve as state FFA reporter,
following her stint as Brunswick FFA Chapter president.
“I’m so proud of our three recent FCPS graduates earning such important leadership positions within FFA,” says FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson. “Abigail, Ella and Mia were student leaders at their high schools, and I know they will serve their peers throughout the state well.”
FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERIES SCHEDULED
Frederick County Association of Realtors and Housing Frederick are partnering to offer a series of financial education workshops, starting Sept. 12, for the community. They will be held once a month at no cost, but reservations are mandatory. Classes will focus on developing confidence in
budget and credit management, leading to housing stability and preparing for future goals such as home ownership to improving generational wealth. For more information visit www.housingfrederick.org or call FCAR at 301-6630757, ext. 1002.
Funding
Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and organizations that work with them are encouraged by the Monocacy Foundation to apply for its grants to meet medical, educational and recreational needs or wishes not covered by other funding sources. Established in 1995, the Monocacy
Foundation seeks to help Frederick County residents.
The foundation awards grants to those from birth to adult ages, funding things that “give joy, purpose and a way to make friends in a social setting.” Grants are given for a wide range of requests from art lessons and supplies to horseback riding, medical equipment and summer camps. The application process, available on their website, begins Aug. 15 and lasts through Oct. 4.
www.themonocacyfoundation.org
ARTIST, WRITER, ACTIVIST
“As dark as night as night can be, the stars shine bright, each reminding me that we come, we go, but we remain to take our place in the sky’s domain.” Those words were penned by Frederick resident Geraldine Lloyd, who died June 16 at age 80 after a life spent as an artist and author.
Early on, her art attracted wide attention, particularly her transformation of an old Mercedes into an elaborate art car now on permanent display in a German museum. In 2019, she exhibited a 30-year retrospective of her art at Frederick Community College.
Lloyd’s talent for public speaking earned her a stint in the 1980s as co-host of Hour Magazine with Gary Collins. In the 1990s, she lost that voice to throat cancer, which only spurred her work, plus added another
facet—advocate, working to educate youth on the dangers of tobacco and addiction. A documentary she wrote and filmed has been presented in schools internationally.
Lloyd was a columnist for five years at The Frederick News-Post , sharing her cancer experience and her spirituality. Her columns were published as a book, Cancer Calling , and she has two memoirs, The Goddess Groove and Love in the Time of Terrorists , also available on Amazon.
GET READY TO CAST YOUR “BEST OF FREDERICK” VOTE
For the past 33 years, Frederick Magazine readers have participated in the annual “Best of Frederick” competition. As in the past, the categories have been tweaked to keep the competition interesting. This is Frederick’s original “best” contest and the results carry legitimate bragging rights for the winners. Voting for your favorites starts Sept. 14 and lasts until Nov. 15. Visit www.fredmag.com and make your vote count.
Dear Dina
DEAR DINA: My girlfriend and I have been dating for a little over three years, and I think it’s time to pop the question. I have already gotten her father’s blessing, but I have no idea where to ask her. Do I ask where we first met? At her favorite vacation spot? Her hometown? I want this to be a day she’ll never forget. Help.
ENGAGEMENT IN EMMITSBURG
DEAR ENGAGEMENT IN EMMITSBURG: First of all, congratulations! I love that you respectfully got permission. Good for you! So, here are my thoughts: Nobody knows your girlfriend better than her own family. If she has siblings, get input from them. I would also ask Dad’s opinion. What a great way to foster an even-better relationship with your future father-in-law. I really believe he’ll be honored just by you including him. But you already know your future wife’s favorites; go with your gut. Congratulations! Love is in the air..
Dear Dina is written by Dina Carole, host of the Morning Show on Key 103 (WAFYFM). You can ask her questions anonymously at any time by going to key103radio.com and clicking on the “Features” tab.
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FREDERICK PRIDE
Despite sweltering temperatures in the 90s, folks flocked to the annual Frederick Pride celebration in Carroll Creek Linear Park, sponsored by The Frederick Center and featuring entertainment, food and other vendors, plus a visit from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Misting tents were provided by Frederick Shell Car Wash and organizers handed out countless bottles of water.
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HIGH WHEEL RACERS
The 10th National Clustered Spires High Wheel Race, looping through Downtown Frederick, had spectators cheering and ringing cow bells for the 64 registered riders. A lawn party was hosted on the grounds of City Hall with food and drink trucks, plus welcoming shade.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
This year’s Frederick Shakespeare Festival, presented by the Endangered Species Theatre Project and directed by Christine Mosere, was held at Hood College. Actively staged readings are scheduled this month of The Standby Lear and Lady Macbeth & Her Pal Megan. More information is availble at www.esptheatre.org
CHAMBER MOVES
The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new office space on the first floor of the ROOT Building, 118 N. Market St. The grand opening showcased the newly redesigned space that establishes the Chamber of Commerce as the epicenter for business in Frederick County. www.frederickchamber.org
then
now
NORTH EAST STREET
On these hazy summer days, when you can see the heat lift off the road and feel your throat begin to dry, your mind might naturally wander to those heavenly places that promise a well-maintained HVAC system, a chilly glass of ice water or maybe even Mother Nature’s own kind of air conditioning in the form of a cool river, shaded trail or refreshing waterfall.
The good news is there is no shortage of these kinds of things available in Frederick County. That is a very good thing, considering the summer we’ve been having.
So, let’s look at just some of the ways we can all fend off the dog days of August.
River of Fun
One of the easiest ways to cool off in the summer is having a giant waterway in your neighborhood.
Fortunately, the southwest border of Frederick County is guarded by the Potomac River, which bends, turns and even splits (around islands) from Knoxville along to the Washington County border down near its confluence with the Monocacy River at Dickerson.
This expansive river provides many opportunities for cooling off, from kayaking and boating to fishing, swimming and just simply dipping your toes in the shore, whiling away the day beneath the shady trees.
For the slightly more adventurous, there are many tubing and rafting opportunities available on the river, albeit with access on the Virginia and West Virgina side of the Potomac. Check out River & Trail Outfitters and River Riders.
And the Potomac River is only one of the waterways in the county. The Monocacy boasts many recreational opportunities of its own, as do many creeks and streams.
Falling for Relief
When you have a region with plenty of natural water and mountains, there must be waterfalls. That is true in Frederick County and few get more attention than Cunningham Falls near Thurmont. At 78-feet long, it is the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland.
Once named McAfee Falls after a family of early European settlers, the name Cunningham Falls was adopted from a photographer from nearby Pen Mar Park who frequently photographed the falls.
But while the falls are refreshing to the eyes only (swimming is not allowed), the real summer relief at Cunnigham Falls State Park comes from the nearby 43-acre, manmade Hunting Creek Lake, which offers swimming, boating, fishing and other activities. Big Hunting Creek, one of Maryland’s premier trout streams, flows through the park.
If you are going to Cunningham Falls, keep in mind that cell phone service in the area can be limited.
Movies to Give You Shivers
Retreating to the air-conditioned movies to escape summer’s swelter (you may even want to bring a sweater) is something we tend to take for granted, but patrons in the 1930s of the Tivoli Theatre, now the Wineberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., weren’t so lucky. One audience member was quoted at the time as saying, “It could get hot as blazes in there in the summer.”
All that changed when a Walkersville racehorse named Challedon won the Hollywood Gold Cup. At a pre-race party, Frederick surgeon Edward Thomas—a friend of the horse’s owner—urged movie mogul Jack Warner to bet on Challedon. After the race, Warner wanted to show his appreciation, first offering Thomas part of his winnings. Thomas demurred, but suggested that Warner, owner of Frederick’s Tivoli, install air conditioning at the theater. It happened in 1940, making the Tivoli the city’s first air-conditioned building. Now, wouldn’t that make a good plot for a movie?
Today, you don’t have to make a wager to cool off at the local movie theaters. Just pass the popcorn.
Fountains Look Cool
Parks must have walking paths, benches, something for kids to play on and, if it’s a top-tier park, a fountain. Urban planners tell us that a fountain can help to create a natural vibe. Whether it’s the sound of running water or seeing it spray or cascade, fountains remind us of nature’s most necessary resource. In summertime, that’s especially important.
Frederick has a fair share of fountains, especially in Carroll Creek Park. The East/West Fountain near the South Market Street entrance is a beautiful presentation of tiered waterfalls against stonework and at the park’s other end, near the Claire McCardell statue, jets of water shoot across the creek.
In Baker Park, a fountain is prominently gushing in the middle of Culler Lake, and a fountain built in the late 1890s stands outside City Hall. The heat may make you want to try it, but it’s generally frowned upon to frolic in the fountains. That’s where the fountain on North Market and 7th streets comes into play. The spray hits the sidewalk area, making it possible to get a bit of relief.
Frederick’s Concrete Beaches
So, you don’t have a pool in your backyard. You may not even have a backyard. You don’t have friends or family with a pool, and even if you do, you feel a bit squishy about inviting yourself over. Time to take advantage of Frederick City’s public pools.
The largest facility is the Edward P. Thomas Memorial Swimming Pool at 500 Fleming Avenue. There’s a main pool, wading pool, diving well and splash features such as tumble buckets that leave you almost shivering, but in a good way because it’s so hot outside. There’s a grassy area for throwing down a blanket, as well as picnic tables and lounge chairs.
At 125 W. All Saints St. is the William R. Diggs Memorial Swimming Pool, a smaller facility that tends to have less hubbub. A slide offers kids a thrill and adults without small children to watch after can read a book or even sneak in a nap on lounge chairs beneath shade trees.
A Shady Way to Stay Cool
What to do when the sidewalks and streets sizzle like you could fry an egg on them, but you still want to walk, bike or run for exercise? Make your way to the towpath of the old C&O Canal, which starts in Georgetown and ends in Cumberland, crossing through Frederick County areas like Brunswick and Point of Rocks.
The trail is flat, with no strenuous hills to make you sweat bullets, but most importantly is the canopy of trees that line the banks of the Potomac River, keeping high temperatures at bay. One of the most abundant trees is the Silver Maple, plentiful because it loves to have wet feet. Tulip Poplar also thrive in moist soil and add their height of 60 to 100 feet to the shade factor. You can also spot Box Elder, a species of Maple, and the American Sycamore.
Once you’ve enjoyed the breeze of the leaves, you may want to visit the C&O Canal National Park Visitor Center in Brunswick, which shares a building with the Brunswick Railroad Museum. If the towpath is too tame for your hiking needs, you can tackle a more strenuous path through the woods along the Appalachian Trail, Sugarloaf Mountain, Gambrill State Park and many other routes.
Trekking in Trees
For more adventures in the shade, check out Tree Trekkers at 9560 Old National Pike. This private park is tucked into 30 acres of protected forest that helps keep the sun out, which is good because the ziplines and other aerial adventures might cause you to work up a little sweat.
The cool thing is there is something here for nearly all ages (recommended for 7 and above) and adventure needs, with 250 obstacles, 40 ziplines, 16 trails and eight difficulty levels.
Participants begin their visit in “ground school,” led by a qualified course monitor, before making their way to a practice course. Participants are instructed on how to use their equipment and then given time to practice before walking to the main start platform.
With so much variety in trails and difficulture, Tree Trekkers is the perfect place for group gatherings like birthday parties, corporate teambuilding, family fun, date nights and more.
Screaming for Ice Cream
All it takes is having someone walking by with a cone of ice cream to suddenly awaken the idea that you, too, need a cold, refreshing treat. Ice cream is special anytime of the year, especially sitting next to a slice of birthday cake, but it’s truly made for the summer.
If you’re feeling extra ambitious, try making it yourself with either a hand-cranked machine or letting your freezer do the job. With the abundance of fresh, local fruit, let your creativity go crazy. But if that’s too much of a bother, there are plenty of shops around the city and county with employees at the ready with scoops or a deft hand at swirling soft serve into a cone or dish.
By the way, ice cream is said to have originated with the Chinese, brought to Italy by Marco Polo (hello, gelato) later showing up in France where Thomas Jefferson brough the idea to America. Even with the endless varieties of flavors, the worldwide favorite is vanilla. FM
Laughing Matters
Open Mic Nights Shine Spotlight On Aspiring Standup Comics
For nearly 35 years, Deb Nylec’s husband Mark was the unofficial official comedian of the family, cracking her up regularly with ease and providing the medicine of laughter to those around him.
That changed nearly four years ago when Mark died suddenly. Accompanied by the unexpected loss of her husband came the departure of laughter. While the former was a void she could never fill, the latter was something she tackled herself almost immediately.
“I started to think about how funny it is to be a widow,” Nylec recalls. “I needed an outlet and I needed laughter back in my life, so one night I thought, ‘I can try this.’”
“This” for Nylec was the Cellar Door’s open mic comedy night. Running for more than 12 years, the gathering has exploded in popularity, painting a tiny section of Downtown Frederick as an essential location for up-and-coming comics.
Its success is due in part to the commitment of local comic Ryan Neser, who began the open mic nights. Dozens of comics like Nylec get a chance to hop on stage for five minutes every Tuesday night.
If they impress, they have a shot at landing a spot on one of Neser’s Sunday night comedy shows at the Cellar Door, where national comedians frequently perform. The one-two punch of punchlines has survived and evolved due to a combination of Neser’s lifetime in comedy and the venue’s ability to let his ideas thrive.
“The ownership at the Cellar Door was willing to work with us as partners and not control what we’re doing,” Neser explains. “They’ve had our backs through all this time. Even when we went through the pandemic
“I needed an outlet and I needed laughter back in my life, so one night I thought, ‘I can try this,’” says Deb Nylec (right, above). Comedian Ryan Neser (right, below) started the open mic nights at the Cellar Door.
By Colin McGuire
Photo courtesy
Deb
Nylec
Photo courtesy Ryan Neser
and had to do them at half-capacity, we found a way to make it work. I’ve tried five to 10 other venues from New Jersey to Rockville and, half the time, these things don’t work because the ownership has their own idea of what comedy should be. But with the Cellar Door, we have such a good relationship and partnership. I never want to stop working with them. They’re amazing.”
Due to the success of the open mic nights, Neser sometimes receives up to 50 requests a week from performers coming from as far away from Frederick as Washington, D.C., Baltimore and even New York City, forcing him to turn some away. It’s a difficult decision for Neser, because he understands the importance of the Tuesday nights for those who want to try out new material or merely
just blow off some steam. Having made comedy his livelihood, touring across the country and sharing bills with standup stars, Neser knows how valuable stage time is for comics developing their acts.
Like Nylec, who has been honing her comedy for nearly a year. Upon first stepping under the spotlight to share her unique blend of darkish humor, she caught the bug to keep going. Since then, she’s been searching for open mics throughout the region and even hopped on a stage in Florida during a recent vacation. Her work has not gone unnoticed. Neser notes how Nylec has been “killing it and doing great.” She even landed an appearance on one of the Cellar Door’s Sunday night showcases alongside professionals.
Even so, that success pales in comparison to the intangible benefits of what comedy has done for Nylec amid the loss of her life partner. “It’s been 100 percent therapeutic,” she says. “It makes me feel close to my husband again. I think he’s behind me 100 percent of the way. He’d be pretty proud of what I’ve been doing.”
She pauses.
“The first few times I did it, I got in the car and was really proud of myself, and then I cried the whole way home.”
Nylec chuckles at the thought.
“The next day, I just laughed about the fact that I did it at all.”
Comics who perform well at the Cellar Door’s open mic nights on Tuesdays can earn a spot on one of Neser’s Sunday night comedy showcases at the restaurant that attract regional and national talent.
The ownership at the Cellar Door was willing to work with us as partners and not control what we’re doing.
”
—Ryan Neser
Photos courtesy Ryan
Neser
artsy SPOTLIGHT
The Frederick Center in a New Spot
The former location of the Frederick Arts Council’s gallery and performance space at 5 E. 2nd St., is now home to The Frederick Center, which recently moved from 322 W. Patrick St. The Center’s mission is to provide support, resources and services to the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2023, The Frederick Center saw more than 500 clients visit the center more than 4,000 times, pushing demand for the nonprofit’s 13 support groups beyond capacity, thus making the move essential to continued growth, according to Kris Fair, the organization’s executive director. The new location will enable The Frederick Center to expand its support programing and create a community performance space. The Frederick Arts Council now has artist studios and a gallery at 1-11 N. Market St. www.TheFrederickCenter.org
MET Announces New Season
With beer and barbecue in hand, a crowd at Idiom Brewery recently learned about the next lineup of plays for the Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s 2024-2025 mainstage season, starting with an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, running Sept. 20-Oct. 13. The plot follows the Dashwood sisters after the death of their father leaves them penniless and socially vulnerable.
For the holidays, the MET is featuring the world premiere of Sarah Shulman’s A Very Jewish Christmas, showing what happens when a Jewish-Catholic family reunites for its Hanukah and Christmas celebrations. The show runs Nov. 22-Dec. 22. Next up is The Beauty Queen of Leenane, a tale of a daughter caring for her manipulative, ailing mother, running Feb. 7-March 2.
Jane Anger runs March 28-April 19 and involves a plague in 1606 that has William Shakespeare in quarantine trying to write King Lear and suffering from writer’s block. Arriving through his window is Jane Anger to give Shakespeare a piece of her mind. The quest to create the perfect sandwich is woven into the plot of Clyde’s, the final show of the season, running May 16-June 15 and set in a truck stop sandwich shop run by an owner who tries to subjugate his workers. www.marylandensemble.org
Cartoons, Graffiti Join Forces
Boston-based artist Juan Santos is featured through the end of this month at Gaslight Gallery, 118 E. Church St., with works that reflect the visual languages of cartoons and graffiti as told through the eyes of Burd, a cartoonish parakeet inspired by the birds in his grandmother’s backyard in Puerto Rico.
Santos describes “The Dystopia of Juantopia” as “this wild, weird and twisted world [that] defies expectations, where fears become reality and difficult topics like bigotry, trauma, spousal abuse and alienation are impossible to ignore. … My artwork reflects my personal experiences, with Burd symbolizing myself. … My work is designed to shock, provoke and challenge the viewer.” www.GaslightArt.com
The Frederick Center was founded in 2012.
World Repair
Beth Sholom Congregation Puts Faith in Solar Initiative
In the Jewish tradition, the concept of tikkun olam is translated as “world repair.” Interpretations vary, from community activism to social justice, but many have applied world repair to areas of environmental stewardship, including recycling, conservation and reducing the need for fossil fuels.
“The Jewish tradition has always acknowledged the importance of taking care of the environment,” says Rabbi Jordan Hersh of Beth Sholom Congregation.
One of the ways tikkun olam can be found at Beth Sholom is up above, specifically on the roof, where rows of solar panels now soak up the sun’s rays and provide electricity to the Conservative Jewish synagogue. As a result, Beth Sholom is believed to be the first house of worship in Frederick County to achieve the environmental milestone of being 100 percent solar.
Synagogue officials hope they’re not the last.
The idea for the project began about six years ago when congregation member Joe Herzog installed solar panels on his horse farm near U.S. 15 north of the City of Frederick. “I have always been interested by alternative energy options,” Herzog says.
Herzog began investigating how solar could be used at Beth Sholom, recognizing the long-term economic benefits, but also the environmental bonus that reflects tikkun olam. “It’s really quite a good fit for Jewish responsibility,” he says.
“The Jewish tradition has always acknowledged the importance of taking care of the environment,” says Rabbi Jordan Hersh (right) of Beth Sholom Congregation.
By Guy Fletcher
In recent years, switching to solar has become more practical for individuals, companies and nonprofits with the introduction of new tax incentives and other government programs that encourage alternative energy sources. Beth Sholom’s solar project received support from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
The installation of the panels earlier this year by Paradise Energy Solutions went smoothly, but HVAC equipment limited roof space available for solar panels and there were even a few nearby trees that could block some of the sun’s rays. “Shade is your enemy when it comes to solar,” says Herzog, who chairs Beth Sholom’s solar committee.
As a result, the panels on the building generate about 88 percent of the building’s electrical need. To fill in the rest, the synagogue doesn’t simply purchase electricity off the grid, but has instead contracted with Neighborhood Sun, a community solar orga -
nization, to purchase the remaining electricity through a solar farm.
Solar panels have become more common at synagogues in recent years, according to the Baltimore Jewish Times . At least 30 congregations nationwide had been fully solar by 2019, with more making the switch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ultimately, Beth Sholom could save $450,000 over 30 years, through reduced electric bills.
But there are potentially bigger savings ahead.
Herzog and Hersh hope the synagogue can serve as a model for other houses of worship and nonprofits to make similar moves. They have even offered to share their expertise and experience in helping others make a similar move.
“We really want to help other nonprofits if they are interested in this solution,” Herzog says.
Says Hersh, “It’s something that really is attainable for other houses of worship, nonprofits, other businesses.” Tikkun olam , indeed.
The array of solar panels on the roof of Beth Sholom Congregation will provide 88 percent of the electricity need to the synagogue. The remaining electricity is being sourced from a solar farm.
We really want to help other nonprofits if they are interested in this solution. “ ”
—-Joe Herzog FM
TRENDING
stylin’
My whole mission is to make gardening more approachable, to make it more fun. “ ”
—Brandon Carbary
CREATIVITY, CONSERVATION IN FULL BLOOM
Brandon Carbary is stoked about native plants, a passion that prompted the start of Ecoplantia, 1781A N. Market St., where you can purchase all sorts of vegetation that feel right at home here. He and partner Laura Gaige also are involved with Homegrown National Park.
“We have beautiful national parks,” Carbary says, “but they’re like islands. We want homeowners to bridge those islands with their own gardens,” creating more of the good stuff, whether it’s happy bees pollinating crops or a gorgeous feast for the eyes right outside your door.
Carbary lived in Frederick in his 20s, relocating to the University of Maryland as the lead groundskeeper, a job that led to enrolling as a student and earning a degree in horticulture. He went to work for a country club and when an injury sidelined him, started a native plant business online. The idea of a regular store brought him back to Frederick.
In addition to a nursery, Ecoplantia also offers templates for gardeners to lay out eco-friendly flower beds, along with the starter plants. Made of paper, the templates keep down the weeds and eventually decompose, making food for earthworms. The kits are also available at several area garden centers and through the company’s website, www.ecoplantia.com.
The templates are catching on with regional gardeners as well, which makes Carbary even more thrilled. “I’m telling you, it’s not hard to get out of bed in the morning,” he says.
MARYLAND
tell us TRENDING
Roman Steichen Director, Transit Services
How important is the bus service to the community?
Transit is an essential public service. We help residents, employees and visitors travel safely throughout Frederick County, connecting to jobs, healthcare, shopping and life opportunities. We aren’t simply just a bus service—it’s wide ranging from being a way to ensure that people get life-saving dialysis to making sure our community can make more sustainable transportation decisions and that people can access free, reliable, accessible and safe ways to travel.
Who are the main users of Transit?
Transit is for everyone! With over 840,000 rides last year, many people across Frederick County choose to ride Transit. Whether you’re commuting to work, going out with friends, choosing not to drive or can’t drive, Transit is here to get you there. With 15 routes traveling across our county, “Today is the day to try Transit!”
How often do you ride the buses and what do you learn from the experience? I ride weekly. This allows me to check in
with our world-class operators to get a sense of what’s happening on board and on the streets. This allows me to identify and address issues quickly instead of waiting to learn about it secondhand. It’s difficult to run a transit system without knowing the passenger experience, and we’re working to build a better system every day. I’ve also overseen the institution of having our staff ride regularly for these same reasons.
Transit recently won a national award. Tell us about it.
Transit Services of Frederick County was
awarded the 2024 Community Transportation Large System of the Year award. This award is the highest recognition provided by the Community Transportation Association of America, or CTAA, at the annual CTAA Expo. This award recognizes a community transportation system for innovative and creative services in the community; being responsive to its customers’ and community needs; actively coordinating and collaborating with other public and special services transportation; effectively helping the community accomplish their goals; creating partnerships with a wide range of organizations, both public and private; providing accessible transportation service; and building transportation alternatives that are intended to meet a wide range of the community’s needs. Only one transit system is recognized each year.
What innovations have recently been put into place and what do you see for the future?
Transit is currently upgrading our onboard cameras to make it easier for our dispatch and supervisor team to review, train and provide guidance. We are installing new hardware that allows us to track buses more effectively and provide audio announcements for upcoming stops. We are improving the customer experience by installing shelters systemwide. We have kicked off an adopt-a-stop program and encourage the public to learn more.
It was meant as a lighthearted joke, but no one was laughing.
When Frederick resident Frances decided to take a DNA test with an at-home kit, she phoned her mother and kidded, “So, if there are any skeletons in your closet, now is the time to tell me.”
But there was no laughter from her mother. “Just dead silence on her end,” says Frances, who asked that her real name not be used for this story. Through the DNA test and amateur investigation, Frances learned the truth about her past: She was conceived from a donor sperm. Not only that, but she also has 13 half-siblings, a number that could increase. “Not quite what I was expecting,” she says now.
Since 2007, when 23andMe became the first company to offer saliva-based, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, millions of people have taken the step. In doing so, many have learned not only who they are but who they are not.
“You have two family trees,” says Jeanie Watts, a Frederick genealogist. “You have a paper tree that is documented as far back as you can document it. Then you have the genetic tree. It might match. It may not. Chances are somewhere along the line it’s not going to match.”
For example, Watts had one client, a staunch Republican, who wondered if he might be related to a president. “He was,” says Watts. “Barak Obama. They were distant cousins. He almost had a coronary and told me, ‘That’s impossible.’”
Unexpected DNA findings can, in the cases of those like Frances, be truly traumatizing. In fact, support groups now exist to help those affected by the results. Many are also engaging in therapy to process the information they have received.
“Part of the identity we have for ourselves is based upon stories we’ve been told in our family,” says Greg Markway, a St. Louis-based clinical psychologist whose interest in genealogy began while searching for the roots of his grandfather.
“And a whole lot of people are finding out that some of those stories weren’t true.”
As a result, the idea of family secrets could become a thing of the past. “Secrets will no longer be as powerful,” says Markway, who plans to write a book about his own genealogical search, “and there will be fewer incentives to keep secrets because that secret is going to come out one way or another.”
“I was going to take it to the grave”
With her own family’s secret revealed, Frances was left to reevaluate who she really is and where she belongs, a story that began for her with a donor conception in 1980. “The medical staff at the time told my parents to never tell me because it would ruin my life,” she says.
Through the DNA test, she first learned she had a half-sister. “I thought, oh, my gosh, my dad had an affair,” she says. She told her older brother, whom she would eventually learn was also donor-conceived with a different father. “Genetically speaking, we’re half-siblings,” she says.
At her brother’s urging, Frances reached out to the half-sister, who responded immediately, saying, “I was born via sperm donation. Do you know who our father is?” recalls Frances. “I was like, oh, my God, my dad donated sperm.”
The half-sister asked what her father did for a living. “I said he was a career fireman,” says Frances. The half-sister said she had been told that their shared biological father was a medical professional. “She told me, ‘You need to call your mom,” says Frances. “The minute she heard that my dad was a fireman, she knew that I was also donor conceived.”
The clinic where Frances was conceived used samples from doctors and medical residents. “My donor donated twice a week for four years,” says Frances.
Frances and her half-siblings all grew up “within 30 minutes of each other,” she says. “One of my friends from high school, who I was on the dance team with and knew since middle school, we share a donor. She didn’t know either.”
Frances had to have a conversation with her mother, not an easy one. Her father had died by this time. “I told her, ‘I have a sibling and she is donor-conceived,’” says Frances. Her mother began crying. “She said, ‘I was never going to tell you. I was going to take it to the grave.’”
Frances comforted her mother. “They wanted a family and tried so hard, and this was the only way to make it happen,” she says. “I told her, ‘I’m not mad. I’m not upset. If you didn’t do it, I wouldn’t be here.’”
“Does your brother know?” her mother responded. “I don’t want him to know.”
Frances admits that as a child she experienced an emotional disconnect with her father, who struggled with alcohol. “He moved out when I was around 8,” she says. Her mother, through it all, stayed the course and protected the family secrets, even in extreme ways.
Frances suffered from severe Crohn’s disease during her teen years. When doctors asked for a medical history, her mother did not flinch at providing her estranged husband’s history. “The lie had become so ingrained in her,” says Frances. “She was determined that this was my father, and this was my medical history.”
Following her contact with her half-sister, Frances tracked down many other half-siblings. She and several of them have even found and met the donor after “some Google sleuthing,” says Frances. He was indeed a resident who was married with a child of his own when he became a donor. “They needed to put food on the table,” she says. “His wife knew what he was doing.”
Frances and the others were eventually welcomed into the donor’s home, including at Thanksgiving. “One of the first times I went over there, his wife grabs me and runs upstairs with me,” says Frances. “She takes me into their office and points at a picture. She said, ‘Look at that picture. That’s you.’ It was his mother’s wedding picture.”
Frances had already been in therapy when she learned of her conception and half-siblings, but she found it helpful with processing the new revelation. But uncovering the past “hurt my relationship with my mom,” she says. “She really had a hard time that I wanted to have a relationship with these people.”
There are other unhealed wounds. “My intended father was not a father, and my actual father was not a father,” Frances says. “I am fatherless.”
“She
looked like her mother”
Through DNA testing, Steve (also not his real name) didn’t discover a passel of half-siblings but he did learn about a first cousin he never knew existed. Steve is white. His cousin is biracial.
Steve was delighted to add another branch to the family tree. However, other family members were not
so enthusiastic. “My aunt had a drinking problem,” says Steve. She was married to Steve’s uncle when she conceived his cousin. “I think she got drunk and something happened,” he says. According to Steve, his aunt went away to have the baby but then brought the newborn back home with her.
“My uncle made her give the baby up for adoption,” he says. Steve says he knew nothing of this until he spoke with the cousin. For him, there was no denying her. “I told her that I was going to send her a photograph and that she was going to be amazed at how much she looked like her mother,” he says.
This is not the first time Steve’s lineage has crossed racial lines. He has one ancestor, a white man, who married a freed enslaved person. He welcomes this family history much as he has welcomed his new family member. “Why should the color of our skin matter?” he says.
Not all DNA surprises involve unknown family members, however. Sometimes it’s a person discovering their identity is not what they believed it was. Cecilia (also not her real name) grew up enthralled by all things Spanish.
“I was told my whole life that I was Spanish-Irish,” she says. This information came from her grandmother, says Cecilia, who embraced her heritage. “I lived in Spain twice and taught Spanish,” she says.
The language just rolled off her tongue, marveling even native speakers, which she attributed to her Spanish roots.
Except she didn’t have any.
While living in Alaska several years ago, Cecilia and her husband adopted a young girl who came with a surprise of her own. “She knew she was part Alaskan Native (Athabaskan), but her mother was a sex worker, so she had no idea who the dad was,” says Cecilia.
Cecilia and her daughter both took DNA tests. That’s when Cecilia learned that she was “100 percent not Spanish,” she says. “And a dangerous percentage of Neanderthal. We all had a good laugh.”
Her daughter? “Come to find out she is half-Spanish,” says Cecilia. “We adopted a Spanish girl!”
“Do
you want the good, bad and ugly?”
Genealogist Watts initially became interested in the profession because she wanted to learn all she could about the father she never met. “My father was
married,” she says. “My mother knew he was married. But he gave all the pretty lies: ‘I love you. My marriage is over. I’m going to divorce her and marry you.’” However, when her mother discovered she was pregnant, “He said, ‘I can’t leave my wife,’” she says. Her mother never lied to Watts about who her father was. On her 16th birthday, “my mom gave me a little cardboard jewelry box with his address and phone number in it,” says Watts. “My mother said, ‘If you want to go see him, it’s your right.’”
Watts had a friend make the call for her. When a woman answered, the friend asked if Watts’ father was available to come to the phone. “The woman said, ‘No, I’m sorry. He died in February.” It was April.
Watts was crushed. “All of a sudden, I realized that I’m never going to be able to sit across from him and ask, ‘Who are you?’”
If she couldn’t meet her father, she was determined to learn all about his family history. “So, my mom and my uncle drove me to the library in the town where he lived,” says Watts. “I pulled the microfiche of his obituary. I copied it and printed it. I took the phone books and cross-referenced the names in the obituary and made a nice little list, which I still have. I figured out who his sisters were and the names of his parents because my mom didn’t know that information.”
As she dug deeper, Watts was delighted with what she learned. “On my father’s paternal line, I’ve gone all the way back to my fivetime great-grandfather, who was born sometime around 1720 and fought under Gen. George Washington,” she says. “It gave me a picture of who I am and where I came from.”
But none of it was true. In 2017 Watts took her own DNA test. “My father was not the biological child of the man who raised him,” she says.
The experience gave Watts a unique perspective in
helping others with their own unexpected family discoveries. “I tell clients if you’re willing to do the DNA, that’s great,” says Watts. “It’ll be helpful. But I need to know what you want to know. Do you want the good, bad and ugly? Or do you just want the pretty paper trail that you’ve been told all your life? And I’m OK with whichever you choose, because it’s your story.”
For those who agree to DNA testing, the results can still be difficult to accept.
“I have people say to me, ‘My grandmother would never …,’” says Watts. “Yes, grandma would have. Because their lives were so different from ours. There were things that were done out of necessity. A woman finds herself pregnant after whatever circumstances. She doesn’t have a voice. She’s not allowed to be pregnant and single. She can’t work and support herself. So, the first thing she’s going to do is marry the first suitor who shows an interest. And that baby is going to be that man’s baby. Yes, the dates are a little off, but so she went into labor early. Or it’s just a big baby.”
She adds, “Nowhere along the line did great-greatgrandma think that 100 years from now, somebody’s going to spit in a tube and find out her secret.”
Filling the Need
Companies, Organizations, People Step Up to Provide School Supplies
Composition books. Headphones and microphones. Kleenex. These are some of the school supplies students need, and they will have them, thanks to local businesses and organizations spearheading summertime drives.
“Locally, lots of entities seemed to be doing school supply drives,” says Erin Lawson, director of resource development and marketing for the United Way of Frederick County. “A year or two before COVID, we decided to make it more cohesive.” Back then, United Way’s popular Stuff the Bus program was already in place and the organization paired with Backpacks for Bright Futures and invited local businesses to build the school supply drive.
Today, up to 5,000 Frederick County Public School students receive school supplies through the collection drive, which begins each year in November and culminates in the distribution of supplies to kids and parents each August. “Some businesses allow the public to drop off donations,” Lawson says. Banks, stores, restaurants and other companies encourage customers to donate. Offices place bright yellow bins in break rooms for employees to drop off supplies or donate funds to buy them.
Elementary school students need supplies like composition books, pencil boxes, markers, crayons, notebooks, scissors and glue sticks. High school students need items like binder notebooks, highlighters, colored pencils and folders.
Backpacks for Bright Futures, organized by Beyond Shelter (formerly the Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs), collects about 3,000 new backpacks, which are then filled with school supplies from the Stuff the Bus drive and distribut-
Summertime school supply drives include drop-off locations at workplaces throughout Frederick County.
By Karen Gardner
Photos courtesy United Way of Frederick County
ed to area students. Schools distribute the backpacks at a convenient time, like Back to School Night.
To make sure 2,000 students outside Frederick City get the supplies they need, Stuff the Bus partners with Brunswick Ecumenical Assistance Committee on Needs, Middletown Valley People Helping People, Glade Family Community Services and Thurmont-area organizations. Jean Smart, organizer of Middletown Valley People Helping People, says families get their backpacks and fill them with donated supplies at a local fire hall. Last year, 53 families were served in her community.
“One-third of the county is ALICE [Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed], working families struggling to make ends meet,” Lawson says. “They are above the poverty line but still struggling.”
A typical family of four needs an annual income of $112,000 to make ends meet, and many families below that threshold often don’t qualify for government assistance.
Barbara Kershner Daniel, retired senior pastor of Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, helped Beyond Shelter start Backpacks for Bright Futures in 2010 when 500 kids were served. The program grew exponentially by the time she retired in 2022.
“People love to buy school supplies,” she says. “I still get excited when I see notebook paper for 50 cents.” She added that for many families, buying school supplies is a struggle. “You’re easily putting out $50 to $75 [per child]. Imagine having a family of three or four kids.”
Meeting the needs of Frederick County families became even easier after Stuff the Bus and Backpacks for Bright Futures joined forces. “We have a group of loyal donors who have been giving for 14 years,” says Meg Kula, Beyond Shelter’s director of philanthropy. “We decided to focus on the backpacks.” Backpacks are bought in bulk for $4 to $7 each. This year, she expects they will buy 3,000 backpacks for students in pre-K to 12th grade.
“It’s a great partnership between us, FCPS and United Way, and the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek is also a major partner,” Kula says.
Crosby Blair, community school coordinator at Lincoln Elementary School, says the public-private partnership allows his school to provide all 640 students with backpacks and a full complement of school supplies. “The look on their faces when they get these is priceless,” he says.
Still want to donate? It’s not too late. Email Lawson at elawson@ uwfrederick.org for supplies or Kula at mkula@bsfred.org for backpacks.
Up
We have a group of loyal donors who have been giving for 14 years. “
—Meg Kula
to 5,000 Frederick County Public School students receive school supplies through the expanded Stuff the Bus collection drive.
Photo courtesy United Way of Frederick County
biz bites
BUSINESS
Frederick Air Wins National Award
Frederick Air Inc., 3 King Ave., recently won the 2024 Charles Bryant Award, which recognizes loyal Bryant facto-
Hawkins Landscaping Celebrates 50 Years
Family owned and operated since its founding in 1974, Hawkins Landscaping, 8408 Links Bridge Road, Thurmont, is known as the area’s go-to company for creating beautiful outdoor spaces that make the homeowner reluctant to spend much time indoors.
Dave Hawkins is president of the 50-yearold business and has a staff of 22 employees serving customers in Frederick, Washington and Montgomery counties and a small part of Pennsylvania. A segment of its clientele are repeat customers, homeowners wanting to expand on the work already done by Hawkins, whether it’s adding more plants or installing additional hardscape to increase entertainment space. The company motto is “We turn your dreams into reality.” www.hawkinslandscaping.com
ry-authorized dealers who embody the characteristics of professionalism, quality, reliability and community spirit. Frederick
40 Years of Vacations
Whether you are a seasoned traveler or someone ready to take the travel plunge, the recorded greeting when you call Antietam WorldTravelService makes you want to start packing: “The world is a huge, beautiful place to explore,” the message says. “And we want to show you how to get the most out of every journey.” This year the travel agency at 2190 Old Farm Drive is celebrating its 40th anniversary of doing just that.
The staff has been lauded by those using the service, including one client who wrote on the company’s website that they were impressed by the “attention to detail. They listened to us and found just the right hotels, guides, drivers and experiences” all while helping them “figure out the budget.”
Antietam specializes in ocean and
Auto Spa Renovations
Frederick Auto Spa on U.S. 40 is undergoing major renovations with a projected reopening date of Nov. 15. During renovations, all memberships
Air shares the designation with a heating and cooling company in Oregon.
“For more than 30 years, Frederick Air has provided high-quality, reliable service throughout Frederick County and surrounding communities,” says the Bryant company. “[It was] founded on extraordinary customer service—from the person who answers the phone, to the technicians arriving at the home, the company is committed to maintaining its hard-earned reputation.” www.frederickair.com
river cruises, adventure trips and travels that include children, wellness destinations where you can rejuvenate in a spa setting, as well as arranging for visits to national parks. Romance is celebrated by the agents who can arrange for a destination wedding, make suggestions for honeymoon spots or help plan a trip to celebrate an anniversary. They’ll take care of the details; all you need to do is pick a place. www.antietamtravel.com
will be converted to the Super wash level, which can be used at Frederick Auto Spa Express locations on Md. 26 and Md. 35. www.washluberepair.com
on tech
BUSINESS
By Jeni Lubbert
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many aspects of modern life, including online shopping. From personalized recommendations to enhanced customer service, AI is transforming how we shop online. Let us count the ways!
Personalized shopping experience:
AI personalizes shopping experiences by analyzing browsing history, past purchases and customer preferences to suggest tailored products. This personalization enhances customer satisfaction and increases repeat purchases. For instance, Amazon’s AI-powered recommendation engine drives a significant portion of its sales by suggesting items based on browsing and purchase history.
Improved search and navigation: AI-powered search engines and navigation tools help customers find exactly what they’re looking for. Natural language processing (NLP) improves search result accuracy by allowing users to search using conversational language. Visual search technology enables customers to upload images and find similar products, reducing the time and effort needed to find items and making the shopping journey more streamlined and enjoyable.
Better customer service: Chatbots and virtual assistants provide 24/7 support, answering common queries and guiding customers through their shopping journey. These AI-driven tools handle a large volume of inquiries simultaneously, reducing wait times and ensuring prompt assistance. AI also analyzes customer feedback and sentiment, so businesses can address issues proactively.
Fraud detection and security: AI enhances security by detecting fraudulent activities through pattern analysis and anomaly detection. These systems continuously learn and adapt to new threats, providing robust protection for both retailers and customers. By ensuring secure transactions, AI helps build trust and confidence in online shopping platforms.
Inventory management and supply chain optimization: AI-driven inventory management systems help retailers maintain
optimal stock levels, reducing the risk of overstocking or stockouts. Predictive analytics forecast demand based on seasonality, market trends and consumer behavior. AI also optimizes supply chain operations by identifying inefficiencies and suggesting improvements, leading to faster delivery times and reduced operational costs.
Visual and voice search: AI advancements in visual and voice search are changing how consumers interact with online shopping platforms. Visual search allows customers to upload images to find similar products, while voice search enables users to search using voice commands. These technologies cater to the demand for convenience, making the overall shopping experience more interactive and accessible.
The impact of artificial intelligence on online shopping is huge and varied. From creating personalized shopping experiences and better search features to boosting customer service and security, AI is changing the game for e-commerce. As AI keeps advancing, we can look forward to even more cool innovations that will make online shopping easier, safer, and more fun for everyone.
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.
Multi-Culinary
Inventive, Unique Sushi NOMU Combines Cultures with Tapas Creations
By Joseph Peterson / Photography by Turner Photography Studio
When it comes to tapas, Japanese food doesn’t typically come to mind. That might change, however, now that one of Frederick’s newest restaurants, Sushi NOMU on Westview Drive, is bringing an inventive playfulness to the world of tapas, pairing it with the quintessential precision of Japanese sushi plating.
“It’s not traditional, it’s a new creation; it’s not just sushi or Japanese food, not just the raw fish on top,” says Kittichai Kittiwarakarn, partner-owner and head sushi chef at Sushi NOMU, located on Westview Drive. While Kittiwarakarn explains what his concept is not, he lets his creative vision and culinary skill describe what it is.
Take the Tuna Onimochi: fried tortilla chips, warm and sturdy, heaped with a creamy tuna and crab salad garnished with avocado and a ponzu sauce drizzle. Essentially sophisticated seafood nachos with an amuse-bouche sensibility, but it’s a tapas bullseye, every chip its own perfectly composed bite.
The Tower is the showstopper, however. Imagine a poké bowl assembled into a sturdy pillar built on a crosshatch of drizzled mango sauce with thinly sliced avocado for its roof. The result is a stunning, Instagram-worthy column of colorful tuna, salmon in spicy mayo, and crunchy tempura flakes. A base of fresh seaweed salad completes the structure’s composition that’s as pretty as a pastry and twice as delicious.
Of course, NOMU isn’t only tapas, as it offers a broad menu of sushi rolls, ramen and donburi (rice bowls) equally adorned with the same inventive creativity and attention to detail as the
A meal at Sushi NOMU, under the direction of partner-owner and head sushi chef Kittichai Kittiwarakarn, is a dazzling feast for both the eyes and tastebuds.
tapas. “If you try our ramen, it’s a little bit different,” says partner-owner Natapong Thongsuk, who goes by his Thai cultural nickname, Oat.
Oat is also a co-owner of the popular local eatery, Thai Meric, but his new venture takes him back to his roots working at a sushi restaurant in Florida and where he fell in love with Japanese food. “I’ve been to Japan five times and I think I know what it is about the food,” he says. “We adapt the taste of ramen not too salty like everywhere.”
The spicy Tan Tan Ramen is a triumph of the genre, created by the third partner-owner and head ramen chef Anekchai Nojit. Intoxicating with warming spice, the tonkotsu broth carries a subtle sweetness as well, an echo of its roasted corn garnish. The pork ChaShu is a slice of luxurious decadence, and the egg, smokey in color from what appears to be a light soy marinade, comes cattle-branded with Japanese block letters and sits like a beautiful painted stone atop a nest of perfectly chewy noodles. A symphony of flavor that, as Oat says, is not overpoweringly salty, this ramen allows for
all its complexities to find expression as it’s savored.
While not small, NOMU’s dining room has an unexpected intimacy, and, even when bustling, is intentionally uncrowded. Its sushi bar is adorned with studded chairs of lush green velvet above which a massive glass panel becomes the window to see the whole kitchen in vivid transparency.
Oat says the intention is to not make it look like the old style of a Japanese restaurant and points out that the design of the seating is diagonal across the dining room, limiting the number of possible tables and seats.
“We don’t mind about the smaller space, we mind about the ambience and we mind about what people like and what people can experience with us,” he says.
Artistic lighting and oceanic hues from the dishware to the walls establish the relaxed mood for this cosmopolitan chic restaurant that draws its inspiration from the sea. A wall fresco of the iconic The Great Wave off Kanagara woodblock print can also be spotted. Kittiwarakarn says this ambience helps diners feel at ease. “We make the place nice and cozy,” he says.
It’s not traditional, it’s a new creation; it’s not just sushi or Japanese food, not just the raw fish on top. “ ”
-- Kittichai Kittiwarakarn
The team behind Sushi NOMU includes, from left, partners Kittichai Kittiwarakarn, Anekchai Nojit and Natapong “Oat” Thongsuk.
ON THE TABLE
tiny plates
CHANGES AT THE TABLE
Downtown Frederick dining has undergone some dining changes this summer, beginning with the closing of Firestone’s Culinary Tavern, 105 N. Market St., an institution for the past 26 years. The decision to close the restaurant and its related businesses, Side Car and Market on Market, followed the recent death of owner Kim Firestone. In the week leading up to last call, loyal patrons enjoyed the menu and hoisted a glass one last time.
A block north at 228 N. Market, Thatcher & Rye closed and, within days, became The Ordinary Hen, offering a menu featuring Appalachian-styled cuisine such as pot roast, fried chicken and rainbow trout. Chef Bryan Voltagio is exiting that kitchen to prepare for helming a new restaurant at Visitation Hotel, 211 E. Church St., scheduled to open later this year. The Ordinary Hen’s chef is Bradley Butts, the original sous chef at Thatcher & Rye. www.theordinaryhen.com
PAKISTANI CUISINE COMES TO FREDERICK
Who knew that a new Frederick taste sensation could be found in a strip shopping center sharing space with a laundromat, 7-Eleven and liquor store, but Hinzi’s Kitchen, 503 N. East St., is well worth searching out for authentic Pakistani food with the chef’s special spin added.
Hinzi Awan and her husband, Malik, recently opened the restaurant, furnishing the dining room in pleasing colors along with some of Malik’s artwork. In addition to seated meals, they offer carry-out and delivery. “People are discovering new tastes and an exciting option to put in their [dining] rotation,”
IT’S ICE CREAM WEATHER
Malik says, adding that they strive to keep their menu affordable. The offerings range from a variety of rice bowls to rolls where ingredients such as chicken, chickpeas or gyro meat are wrapped in soft bread. A customer favorite is the samosa chat with tamarind chutney, spicy mint chutney and yogurt. Mirchi masala fries, with a coating of chilies and spices, is an addictive side dish. Hinzi has a large family in the area and says they’re always eager to come and test her new recipes before she adds them to the restaurant menu. www.hinziskitchen.com
Anytime is a good time to lick or spoon your way through a scoop of ice cream, but with the swelter of August it’s especially necessary. Helping to fill the bill is the recently opened Swirls of Frederick, 1307 W. 7th St., next to Giant Eagle. The business is owned by Tricia Kennedy and Jon Rottenberg with help from their son, Max, and is the culmination of a years-long dream to own an ice cream shop.
The business, which offers handdipped and soft-serve ice cream, which can be gussied up with toppings, also has coffee, espresso, bubble tea and acai bowls. Swirls offers vegan, gluten-free and nut-free options and even pup cups for treating your pet. Check out their coupon specials. www.swirlsfrederick.com
ON THE TABLE
cravings
★ 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. $$
airways inn
310 Aviation Way, Frederick. 301-228-2100 Sandwiches, salads and more. Adjacent to airport. $
H a.K.a. Friscos
4632 Wedgewood Blvd., Frederick. 301-698-0018. Upbeat sandwich shop also offering house-roasted meats, salads and potatoes. $$
aleKo’s village caFé
4304 Old National Pike, Middletown. 301-371-3500. Greek, vegetarian and vegan specialties, subs and salads. $
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. $-$$$
B. anderson’s BacKyard experience
1448 W. Patrick St, Frederick. 301-898-2075 Farm-to-table soul food with a Jamaican fusion experience. Serving lunch and dinner. $$-$$$
H Beans & Bagels
49 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-620-2165 Light breakfasts and lunches. $
Beans & dreams
203 E. Main St., C, Middletown. 240-490-7070 Café and coffee shop. $
BeeF ‘n Buns ‘n paradise 1448 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-898-2075 Big burgers and great ice cream selections. $
Belles’ sporTs Bar & grill
1202 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-696-9623. Great ribs and other American fare. $
Bellisario’s pizza
934 N. East St., Frederick. 301-662-9233. Sauce and dough made fresh daily. $$
BenTzTown
6 S. Bentz St., Frederick 301-301-8430. Southern fare. $$-$$$
Big papi’s
5711 Industry Lane, Frederick. 240-651-5969 Authentic Mexican dishes. $-$$
H BlacK hog BBq & Bar
118 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-662-9090 221 Shorebird St., Frederick. 301-662-9600 3323 Worthington Blvd., Urbana. 240-699-0070. 100 Middletown Pkwy, Middletown. 240-490-8147. Specializing in various styles of barbecue. $$
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
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. $-$$
cacique
26 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-695-2756 Fine Spanish and Mexican cuisine. $$-$$$
H caFé Bueno
255 E. 4th St. 301-620-8858. Authentic Mexican food. Burritos a favorite. $-$$
caFé nola
4 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-694-6652 Bistro café. Coffee, tea and sandwiches. $
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. $
flaminG Grill & Buffet
1003 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-664-3388 Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine. $-$$
120 Frederick Road, Suites B&C, Thurmont. 301-271-2858. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, sushi bar, Asian fusion, dine in, carryout, catering. $-$$
H 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. $-$$
Taco BaR
1450 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-732-5716 Authentic Mexican fast food. $
Tempo di pasTa
244 E. Church St., Frederick. 240-780-8517. Gourmet Italian dishes. Handmade pasta. $$
taichi bubble tea
5866 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick. 240-815-7961. Bubble teas, fruit teas, ramen, poke bowls, sushi burritos and rice bowls. $$
taj mahal bar & grill
1301 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-682-2213
Authentic Indian fare featuring home made spices. Serving lunch and dinner. Wine and beer available. $-$$
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. $-$$
troPix Pots cuisines bar & grill
490 Prospect Blvd., Frederick. 240-877-4858
Authentic Jamaican and Caribbean cuisine. $$-$$$
uP on market bistro
301 N. Market St., Frederick. 240-831-4847
Charming restaurant/bistro offering full service breakfast, lunch and dinner. Uniqueness and variety with a touch of elegance. $-$$$
valley grill sPorts bar Hollow Creek Golf Club, 50 Glenbrook Drive, Middletown. 301-371-0400
Contemporary American cuisine. $-$$
H wag’s
24 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-694-8451 Classic hamburgers and fries. $
white rabbit gastroPub
18 Market Space, Frederick. 240-651-1952 Craft beer house serving high-end beer and food. $-$$
wilcom’s inn 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. $-$$
TALKING HISTORY
Jody Brumage
By Scott Grove
by Turner Photography Studio
The horror film The Blair Witch Project is not the first time that Burkittsville has gained national notoriety for spirits. From the mid-1800s to the early 1920s, rye whiskey distilled by the Outerbridge Horsey Company was among the most famous in America. Jody Brumage, Heritage Frederick archivist, shares a brief history of the successful company and distilling practices of the day.
Scott: Has the role or consumption of distilled spirits changed historically?
Jody: Before European colonization, Native American cultures had a centuries-long tradition of producing and consuming fermented alcoholic beverages, particularly as a component of ceremonial rituals. Europeans brought distilled spirits with them as North America was colonized and consumed alcohol on a more casual, daily basis. The type of alcohol as well as its consumption became a mark of social class and economic disparity.
Scott: Distilleries today seem to be popping up throughout the U.S. Were they commonplace in the 18th and 19th centuries?
Jody: Distilling alcohol from grain was a regular activity for many farmers in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Before the American Revolutionary War, colonial farmers distilled alcohol to avoid paying taxes on imported spirits. When the federal government imposed a tax on spirits and the equipment to distill them in 1794, a rebellion was led primarily by farmers who relied on the liquor they made as a good to be exchanged in their bartering-based economy. Industrial distilleries boomed after the Jefferson administration lowered the whiskey tax. At least four industrial-scale distilleries operated in Frederick County in the late 19th century.
Scott: The Outerbridge Horsey Company in Burkittville, which produced Horsey Pure Rye Whiskey, had a long run, operating from 1849 to the early 1920s. Do you know much about its early years?
Jody: Horsey’s first distillery was a small-scale operation located on his family’s farm along the eastern base of South Mountain. Spring water from the mountain was utilized in the distilling process. The area surrounding the farm witnessed massive troop movements during the Civil War, which disrupted the local economy, particularly in the fall of 1862 and summer of 1863. Horsey’s first distillery was looted during the war while he traveled abroad, spending time in Europe studying the methods and ingredients used by distilleries there. Upon his return, he rebuilt his distillery and determined to set himself apart from competitors by focusing on quality, rather than quantity. In time, Horsey grew his distillery to become one of the largest on the East Coast and one of few which operated year-round.
Scott: I’ve read that the owners used an aging process that involved a sea voyage.
Jody: Horsey, and many of his contemporaries, believed that the sea voyage involved in importing whiskeys from Europe was part of what made their taste superior to American spirits. Consequently, Horsey shipped some of his whiskey by rail to Baltimore and then onto ships for the months-long voyage to San Francisco. Once there, some whiskey was sold in California markets, the rest was transported back across the country on the Transcontinental Railroad and returned to the distillery where it could be stored in the warehouse for several years before it was placed on the market.
Scott: How popular was Horsey’s whiskey?
Jody: Before Prohibition, Maryland rye whiskey, like that which Horsey produced, was popular among consumers across the United States. Maryland ranked behind Pennsylvania and Kentucky as the third-largest producer of whiskey. At the height of his production, Horsey marketed his rye whiskey throughout the East Coast, in California and in Cincinnati, Ohio. The whiskey he sold in California was marketed under the brand name “Golden Gate.” On the East Coast, Horsey was a popular Maryland rye brand.
Scott: What do you know about the Horsey family?
Jody: Outerbridge Horsey, the distiller, was the son of Outerbridge Horsey, a politician who represented the state of Delaware in the United States Senate, and Eliza Lee Horsey, the daughter of Maryland’s second governor, Thomas Sim Lee. His mother inherited the land on which the distillery was later built from her father upon his death in 1819, a portion of his large Needwood Plantation in Burkittsville. In 1875, Horsey improved and expanded the original farmhouse in the fashionable Eastlake style with wraparound porches, dormers and cupolas. The distillery complex grew to cover 2.25 acres with a three-story stone still house and several frame warehouses. After his death in 1902, Horsey’s sons took over the distillery, which was incorporated into a joint stock company valued at $40,000. The new company rebuilt extensive portions of the distillery and attempted to diversify production by switching from rye to corn whiskey. Sales decreased and the company was sold to a distilling firm based in Cincinnati in 1907.
Photography
Scott: How quickly did Prohibition end production for the company and cause its closure?
Jody: The distillery complex, including hundreds of barrels stored in the warehouses, was advertised for sale in 1918. Soon after, federal guards were posted at the distillery to halt frequent raids and attempted robberies. A few raids were successful in removing hundreds of gallons of whiskey from the warehouses. Finally in 1925, the government demolished the distillery buildings and removed the remaining whiskey from the premises. Only
one building was left standing, the stone still house, which was sold to the family to be used for farm purposes. This structure was later abandoned and collapsed. No remnant of the distillery complex remains today. Only the house and farm buildings exist.
Jody Brumage, 33, is a 10thgeneration native of Frederick County who resides in Burkittsville. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public history and a master’s degree in archives and records administration. 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.
Before Prohibition, Maryland rye whiskey … was popular among consumers across the United States. Maryland ranked behind Pennsylvania and Kentucky as the third-largest producer of whiskey. “ ”
— Jody Brumage FM
Carousel of Progress
Glen Echo Park Reimagines its Past
By
Offering
GLEN ECHO—Who doesn’t like a carousel? What about a puppet show for small children or a summer art camp for the older ones? And how does a Saturday night swing dance class or a hands-on intro to blown glass for adults sound?
This is just a smattering of the attractions that abound throughout the year at Glen Echo Park in southern Montgomery County.
Initially developed in 1891 as a National Chautauqua Assembly in Glen Echo, the site was reconfigured in 1911 by real estate developer brothers Edwin and Edward Baltzley to include an amusement park. Hoping to provide a respite from the oppressive Washington, D.C., summers, the park boasted a swimming pool with a sand beach, a game arcade, rides, the Spanish Ballroom with a stage for music productions, picnic grounds and a handsome Dentzel carousel.
For decades, it drew visitors not only to its summertime leisure attractions, but also to artistic endeavors, learning and music. But civil unrest in the 1960s at the formerly racially segregated park led to its eventual closure. The iconic Art Deco-designed buildings fell into disrepair, the swimming pool was filled in and the parts from the shuttered rides were sold. What was once a busy, loud place turned empty and quiet.
In 1970, the National Park Service began a years-long restoration project to return the park to its former relevance to the community--as a destination for
Attractions for All Ages
By Jeanne Blackburn
More than half a century since its use as a bustling amusement park, Glen Echo Park today is restored and re-envisioned as a center of arts, events and architecture.
Photo courtesy Steve Ruark
Photo courtesy Steve Ruark
Photo courtesy
Yossi May/EAPhoto
families, a venue for music and dance, and a hub of artistic creativity and learning. The grounds were re-landscaped, the once-stunning buildings repainted and repurposed and the beautiful 1921 Dentzel menagerie carousel was refurbished, eventually returning a sense of festivity and enjoyment to the park. (The carousel is the only ride still standing and in use from the former amusement park.)
Today, Glen Echo Park offers something of interest to everyone, kids and adults alike.
Pack a picnic lunch or check out the menu at the cafe, relax under the trees in the park and marvel at the curvilinear Art Deco commercial architecture of the early 20th century all around. Time your visit right and there might be an art, glass or pottery gallery or two open in the old Arcade Building or Yellow Barn.
Check the park’s website (www. glenechopark.org) for special events and classes for the children. Among the most popular ones are the puppet show productions at Adventure Theatre (tickets are required). There are also summer art camps in painting, drawing, ceramics and fused glass, and Saturday
classes in painting and drawing for kids ages 5-17.
Toddlers and small children will be enchanted by the tanks full of fish and other Chesapeake Bay area marine life at the Glen Echo Park Aquarium.
But classes aren’t just for kids. There’s a dizzying array of creative instruction for adults by the talented and experienced instructors at Glen Echo. Here you will find painting in several media, photography, silver-smithing/jewelry-making, glass-blowing and fused glass, and ceramics and pottery, among other crafts.
Or just for fun, join the spirited groups that gather in the Spanish Ballroom on Saturday evenings for a short lesson before the swing, ballroom, contra or zydeco dances begin.
Coming up soon is the annual Labor Day Art Show and sale from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Think ahead to holiday shopping, or just come and browse the wealth of original art available in framed paintings, jewelry, glass and pottery.
Glen Echo Park is also a charming setting for special events, too. The spacious Bumper Car Pavilion building is available to rent for parties, reunions, weddings and other events.
Less than an hour’s drive from most parts of Frederick County, Glen Echo Park is convenient and fun. For everyone.
The lone surviving ride from the amusement park days (and nights) is the 1921 Dentzel menagerie carousel, refurbished to its original glory and providing a sense of festivity amid the arts.
The
Chautauqua Assembly. “ ”
development of historic Glen Echo Park dates to 1891 as a National
Photo courtesy David Stuck
postcards ON THE ROAD
IRELAND
Mary Ellen Mitchell visits the village of Cong, location of the 1952 movie The Quiet Man. The statue behind her depicts the film’s two stars, Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne.
Members of the Frederick Ski Club find a most impressive background for their group photo, with the Rock of Gibraltar looming over the Mediterranean Sea.
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Edisto River flows in the background as Tara Buck Spence, Nancy Luse and Pat Knouse enjoy a visit to the
area and the 49th annual Rice Festival.
SPAIN
Walterboro
you’re here ON THE ROAD
By Jake Wynn
Weekend Wanderings
Frederick County’s diverse landscapes and family attractions make it perfect for a Saturday or Sunday outing. Let’s dive into some of the best weekend hangout spots!
First up, the Appalachian Mountains and Potomac River set the stage for unforgettable family adventures in Frederick County.
Catoctin Mountain Park offers 25 miles of hiking trails, camping and opportunities for great panoramic views. Don’t forget to visit the Visitor Center and learn more about the unique history and natural beauty of this national park near Thurmont.
Don’t miss Cunningham Falls State Park, with its stunning 78-foot cascading waterfall, Maryland’s tallest. (Be mindful of water flow; hot summer days means less water coming over the falls.) You’ll find great hiking trails and Hunting Creek Lake, complete with a sandy beach for swimming, boating and fishing. Be sure to arrive early on weekends, as the park fills up quickly.
Blend history with nature at the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The 15-plus miles of the towpath that passes through Frederick County give access to the park that follows the Potomac River, great for a biking adventure. Looking for an experience on the river? Check out River & Trail Outfitters for kayaking and tubing opportunities.
For the thrill-seekers, Tree Trekkers is a must! This aerial adventure park has 30 acres of forest with 16 different trails, over 250 obstacles and more than 40 ziplines. Get ready to climb, swing and zip through the trees!
When the weather isn’t cooperating, the region still has plenty to offer. Test your family’s puzzle-solving skills at the three escape rooms you’ll find in the vicinity of Downtown Frederick, or head to Fourth Dimension Fun Center for arcade games, bowling, escape rooms, laser tag and the interactive XD Dark Ride. Warehouse Cinemas is also a great option for a rainy or sultry summer day—recline, eat some popcorn, and enjoy a movie!
For the little ones, Me Land is the perfect indoor playground with a three-level jungle gym, ball pit and climbing structures.
No family outing is complete without a sweet treat! North Market Pop Shop in Downtown Frederick boasts over 400 varieties of soft drinks and all-natural ice cream, perfect for inventive soda floats. Frederick Fudge & Ice Cream offers over 20 flavors of premium
dipped ice cream and house-made fudge, with a covered patio for enjoying your treats.
For a unique, on-the-farm experience, visit South Mountain Creamery. This stop on the Maryland Ice Cream Trail includes opportunities to feed calves before enjoying premium ice cream. Visit the farm or get a taste of their ice cream at their Downtown Frederick shop.
Hungry for more ideas? wBrewer’s Alley, Frederick’s first brewpub, offers classic American fare with house-brewed beers and a kid-friendly menu. Frederick Social, a self-pour taphouse and eatery, features locally sourced products and a kids’ play area. Don’t forget Pretzel & Pizza Creations for their famous milkshakes, pizza and pretzel-wrapped goodies.
Learn and play at the region’s educational attractions. Rose Hill Manor Park & Museum gives a glimpse into early American life with kid-friendly exhibits and programs. Visit the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve to see over 450 exotic animals, from monkeys to pythons. Want more history? Visit Monocacy National Battlefield to learn about the people and events that shaped our region’s history, including the Battle of Monocacy.
Looking for even more ideas? Plan an adventure today by heading over to VisitFrederick.org.
Jake Wynn is the senior 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.
CHANGES
Navigating Your Life’s Next Chapter
Welcome to CHANGES, your ultimate guide to navigating the exciting next chapter of your life!
CHANGES is more than just a publication, it’s your trusted companion as you embark on new adventures and opportunities. Whether you’re exploring healthcare options, considering living arrangements, or seeking out social activities, we’ve got you covered!
We’re all about making life easier for you and your loved ones. Say goodbye to decision overwhelm— CHANGES simplifies the process so you can focus on what matters most: living life to the fullest!
But wait, there’s more! We’re not just here to provide information; we’re here to build a vibrant community. Get ready to dive into local events, discover exciting services, and connect with likeminded individuals. Let’s turn the page together and embrace the joy of community engagement, social interaction, and endless possibilities!
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6 N. East St., Suite 301, Frederick, MD 21701 sales@fredmag.com | 301.662.8171 | fredmag.com
Emma Josephine Smith Hospital Founder
By John W. Ashbury
She was born into a prominent family and found her calling after she was paralyzed. Her efforts have served the Frederick County community for more than 120 years, yet her name isn’t highly recognized, nor are her accomplishments.
Emma Josephine Smith was born in Frederick County on Jan. 21, 1844, the daughter of George W. Smith and Mary Ann Elizabeth Nixdorff Smith. They were the parents of 14, five of whom did not survive infancy. George Smith also had a son and a daughter with his first wife.
Emma’s father was a prominent farmer and real estate broker who enjoyed an executive’s perspective, as his advice was
sought by many on several public and private issues. He also served as a judge of the Orphans Court.
When George Smith died in 1871, a codicil to his 1860 will provided that his son from his first wife serve as executor and be granted the sum of $1,000, with the remainder of his estate to be divided among his other children. Emma Smith received a modest inheritance, which she invested
wisely and used to support herself for the rest of her life.
Emma was just 15 when her mother died in 1859. She lived in the family home until her father’s estate was settled. According to the 1880 U.S. Census, she was a “boarder” at the City Hotel on West Patrick Street. The 1890 Census was lost in a fire. The 1900 Census recorded her residing on West 2nd Street, thought to be in the 100 block, as the U.S. Postal Service changed house numbers throughout Frederick in 1905. She purchased 18 W. 3rd St. in January 1910, where she lived the rest of her life.
Sometime in the 1880s, Emma was struck with paralysis and spent several years in an out-of-town hospital, thought to have been in Baltimore. This life-changing event was the genesis of her passion and drive to have a hospital built in Frederick.
When she returned home, there was a move afoot to establish a home for “persons of respectable parentage and good character, who, in advanced age, by reason of the death of their natural protectors, by loss of fortune, by physical infirmity to care for themselves are unprovided with the means of obtaining the comfort and security so necessary for the repose of mind and body which should ever attend the declining years of life.”
She lent her experience and service to the Board of Managers of The Home for The Aged, now known as the Record Street Home, from its inception in 1892 until her death.
Though she was busy with the safety and provisions of that facility, the idea of a hospital in town was never far from her mind. On March 26, 1897, she brought together a group of her friends at the Carlin House, at the southeast corner of North Court and West Church streets, and formed an organization that resulted in the establishment of the Frederick City
Photo courtesy Ron Davis
Hospital Association. The women worked diligently for more than five years before seeing the tangible result from their efforts.
In November 1897, Smith began the purchase of property on Park Avenue in a development created by Charles E. Trail known as “Frederick City Manufacturing and Development Company’s North West Addition to Frederick Md.” On Nov. 10, she bought a lot in the development from Thomas A. Gatch and Amanda Gatch of Baltimore for the sum of $50. It measured 50 feet by 135 feet. On Nov. 26, she added four more lots, also approximately 50 feet by 135 feet each. The next day, she bought two more similarly sized lots for $100.
Smith transferred the seven lots, totaling nearly 50,000 square feet, to the Frederick City Hospital Association on Jan. 7, 1898. That same year, the organization received a charter to build the hospital. There was appointed a Board of Trustees, consisting of 15 men, because women could not vote nor create legal documents establishing such organizations at that time.
The building was estimated to cost $8,000, and the women of the Board of Managers for the hospital, which had grown to 33, set about the task of raising that amount. Many fundraisers were held, including a show at The Frederick Fairgrounds that raised $1,200.
The contract was awarded in 1901 to Michael Gittinger, the low bidder at $8,353.
On July 11, the cornerstone was laid. The three-story brick building, with 16 private rooms and three wards, was dedicated on May 1, 1902. The cost of the private rooms ranged from $5 to $15 a week, including board and nursing care.
Though incapacitated, she devoted most of her adult life to the creation and operation of Frederick City Hospital until her death from a cerebral hemorrhage on Aug. 21, 1916.
At that time, there was a great outpouring of praise for her.
Her obituary and an accompanying newspaper letter to the editor read more like eulogies. Her death certificate listed her profession as a “lady of leisure.” She is buried in the family plot at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Emma Smith’s legacy stands tall in today’s medical community. The hospital now known as Frederick Health, covers 12 acres between West 7th Street and Park Avenue, as well as dozens of other locations and a network of specialty providers.
On Aug. 21, the Kiwanis Club of Frederick will unveil a plaque in honor of Emma Josephine Smith at her former home at 18 W. 3rd St. The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome.
Portrait of a Mystery
Though the portrait of Emma Josephine Smith on page 78 has its roots at the original Frederick City Hospital, the facility has gone through many renovations, demolitions and expansions since its dedication on May 1, 1902.
A renovation during the 1990s required the removal of a closet, along with the contents inside. Included in the items removed was a portrait of a middle-aged woman, whose dress and hair style suggested it was painted in the late 19th century or early 20th century. No one associated with the hospital knew who the woman was.
Ann Weisburger Lebherz, widely known for her research and preservation of local history and sites, suggested that perhaps renowned local artist Helen Smith might recognize the woman in the portrait. The hospital allowed Lebherz to visit Helen Smith at Vindobona Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Braddock Heights with the mysterious painting in hand. Helen Smith, always inquisitive, immediately wanted to know more about the treasure that Lebherz had wrapped up so carefully. With the padding and wrapping removed, Helen Smith said, “My, but that sure looks like Cousin Emma.” Thus, the portrait of Emma Josephine Smith that accompanies this article was identified.
Frederick City Hospital. circa 1906
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
HOT PICK
Aug. 3
Brain Freeze Ice Cream Social Potters’ Guild of Frederick, 14 S. Market St. Enjoy farm-fresh ice cream from South Mountain Creamery and choose a handcrafted, one-of-akind bowl to take home. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Potters’ Guild. Proceeds will be donated to the Frederick Rescue Mission. Noon–7 p.m. $. www.pottersguildoffrederick.com
Summer Concert Series
Sundays in Aug.
Baker Park Bandshell, 121 N.
Bentz St. Enjoy free musical entertainment in Baker Park. Canned food donations will be collected each evening to benefit the Frederick Food Bank. This month’s lineup includes:
Six One Five Collective on Aug. 4; The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow on Aug. 11; Dale and the ZDubs on Aug. 18; and The Frederick Symphony Orchestra featuring Prizm on Aug. 25. See website for weekly food truck schedule. 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. 301-600-2489. www. celebratefrederick.com
Alive @ Five Thursdays in Aug. Carroll Creek Amphitheatre between Market and Carroll streets. The 2024 season of Alive @ Five continues, featuring live music, beer, wine and food every Thursday through Oct. 3. This month, catch Asa & Friends on Aug. 1; Dan McGuire Group on Aug. 8; Daisy Road on Aug. 15; JChris on Aug. 22; and Nick Frey & the Sons of Thunder on Aug. 29. Must be 21 or older. 5 p.m.−8 p.m. $. 301-698-8118. www. downtownfrederick.org
Frederick Airport Summer Fun Days
Fridays through Aug. 30 Frederick Municipal Airport, 310 Aviation Way. Enjoy shaved ice and watch airplanes from the airport viewing area. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. www.frederickmagazine.com/calendar
Yoga with Yogamour Saturdays in Aug. Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. An all-levels yoga class with experienced instructors from Yogamour, a Frederick-based studio and nonprofit. $. 9 a.m.–10 a.m. 301-662-4190. www.skystagefrederick.com
SUNDAYS IN AUG.
Carillon Recital
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. www.visitfrederick.org
THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
Historic District Ghost Tours
Fridays and Saturdays in Aug. Downtown Frederick. In the Historic District Ghost Tour, participants take a journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past, with nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge and documented stories of the paranormal. Tours meet in front of Brewer’s Ally Restaurant, 124 N. Market St. Private tours also available. 7:45 p.m. Reservations required. $. www. marylandghosttours.com
Bringing the War to Our Doorsteps
Saturdays, through Oct. 26
Pry House Field Hospital Museum, 18906 Shepherdstown Pike, Keedysville. A special installment restaging the exhibition of Alexander Gardner’s photographs of the Antietam battlefield in September 1862, a few miles from Pry House. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. www.civilwarmed.org
Civil War Walking Tours
Saturdays and Sundays in Aug.
National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St. Guides take participants on a tour of Civil War history in Downtown Frederick. After the Battle of Antietam, Frederick became one vast hospital when caring for the causalities. This guided walking tour explores the locations of the city’s Civil War hospitals in churches, schools and public buildings. Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. $. 301-695-1864. www.civilwarmed.org
Schifferstadt Architectural Museum Tour
Saturdays and Sundays in Aug.
Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave. Tour the home of a pioneer family and learn about the town’s German heritage and the German way of building a house. 2 p.m.–5 p.m. 301-663-3885. www. fredericklandmarks.org
Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Carnival Through Aug. 3
Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Department Carnival Grounds, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy. Enjoy rides, games, live music and entertainment, shows, fare and more at this annual event to support the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company. 6 p.m.–10 p.m. www.mavfc.org
Tootsie: The Comedy Musical Through Aug. 24
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive. Based on the 1982 comedic film in which Michael Dorsey is a skilled actor with a talent for not keeping a job. Desperate and out of work, he makes a last-ditch effort at making his dreams come true by disguising himself as actress Dorothy Michaels. In a meteoric rise to Broadway stardom, Dorothy soon has audiences falling at her feet while Michael is falling for his co-star. See website for show times. $. 301-662-6600. www.wayoffbroadway.com
Joh Ricci Through Sept. 1
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of works in fiber and paint by Joh Ricci titled, “Eclectic Expressions.” This exhibition brings together Ricci’s passion for fiber art, an exploration in painting, and the combination of both mediums. Colors, shapes, textures and subject matter allow endless possibilities to create her original artwork. A meet the artist event is scheduled for Aug. 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Mary Scire Through Sept. 1
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of paintings by Mary Scire titled, “The Lost Threads.” Lost writing systems, or scripts, from antiquity provide the jumping-off point for each of these abstract paintings. A meet the artist event is scheduled for Aug. 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www. delaplaine.org
Over 70 Show Through Sept.
1
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. A signature of the Delaplaine’s Creative Aging Month, this annual exhibition celebrates local artists over age 70 and showcases a range of styles, techniques and interests. Artists from the Over 70 Show share their inspiration and perspectives at an Art Matters: Artist Talk scheduled for Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
2nd Annual African Americans of Excellence Exhibition Through Aug. 31
FAC Gallery, 1 N. Market St. This traveling, multi-media exhibit showcases the contributions of African Americans in Frederick County— legacy leaders who have courageously, humbly and signifi cantly contributed to positive, transformative work over multiple decades to create and provide a beautiful community and brighter future for all. www. frederickartscouncil.org
ESSL Special Events
Aug. 1, 6, 7, 8
Earth and Space Science Laboratory, 210 Madison St. Explore the Earth and Space Science Laboratory and enjoy a show in the planetarium at these special summer events. See Great White Shark on Aug. 1 at 1 p.m.; Perfect Little Planet on Aug. 6
at 11 a.m.; Dinosaurs Alive! on Aug. 6 at 1 p.m.; Journey to Space on Aug. 7 at 11 a.m.; Mysteries of the Unseen World on Aug. 7 at 1 p.m.; Bugs on Aug. 8 at 11 a.m.; and National Parks Adventure on Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. Purchase tickets for specific shows online in advance. $. 240-236-2694. https://edu.fcps. org/essl
General Grief Support Group
Aug. 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. Aug. 1 and 15, 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m.; Aug. 8 and 22, 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. 240-566-3030. www.frederickhealthhospice.org
Summerfest Family Theatre
1Aug. 1, 8
Baker Park Bandshell, 121 N. Bentz St. Enjoy free children’s entertainment featuring local, regional and national performers showcasing theatre, music, dance, magic and more. Canned food donations will be collected at each event to benefit the Frederick Food Bank. This month’s event features Dairy Maid Dairy on Aug. 1 and Guava Jelly on Aug. 8. 10 a.m. 301-600-2844. www.celebratefrederick.com
Improv on the Sky Stage Aug. 2
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Highwire Improv hosts spontaneous comedy, featuring a variety of performers and troupes. 7 p.m. 301-662-4190. www. skystagefrederick.com
Historic Homes Tour
Aug. 1–31
St. Joseph’s School, 339 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Discover the life and legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Se ton on a tour of the two historic homes and grounds where Eliz abeth Ann lived and worked. Tours offered daily. See website for tour times. https:// setonshrine.org/event
Le Salon: Annual Unjuried Show
Aug. 2–Sept. 1
TAG The Artists Gallery, 501 N. Market St. Enjoy works of art, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking and more, at TAG’s annual unjuried show. An opening reception is scheduled for Aug. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Noon–8 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–4 p.m. 301-228-9860. www.theartistsgalleryfrederick.com
Creative Outlet Aug. 3
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Kids and adults are invited to drop-in to get creative together at family tables. Each session features a themed activity. This month, make your mark on a collaborative mural about your community, led by visiting artist David Modler. No large groups. $2. 3 p.m.−5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Weinberg Center for the Arts Backstage Tour Aug. 3
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Experience the backstage magic at this free tour that is open to the general public. Noon. 301-600-2870. www.weinbergcenter.org
Glen Ellen Farm Open House Aug. 3
Glen Ellen Farm, 4940 Mussetter Road, Ijamsville. Tour the grounds, meet vendors and more at this free open house celebrating the venue’s 10th anniversary. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. www.glenellenfarm.com
Frederick Keys Baseball
Aug. 3, 4, 9–14, 20–22, 30–Sept. 4
Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, 21 Stadium Drive. The Frederick Keys host West Vir ginia Black Bears, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, William sport Crosscutters and Trenton Thunder. A full schedule with promotional events, fireworks dates, celebrity appearances and other happenings is available at www.mlbdraftleague. com/frederick. $. 301-662-0013.
Mary Paul Barnaby Aug. 3–25
Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St. An exhibition of works by featured artist Mary Paul Barnaby. A First Saturday opening is scheduled for Aug. 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays 1 p.m.–5 p.m. www. eastsideartistsgallery.com
Sky Stage Concerts Aug. 3, 17, 31 Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Enjoy live music performed by Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band with Dandy on Aug. 3; Daphne Eckman, Nan-Ana and Frewt on Aug. 17; and Moran Tripp and Dirty Middle on Aug. 31. All ages welcome. 7 p.m. Spirits available for purchase for guests over 21 with valid ID. $. www.skystagefrederick.com
Downtown Frederick Artwalk Aug. 4
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Take a self-guided jaunt Downtown and visit more than a dozen local galleries. The Delaplaine will feature pottery for sale by Nancy Ziegenfus-McIntosh and origami art jewelry and ornaments for sale by Shawnee Holmberg. Noon–4 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Mount Olivet Cemetery History & Mystery Tour Aug. 4, 18
Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market St. Guests discover Frederick’s history as they navigate through the labyrinth of graves, crypts and monuments of one of Maryland’s largest cemeteries. Tours meet inside the main gate. Reservations required. Private tours available. 7:15 p.m. $. www.marylandghosttours.com
Outdoor Summer Movie Aug. 6
Carroll Community College, Rotary Amphitheater, 1601 Washington Road, Westminster. The Carroll County Arts Council presents a free outdoor show ing of Wonka on Aug. 6. at 8:30 p.m. 410-848-7272. www. carrollcountyartscouncil. org
National Night Out Aug. 6
Local communities in Frederick County. An annual community-building campaign that promotes police and community partnerships and connections. Police and neighbors join together under positive circumstances to enjoy fun activities, demonstrations and more on the first Tuesday in August. www.natw.org
Summer Concerts on the Promenade Aug. 7
Westview Promenade, Buckeystown Pike. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy free summer concerts at Westview on the third Wednesday of each month through October. This month, Hard Swimming Fish performs. 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. www.shopwestview.com
Sky Stage Swing Dance Aug. 7
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Enjoy an evening of swing dancing under the stars. Rotating hosts may start with a brief lesson at 7 p.m., followed by social dancing. 7 p.m.–10 p.m. 301-662-4190. www. skystagefrederick.com
Art at Noon: Thomas Sterner Aug. 9
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Working in a variety of materials, including steel, wood, paint and ink, Thomas Sterner aims to make people smile and think. Aside from works created for exhibition in gallery spaces, he also has completed 16 large public sculptures since 2019, including Tree of Life, Water Lily Wave and Water Lily Swirl, all installed along Carroll Creek in Downtown Frederick. This discussion will explore his history and current practice through the lenses of artistic path, process and purpose. Noon–1 p.m. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org
Super Hero Picnic
Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28
Walkersville Southern Railroad, 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville. Dress as your favorite super hero, bring your lunch and enjoy a super hero-themed story in the park. Train departs at 11:30 a.m. and returns by 2 p.m. $. Reservations recommended. 301-898-0899. www.wsrr.org
F.A.M.E. Open Mic Night
Aug. 9
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Frederick
Acoustic Music Enterprise hosts a free open mic night in a welcoming environment for patrons to collaborate, build skills and get to know other local artists. Free to enter. 7 p.m.–9 p.m. www.skystagefrederick.com
Musical Cabaret BINGO
Aug. 9, 10
Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. Join MET for a fundraising night of music and bingo. Performers sing and participants mark songs on their bingo cards. 8 p.m. –9 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance. $. 301-694-4744. www. marylandensemble.org
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Aug. 9, 10
The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Authentic Community Theatre presents one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-790-2000. www.mdtheatre.org
Wild West Express Aug. 10 Walkersville Southern Railroad, 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville. Jesse James and his gang are on the loose. Expect an Old West raid on the train and be aware that there will be the sound of gunfire. Reservations recommended. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. $. 301-8980899. www.wsrr.org
Jazz at the Sky Aug. 10
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Chuck Underwood Trio, Sara Jones and Darryl Brenzel Group perform. 7 p.m.–10 p.m. www.skystagefrederick.com
Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Carnival Aug. 12–17 Tabor Park, 13527 Motters Station Road, Rocky Ridge. Enjoy music, food, games, live entertainment, the big wooden slide and more at this annual event to support the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company and Auxiliary. A parade is scheduled for Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. 6 p.m.–10 p.m. https:// rockyridgevfc.com
JUSTINA | HAGERSTOWN
Literature Night Aug. 13 Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Maryland Writers Association hosts this installment of Literature Night, followed by open mic readings. Free to enter and/ or attend. 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. www. skystagefrederick.com
Living History Weekend
Aug. 17, 18
Rose Hill Manor Park, 1611 N. Market St. Explore living history demonstrations and themed exhibits highlighting different eras of history. The FSK Antique Car Show is scheduled for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 11 a.m.−4 p.m. 301-600-2743. www.rosehillmuseum.com
Law & Order Special Improv Unit
Aug. 17
New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. America’s longest running procedural improvised! A full episode of Law & Order will be created with audience input. From the discovery of the victim to cynical quips from an aging detective to lawyers berating every witness on the stand, audience members will get the complete experience right down to the verdict.$. 301-600-2828. 7:30 p.m. www.weinbergcenter.org
EVENTS
Pauline Rakis
Aug. 17–Sept. 1
Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. An exhibition of non-representation al acrylics titled “Intuition,” by Pauline Rakis. Open weekends 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 301466-2413. www. linksbridgevineyards. com/pictures
End of Summer Picnic Train
Aug. 18
Walkersville Southern Railroad, 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville. Enjoy a relaxing two-hour train ride. Bring your own picnic to enjoy at the local community park. Reservations recommended. 11 a.m. $. 301-898-0899. www.wsrr.org
Romeo & Juliet & Improv
Aug. 18, 19
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Frederick Shakespeare Festival hosts Shakespeare on the Spot, a new improv comedy group retelling the Bard’s most famous tale. 7 p.m. www.esptheatre.org
World Photography Day
Cyanotype Event Aug. 19
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Celebrate World Photography Day by dropping by the Delaplaine to create an original work of art using the sun. Cyanotype uses a light-sensitive paper to capture images without a camera and is a fun technique for all ages. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Free, while supplies last. 3 p.m.–5 p.m. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org
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Maryland State Fair
Aug. 22–25, 29–Sept. 2, 5–8
Maryland State Fair grounds, 2200 York Road, Luther ville-Timonium.
Aug. 17, 18, 24, 25, 31, Sept. 1, 2, 7, 8
Summers Farm, 7503 Hollow Road, Middletown. Enjoy the beauty of an 8-acre sunflower and zinnia field with thousands of flowers in bloom. Take photos, pick flowers and enjoy more than 45 other activities offered on the farm during your visit. Purchase tickets in advance. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. $. 301-304-3031. www. summersfarm.com
A family-friend ly, fun and educational des tination complete with daily home arts, farm and garden, livestock and horse competitions and exhibits, rides, games, live concerts and entertainment, horse racing, fair treats and farm fresh foods, a birthing center, museum and more. www.marylandstatefair.com
Drum Circle with Aya Cultural Arts Studio Aug. 23
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Drum circle facilitator Ayanna Gallant guides participants in a rhythmic journey playing rhythms together, inviting various instruments from around the world, songs, movement and more. 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. www.skystagefrederick.com
Salsa Night with Silvia Aug. 21
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Dance to Latin beats at this popular monthly event that begins with a brief salsa lesson by Silvia of Frederick Salsa. All ages welcome. Spirits available for purchase for guests over 21 with a valid ID. 7 p.m.–10 p.m. www.skystagefrederick.com
Flower Festival
Comedy Under the Stars
Aug. 23
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. Enjoy an evening of standup and improv comedy under the stars. Spirits available for purchase for guests over 21 with a valid ID. 7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. $. www.skystagefrederick.com
Brunswick Community Festival Aug. 23, 24
Burkittsville Ru ritan Complex, 500 E. Main St., Burkittsville. A fun family event featuring baked goods, petting zoo, inflatables, games, agricultural displays, pedal tractor track, live music, silent auction and more. 4:30 p.m.–9 p.m. www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/ BrunswickCommunityFestival
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AARCH Society African American History Walking Tour Aug. 24
African American Resources Cultural and Heritage Society Heritage Center, 125 E. All Saints St. AARCH tour guides take participants on an informative exploration of local history on All Saints Street and the surrounding area in this 60-90 minute walking tour. Learn about the cultural and historical importance of the neighborhood that was the center of the African American community up until the early 1960s. 11 a.m. http://aarchsociety. org/walking-tours
Art & Wine Stroll Aug. 23
Thurmont Main Street, Thurmont. This Hawaiian-themed stroll features live music, samples from local wineries, distilleries and breweries, artists and artisans, food truck fare and more. 5 p.m.–8 p.m. www.thurmontmainstreet. com/thurmont-events
Sherlock Sundays Aug. 25
Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St. The Endangered Species Theatre Project presents a live radio play mystery starring Sherlock Holmes. 7 p.m.–8 p.m. www.esptheatre.org/shows
Hospice 101 Aug. 29
Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way. An informational and educational presentation on hospice. Learn about who hospice serves, its philosophy and mission, how to volunteer and more. 1 p.m.–3 p.m. 240-566-3030. www.freder ickhealthhospice.org
BYOS (Bring Your Own Supplies) with Special Guest tee vee Aug. 29
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Adult artists are invited to get creative while immersed in the mind-bending music of teevee, a Fred erick-based shoegaze band, playing live in the art studio. Bring your artistic medium of choice and find new sonic inspiration for your work. Easels are available. Registration is encouraged. $10. 5 p.m.–8 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org 23
Black Frederick Festival Aug. 24
Carroll Creek Park, Downtown Frederick. Share, celebrate and learn about the richness of Black culture in the Frederick community. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. www.blackfrederickfestival.com
PAST TIME
School Picture
By Jody Brumage / Archivist, Heritage Frederick
This late-19th century photograph was donated to Heritage Frederick last year along with other records from the Falconer family of New Market. The stone building in the photograph functioned as a center of education for the community for more than a century.
On March 4, 1839, Christopher Harding transferred land in New Market to Jacob Cronise, Eldrich Mobberly and George Hughes, trustees for Primary School District 62 of Frederick County, which oversaw the construction of this stone schoolhouse.
When the county built a new brick school on the west side of New Market in 1933, the old stone building be-
came the New Market Colored School in the then-segregated school system. Two years later, an insurance inspection of the building noted that it had “no means of artificial light” and was heated by a stove in the center of its single classroom.
By the 1950s, the deteriorating condition of the New Market Colored School was a matter of discussion in
The stone schoolhouse served the New Market community for more than a century.
the community. At a meeting of the New Market Grange in January 1953, Siegfried Goetze advocated for the improvement of the facility, stating “the community is guilty of overlooking this issue and that the Grange as an instrument of civic improvement should support betterment of the school’s sanitary facilities, provision of a playground, and street paving near the school.”
Later in 1953, the Board of Education acquired additional land and demolished the old stone schoolhouse. As a replacement, it built a new two-room frame schoolhouse that continued to serve as a segregated school until the fall of 1961 when New Market Elementary School was integrated. The 1953 structure remains standing today and is owned by New Market United Methodist Church. FM
