72 HOURS April 6, 2023

Your Zip Code

Shouldn’t Determine Your Health:

Social Determinant of Health and Achieving

Health Equity

Monday, April 17 | 7-8:30 p.m. Rosenstock Hall at Hood College

Dr. Adams sees an opportunity in a post-COVID world to talk about the social determinants of health and health equity, and to drive real, lasting change.

Spring Concerts

These events are free and open to the public.

FOR A LIST OF CAMPUS EVENTS, VISIT HOOD.EDU/CAMPUS-EVENTS

‘WIZARD’ PLAYS THE WEINBERG: This production finds plenty

Emerald City to sing and dance about. PAGE 13

SPONSORED BY THE HANSON LECTURE SERIES THROUGH THE FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCING COMMUNITIES

Dr. Jerome Adams The 20th Surgeon General of the United States, Presidential Fellow/Executive Director of Purdue’s Health Equity Initiatives and Distinguished Professor of Practice at Purdue University.

EAT PIZZA, HELP FILMMAKERS

Who feels like pizza on Saturday? We’re pretty sure that’s a unanimous “everyone.” Might we suggest you order from Il Forno Pizzeria in Frederick and support a Maryland filmmaker team in the process? Oakdale High grad Hannah Hildebrandt is part of a team of Maryland filmmakers who recently moved to Atlanta to further their careers, and they are currently raising money for their latest project, the sci-fi film “A.L.E.C.” In the evening on April 8, a portion of proceeds from Il Forno dinner orders will go toward the film, and some of the filmmakers will be on hand to talk to guests, starting around 5 p.m. and into the evening. So, you see, it’s really a win-win-win. Don’t forget to mention “A.L.E.C.” to your server!

BE MESMERIZED BY FREDERICK’S ‘WIZARD OF OZ’ ... NARRATED BY TOTO

This weekend only, Other Voices Theatre will bring its original version of “The Wizard of Oz” to the Weinberg Center stage, a production they debuted in 2022. A few years ago, OVT executive director Donna Grim worked with playwright Steve Steele to write a new musical version of the classic tale. This Frederick production leans heavily on the book by L. Frank Baum, rather than the movie — except the story is told through the perspective of Toto. This new production takes the place of the theater’s beloved “Alice in Wonderland” show, which they performed annually for several years on the Weinberg stage to packed houses. One of the things that makes these OVT productions so unique (and popular) is the commingling of actors of all ages and skill levels onstage, from student to professional — but also really fun costumes and dance choreography. If you haven’t seen one for yourself, are you even a Fredericktonian?

DISCOVER ASHLEY RAY

The Weinberg Center’s Tivoli Discovery Series will bring Nashville singersongwriter Ashley Ray to New Spires Stages on April 8, and tickets are only $10 online, pay-what-you-want at the door. The show is part of a tour to support her album “Pauline,” which came out in 2020 and landed on multiple “Best Albums of 2020” lists. Sure, you can watch her Tiny Desk Concert, but here’s a chance to catch her live in an intimate venue, an opportunity that might not last long.

ROCKWELL BREWERY SET TO OPEN A SECOND LOCATION IN MAY

This week’s UnCapped podcast features Rockwell Brewery cofounders who talk about their second location, set to open on Broadband Drive in Riverside Tech Park in Frederick this May. One of the things we are most excited about is their commitment to bring in bands to perform regularly in the space — which, in total, is nearly 14,000 square feet. Check out the full podcast episode at fnppodcasts.com/uncapped.

NICOLE CHUNG IN CONVERSATION WITH MELODY SCHREIBER

Listed as a Most Anticipated Book of 2023 from multiple national outlets, Nicole Chung’s memoir “A Living Remedy” explores grief, family and home. The author will be in Frederick on April 13 for a conversation with Melody Schreiber, hosted by Curious Iguana. Get tickets at curiousiguana.com.

Meet Bob & Freddie. When it comes to local businesses, businesspeople and organizations in Frederick, they know best. Here is a personal interview with a 2022 Best of the Best winner or finalist about why they love what they do, helping those they serve and working in Frederick.

Honest Air, LLC

2022 FINALIST FOR BEST HEATING & AIR COMPANY

13001 Penn Shop Road, Mt. Airy 301-943-0833

HonestAirHVAC.com

ABOUT HONEST AIR

Honest Air opened for business in January of 2017. We will work with you to find HVAC solutions that fit your heating and cooling needs. We will provide you with a full consultation to explain all of your available options so that you can choose the system that’s right for your home or business. Located in Mt. Airy, our team is ready to

provide you with exceptional service to suit all of your HVAC needs.

WHAT MAKES FREDERICK A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS?

Being born and raised in Frederick County we love to provide HVAC support and Services to our close communities.

WHY DID YOU CHOSE THIS PROFESSION AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I am a third generation HVAC professional. I am most proud of following in my families foot steps and carrying on this trade.

Rockwell Brewery founders prepare to open second Frederick location with more live music

In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with the cofounders of Rockwell Brewery, Matt Thrasher and Paul Tinney, about their new location, which will consist of increased production space, as well as a much larger taproom. The new facility will open May 5. Here is an excerpt of their talk.

UnCapped: We are sitting in the currently-under-construction, brand new Rockwell location on the north end of Frederick. I hadn’t driven over here in forever, and it does not look the same. There are a lot more houses now and a lot more businesses. It’s crazy in Frederick how you can stay out of one area for so long that it looks completely different when you go there the next time.

Paul Tinney: A lot of growth.

UnCapped: How long has this been in the works?

Tinney: We’re coming up on two years in the summer. The egg was hatched back [in 2020]. We were looking for a location. We wanted very much to own our own building, and we courted a number of potential locations that just didn’t meet the criteria for what we needed, for the amount of space, where it was, parking, not to mention the other one — what’s that other one? — oh yeah, price.

UnCapped: You picked a time when real estate got a little crazy. I’m sure there are benefits to being a part of an industrial park. It looks like there are other customer-facing businesses here.

Tinney: Oh yeah, a number of them. What I love is that we are in what was originally designed as the Frederick loop, the beltway, so to speak: Monocacy Boulevard, which connects 15 to 70 and goes all the way around. … This [location] is great. Great access, great traffic, great visibility.

UnCapped: What size system did you end up with?

Tinney: Our brewhouse is 25 barrels.

ROCKWELL BREWERY

880 N. East St., #201, Frederick 301-732-4880

rockwellbrewery.com

UnCapped: Your production area is nice, but even while under construction, the taproom looks like it’s going to be very, very impressive.

Thrasher: That’s what we’re shooting for — to raise the bar, just for ourselves. We feel like we’re bursting at the seams right now where we’re located. When we first started, Paul and I had a discussion, like, “Let’s just focus on this. Let’s stay small. Everybody else is jumping up and getting big. Let’s just stay focused on this tasting room.”

Tinney: Now we call it wise and measured.

Thrasher: Hopefully that’s what it turns out to be. Like I said, we were just bursting at the seams and kind of felt like we had our hands tied — everything from music to how many people we could have in there to how much we could produce.

UnCapped: Yeah, because having live music is a big part of what you guys have always wanted to do at the brewery.

UnCapped: That’s quite a jump from your previous one.

Tinney: Yep, it is.

UnCapped: The fermentation tanks

on East Street are 7-barrel?

Tinney: Yeah, sevens.

UnCapped: And what are you filling here?

Matt Thrasher: Twenties and 50s.

Tinney: It’s easily 10x in capacity annually.

UnCapped: Is the plan to use that up in distribution or mainly in the massive taproom that you’re building?

Thrasher: Well, ideally, it would be in the taproom, right?

Tinney: Yeah, that was a big part, and we found ourselves having to take it offsite, which isn’t easy. Hyper Local [Brew Fest] is a great success, we can get over 2,000 people in there, but, again, we gotta move everything and market the heck out of it. It’s something we’ll annually do, but we want to be able to have big bands on a weekly basis. That’s the goal.

This excerpt has been edited for space and clarity. Listen to the full podcast at fnppodcasts.com/ uncapped. Got UnCapped news? Email csands@newspost.com.

Chris Sands

From left, Paul Tinney, Scott McKernon and Matt Thrasher of Rockwell Brewery.

Up on Market offers classic look, tastes

Housed in a historic downtown Frederick building and incorporating furnishings and elements from several former Washington, D.C., restaurants, Up on Market Bistro & Inn offers the ambience of a French cafe or European coffeehouse. Some of the chairs in the dining room came from the former Bistro Francais in Georgetown, while the mirrors in the rear of the dining room came from that M Street staple’s private dining room, said Francis Skrobiszewski, who owns the restaurant with his wife, chef Michele Fontaine. The couple bought the building on North Market Street in 2013 and spent years renovating and meticulously restoring it before opening the restaurant a little more than three years ago. The dining rooms tables and chairs are vintage, and the marble high-top tables along one wall are about 130 years old, Skrobiszewski said. While Fontaine runs the kitchen, Skrobiszewski oversees an extensive wine list, mostly French but also including Italian, American and other options.

Owner and chef Michele Fontaine recommends: Rack of lamb, served with gruyere grits and grilled asparagus. The pan-seared lamb has a mustard, herb, and garlic cap and is finished in the oven, while the grits add soft and mellow depth to the dish and the asparagus provides a bright, fresh taste.

UP ON MARKET

301 N. Market St., Frederick 240-831-4846

Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m to 11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday

Price: A variety of soups, salads, appetizers and entrees range from a $14 mushroom, onion and cheese empanada to $133 for a 12-oz. lobster tail and 8-oz. filet mignon.

— Ryan Marshall

Staff photos by Katina Zentz

The dining area inside Up on Market on March 27.

The rack of lamb at Up comes with sides of Gruyère grits and grilled asparagus.

Musical artist Ashley Ray at New Spire Stages

BY COLIN MCGUIRE Special to The News-Post

After more than 20 years, Ashley Ray can call Nashville home. As in, home home. Though she grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, the singer has officially eclipsed the two-decade mark living in Music City as she pursued her dream of being a musician. And it’s worked. Not only has she shared stages with everyone from Little Big Town to Charles Kelly but she even has an official Tiny Desk Concert to her name.

She’ll bring her blend of atmospheric Americana and country music to New Spire Stages on April 6 as part of the Tivoli Discovery Series.

72 Hours recently caught up with her to talk about her songwriting, a slew of upcoming projects she has in the works and, of course, what it will be like touring with her two young children — including a newborn — by her side.

I like to start with this, especially with people I don’t know: How did you get into music? How did your journey begin?

Oh my gosh. I’ve loved music forever. I’m one of those kids where my parents have pictures of me playing piano and guitar. My parents are also huge music lovers and the radio was always on, so I think it’s kind of in my bones. I can’t remember a time where I didn’t love music.

Because it was in your bones, did you feel a responsibility to pursue it?

Not necessarily a responsibility. My parents are hard-working, blue-collar people from the Midwest. If I wanted to do music and live my dream, I was going to have to move to Nashville. So I don’t know if it was a responsibility. No one else in my family is musical at all — they just play records. But I knew that I wanted to do it. It was an aching. None of my family had ever really left Kansas and Missouri. There were a lot of things that made me wonder if I could do this, but it was more just an aching and a wanting than anything.

How long have you been in Nashville now?

I’ve been here 21 years.

So, that’s more home right now?

Yeah, it’s crazy. I crossed over that “living here longer than where I was born and raised” threshold.

I want to jump into a few specific things. I came across this tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd where you covered “Sweet Home Alabama,” and I just loved it. I’m interested in how you came to that project and how you came to that song in that way.

That was really fun. My producer at

the time was amazing, so prolific. His name was Jay Joyce and he produces Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Patty Griffin — he’s all over the map and he’s so talented. He was producing me at the time, and he produced that record. None of the guys would sing the song. No one wanted to touch “Sweet Home Alabama,” and he called me one day and said, “I want you to come over and sing something.” I thought he just wanted me to come over and finish my record. I get there and he’s telling me what he wants me to sing and I was like, “No way, man!” A, I didn’t want to be the only woman on there, and B, I knew my career would be over if I messed it up. Plus, I loved Lynyrd Skynyrd. My dad was a huge fan. But Jay said I was the only one with the balls to do it, so that made me want to do it [laughs]. So, we played around with it, and we first wanted to do it uptempo, like the original, but it just wasn’t translating. I thought, “This is too close to the original,” so Jay just started playing something really slow and moody — something I would do as an artist. Then I started singing it, and he pulled up some mics, and we went from there.

So that was just a spur of the moment thing?

I’d say Jay led the way on that. He started playing this atmospheric, amazing thing, and I just started singing to it. The inspiration was there in the room.

Atmospheric is another word

that I wanted to get to with a lot of your music. I want to ask you about the song “Pauline.” It seems to be personal — but maybe not. I just want to hear the story behind it and the voicemail that precedes.

My middle name is Pauline. I’m named after my mom’s mom, who I never got to meet, and ... she’s just a legend in our family. There’s not one holiday that goes by where we don’t talk about her. I was named after her. I remind my whole family of her. So, when we started this record, I was talking about her, and I called my mom to make sure I was getting some facts right with my lyrics. My mom just started talking — my whole family are storytellers — and my producer, Sean, threw up some microphones and started recording our conversation. It’s really special to me that my mom named me after Pauline. It’s the first song on the album, and it just kind of felt like it needed to be that way. It was a gut instinct thing to do that, after we had recorded her voice. The whole song is about my grandmother and me being named after her.

It’s a beautiful, haunting song. You can feel a lot of atmospherics in it. Is that something that’s an important part of you approaching songwriting? Making sure the vibe is there?

Yeah. A lot of times, I know a lot of people see the song cinematically. They see it as they write it. I always do that as well. I always say if I’m trying to relay

something, I’m trying to paint the picture of what I see in my head. That’s how I write songs, and sometimes that comes across as painting the actual lyric and saying where you are. Sometimes it’s painting the vibe of the song and structuring the chords around it to make it haunting.

I also saw that you did a Tiny Desk Concert from home. We all know about the Tiny Desk Contest, but this seemed to be a legitimate Tiny Desk Concert you did by yourself. How did this come about?

This came during the pandemic and everyone who did a Tiny Desk during the pandemic, from home. I was asked to do this through Robin Hilton, who works at NPR. Strangely enough, he went to college in my hometown, so talk about a small world. He reviewed the record, “Pauline.” That’s how that came about. We were asked through him to do a Tiny Desk, and of course, he had to do it from home because we were in a global pandemic.

Let’s talk about living in Nashville. It’s tough. Everybody goes to Nashville to try to break through. You have had a level of success that it seems a lot of people haven’t. How hard has it been to push through? What’s the most challenging thing you’ve found about living in Nashville?

Oh my gosh, it’s so tough. Some people call it a 10-year town, but maybe it’s a 21-year town [laughs]. I will say, the most challenging and least challenging thing has been staying myself.

There are different avenues you can take in music nowadays. You can create these records that you love and stay true to yourself, and they may never see the light of day at country radio. There have been plenty of times I’ve been presented with songs that someone else said would be a hit, and I’m a writer; I can’t just sing other people’s songs. Especially if I haven’t felt them and they aren’t my true story. If that was what it was about, I wouldn’t even be an artist. So the most challenging thing has been sticking to my guns and being myself.

Releasing these records independently, you don’t always have the funds or the wherewithal to get your music heard to as many people, but the people who listen to my records and come to my shows are ones that are going to be lifelong fans and friends because they’ve been here through the beginning, and we have this common thread within us. The music is something we can share together. It’s not just something they hear and forget about.

You mentioned something about being presented with “hits” and not

Courtesy photo

Ashley Ray

being able to connect with them. Modern day pop-country has strayed from traditional country music. I’m interested in your take on that. Especially with the bro-country movement, where you have a lot of guys out there singing about drinking White Claws and going into the woods. It seems like you’re doing something far deeper than that. When you look at modern-day country, is it something you connect to? Are there things you like and things you don’t like? Overall, what’s your opinion on that?

I don’t listen to it [laughs]. If that is definitely what they are about, and that’s the music that sets their soul on fire, that’s great. I just don’t feel like I fit in there. Neither do a lot of artists, women and men. I think it’s a totally separate box now. It really has done it to and for itself. I remember there was a time when someone said Lee Ann Womack wasn’t country music anymore, and she was Americana. I love Lee Ann, and I have the pleasure of knowing her, and I just thought, Lee Ann Womack is the epitome of traditional country music. She’s always stayed true to her traditional roots. So if she’s Americana now, I’m not even going to worry about genres; I’m just going to make what I’m going to make. To me, it’s country. To me, it’s Americana. To me, it’s roots. What is popular music these days?

Right. It’s even harder to press through these days, and the music industry has changed so drastically. How hard has it been to have a career in music these days?

Very hard. It continues to be hard. You’re right. Talking about the pandemic again, everyone decided to release a record. There’s so much out there, it’s really hard to know where to go and what to do. Luckily, all I know how to do is be myself, so I’m just going to keep doing that and see what happens.

Well, it’s worked thus far. Are there goals you haven’t achieved yet that you’re hoping to?

Oh, yes. So many. I was just thinking about this yesterday. Play the Ryman [Auditorium]. I’ve played the Grand Ole Opry, so I checked that off my bucket

list. I’m going to release an album later this year, and that will be another huge goal, because we’ve been working on it for a couple of years. I have songwriting heroes I want to work with. I also have a podcast that’s going to be coming out later this year. I know it’s kind of the cool thing that everybody has, but this idea I’ve cultivated is going to lead to being able to connect people, and my favorite thing to do is connect people. The list goes on.

Is there more you can tell us about the podcast, or are you going to keep it secret until it’s ready to go?

I think I’m going to keep it secret. I’ll just say that it’s going to connect people from different areas of art.

The final thing I have is touring. You’re coming here to Maryland, and you’ll be out a little bit. Do you plan on spending a lot of 2023 on the road?

Well, we just had a baby. She was born mid-January, and these first shows — I’m going out with Little Big Town in April and May as well — my husband is going to play guitar with me, and we are going to bring our two daughters with us.

That’ll be fun.

Fun, and a few other words [laughs]. Crazy. Chaotic. I think I’m going to be doing some touring, but I want to be really intentional about it. By the time the new record comes out, I’ll be able to head out, and my husband will be able to stay home with the girls. So we’re looking to see how much I’ll be able to be out on the road.

Yeah, I can’t even imagine it with two little children. That’ll be quite an adventure.

We love adventures in this family. They’re already getting ready. They’re counting the days.

Colin McGuire has been in and out of bands for more than 20 years and also helps produce concerts in and around Frederick. His work has appeared in Alternative Press magazine, PopMatters and 72 Hours, among other outlets. He is convinced that the difference between being in a band and being in a romantic relationship is less than minimal. Contact him at mcguire.colin@gmail.com.

Experience 95 pieces from 86 area artists & photographers!

February 11-April 23, 2023

Place Juror’s Award in photography Jillian Abir MacMaster of Frederick for “Evening Ritual.”

Sorry, Brunswick Stew. You’re adopted.

BY ERIK ANDERSON Special to The News-Post

When it comes to exploring historical connections, sometimes the phrase “just a coincidence” is employed too dismissively. Take the case of Frederick County’s tenuous connection to the old pottage recipe known as Brunswick Stew.

Bob Hilton, a 90-year-old retired real estate professional who spent most of his life in Frederick County, remembers his grandmother teaching him how to make the stew on their family farm near Mount Airy in the 1940s. He recalls it “contained just about anything” but thinks it almost always had beans, hot red peppers, tomatoes, greens and wild game meat.

She told a story about the recipe originating with a cousin who had been a Civil War camp cook and then later worked at the train depot in Brunswick. In her telling, that’s where the name for the stew came from.

But when Hilton moved to Brunswick, Georgia, eight years ago and learned his new town claimed to be the origin of Brunswick Stew, he began to see a few holes in his grandmother’s story. He remembered that Brunswick, Maryland, had been called Berlin until about 30 years after the Civil War, and the more he researched the topic, the more he found competing origin stories.

“I’ve given up on trying to prove its authenticity,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just a fun thing to try to do. When you’re 90, finding fun things to do is hard.”

Fortunately, Joyce White, a food historian and vice president of Hammond-Harwood House Museum in Annapolis, can provide some clarity on the topic. In an email, she suggested separate but related origin stories for the name Brunswick

Stew and the recipe it usually describes.

She said multiple types of “slowcooking, set-it-and-forget-it” meals developed in different places at different times. Native Americans had a type of succotash made from corn, beans and game meat (such as squirrel) or fish. European settlers

Where Charm And History Meet

the name Brunswick Stew started to appear in historical accounts.

“People observe a tradition, reenact it, and in so doing, bring it to a new location [and] alter it a bit to meet their particular needs,” she wrote in an email. “Children do this a lot before they learn to read and write — school yard games such as tag and hide and seek get repeated and altered as they are shared from one person to another.”

She said the best historical evidence for the origin of the stew’s name points to a story from Brunswick County, Virginia. In that telling, an enslaved African-American camp cook by the name of Jimmy Matthews made a squirrel-based stew during a hunting trip with Dr. Creed Haskins in 1828. An 1849 article in the Richmond Enquirer uses the words “Brunswick Stew” to name one of the dishes at a barbecue held at a town near Richmond, Virginia.

Unfortunately for Hilton’s grandmother, that places the origin of the stew’s name many decades before both the Civil War and the re-naming of Berlin, Maryland, to Brunswick, Maryland. But just because the town didn’t play a role in the naming of the stew doesn’t mean that the stew’s name didn’t have an impact on the town.

Yes, the connection between Brunswick Stew and Brunswick, Maryland, is “just a coincidence” of their sharing a name, but the fact of that coincidence has turned into a real bit of history affecting the lives of people who live there.

introduced numerous pottage recipes to colonial America, the most common being made with peas cooked to a pulp. Various meats and fish were often included in those as well.

White said these types of stews continued to evolve as folk traditions over many centuries before and after

Julie Maynard, editor and publisher of the former Brunswick Citizen newspaper, said in an email to 72 Hours that it’s “hard to resist a good dish that shares your town’s name.”

She recalls Brunswick Stew playing a part in many town functions over the years, albeit

Joyce White

Brunswick Stew

Julie Maynard

A poem recipe for Brunswick Stew. with chicken instead of game serving as the main protein. A poetic version of a Brunswick Stew recipe dated to 1930 was circulated during the town’s Railroad Days festival a few years ago. There was at least one occasion when the Brunswick Heritage Museum (then the Brunswick Railroad Museum) served a version of the stew during Railroad Days. And she said various community volunteer organizations, such as the ambulance company, will serve it periodically at festivals.

Perhaps the most interesting co-opting of the famous stew by the town came not in the form of actual food but in food for thought.

Jim Bryan, the erstwhile editor of the long-running Brunswick BladeTimes, wrote a popular column called Brunswick Stew. Much like its namesake, the column always seemed to consist of whatever ingredients were on hand.

Maynard said Bryan “mixed bits of fun gossip with his opinions about local and county politics. People still spoke fondly of this, years later.”

Erik Anderson is a freelance writer in Frederick who cares about few things more than the history of his community. Email him at erikanderson07@gmail.com.

3 fun activities to engage kids in conservation

METRO Conservation is a collective responsibility shared by individuals across the globe. Protecting the planet and ensuring its future has never been more important, as various organizations and environmentalists warn that, without immediate action, many of the more harmful effects of climate change could prove irreversible.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reports that, without new policies, global greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by 50% by 2050. That includes a 70% spike in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.

The potentially dire consequences of climate change underscore the importance of educating youngsters about the need to protect the planet. Today’s children will be forced to confront climate change in the decades to come, so learning about conservation now can help them as they grow up and reach adulthood.

Teaching kids about conservation can be fun. These activities are both engaging and educational.

1. Clean up a favorite hiking trail. Hiking is a great family-friendly pastime that promotes physical activity and appreciation for nature. That makes hiking an ideal way to teach kids about conservation. Parents can plan a hiking trip that focuses on cleaning up trails. Kids who have a favorite hiking trail may be especially enthusiastic about cleaning up a place they already feel attached to, and parents can let them know they’re doing their part to protect the planet with each piece of litter they collect and ultimately remove from the park.

2. Teach kids to compost. Parents do not need to leave their homes to teach kids about conservation. According to the National Resources Defense Council, composting benefits the planet in numerous ways. In addition to reducing the waste stream, composting cuts methane emissions from landfills, which the NRDC reports are the largest source of human-generated methane

emissions in the United States. Composting also helps to conserve water by adding organic matter to soil, which research has shown improves the soil’s capacity to retain water. Families can build a compost bin together and parents can teach kids about which types of waste can be composted and how that compost is benefitting the plants and trees in their own yard as well as the planet as a whole.

3. Craft with recycled materials. Crafting fosters the growth of a

range of developmental skills in children. In addition to encouraging kids to explore their creative side, crafting also helps youngsters develop fine motor skills and provides a fun way for them to learn counting and pattern recognition, which the academics-based publisher Scholastic notes are the very skills kids will later use to learn algebra. Crafting also provides a great way to teach kids to reuse and recycle, which are two of the core tenets of conservation.

Metro

Make conservation fun (and educational) for kids during Earth Month.

A Day in Santiago de Querétaro

There’s no denying it. I’m a fille de joie for a good, sloppy, tamale. It’s almost 8 a.m., and the line is growing behind me on Tamal Street, as the locals call it, on the outskirts of the historic center in the city of Querétaro, Mexico. Every morning, you can expect a long line by the time the first tiny restaurant opens its window for service. After two dreadful cups of instant coffee while writing at my hotel desk during the early morning hours, I nearly salivate as I patiently wait in line for highquality Oaxacanstyle tamales for only $1 each. After breakfast, I decide to take a stroll, allowing my ears to guide me. I hear her before I see her. As a musician myself, I love a good street musician. Busking in a busy area takes a certain level of courage for us creative types. I have a great deal of respect for those bold enough to grab their weapon of choice and intentionally sit in the trenches to potentially get their sensitive egos obliterated by pedestrians that are in too much of a rush, or too involved in their own conversation, to even notice that the sweet melodies reaching their ears are the result of the dedicated practice of an artist exposing their soul to the world.

I make my way through the busy promenade and arrive onto the scene to the most unexpected street performance. The artist is sings into the microphone with her left hand while gently rocking her baby to sleep in a stroller with her right. Her daughter dances around, extending a panama hat to bystanders, collecting tips for her mother, in sync to the rhythm of the accompanying music played from a speaker. I drop money

into the straw hat. How could I not?

Just north of Mexico City, Querétaro is quite a distance from the nearest ocean. You won’t find beach resorts here, nor the typical tourist crowd. But what it lacks in coastline, Querétaro makes up for in beautiful mountain ranges and spring-like weather year-round. It’s situated in one of Mexico’s famous wine regions, and there is an international airport, so you are only a short, direct flight away from the U.S.

This very modern, developed city has become a magnet for retiring expats and young snowbirds from the U.S. and Canada. The sprawling city looks and feels much like an extension of the U.S., specifically Texas; H-E-B, Walmart, Office Max, Costco and Buffalo Wild Wings are all here.

Yet, the historic center is everything you want in a Mexican city: passionate

soccer fans, lively music, gorgeous architecture, safety, super clean streets, good tequila and a mixture of incredible food drawn from all over the country.

Farther outside the city are excellent hiking and camping opportunities, and only an hour outside the city, you can find some magical towns. The town of Tequisquiapan is literally termed one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágico. This small but enchanting place is along Mexico’s Wine and Cheese Route and hosts bullfights and flamenco, keeping Spanish tradition. Similarly, San Miguel de Allende, also a Pueblo Mágico, has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I feel like I have been transported back to Spain as I meander through the center of Santiago de Querétaro. Lively people laugh outside cafes and

bars sitting under patio umbrellas, large cobblestone promenades stretch in every direction, and Spanish colonial-style buildings remind me of Granada or La Latina neighborhood in Madrid.

Later, I find a cozy mezcal bar with live music where I am served fried grasshoppers with a michelada, a salient reminder of my true location. The weather is perfect, even as the sun disappears into the clear evening sky. A waitress brings me a shot of mezcal for free and says she wants to practice her English. I could get used to this. Maybe I’ll extend my stay awhile longer.

Trevor Davis, former cidermaker and working musician from Frederick, is a writer, content creator and cultural traveler. Follow his adventures at roguevagabond.com.

Photo by Trevor Davis

Qro Tamales are a treat in Mexico.

TREVOR DAVIS

Links Bridge Featured Artist: Rosemary Gallick — through April 9. Links Bridge will continue displaying the works of local artists in its Tasting Room, where wine lovers can enjoy art, and artists can enjoy wine. Rosemary Gallick is a professional artist living in Northern Virginia, and this exhibit will present iconic portraits rendered in a pop-art style. Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. linksbridgevineyards.com.

”Garden of the Soul” — through April 14, Tatem Arts Center, Hood College, 410 Hood College Drive, Frederick. Works by Erin Daniels that explore legacy, lineage and a sense of place as expressed through botanical watercolors. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Cumberland Valley Artists and Photographers

Exhibitions — through April 23, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This juried exhibition features 95 pieces of art and photography from artists who live in the Quad-State area. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa.org.

“Life Size” and “Under the Same Sky” — through April 30. “Life Size,” by Julie Maynard, is an exhibit of life-size collaged figures. “Under the Same Sky,” by Karen Peacock, features mixed-media work that explores our country’s ever-changing skies. TAG/ The Artists Gallery, 501 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-228-9860, theartistsgalleryfrederick.com.

Bettie Awards Exhibition — through April 30. View artworks created by local youth selected as 2023 Bettie Award Winners. Visitors can vote for their favorite artwork throughout the duration of the exhibition. The artwork receiving the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656, delaplaine.org.

”Angry Women Done Swallowing Our Words” — through April 30, Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Featuring the work of Kristan Ryan. For gallery hours, call 301-473-7689 or visit frederickuu.org.

”Strands of Time” — through April 30, Locals Farm Market’s Artist in the House Gallery, 19929 Fisher Ave., Poolesville. Works by Susan Due Pearcy. A selection of her work over 50 years of art making. Visit localsfarmmarket.com for hours.

”Native Plants and Pollinators” — through April 30, The Mansion House Art Center & Gallery, 480 Highland Ave., Hagerstown City Park. Valley Art Association members exhibit. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. valleyartassoc.org or 301-797-2867.

Cowork Frederick Artist of the Month: Julie Jenkins — through April 30 at Cowork Frederick, 122 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Julie Jenkins creates realistic paintings on wood, acrylic, metal and recycled slate. Her art focuses on landscapes, nature and everyday joys. 240-772-1295, coworkfrederickfoundation.org/julie-jenkins-apr23.

“Mechanical Components: The Seen But UnSeen” — through April 30. Using inspiration from industrial manufacturing and mechanical components, Gillian Collins develops a style that combines realism and abstraction with the abstract

LAST CHANCE TO SEE ‘A PAIR OF PAIRS’

The King Street Gallery at Montgomery College presents “A Pair of Pairs,” an exhibition of works by Michael Kellner, Alexandra Robinson, Dave Kube and Janet Olney, which runs through April 7. This exhibition explores artistic partnerships by presenting a pair of artists working in pairs. “Checks and Balances” is an ongoing, mail art project by Alexandra Robinson (Austin, Texas), and Michael Kellner (Columbus, Ohio) that began in 2015. Dave Kube (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) and Janet Olney (Baltimore) met in 2017 at the Vermont Studio Center, and their collaborative exhibition explores the potential of disruption to create an opening or surge in their creative practices. Viewing rupture through the lens of experimentation, Kube and Olney break from previous ways of making and allow disruption to be a space for innovation. The gallery is located at 930 King St., Silver Spring. Shown here, a piece by Kellner and Robinson.

expressionism of geometric shapes to facilitate a contemplation of our most basic technological advancements. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. delaplaine.org.

“Re_Source Art” — through April 30. With an unconventional harmony between academic and neofolk sculpting methods, this exhibition from Nadya Steare is a series of sculptures addressing the urgency of the global waste crisis and plastic pollution. Inspired by the Zero-Waste Movement, a

trend to maintain a more sustainable lifestyle, this series was created entirely out of discarded, found and donated materials. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. delaplaine.org.

Emerging Artists Exhibition — through April 30. Works in a variety of media. This annual juried exhibition highlights adult artists at the outset of their creative endeavors. Juror Rachel Hsu is an interdisciplinary artist who works with visual art, language and poetry. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. delaplaine.org.

”What a Wonderful World” — through April 30, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Featuring the work of mother-daughter duo Arden McElroy and Jill Hossler. Both artists draw inspiration from nature for their work, particularly landscapes and seascapes, from places they’ve visited or dreamed about. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastsideartistsgallery.com.

”Structures 2023” — through May 5, Crestwood Center, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. Original works of art, including oil, watercolors, mixed media, acrylic, photography, and wood carvings from some of Frederick’s talented artists. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-215-1460 or frederickhealth.org.

“Comfort” — through July 1. An interactive multimedia show of art related to coffee and tea and an exploration of the rituals and personal connections surrounding those drinks. FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. frederickartscouncil.org.

“The Hot Button” — through August, Hot Button Gallery, 129 E. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Carol Williams exhibits textiles and poster art that reflect her passion for social responsibility through artistic communication. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The artist will be available for conversation at these times. anothercarolwilliams.com.

“C’est l’art” — April 7 to 30. Featuring work by Michael Hyman, Susan Washington, Dana Ellyn and Al Code, this exhibition challenges the perception of what’s art and its effect on the public. Through an eclectic mix of style, mediums and simplicity, each piece reflects a broad critique of art culture and deliberation of purpose. Opening reception from 4 to 8 p.m. April 14. Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E, Bethesda. bethesda.org/bethesda/ gallery-b, 301-215-7990.

”Miniature Worlds” — April 17 through May 19, Rosemary and Thyme Gallery, Frederick 50+ Community Center, 1440 Taney Ave., Frederick. Featuring works by local artist Kunie Stabley. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 301-600-3525, dmarkowitz@frederickcountymd. gov or tinyurl.com/50-center.

Courtesy photo

The line between professional theater and community theater couldn’t be clearer. Actors who perform in the former are paid, while actors in the latter are not. The theatergoing public tends to assume there’s a great difference in quality between these two types of live entertainment, but Frederick is fortunate enough to have the Other Voices Theatre company, where instead of standing on opposite sides of a line, professional and community theater enjoy a direct complementary relationship with each other.

In addition to its community theater, which produces regular shows cast through open auditions, OVT runs what executive director Donna Grim calls a “pre-professional” theatrical dance company for children ages 8 to 18.

For the past 20 years, the dance school side has staged a unique annual production at the Weinberg Center that gives “the dance company students a vehicle so they can experience what it is like to be in a professional production,” Grim said. For most of the company’s history, that production has been a re-worked version of the “Alice in Wonderland” story that placed seasoned actors — both professional and veteran amateurs — in the lead speaking roles and cast students in a wide array of supporting dance ensemble roles.

A few years ago, Grim decided she wanted to do something different, so she partnered with fellow playwright Steve Steele to write a new musical

These distinguished artists have been champions of their instruments for decades, and will present a program of music from the Renaissance & Baroque periods, Celtic & Swedish folk tunes, and original compositions. Individually award-winning, they musically partner with ease for a stunning performance that is sure to please.

ERIK ANDERSON

IF YOU GO

The Virginius Island and Hall’s Island trails wind through riparian forest, past mill, turbine and waterworks ruins and the site of John Hall’s Rifle Works. These trails offer great opportunities to see the Shenandoah River, spring wildflowers, birds and river wildlife. The trail is open during daylight hours. Closed from sunset to sunrise. This easy hike is up to 2 miles round trip (approximately one hour). This trail system connects with the following trails at the river access parking area: Loudoun Heights, Visitor Center to Lower Town trail and the Camp Hill and Appalachian Trails. From the Lower Town Shuttle Stop: Walk under the railroad trestle, then turn right along the Shenandoah River. Cross the wooden footbridge to Virginius Island. The trail system meanders through the forest with many connectors between the river and Shenandoah Street up to Shoreline Drive. Drinking water is available in Lower Town. Beverages and reusable water bottles may be purchased from the Harpers Ferry Park Association Bookshop or local businesses. Restrooms are available in Lower Town next to the Bookshop and train station.

— National Park Service

BY ERIK ANDERSON Special to The News-Post

ne of my favorite things about traveling abroad is how it often opens new perspectives on places back home, where I enjoy deep familiarity. I’ve been blessed to discover that experiencing the new often sparks a renewal of the old. Towns and landscapes that I had long taken for granted come alive again in my mind when I encounter surprising connections during visits to far-away lands.

A very unexpected renewal came to me in May 2019 when my wife and I were on a honeymoon adventure in England. Thanks to a friend who had been living in the area for a while, we discovered the charming town of Bury St. Edmunds.

Today, the bustling little community in the Suffolk region northeast of London boasts a population of about 40,000, but it traces its origins to a very small farming village that grew up around a Benedictine monastery in the seventh century A.D. Its curious name, which sounds delightfully quirky to my American ears, comes from the town becoming the final resting place of Edmund the Martyr, a ninth-century king of the East Angles.

I didn’t fully appreciate why at first, but walking through this English town kept taking my mind back to Virginius Island, that little green strip of land immediately adjacent to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, that juts out into the Shenandoah River.

On the surface, that connection doesn’t make sense, as the two locales are completely different in both geography and history. Virginius Island hasn’t even been a town since it was abandoned in the 1930s, and the nearby towns of Harpers Ferry and Bolivar have a combined population of only about 1,600.

Now part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the island was settled in the early 1800s by a group of

entrepreneurs who took advantage of the river’s waterpower to raise up a small industrial town there. It was a collection of factories, rather than institutional religion, that formed the center of life. As well as hosting a sawmill, machine shop, iron foundry, gristmill, oil mill, cotton mill and tannery, the island had a small group of houses for its dozens of workers and their families. Although it mounted a strong recovery from considerable damage in the wake of the Civil War, the island was eventually abandoned after three big flooding events left the factories in ruins. All of this history kept coming back to me as my wife and I explored the oldest parts of Bury (as the locals call it) and learned its unique history. The religious center of the town had become a sprawling stone abbey and shrine dedicated to St. Edmund by the 14th century, when it was sacked by riotous townspeople who opposed tariffs exacted by the monks. After having been rebuilt, the abbey was destroyed again in the 16th century when King Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of Monasteries as part of

his separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

As we walked through the abbey ruins, which are now part of a public garden park in the center of town, I found space for a few moments of quiet contemplation to put my finger on why I kept having flashbacks to Virginius Island.

Although factories and monasteries could hardly be more different from each other in terms of underlying ideologies and outputs, they both require large, impressive buildings that leave behind intriguing ruins long after they’ve been abandoned. Even on this score, Virginius and Bury are quite different. The abbey ruins take the form of towering heaps of crumbling flintstone, whereas most of the factory ruins on Virginius are solid foundation walls made from large stones sunken into the ground. `w

But in these two separate cases, the ruins serve similar functions. They both call to mind a paradox of civilizations that is continually repeated throughout history the world over. Monumental human endeavors always meet some kind of end, but almost always leave a lasting

Scenes from the abadoned village at Virginius Island in Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

Erik Anderson

impact on the human life that reemerges beyond that end. In other words, major human institutions always come to an end, but in some sense, they never end.

This was the aspect of Virginius Island that I had been under-appreciating before our trip to Bury. I knew the history and had spent a good deal of time hiking around the island. The large grassy clearing around the old cotton mill ruins on the riverbank is a perfect spot to have a picnic and take in the lushness of the surrounding mountains. The natural beauty of the area really struck me, but I hadn’t felt the full historical weight of those ruins.

I think because Bury was still a busy town, it was easy to see that the abbey continued to be a source of identity and pride for the people who lived there long after its dissolution. The signs are everywhere.

As we were driving into town, we saw a modern statue of St. Edmund, the patron of the abbey’s shrine, in the midst of his martyrdom, bound by rope and shot through with arrows.

The large stone gate structure leading

to the abbey grounds still stands in its perfect medieval condition, indicating that the town’s people have provided it with regular maintenance over many centuries.

The town’s remaining medieval churches are also very well-preserved. If you wander in at various times throughout the day, you will encounter knowledgeable docents who cheerfully tell visitors about the historic churches and their relationship to the old abbey.

This experience in Bury made me take a harder look at the lasting legacy of the ruins on Virginius. The island itself is uninhabited, but the recent industrial history there is felt throughout the region.

The men who built the factories were among the first to recognize the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers for its economic potential. While the rivers no longer power industry, they have never stopped powering the local economy.

As an important crossroads of the C&O Canal and Appalachian Trail, the

beautiful river junction draws hikers and day-trippers into Harpers Ferry businesses. River touring companies thrive by offering kayaking and tubing packages to thousands of annual visitors. And the factories themselves remain an important, if sometimes neglected, part of local identity. The whole area is known for its Civil War history, especially John Brown’s 1859 raid on the federal armory on the Potomac side of Harpers Ferry. That history is the primary draw for the national park that surrounds the river confluence, but that history may not have existed without the factories of Virginius, which

provided important supplies to the armory.

To honor this heritage, the national park has exhibits with old water-powered equipment on display in Harpers Ferry’s lower town. But if you really want to immerse your senses and imagination in the history that got us to where we are today, I recommend hiking out to those old colossal stone ruins and letting your mind fall back in time.

Erik Anderson is a freelance writer in Frederick who cares about few things more than the history of his community. Email him at erikanderson07@gmail. com.

Erik Anderson

LeClair Hopper

The abbey ruins at Bury St. Edmunds in England.

Erik Anderson Ruins at Virginius Island.

Nicole Chung on her memoir ‘A Living Remedy’

BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE Special to The News-Post

Family, loss and grief are at the center of author Nicole Chung’s sophomore release, “A Living Remedy.”

In her new memoir, the Washington, D.C., area author manages to weave together the story of her father’s sickness, the inequity in healthcare, his subsequent death, her grief, her relationship with her mother, the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately having to say goodbye to her mother during the pandemic.

Chung, 41, explored the memoir genre in her 2019 bestseller “All You Can Ever Know,” in which she told the story of her adoption. The book went on to be a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a semifinalist for the PEN Open Book Award and an Indies Choice Honor Award.

When she’s not writing books, she is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, GQ and The Guardian.

Chung will make an appearance from 7 to 8 p.m. April 13 at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 W. Church St., Frederick. Hosted by the Curious Iguana, Chung will be in conversation with with Melody Schreiber, editor of “What We Didn’t Expect,” the D.C. correspondent for ArcticToday, a columnist for The New Republic, and a regular contributor to the Guardian US, The Washington Post, New York, The Atlantic and NPR. Seats for the ticketed event is available for purchase on Eventbrite.com.

Before her appearance, Chung took time for a telephone interview about “A Living Remedy” and the lessons she’s learned about her parents and herself. This is a small excerpt of her talk with 72 Hours.

As writers, we often find writing to be a cathartic exercise. Was that the type of experience you had with this book?

It actually was not terribly cathartic. I think that writing can definitely serve that purpose, and it sometimes has for me in the past. The writing I find the most therapeutic is the writing that no one else sees.

I’ve been a journaler for most of my life. It definitely was something different when I decided I wanted to write a book about my grief and about my family. Once you make that decision as a writer, you really have to think about what is there for the readers as well. It can’t just be telling your story, or even just relaying the events as they happen. There has to be something for readers

to really hold on to, something for them to take away. I won’t say I didn’t write this for myself, as well. I really sat down to work on it, and I basically rewrote it. Five or six months after my mother died, I started working on the manuscript. At that point, I was thinking less about being cathartic and much more about how I wanted to tell the story.

“All You Can Ever Know” was about family relationships, and of course, this is too. Did you learn something different about your parents, your relationship with them, or about yourself during this process?

I think we’re always learning about and reassessing the relationships that are most important to us. “All You Can Ever Know” is much more focused on my birth family and what happened when I decided to search for them. It was much more focused on that search, which coincided with my first pregnancy, and what happened and why I decided to look for them. Certainly my adoptive parents and my child-

hood played a part in that, but it was relatively brief toward the beginning, compared to a loving family where my adoptive parents are much more present, and you see much more of our lives and my upbringing.

To your great question about whether I learned something more about them in the intervening years, I haven’t really thought about it this way, but I think my relationship with both parents did change and grow, and in some ways, through the process of taking care of them when they were sick and losing them in very close succession.

Especially after my father died, my mother and I had to kind of learn a new way of existing and being a family without him. It had always been the three of us. I found myself in a very different role as the daughter of a widow. My father and mother were really each other’s rocks, and after my father died, I don’t think she necessarily thought of me that way, but I wanted to be there

for my mother. I wanted to fill that role for her.

That was really one of the things that I wanted to write about, how the way we relate to each other, especially the people we are closest to, shifts over time. We learn new things about each other, often in crisis. And even now that they’re gone, I still think about them all the time and think about what they would say and what I have made of my life now. Relationships aren’t finite. I think I’ll probably always be thinking about our relationship and re-evaluating things.

What do you want the reader to take away from your book?

The longer I write, honestly, the less I believe in my power as an author to say what a reader should take away. I think about it from the perspective of the reader. I think it’s a sacred relationship between the reader and a book. I’m not trying to dodge the question. I’m really honored, actually, when people tell me there was a part of the book that they really resonated with.

Certainly, a lot of people have lost loved ones, and there is so much compounded grief from the past few years, so I hope that for those who have experienced losses, the book helps to think about their own lives and experiences with their loved ones and makes them feel a little bit less alone.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Crystal Schelle is a journalist whose work has been published locally, regionally and nationally. She enjoys trivia, cats and streaming movies.

Carletta Girma

Nicole Chung

Support this Maryland filmmaking team in their new project ‘A.L.E.C.’

Frederick native and an Oakdale High School graduate Hannah Hildebrandt moved to Atlanta with a few other Marylanders about five years ago to work in Georgia’s film and television industry. Atlanta has become a bustling hub for the movie business, she says — Hollywood of the South.

She is currently producing and designing a short film with several other team members from Maryland who she met at Towson University. Together, they span Frederick, Columbia, Catonsville and Prince George’s County.

The team’s credits include working directly for producers, directors and actors, such as Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo and Dwayne Johnson, and tackling a variety of other crew roles on projects including “Black Panther,” “Loki,” “Red Notice,” “Hillbilly Elegy,” “The Walking Dead” and an upcoming musical adaptation of “The Color Purple” from producers Oprah Winfrey

and Steven Spielberg.

“We’ve amassed these credits only a few years after graduating from Towson in 2018,” Hildebrandt said. “The idea of Hollywood can seem so far away for many growing up with big dreams in small towns, but it’s very possible, and it’s very fun. We’ve gained a lot of support from the local community, too.”

The filmmaking team will host a fundraiser at Il Forno Pizzeria in Frederick on April 8 to support their current project, “A.L.E.C.,” a sci-fi film focused on the potential impact of artificial intelligence. A portion of proceeds will go to fund the project when customers mention “A.L.E.C.” to their server. Several of the team members will travel into town for the event, which starts around 5 p.m., so you can meet them while you eat.

You can also donate to the project through the crowdfunding campaign online at seedandspark.com/fund/alec, which runs through May 1.

By Jacklyn Backhaus

Courtesy photo

From left, Ian Reagan, Jaedon Huie, Ryan Konig and Hannah Hildebrandt.

Tenexplorers. Four boats. One Grand Canyon. Men On Boats is the true(ish) history of an 1869 expedition, when a one-armed captain and acre wofinsane yet loyal volunteers set out to char tthe course of the Colorado River. Men

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FILM Jordan Holt creates Falling Squares to nurture local film community

BY DAWN MORGAN NEARY Special to The News-Post

Despite its seemingly negative connotation, the term “military brat” is how kids with parents in the the armed forces refer to themselves. Their childhoods are marked by frequent moves to various towns and military bases.

“There were a lot of transitions,” said former Army brat Jordan Holt, a filmmaker who’s helping to foster a strong film community in Frederick.

All those transitions tend to either make a person very outgoing or, in Holt’s case, extremely shy. Holt’s parents settled in Walkersville, and after Holt graduated from Walkersville High School in 2010, he stayed local and attended Hood College, where his confidence — and also his passion for film and video — began to flourish.

In a Hood screenwriting class, taught by Katherine Orloff, who has an extensive background in reporting on Hollywood, Holt’s confidence was significantly boosted when students laughed at the first comedy piece he had written. This response gave him permission, as he puts it, to move forward with filmmaking.

Frederick, he reached out and asked if they wanted an intern, and they agreed.

Holt started Falling Squares with Roberts and Burns one year later and credits Area 31 for being the inspiration.

The three founders created their first short film together as part of the 72 Film Fest, a contest in which creators make a movie from start to finish in 72 hours, and films are later screened at the Weinberg Center.

IF YOU GO

Movie Knight is held from 7 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.

Bijou is held from 7 to 10 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at the FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. To submit a film to Movie Knight, go to the submission form on the Falling Squares Instagram @movieknightofficial.

The FAC later asked Falling Squares if they’d like to host regular movie nights at their venue on East Second Street, and these Movie Knights now occur on the first Friday of each month.

“It’s been a fruitful partnership,” said FAC public art program manager Emily Holland. According to Holland, not as much film is being produced in this area as other art forms, but the scene is starting to blossom in Frederick.

Holt also curates Bijou, a themed movie night that occurs three times a month and screens arthouse films, at FAC Art Center.

“With Movie Knight, we encourage the filmmaker to be there, to get a little oneon-time with the people who made these great movies,” Holt said. “I even debuted one of my own films there. It was cool to be on that side.”

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Fast-forward to present day, and Holt has created Falling Squares, a media production company, with Trevor Vijay Roberts, Austin Burns and Brad Austin. Falling Squares coordinates film distribution and events, creates client videography and gaming, and produces film and TV projects under the name Black Fox Pictures.

Orloff “pushed me,” Holt said. “Without that class, I wouldn’t be doing this.”

Holt wasn’t feeling creatively fulfilled after graduating Hood in 2014. When he heard about now defunct Area 31, a film collective in downtown

Holt said 72 Film Fest organizers are “the top of the film community here,” and he has no interest in competing with the fest, but it only happens once a year, each fall, and Holt wanted to create more regular local filmmaker activities.

“There should be more opportunities,” Holt said. “I want to see it consistent: collaborations, networking, bigger and better projects. We also would like to see an expanded filmmaking community.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Falling Squares team had decided to organize screenings of locally made films — especially for local filmmakers who have created something and are ready to show it outside of their friends and family. The idea

is anyone can submit a film, from students to past 72 Film Fest par ticipants. They sat on the idea throughout the pandemic and finally hosted their first showcase, called Movie Knight, in February 2022. Community theater group The Fredericktowne Players provided the first screening space.

Falling Squares wanted to continue to host screenings but didn’t have a permanent location. For a while, they screened films at changing locations — Free Range Kids & Teens at FSK Mall, Frederick Soups and Comfort Foods in downtown Frederick and an outdoor screening at the former Frederick Junk Co., as well as the FAC Art Center, run by the Frederick Arts Council.

Justin Smothers, who’s based in Washington, D.C., wrote, directed and independently produced a film called “Brass” in 2021, which happened to feature actor Roberts, one of the cofounders of Falling Squares. Roberts, who relocated last month to Los Angeles, had told Smothers about the burgeoning film community in Frederick.

Smothers’ film screened at the March Movie Knight to an intimate audience, and he was in attendance. “When it’s a smaller audience, it feels like everybody is actually listening,” he said. “They asked a lot of questions, had a lot of comments. It gave me a warm feeling.”

Smothers said if you want to find a film community, you often have to dig for it. Luckily if you’re in Frederick, you can find a film community at the FAC Art Center every month.

Dawn Morgan Neary is a freelance journalist from Tampa, Florida, and currently resides in Mount Airy with her large blended family.

Staff photo by Bill Green Jordan Holt at the FAC Art Center in Frederick.

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4:00-7:00p or until sold out

Eat in or Carry-out

Roast Turkey, Ham, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Stuffing, Sauerkraut, Baked Pineapple, Green Beans, Cole Slaw and Cranberry Sauce

Adults: $18 00

Children 6-12: $8 00

Under 5 is FREE

($2 extra for carry-out)

Mt Airy VFC Reception Hall

1008 Twin Arch Rd, Mt Airy

Local Mentions

Local Mentions

JEFFERSON RURITAN CLUB BREAKFAST WITH EASTER BUNNY

SAT , APRIL 8, 2023 7-11:00am

Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, Country Ham, Hominy, Sausage Gravy/ $11 per adult

Children 5-10 $6/Dine-In or Carry-out Easter Bunny Present for Pictures, Prizes, and Candy

BUY YOUR MEAT STRAIGHT OFF THE FARM

Corn Fed Beef, Locally grown, Locally processed Quality meat at Economical Prices

• Buy by the quarter, half, or whole

• Choose your own cuts of steaks, roasts, and ground meat

• Bologna, chip beef, snack sticks, jerky, stew meat, organs

• Comes in neat cuts, vacuum sealed, & frozen

• Ask about delivery

Price $2.99/lb.

dress weight plus processing Kevin Martin - 240-469-9712

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Cash Raffle

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Daily Drawing

Tickets $20 00

$100 Minimum Drawing

$1000 Top Prize

For Tickets

Text 301-639-8963 or 301-835-9808

EASTER BAKE SALE

Sat April 8 • 9AM to 12PM

Two (2) - 2” Hot Chocolate Bombs: $6 00

3" Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs: $4 00

Preorder until 4/05

Carroll Manor Fire Co

2793 Adams St, Adamstown

Large Assort of Easter baked goodies www carrollmanorfire org 301-874-5642

LONGABERGER

BASKET BINGO

Benefits Emmanuel Trinity Lutheran Church Saturday, April 15
 Doors 4:30pm, Bingo 6:00pm, King Tut 5:45pm Jefferson Ruritan Center 4603 Lander Rd, Jefferson Filled baskets Tickets $25 301-874-8409

Local Mentions

SPORTSMANS DRAWING

May 13, 2023

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Doors Open: 5:00 Games Start: 7:00

Tickets: $40 00 includes Buffet Meal 10 Guns plus Lucky Loser ATM Available For Info Call 301-898-7985 or 301-271-4650

Lewistown United Methodist Church

11032 Hessong Bridge Road, Thurmont, MD

SOUP CARRYOUT

Vegetable and Bean

$7 a Quart

Preorder by Saturday, April 22

Pick up 12:00 – 4:00 pm Saturday, April 29

Visit the bake goods table

Place order by email at Lewistownumw@gmail com

Or call Joyce Anthony at 240-288-8748

Please indicate Vege or bean, quantity, name, phone number, pick up time

Libertytown V F D Spring BIG $

Bingo & Dinner

Sat April 22, 2023

Opens 4PM; Dinner 4:30-5:30

Games 6:30

Total Payout $10,000+ 14 Games pay Up to $700 & Special Games pay $600/$1100/$1275

Limited tickets @$60 person

Libertytown Vol Fire Dept Reserves the Right to Reduce Payouts if less than 150 players No Refunds CALL 301-829-2510

QUARTERMANIA

Sunday 4/16/2023

Jefferson Ruritan Club

Doors Open Noon/ Bidding 1:00pm Tickets $5 Advance/$8

THE LITTLE RED WAGON

Stop in or call for CSA subscription information! Pay a one time fee, and get 20 pickups of fresh produce!

Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Collards, cabbage, chard 11434 Keymar Rd Woodsboro, MD 21798

Live Info: 240-439-9401

The Manor Reformed Church Cemetery Co, Inc

ANNUAL MEETING

will be held April 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM

It will be held in the social hall at the Emmanuel Trinity Lutheran Church located at 4004 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick MD 21703

All interested lot owners and trustees, please attend David Hawker, Pres , Rosina Biser, Tres/Sec

Thurmont Co Ambulance

CARNIVAL

May 30 - June 3, 2023

Pre-Sale Ride Tickets

$16 00 Nightly, 6 p m – 10 p m

Rides by Snyder ’s Attractions

All Rides Requires You Must Be 32” in Height

Tickets: 301-749-5359 Or 301-271-3820

Nightly Entertainment:

Tue, May 30: Country Ramblers

Wed, May 31: Taylor Brown w/Elvis Show

Thu, June 1: Bobby D & The Truckstop

Burrito’s

Fri, June 2: Full Effect

FIREWORKS

Sat, June 3: Borderline

Nightly Platters:

Tue, May 30: Cod Fish, $8

Wed, May 31: Pulled Pork, $8

Thu, June 1: Fried Chicken, $8

Fri, June 2: Butterfly Shrimp, $8

Sat, June 3: Roast Turkey Sandwich, $8 Games, Raffles Tickets avail at:

Wed, May 31: Taylor Brown w/Elvis Show

Thu, June 1: Bobby D & The Truckstop

Burrito’s

Fri, June 2: Full Effect

FIREWORKS

Sat, June 3: Borderline Nightly Platters:

Tue, May 30: Cod Fish, $8

Wed, May 31: Pulled Pork, $8

Thu, June 1: Fried Chicken, $8

Fri, June 2: Butterfly Shrimp, $8

Sat, June 3: Roast Turkey Sandwich, $8 Games, Raffles Tickets avail at: Weis in Thurmont

Thurmont Kountry Kitchen

Woodsboro Bank in Thurmont

Direct 2 U Gas Station or Any of the functions at the Complex

Thurmont Event Complex

13716 Strafford Dr, Thurmont

AKC REGISTERED ENGLISH LAB PUPPIES FOR

SALE

Black, Yellow and Chocolate Call 540-690-3014 for more info

HAVANESE pups toy-breed Vet cert /shots non-shed ALSO

MINI AUSSIE DOODLE pups

Parents are house-pets non-shed Vet cert/shots

Both breeds are lovable, family companions Reduced Price! 540-303-2591

Use Seal 'N Heal to seal wounds on dogs, cats, & horses with a bitter taste to stop gnawing & allow healing SOUTHERN STATES 663- 6164 (www happyjackinc com)

BOB'S JUNK HAULING

Removal of Bulk Junk/Trash from Attic, Garage, Bsmt, Yard, Small Moves, TVs, Storages, Sheds, Yard Trimmings

Reasonable Rates Short Notice Frederick & Mont Co 301-606-6316

POOL WATER

We fill any size pool Call Nolan Hubble 240-315-1762

*All participants who attend an estimated 60-90-minute in-home product consultation will receivea$25 Visa gift card. Retail value is $25. Offer sponsored by LeafGuardHoldings Inc. Limit one per household. Company procures, sells, and installs seamless gutter protection. This offer is valid for homeowners over 18 years of age. If married or involved with alife partner,both cohabitating persons must attend and complete presentation together.Participants must have aphoto ID and be legally able to enter into acontract. The following persons arenot eligible for this offer: employees of Company or affiliated companies or entities, their immediate family members, previous participants in aCompany in-home consultation within the past 12 months and all current and former Company customers. Gift may not be extended, transferred, or substituted except that Company may substitute agift of equal or greater value if it deems it necessary.Gift cardwill be mailed to the participant via first class United States Mail within 10 days of receipt of the promotion form. Not valid in conjunction with any other promotion

of any kind. Offer not sponsored and is subject to change without notice prior to reservation.Offer not available in the states of CA, IN, PA and MI. LeafGuardoperates as LeafGuardofDCinMaryland

Thursday April 6

CLASSES

“Frederick County’s Enduring Crossroads” Exhibit — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. The history of Frederick County has unfolded around its crossroads, from rural villages and towns to the city’s square corner. This exhibit explores our local crossroads through the themes of community, land, identity and persistence, and will feature artifacts from Heritage Frederick’s museum and archival collections as well as loaned artifacts from South Mountain Heritage Society in Burkittsville. $12, $10, $8. director@ FrederickHistory.org.

Building Stronger Communities through Community Solar Workshop with Neighborhood Sun — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Common Market Co-op, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Climate change science, impacts and solutions will be discussed to empower participants to take action at home and in their communities. Participants will leave with ideas, resources and contacts to take action and to further educate others. 301-663-3416. aharmon@ commonmarket.coop.

ETCETERA

200 Monroe Restaurant — 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Monroe Center, 200 Monroe Ave., Frederick. Frederick Community College invites you to enjoy a gourmet dinner created by the talented students at 200 Monroe Restaurant! Reservations are required! For dine-in or carryout, visit opentable.com/200-Monroe.

$40-$44. HCTI@frederick.edu. opentable.com/200-monroe.

Introduction to Permaculture and the REED Center — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 101 Prospect St., Middletown. There is a 150-acre permaculture food forest in Middletown? Come meet Ben Friton, founder and director of the REED Center and Morning View Food Forest. Learn about permaculture, the work done by the REED Center and the events happening at the food forest. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.

To Be Read: Lisa Scottoline — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Exploration Commons, 50 E. Main St., Westminster. For adults. Lisa Scottoline is the No. 1 best-selling and Edgar Award-winning author of 35 novels. Her latest, “Loyalty,” is an emotional, actionpacked epic of love and justice, set during

the rise of the Mafia in Sicily. $25. 443-293-3000. ask@carr.org. ccpl.librarymarket.com/event/scottoline.

Pour House Trivia — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Champion Billiards Sports Bar, 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Come on out with the team and play some Pour House Trivia. 7 p.m. start. Extended Happy Hour from 4 to 8 p.m. 301-846-0089. frederickchampions.com/weekly-specials.

Maundy Thursday Service — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Taylorsville United Methodist Church, 4356 Ridge Road, Mount Airy. Maundy Thursday Service with communion and foot washing. Come prepared if you want to participate in foot washing. 410-875-4101. taylorsvilleumcmd@gmail. com.

FAMILY

“Crossroads” Companion Exhibits — 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at The C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Also exhibits at Thurmont and Brunswick libraries. At C. Burr Artz, visit the front exhibit cases to explore the Maryland Room’s collection related to the “Crossroads” exhibit at Rose Hill Manor Park, Frederick. 301-600-1630. fcpl.org.

Easter Egg Hunts — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville. Hunts will be all day between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Hunt areas will be sectioned off according to age. No sign up is necessary. Participating children will get a Hunt Ticket with the purchase of a farm admission. Bring your own basket or buy one from us. $16 (credit) for ages 2 to 82. 301-865-9203. info@greenmeadowsevents.com. greenmeadowsevents.com/.

“Crossroads — Change in Rural America” Exhibit — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rose Hill Manor Park, 1611 N. Market St., Frederick. The exhibit looks at how local communities have adapted and changed as a result of the literal crossroads of waterways, roads and railroads, and the figurative crossroads of local and national events. Stories from the inhabitants of Rose Hill, other Frederick County Parks, and Main Streets will highlight these themes throughout the exhibit while exhibits through the county will highlight additional county stories. $5 adults, $4 seniors and kids. 301-6001650. recreater.com.

GALLERY

The Hagerstown and Frederick Railway Exhibit — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. From 1896 until 1954, a network of interurban

trolley lines were built linking communities across Frederick and Washington Counties. This exhibit presents the history of these electric railways and how they changed the landscape and communities of Frederick County. View historical photographs and artifacts from the trolleys and a map showing the various routes that comprised the overall system at its height of operation. $12, $10, $8. director@FrederickHistory. org.

MUSIC

Salon Music Series — 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd University, 301 S. King St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. In Shipley Recital Hall. Featuring Shepherd faculty pianist Dr. Yu-Hsuan Liao, violinist Heather AustinStone and cellist Camilo Perez-Mejia for an exploration of lesser-known works for piano trio. shepherd.edu.

Tivoli Discovery Series: Ashley Ray — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Tivoli Discovery Series is the pay-what-youwant series featuring emerging artists. This month features Ashley Ray, who has established herself as one of Nashville’s most nuanced voices, chasing down critical acclaim not only as a solo artist, but also as an in-demand songwriter for Little Big Town, Lori McKenna, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, and others. $10. 301-600-2868. bhiller@ cityoffrederickmd.gov.

SU Salon Series: Piano and Strings Music — 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd University, 301 S. King St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. In Frank Arts Center, W.H. Shipley Recital Hall. Features three faculty members in an exploration of some intriguing piano trio repertoire that expresses our sense of time and how a season, a day, or just a morning can last both an instant and a lifetime. shepherd.edu.

OUTDOORS

Frederick Bird Club Meeting — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Homewood, 7407 Willow Road, Frederick. Randy Robinson of the National Conservation Training Center will give a closeup look at the fascinating lives of nesting bald eagles and their young offspring. He will also provide background on the history, habitat, biology and behaviors of the American bald eagle.

Friday April 7

CLASSES

Maryland Prehistory: Biggs Ford Site and Beyond — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at

Middletown Public Library, 101 Prospect St., Middletown. Through an examination of art and artifacts, Lauren Lippiello and Hettie Ballweber will provide an overview of Prehistoric Maryland, including an examination of the Biggs Ford Site. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.

ETCETERA

PEEPshow — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at TownMall of Westminster, 400 N. Center St., Westminster. Daily through April 10; 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. This sweet event features numerous marshmallow masterpieces, including sculptures, dioramas, mosaics and even videos, all crafted from or inspired by Peeps. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

Good Friday Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jackson Chapel United Methodist Church, 5609 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick. Until 6 p.m. or sold out. $16 dinner includes fish, mac ‘n’ cheese or potato salad, green beans, applesauce, cornbread, cake, iced tea or water. 301-694-7315. jacksonchapel@comcast.net. jacksonchapelumc.org.

FAMILY

Easter Egg Hunts — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville. Hunts will be all day between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Hunt areas will be sectioned off according to age. No sign up is necessary. Participating children will get a Hunt Ticket with the purchase of a farm admission. Bring your own basket or buy one from us. $16 (credit) for ages 2 to 82. 301-865-9203. info@greenmeadowsevents.com. greenmeadowsevents.com.

MUSIC

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band — 8 p.m. at Baltimore Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore. Grand opening performance in the newly renovated arena. Tickets and concert time TBA July 26. verifiedfan.ticketmaster.com/springsteen.

PERFORMER

MET Comedy Night: The Comedy Pigs — 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 30th anniversary season! Catch them every first Friday and Saturday through June. Ages 18 and older. $15. 301-694-4744. zcallis @marylandensemble.org.

•ChampionBilliards&SportsCafe

•RegalCinemas Stadium 16 &IMAX

CALENDAR

THEATER

“Church Basement Ladies” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Meet the pastor, three cooks, and one daughter who run the kitchen and care for the congregation. This funny musical comedy sees the four women handle a Lutefisk Dinner, a funeral, an Easter Fundraiser, and, of course, a wedding. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. first, third and fifth Sundays; 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 20. Show follows lunch/dinner buffet. $55 Fridays and Sunday matinees, $59 Saturdays. 301-662-8200. wayoffbroadway.com.

“Wizard of Oz’” — 7 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Yellow Brick Road is headed to the Weinberg Center Easter weekend. This original adaptation of the classic tale is a full-length play filled with dancing and full of delight for all ages. $16-$30. 301-6623722. allison@performingartsfactory.com. facebook.com/ TheWizardofOzwithOtherVoices.

Saturday April 8

CLASSES

Freedom BANG class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Freedom Bang is a pre-choreographed fusion of boxing, HIIT, hip hop, world dance, optional weighted gloves and just a touch of attitude. Offering a wide range of intensity options to help you customize your workout. Ages 18 and older. 301-600-8200. AWadding @FrederickCountyMD.gov. fcpl.org. Zumba Saturdays at the Library — 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Ready to exercise! Ready to dance! Ready to shake off the pounds? Come on in for Zumba at the Library on Saturday mornings through May 27. Ages 18 and older. 301-600-7004. marchange-desir@ frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/ zumba-saturdays-library-8.

Transitioning to Non-Toxic Hygiene and Skincare Products — 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Common Market Co-op, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Learn everything you need to get started with switching to less toxic products for your hygiene, face and body care. Learn which ingredients to avoid, resources for researching ingredients and products, how to recognize “cleanwashing” and some product recommendations to get you started. $15-$30. 301-663-3416. aharmon@ commonmarket.coop.

ETCETERA

Foundations of Frederick Walking Tour — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Walk in the footsteps of Frederick’s past residents

and discover their story. Experience the history and beauty of downtown as knowledgeable guides share the fascinating stories that make up historic Frederick. Tours are 90 minutes. $12, $10, $8. director@frederickhistory.org. frederickhistory.org/programs/adults/ walking-tours/.

Schifferstadt Architectural Museum — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Explore the home of Frederick’s pioneer family, the Brunners. Built in 1758, it is the oldest surviving building in the city and a National Historic Landmark. Inside is the only known example of a German heating system that provided safe, clean, energy-efficient radiant heat. Learn the story of the desperate German immigrants who fled dire conditions in Europe and came to prominence in Frederick County. Walk in for a guided tour. $8 for adults, free for under age 12. 301-456-4912. boycerensberger@gmail.com. fredericklandmarks.org.

Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market St., Frederick. Journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge. True documented stories of the paranormal with Maryland’s oldest operating Ghost Tour. Reservations recommended. $15. info@marylandghosttours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

FAMILY

Good Shepherd Kid’s Easter Event — 9:45 a.m. to noon at Faith Church, 8158 Yellow Springs Road, Frederick. Events include story time, cookie decorating, crafts, a children’s obstacle course, and an egg hunt. Ages 3-10. Please bring a bag or basket for children to collect eggs. Preregister at faithreformed.org. One parent or guardian must remain on the property. 1 canned good per child to be donated to a local charity. 301-662-0662. faithchurch@ faithreformed.org.

Farmer ChuckBones Easter Events — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Farmer ChuckBone’s, 6269 Ed Crone Lane, Frederick. Meet the Easter Bunny. Purchase tickets for the Easter egg hunt along the nature trail, pictures with the Easter Bunny in the Giant Chair, hayrides and bunny petting area. Free admission for adults, $10 per child.  240-220-0675. farmerchuckbone.com.

American Legion Gold Star Post 191 Easter Egg Hunt — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Legion Gold Star Post 191, 801 Prospect Road, Mount Airy. All children are invited. 301-829-9161. goldstarpost191@ gmail.com. post191.com.

Easter Palooza — 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at New Life Church, 5913 Jefferson Pike, Frederick. Community event for the entire family. Includes a helicopter egg drop. 301-663-8497.

Easter Egg Hunt — 11:30 a.m. at Mullinix Park, 16 S. Bentz St., Frederick. Egg hunt

starts at noon. Prizes, crafts, food, fun. Community event.

301-663-9380. asburyumcfmd.org.

Easter Egg Hunt — noon at Burkittsville Ruritan Club Community Center, 500 E. Main St., Burkittsville. Hosted by the Ruritan Club, Ladies Auxiliary and the Town of Burkittsville. Free refreshments. Egg hunt begins at 1 p.m., rain or shine. For ages 12 and under. Prizes awarded in three age groups. 301-371-7795.

Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club Easter Egg Hunt — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club, 8101 Crum Road, Mount Pleasant (Walkersville). Children ages infant to 10 years, with parent. Bring a basket for your eggs. Treats and gifts for all children! Take pictures with the Easter Bunny. In case of rain, event will be indoors. Bring a nonperishable food item for local food banks. 301-452-3089. sbkolbay@comcast.net.

HEALTH

BANG Class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville LIbrary, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Freedom Bang is a prechoreographed fusion of boxing, HIIT, hip-hop, world dance, optional weighted gloves and just a touch of attitude.  Offering a wide range of intensity options to help you customize your workout. 301-600-8200. awadding@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.

MUSIC

Live Music: Susanna Laird — noon to 3 p.m. at The Common Market CO-OP, 5728 Buckeystown Pike, Unit B1, Frederick. Visit our Route 85 café and enjoy live music. This week features Susanna Laird. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop.

4 Warned Band — 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Cactus Flats, 10026 Hansonville Road, Frederick. Classic rock.

OUTDOORS

Tree Identification Walk — 9 a.m. to noon at City of Frederick Watershed, Gambrill Park Road, Frederick. Join certified arborist Jenny Willoughby and library staff for this hike and see how ecology, history and water resources all converge to make this a special backcountry gem. 2-3 hour hike over uneven, but fairly easy terrain, about 3.5 miles. 301-600-8350. frederick.librarycalendar.com/ event/tree-id-walk.

THEATER

“Wizard of Oz’” — 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Yellow Brick Road is headed to the Weinberg Center Easter weekend. This original adaptation of the classic tale is a full-length play filled with dancing and full of delight for all ages. $16-$30. 301-662-3722. allison@ performingartsfactory.com. facebook.com/

TheWizardofOzwithOtherVoices.

CALENDAR

“Church Basement Ladies” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. first, third and fifth Sundays; 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 20. Show follows lunch/dinner buffet.

$55 Fridays and Sunday matinees, $59 Saturdays. 301-662-8200. wayoffbroadway.com.

Sunday April 9

ETCETERA

Second Sunday Tree Walk with the Frederick County Forestry Board — 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at City of Frederick, Rec Center or Pergola, City of Frederick. Guided tour with the Frederick County Forestry Board. Learn how to identify common local trees and hear fun facts about each on a tour with the board’s expert guides. Registration required. Free. 301-473-8417. sonia@ demirayink.com. frederick.forestryboard.org/tree-walk.

FAMILY

Great American Chestnut Restoration and Potluck at the Quaker Camp — 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Catoctin Quaker camp, 12611 Tower Road, Thurmont. Help restore the beautiful American Chestnut by volunteering for tree plantings on Easter Sunday. Will the Easter Bunny leave any surprises while we plant? 717-481-4870. davidhunter@bym-rsf.org. bymcamps.org/community-work-days.

Monday April 10

CLASSES

FAC After Hours & Yogamour: Restorative Yoga with Soundbath — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Gentle flow yoga session. All levels. Some yoga mats available. $15. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org. yogamour.org/ public-yoga-classes.

Tuesday April 11

ETCETERA

Teen Art Studio: Mural Making — 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Make, practice or try new techniques using library materials. This month, collaborate with your peers to create a large format, Earth Day-inspired mural. No pressure, just have fun! Snacks provided. For grades six to 12. 301-600-7004. lconforti@ frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/teenart-studio-mural-making.

Pride On The Patio — 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Showroom, 882 N. East St., Fredrick. Weekly LGBTQIA social mixer. Relaxed an casual. Happy hour pricing, full menu available; drink special Gender Fluid. 21 and older. 240-409-8858. prideonthepatio@gmail. com. facebook.com/PrideOnThePatio.

CALENDAR

Acoustic Open Mic — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Liquidity Aleworks, 8 N. Main St., Mount Airy. Dave Koronet hosts. 301471-0889. D.Koronet@att.net.

FILM

FAC After Hours: Art Center Bijou — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Each month presents films that fall under one general theme in order to cultivate discussion about film as a mode of artistic expression.

301-662-4190. frederickartscouncil. org/news-events/calendar-grid.

Wednesday April 12

ETCETERA

Sensory Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Nature Center Animals — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Fountain Rock Nature Center will bring some live critters to show-and-tell. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Thacher & Rye Local Weds Dinner

Series — 7 p.m. at Thacher & Rye, 228 N. Market St., Frederick. A culinary journey featuring Frederick’s local craft beverage businesses with a 3-course menu crafted by Chef Bryan Voltaggio and team. Reservations recommended. 240-332-3186. info@thacherandrye. com. thacherandrye.com.

HEALTH

Free Drop-In Yoga — 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at The Common Market Co-op, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. All levels. 301663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket. coop.

MUSIC

The Temptations — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Temptations, often referred to as “American Music Royalty,” are worldrenowned superstars of entertainment, revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. $125. 301600-2868. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd. gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ the-temptations.

Thursday April 13

FAMILY

Paws to Read with Go Team Therapy Dogs — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join Go Team Therapy Dogs to improve your reading confidence and make a new friend when you read aloud to a therapy dog. All ages. 301-600-8200. awadding@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.

(Continued from 13)

version of the “Wizard of Oz” that allows for the same relationship between experienced actors and student dancers. Grim says her new production is different from other versions of the story. It hews closer to the book by L. Frank Baum than to the 1939 Hollywood film adaptation starring Judy Garland but is rare among all versions for telling the story from the perspective of Dorothy’s dog, Toto.

“At first, it was a little strange to be offered the role of Toto,” said Adam Blackstock, a grown man with 20 years of community theater experience who now plays the small dog. “Then, when you read the script, you’re like, ‘OK, I get it. He’s the one who connects with the audience. He’s the one who narrates the introduction to a lot of the scenes.’ He’s almost like another character who is equal to the Scarecrow and the Lion, so it isn’t as weird as you would think.”

He said being one of the more experienced actors in the show places him in a mentorship role for the students, but he and the other adults in the show have been delightfully surprised to discover that the teaching and learning goes both ways.

“A lot of the adults, we are not naturally the best dancers,” he said. “The dancers are very giving of their

IF YOU GO

“Wizard of Oz” runs one weekend only at 7:30 p.m. April 7 and 2 and 7 p.m. April 8 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. A special presentation will take place for Girl Scouts following the Saturday matinee. Tickets range from $16 to $30 and are available at weinbergcenter.org.

time — the times when they are actually teaching us a step or reviewing a step.”

Grim said the truly unique aspect of the show is the music. She shopped around many songwriters to find a variety of new dance tunes that cover the full range of her school’s offerings, including tap, ballet and contemporary. She believes the most notable piece is the “Emerald City” number, which she describes as a 1920s-style musical.

“It has a pretty up-tempo beat, and it has all of the main characters,” she said. “It’s the most up-tempo number in the production.”

Like the “Alice” production before it, Grim wants the “Wizard of Oz” to be a dance company staple for years to come, so the dancers at different levels can move into more difficult roles as they gain experience.

“This is a dance repertoire company, and that is the goal of a repertoire company: to have a rep,”

she said. “Other companies will do the ‘Nutcracker.’ This is my ‘Nutcracker.’”

After getting accustomed to the new show over a few cycles, Grim hopes to return to the “Alice in Wonderland” production at some point, possibly alternating it with the “Wizard of Oz” year over year. She said many of the company’s now-professional alumni look back fondly at that original production and express interest in volunteering for the adult lead roles.

Blackstock said a lot of children’s theater and dance companies have trouble making shows that adults find entertaining, but he thinks OVT has solved that problem with their intentional mixing of talent levels.

“I think one of the benefits of it being a blended cast, in terms of being a diverse age range and actors and dancers coming together, is the show is something that will appeal to all ages,” he said. “I think as an audience member, you like seeing someone on the stage who reminds you of you. Someone who is an adult might reluctantly see something like this if the entire cast was young people.”

Erik Anderson’s MA in medieval literature only qualifies him to write about Chaucer, but he’s going to tell you about local theater anyway.

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Three Dog Night

SUNDAY, APRIL 16 | 6:00 PM

FREDERICK SPEAKER SERIES

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

THURSDAY, APRIL 20 | 7:30 PM

Neil Berg’s The 60’s: Peace, Love & Rock N’ Roll

FRIDAY, APRIL 21 | 8:00 PM

Afrique en Cirque by Cirque Kalabanté

SUNDAY, APRIL 23 | 6:30 PM

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East of Eden (1955)

THURSDAY, APRIL 13 | 7:30 PM

Tom Jones (1963)

THURSDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:30 PM

Frederick Symphony Orchestra - “Broadway and Beyond”

SUNDAY, APRIL 30 | 3:00 PM

Ngaiire

First Nations Papua New Guinean singer/songwriter

THURSDAY, MAY 4 | 7:30 PM

Afrique en Cirque

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SATURDAY, APRIL 22 | 2:00 PM

Show People (1928)

SATURDAY, APRIL 22 | 8:00 PM

Ngaiire Frederick Symphony Orchestra

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour