72 HOURS Sept. 26, 2024

September 26

JESSI

SHERON

How pain and perseverance shaped a comic-book career

A NEW FALL FESTIVAL HITS DOWNTOWN

FREDERICK THIS WEEKEND

As soon as there’s a nip in the air, don’t all of our minds go to pumpkins and cinnamon and spooky movies? Everedy Square & Shab Row will play host to the inaugural Fall Fest on Sept 27 to 29, with live music, food, seasonal shopping and all sorts of activities for kids — a fun way to celebrate the beginning of the autumn season. It won’t be the size and scale of, say, In The Streets, but what’s not to love about another downtown festival? Create a new tradition by participating in a community art project on Sept. 28, when you can paint a small canvas at Eastside Artists’ Gallery that will be used to create a large quilt artwork that will be on display during the festival on Sept. 29. Or stop by for live pumpkin carving on Sept. 27, and vote for your favorite during the Jack-O’-Lantern Contest on Sept. 28. Admission is free.

ALICE IN FREDERICKLAND GALA AT THE DELAPLAINE ARTS CENTER

Downtown Frederick Partnership will host an Alice in Frederickland Gala from 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Delaplaine Arts Center, with funds raised from the event going toward visual arts, as well as arts access and opportunities for the Frederick community. The Wonderland-themed gala will feature food, dancing and music. You are cordially invited “down the rabbit hole,” as they say. Tickets are $125 and available through downtownfrederick.org.

NEW SOUND SYSTEM COMING TO THE WEINBERG CENTER

The City of Frederick awarded a $200,000 capital grant to the Weinberg Center for the Arts, which will cover 40% of the purchase of a new sound system at the theater, per News-Post reporting earlier this month. The city said the new system is necessary, as components of the current one are starting to fail and cannot easily be repaired. The remaining $300,000 required for the new system has already been approved by the Weinberg Center’s board.

CATCH A SHOW DURING WOLF TRAP’S FALL SEASON

Wolf Trap, about a 45-minute drive from Frederick, kicks off its season in October with actor and singer Norm Lewis, who is known for leading roles in Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Other performances through October include country-rock innovator Jim Messina, three nights of Graham Nash and T Bone Burnett on his first tour in almost two decades. The fall season concludes on Dec. 6 with the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, who will host a World War II Tiki Xmas Canteen. If you have never visited Wolf Trap in the fall or winter, you might not be aware that during these months, events move indoors to the Barns at Wolf Trap — two historic barns that are physically connected. Sandra Rodriguez, director of communications for the Wolf Trap Foundation, calls the Barns “a hidden gem.”

AT

Faculty experts discuss today’s biggest issues.

Covering topics from AI and cybersecurity to healthcare and business management, HOOD Talks provide an in-depth look at politics, culture, technology and more.

ELECTIONS AND CYBERSECURITY with George Dimitoglou, D.Sc.

Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.

Register for this free, virtual event at hood.edu/HOODTalks.

GRADUATE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, Oct. 3 at noon or 5:30 p.m.

Learn about Hood’s academic offerings and speak directly with program faculty; engage with Graduate School staff regarding admission and funding opportunities; and ask questions of current graduate students.

Register at hood.edu/gradevents.

SONGS FOR THE EARTH: A MULTI-FAITH MUSICAL SERVICE

Sunday, Oct. 20, 3-4:15 p.m. Coffman Chapel, Hood College

Join the Multi-faith Alliance of Climate Stewards of Frederick County (MAOS) for a free multi-faith musical service! Music, readings and prayers will be delivered by the African Faith Community Choir, Asbury UMC Choir, Beth Sholom, Frederick Children’s Chorus, Hood College Ensembles, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Choir and Xa Loi Temple.

Milton Hernandez, general manager for Mariachi Restaurant in Frederick, said what sets the restaurant apart is its commitment to using highquality ingredients.

Located on Urbana Pike, Mariachi Restaurant offers Mexican, Tex-Mex and Spanish dishes, including tamales, chimichanga, fajitas and more.

Hernandez said this restaurant opened in 2008, but it’s one of several businesses owned by the same people that run El Mariachi Restaurant in Rockville, which opened in 1991.

The Mariachi Restaurant building has four floors, and Hernandez said the business hopes to eventually expand the restaurant itself into one of those other floors.

Hernandez said Mariachi is “very service-oriented,” and the staff aims to build relationships with its customers.

“It’s gotten to the point where we even have staff here [who have] been here for a while and have invited customers to their children’s birthdays or vice versa,” he said. “You meet a lot of interesting people here.”

He also emphasized that although Mariachi’s prices may be higher than other restaurants selling similar meals, he said the price is worth it.

“We believe that if you really want a good dish, you have to focus on quality,” he said. “In our fruit-flavored margaritas, we use fresh fruit pulp, no preservatives. ... We focus on quality here.”

— Gabrielle Lewis

Mariachi Restaurant

MARIACHI RESTAURANT

5854 Urbana Pike, Frederick 301 418-6367

mariachifrederick.com

Facebook: facebook.com/MariachiFrederick/ Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday.

Price: Appetizers range from $7 to $23, and entrees range from $9 to $52.

Milton Hernandez recommends: The seafood fajita. The dish consists of a lobster tail, shrimp and scallops served over of onions, peppers and tomatoes and topped with a homemade seafood sauce.

Hernandez said this dish is part of Mariachi’s special menu, but since it’s so popular, the restaurant is considering making it a regularly offered meal.

The seafood fajita at Mariachi Restaurant. Staff photos by Katina Zentz

Milton Hernandez, general manager at Mariachi Restaurant, sits for a portrait at the restaurant in Frederick.

Performances move indoors at Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts

BY SHUAN BUTCHER

Special to The News-Post

When most people think of America’s national parks, they might imagine the grand scenic landscapes of the West or the historic sites that help interpret the story of our country’s evolution. But right in our backyard, there is a place that in some ways does both on a regular basis. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is the only national park dedicated to the performing arts in the U.S.

Just an hour’s drive from Frederick, Wolf Trap attracts 400,000 visitors throughout the year who are there to enjoy concerts by some of the globe’s most popular artists, as well as opera, dance, jazz and other performances.

The majority of guests see shows at the Filene Center, the 10-story outdoor amphitheater that can seat 7,000 attendees on any given afternoon or evening. This flagship venue is an architectural wonder that first opened in 1971 (although rebuilt in 1982 after a fire destroyed the original structure). Enveloped in douglas fir, this summer venue is like an oasis in the middle of urban sprawl. The architecture, farmland and surrounding meadow provide patrons with an opportunity to escape their current situation and fully immerse themselves in the presence of art and entertainment.

What some people may not realize, however, is the Filene Center is not the only stage at Wolf Trap. During the fall and throughout the winter, events move indoors at a place called The Barns at Wolf Trap. The “Barns” are exactly that: two historic barns that are literally connected.

“It is a hidden gem,” said Sandra Rodriguez, director of communications for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, the nonprofit partner of the park.

The Barns at Wolf Trap were crafted from two restored 18th-century barns that were brought down from New York and relocated to the Virginia campus. Craftsmen painstakingly rebuilt them using traditional methods, showcasing hand-hewn beams and reversed exterior walls. The larger German barn, built around 1780, features a unique “swing beam” design, which once allowed horses to turn around in the original hayloft. Adjacent to the German barn is a smaller 1791 Scottish

barn that contains a reception and dining area that offers artisanal food and drinks. Inside, the barns contains an intimate 382-seat theater.

“At The Barns, the acoustics are fantastic,” Rodriguez added.

Home to the Wolf Trap Opera and

a chamber music series, The Barns at Wolf Trap kicks off its annual season in October. The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts raises the funds and programs the entire season of approximately 200 performances throughout the year at the various

venues.

“We like the season to reflect our community,” Rodriguez said. “One night could be dance, another night could be hip-hop. We like it to be as diverse as possible in terms of genres.” This season kicks off Oct. 18 and 19 with Emmy, Grammy, Tony and SAGAward nominated actor and singer Norm Lewis, who is known for leading roles in Phantom of the Opera, Les

Courtesy photo

The Barns at Wolf Trap are a hidden gem in Virginia.

Cole Weber

Blind Boys of Alabama

Peter Hurley

Norm Lewis

BOOKS

Author Diane Helentjaris looks toward heritage, history for writing inspiration

BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE

Special to The News-Post

When author Diane Helentjaris, at the request of her brother, looked into some genealogical ties to Frederick County, she thought she’d just discover information about her ancestors, like most people.

What the retired physician and Leesburg, Virginia, resident found was more than a branch on a family tree. She discovered a story to be told. Her first historical novel, “The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill,” is based on a longlost ancestor in her paternal family tree. Instead of writing a biography, Helentjaris decided to go the fictional route.

“This Ivy O’Neill character is based on a distant [relative[ my great-greatwhatever-grandmother, and it was a good story, but I didn’t have enough information to make a factual story,” she said. “There are documents where this girl got kidnapped off the coast of Ireland and sold in Maryland for a hogshead of tobacco to this planter that she eventually marries. That’s my family origin story. So I thought, ‘Well, OK, I’ll write a fiction story.’”

“The Indenture of Ivy O’Neil” begins in 1690, when a young Ivy and her brother are kidnapped from Ireland to help George Stokel, a tobacco farmer in the then-still-British colony of Maryland. Eventually, Ivy and George marry. The story is based on her relative Honora O’Flynn, who married William Logsdon in 1702 Annapolis. She died in March 1742.

In 1990, Helentjaris moved from Ohio, where she grew up, to nearby Virginia. Her younger brother suggested that because she was so close to Maryland, she could find the father of their ancestor Edward Dubin, who was born in 1776 in Frederick County.

Helentjaris was a physician who specialized in public health before retiring to take care of her son who became disabled. At the time, she was working in Maryland, so she started

her research at the Maryland Room of the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick.

“I had no idea what I was doing at all about genealogy,” she recalled.

“There was a book about Frederick County families or something, and I looked at the index, and it had the will of our ancestor.”

She found out that Honora

and William eventually moved to Westminster and Carroll County, where she’s buried. Through her research, Helentjaris found out that their ancestor was William, a direct descendant.

Although her novel is fiction, Helentjaris tried to keep the story as true as possible by taking notes of stories about her.

“One of her great-grandkids became a priest in Kentucky, and he talked about her, and he said she was very religious — and she was this and she was that and kind of positive stuff,” she said. “But if you look at her descendants, one guy was the chaplain for the US Congress, another guy in Westminster was an early Methodist outrider [circus rider], and his house was still there, probably on the property where she lived.”

Her biggest question remained: “How do you marry a guy who buys you for a hogshead of tobacco and have a successful marriage?”

To craft the stories she had collected into a historical fiction novel, Helentjaris joined several writers’ associations. She is the treasurer of the Frederick Chapter of the Maryland Writers Association and a member of the Hellenic Writers Group of Washington, D.C., Maryland Writers Association, and NoVA Bards.

Helentjaris said being involved with the writing groups gave her valuable feedback as she worked on her manuscript. She has a collection of fellow writers around the world who have helped her — from being a beta reader to editing her book to even giving her the connection to her publishing house.

The help and support paid off, as her book “The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill” was published in 2022 with Alkria Publishing. This year, the novel was the winner of the 2024 Maryland Writers’ Association Competition in the category of Romance/Historical Novel.

Helentjaris will release her second novel on Aug. 16, “I Ain’t Afraid: The World of Lulu Bell Parr Wild West Cowgirl.” This time, the historical novel is inspired by an unmarked grave in Medway, Ohio, where Helentjaris grew up. The woman buried there once performed in the early 1900s with Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Brighton Tour, which was associated with Buffalo Bill’s

Courtesy photos

Diane Helentjaris

MORE INFO

For more information about Diane Helentijaris, go to dianehelentjaris.com.

tour.

She said she saw Lulu mentioned in a note by the Medway Area Historical Association.

“I read a post about this cowgirl, and I’m like, ‘What the heck is that all about?’ And I thought it’d be good to research. So I did, and I wrote about her,” she said. “I really enjoyed learning about her and thought she deserved a book.”

Lulu’s life was made for a story. Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she and her brother went to live with her aunt and uncle after her parents died. She eventually moved to Ohio and married George Barnett, only to divorce him a few years later. She continued to become a standout star, but by 1926, she was penniless and living with her brother and his invalid wife.

Helentijaris said she enjoyed researching things about Lulu that she thought were “just baloney” … like her going to South America, which, as it turns out, she did — while working with the 101 Ranch Wild West.

Helentjaris is hard at work on more about Ivy and another relative.

“Eventually, I’d like to do a sequence of three books about Ivy — you know, carrying her forward in time,” she said.

She’ll also be going back to her family tree to learn about her greatgreat-aunt who had a brother in St. Joseph, Missouri, and who has become a folk heroine there.

“There are people who dress up like her,” she said.

Helentjaris encourages anyone with a book inside of them to find likeminded people who can support and guide them.

“I think writing is a skill that people can develop, and the thing I’ve learned from my writing groups is everybody’s writing is so unique, and people can tell their stories in different ways,” she said. “They have a lot of tools now, and they really shouldn’t hesitate or feel intimidated from putting their thoughts out there and writing them down.”

For more information about Diane Helentijaris, go to dianehelentjaris. com.

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

Inaugural Fall Fest coming to Everedy Square & Shab Row

Downtown Frederick Partnership will host the first-ever Fall Fest at Everedy Square & Shab Row from Sept. 27 to 29. This new event will welcome fall in downtown Frederick with seasonal activities for all ages, live music and local food and drinks throughout the weekend.

Admission is free. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 29.

Live music will be performed at the Shab Row Stage, and there will also be DIY crafts, a pumpkin and apple farmstand and local shopping.

A Fall Fest Punch Card will be available for a chance to win a raffle basket of goodies from Everedy Square & Shab Row shops.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Live Pumpkin Carving — 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 27. Professional food artist Nancy Baker, who has been featured on The Food Network, Disney+ and The Kelly Clarkson Show, will bring her

talents with a live pumpkin-carving demonstration.

Jack-O’-Lantern Contest. Entries will be on display for voting on Sept. 28 at participating businesses in Everedy Square & Shab Row. The winner will receive a $50 downtown Frederick gift card and will be publicly announced on Sept. 29 on DFP’s social media channels. To participate, sign up at downtownfrederick.org/fallfest.

Community Art Project — Sept. 28, while supplies last. Participants can paint a small canvas at Eastside Artists’ Gallery, which will be used to create a large quilt artwork that will be on display during the festival on Sept. 29.

Outdoor Goat Yoga — 11 a.m. Sept. 29. Goat for the Soul will host an outdoor yoga class open to all skill levels and ages, while providing a farm-like experience. Spaces are limited. Reserve a space at downtownfrederick.org/fallfest. For more information, visit downtownfrederick.org/fallfest.

THE

FREDERICK MOM

The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of Sept. 27

Activities to do with the kids this weekend, courtesy of The Frederick Mom.

Frederick Festival of Flight

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28

Frederick Municipal Airport, 310 Aviation Way, Frederick Free

Frederick Municipal Airport invites the community to come out for the Festival of Flight this Saturday. Join Frederick’s local aircraft organizations, businesses and pilots for a memorable, family-friendly event full of demonstrations, exciting sights and opportunities to learn how to get involved in aviation. Explore both in-flight and stationary aircraft, like the WWII Warbird B-25 “Panchito,” which will be selling rides as a living history flight experience. Visit cityoffrederickmd.gov to reserve your ride. From 9 to 11 a.m., enjoy a pancake breakfast in the Experimental Aircraft Association hangar (donation required). From 10 to 10:45 a.m., a 1:4 scale radio-controlled airplane will be flying and dazzling the crowd. Watch Maryland State Police “Trooper 3” perform a search and rescue drill from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Local food trucks will be onsite, too.

Brookfield Pumpkins

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29 Brookfield Pumpkins, 8302 Ramsburg Road, Thurmont Free

This might be Frederick County’s most underrated family-friendly farm. The 2024 season at Brookfield Pumpkins begins Sept. 28 and runs through Oct. 31. As the temperature cools, enjoy the fall weather with the whole family here. Under the barn, play games, “milk” the cow-board cutout, and shop for mums and seasonal decor. Toddlers love to play on the corn tables and read books at the children’s corner. Head outside to see the animals at their petting farm and take a free hayride (runs on weekends) to pick your own pumpkins. A must-do is their corn maze, because 100% of all corn maze proceeds go to charity. Best part: You can select which charity will receive the money from their amazing selection of nonprofit organiza-

Brookfield Pumpkins says “fall” all around.

tions. Corn maze admission is $5/adult, $2.50/children ages 12 and under, free for children ages 2 and under. Brookfield Pumpkins is open from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. •••

Studio Hours at Frederick MADE

Noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28, noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 29

Frederick MADE, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick (inside the FSK Hotel)

Cost varies

Frederick MADE is helping people realize we’re all artists. This art hub is

perfect for families looking for creative fun. If your kids/teens need some special one-on-one time with Mom or Dad, Frederick MADE is a great place to make memories. Located inside the FSK Hotel in the heart of downtown Frederick, the weekend is a perfect time to get creative together and shop their collections of the cutest locally handcrafted clothes, artwork, crafts, jewelry and more. Stop in their Design Studio for incredible art experiences like watercolor, canvas painting, clay, embroidery, drawing, collage and more, all

for $28 (all supplies included). Studio hours are Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays/Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The Studio also hosts a Kids Hour that offers similar arts and crafts experiences each Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 1 p.m. for $20/child or $30 for two kids. Sign up to make your own custom letter bracelets at the Bead Bar every Saturday at 10 a.m., noon or 2 p.m. and every Sunday at noon or 2 p.m. Make your studio reservations or sign up for an art workshop and the Bead Bar at frederickmade.com.

•••

Art at the Point Festival

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28

Point of Rocks Community Commons Park

3700 Commerce St., Point of Rocks

Free

Art at the Point is back for their 12th annual outdoor arts and music festival! Bring your family to join the community on Saturday at the Point of Rocks Community Commons Park for a day of fun. Enjoy food, kid activities, art vendors and live music from The Main Line Gravy Soppers, Marv Ashby and High Octane. Eddie the Pig, a famous cuddly therapy pig, will join this year’s Art at the Point in the children’s section to showcase his skills and pose for selfies. Come ready to bid and win action-packed experiences from Frederick’s beloved businesses like Tree Trekkers, Green Meadows Petting Farm, Mount Airy Bowling Lanes and others. Hosted by the Point of Rocks Ruritan Club, this one-day festival is a great time to meet your local Ruritan members, neighbors and Frederick artists and vendors. •••

Frederick’s Oktoberfest

11 a.m. to 10 p.m Sept. 28 Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick $10 per person in advance or $12 at the gate (adults 13+); $6 (kids ages 3-12), free admission for kids 2 and under

Experience Frederick County’s German heritage at the Frederick Fairgrounds for this annual fundraising event. The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek and the Rotary Club of Southern Frederick County will host Frederick’s Oktoberfest, an all-ages event full of family fun and authentic German traditions. Note that Frederick’s Oktoberfest is a two-day event taking place Fri-

Tiffany Mahaney

TIFFANY MAHANEY

day and Saturday, however Friday is a 21+ only event. Saturday’s event is fun for the entire family, featuring German cuisine like bratwurst and Oktoberfest beers, live music, dancing, a German heritage tent, children’s activities and a kids’ zone. Best part about this festival, besides celebrating German culture, is it all benefits Frederick County charities. Tickets can be purchased in advance at tickets.mdtix.com/fredericks-oktoberfest-2024. Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi hoi hoi!

Green Meadows Petting Farm

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept 28 and 29

Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville

$16 at the gate, $13 in advance for everyone ages 2 and up; free admission for children age 23 months and younger (credit only, no cash)

The pumpkin patch at Green Meadows Petting Farm is open! One of Frederick County’s best farms is open weekends only in September for all

ages to enjoy. Note: Last admission is taken at 3 p.m. Visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences with over 150 animals, either petting or feeding (feed provided for free). Kids can watch a pig race, play on their farm-themed slides, and roam their large playground area — perfect for little ones wanting to get out energy. There’s a Corn Crib Play Silo, rubber duck races and a free hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. Individuals and families do not need reservations to visit the farm.

Strollers are allowed on the farm, or wagons can be rented for $5. Delicious concessions are available onsite, and there’s plenty of covered seating and picnic tables. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at greenmeadowsevents.com.

Tiffany Mahaney is at least a fifth-generation native to Frederick County, and she now proudly raises her own family here. She is the owner of The Frederick Mom on Instagram. Follow her @thefrederickmom.

Tiffany Mahaney

Green Meadows Farm.

Tiffany Mahaney

Frederick’s Festival of Flight celebrates aviation.

GETAWAYS

Day passes at hotels and resorts offer downtime, relaxation on the cheap

BY LEANNE ITALIE AP Lifestyles Writer

As an independent business consultant, Jen Ford in Austin, Texas, is the master of her own schedule. Twice a month, she blocks out “me” time. In the sweltering summer, that means poolside at one of her hometown’s many hotels and resorts.

Rather than check in, Ford relies on day passes, an increasingly popular option for locals and travelers alike in popular destinations around the U.S., the Caribbean and a range of other countries.

She enjoys the experience so much she now books “daycations” with her two teenage daughters, out-of-town visitors and groups of friends.

“It’s like being a tourist in my own city,” said the 46-year-old Ford.

SPA AMENITIES

WITHOUT THE TRAVEL

The pandemic saw the day pass industry leap to life at resorts, spas, water parks and hotels, from luxury to lower end, as more people craved a way to break the isolation monotony while trying to maintain social distance.

The passes are a win-win-win. Locals soak up some rest time on the cheap, travelers don’t have to commit to an overnight stay, and properties make use of available spaces knowing day passers spend freely at restaurants and bars while on site for pool or spa time.

Flyers with long layovers also use day passes to wait out the time, especially if they have young children who need naps. So do travelers with late flights who are forced to check out of their rooms at 11 a.m. or noon.

Among the more popular third-party bookers, ResortPass lists about 1,600 hotels and other properties in

ters to cruise ship guests, and Swimply, which includes bookings at private pools by the hour.

A day pass seeker can also simply call a property directly.

A NICE SETTING FOR REMOTE WORK

Aaron Sutherland curates bespoke luxury travel. He has also seen a surge in day pass use, including business travelers looking to work while experiencing swanky amenities, without the hefty cost of an overnight stay.

“The work-from-home society has grown exponentially. Now, instead of just working from home, I can go to a gorgeous property and I can just set up there all day long and work from there,” Sutherland said.

He urges users to touch base with the properties themselves just before heading out to make sure all promised amenities are available day of.

27 countries, from the five-star Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego to the trendy French Leave Resort on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas.

The bulk of the site’s users are locals, said CEO Michael Wolf. The company, which launched in 2016, has sent about 3 million people out on day passes, most in the last two years.

“The hotel industry looks a lot at the airline industry and has seen that it has successfully monetized so many different parts of traveling,” Wolf said. “Hotel amenities are dramatically underutilized.”

AN ECONOMICAL WAY TO RECHARGE

About 70% of the day passes ResortPass offers are under $65. In addition to locals, users include cruise ship guests and even cruise ship workers looking for some downtime while in port.

Cole Stanbra, 39, is an ice skater who performs on cruise ships. He also has toured the U.S. with the Disney on Ice show.

“I look for places where I can chill and not really have to worry about doing a vigorous hike or a lot of walking. I just want to relax on my days off,” he said.

He’s turned many a fellow crew member on to day passes.

Day passes cover pool time, spas and, sometimes, fitness centers. Addons for an additional cost might include a poolside day bed, a cabana or a day room. Some passes offer food and drink credits. Day passes may or may not include a guaranteed beach chair and parking.

Travel experts suggest a good look at cancellation policies. ResortPass allows for cancellation with a full refund as late as midnight the night before.

Other companies include DayPass, Daycation, Resort for a Day, which ca-

“The pool may be under maintenance. There may be a private event at the beach. It’s always good to double check.”

Day passes aren’t just for low-traffic periods like mid-week off-season, Wolf said. They can be booked six months to a year in advance at some hotels with no blackouts for holidays.

“July Fourth was our busiest day in company history. We sent well over 20,000 people to hotels,” he said.

For the properties, day passes go a long way in filling gaps, said Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez, president and founder of industry training and strategic consulting firm MDA Hospitality Solutions.

“For example, the resort may be occupied by guests attending a conference. These guests will likely not spend time at the pool, beach or areas where the resort pass could be used,” she said.

ResortPass via AP

This photo shows The Pool Club at Virgin Hotels Dallas. The rooftop lounge is among resorts, hotels and other properties around the world to offer day passes.

Appalachian Tattoo Show creates an inclusive space to showcase the art form

BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE

Special to The News-Post

Misty Whetzel admits some people judge her for her tattoos — which cover most of her body, including some on her face — before getting to know her as a person.

That’s just one reason why it’s so important for her that the Great Appalachian Tattoo Show, an expo for all things related to tattoo art, is about more than celebrating tattoos. It’s a space where everyone can feel at home.

She and her husband, Adam Whetzel, a 20-plus-year tattoo artist, own Tomahawk Tattoo in Hagerstown and will host the Great Appalachian Tattoo Show for the third year in a row on Sept. 27 to 29 at the Hagerstown Elks Lodge off Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown.

Prior to the Whetzels launching their own tattoo show, Dave Kruseman, owner of Old Line Tattoo at the Valley Mall and season six “Ink Master” winner, hosted the MasonDixon Tattoo Expo.

When the expo stopped in 2016, Misty and Adam toyed with the idea of starting their own, “because everybody always seems to have a good time at other shows that we have been to,” she said.

The Whetzels waited about five years to start their own, so as not to step on anybody’s toes, she said, and they talked to others in their circles to see if it was OK to move forward.

“We were given the blessing from some of the higher-ups in the industry who are very influential,” she said.

With that support, the Whetzels launched the Great Appalachian Tattoo Show in 2021.

Misty said she wasn’t wary about taking on such a large undertaking because she’s used to hosting big events.

“We were inspired by our other friends putting on shows, and I like to cater and take care of our friends and have parties and things like that, so I was like, ‘How could this possibly be any different than planning for my parents?’” she said. “That’s the attitude I took with it, and that’s what led us here.”

THE

GREAT APPALACHIAN

TATTOO SHOW

When: 2 to 10 p.m. Sept. 27, noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 28 and noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 29

Where: Hagerstown Elks Lodge, 11063

Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown

Tickets: $20 for a single day or $50 for the weekend, sold at the door. Admission for children 13 and younger is free.

Info: tomahawktattoomd.com/tattoo-show

This year, the Great Appalachian Tattoo Show will include 71 tattoo artists, all of whom are listed on the show’s website at tomahawktattoomd.com/tattooshow. Misty said artists will come from states across the U.S., including Maine, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin and

Florida. The artists are hand-selected by the Whetzels.

Many will do live tattooing at the show. Those interested should check out the list for each individual artist and pricing. Misty said the artists tend to have the same rates on average.

Other highlights include food trucks in the Elks parking lot, and the Lodge will provide bar service.

But because the tattoo industry is generally family-focused, the tattoo show also caters to children’s activities, like face painting and temporary tattoos.

A psychic medium will also be onsite for readings, and tarot readings will also be available. The event will also include contests and vendors.

“I want them to feel comfortable and to feel like they are a part of the show,” Misty said. “We do hear that

a lot from past guests: that they just felt so comfortable, and the vibe in the room is very inviting.”

She said it helps because nearly half of the room are already good friends.

“I really want everybody to feel like they belong,” she continued. “I want to get rid of that stigma that, you know, tattooed people are bad or they run a certain lifestyle. I’m a mother to five kids, my mom and dad have been married forever, and here I am covered head to toe. I even have my face tattooed. But I’m still a good-hearted person, and I always try to give back wherever I can, when I can, and I just like to see people happy and having a good time.”

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

Courtesy photo

Misty Whetzel, right, gives an interview with Hagerstown’s Live 96-7 radio station.

”People, Places & Things” — through Sept. 29, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. The gallery artists present a captivating journey through the human experience. From vibrant portraits to breathtaking landscapes, this exhibit explores the interconnectedness of people, places and things. Hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays or by appointment. 240-815-7777 or gallery322. com.

”Knots” — through Sept. 29, NoMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Julia Schrecengost uses printmaking to explore the relationship between the internal processes of her body and organic processes in constant motion. Physical objects such as netting, branches and leaves reference connective tissue and joints. Pain becomes something evocative of universal feelings, inviting the viewer to feel, whether or not that feeling is comfortable. Spontaneous in nature, the finished work represents a particular moment in the artist’s life. Gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 240-367-9770 or nomagalleryfrederick.com.

Two Artists Exhibits — through Sept. 29, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. “Circling Back, Places, Remember” watercolors and mixed media by Vicki Clarkson. “Layers in Red and Black,” original prints of red and black by Lynn Hotes. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. eastsideartistsgallery.com or eastsidearts313@gmail.com.

“Lisa Foucart: Recent Paintings” — through Sept. 30 at Waldo’s & Company, 17 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, Pa. (downstairs). waldosandco.com.

“A Clear Spring, A Quiet Snow: A rotating photo exhibition of recent work from Jeff Compton” — through Oct. 6 at Ibiza Cafe, 8 W. Fourth St., Frederick. A small but carefully curated selection of naturally themed photographic works by Jeff Compton. These works delight in the light and subtle movements of nature, inspired by far Eastern art and spirituality. Works will vary during the duration of the exhibit, proving a dynamic experience rewarding return. 240785-0405, jeff@curiousperspectives.com, iamjeffcompton.com.

”Homesick Materials” — through Oct. 11, Hood College, Hodson Gallery, Tatem Arts Center, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Lance Rautzhan offers paintings of personal objects and a remix sound installation of reclaimed recordings to conjure specters haunting the temporal gap between sincerity and honesty. Opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 5 at Hodson Gallery, Hood College Tatem Arts Center in Frederick. Daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 301-696-3285 or kern@ hood.edu.

”Art, Fashion, Symbol, Statement: Tattooing in America, 1960s to Today” — through Oct. 13, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive,

Humor and history are on full display in the exhibition “Peaceable Kingdom” in the gallery at Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater. This solo exhibit featuring work by Charles Browning opened Sept. 5 and runs through mid-November. This survey unites works from over two decades of artistic output exploring our common history and identity in a setting where America’s story has been tested and told for over 150 years. Describing his work as “an interplay of art and history, humor and brutality, sincerity and irony, narrative and allegory,” Browning approaches the canvas as a contemporary frontiersman and embarks on a journey through American history — and art history — with equal doses of reverence and self-deprecation. Shown here, “Peaceable Kingdom,” by Charles Browning.

Hagerstown. The exhibition explores the evolution of tattoos, particularly in the northeastern United States, from a mark of counter-cultural rebellion to one of the most popular forms of personal creative expression. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa.org.

“The Divine Cochlea” — through Oct. 18 at the Williams Gallery at Mount St. Mary’s University, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg. This solo exhibition featuring work by Corey Frey explores the necessity of balance, rhythm and vacillation between the assuaging of similarity at the center of things and the disturbance of the “other” on the fringes of things. Memory, poetry, myth, story and art history inform the themes that run through the work as touchstones of apprehension while making associational leaps that allow gaps for the viewer’s memory, understanding and intuition. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. 301447-5308. coreysfrey.com.

”The Yellow King” — through Oct. 27, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Through its multi-media collage symbology, the artwork in this exhibition, by Michel Demanche, invites an examina-

the artists express Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area in a simplified form. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Contemporary Innovations: Harmonious Bloom” — through Oct. 27, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. This exhibition showcases a new collection of prints, paintings and sculptures that explore the interplay between human relationships, femininity and the natural world. Through vibrant colors and overlapping figures and forms, Rose Jaffe invites viewers to contemplate the beauty of transformation. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.

“Quilting Frederick” — through Nov. 22 at Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis. Featuring a series of art quilts by artist Aynex Mercado, inspired by the architecture of Frederick. aynex21@gmail.com, marylandhall.org.

tion and contemplation of the consequences of political issues, racism, and bigotry towards the marginalized in contemporary culture. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Under the Influence” — through Oct. 27, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Mixed media sculptures by Jim Roberts. These installations are a commentary on the gun culture in our country and the various systems that fuel it, particularly the NRA. They are a response to Roberts’ 24 years of teaching in a public high school and the countless in-services and faculty meetings intended to prepare for active shooter situations. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Simple Lines” — Oct. 27, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Studio Art Quilters Associates: Del., D.C., Md. and W.Va. Region fiber work exhibit. Living in or near a center of power such as Washington, D.C., can affect a person’s view of the world. Every day seems to be filled with activity on multiple levels, weaving a complex structure of society that can be a challenge to understand and navigate. Using fiber art,

”Brushes With History: Inspiring the Personality of Frederick” — through Dec. 14, Museum of Frederick County History/Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Features the works of a few of the most notable artists who have worked in Frederick County, past and present. With beautiful paintings of the county’s landmarks and natural splendor, our story explores the ways in which the visual arts provided economic opportunity to individuals and communities. Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 301-663-1188 or frederickhistory.org.

”Floating Beauty: Women and the Art of Ukiyo-e” — Sept. 21 through Jan. 12, 2025, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This exhibition examines historical perspectives on women and their depiction in art from Edo Period Japan (1615 – 1858). Organized and drawn from the collection of the Reading (Pa.) Public Museum, this exhibition features over 50 woodblock prints, including works by ukiyo-e masters. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa. org.

”Hidden” — Oct. 4-27, NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Public art sculptor Thomas Sterner’s artworks investigating the unnoticed and concealed. Although known for his very large stainless steel sculptures in Frederick (FCC, Carroll Creek) and elsewhere, this exhibit will use various mediums and processes including wood carving, photography and metal fabrication. Opening reception 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5. Closing reception Oct. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 240-367-9770 or nomagalleryfrederick.com.

Courtesy photo

Way Off Broadway announces 2025 season

As Way Off Broadway is heading into the second half of its 30th Anniversary Season, the Frederick dinner theater has announced its lineup of shows for 2025.

THE MOUSETRAP

Jan. 17 to March 1

In the world’s longest-running play, when a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor find themselves stranded during a snowstorm. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears only escalate.

A SECOND HELPING: The Church Basement Ladies Sequel

March 28 to May 24

The ladies are back and funnier than ever. This show picks up the story in 1969 with a changing world. As Vietnam War protests swell and women everywhere demand equal pay for equal work, the ladies in the church basement kitchen face changes of their own. From the matriarch to the mom-to-be, the women find strength in each other as they deal with the changes from below the house of God.

“The Mousetrap” will kick off the 2025 season at Way Off Broadway in Frederick.

CINDERELLA

June 20 to Aug. 16

This show is the 2013 Broadway

adaptation of the classic musical that tells the timeless story of a kind and mistreated young woman who, with

‘Anastasia’ at Way Off Broadway

Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre presents “Anastasia” in Frederick, a show that transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past.

Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.

Way Off Broadway’s production began Sept. 13 and runs through Nov. 2.

The myth of the young Russian princess escaping the terrible fate of her family has captured the interest of the world since the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. For generations, the question of whether or not Anastasia was alive persisted with several women coming forward, claiming to be the heir to the Romanov dynasty.

As is often the case with such captivating stories, countless books and movies have been produced over the years based on the historic mystery. In 1997, 20th Century Fox released the first animated musical feature film in which a young

girl named Anya discovers that she is in fact Princess Anastasia and sets out to reunite with her grandmother, the dowager empress, in Paris. The new stage adaption combines elements from the animated movie and Fox’s 1956 film. The production ran on Broadway for two years, following its opening in the spring of 2017.

“Anastasia” has a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Way Off Broadway’s production will be directed by Justin M. Kiska, with music direction by Jordan B. Stocksdale. The show will run Sept. 13 to Nov. 2.

the help of her Fairy Godmother, is able to attend the royal ball where she captivates the heart of the Prince. With a revised book by Douglas Carter Beane, this is a fresh-telling of a favorite tale.

COMPANY

Sept. 12 to Nov. 1

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor Robert contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends — “those good and crazy people, his married friends” — explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of events.

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS NIGHT

Nov. 21 to Dec. 21

Always the most popular show of the year, blending songs and music from Christmases past and present, the show is perfect for the entire family.

Way Off Broadway is at 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Learn more at wayoffbroadway.com.

Emily Flack as Anya in “Anastasia.”

For complete details about the production, including a character breakdown and rehearsal information, visit wayoffbroadway.com.

Courtesy photo

Way Off Broadway

From Sailor Moon to ‘The Sea

How pain and perseverance shaped

BY CLIFF CUMBER Special to The News-Post

“Sailor Moon” was it.

When Jessi Sheron outlines her origin story — how she first came to work in the field of comics and graphic novels — it begins with “Sailor Moon.”

Sheron was 13 when a classmate in English sitting in front of her had a copy of the popular and eponymous manga, the Japanese term for comic books. And Sheron was hooked.

“Is that for girls?” Sheron asked.

“What?” the classmate replied.

“Is that a comic book for girls?” Sheron asked.

The idea that not only could a comic be for girls, but that this comic in particular was produced by a woman, was an eye-opening experience.

“Thirteen-year-old me just locked,” she said. “That’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to make comics for girls.”

Now, 23 years later, Sheron is sitting in a Starbucks in downtown Frederick, two glossy-covered, 200-plus-page copies of her latest work sitting neatly in front of her: “The Sea in You.”

It’s a modern retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “Little Mermaid,” only with a happier ending and a nod to her sister’s profession as a sign-language interpreter. The book, and central characters Skylla and Corinth’s relationship, first blossomed literally and figuratively online, with Sheron posting a page at a time of her passion project.

Now, the book is available in print from publisher Iron Circus Comics (at ironcircus. com).

She flicks through the top copy, occasionally to illustrate points in the conversation — how she applied color here, how characters’ fashion and clothing underscore who they are — and other moments that show how telling the love story of the two protagonists helped her navigate a painful illness.

“Sometimes the only time I would feel really happy is when I was drawing these two interacting, and then I would be so happy and it really would brighten my day back up,” she says as she runs a fingertip across a page. “I mean, come on — they’re so cute.”

Like “The Sea in You,” Christian Anderson’s original tale also has been recognized for its queer-themed romance, Sheron said. “He definitely wrote it about a love he felt for somebody.”

Over the five years it took Sea in You” was also tethered Sheron’s life. “Half this book I was in some of the worst pain she said.

But back to Sheron’s origin parents are “artistic,” she said. likes to paint; her mom likes as hobbyists. “But they look enjoyed it,” she said. “And so both of those things.”

Despite an early discouraging uttering the tired colloquialism comics being for kids, Sheron develop her artistic skills, enrolling partial scholarship at the Fashion Technology in New York, where focused on general illustration.

(She turns to a page in “The and describes variations of couture character wears: Alexander McQueen, de la Renta. “It’s kinda funny to wear stuff from Walmart, but fan of fashion.”)

This was 2008. Then, the economy crashed. The oldest of seven, want to burden her family with began working, at one point three jobs. “I thought the world

Courtesy photo

Work by Jessi Sheron.

Sea in You’

shaped a comic-book career

took to make, “The tethered to struggles in was made while pain of my life,” origin story. Her said. Her father to write — both like they really so I always liked discouraging teacher colloquialism about Sheron continued to enrolling with a Fashion Institute of where she initially illustration.

“The Sea in You” couture her McQueen, Oscar because I tend but I’m a huge economy seven, Sheron didn’t with debt. She holding down world was ending,”

she remembers.

For years, she worked on her comics on the side — not a hobby, she’s careful to say. “I called it my passion.” Paying gigs included restaurant work and a dental office. “I did all sorts.”

“Sometimes I would come home and it would be 11 at night. I would draw till 2 in the morning, go to sleep, wake up at 8, and then do it again. Because I had to draw. The other stuff was to be alive so that I could draw.”

FOR MORE

Find Jessi Sheron on X @otherhappyplace, Tiktok @theotherhappyplace, and on Tumblr, theotherhappyplace. tumblr.com.

Then, a “very funny, weird thing happened.” Her fiancé — now husband — and an avid hiker, told her he wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. And Sheron agreed to go with him. “I’ve never been on a big adventure. And I have a kind of personal belief that an artist should do things that are not comfortable for them,” she said.

But there was a deal: If Sheron was offered an out-of-the-blue art job during the hike, she was going to stop. Agreement made, the hike began in Georgia. The couple made it an astonishing thousand miles and more to Maryland before illness forced Sheron off the trail.

Sick and back home, Sheron was checking her email and saw a note from Mattel — yes, that Mattel, the company that makes Barbie.

“Would you like to draw books for us?” was the gist. One of the art directors had been surfing online and saw a portfolio Sheron had created specifically to showcase how she’d approach drawing comics for a toy line. She’d intended maybe sharing the portfolio at a convention, but because of the hike, posted it online instead so her 400 followers at the time might get a kick out of it.

After a test period, Sheron became an asset illustrator for the company, creating a variety of illustration work to promote the doll brand, including “Monster High.” It was during this time that Sheron began “The Sea in You” as a passion project.

“I always tell artists, even if you’re working for other people, it’s good to have a project that’s only yours because it’ll keep your love alive,” she said. “It’s really good to always have a little thing that’s just for you.” It was a fruitful few years but not destined

(See SHERON 18)

Shepherdstown Film Society presents its fall season at the Opera House

The Shepherdstown Film Society returns for its fall season to a new home with a new selection of carefully curated films.

This fall marks 20 years since the Film Society was formed by Shepherdstown residents in partnership with Shepherd University. The allvolunteer group is currently facilitated by the university’s Lifelong Learning program.

This fall, the Film Society will screen its films at the Shepherdstown Opera House to take advantage of the recently-renovated theater’s big screen, sound system, and concessions.

“We are delighted that the Shepherdstown Film Society wanted to use the Opera House in downtown Shepherdstown for film screenings and post-film discussions,” said Harriet Pearson, co-owner of the Shepherdstown Opera House. “We’re also thrilled to collaborate with Shepherd University’s Lifelong Learning program, which will continue to help promote the films and engage with volunteers.”

A volunteer core group of film lovers led by

Vertino spent hours this summer to research and select four films that will be shown – one each month at 7:00 pm on a Friday — starting September 6 at the Shepherdstown Opera House. The selections are:

“Citizen Kane” (1941) — Orson Welles’ landmark masterpiece — Oct. 4

“The Monk and the Gun” (2024) — political satire set in an exotic place — Nov. 8

“Turn Every Page” (2022) — exploration of a famous author-editor relationship — Dec. 6

Admission to Film Society films is on a pay-what-you-will basis. To enhance their experience, film-goers will be able to buy freshly-popped popcorn, soft drinks, wine and beer.

Advanced reservations encouraged given limited seats. Online reservations available until two hours before showtime. Seating is general admission.

Shepherdstown Opera House is at 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES

Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. doors open at 2:30

Award-winning organist and composer Brenda Portman is renowned for her technique, musicianship, and flawless performance ability. She will present a concert on Calvary UMC’s new 4-manual, 46-rank Cornel Zimmer pipe organ, which will include music that spans the ages - a 16th century Toccata to 20th century contemporary works. Dr. Portman serves as the resident organist at Hyde Park Community UMC in Cincinnati, Ohio, and teaches at Xavier University.

Metro

A scene from Orson Welles’ 1941 classic,“Citizen Kane.”

LIGHT IN A DARK BOX

When declaring your favorite movie, speak from the heart

MICHAEL HUNLEY

Picture it: You’re at a fancy dinner party. Expensive wine is flowing, NPR is playing in the background, the conversation is intellectual, someone just used the term “exegesis” — naturally, you want to make a good impression on everyone and prove you’re just as smart as they are. Then someone turns to you and asks what your favorite film is, and suddenly all eyes are on you. Before you know it, you blurt out the smartestsounding movie you can think of: the Oscar-winning historical biopic “Oppenheimer.” But in reality, your favorite film of all time is a tie between “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde” and “Teen Witch.”

We’ve all been in that situation, where instead of expressing our true opinions on pop culture, we tell people what we think they want to hear. But why? Why do we think we can’t truly embrace the movies and TV shows we love?

We’ve all been through this, where we feel like our pop culture choices somehow define our worth — that liking a mature drama somehow makes others think you’re deserving of their attention, more so than if you admitted to having watched every episode (multiple times) of “That’s So Raven.” It’s probably because we’ve all experienced being sneered at over a film or TV show we said we loved. And, like it or not, we’ve also probably judged others for their choices, too. It’s human nature, especially if someone says they don’t like any of the Muppet movies, which I refuse to believe anyone actually believes (well, anyone with a SOUL, that is).

And listen, don’t get it twisted: I am the king of being as thoroughly pretentious as humanly possible when it comes to films. I have been since I was in high school, when I insisted on writing research papers on European film directors François Truffaut and Ingmar Bergman, and I would often talk to my classmates about the latest Scandinavian drama I watched over the weekend that featured a scene where

someone looks out of the window while musing, “My crisis of faith is spooking the livestock.” (Yes, I was A LOT back then.)

The thing we need to remember, though, is we all actually feel like this. None of us actually believe “Citizen Kane” is the best film of all time, we’re just saying that because it sounds better than “Spaceballs.” The artsy, pretentious films I usually tell people are my favorites are ones I truly do love, but if I were to actually add up which movie I’ve seen the most in my entire life and probably means the most to me, it would be the glittery David Bowie masterpiece “Labyrinth.” My mom can certainly attest to 6-yearold Michael renting it repeatedly at the video store, and, once I was finished watching it, hitting rewind on the VCR and starting it all over again.

And before you go and say that my love for “Labyrinth” is just empty nostalgia, well, first off, how rude! And secondly, I still watch it to this day and continue to love it. And I think a lot of people are in similar situations, where nostalgic favorites from childhood are still beloved in adulthood. Just look at the huge success of recent legacy sequels like “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Hocus Pocus 2” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” These classic movies mean something to us, in ways perhaps that obscure art-house films don’t.

I’ve always believed that watching a piece of pop culture can be a fiercely personal experience, and one’s relationship to a particular film or TV show can be deeply emotional — because that’s truly the power of pop culture: to connect with you in a way that feels like it was made for you and you alone. And just because someone else may not feel the same way about it shouldn’t diminish your connection to it.

So forget the snobs, and go out and proclaim your love for your true favorite film of all time. And if someone hassles you over saying you love “Ernest Saves Christmas,” well, that’s their problem — they obviously can’t appreciate great art.

Michael Hunley is a copy editor at POLITICO’s E&E News in D.C. He previously worked as a copy editor for The Frederick News-Post. Contact him at mr85mt@gmail.com.

WOLF TRAP

(Continued from 5)

Misérables, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and his roles on TV and the big screen. Other performances through October include country-rock innovator Jim Messina (Oct. 22); three nights of Graham Nash (Oct. 23, 25, 26); and Grammy and Oscar winner T Bone Burnett (Oct. 28 and 29) on his first tour in almost two decades.

November welcomes the reimagined Broadway sounds of Third Reprise (Nov. 1); folk music sensation Over The Rhine (Nov. 2); indie musician Jess Williamson (Nov. 6); vocal pop artists The Doo Wop Project (Nov. 7); a vibrant performance of Mariachi Herencia de México (Nov. 8); legendary South African sounds of the Abdullah Ibrahim Trio (Nov. 13); the return of Brazilian jazz pianist Eliane Elias (Nov. 21); Newmyer Flyer Presents The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and The Beatles’ Revolver (Nov. 22 and 23); and DC Anthem Singers Shine featuring Bob McDonald, Caleb Green, and D.C. Washington (Nov. 24).

In December, The Barns at Wolf Trap kicks off the holiday season with the Blind Boys of Alabama on Dec. 5. Known as the longest-running group in American music, these living legends of gospel music prove their soul-stirring melodies are just as resonant now as they were during the Civil Rights movement. Lift your spirits

IF YOU GO

To check out the full season of activities, visit wolftrap.org.

with traditional festive standards and selections from their Grammy-winning holiday albums “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Talkin’ Christmas.”

And finally, on Dec. 6, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies will host a World War

II Tiki Xmas Canteen. Best known for their hit “Zoot Suit Riot,” Steve Perry and his band treat you to a retro, South

Pacific-style Christmas celebration with a whole lot of big band energy.

Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts sits on 100 acres and also includes numerous walking paths. During the summer, there is also a children’s theater in the woods. Kids and families can take a short trail to an open air performance space that hosts six weeks of programming from midJune through the end of July.

Shuan Butcher is a writer, nonprofit professional, event planner and avid traveler. He writes from Frederick.

SHERON

(Continued from 15)

to last. What was stable work all of a sudden evaporated. Mattel was no longer making the toy line, and Sheron went from working constantly to having nothing to do.

And then her health began to deteriorate. Eventually, Sheron was diagnosed with endometriosis, but it took a while and numerous doctor’s visits.

She decided to focus on finishing her mermaid/human love story.

And through it all, page by page, she kept working.

“There were days when I was in so much pain, I would crawl out of my bed, go to my art computer, work on it for a couple of hours, go to the bathroom, throw up from the pain, and then go back to bed.”

It’s a fair enough question to ask: What kept you going? For one thing, it was reader support — and that those readers were connecting with the characters. And it was also her own connection to the story.

“I could imagine where the story would be, and I was like, I really have to see it,” Sheron said. “One was, I really wanted to see it and the other half was, I really want them to see it.”

Pain is both demotivating and demoralizing, she added. But it strips everything unimportant away and reminds you what’s really important. “Art and love. Those are what’s left for me.”

Now, her condition is wellmanaged, she said.

The book, which came out last year, has been well-received and mentioned twice in Publishers Weekly.

Sheron isn’t sleeping on her laurels, however. She’s working on a couple of new projects: the art for a Lovecraftian-themed cosmic horror game and an illustrated dark fantasy prose novel about vampires. She shares some illustrations from the game, and they are color-filled and complex, perfectly textured and abounding in detail.

Many of them feature butterflies, an analogue for change and growth. Sheron has on a yellow and black dress adorned with the insects. It’s a fitting image for transformation.

The snippets she has shared of her ongoing projects have been received well by her 60,000 online followers. And in the end, the projects she’ll produce, as personal as they are, are also about the readers.

“I’m trying really hard to make projects this year that I can release and be like, ‘Here. Thank you. Here’s what I’ve been making.’”

Courtesy photo

Cherry Poppin’ Daddies

Courtesy photo

Doo Wop Project

Local Mentions Local Mentions

51st ANNUAL CATOCTIN GAS & STEAM ENGINE SHOW

Oct 5 & 6 • 8a to 5p Wolfsville Puritan Community Park 12708 Brandenburg Hollow Rd, Myersville, Maryland

• Free Admission

• Gas and Steam Engines

• Tractors

• Antique Cars and Trucks

• Sawmill Demo

• Kids Playground

• Great Homemade Food

• Breakfast Served 7-10a

• Lunch served 10a-5p

• Flea Market / Craft Vendors

5th

Annual HarvestFest

Artisan and Craft Fair

SAVE THE DATE Sat Oct 27, 11a-7p Sun Oct 28, 9a-1p St John Regional Catholic School Gym at St Katharine Drexel Catholic Church 8414 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, MD 21702 Participant inquiries and additional info: https://www saintdrexel org/ event/harvestfest-2024/

BAGS AND TOTES BINGO 31/Vera B

Fri , Oct 04

Doors: 5 p m ; Games: 7 p m

New Midway Fire Hall

Rt. 194 New Midway

20 Reg Games, 3 Specials, 3 Raffles, Door Prizes

All items filled!

Tickets: $20 at the door 301-271-3645

Mt Zion Haughs Lutheran Church

Breakfast Buffet

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Sun September 29, 2024

Serving: 7:00am -12:00 Noon

Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs

Sausage, Potatoes

Puddin, Hominy

Sausage Gravy, Spiced Apples

Orange Juice, Coffee Adults: $13 00

Children 5-10: $7 00

Under 5: Free

Credit Cards Accepted

BUFFET DINNER

Mt Airy VFC Auxiliary Fri, Oct 4, 2024 4-7p or until sold out Eat in or Carry-out

Fried Chicken, Meatloaf, Chicken Tenders, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Baked Apples, Stewed Tomatoes, Butter Corn, Cole Slaw

Adults: $18; 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 Credit or Debit Cards Accepted

CASH BINGO

Jefferson Ruritan Club Community Center

Sponsored by St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Burkittsville

Friday, October 11

Doors open: 5:30pm Bingo starts: 7pm 20 games + Specials + Raffles

$25 per person

Bring a canned good for the local food bank Food and drinks available. Info call: 301-473-5299

Cash Bingo

September 27, 2024

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Doors Open: 5:00

Games Start: 7:00

Admission: $25 00 includes 20 Reg Games

3 Specials and $500 Minimum Jackpot Extra Cards Available Food and ATM Available For Info Call 301-898-7985 or 301-271-4650

COLORFUL MUMS!

Asters, Rudbeckia, Pumpkins, Indian corn

Our own sweet potatoes Fresh baked bread every Friday! Apples 10 - 6 Daily, Closed Sunday 11434 Keymar Rd Woodsboro, MD 21798

Live Info: 240-439-9401

Local Mentions Local Mentions

HILLSIDE TURKEY FARMS

Turkey, Chicken, Duck, Pork, Beef, Smoked Meats, Deli Meats & Cheeses, Seafood & More Hillsideturkey com 301-271-2728 30 Elm St Thurmont, MD 21788

Thursday 8-7 Friday 8-3 Saturday 8-12

HOLIDAY CRAFT AND VENDOR EVENT

Hosted by Vigilant Hose Co Activities Bldg , 17701 Creamery Rd Emmitsburg, MD

Saturday, December 7 from 9a-4p Many Crafters and Vendors And much more! Food available for purchase Visit with Santa Photos Available for sale Bring families, children and pets!

For more info contact: Sharon Keeney 410746-8776, MaryLou Little 240-285-3184 or Kenny Clevinger 240-393-0758

HUNDREDS OF BEAUTIFUL MUMS!

Grown in the fields of PA!

Guaranteed to come back next spring! - $5 to $10 a pot

Field Pumpkins (all sizes) - $4 to $8; Oddball Pumpkins (all shapes, colors, sizes) - $7 Our Front and Back Yards are Now Open! Only at DR Virts

800 Petersville Rd, Brunswick, Md - 301969-6115

Come on down and see me! Cash & Cards

JOHNSVILLE UM CHURCH'S SOUP SALE

By the quart $9 00 Chicken Corn Soup - stock your freezer Cash or check only

Orders due by Monday, September 30th Call Karen at 410-775-7627

Soup pickup Saturday, October 5 from 1 - 3pm Baked table available!

JUMC Parish Hall 11106 Green Valley RD (RT75) Union Bridge MD 21791

NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO

12-31-2024

Thurmont Event Complex Over $17,000 00 of Cash Payouts

$50 00 Per Ticket Advance

$60 00 at the Door

Available Friday Night Bingo, www eventbrite com

Ticket Includes: Meal: Dinner Platter

9 Pack of 27 Games ($300 00ea ), 3 Games ($1,000ea ), 3 50/50 Games & 3 Jackpots at $2,000 (1 sheet of 3 for each 50/50’s & 3 Jackpots)

Doors Open @ 5:00 p m , Bingo Starts @ 8:00 p m

Meal Served: 6-8 p m

CASH BAR • TIP JARS

Kitchen Open During Break No Reserved SeatingFirst Come, First Served Basis Only No Exceptions! **We reserve the right to lower payouts if less than 300 tickets sold** Tickets: 301-748-5359 or 301-271-3820 or Eventbrite com

Benefits The Thurmont Community Ambulance Company 13716 Strafford Drive Thurmont, MD 21788

New Year ’s Eve Bingo & Buffet (Buffet of Turkey & Shrimp)

December 31, 2024

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Doors Open: 5:00

Games Start: 7:30

Admission: $50 00 by 12/16/2024, After 12/16/2024 $60 00 includes 30 Reg Games $100 Minimum - $1000 Jackpot Free Party Favors Extra Cards Available Only 250 Tickets Sold ATM Available For Info Call 301-898-7985 or 301-271-4650

SLIPPERY HAM & TURKEY POT PIE CARRYOUT and country ham sandwiches; Woodsboro Lutheran Church Sat, Nov 2nd, pickup 11 am - 2 pm For orders, call 301-271-3309 by Oct 30

Local Mentions Local Mentions

PEACHES, APPLES & PEARS

Victoria Peaches

Honey Crisp, Gala, Cortland, Red Delicious & September Fuji Apples

Red & White Bartlett & Asian Pears

Pies & Bread

Veggies as available

Sweet Corn & Green Beans

Red Beets & Kale

Peppers & Squash

White & Sweet Potatoes Fall Ornaments

Honey, Jellies & Fruit Butters

Sparkling Ciders & Nuts Open Daily 8am-6pm Always Call First 301-271-2693

PRYOR'S ORCHARD

2 miles west of Thurmont off Route 15 take 77 West, 1 mile to Pryor Rd www PryorsOrchard com

SCENIC VIEW ORCHARDS

Sweet Corn, Tomatoes

Pears: Bosc, Bartlett, Magness, Seckel

Apples: Gala, Honey Crisp, Ginger Gold

Apple & Pear Cider Plums, Peppers, Squash Kale, Cabbage, Cucumbers

Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes

Mums, Flower Bouquets Honey, Jams, Jellies

Scenic View Orchards 16239 Sabillasville Rd

Sabillasville Md 21780

301-271-2149

Open 10:00-6:00 Daily scenicvieworchards com

Frederick Farmers Market 1215 West Patrick St Every Saturday 10:00-1:00

YMCA Farmers Market 1000 North Market Street Tuesday 3:30 -6:30

SOUP & SUB SALE

Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary Carry-Out Only

Chicken Corn Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup - $8/qrt

8" Subs-ham, turkey & cold cut w/cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion & pickle: $8/ea ; Country ham sandwiches: $5/ea Cut off date: 10/2

Pick up date: 10/9

10AM-6PM at MVFC Activities Building 1 Fireman's Lane

Beverly 301-293-2088

Karen 443-871-9075

Janie 301-471-9604

lv messages

Thank you for your support!

SPAGHETTI DINNER

Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary Oct. 13, 2024

Noon to 4pm

Spaghetti w/white, regular, or meat sauce, salad, bread & pie

$12/adults; $6/children 6 to 10 years-old, reservations call Lori at 240-367-0252

MVFC Activities Building

1 Fireman's Lane

Walk-ins are welcome!

Thank you for your support!

SPORTSMAN’S BINGO

Saturday, November 9, 2024

DOORS OPEN 5:00, BUFFET 6:00 GAMES BEGIN 7:30

NEW MIDWAY VOL FIRE CO

20 Games (10 Games paying $200 Cash, 10 Games for Guns), 50/50, Money Jars, Gun Jars

$40/Person includes Buffet Dinner Tickets: Buddy 301-271-4650 or Nick 301898-7985

USED BOOK SALE TO BENEFIT

OPERATION SECOND CHANCE

Evangelical Lutheran Church 31 E Church St , Frederick Sept 27 & 28, 9a to 7p Sun 29, from 9a to Noon Sunday Bag Sale - $5/bag

VIGILANT HOSE COMPANY

NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO

17701 Creamery Road, Emmitsburg, MD

Tuesday, 12/31/Doors Open @ 5pm/Games @ 8pm

All Inclusive 9 pk/$50 for 30 games, 2 Jackpots @ $2000 each 5 SPECIALS @ $500 each/All other games $300/Incl Dinner Platter! Reserved seating if tickets purchased by 12/13 Tickets purchased after 12/13 will be $60 No checks mailed after 11/22 For info: Pam @ 240-472-3484 or @ Marylou @ 240-285-3184

Reserve right to change payouts if 200 are not sold

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BINGO

FSK Post 11

Doors open at 4:30pm Early Bird starts at 7:00pm Games: Early Bird, Winner Take All, Specials, Regular Bingo, Grand Slam (Jackpot $2,000), Sr Jackpot ($750 +) 28 games in total 1450 Taney Ave Frederick, MD 21702 301-662-9345

Weekly BINGO

Every Friday Night Doors open @ 5 p m , Bingo starts @ 7 p m

Bonanza, Early Bird, Regular, Specials, Jackpot! Small Jackpot-$500 Big Jackpot-$1500 Great Food!

Thurmont Event Complex 13716 Strafford Drive Thurmont, Maryland Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, Inc

Farm Items & Equipment

SMALL SQUARE BALES, orchard grass and straw, Revere barley & wheat seed, 301-606-9221 or 240-357-2386

Yard Sales Services

INDOOR/OUTDOOR YARD SALE

Saturday November 2, 2024

Lewistown Vol Dept 8 a m to 1 p m Reservations call Beth @ 240-674-4688

Firewood/Coal/Oil

FIREWOOD

All premium & seasoned Oak $260/cord or $170/half cord Mixed Hardwoods $240/cord; $150/half cord Credit cards accepted 888-873-3018 www mdtreeexperts com

Gift Ideas

GIVE THE GIFT OF NEWS!

The Frederick News-Post offers digital gift subscriptions that are perfect for collegeage children and former residents Show your love of Frederick by sharing the news Visit fredericknewspost com or call 240-215-8600

Pets & Supplies

BOSTON TERRIER PUPPIES

3 males, 2 females, well acclimated to children, will be dewormed and have 1st shot, ready to go Sept 28 $550 Call the Shirks 717-776-3057

Services

HENRY'S BLACKTOP PAVING, LLC

301-663-1888 • 301-416-7229 henrysblacktoppaving @gmail com Call for FREE est. MHIC 3608

HONEY DO SERVICES

Home Repairs and Handyman Work

Framing • Drywall • Decks • Doors • Paint • Power Wash & More! 240-852-3585 MHIC #157234

LANDSCAPING

Leave the hard work to us! Spring Cleaning, Mulching, Mowing Hardscaping Call J & R Cornerstone at 301-473-0449

Expecting calls any time! FREE ESTIMATE

TOBY'S CONCRETE Driveways, Patios, Basements, Sidewalks, Yard Work and more Call today for free estimate 240-316-2349

TOBY'S CONCRETE Driveways, Patios, Basements, Sidewalks, Yard Work and more Call today for free estimate. 240-316-2349

Thursday Sept. 26

CLASSES

Senior Cafe: The Place to Come for Coffee, Conversation Friendship and Fun Events: Stretch and De-Stress Class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join us for a Stretch and De-stress Class with Country Meadows. Wear comfortable clothes. We provide the chair and have extra mats! Not a “senior”?  All adults are welcome to attend. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Senior Resource and Education Seminar — 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 East Moser Road, Thurmont. Hear from members of the Senior Service Provider Community. Each panel of experts will speak on a variety of topics including home health care, transportation, downsizing, at-home doctor and physical therapist services, housing options, dementia issues, and more. There will be time for questions and answers. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov.

EmpowHERing Your Success: Is It Time for a Career Comeback? — 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. This event is ideal for those looking to return to a career, launch a new career or start a completely new position. Autumn Carter, with Wellness in Every Season, will walk you through the best processes of learning about yourself so that you can love yourself and your work. 301-600-7000. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

ETCETERA

Duplicate Bridge Games — noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave., Frederick. Looking for a competitive mind sport? Frederick Bridge Club duplicate games allow you to hone your skills. No membership requirements. If you need a partner, call 240-344-4041 or email lffutrell@yahoo.com.

$8. 301-676-5656. sdobran@comcast.net. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

Not So Scary Trunk or Treat — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Brook Hill United Methodist Church, 8946 Indian Springs Road, Frederick. There is a great need for diapers, wipes and pull up’s for those in need in Frederick. Bring a donation of new, unopened diapers, wipes and pull-ups. Rain or shine. Vote for the best trunk. Register to attend. 301-758-0356. childrens_ministry@bhumc.org. brookhill.ccbchurch.com.

Where There’s a Will, there’s Family-

Search! — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Family history lecture presented by Rebecca Koford, CG, CGL. The FamilySearch Catalog is full of untapped treasures, especially wills and probate records. Join us to navigate records that have not been indexed but are still just as accessible if you know the way. See contact info to receive Zoom link. 18 and older. 240-818-1938. wrsparks54@hotmail.com.

College and Young Adult Ministry — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ, 25 E. Second St., Frederick. Grace UCC, an open and affirming, progressive Christian church, is starting this new ministry open to anyone age 18-35. First meeting is Sept. 26, with pizza, games and conversation. To RSVP or for more information, email Rev. Chance at pastorchance.graceucc@ gmail.com. 301-662-3312. pastorchance.graceucc@gmail.com.

FAMILY

Fall Festival — at Summers Farm, 5307 Hollow Road, Middletown. 45-plus activities: exploring the Luke Bryan-inspired corn maze, families enjoy farm animals, jumping pillow, wagon rides, pumpkins, local beer and wine, and farm-fresh food including famous apple cider donuts. The festival is open on select days through Oct. 31. Tickets are available online. 301-304-3031. teresa@summersfarm.com. summersfarm.com.

Gaver Farm Fall Fun Festival — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Gaver Farm, 5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy. 7-acre corn maze, giant slides, ropes courses and new bee line zip line. Farm animal petting area, free hay rides, lively chicken show, photo centers, pickyour-own pumpkins with 45 varieties, newly expanded apple orchard. Food includes apple cider donuts, cider slushies and more, farm market. See website for ticket prices. 301-865-3515. office@gaverfarm.com. gaverfarm.com.

Superhero Training Day — 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Pinecliff Park, 8350 Pinecliff Park Road, Frederick. For ages 3 to 10. Even the youngest superhero will have fun testing their ability levels at skill stations featuring the special talents of popular superheroes! Every participant is guaranteed a cape! Dressing up encouraged. Advance registration is required. A parent is required to participate with each child. $9. 301-600-2936. recreater.com.

FESTIVALS

Meet Bestselling Thriller Author Sarah Pekkanen — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Join Curious Iguana at C. Burr

Artz Library for an evening with New York Times best-selling author Sarah Pekkanen who will discuss her new thriller novel “House of Glass,” answer questions and sign books. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. 301-695-2500. info@curiousiguana.com. curiousiguana.com.

MUSIC

Alive@Five Happy Hour Concert Series: The BGK Band featuring Kashi-Tara — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Carroll Creek Amphitheater, Frederick. R&B funk. Craft beverages and food available by local breweries, distilleries and food trucks. 21 and older, with ID. Concert series continues through Oct. 3. $6 per person. 301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org/aliveatfive.

Live Jazz at the Cocktail Lab — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get swanky with us every Thursday night for live jazz and your favorite craft cocktails. 21 and older. 301-233-4817. monica@tenthwarddistilling.com. tenthwarddistilling.com.

Friday Sept. 27

CLASSES

Herbalism for Homeschoolers [Ages 1118] [Session 1 & Full Series] — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Fox Haven Farm & Retreat Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Join us at Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center for a month-long series of engaging and educational workshops on the diverse uses and benefits of herbs! Held weekly throughout September, this workshop is designed for homeschoolers aged 11-18. $35. 240-490-5484. alecks@foxhavenfarm.org. foxhavenfarm.org.

10 Warning Sign of Alzheimer’s — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. An education program to help recognize common signs of the disease in oneself and in others. Learn what steps to take and how to talk to your doctor. Presented by the Alzheimer’s Association in partnership with the Middletown Branch Library. 21 and older. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.

ETCETERA

Used Book Sale for Operation Second Chance — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 E. Church St., Frederick. Used book sale to benefit Operation 2nd Chance. Continues 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 28 and 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 29 ($5 bag sale).

Hardbacks $1, paperbacks 50 cents. Also games, puzzles and videos. 301-639-8829. KMcNitt53@aol.com.

All Aboard Rails & Tales: Featured Exhibit — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Taneytown History Museum, 340 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown. The railroad came to Taneytown in 1872. This exhibition shares information about the local railroad, stories and artifacts. Scavenger hunt with prizes included. 301-639-8620. ehoover44@verizon.net. taeytownhh.org.

Mead & Read Trivia — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery, 8546 Pete Wiles Road, Middletown. Gather a team of up to 6 people for a fun night of trivia. Questions will be inspired by the book “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus. The winning team will receive two free flights of mead. Team registration opens at 5:30 p.m. Trivia will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Pita King food truck will be on site. Cheese platters & snacks are also available for purchase from Orchid Cellar, or you’re welcome to bring your own food. 21 and older. 301-600-8350. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Field of Screams Maryland — 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at OBGC Park, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney. Ranked the #1 Best Haunt in the Country by USA Today in 2022, is gearing up for yet another spooky season with new attractions — including Stitchy’s Nightmare Factory; vignettes reflecting famous local ghost stories; and a new light canopy show set to a classic horror soundtrack. Due to record crowds last year, Field of Screams Maryland will open Sept. 27 and run through Nov. 2. For ages 12 and older, parental discretion advised. $29. 888-720-1112. info@steelheadevents.com. screams.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. Uncover political savvy and defiant citizens, patriots from the Revolutionary War and beckoning soldiers from the Civil War. Reservations recommended. $16. 301-668-8922.

info@marylandghosttours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

FESTIVALS

Fall Fest — 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Everedy Square and Shab Row, East Street, Frederick. Family fun, food, music at the Shab Row Stage, live pumpkin carving by famous food artist (5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 27), jack-o-lantern

contest (voting on Sept. 28), fall-themed crafts, community art project (Sept. 28), pumpkin and apple farmstand, goat yoga with Goat for the Soul 11 a.m. Sept. 29.  301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org.

MUSIC

The Original Booze Brothers Band — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 207 W. Patrick St., 207 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Original Booze Brothers, a Frederick band founded by Lee Radcliffe and Fred Humbert, have been getting fans, young and old, dancing for years. Join us for good music, dancing and food. $5. 301-663-6281. frederickaerie1067@gmail.cm. facebook.com/events.

Live Music at the Cocktail Lab — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Every Friday in the Cocktail Lab we’ll be servin’ up our deliciously wild concoctions and some sweet tunes to get your weekend started off right. 21 and older. 301-233-4817. monica@tenthwarddistilling.com. tenthwarddistilling.com.

PERFORMER

Comedy Under the Stars — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Join us for a night of stand-up comedy under the stars! Every 4th Friday of the month, through October. Beer/wine available for 21+ with ID. May be PG-13+ content. $10. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org.

THEATER

“Anastasia” the Musical — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. This dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600. WOB@wayoffbroadway. com. wayoffbroadway.com.

Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie” — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Black Box Theatre, Tatem Arts, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. 1928, New York City. A hotel lobby. A small-time hustler is forced to confront his personal demons as he struggles with the loss of a friend — and of his own sense of self-worth. This rarely-seen masterpiece will be performed by Ardeo Theatre Co., a Maryland-based professional theater company. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Continues 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 27 and 28, 7 p.m. Sept. 23. Also 3 p.m. shows Sept. 21, 22 and 28. 771-212-9234. info@ardeotheatre.org. ardeotheatre.org.

Saturday Sept. 28

CLASSES

Forest Harmony Birding Walk — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Audrey Caroll Audubon Sanctuary, 13030 Old Annapolis Road, Mount Airy. Forest Harmony, in partnership with

The American Legion Francis Scott Key Post 11, presents a guided walk with birding expert to observe diverse bird species and enhance your observation skills. You’ll explore bird biology, migration patterns and environmental conservation while enjoying the outdoors and moments of tranquility. The event is open to all veterans, family and friends. 410-960-7899. dhruvsveda@gmail.com. forestharmony.com/events.

Pop-Up Yoga with Yogamour — 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. An all-levels yoga class with experienced instructors from Yogamour, a Frederick-based studio and non-profit. Saturdays, through October. Bring a mat, Sky Stage is open-air. $17. 240-285-7812. support@yogamour.org. frederickartscouncil.org.

Fall Foraging Class & Afternoon Wine

Dinner — 9:30 a.m. at L’Auberge Provencale, 13630 Lord Fairfax Hwy., White Post, Va. Want to learn more about what foods and resources the beautiful Shenandoah Valley provides? Join us on one of our upcoming Foraging Classes. Explore Ox-Bow Farm with master forager Clay Morris and collect seasonal wild finds. Chef Alex Sakelakos and Clay Morris will show you what culinary creations you can make utilizing what you collected and heirloom regional varieties. $295. exploretock.com.

Goat Yoga at the Farm — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Goat for the Soul, 10209 Fountain School Road, Union Bridge. Join us at the farm for goats, yoga, and fun! All ages welcome! $27. 240-405-2208. christy@gvalleye.com. goatforthesoul.com.

Crafting Herbal Remedies: How to Formulate Teas and Tinctures — 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Common Market, 5728 Buckeystown Pike, Unit B1, Frederick. Blending tea is not as easy as you think! Join Amy Boldt, MS, clinical herbalist and herb farmer, as we explore the intricacies and considerations when making two of the most common ways to extract plant medicine — in teas and tinctures. Learn the benefits and differences of each type, as well as when and how to use them effectively, the art of formulation, how to prepare, and how to source your herbs. Pre-register. $25-$50. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.

Pawpaws, a Little Known Treasure — 10 a.m. to noon at University of Maryland Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick. Discover a native gem you can grow right in your own backyard! Find out how and why to grow this large, tasty fruit — and how native plants can help your entire garden thrive. Tour the pawpaw patch in our Demo Garden. 301-600-1596. strice@umd. edu. bit.ly/FCMG2024Pawpaws.

Shri Yoga: Flex, Fix, Fun! — 10 a.m. to noon at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Shri Yoga is a calming but challenging style practiced in an informal environment. Classes include various asanas, breathing exercises, chakra vibration, mantras and relaxation techniques. Attendees are welcome to bring their own mat. 301-600-7000. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

ETCETERA

2024 Walk to Defeat ALS Western Maryland — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Baker Park, 121 N. Bentz St., Frederick. Check in at 9 a.m., walk start 10 a.m. Pre-register. Registered participants who raise $100 or more receive a commemorative T-shirt. 301-943-9233. ddopiekun@outlook.com. als.org/WalkWMaryland.

Myersville Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to noon at Municipal parking lot, 301 Main St., Myersville. Saturdays through Oct. 26. myersvillefarmersmarket.com.

Thurmont Main Street Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to noon at Thurmont Community Park, 21 Frederick Road, Thurmont. Every Saturday through Sept. 28. Home-made, homegrown. One of the largest farmers markets in Frederick County.  240-626-9980. vgrinder@thurmontstaff.com. thurmontmainstreet.com.

All Aboard Rails & Tales: Featured Exhibit — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Taneytown History Museum, 340 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown. The railroad came to Taneytown in 1872. This exhibition shares information about the local railroad, stories and artifacts. Scavenger hunt with prizes included. 301-639-8620. ehoover44@verizon.net. taeytownhh.org.

From Frederick to Sharpsburg: People, Places, and Events Before Antietam — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Special lecture and book signing by author

and historian Steve Stotelmyer. Steve’s latest book, “From Frederick to Sharpsburg: People, Places, and Events Before Antietam,” tells of little-known and under-studied stories that happened prior to the battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single day in American history. Free. 301-695-1864. tracey.mcintire@civilwarmed.org. civilwarmed.org.

Open House at Maria Hawkins Aesthetics — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Maria Hawkins Aesthetics, 512 N. Market St. , Frederick. An afternoon of beauty, relaxation and celebration. 18 and older. 240-439-4305. admin@hawkinsaesthetics.com. hawkinsaesthetics.com.

Tour the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Tour Frederick’s oldest surviving building with a knowledgeable guide. Now 266 years old, it was the home of Elias and Albertina Brunner, German immigrants who were part of the great migration centuries ago of refugees from oppressed and war ravaged Europe. The home contains the only surviving example of the German five-plate stove that provided clean, safe, energy-efficient home heating. $8. 301-456-4912. boycerensberger@gmail.com. fredericklandmarks.org.

Veterans Family Picnic — 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Walkersville Community Park, 22 Kenneth Drive, Walkersville. The Town of Walkersville will host a Veteran’s Appreciation Picnic. All local veterans and their families are

welcome. 301-606-2150. kacky6@aol.com.

AYCE Crab Leg, Steamed Shrimp and Fried Chicken Dinner — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thurmont Event Complex, 13716 Strafford Drive, Thurmont. Benefits Thurmont Community Ambulance. Ticketed event also includes crab soup, baked mac ‘n’ cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, dessert and soda. Wine coolers and beer available. Doors open at 4 p.m.  $40. 301-748-5359, 301-271-3820.

Field of Screams Maryland — 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at OBGC Park, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney. Ranked the #1 Best Haunt in the Country by USA Today in 2022, is gearing up for yet another spooky season with new attractions — including Stitchy’s Nightmare Factory; vignettes reflecting famous local ghost stories; and a new light canopy show set to a classic horror soundtrack. Due to record crowds last year, Field of Screams Maryland will open Sept. 27 and run through Nov. 2. For ages 12 and older, parental discretion advised. $29. 888-720-1112. info@steelheadevents.com. screams.org.

Alice in Frederickland Gala — 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. This year, instead of going our usual over-the-top for the Delaplaine’s annual gala, we’re going through the looking glass! Join us to celebrate another year of bringing the visual arts to the Frederick region and to raise funds to provide arts access and opportunities for all in the

community. The Wonderland-themed gala features delicious cuisine, music and dancing, and more. Sponsor/purchase tickets at Delaplaine.org.

$125. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/donate/gala/gala-tickets/.

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. Uncover political savvy and defiant citizens, patriots from the Revolutionary War and beckoning soldiers from the Civil War. Reservations recommended.

$16. 301-668-8922.

info@marylandghosttours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

FAMILY

Read with a Dog — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Practice reading to a furry friend! For kids. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Frederick’s Oktoberfest — 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick. German food, beer, wine, music, dancing and fun. Frederick’s Oktoberfest celebrates our county’s German heritage, brings friends and neighbors together for a

weekend full of good food and drink, and raises monies to support our community’s many community causes and charities. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. frederickoktoberfest.org.

Storytime + Craft with Melinda Beatty — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Kick off the Halloween season with a story time and craft with local author, Melinda Beatty. Melinda will read her SEL book, “Things That Go Bump in the Day,” followed by a book signing and fun craft. 301-695-2500. info@curiousiguana.com. curiousiguana.com/event/melinda.

FESTIVALS

Pippinfest — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Main Street, Main Street, Fairfield, Pa. Continues Sept. 29. Crafts, food, live music, car show, quilt exhibit, beer garden, kids’ entertainment corner, petting zoo. Free admission.  717-642-5640. pippinfest.com.

Frederick Festival of Flight — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Municipal Airport, 310 Aviation Way, Frederick. Family-friendly event. Explore the world of aviation with aircraft display from vintage to modern marvels; flight school representatives; radio-controlled aircraft club demonstrations; reps from government agencies including the FAA; meet with members of the Experimental Aviation Association, a homebuilt aircraft group; and aviation advocacy groups. Food and beverage vendors. cityoffrederickmd.gov.

Atlantic Coast Gem Mineral Jewelry and Fossil Show — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship. Join the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore for a fun, fascinating and family-friendly event featuring gems and minerals from around the world and fun activities for all ages. $6 adults; kids 12 and under are free. information@gemcuttersguild.com. gemcuttersguild.com.

Art at the Point — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Community Commons Park, 3700 Commerce St., Point of Rocks. Community art festival organized by the Point of Rocks Ruritan Club designed to celebrate local artists and the cultural heritage of Frederick County and beyond. Live musical performances from Marv Ashby and High Octane, as well as the Main Line Gravy Soppers. pointofrocksmd.org/artatthepoint.

Maryland Microbrewery Festival — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Union Mills Homestead Park, 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster. Celebrate Maryland’s handcrafted and distinctive microbrews. Food vendors, live music and entertainment, crafts vendors, seminars on brewing. Advance tickets: Adult — beer sampling, $25, non-beer sampling $8, under 12 free. At the door tickets: Adult — beer sampling $30, non-beer sampling $10, under age 12 free.  410-848-2288. carrollbeerweek.com.

Harvest Festival — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Taneytown Memorial Park, 1 Park Drive, Taneytown. Free admission. Food trucks,

pony rides, craft vendors, petting zoo, hay rides, face painting, bounce houses, games, music featuring Midnite Run Band.  Fall Fest — 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Everedy Square and Shab Row, East Street, Frederick. Family fun, food, music at the Shab Row Stage, live pumpkin carving by famous food artist (5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 27), jack-olantern contest (voting on Sept. 28), fallthemed crafts, community art project (Sept. 28), pumpkin and apple farmstand, goat yoga with Goat for the Soul 11 a.m. Sept. 29. 301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org.

Andrea’s House BBQ Bash — 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Brunswick Fire Department, 1500 Volunteer Drive, Brunswick. Barbecue, tip jars, raffles, silent auction and kids’ activities. Proceeds benefit Andrea’s House, Inc. $40 for adults, $10 for children 10 and under. 301-401-6674. tallen@andreashouse.org. andreashouse.inc.

Summer Barn Dance — 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Good Soil Farm Inc., 9736 Keysville Road, Emmitsburg. Caller Jim Wass, who will teach and call dances. All ages. Bring finger food to share, iced tea provided. See website for details and tickets. $20. 443536-1830. goodsoilfarmllc@gmail.com. goodsoilfarmllc.com.

HEALTH

Health and Wellness Seminar — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church, 9411 Baltimore Road, Frederick. Community event offering free seasonal

FRIDAY • SEPT. 27 6pm–10pm 21+ Event

Presale: $8 Entry / At the Gate: $10

SATURDAY • SEPT. 28 11am–10pm

Presale: $10 / At the Gate: $12 Ages 3–12: $6 / 2 & under: Free!

flu vaccines. Presentations from Frederick Health Hospice. 301-662-1303. office@hopemtcarmel.org. hopemtcarmel.org.

MUSIC

Mike Kuster at Stop MPRP Festival Fundraiser — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Linganore Winecellars, 13601 Glissans Mill Road, Mount Airy. Mike Kuster will perform some of his originals and favorite country music hits to kick-off this fundraising festival to support efforts to STOP the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. 301-831-5889. cary.joachim@stopmprp.org. stopmprp.com.

Mike Kuster — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Comus Inn, 23900 Old Hundred Road, Dickerson. Great brews, food, music and views! Mike will celebrate fall with a solo acoustic show at this beautiful historic landmark with stunning views of Sugarloaf Mountain and the countryside. 301-662-3355. mike@mikekuster.net. thecomusinn.com.

Top of the World — A Tribute to The Carpenters — 7:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Fronted by singer Debbie Taylor, her Karen Carpenter vocal resemblance is backed by a seven-piece band. $52 and up. 301-790-2000. mdtheatre.org.

The Dirty Middle and the Andrew Kuhens Trio — 9 p.m. at Cafe Nola, 4 E. Patrick St., Frederick. A late night of live music spanning

multiple genres such as blues, funk and rock ‘n’ roll. Andrew Kuhens will be sitting in on lead guitar with your favorite local bands the Dirty Middle then taking the stage with his own group, the Andrew Kuhens Trio.  $5. 301-694-6652. thedirtymiddle@gmail.com.

OUTDOORS

OWL Ladies Fall Fun Day — 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Bridgeport Farm, 11651 Bridgeport Road, Taneytown. Enjoy a day outdoors with other women enjoying 4 activities throughout the day & lunch! Fee includes all activities and lunch, ages 11 to 16 free accompanied by an adult. Pre-register by Sept. 20, required. $45. owl@owlife.org. owlife.org.

THEATER

Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie” — 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Black Box Theatre, Tatem Arts, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. 1928, New York City. A hotel lobby. A small-time hustler is forced to confront his personal demons as he struggles with the loss of a friend — and of his own sense of self-worth. This rarely-seen masterpiece will be performed by Ardeo Theatre Co., a Maryland-based professional theater company. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Continues 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 27 and 28, 7 p.m. Sept. 23. Also 3 p.m. shows Sept. 21, 22 and 28. 771-212-9234. info@ardeotheatre.org. ardeotheatre.org.

“Anastasia” the Musical — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. This dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600. WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.

Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie” — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Black Box Theatre, Tatem Arts, Hood College, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. 1928, New York City. A hotel lobby. A small-time hustler is forced to confront his personal demons as he struggles with the loss of a friend — and of his own sense of self-worth. This rarely-seen masterpiece will be performed by Ardeo Theatre Co., a Maryland-based professional theater company. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Continues 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, 27 and 28, 7 p.m. Sept. 23. Also 3 p.m. shows Sept. 21, 22 and 28. 771-212-9234. info@ardeotheatre.org. ardeotheatre.org.

Sunday Sept.

ETCETERA

Cost: single rider $25, double rider $30. Pay online and for more information, visit www.mavfc.org. 301-829-0100. mavfc.org.

All Aboard Rails & Tales: Featured Exhibit — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Taneytown History Museum, 340 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown. The railroad came to Taneytown in 1872. This exhibition shares information about the local railroad, stories and artifacts. Scavenger hunt with prizes included. 301-639-8620. ehoover44@verizon.net. taeytownhh.org.

Hispanic Heritage: One Family’s Contribution — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by listening to genealogist Joe Ginorio’s fascinating family history that extends back to the time of the American Revolution and his family’s culture of service. 301-6007250.

Tour the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Tour Frederick’s oldest surviving building with a knowledgeable guide. Now 266 years old, it was the home of Elias and Albertina Brunner, German immigrants who were part of the great migration centuries ago of refugees from oppressed and war ravaged Europe. The home contains the only surviving example of the German five-plate stove that provided clean, safe, energy-efficient home heating. $8. 301-456-4912. boycerensberger@gmail.com. fredericklandmarks.org.

Ignite Your Patriotism! — 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hillside Chapel at Pleasant Walk, 11240 Pleasant Walk Road, Myersville. Get ready to fire up your love of country. Share your “Made in America” talents to create a better community. Music/poetry, crafts in a historic country church. Sing-along to patriotic songs and meet some BoE candidates, learn about Question 1 (Md. Constitution change) on the ballot; meet Libertarian candidate Michael Scott. 240-675-0749. patti_worsley@yahoo.com.

Taste of the Town — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Washington County’s celebration of food showcases the culinary talents of local chefs. A $55 ticket includes general admission to sample eats, mingle and celebrate. Raffles and games will also be available for purchase. 301-790-2000. mdtheatre.org.

MUSIC

Sweet Mountain Laurel — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cactus Flats, 10026 Hansonville Road, Frederick. Country.

FAMILY

Weekly Carillon Recitals in Baker Park — 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Joseph D. Baker Tower and Carillon, Dulaney Ave. and Second St., Frederick. Featuring City Carillonneur John Widmann playing the carillon of 49 bells from a mechanical keyboard.  301-788-2806. jwidmann@yahoo.com.

FESTIVALS

Fall Fest — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Everedy Square and Shab Row, East Street, Frederick. Family fun, food, music at the Shab Row Stage, live pumpkin carving by famous food artist (5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 27), jack-o-lantern contest (voting on Sept. 28), fall-themed crafts, community art project (Sept. 28), pumpkin and apple farmstand, goat yoga with Goat for the Soul 11 a.m. Sept. 29.  301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org.

PERFORMER

Sherlock Sundays — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. A 45-minute live reading of the nationally known radio show, “The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” by Jim French, performed every last Sunday of the month, July-September at 7, with a bonus matinee Oct. 27. Presented by the Endangered Species Theatre Project of Frederick. Free. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. esptheatre.org/shows.

THEATER

“Anastasia” the Musical — 12:30 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. This dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love, and family. Tickets vary. 301-662-6600. WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.

Monday Sept. 30

29

Heroes Poker Run — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mount Airy Carnival Grounds, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy. Join the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Department for their 3rd Annual Heroes Poker Run. Registration is from 9-9:45 a.m., with kickstands up at 10 a.m.

Mount Olivet Cemetery History and Mystery Tour — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market St., Frederick. Discover Frederick’s past as you navigate through a labyrinth of graves, crypts and monuments at one of Maryland’s largest and most beautiful cemeteries. Mount Olivet is the final resting place of Francis Scott Key; Maryland’s first governor, Thomas Johnson; and Civil War heroine Barbara Fritchie. Learn about the cemetery’s origin, tombstone design, grave robbing and mass graves, with stops at other distinctive burial plots, including the Key Memorial Chapel. Reservations required. $16 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@marylandghosttours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

CLASSES

ESL High Beginners Conversation Class — 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. The Literacy Council of Frederick County hosts this class open to adults, free of charge. Join them as participants discuss everyday situations to help strengthen their listening, speaking, and conversation skills. Classes begin Sept. 16. Ages 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

ETCETERA

Bar Bingo — 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Frederick Eagles, 207 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Minimum cost is $12 for 3 cards, includes 7 games (5

regular games, 1 special and 1 jackpot). The jackpot does have a progressive which you must be a current Eagle member to receive. $12. 301-663-6281. frederickaerie1067@gmail.com. facebook.com/TheFrederickEaglesClub. Duplicate Bridge Games — noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 6909 Maryland Ave., Frederick. Looking for a competitive mind sport? Frederick Bridge Club duplicate games allow you to hone your skills. No membership requirements. If you need a partner, call 240-344-4041 or email lffutrell@yahoo.com. $8. 301-676-5656. sdobran@comcast.net. bridgewebs.com/frederick.

Tuesday Oct. 1

CLASSES

Frederick Dream Lab — 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Prism Wellness, 263 W. Patrick St., Frederick. By learning to appreciate dreams, we can uncover patterns that reflect our inner experiences and psychological state. Exploring dreams offers you a powerful pathway to your inner landscape, one that is yearning to be discovered. Ages 18 and older, pre-register. 240-575-5387. andrew@prism-wellness.com. dreamlab.eventbrite.com.

FAMILY

Elementary Explorers: Pom Pom Tree Collage — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Use pom poms to create a fun fall tree collage. This program is for children in kindergarten through 5th grades (ages 5-10).

301-600-7250.

Wednesday Oct. 2

CLASSES

2024 Truck & Trailer Safety Seminar — 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Urbana Volunteer Fire Department, 3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick. Attend this interactive event featuring instruction from Maryland State Police on how to comply with new paperwork and other requirements. $125. dfelice840@aol.com. truckandtrailer24.eventbrite.com.

Gentle Yoga for All — 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. This class is the perfect intro for a new student or an experienced yogi. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop/classes-events.

RELIGIOUS

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur — 6 p.m. at Beth Sholom Congregation, 1011 N. Market St., Frederick. Celebrate the Jewish New Year with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at Beth Sholom Congregation in Frederick. Join our welcoming community, beginning with Rosh Hashanah under the stars at Baker Park on Oct. 2. solomonjt2003@yahoo.com.