72 HOURS Dec. 8, 2022

HOMEMADE BAGELS AND COOKIES

Bottoms Up Bagels, based in Baltimore, will bring their boiled bagels to Frederick this weekend during the Santa Run. Whether you’re running, spectating, or just happen to be in town, you can find them at the YMCA on North Market Street, where they’ll be selling their homemade bagels on Dec. 10 and 11. In other food news, if you want to enjoy homemade Christmas cookies but lack the time or discipline to make batches yourself, the ladies at the Frederick County Pomona Grange Cookie Walk got you covered. They’ll be selling holiday cookies from 8 to 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Linganore Grange Hall at 13629 Unionville Road in Mount Airy. Buy them by the pound!

GET INTO THE SPIRIT

Middletown Library will host Carolen, an accordion and banjo duo, who will lead everyone in singing carols from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 10. You can also catch the annual Museums by Candlelight that same day at various sites throughout Frederick County. The free, selfguided tour, hosted by Frederick Historic Sites Consortium and Visit Frederick, offers demonstrations, living history vignettes, hands-on crafts, refreshments, tours, music, holiday decorations and historic settings by candlelight as night falls. That evening, Resthaven Memorial Gardens will host its annual luminary event, lighting up the cemetery just north of Frederick. As if that weren’t enough, the Myersville-Wolfsville Area Historical Society will offer its Christmas Tour of The Churches of Myersville, Harmony, Wolfsville and Foxville, a free, self-guided driving tour on Dec. 10, where you can visit area churches that are decorated for the Christmas season. Docents will be at each church to guide visitors and answer questions.

YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SNALLYGASTER, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE DWAYYO?

Years ago, author Patrick Boyton brought us his book “Snallygaster: The Lost Legend of Frederick County.” His latest book, for middlegrade readers, explores a lesser-known local legend: the Dwayyo. “Dwayyo,” released this fall, tells the story of a family struggling with a grandfather who has Alzheimer’s disease and may need to go into a nursing home. His grandkids believe if they can spot the Dwayyo, maybe their grandfather will be OK. “Dwayyo” is available at Frederick County Public Libraries, Curious Iguana in downtown Frederick, and at online booksellers. Boyton will be selling signed copies from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick.

‘THE WIZ’

W e were excited to learn this week about a new production of “The Wiz” that will be touring nationally throughout 2023. The production kicks off this fall at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, home of the 1974 world premiere of the musical before it opened on Broadway in 1975.

BE

UNSTOPPABLE.

MASTER’S DEGREES MADE FOR THE FUTURE

Did you know The Graduate School at Hood College has launched innovative new programs like nutrition science while also expanding business, education and counseling programs to meet emerging workforce needs? Hood’s Graduate School offers 19 master’s degrees, two doctorates and 12 certificate programs.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

NEW! Graduate Certificate in Trauma, Crisis, Grief and Loss

Is helping people your passion? Complement your career in counseling, healthcare, education and more with this increasingly in-demand specialization. 12 credits | Online and hybrid courses | Flexible schedule

Apply Now!

Rolling admission with a priority application deadline of Jan. 1. Visit hood.edu/graduate to explore programs or email gofurther@hood.edu and let our admissions counselors help find a program that fits your goals. hood.edu/graduate

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

Interchange Tiki Bar & Brewing in Williamsport

In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Ben Little, Lucas Pinyan and Dylan Krzywonski, cofounders of Interchange Tiki Bar & Brewing in Williamspost, about tiki bars, their approach to beer and Pinyan’s love for the McChicken sandwich.

UnCapped: When did Interchange open?

Dylan Krzywonski: It was July 16 this year.

Interchange

Tiki Bar & Brewing

10212 Governor Lane Blvd., Suite #1012, Williamsport Instagram: @interchangebrewing

Ben Little: Not so long ago, but longer than it seems sometimes.

UnCapped: How have those few months gone? Are you getting into your groove?

Little: I think we’re just finding it now, really. Figuring out who we wanted to be and who people wanted us to be was a little bit different for a little while. We’ve been listening to what people buy, what people say and change what we are but keep the heart of what we are at the same time.

UnCapped: Has Lucas learned how to brew beer yet?

Lucas Pinyan: No.

Little: We are pretty well-rated, but I’ll let him answer that one.

Pinyan: It’s a work in progress.

UnCapped: Every beer I’ve tried has been really, really good, so I’ll just go ahead and say yes, Lucas has learned how to brew beer.

Pinyan: Well, thanks.

Little: I think people responded well to the beers. We went, obviously, with a tiki theme here, and we tried, across the board, to have beers inspired by tiki, whether it’s hop profiles that are

tropical or the fruit flavors that are pure tiki-inspired, or even our stout is Big Coconut Forward Stout. Lager — easy drinking — that’s the side of things that is maybe a little different, but in the tropical regions, they have some of the lightest beers that exist.

UnCapped: Like Sands Bahamian Lager.

Little: Uh, sure. Is that a thing?

UnCapped: Yeah, in Jamaica. Search on YouTube. The videos are hilarious.

Little: I’ll have to check it out. Like Presidente. It’s one of my favorite beers to drink, and it’s gotta be the lightest thing I’ve ever had. So good.

UnCapped: You guys are taking a different approach than what most craft beer breweries where you’re not doing weekly one-offs. You’re more or less sticking to a lineup and playing with flavors.

Little: So far, we’ve done that. We do

have a triple IPA coming up here soon, but we’re really not going too far out of line with things. We have eight core beers, and we slide some things in, here or there, to keep it fresh, but for the most part, we are sticking with something that’s pretty core-driven.

UnCapped: Would you say this is a tiki bar that has a brewery in it or a brewery that has a tiki bar in it?

Pinyan: Yes.

Little: I think we always established ourselves as a brewery. Brewery first.

Pinyan: You could answer yes to either one of those, and it works.

Mela Kitchen at Jack's Cider House

Little: But I think the tiki bar culture has taken over here quite a bit, too.

UnCapped: You’re not operating as what people think of as a typical craft brewery, where you’re expecting different beers every week, but you also add in — because Washington County is smart enough to allow breweries to have liquor licenses — you have a full cocktail menu.

Little: Yeah, and I think that’s always been intentional — being consistent, setting a tone that people can rely on. Being a concept that doesnt exist in many places, if any place, I think we had to do that to start, to figure who our people are.

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

Home of Jack's Hard Cider Nestled behind the Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg

From left, Lucas Pinyan, Dylan Krzywonski and Ben Little.

Courtesy photo

Bottoms Up Bagels pop-up in Frederick

Baltimore-based Bottoms Up Bagels will bring its New Jer sey-style boiled bagels to Fred erick on Dec. 10 and 11 at a pop-up at the YMCA on North Market Street, in conjunction with the Santa Run.

Visitors can try BUB’s signa ture spreads, house-cured lox and breakfast sandwiches from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days at the Y Teaching Kitchen at 629 N. Market St., Frederick, or un til they sell out. Race participants will receive a coupon for a dis count on a bagel, but the pop-up shop will be open to everyone.

The women-owned, queerowned business will pop up in Frederick as part of its BUB Roadshow, where the crew brings their concept and Here’s to Everyday spirit on the road to treat folks to old-school bagels made from scratch. For the owners of the seven-year business, it’s also a chance to return to their roots and introduce their team to different regions, histories and communities. Since summer of this year, Bot toms Up Bagels has been soliciting social me dia followers to nominate their towns for a Roadshow stop, and Frederick soon topped the list.

while, and we’re excited to have our first pop-up here,” says owner and cofounder Michelle Bond. “It’s an exciting and grow ing city with a sense of local pride,” Bond adds, noting time spent there visiting friends and exploring the city.

Contemporary Conversations

Author Michael

Twitty will join online series of Montgomery County Public Libraries

W.

Michael W. Twitty, an award-winning culinary historian, food writer, teacher and author, will join the free, online Contemporary Conversations series of Montgomery County Public Libraries at 7 p.m. Dec. 10.

Twitty will discuss the connection between the foods and traditions of the African Atlantic and the global Jewish diaspora.

Although there is no charge to participate, online registration is required.

“Frederick has been on our radar for a

Courtesy photo

Bottoms Up Bagels will serve their boiled bagels during Frederick’s Santa Run.

“We’ve regularly visited Fred erick over the years and have re marked on its thoughtful growth, safety and cleanliness,” says Joan Kanner, co-owner, chief vision officer and the creative force behind the Roadshow. “Meeting with officials from their Mayor’s Office and the Down town Frederick Partnership un derlined their commitment to both existing businesses and mindful, out-ofmarket attraction.”

Bond and Kanner have always been inten tional about building Bottoms Up Bagels, fo cusing on partnerships. This intention is what inspired them to work with the YMCA of Fred erick County, making use of their Teaching Kitchen on Market St. BUB will be produc ing and selling on-site, while supporting the YMCA’s annual campaign in the process. The YMCA of Frederick County’s annual Santa Run raises funds to support the Y’s programs and services.

Twitty has appeared on “Bizarre Foods America” with Andrew Zimmern; “Many Rivers to Cross” with Hen ry Louis Gates and, most recent ly, “Taste the Nation” with Padma Lakshmi. His books “The Cook ing Gene” (2017), “Rice: A Savor the South Cook book” (2021) and “Kosher Soul” (2022) have received great acclaim. “The Cook ing Gene” was a finalist for The Kirkus Prize and The Art of Eating Prize. It was a thirdplace winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover New Writers Awards in Nonfiction. It also won the 2018 James Beard Award, making Twitty the first Black author to earn that award.

The Contemporary Conversations series is a community forum to discuss cultural and current issues with renowned authors and journalists and to engage in enriching dialogues.

Previous speakers in the series include Kojo Nnamdi, David Ignatius, Charles Lane, Hena Khan, Michelle Singletary, Dinaw Mengestu, Joshua Johnson, Haben Girma and Jarret Krosoczka.

For more information, visit http:// montgomerycountymd.gov/library/programs/ contemporary-conversations.html

Nevin Baker

From left, co-owners Michelle Bond and Joan Kanner.

Courtesy photo Michael Twitty

Christmas music: yay or nay?

BY COLIN MCGUIRE Special to The News-Post

I gotta be honest: I don’t care about Christmas music.

Don’t read that incorrectly. I didn’t say I didn’t like Christmas music. I simply said I don’t care about it. And, truth be told, I don’t care about much at my senior age. That sounds melodramatic, I know, but the older you get … eh, whatever.

Something I don’t understand, though, is why people are so passionate about it, one way or the other. Sing that Mariah Carey song in June around the wrong people and cross words will be had. Insist that Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” is a soulless piece of dreck in a mixed crowd sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and someone’s holiday could be ruined.

These thoughts circled through my head when I recently came upon a guide to this year’s new Christmas music. Buried within the depths of a new Debbie Gibson record and a Backstreet Boys set were efforts from artists I love in both Alicia Keys and Joss Stone. Upon reading a quick review of the records, I thought, “I should buy those. That could be fun, right?”

And then I promptly closed out of the Google tab, went back to what I was doing and thought nary a word

about either until I started thinking about this column.

Why? Because it’s Christmas music. Best-case scenario, the songs are great, I fall in love with them from front to back … and then put everything away come Jan. 1. Love it or hate it, Christmas music is a niche. Unless you can somehow muster up enough passion for Santa Claus and silver bells in May, what’s the point of listening to the stuff beyond a six-week period each year?

Such a notion led me to this conclusion: The reason people get so riled up about Christmas music and when it’s “allowed” to be played is simple: memories. Nobody is in love with Carey’s voice on “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; they’re in love with the memories they have surrounding hearing the song, be it during a screening of “Love Actually” or on any of the thousands of pop stations that play the track 24 hours a day on terrestrial radio around this time of year.

songs at a specific time in hopes that they’re possible to relive. Oftentimes, sadly, they’re not. That’s what makes a good memory a good memory — you’ll never get a replica. Maybe you’ll get close, but the point isn’t to Groundhog Day all the wonderful moments you’ve ever lived. Instead, it’s the thrill of the hope that new ones can one day exist.

one thought, one opinion, one right and one wrong.

COLIN McGUIRE

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. For my money, John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is as good as it gets when it comes to Christmas music. The brilliant way he knew how to meld sadness with hope is unparalleled in the medium, and that very specific talent is amplified when you apply it to the holiday season. Conversely, “Christmas in Tahoe,” the holiday album from the hate-able pop band Train, is very special to me for entirely different reasons.

They’re supposed to be reserved for an open heart and the potential of being blessed with memories that might just last a lifetime. Whether the backdrop to that is Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again” or Pentatonix’s rendition of “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” is immaterial to the reality that the love or hate for those songs come from the life that unfolded while they provided a soundtrack, rather than the notes the singers hit when they went for the chorus.

That said, I’m in need of a new memory or two this holiday season. So, on second thought, maybe I’ll revisit my Amazon cart to make sure those latest records from Ms. Keys or Ms. Stone are still in it, even if Jan. 1 isn’t all the far away.

Loving those memories often means you want to relive them. Reliving them means revisiting specific

Party like it’s 1959 at Heritage Frederick

In November, the first two floors of the Her itage Frederick Museum were painted and brought back to its grandeur and glory. And, while in transition from former exhibit “We the People” to a new exhibit, “Stitches in Time, Wom en’s Work from Farm to Fashion,” the galleries are empty.

So, Heritage Frederick invites you to party like it is 1959. The house will be decorated for the hol idays, in retro-elegant style, and visitors are invit ed to dress-up in the same way. Come by for food, fun, music, dancing and plenty of holiday cheer.

The Retro-Elegant Holiday Party will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. RSVP and ticket purchase required for entrance at heritageretro.eventbrite. com. Learn more at frederickhistory.org.

Still, those reasons are mine. And those reasons aren’t enough for me to rally against people loving Christmas music. Nor are they enough for me to rally against people hating Christmas music. The holidays aren’t supposed to be reserved for one only person,

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

SPEAK STORY SERIES

Stina Fagertun

Speak Story Series, part of Speak Storytelling, Inc., presents storyteller Stina Fagertun in an online concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13.

Stina Fagertun of Tromsø, Norway, is a performer and a teacher. She has collected ancient, unique fairytales from the three cultures that are part of her heritage: Sámi, Kven and Arctic Norwegian.

Those stories as well as many she has written herself have been published as books and CDs in Norway and America. Stina is the winner of the 2003 Northern Norway Cultural Award and won best storyteller at the 2011 International Storyteller Festival in Oslo. She frequently tours to all corners of the globe from Canada to Scotland to China.

Tickets may be purchased at speakstoryseries. com. Tickets are $15, free to season ticket holders. Speak is for mature audiences. Mature

youth are permitted at guardian’s discretion. More information is available at speakstoryseries. com

Courtesy photo

Irish Christmas in America at New Spire Arts

Back at New Spire Stages by popular demand, Irish Christmas in America features top Irish music, song and dance in an engaging performance rich in humor and boundless energy.

See the show at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at New Spire Stages, 15 W. Patrick St. in downtown Frederick.

Tickets may be purchased online at weinbergcenter.org, by calling 301-600-2828, or in person at the Weinberg Center box office at 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

A complete list of artists and performers scheduled to perform at the Weinberg Center and New Spire Stages is available at weinbergcenter.org.

Blue Mountain Wine Crafters, LLC

Charis Winery & Distillery

Elk Run Vineyards

Hidden Hills Farm & Vineyard

Idiom Brewing Company

Loew Vineyards

McClintock Distilling

MISCellaneous Distillery

Olde Mother Brewing Co.

Olney Winery

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

Tenth Ward Distilling Company

Walter T. Petrule

Irish Christmas in America

Honk if you see Santa.

Hey, it’s Santa!

Santa will be joining the United Steam Fire Engine Co. to ride through the main roads of neighborhoods from Dec. 12 to 15.

Catch him on these days: Dec. 12: Tallyn Ridge, Oakdale Village, Preserve at Long Branch Dec. 13: Ballenger Run, Wellington Trace, Linton at Ballenger

Dec. 14: Jefferson Technology Park, Jefferson Place, Robin Meadows Dec. 15: Farmbrook, Kingsbrook, Spring Ridge Dec. 19 and 20 will be makeup dates in the event of inclement weather. Follow the fire company on Facebook @ufc3fire to see where they are located.

Caroling and crafts in Middletown

Gather ’round at the Middletown Branch Library for holiday caroling and crafts on Dec. 10, featuring the music of accordion and banjo duo Carolen.

Carolen plays classical, Dixieland jazz, oldies from the turn of the century to the ’60s, show tunes, country Western, singalongs and dance music and has performed for the past 40 years.

The all-ages event will run from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Middletown Branch Library, 101 Prospect St., Middletown. Call 301-6007560 for more information.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Carolen

SET YOUR HOLIDAYS AGLOW

Candlelight tours and luminaries at Resthaven celebrate the season

MUSEUMS BY CANDLELIGHT

After a two-year virtual hiatus, 17 Frederick County museums and historic sites will celebrate Museums by Candlelight with free admission and holiday programs on Dec. 10. This annual holiday history celebration includes living history programs, handson crafts, tours and other activities, all set against a backdrop of holiday decorations.

Hosted by the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium and Visit Frederick, this event is a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to have an exciting variety of historical experiences perfect for all ages. Museums by Candlelight program schedules vary by site from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Museums by Candlelight program offers visitors the chance to visit as many or few locations as they want on this self-guided tour.

“We are thrilled to bring back Museums by Candlelight this December,” said Scott Keefer, cochair of the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium. “This event has been an essential part of the holiday season in Frederick County for decades. It puts a spotlight on both the heritage of our region and the organizations who share history with the public.”

Participating sites and organizations:

• AARCH Society

• Brunswick Public Library

• Catoctin Furnace Historical Society: Museum of the Iron Worker

• Daughters of Charity Archives

• Delaplaine Arts Center

• H&F Railway Historical Society: Myersville Community Library

• Heritage Frederick

• Historic Dahlgren Chapel

• Historic Steiner House

• Maryland Room at the C. Burr Artz

Public Library

• National Museum of Civil War Medicine

• National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

• Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums

• Schifferstadt Architectural Museum

• South Mountain Heritage Society

• The William F. Moran Museum & Foundation

• Thurmont Historical Society:

Creeger House

Learn more at visitfrederick.org/ events/annual-events/museums-by-can dlelight, or call 301-600-4047.

LUMINARIES AND VISITS WITH SANTA AT RESTHAVEN

Visit Resthaven Memorial Gardens during its annual luminary event be ginning at 4 p.m. Dec. 10.

Light refreshments of beverages and cookies will be available.

If interested in helping with plac ing candles on gravesites, the process begins at noon. Cleanup will begin at noon Dec. 11, and community assis tance with this is also appreciated.

Stop by Resthaven Funeral Home & Community Center to visit with San ta and collect a commemorative orna ment.

Staff file photo by Sam Yu

Fred Maxey, a docent at the Rose Hill Manor Children’s Museum, places bread dough in a Dutch oven during the annual Museums by Candlelight tour in 2015.

GETAWAYS

Western Maryland is close but a world away

BY GARY BENNETT Special to The News-Post

As you wind your way up stately Sideling Hill and through the iconic man-made cut in the mountain that jaggedly exposes millions of years of rock, coal and sediment, you’re finally able to see the picturesque valley of Allegany County as you begin your descent over the crest.

This is the entrance to what the tourism folks now call “Mountain Maryland.” But for me, this place will always be home.

My wife and I spent our formative years in Allegany County. I grew up in the southwestern part of the county near Keyser, West Virginia. I went to high school in Westernport at now defunct Bruce High and completed my undergraduate work at Frostburg State University. Ellen grew up just north of Cumberland and went to school at Fort Hill High, that notable state football powerhouse. As most of us know, this part of the state has fallen on perpetual, shall we say, less-than-stellar times. We wouldn’t want to live there anymore, but as they say, it’s a great place to visit.

My wife and I occasionally travel back home to eat, visit, sight see and just plain decompress. In some ways, it’s like a trip back in time. The pace of daily life is decidedly slow, traffic is nearly nonexistent, the scenery is absolutely beautiful, and the cost of food and lodging is much less than the Frederick area. There may be no better way to spend a day outside of Frederick than to take a trip to Allegany County — and perhaps farther to Garrett County, Maryland’s westernmost county.

GETTING THERE

As you head west on I-70 to Hancock where you pick up I-68, Sideling Hill should be your first stop. Get out of your car, stretch your legs and climb the stairs halfway up the mountain in just minutes to take in the breathtaking view.

At roughly 2,300 feet, Sideling Hill allows glorious views of West Virginia to the south and Pennsylvania to the north. On a map, this stretch of Maryland is so narrow, it seems you could easily pinch it off and hand it over to West Virginia. It’s no secret that most folks in these parts wouldn’t mind that a bit. The real draw, however, is the dramatic cut in the mountain that exposes over 800 feet of rock and coal, dating back millions of years. If you go

in winter, you’ll marvel at the largest icicles you’ve ever seen.

Back in the car, you’ll descend past Green Ridge State Forest, the picturesque town of Flintstone and Rocky Gap State Park, where camping, swimming, boating and gambling share equal billing.

I spent much of my youth sunning and swimming here in Lake Habeeb. Today, the Rocky Gap Casino Resort has taken over much of the land once used for outdoor recreation, but plenty is still available. If casinos are your thing, this one should be your go-to. It’s a bit farther from Frederick than Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, West Virginia, or Horseshow in Baltimore, but the state invested heavily to bring this cash cow to Western Maryland to help nudge along the chronically underperforming economy.

CUMBERLAND

Your next stop is historic Cumberland, the county seat and hub of Allegany County’s economic, tourist and government activity. I-68 actually passes over Cumberland, so you have to be careful to find an exit and stick with it or you’ll pass it by completely. You’ll know you’re there by the beautiful church steeples that adorn the skyline.

Before you depart the interstate for downtown Cumberland, you’ll want to grab some lunch. We wholeheartedly recommend Puccini Restaurant, just east of Cumberland on Ali Ghan Road, right along the interstate. It features casual Italian dining set in the historic setting of the former Hinkle House, which served as a Civil War hospital during the Battle of Folck’s Mill. Try the wedge salad and wood-fired pizza. Their delicious pizza

is unlike anything we’ve found in the Frederick area. The house-made dough is thin, crispy and perfectly blackened at the edges. The potassium-rich wood ash adds flavor. Lunch for two will set you back only about $20 or $25.

If pizza is not your thing, try one of these two local landmarks: D’Atris or Coney Island Famous Wieners. D’Atris has the best steak sandwich I’ve ever eaten — and that includes in Philadelphia (it’s all in the dressing the lettuce is soaked in, I’m told.) The Coney Island wieners actually melt in your mouth, and you’ll have a hard time having just one or two.

Queen City is pleasantly walkable. You can take a leisurely stroll on the C&O Canal towpath, which terminates near the intersection of the Potomac River and Wills Creek near George Washington’s Headquarters. The

Gary Bennett

Cumberland has seen better economic times but is still charming.

towpath in the city is not very shady, and you’ll have to watch out for bicyclists whizzing by, unless you decide to bike it yourself. If you do, take advantage of several bike rental shops within easy walking distance of the towpath and Canal Place, the modest eating and shopping area right at the canal terminus.

If you have more time, you can hop aboard the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for a leisurely 4 1/2hour roundtrip ride to Frostburg and back, or you can get off in Frostburg and bike back to Cumberland via the Maryland portion of the Great Allegany Passage, the 150-mile bike and walking trail from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. If you do, you’ll enjoy a gentle 10-mile downhill decline on a crushed limestone surface, snaking through the “Narrows” and into Cumberland where you’ll connect with the C&O Canal towpath.

Besides the rich history and outdoor recreational opportunities, the best reason to visit Cumberland might be its architecture. My wife and I like nothing better than to stroll along Baltimore Street, the now-struggling downtown area of Cumberland, trying to recall the names of the local shopping institutions that once made these enormous and ornate storefronts their home. We can usually come up with Rosenbaum’s, Peskins, Lazarus and a few more.

Today, you can enjoy antiquing, art galleries and a few charming pubs and eateries. We then walk up to Washington Street, the “old money” residential area of Cumberland, taking note of the remarkable late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture. Most of the homes on Washington Street are very large, seemingly far too large for just one family.

FROSTBURG

Known as the Mountain City, Frostburg is just 10 miles west of Cumberland — be sure to travel there on the National Road (Route 40) through the Narrows — but a world away in many respects, particularly weather-wise. Because of its elevation

The trail to the highest point in Maryland on Backbone Mountain is steep, rocky and 3,360 feet high.

near the peak of Big Savage Mountain, it’s not unusual for Frostburg to be consistently 10 degrees cooler and wetter than Cumberland year-round. During my college days, it was typical for the ice and snow to pile up so much that sidewalks were not seen for months at a time.

Frostburg is a university town with an energy and vibrancy unlike anywhere else in the county. Because of Frostburg State University, the arts, entertainment and eateries abound on Main Street in a way that Cumberland cannot duplicate.

If you have time, we recommend a classic film matinee at the historic Palace Theatre, a drink and a snack at one of the many brewpubs on Main Street or a walk across the FSU campus (preferably when there are no classes) to visit the state-of-the-art library, football field, “Old Main” building, the performing arts center, Lane Center student union or environmental center.

Frostburg is also notable for its annual Appalachian Festival, which features local artisans and is one of the leading showcases for Appalachian culture in the U.S.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, which turns around in Frostburg on an old-style turntable for the return trip to Cumberland, and the Thrasher Carriage House Museum, located next to the scenic railroad depot featuring late 19th- and early 20th-century carriages of all types, are also popular draws.

GARRETT COUNTY

After a few hours in Frostburg, head due west over Big Savage Mountain and into the charming hamlet of Grantsville in Garrett County, and have dinner at Penn Alps Restaurant & Craft Shop. This cozy, 1700s-style restaurant features Amish and German cooking at its best. If you go Friday through Sunday, try the hot food buffet that is lovingly tended and jam-packed with perfectly seasoned soups, meats and vegetables. Top it off with a sampling from the homemade dessert bar with old-time favorites such as bread pudding, oatmeal cake, apple pie and blueberry and cherry cobbler. Take the time to meander around the craft shop situated in the same building as the restaurant, and then take a stroll along the Spruce Forest Artisan

Village next door. Unfortunately, the giant blue spruces are gone, felled by a small tornado a few years ago, but the weavers, potters, woodworkers and other artisans remain, diligently working in their cabins for all to watch and ask questions.

Finish your day with a drive past lovely Deep Creek Lake. Maryland’s largest lake is an outdoors paradise for boating, fishing, camping and skiing. It is about 20 miles west of Grantsville.

If you have more time in Garrett County, we recommend two modest hikes to work off the amazing dinner you had at Penn Alps.

The first is to find the source of the Potomac River. Spoiler alert: It’s not much of a hike at all, and the source is not even in Maryland! It’s in a small state park in West Virginia near the junction of Grant, Tucker and Preston counties. It boggles my mind to compare this little trickle, bubbling up from the ground, to its imposing grandeur at the Chesapeake Bay some 400 miles away. So much of Maryland’s geography and identity is tied to this famous river that you’ll be glad you completed this hike.

The other is a more difficult hike to the highest point in Maryland, the area known as Hoye-Crest on Backbone Mountain. The peak is nestled against the Maryland-West Virginia border near Redhouse, Maryland. Hoye-Crest is more than 3,300 feet high and is about a 1-mile hike on steep, rocky terrain.

GOING HOME

Out of breath and tired from your busy but delightful day, get back in your car and continue driving past Oakland, the attractive county seat of Garrett County, and make the long, downward trek back to Allegany County via Md. 135 into Westernport and McCoole. At McCoole, the site of my long-gone elementary school, you pick up Md. 220 for the 30-minute drive back to Cumberland. Once there, you can decide whether to stay in a hotel (we recommend the Fairfield Inn near the C&O Canal terminus) or pick up I-68 and then I-70 near Hancock for the 90-minute drive back east to Frederick.

Gary Bennett

The mighty power of tiny libraries

BY JOSEPH PETERSON Special to The News-Post

This month will mark a year since my family and I moved to Frederick. We moved here on a whim — and in the middle of a pandemic. With no social network to speak of and a cold winter settling in, it was a lonely time.

But whenever the sun peeked through the clouds, I grew curious about our new surroundings and ventured out into the streets. I gradually discovered a handful of homes in the neighborhood that had an air of hospitality about them. They weren’t big homes, only about two or three feet tall in most cases, and just as wide. But there they stood, hoisted on posts like bat houses, seeming to say, “We’re glad you’re here, come and rummage around, take something with you, or leave something behind — we don’t mind.”

So, I did.

Up and down the streets, houses too small to enter, owners unseen and unknown, taking the visage of a welcome friend. And inside: wonders of curiosity, sustenance and beauty. These mini libraries, food pantries, art galleries and seed banks fill my new neighborhood.

I shared my wonderment of these miniature libraries with a neighbor, Bethany Adams, who, it turns out, is also new to the area. She installed one of these little houses earlier this year to share seeds and gardening resources with the neighborhood. Her library is as cozy as a dollhouse: painted white, shingled roof, a bright red door — the very symbol of neighborly inclusion.

“They are an indicator,” she

told me, speaking to that sense of community I told her I felt every time I saw one of them. She promptly began telling me what she knew about the other mini houses in the neighborhood. As we enjoyed our first chat I couldn’t help but think, Indicator, indeed.

I found myself adjusting my walking route so I could pass by all the little libraries I wanted to make “social calls” to. I started to pick up on various maintenance clues in this miniature neighborhood within a neighborhood. More than just a place to stuff discarded books or collect junk, here was order and upkeep.

There was a well-stocked

food pantry where you could get a can of veggies, a package of ramen or that proverbial “cup of sugar” our parents sent us to the neighbors to borrow for an impromptu batch of cookies. As for the book collections, they were well-tended and frequently updated. More than one library was equipped with motionsensor lights to illuminate the interior. I wondered how many nighttime dog walks returned home with a book under arm, enabled by this little detail of consideration.

Something was happening. The simple act of taking a book and returning to leave another became a way to interact with my neighbors. And the surprise

was that even though I never saw them, or knew who they were, that interaction became meaningful.

That’s what my neighbor Karen Fishburn experienced with the miniature library she installed outside her home.

“People get invested,” she said. “It’s almost like they become a familiar face, but it’s a library.”

She laughed, recalling a quiet gentleman who comes by about once a month who isn’t one for many words, but their brief and mostly silent exchanges over time have forged a unique kind of connection. “All of a sudden you’ve got a new friend,” she said.

A lifelong book lover and

“I just got such a kick out of it,” she said, noting how Vermont’s sparse population might translate to difficult library accessibility for rural residents. “This was a way you could circulate books to people, and I’m a huge book person.”

So the Fishburns got to work and assembled a little library they propped up on a chair in their yard. That library made it to the pages of The News-Post in 2016 after it was stolen, and neighbors, along with citizens across

literacy proponent, Fishburn first saw a barn-shaped Little Free Library while on vacation in Vermont.

Joseph Peterson, left, stands with Karen Fishburn, owner of a miniature library on Fairview

A miniature art gallery on Lee Place in Frederick.

the city, joined together to help rebuild and stock a new one. The response is one she still recalls with a chuckle of amazement. “Frederick always is, in my mind, very giving and very generous,” she said.

The blueprint of Fishburn’s library is a model for involving the whole community. She’s taken some books in her library to Wonder Book, our local titan of used books, to exchange for the kinds of reads she thinks might be better enjoyed by passersby from the hospital or Hood College on their way to Starbucks. Her library was among those chosen by local brewery Flying Dog to be

one of several little libraries they donated banned books to during Banned Book Week.

She’s seen author-signed books donated, and advance reader copies passed along from places like the Gaithersburg Book Festival and Frederick’s Curious Iguana book shop, and she’s often found scouring the public library’s books for sale to keep her collection fresh. Fishburn says her hands-on involvement in curating a vibrant little library “opens up so many opportunities to talk to people,” as well. “I feel like people who love books, who read books, are just such a great group of people. It’s been a really great community project,” she said.

Most of the book-themed little libraries are registered with the global nonprofit organization aptly named Little Free Library, indicated by an official charter sign usually tacked above the door. The organization claims more than 150,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes worldwide and estimates more than 250,000,000 books have been circulated via these structures in all 50 states, 115 countries and in every continent, including Antarctica!

This grassroots phenomenon has led the organization to receiving the 2020 World Literacy Award, as well as honors from the Library of Congress and the National Book Foundation. As

LFL states, the result of these libraries is that “thousands of neighbors have connected for the first time, building stronger and friendlier communities.”

I’m just astounded at how seemingly ubiquitous and universally loved these little libraries are. From the map of registered libraries on LFL’s website, there are about 30 of them in the immediate Frederick area. They are in neighborhoods, in restaurants and businesses, on church grounds and schools, at coffee shops and breweries … once you start noticing them, you’ll see these little neighborly “indicators” everywhere. But I’ve yet to discover the range of what’s on display that matches my Villa Estates neighborhood.

My neighbor Tammy O’Connor has hoisted a FLAG unlike any other in Frederick. By FLAG, I mean a Free Little Art Gallery with its broad front window peeking into a tiny world of easels and artwork, like a diorama of a museum. She saw the idea while traveling last year and wanted to bring it home to see it grow and get more artwork in rotation from local creatives.

“I love to be able to put artists in there that are just starting out or pursuing something,” she said.

This is no static display either. It’s a functioning art gallery curated by and contributed to by the community around it. Like the little libraries, the FLAG embraces the take-one-leave-one concept, and O’Connor hopes it encourages creative types to find inspiration in miniature.

“The diversity is just wonderful. It’s arts for everybody,” she said. “Our community over here on this end of town is pretty cool.”

There’s one more library I visit on my walks, a seed library. As it turns out, its owner, neighbor

Cary Smith, is coworkers with another seed library owner, Bethany Adams.

“It was my idea first!” Smith joked when I asked her about the library. Smith, who wanted to specifically promote native wildflower seeds, has also found an enthusiastic response.

“People love it,” she said, noting that in October she had a young teenage girl and her friend tell her they visited the seed bank every day to see if anything new had been added.

“It’s hard to keep it filled,” Smith said, but added that it “makes you realize that there’s good people out there. I miss having a community where neighbors had block parties, and I missed some of that.”

As these little libraries of various curiosities have become part of the fabric of our new lives here in Frederick, I wanted to find out if others felt the same way about them. What I’ve learned is that I’m not alone. And that feeling of connection to community was at the core of why these neighborly stewards hoisted their own libraries for all to enjoy, including themselves.

“It actually is so uplifting and positive,” Fishburn said. “It’s a generosity. There’s no politics in it, and it’s a way to get out into the community — your community — the things you like. I don’t ever expect books to come back.”

As for me, I can’t think of anything more neighborly than that.

Joseph Peterson can usually be found reading the weathered plaques of obscure monuments he sees while wandering the city. He counts public libraries, public lands and places where local community is fostered among his favorite kinds of places.

Staff photo by Katina Zentz

Fairview Avenue in Frederick. Peterson’s neighborhood includes a number of miniature boxes with books, food and art inside.

’It actually is so uplifting and positive. It’s a generosity.’

— Karen Fishburn

”Notions of Place — Revisited” — through Dec. 9, McDaniel College, Esther Prangley Rice Gallery in Peter son Hall, 2 College Hill, Westminster. The exhibition includes interpreta tions by McDaniel College art facul ty, alumni, and current students fo cusing on the notion of “Place” as it pertains to work. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.Saturday. 410857-2595 or estherprangleyricegal lery.com.

”The Nature of Catoctin Moun tain” — through December at Urba na Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Urbana; satellite location of the Delaplaine Arts Center. This collec tion of photography is comprised of flora and fauna found in the Catoc tin Mountain ecosystem. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sun day. fcpl.org.

”Travels” — through December at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Satellite lo cation for the Delaplaine Arts Center. Photography by Beamie Young from the photographer’s travels and a de sire to discover new images, patterns and narratives. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Satur day, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. fcpl.org.

”The Annotated Vessel” — through December at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick; satellite location of the Delaplaine Arts Center. Acrylic paint ings by Maremi Andreozzi por tray, embody and celebrated less er-known historical female artists and illustrate the fine textiles and jewel ry of the period. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Satur day, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. fcpl.org.

”Accretion” — through Dec. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Car roll St., Frederick. Photography and mixed media by Sean Dudley. Through a series of manipulation processes, Dudley’s photography fo cuses on the — sometimes impercep tible changes in human experience through the accretion of time and ex perience. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”With Teeth” — through Dec. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Photography by Jillian

Abir MacMaster, a Palestinian-Amer ican photographic artist from Fred erick whose exhibition is a look into invulnerability and displays of pro tection and survival through some thing as ubiquitous as facial ex pression. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Life Forms” — through Dec. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. A photographic explo ration, by Ed Palaszynski, into the di versity and complexity of life and Pa laszynski’s response to the question, “What does life look like?” Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

Clustered Spires Quilt Guild:

“The Colors or Our World” — through Dec. 31. The fiber works in this exhibition are a response to

the Guild’s 2022 challenge to them selves to incorporate all seven colors of the rainbow in works that illustrate their discoveries about color and pat tern. Founded in 1999, the Clustered Spires Quilt Guild welcomes quit ters of all skill levels as they advance in their mastery of working with fi ber. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-698-0656, delaplaine.org.

Frederick Camera Clique — through Dec. 31. For more than 30 years, the Frederick Camera Clique has dedicated itself to improving the skills of its members, which range from beginners to semi-profession als. This members exhibition runs Dec. 3-31. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. 301-6980656.

”Season to Season” — through Jan. 1, 2023, Blanche Ames Gal lery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Freder ick. Featuring Jing-Jy Chen, with art

ist talk and reception 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Nov. 6. For gallery hours, call 301-473-7680, email bagal leryappointment@gmail.com or visit frederickuu.org.

Crestwood Gallery Fall Exhib it — through Jan. 6, 2023, Crestwood Center, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. Original works of art, including oil, watercolor, mixed media, wood carv ings, and photography from some of Frederick’s most talented art ists. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon day through Friday. 240-215-1460 or frederickhealth.org.

”Variable Palettes” — through Jan 6, 2023, Adams County Wine Shop, 25 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pa. Featuring the work of Dorothea Bar rick. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun day through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. adamscountywinery.com/ events.

”Lore” — through Jan. 8, 2023, Gallery 115 at the Y Art Center, 115 E. Church St., Frederick. Features 15 artists from around the world includ ing London, New York City, Wyoming and Maryland. Artists reimagine tra ditional folklore and explore original contemporary myth through a vari ety of perspectives. Artworks include an eclectic range of media including short film and an interactive installa tion. Artist Zoom talk noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 20. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sun day. https://www.instagram.com/gal lery_115_y.

”Joseph Holston: Color in Freedom, Journey Along the Underground Railroad” — through Jan. 14, 2023, Washington County Muse um of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. In this exhibit, Holston leads his audience through four movements that deepen our under standing of America’s Black enslaved people’s experience. Hours 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. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission and park ing are free.301-739-5727 or wcm fa.org.

”Relief From the Heat” — through Jan. 22, 2023, Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. Works by the Washington Water Col or Association. Viewing is by ap pointment 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 301-258-6425 to schedule an appointment. gaithers burgmd.gov.

Courtesy photo

Clustered Spires Quilt Guild presents “The Colors or Our World” through Dec. 31 at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick. Shown here, “Paradise in Bloom,” by Libi Driggers.

New version of

‘The Wiz’ will start its tour in Baltimore

BY MARK KENNEDY Associated Press

A new production of “The Wiz” is heading out on a national tour next year before following the yellow brick road to Broadway, with its director hoping the show becomes a “touchstone for a new generation.”

Director Schele Williams tells The Associated Press that it’s a very personal musical for her, creating possibilities in her mind as a girl when she saw it.

“It was the first time I was able to ever imagine myself on Broadway. It was because of ‘The Wiz.’” she said. “I’m really excited to awaken those dreams in other little Black girls like me.”

The tour launches in the fall in Baltimore, home of the 1974 world premiere of the musical. Following its run at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, the tour will cross the country before it starts its limited engagement on Broadway in spring 2024.

“My goal with this show is for it to be an extraordinary celebration of Black culture, for it to be a touchstone for a new generation in the way that it was for my generation,” said Williams.

The new show will be choreographed by JaQuel Knight and music supervision, orchestrations and music arrangements are by

Joseph Joubert.

The show was adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with a book by William F. Brown, and music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls.

“The Wiz” opened on Broadway in 1975 and won seven Tonys, including best musical. It has such classic songs as “What Would I Do If I Could Feel” and “Ease On Down the Road.”

“I don’t want ‘The Wiz’ to become anything that it’s not. But I am excited for it to become a more timeless score. So we’re going to look at how do we do that while also honoring where it came from and the sound that it originally had,” said Williams.

She will be making her Broadway directorial debut with “The Wiz.” Previously, she was the associate director of “Motown: The Musical,” and re-conceived and directed the recent national tour of the show. She is currently in London directing “Mandela,” a new musical inspired by the life of antiapartheid activist Nelson Mandela.

A 1978 movie version of “The Wiz” starred Diana Ross, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor. Michael Jackson costarred as the Scarecrow, with Nipsey Russell as the Tin Man and Ted Ross as the Lion. NBC televised a live version in 2015 with Queen Latifah, Ne-Yo and David Alan Grier.

frederick

by candlelight

Museums by Candlelight DEC. 10, 2022 • Beginning at 10AM Experience holiday traditions at several historic locations; special children’s activities; traditional crafts; period entertainment featured at this free self-guided event.

Presented by THE FREDERICK HISTORIC SITES CONSORTIUM

36th Annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship DEC. 26, 2022 • 4PM–9PM

Discover Downtown Frederick’s most celebrated houses of worship and enjoy special holiday music programs at this free self-guided event.

With Support from BREWER’S

Events brought to you by the Tourism Council of Frederick County. (301) 600-4047 • www.visitfrederick.org

ALLEY, EVEREDY SQUARE & SHAB ROW, ROY ROGERS, PLAMONDON HOSPITALITY PARTNERS, and TOURISM COUNCIL OF FREDERICK COUNTY, INC.

Diana Ross, center, as Dorothy, Michael Jackson, right, as the Scarecrow and Nipsey Russell as the Tinman perform during filming of the musical “The Wiz” in New York on Oct. 4, 1977.

Associated Press file photo

BOOKS

Patrick Boyton’s ‘Dwayyo’ explores growing up and grief through local legend

BY ERIKA RILEY Special to The News-Post

Patrick Boyton is no stranger to writing about Frederick County folklore. His first two books focused on the Snallygaster, the cryptid that supposedly lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

But with his new book, “Dwayyo,” he writes not just about another local legend but about growing up and learning to grieve.

“Dwayyo” tells the story of a brother and a sister who visit their grandfather only to find that his health is failing. One night, he is convinced he sees the Dwayyo, a bipedal half-wolf half-man creature, in the darkness.

While the sister believes her grandfather, her older brother isn’t so sure. But when their aunt comes to stay and talks about putting their grandfather in a nursing home, the brother agrees to go on an adventure to find the Dwayyo. If they can prove that what their grandfather thinks he saw is real, they can prevent him from having to go away.

“I’d kind of dealt with these supernatural themes previously, but I wanted to deal with folklore in a way that could speak to different problems, social ills and fears,” Boyton said. “That’s where I think a lot of these folklores originate from: collective anxiety and fear about certain things.”

The Dwayyo has less concrete folklore than the Snallygaster, which drew Boyton to writing about it. He wanted to help contribute to its legacy without having to adhere to a large amount of existing folklore.

“So for the case of this story, the Dwayyo manifests itself in times of great uncertainty,” Boyton said. “He’s sort of this agent of chaos and disorder.”

First spotted in 1944, the Dwayyo has come and gone from the Frederick County zeitgeist. The News-Post ran a story in 1965 with a man’s account of being attacked by the Dwayyo near his home near Gambrill State Park. Legend says the Dwayyo is the mortal enemy of the Snallygaster.

The real monster in the story, however, is the grandfather’s Alzheimer’s, which Boyton drew from experience to write about. His fatherin-law passed away from Alzheimer’srelated illnesses in 2016.

Bolton found it difficult, yet

“Dwayyo” by Patrick Boyton

Audience: Middle school (age 9-12) readers and older Where to find it: “Dwayyo” is available at Frederick County Public Libraries, Curious Iguana in downtown Frederick, and at online booksellers Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Meet the author: Patrick Boyton will be selling signed copies from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick.

rewarding, to write about such difficult topics from a middle-school point of view. He began writing “Dwayyo” during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. During that time, he several read books with his son, who was 9 at the time. Revisiting those books, like “Bridge to Terabithia” by Katherine Paterson, reminded him of his own childhood and the vivid memories he has of that time.

“I’m very comfortable going back

there,” he said. “Any further back, it gets a little fuzzy or a little sentimental. Later years, I’m just not as interested in writing about. I like writing about that that age group because I remember it pretty well.”

Boyton also enjoys writing about children’s sense of hope. He explained that as children grow older, their relentless optimism that everything will turn out alright turns to hope — hope that their family will be OK, hope that

things will turn out alright — even if they are starting to learn that things don’t always go as planned. Watching his son and his friends adapt to the pandemic with the hope that things would soon go back to normal helped Boyton cement that idea.

“I was fathering him and observing him and his mind and his world and seeing the way he thinks about the world and how he’s processing those topics,” Boyton said. “We were all going through the pandemic together, so he was certainly processing all that heavy stuff himself.”

In that sense, the book isn’t all dark or melancholy. Although it deals with heavy themes, the book approaches them the way children would, with a sense of adventure and optimism.

“[Children] deal with these issues in a more pure way,” Boyton said. “Even as they’re dealing with them, they’re going on adventures and having fun and telling jokes.”

Courtesy photo

Patrick Boyton

Everyday poetry

Many of you venture to visual arts exhibits in the world-class museums that surround us in D.C., Baltimore and Hagerstown. In recent weeks, you might have gone to see the special John Singer Sargent exhibit, “Sargent and Spain,” at the National Gallery of Art. As wonderful as the Sargent exhibit is, there is so much other incredible art at the NGA and nearby museums.

On your next visit to an exhibit, whether in a museum or one of the many remarkable galleries here in Frederick, you might try writing a few lines of prose or poetry on how a particular work of art affects you. It could begin a stream of consciousness journey, or you might want to describe the artwork in a clinical manner, very detailed. If what you jot down is prose, try breaking lines at what seem to you to be natural pauses. Whatever you write will border on what is referred to as “ekphrastic” poetry, or poems purposely inspired by works of art.

Though the springboard may be something else, what you write will be your work uniquely. Poetry, after all, is a form of honesty. Poets

share images, phrasing, even rhythms unique to their perceptions of experiences or objects in their world. This sharing is enhanced in some mysterious way when words are put on paper. By reading those words, you have the opportunity to enrich your perceptions. By reading your words, others might be enriched as well, and so it continues.

For me, still life paintings always are the draw. From Chardin to Coorte, Cézanne, Morandi, O’Keeffe and on to the disrupted realism of current artists such as Jon Redmond, a still life can be a little jewel of symbolic commentary on life, religion or politics or not. (Lemons in a painting used to indicate wealth.) Regardless, we usually can recognize items in a still life because they often are objects we come across in everyday life: bottles, tablecloths, flowers. And grapes.

Sheryl Massaro is a Frederick poet and oil painter. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The American University.

Coming this HolidaySeason

ch

Grapes

In the museum’s Old Food Room on a sweltering day, a cluster of reds a century old hangs from a gold string against a subtle backdrop in an artist’s studio. Behind our polite interest, we are hot, thirsty, desperate to pluck a cold, sweet grape.

But the 400-year old, blushing Anjou over there looks even juicier. So easy to feel our teeth sinking into its pale flesh, nectar gathering, dripping off our chins. And a melon, sliced open in the 1400s

our frantic fingers yearn to fling its pulp and seeds to the marble floor, leaving behind for us the near-liquid fruit-meat of old, fertile Europe.

But there is the guard, and he is watching. Unquenched, we leave the masterpieces intact, the Old Food untouched. We find the sweltering outside has brought storms, gushers, and I marvel at how water, rain, for months enters a blossom and then its growing fruit so that, even in drought, we can drink.

— Sheryl Massaro

Courtesy photo

Sheryl Massaro

SHERYL MASSARO

WAREHOUSE CINEMAS

NEWS AND EVENTS:

$7 TUESDAYS

Any movie, including Dolby Atmos. All day. Anytime.

SPECIAL EVENT:

"A Bad Moms Christmas" Thursday, December 8th @ 6:30PM

INTERACTIVE BRUNCH CLUB:

"Its a Wonderful Life" Sunday, December 18th @ 11AM

CHRISTMAS EVE EVENT:

"The Polar Express" Saturday, December 24th @ 9AM, 10AM and 11AM

FILM LEAGUE PRESENTS:

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles" Wednesday, December 28th @ 7PM

Movies that are perfect for families this holiday season

BY METRO

Various traditions take center stage during the holiday season, one of which might be sitting down and enjoying a timeless Christmas movie or a newer holiday flick.

Here are some movies families can enjoy together this season.

• “The Polar Express” (2004): A young boy enjoys a magical adventure to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train. He learns about the true spirit of the holidays and the value of bravery and friendship along the way.

• “A Boy Called Christmas” (2021): Based on the book by Matt Haig, this movie is a reimagined take on Father Christmas. It focuses on Nikolas as he goes on an adventure to find a magical town called Elfhelm.

• “Jack Frost” (1998): When a father dies in a car accident, he comes back to life as a snowman in his son’s front yard. Jack learns to keep his promises and make things right with his son — things he wasn’t capable of doing as a human.

Enchanted Christmas” (1997): The Beast does not favor the holiday season, so Belle must change his mind on the matter in this animated Disney offering.

• “Elf” (2003): As a youngster, Buddy was magically transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. As an adult, he’s determined to find his real dad in New York City and uncover a way to fit in.

Warehouse Cinemas is an independently owned cinema that offers a unique, premium movie going experience by providing first-run movies + retro films, leather recliner seating w/ seat warmers, high-quality picture and sound, including Dolby Atmos, a modern-industrial décor, and premium food and drink options, including movie themed cocktails, wine and a 28-tap self-serve beer wall. Visit us at warehouscinemas.com or scan the QR Code for this week’s feature films.

• “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992): Charles Dickens’ classic story about a bitter miser might be a little frightening for young children to enjoy in its more theatrical offerings. However, when the Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale, the story becomes much more familyfriendly.

• “Christmas with the Kranks” (2004): The Kranks decide to forgo thir annual Christmas party and plan a vacation since their daughter will be out of town. But when said daughter decides to come home after all, chaos sets in as the couple tries to figure out how to put together an extravaganza at the last minute.

•

“Beauty and the Beast: The

• “Santa Hunters” (2014): A young boy teams up with his sibling and cousins to try to capture new footage of Santa in action and prove that the man in red truly exists.

• “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” (2018): This is a newer take on the classic Nutcracker tale. This adventure sees Clara defending the Land of Sweets from the evil Mother Ginger.

TWO FREE MOVIE PASSES TO WAREHOUSE CINEMAS

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE & CRAFT FESTIVAL

Saturdays and Sundays Nov 26, 27, Dec 3, 4, 10 & 11 10AM 4PM 4005 Valley View Rd

Middletown, MD 21769

valleyviewacresmd com

On Facebook and Instagram: @valleyviewacresmd

Resthaven Memorial Gardens

ANNUAL LUMINARY EVENT

Sat , Dec 10th, beginning at 4 pm

There will be light refreshments offered including beverages and cookies We are looking for members of the community to partake in the honorary placement of the candles on the grave sites If this interests you, we will begin the placement at 12:00 noon on the 10th

Don’t forget to visit Santa at Resthaven Funeral Home & Community Center to get your Christmas lists to his elves and collect your commemorative ornament Cleanup will begin Sun , Dec 11th at 12:00 noon, any assistance with this will be greatly appreciated We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Happy Holidays from the Resthaven Staff

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

Thursday Dec. 8

200 Monroe Restaurant — 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Monroe Center, 200 Monroe Ave., Frederick. Frederick Community College invites you to enjoy a gourmet dinner created by the talented students at 200 Monroe Restaurant! Reservations are required! For dine-in, visit opentable. com/200-Monroe. For carryout orders, go to toasttab.com/200-monroe (last order time 7 p.m). $38-$42. HCTI@frederick.edu. opentable.com/200-monroe.

Winter City Lights Holiday Festival —

5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 4501 Olney-Lay tonsville Road, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney. Guests can explore 200,000 square feet of displays covering 18 beau tifully decorated acres. Highlights include a 52-foot programmable Christmas tree featuring a canopy of lights and light show, an enchanted 1.5-mile trail through the woods featuring holiday displays and lights, a musical light show every 30 minutes, a snow tubing slide, concessions, lumberjack axe throwing and 14 bon fire areas for getting cozy and enjoying s’mores.  $39-$48. 888-720-1112. info@ wintercitylights.com. wintercitylights.com.

Annual Festival of Lights — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple and Visitors Center, 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington. 400,000 lights will illuminate the grounds begin ning at dusk each day, Monday through Sunday. Creche displays featuring nativ ities from around the world. Decorated Christmas trees, a wide array of perfor mances (see website for schedule). dctemple.org/festival-of-lights.

FCC Jazz Ensemble I — 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Frederick Community College Jack B. Kussmaul Theater, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. The FCC Jazz Ensemble I, under the direction of Anita Thomas, celebrates a semester of dedication and hard work with an evening of music. This festive performance will feature a wide variety of jazz. 301-846-2566. mgersten@ frederick.edu.

“Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley” — 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensem

ble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. By Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Directed by Suzanne Beal. As the family gathers at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to celebrate Christmas, Mary - the bookish middle child of the Bennets - finally has her day. Set two years after the events of “Pride and Prejudice,” this winning sequel with period style and modern wit is sure to delight Jane Austen fans and newcomers alike.  $32. 301-694-4744. zcallis@marylanden semble.org. marylandensemble.org.

Friday Dec. 9

FAMILY

Marvin Chapel Christmas Shop — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marvin Chapel United Method ist Church (basement), 5101 Woodville Road, Mount Airy. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17. Have a cookie or two while shopping! 240-405-6989. blacksmithsgirl@gmai.com.

Christmas at the Roundhouse — noon to 4 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Mu seum, 296 S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. See the trains of Christmas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 29 Admission $6.00 adults $1.00 for children 4 through 16 Free for children 3 and under. 240-674-1882. davem301@yahoo. com. roundhouse.org.

Winter Lights Festival — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Seneca Creek State Park, 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg. Also Sunday through Thursday 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance for a specific date. 3.5-mile drive through a woodland setting past more than 450 illuminated displays and trees that light up the night. (Closed Dec. 25.) $15 per car Monday through Thursday, $25 per car Friday and Saturday. gaithersburgmd.gov.

Kris Kringle Procession — 6:30 p.m. at begins at South Carroll and East Patrick streets, Frederick. Ends in Baker Park with the lighting of the City Tree.  The town lights up with the holiday spirit as local groups march alongside German/English characters of yesteryear and modern

favorites like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Jack Frost. 301-600-2841. celebratefrederick.com.

Holiday Market — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. The Holiday Market features all 13 Gallery members showing their various artworks — acrylic, oil and watercolor paint ings, photography, forged steel sculpture, fused glass.  Art prints and greeting cards. Two guest artists — Yvette Cousar (Uniquely Vetty Jewelry Designs) and Kim Hedg es (Books-as-Art). Show runs from Dec 2-18.  Fridays 5-7 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 1-5 p.m. Gallery Closed Dec 19 through Jan 1. eastsidearts313@gmail.com. eastsideartistsgallery.com.

Bethesda Art Walk — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Downtown Bethesda, Bethesda. Delight in four downtown Bethesda galleries and studios at the Bethesda Art Walk. Enjoy re freshments, and shop at these unique and inspiring galleries. Participating galleries include Gallery B, Studio B, Triangle Art Studios, and the Waverly Street Galleries. 301-215-6660. edavis@bethesda.org. bethesda.org/arts-and-entertainment/ art-galleries-studios/schedule.

Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Contest — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Competition open to D.C./ Maryland/Virginia songwriters. The dead line to apply is Dec. 9.  301-672-0008. jliu@bethesda.org. bethesda.org/arts-and-entertainment/ber nard-ebb-songwriting-awards.

Holiday Concert: Encore Chorales of Frederick and Asbury — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congrega tion of Frederick, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Holiday Concert performed by the Encore Chorale of Frederick and the Encore Chorale of Asbury. 301-473-5506. kirby4peace@aol.com. encorecreativity.org.

Bluegrass Jam — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club, 8101 Crum Road, Walkersville. Open to all levels of acoustic musicians and vocalists. Specta tors, families welcome. Sandwiches, snacks and sodas available for purchase. No smoking or swearing.

$5 donation at the door requested. 301898-3719.

“A Warm Wintery Mix” — 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jack B Kussmaul Theater at Freder ick Community College, 7932 Opossum town Pike, Frederick. Join the Choral Arts Society of Frederick as we celebrate the season with a selection of winter songs for friends and family.

$15 adults, $12 military/senior/student, under age 12 free. 301-846-2513. tickets@ casof.org.

“Irish Christmas in America” — 8 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diar mada, the hugely popular show features top Irish music, song and dance in an engaging performance rich in humor and boundless energy. The 2022 tour features special guest singer Caitríona Sherlock, showcasing the very best of new Irish female vocal talent. $35-$40. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityof frederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/irish-christ mas-in-america.

Kenny G in Concert — 8 p.m. at Holly wood Casino at Charles Town Races, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W.Va. The sound of Kenny G’s saxophone is as iconic as his curly coif; instantly recognizable. His latest release is “New Standards.” $35 to $85.

hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com.

“Countdown to Christmas” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Wil lowdale Drive, Frederick . Dinner 6 p.m., show at 8 p.m. A stroll down memory lane as stories of Christmases past are shared and the true meaning of the season is remembered. It’s a feel-good show for the entire family. Also, 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 12:30 p.m. buffet, 2:15 p.m. show first, third and fifth Sundays. $50 Fridays and Sundays; $53 Saturdays. 301-662-6600. wayoffbroadway.com.

“The Nutcracker” — 8 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Fred erick. The stunning artistry of Maryland Re gional Ballet and the beloved Tchaikovsky score combine to transport audiences to the Kingdom of Sweets. Under the direction of Joyce Morrison and featuring

guest artists from the New York City Ballet and students from the Frederick School of Classic Ballet, it’s a holiday tradition at its finest. Also at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Dec. 11. $20-$35. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityof frederick.com. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ the-nutcracker.

“Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley” — 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensem ble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. By Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon. Directed by Suzanne Beal. As the family gathers at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy to celebrate Christmas, Mary - the bookish middle child of the Bennets - finally has her day. Set two years after the events of “Pride and Prejudice,” this winning sequel with period style and modern wit is sure to delight Jane Austen fans and newcomers alike.  $32. 301-694-4744. zcallis@ marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org.

Saturday Dec. 10

Living History at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Members of the Blue and Gray Hospital Association will be in the Delaplaine Randall Conference Room at the museum describing the medi cal history of America’s bloodiest conflict. Dressed as members of the Confederate medical department and armed with period medical equipment, the unit brings a unique perspective to understanding the conflict.  Free. 301-695-1864. john. lustrea@civilwarmed.org. civilwarmed.org.

Raise your Wine IQ at Links Bridge Vineyard — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Links Bridge Vineyard, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Sample wine from local vineyards as you learn the 6 S’s of wine tasting. Presented by Jackie Rogers, a certified wine educator.301-600-8200. linksbridgevineyards.com.

Frederick County Pomona Grange Cookie Walk — 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Linganore Grange Hall, 13629 Unionville Road, Mount Airy. Why mess up your perfectly clean kitchen with all that holiday baking? Let us do it for you! The Frederick County Pomona Grange Cookie Walk is back serving holiday cookies. Come early for the best selection of cookies available. $10 per pound. 240-674-6450.

Bottoms Up Bagels Pop-Up — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bottoms Up Bagels Pop Up at the Y Teaching Kitchen, 629 N. Market St., Frederick. Baltimore-based Bottoms Up Bagels will bring its classic, NJ-style boiled bagels, signature spreads, house-cured lox and breakfast sandwiches to Frederick on Dec. 10 and 11 in conjunction with the

YMCA of Frederick County’s annual Santa Run, which raises funds to support theY’s programs and services.

715-497-6782. paul@bottomsupbagels. com. bottomsupbagels.com.

Holiday Makers Market — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Frederick MADE, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Join Frederick MADE every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas. The locally-made storefront has hundreds of items made exclusively by independent artists in Maryland and Virginia, and the shop will host an additional 8-10 artists each day. Vendor lineup is different every day. Free to attend. Drop-in activities for all ages are provided.

301-514-3866. mirandamossburg@gmail. com. frederickmade.com.

Museums by Candlelight at Rose Hill Manor — noon to 7 p.m. at Rose Hill Manor Park, 1611 N. Market St., Frederick. Explore holiday traditions while taking a self-guid ed tour of the museum facilities. 301-600-1650. rosehillmuseum.com.

Civil War Style Church Service — 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Rocky Springs Chapel, 7817 Rocky Springs Road, Frederick. A Civil War-style nondenominational church service. The service will be conducted by HRSC Trustee and preacher Kirk Callison, who will wear Civil War period attire. The wearing of Civil War period attire to the church service is encouraged but not required. 321-610-7246. debbymoone@ gmail.com.

Drag Queen Bingo — 5 p.m. at Brunswick Volunteer Fire Co., 1500 Volunteer Drive, Brunswick. Join Ashely Bannks, Tatiyanna Voche’, Chi Chi Ray Colby, and Nicole James for a fun night of Drag Queen Bingo! Doors open at 5 p.m., game and show starts at 7 p.m. $25 advance, $30 at the door. 301-305-0777.

Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 7 p.m. to 8:30 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, beckoning soldiers from the Civil War. Reservations recommended. $15. info@marylandghosttours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

Breakfast with Santa and the Grinch — 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Adventure Park USA, 11113 West Baldwin Road, Monrovia. Make this winter magical at Adventure Park’s annual meet and greet Breakfast with Santa & the Grinch. Meet Santa and his grinchy helper while you enjoy a deli cious breakfast. Paid admission is required. Seating is limited. One child age 2 and

CALENDAR

younger is free for breakfast with paid adult admission.

$24.95. 301-865-6800. janine@adven tureparkusa.com. adventureparkusa.com.

Fort Ritchie Community Center Holiday Craft Bazaar and Vendor Show — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fort Ritchie Community Center, 14421 Lake Royer Drive, Cascade. Over 60 vendors coming with lots of Christmas gift ideas and decorations to choose from. Food available for purchase. Santa will also be available from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for pictures. Bring the kids and your camera. 301-241-5085. Bcoyle@thefrcc.org. thefrcc.org.

Breakfast with Santa and the Grinch — 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Adventure Park USA, 11113 West Baldwin Road, Monrovia. Make this winter magical at Adventure Park’s annual meet and greet Breakfast with Santa & the Grinch. Meet Santa and his grinchy helper while you enjoy a deli cious breakfast. Paid admission is required. Seating is limited. One child age 2 and younger is free for breakfast with paid adult admission. $24.95. 301-865-6800. janine@adven tureparkusa.com. adventureparkusa.com.

Santa’s Farm Fest — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville. Visit with friendly farm animals, feed the animals, take pictures with Santa, enjoy vendors’ goodies in the heated stables, and go on a festive hayride on the farm. Visit with a live Elsa in our Frozen-themed snow globe (and a blow-up Olaf) and a live Grinch with sleigh. Enjoy the warmth of fire rings while making s’mores. $16 (credit) for ages 2 and up. 301-8659203. info@greenmeadowsevents.com.

Marvin Chapel Christmas Shop — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marvin Chapel United Method ist Church (basement), 5101 Woodville Road, Mount Airy. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17. Have a cookie or two while shopping! 240-405-6989. blacksmithsgirl@gmai.com.

Christmas Shopping with Alpacas — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Shepherd’s Purse Alpaca, 7971 Bennett Branch Road, Mount Airy. 301-452-1874. info@ shepherdspursealpacas.com. shepherdspursealpacas.com.

“Junior Claus” — 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Other Voices Theatre, 244 B S. Jefferson St., Frederick. Junior Claus is the only son of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Like many teen agers, Junior is reluctant to take over the

family business. Ticket price includes juice and a cookie. $15. 301-662-3722. administration@othervoicestheatre.org.

Locally-Made Market — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Francis Scott Key, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Join Frederick MADE at The Artist’s Market for our Locally-Made mar ket. Kids crafting station and DIY Bar along with local vendors popping-up.  301-514-3866. mirandamossburg@gmail. com. frederickmade.com.

Schifferstadt by Candlelight — noon to 6 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Enjoy free arts and crafts for kids, open hearth cooking demonstrations, historical entertainment and tours of Frederick’s oldest house, a National Historic Land mark. Purchase German Glühwein from the Frederick Sister Cities Association and do your holiday shopping in the museum shop — period toys, paraphernalia and books, including the series by Eric Sloane. 301-456-4912. boycerensberger@gmail. com. fredericklandmarks.org/events.

Train Garden — noon to 5 p.m. at Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co., 702 N Main St., Mount Airy. Every weekend through Dec. 31, except Christmas and New Year’s Day. Parking and entry in the lower level of the fire station. mavfc.org.

Visit with Santa — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at American Legion Gold Star Post 191, 801 Prospect Road, Mount Airy. American Legion Gold Star Post 191 invites children to visit Santa, get a photo, and take home a goodie bag. To support Toys-for-Tots. 301-829-9161. goldstarpost191@gmail. com. post191.com.

Christmas Country Churches Tour of Myersville, Harmony, Wolfsville and Foxville — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Myersville Town Hall, 301 Main St., Myersville. The tour is free and self-guided, drive at your own pace. The first stop is Myersville Town Hall, 301 Main St., where maps are available. If the snow emergency plan is in effect in Frederick County on Dec. 10, the tour will be rescheduled for Dec. 11. Check Facebook or wmahistory.com for status. 301-293-2436. mwahistory.com.

“The Nutcracker” — 7:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hag erstown. Also at 3 p.m. Dec. 11. Presented by the Western Md. City Ballet Co. and The City Ballet School.  $19. 301-790-2000. mdtheatre.org.

Berkeley Community Chorus — 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 220 W. Burke St., Martinsburg, W.Va. 10th anniversary collaboration fea

turing the Charles Washington Symphony Orchestra from Charles Town for this year’s Christmas Concert.

$10 at the door, $8 for seniors over 65, free for 12 and under. 304-582-2965. berkeleycommunitychorus@gmail.com. berkommchorus.org.

WHS Music Jolly Jubilee and Breakfast with Santa — 8 a.m. to noon at Walkersville High School, 81 W. Frederick St., Walkers ville . Live music, crafts, games, bake sale, local vendors and breakfast with Santa. $5 for children and seniors, $10 for adults, free for kids under 3. 814-592-1964. whslionsmusicboosters@gmail.com. whslionsmusic.org/jollyjubilee.

Gallery of Gifts — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., West minster. 36 artists will display and sell their handmade wares. Open through Dec. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.  410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

The Clay and Metal Loft Holiday Art Market — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Clay and Metal Loft, 27 Fairfax St., Leesburg, Va. With Amy Manson Pottery, Zia Design Jewelry, Ute Gil Fine Art and Juan Gil Woodturning. 571-442-8181. theclayand metalloft@gmail.com.

Holiday Market — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Show runs from Dec 2-18.  Fri days 5-7 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 1-5 p.m. Gallery Closed Dec 19 through Jan 1. eastsidearts313@gmail.com. eastsideartistsgallery.com.

Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise Song Circle — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Faith Assembly of God , 3700 Burkittsville Road, Brunswick . In person or via Zoom, join us in making music. Tomy Wright hosts. We use Rise Up Singing as a source book. 301-471-0889. d.koronet@att.net. frederickacoustic.org.

Holiday Caroling, Crafts & Hot Chocolate — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at FCPL (Middle town Branch Library), 101 Prospect St., Middletown. Gather together as a commu nity to sing holiday carols, make crafts and enjoy hot chocolate. Featuring the music of Carolen, an accordion and banjo duo. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcoun tymd.gov.

Emmitsburg Community Chorus — 3 p.m. at Lewistown United Methodist Church, 11032 Hessong Bridge Road, Lewistown. In the Basilica. The concert features holiday favorites from around the world. Free-will offerings accepted.

“A Warm Wintery Mix” — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Jack B Kussmaul Theater at Freder ick Community College, 7932 Opossum town Pike, Frederick. Join the Choral Arts

Society of Frederick as we celebrate the season with a selection of winter songs for friends and family. $15 adults, $12 military/ senior/student, under age 12 free. 301846-2513. tickets@casof.org.

FCC Jazz Big Band Concert — 7:30 p.m. at Frederick Community College | Visual & Performing Arts Center | JBK Theater, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. Enjoy this swinging night of jazz favorites featuring the music of Howard Burns and the FCC Big Band.

Advent Concert — 7:30 p.m. at Chapel of Immaculate Conception, 16630 University Way, Emmitsburg. Mount St. Mary’s Univer sity Department of Visual and Performing Arts presents an Advent Concert. Enjoy seasonal music in the Chapel of Immacu late Conception. 301-447-5150. venzin@msmary.edu.

Sunday Dec. 11

Holiday Makers Market — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Frederick MADE, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Join Frederick MADE every Saturday and Sunday until Christmas. The locally-made storefront has hundreds of items made exclusively by independent artists in Maryland and Virginia, and the shop will host an additional 8-10 artists each day. Vendor lineup is different every day. Free to attend. Drop-in activities for all ages are provided. 301-514-3866. mirandamossburg@gmail.com. frederickmade.com.

“A Christmas Celebration” featuring the Washington DC Temple Choir — 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 199 North Place, Frederick. The Frederick Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites you to “A Christmas Celebration” featuring the Washington DC Temple Choir. The Wash ington DC Temple Choir is composed of over 80 singers selected by audition from church members residing in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. The concert includes beloved sacred carols as well as old favor ites. A reception will be held afterwards to meet the choir and enjoy fellowship.  240-575-8940. kamsleybradford@msn. com.

Santa’s Farm Fest — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville. Visit with friendly farm animals, feed the animals, take pictures with Santa, enjoy vendors’ goodies in the heated stables, and go on a festive hayride on the farm. Visit with a live Elsa in our Frozen-themed snow globe (and a blow-up Olaf) and a live Grinch with sleigh. Enjoy the warmth of fire rings while making s’mores. $16 (credit) for ages 2 and up. 301-865-9203. info@green meadowsevents.com. greenmeadows events.com/events/santas-day-farm.

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

Law Office of Lena A. Clark

2022 FINALIST FOR BEST LAW FIRM – ESTATE

129 W. Patrick St, #11, Frederick 301-696-0567 lenaclarklegal.com

“I now have a Will. That will avoid Probate and make my family’s life easier when I go, right?” No!

One of the most common misconceptions we hear from potential clients is that a Last Will and Testament will avoid the Probate process. It will not! Setting up a Will can have several important benefits. For instance, when you die, it will be known who will be in charge of your Estate, and you can distribute your assets according to your wishes.

However, many of your assets must still go through the process known as Probate, which involves opening a legal case and going through a series of bureaucratic steps. The typical, simple Probate takes around a year. This is a tedious process, with severe consequences when done incorrectly. We are happy to help families handle the difficulties of Probate when it is necessary. In fact, Probate matters are our favorite cases –they require a significant amount of work, and are therefore the most lucrative part of our practice. Simply put, we are better off when clients select a simple Will, because their families will oftentimes hire us for their Probate matter. However, we feel it is our ethical obligation to explain the pros and cons of Wills vs. Trusts when our clients are planning ahead.

So, how do you avoid Probate? The first step is creating a Revocable Living Trust in addition to the essential Estate Planning documents. The Trust works hand in hand with your Will to help determine where your hard-earned money will be distributed, but has the added

benefit of avoiding any reporting requirements to the court.

Next, you need to make sure that your hardearned money and assets get placed in the Trust or will go into the Trust when you die. We provide our Trust clients with step-by-step instructions and guidance to complete this step.

So, who should have a Revocable Living Trust? Almost everyone who wants to avoid giving more burden to their loved ones. In addition to that, if you own a home, or have minor children or grandchildren, a Trust will help solve problems that you never knew existed.

Please keep in mind that the additional expenses of setting up a Trust up front will save your loved ones tens of thousands of dollars once you are gone. As is often the case, having something done right at the outset will save a lot of money and hassle on the other end.

If you would like help with your Estate Planning documents or to handle an uncontested Probate matter, schedule with us at 301-696-0567 (we have 24-hour representatives if you call after-hours), admin@lenaclarklegal.com, or self-schedule online at lenaclarklegal.com.