JANUARY 9
psyche SLEEPING
Frederick Dream Lab explores the subconscious mind for self-discovery
JOIN THE FREDERICK DREAM LAB
What better time than January, the quietest corner of the year, to drift more deeply into the workings of your inner life — specifically your dream world? Andrew Moss, a social worker based in Frederick, leads Frederick Dream Labs, six-week sessions where he guides a small group of people in uncovering the messages found in their dreams. The next session is slated for Jan. 14 through Feb. 18. Read our interview with Moss, and see frederickdreamlab.com for more info or to register. Moss also works with clients one-on-one, if that is preferred.
HOW ARE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS COMING?
Writer Joseph Peterson admits in an essay published this week that he has struggled with keeping New Year’s resolutions, like most of us, but he has a simple solution this year: Resolve to increase your tolerance for spicy foods, incrementally! He’s even created a little rhyming poem to help newbies with food and hot-sauce pairings. Of course, it helps that he loves spicy food, but this is also a way to explore not just spice tolerance but anything we find grueling: little by little, incrementally.
IT’S OFFICIALLY MOVIE (OR TV BINGING) SEASON
Robert Eggers’ reimagining of the classic “Nosferatu” and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown” seem to be the top picks in recent weeks for movie theatergoers. And let’s not forget “Wicked” — though that would be tough to forget, considering its marketing budget (to the tune of $150 million). This weekend, we also have “Babygirl,” “Game Changer” and “Better Man” at local theaters. If you prefer to stay cozy at home, look for a “Walking Dead” reunion on Jan. 13 in “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” a six-episode series that will be streaming on Netflix. Later this month, check out “Paradise,” starring Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson (Jan. 28, Hulu); “You’re Cordially Invited,” starring Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon (Jan. 30, Amazon Prime); plus some oldies but goodies coming to Netflix this month: “Inception” and “Melancholia.” And don’t forget about the hidden jem that is Kanopy, a streaming search you can access through your Frederick County Public Libraries card (it offers great films, especially in the indie/arthouse realm).
FEMALE FIREFIGHTER
PUBLISHES
A BOOK OF POETRY
You might know her as a special education teacher or perhaps as a firefighter, but Erica Gray-O’Leary is also a poet. Her debut chapbook, “The Dark Side of the Divine,” was published in 2024 by Blue Jade Press under the pen name E. Elizabeth Gray. In it, she writes about her experiences as a female firefighter over three decades — and all that it entailed. She hopes to shed light on the fire community and culture, both the good and bad, and especially women volunteers.
EAT & DRINK
BY JOSEPH PETERSON Special to The News-Post
For Christmas, my wife humored me by giving in to my endless hints about what I hoped to find under the tree: a jar of roasted green chile relish from Hatch, New Mexico. It’s a good thing she got me more than one, though, because two days after Christmas, the first jar was empty. Yes, I have a problem, but I confess it’s one I’ve no interest in solving. I think I’d rather evangelize my “problem,” which is much bigger, frankly, than a jar of roasted chile peppers.
It’s an obsession with spicy food and condiments of all kinds.
Before I continue, I want to know: How are your resolutions going so far? If you’re anything like me, about mid-January I realize my resolutions are disappointingly a rerun of past years, and chances are high I’ll get bored or overwhelmed by them right before I “forget” they exist altogether. See? We’re the same!
In that spirit, might I offer something to break us out of this endless cycle? I propose a resolution for 2025 that we all strive to achieve together, one that is actionable and, dare I say, even essential to happier living! OK, read the following out loud: “I resolve to challenge my sensitive palate by eating spicier food.” See? I knew you could do it! Now back to me.
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
I’ve always been a lover of the spice. I suppose some of us are naturally disposed to enjoying a little fire on the tongue, and among these I count myself.
One of my earliest experiences of that intoxicating burn came when I tried chips and salsa for the first time as a kid. Of course like any kid, I had no interest in the chunkiness the jar advertised. I found that a vertical dunk into salsa, however, would cover the chip with a thin veneer of that spicy tomato sauce. I was instantly hooked. It did burn, mind you. It seems common among non-spicy eaters to assume spice lovers don’t feel the heat. We do! My mouth burned between every bite, causing me to reflexively place the tip of my tongue on the back of my upper teeth and open my mouth in a sheepish grin in
... And a spicy new year
Spice is the spice of life.
order to suck in air like coolant, all in an effort to cope with the sensation of unrelenting spice. Doesn’t that sound like a blast?
Of course, tolerance can increase over time from eating spicy things. It was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said “That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do it has increased.” It astounds me how well this applies to human consumption of scorchingly hot chile peppers. Surely it must have been what Emerson had in mind when he wrote it.
NOT BY HEAT ALONE
Naturally, there are limits to what can be enjoyed, or endured, but to love spice is to repeatedly flirt with your ceiling with it. Sometimes things go too far, I admit, but take heart! All it can do is cause you to sweat a bit, panic, then maybe pace the floor, before you find yourself offering breathy screams into the void be -
tween guzzling a gallon of milk and shoving an entire loaf of bread into your mouth. There are worse things. In these times, it’s good to remember not all burns are equally intense, and good spice shouldn’t just be hot for its own sake. It needs to impart or enhance a flavor in addition to bringing the heat. This is the intoxicating combination, and it’s where spicy aficionados will often find their preferred peppers of choice. That’s the bird’s eye chile pepper, for me, popular in Thai and other Asian cooking. I planted bird’s eye in my garden one year. The peppers were so unbelievably hot, I couldn’t cook with them at all, not even one. It would make the whole meal too hot for my family to eat. So I left them on the
A re we resolved, then, to embrace a more exciting way to enjoy food for the coming year? Good. I’ll see you in the hot sauce aisle.
plant. Toward the end of the season, I had to pick them all as the weather started to get cooler. By then the chilis, spicy as ever, had taken on a “vineripened” sweetness, a tropical fruitiness that I thought might become even more pronounced if I sundried them.
And eureka! It worked! Eagerly, I took my dried chiles and, thinking they’d make a beautifully fragrant chile powder from hell, tossed them into the blender. I’m proud to say, the six months I spent lovingly nurturing that plant, and all the effort it took to transform its fruit into chile flakes, resulted in about a few thimbles full of chile powder. But what it lacked in quantity, it made up for in spicy bliss, and I put it on everything.
Photos by Joseph Peterson
Mike Kuster nominated for four 2024 Independent Music Network Awards
The Independent Music Network announced on Dec. 30 that rising country music star Mike Kuster has been nominated for four prestigious awards at the 2024 Independent Music Network Awards.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE BURN
Now I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes: Unlike the dry flakes, it does matter which hot sauce goes with which food. In lieu of a hot sauce sommelier, I wrote a simple little poem. Feel free to carry it in your back pocket whenever you might wonder which hot sauce you need for the food you’re eating. It’s nearly foolproof, if a little biased: Sriracha for Hawaiian food and Asian noodle soups
Tabasco for those collard greens and Southern style stews, Cholula’s best for eggs and hash, and breakfast tacos, too, But Tapatio’s best of all — on TexMex, nothing else will do.
I know it’s scary, but it’s a noble pursuit, actually, to want to increase your spice tolerance, especially
since worlds of flavor await. Beyond the heat, the chiles themselves have their own unique, exquisite flavors — tropical, fruity, smoky, earthy — that reach beyond their function as mere heat transmitters and into the realm of high gastronomy. You may even learn to love the burn … eventually. Are we resolved, then, to embrace a more exciting way to enjoy food for the coming year? Good. I’ll see you in the hot sauce aisle.
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.
Kuster, who is based in Frederick County, has earned nominations in the following categories: Favorite Male Country Artist, Favorite Country Single for “Back To Feagaville,” Favorite Country Impact Artist and Songwriter of the Year.
This recognition comes as a testament to Kuster’s growing influence and success within the country music scene. Known for his heartfelt lyrics, powerful performances and dynamic musical style, Kuster has built a loyal fanbase and earned critical acclaim in recent years.
The IMN awarded Kuster the award Favorite Male Country Artist of 2023, Favorite Country Impact Artist of 2022, and Favorite Country Song of 2021 for his song “Daddy’s Blue Jean Jacket.”
The IMN Awards highlight exceptional talent and achievements in the independent music community. Kuster’s nominations reflect his hard work, dedication and the impact he
continues to have on the country genre. His single “Back To Feagaville” has contributed to his widespread recognition as one of country music’s emerging stars.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful to be nominated by the Independent Music Network for four awards,” Kuster said. “It’s a privilege to be recognized among such talented artists, and I want to thank my fans, my team and everyone who has supported me on this journey. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Kuster’s 2024 IMN nominations reflect his dedication to his craft and the unique sound that has earned him a spot at the forefront of the independent country music scene.
The 2024 IMN Awards will be announced in February. Kuster, along with his fellow nominees, will be celebrating the success of independent music and the artists who continue to contribute to the genre of country music.
For more information about Kuster, visit mikekuster.net. Follow him on digital streaming platforms and social media at mikekuster.net/links.
Staff file photo by Katina Zentz
Mike Kuster at his home in Walkersville in January 2022.
Unlike the dry flakes, it does matter which hot sauce goes with which food.
FAMILY
Collaboration and community shine bright at the Children’s Center of Walkersville
BY ERIN JONES
Special to The News-Post
The entire route leads through a lush forest, over two bridges, past a picturesque town, through a snowy wonderland, and then — most alarmingly — under a volcano that leads to a prehistoric land of dinosaurs. The route, of course, is in Walkersville.
The path is a well-traveled one atop the train table at the Children’s Center of Walkersville. Here, the vehicles are driven in the hands of 2-year-olds, who gather around the table to traverse the path and the many adventures it holds.
Once worn and faded by years of wheels scraping away the picture, the train table has now been refurbished and transformed. Not only has the table been repainted, it has been redesigned and reimagined from the mind of local 10th grade artist Lilly McCoy. The collaboration is the latest example of the many ways the Children’s Center of Walkersville is seeking to cultivate connection in the community.
“It is my nature to tie things together in the community. It’s in my DNA, I think,” said Ginny Simoneau, owner of the Children’s Center of Walkersville. In her 37 years at the Children’s Center, the last 10 of which were as its owner, Simoneau has been intentional about fostering opportunities for the students to connect with the larger community. The childcare and preschool programs include ages 2 to 5, while the afterschool and summer programs are available through the fifth grade.
The collaboration that brought a 10th grade artist and a class of 2-year-olds together began to take shape at the gym. Simoneau’s trainer of eight years is Lilly McCoy’s mother, Sonia.
“She had shown me some of the artwork [Lilly] had done, which was costumes she makes for each Halloween. I’ve seen that she’s creative, but I didn’t know about her painting,” Simoneau said.
Simoneau asked if Lilly might be interested in repainting the train table but said she was not prepared for what the young artist would create in the process.
“I just thought it was going to be a little painting that’d be fine for 2-yearolds. They’re not picky,” Simoneau said. “She really blew me away with what she painted. It was incredible. I wanted to hang it on the wall.”
Lilly is in 10th grade at Walkersville High School but said she has been drawing since before kindergarten. “I
found [art] to be a really enjoyable thing, like an outlet, since I was little,” she said.
“That momentum has still kept me going. I really enjoy the process of creating, and I think it’s really important.”
Drawing horses turned into drawing dragons, and she now creates her own character designs. She has an eye on a career in animation at the moment, but for now, she’s taking Drawing and Painting II at school and hopes to join the National Art Honor Society next year. This past summer, she attended a summer art program at the Savannah College of Art and Design, which both inspired her and filled her with vision for a future career in the arts. Her impressive sewing and costuming skills have put the theater on her radar as well.
For this project, she approached the train table with an eye for logistics, in addition to artistry. She visited the classroom to observe how the table was used, and her attention to detail and care
in the process impressed Simoneau.
“She listened and paid attention to what was going on in the room,” Simoneau said. “She saw some of the kids at play, and she put together an awesome little painting.”
Lilly began sketching her design and began researching. “I was looking at other train tables, how they were designed, how the environment was and the perspective that everything was in,” she said. She thought about how to make the design accessible to the wingspan of a 2-year-old and spaced out the road so that it would be within arm’s length.
She also sought to space it out for collaborative play, designing each space of the table to be engaging for the children gathered.
Once the design was made, she started the painting process — sanding, priming and applying a white base coat from which to create her world.
“I really wanted to have a lot of the
bright colors and the rounder shapes so the kids are more drawn to them, as opposed to realistic stuff,” Lilly said. “Kids like cartoons, and I thought that would be more suited to them.”
Getting colors to pop with the vividness she had envisioned took several coats of paint, and the work was time-intensive. Over the course of about five weeks, she worked for a couple of hours a day several days a week. Despite the time commitment, Simoneau said Lilly would not accept payment for the project. She wanted to volunteer her time.
Once the painting was completed, the task of protecting it from the fate of the original table still remained. Lilly sealed it with two coats of Mod Podge, creating a hard layer that she hopes will withstand the test of time and tiny wheels.
Once introduced back into the
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Staff photo by Ric Dugan
Lilly McCoy, left, watches Quinn Simoneau, Elliot Birkin and Ahzari McMillan play on a table top that Lilly painted for the kids at the Children’s Center in Walkersville
The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of Jan. 10
Activities to do with the kids this weekend, courtesy of The Frederick Mom.
Pizza Making Class
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 11
Mason Dixon BBQ Services East, 5801-C Buckeystown Pike, Frederick
$40/student (ages 14+)
Are you and your teen looking to try your hand at making homemade pizza? This hands-on cooking class will go over the basic fundamentals on how to make a great pie. Students will learn the essential tools required, learn about different ovens, grills and attachments, plus understand the temperatures needed. They will also go over types of flour, yeast, sugar and various toppings to create your own custom masterpiece to enjoy! No sharp knives in this class; bring your teen and make this a family memory to cherish! This class is great for ages 14 and up. Sign up at mdbbqservices.com/event/pizza-class-frederick.
Permanent Jewelry PopUp
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 11
Creative Spaces Boutique & Design, 8995A Urbana Church Road, Frederick Free to attend; jewelry cost varies Saturday afternoon, join MIKU Permanent Jewelry at the adorable gift shop Creative Spaces in Urbana and try something new! Grab your sister, friend or your preteen who would absolutely love getting permanent jewelry. What is permanent jewelry? It’s a custom piece of jewelry that is welded together to create a timeless look that’s intended to stay on as daily wear. MIKU offers
sterling silver and 14K gold chains, plus many charms to choose from. No appointment or registration is needed. It’s first come, first served for jewelry. The cost varies upon your custom style, length and charms. Sparkle together this Saturday!
Storytime at Barnes & Noble
11 a.m. Jan. 11
Barnes & Noble, 5500 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick Free
Every Saturday at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble in Frederick hosts a free storytime for little ones. Head to the Francis Scott Key Mall, where B&N is located, grab a coffee from their in-store Starbucks, shop books and gifts, and let your kids enjoy storytime at their Children’s Center for the hour. No pre-registration is required. Your kids will certainly enjoy the cute space for children they have there.
FredBricks
5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 11
Frederick Arts Council, 7 N. Market St., Frederick $15/adult, $10/child
FredBricks is back! Get creative and build with the family at the Frederick Arts Council Artists Studios Classroom this Saturday. FredBricks is an event for all ages. Bring your own bricks (LEGOs or any other building blocks). Guests can also expect some miscellaneous bricks to be provided. Falling Squares and the Frederick Arts Council host this event on the second Saturday of each month. For more info, email fallingsquares@gmail.com.
Starry Night Terrarium Workshop
1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 12 Take Root Green Room,
TIFFANY MAHANEY
Photos by Tiffany Mahaney
Bring your kids to Storytime at Barnes & Noble, while you grab coffee and shop books.
CENTER
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classroom, the table’s reception has been glowing. It was immediately crowded by children from the moment of its installation.
“The parents and the kids love it because it’s so gorgeous,” Simoneau said.
Froggy, a much-beloved character in the classroom, makes an appearance on the table to the delight of Simoneau and the children. Lilly’s favorite part is the section showing dinosaurs, a region of the table she designed with her young audience in mind.
As both of them recently watched the children play at the table, Simoneau commented to Lilly, “You really nailed it, in terms of the variety of things that you created in a way that is really appealing to them, and it’s just delightful.”
Some of the children gathered around the train table toddle off at points and return in various costume pieces from their dress-up corner. It seems fitting that these children should incorporate some dress-up elements of firefighter or veterinarian into their play, when Simoneau has intentionally incorporated the larger community into
their educational experience. Growing up in a small Pennsylvania town, this value was impressed on her from an early age.
“We didn’t have a car in a small town, and every Friday, [my father] would take two or three of us and we would walk downtown to the grocery store, to the hardware store,” Simoneau said.
“Everywhere we went, he knew people. He talked to them because they were people he was stationed with during the war. It wasn’t until later in life, I realized the importance of it, because some of that’s getting lost in this world.”
Now a veteran herself, Simoneau tasked the children to write letters to military staff overseas during the holidays as one of their community experiences. They have also held fundraisers for community causes like the building of the new Walkersville library branch in 2018 and collecting donations for Walkersville Food Bank.
“Children need to know the importance of community and support and giving, not just taking it but being a part of it,” said Simoneau. “They need to learn that at an early age, more than ever, because the world’s so divisive.”
In 2018, Simoneau was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the
Governor’s Service Awards Ceremony in recognition of her years of service to the community through her work in early childhood education.
The impact of her work is also visible in the lives of the children who have matriculated through the program.
Recently, Simoneau ran into a former student’s mother, who thanked her. “Her daughter is going for a doctorate. She said [the Children’s Center] is where she started and got into the whole education system,” Simoneau said. “We are an education system, and our No. 1 goal is the whole social emotional piece. That’s where it starts.”
For the 2-year-olds of the Children’s Center of Walkersville, many of their earliest social memories will no doubt involve bonding over imaginative adventures at the train table, thanks to Lilly McCoy.
Erin Jones is a freelance writer, former humanities teacher and owner of Galvanize & Grow Copywriting. She holds a BA in English from Hood College and an MA in English from the Bread Loaf School of English, through which she studied literature at Middlebury College and Oxford University. Learn more at erinjoneswriter.com, or follow her on Instagram @ErinJonesWriter.
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320 E. Church St., Frederick $55
Sign up for a terrarium workshop and make a little starry night ecosystem from start to finish, hosted by Take Root Plants. This Sunday, you can learn to build your own bioactive plant scene. Students will receive everything needed to make the terrarium, as well as a squeeze bottle for watering and a care card to maintain the health of your terrarium. This event is located at the event space, Take Root Green Room, right around the corner from the Take Root Plants shop in Frederick. All attendees will also receive a coupon to use at the shop. Register for this and other classes online. •••
R.E.A.D. with Wags for Hope 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 12 Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick Free
Wags for Hope might be bringing us the cutest event for kids this weekend. This Sunday, children can visit the Urbana Library and practice their reading skills to an audience of patient, furry and adorable dogs from Reading Education Assistance Dogs. Have your kids bring along their absolute favorite book to read, or borrow any book available at the library. Wags for Hope events are recommended for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. This event is hosted by Frederick County Public Libraries. No registration is needed. You’re sure to make family memories reading to pups this weekend!
Tiffany Mahaney is at least a fifthgeneration 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.
R.E.A.D. with Wags for Hope might just be the cutest event of the week.
Staff photo by Ric Dugan
Lilly McCoy poses for a portrait next to the table top train set that she painted for the kids at the Children’s Center in Walkersville.
Erica Gray-O’Leary wrote a poetry chapbook about her experiences as a female firefighter
BY KARI A. MARTINDALE Special to The News-Post
Erica Gray-O’Leary is a Frederick County special education teacher, a firefighter of over three decades and, most recently, a published poet. Her debut chapbook, “The Dark Side of the Divine,” was published by Blue Jade Press under her pen name, E. Elizabeth Gray, in 2024.
Among the themes Gray-O’Leary’s poetry explores is the trauma of firefighting, particularly from a female perspective, which becomes clear as soon as you open the book and see her dedications to “all first responders who carry the darkness within” and “all little girls who dream of being more and dare to take it.”
“There is definitely a [unique] perspective when [your sex in the fire service is] represented by 9%,” GrayO’Leary said. “I worked for seven years as a government firefighter, the second woman [firefighter] ever at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. I am still only one of two, and I have not been there since 2010. The fire department has been there since the ‘60s.”
Unfortunately, Erica Gray-O’Leary said that instead of forming bonds, she and other female firefighters compete to be a part of the “boys’ club” in the firehouse, and there is a feeling that there will only be room for one woman to belong.
Gray-O’Leary brings the insight of trauma to the mundane. She observes in her poem “Roadkill”:
A human smells different from an animal
I miss the innocence
I resent that I know the difference between rotting man and beast.
“The poetry that I’m writing is more therapy than anything else,” Gray-O’Leary said. “That’s how it started. But it’s really hard to write. … A friend of mine said, ‘Write through the pain.’ Sometimes I can do it, [but] sometimes I have to put the pen down.”
Gray-O’Leary’s poetry is largely informed by her response to firefighter suicide and experiencing that loss. Her mentor during her first year as an EMT committed suicide. “Nobody knew,” she recalled. “Nobody expected it.”
She said that three of the poems in “The Dark Side of the Divine” come directly from her contacts with suicide. “I remember, after writing those [poems], I was done. Almost every single [poem
are permanently and totally disabled as a result of traumatic self-inflicted injury.”
Gray-O’Leary finds that there is a lack of mental health providers who specialize in first responders. According to FEMA, “[An] increasing number of firefighters are dying by suicide as a result of suffering from behavioral health issues — including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — from exposures that they have suffered while delivering emergency services to the public. There is a lack of culturally competent behavioral health specialists to assist firefighters and local Employee Assistance Programs are illequipped to assist first responders.”
Laura Fantacci, a licensed clinical professional counselor in Frederick, doesn’t specialize in treating first responders but has treated them and recognizes the impact of the job.
“In working with first responders,” she said, “it’s important to remember that the cumulative impact of secondary trauma can lead to anxiety, depression or substance abuse without the individual even realizing that they’re struggling. A trauma-informed therapist who is familiar with the stigma or the fear of judgement that may prevent many first responders from seeking help can provide necessary support to process difficult emotions and experiences [and] avoid burnout.”
Gray-O’Leary stresses the need for mental health services in the beginning of the career, before firefighters have experienced trauma. Throughout the years, she has watched her superiors, and eventually herself, respond to someone’s distress by treating them to a can of soda from the vending machine, rather than providing tangible support. Thirty-two years into her career, however, she is a self-seeking patient in a peer support group.
in the collection] has some part of [the suicide] experience in it.”
One of those experiences manifests in her poem “Senior Living Shades of Green” in the lines “Empty medicine bottles on the counter/ all of the labels too new.”
She said that poem was a “hard one to write, because I’d put these [experiences] away.” It refers to the suicide of a woman in a regional fire department, who was bullied in her firehouse. “That’s how that ended.”
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, “[m]ore officers and firefighters died of suicide than lineof-duty deaths in 2017.” Firefighters like Gray-O’Leary would like for first responder suicides to be considered line
of duty deaths.
“In the fire service [and with] the first responders, we track line-of-duty deaths [and] put a lot of money into physical fitness, [not] being exposed to carcinogens, and into training,” she said. “[The related] injuries have leveled, but what we don’t see is suicide rates, which are going up. They’re not considered lineof-duty deaths … yet.”
There is progress toward officially linking firefighter suicide to duty. In 2022, President Biden signed The Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022. The US Fire Administration reported that “[the] legislation expands the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program to cover public safety officers who die as a result of suicide under certain circumstances or
“We all have the same story. We start off very young, being told suck it up, pack it away, go the next call. Thirty-two years down the road, we can’t stuff it in anymore. It’s all starting to come back. … We’re all telling the same story, we’re all saying we’ve been screwed up since the [beginning of our careers].”
While Gray-O’Leary writes from her experience as a woman, she stresses that these experiences are not reserved for women alone.
Among the stresses of the job, firefighters work long shifts, sometimes for days at a time. Gray-O’Leary once got 10 calls during an overnight shift in Germantown, where she remains a life
(See
Kari Martindale
Erica Gray-O’Leary released her debut poetry book, “The Dark Side of the Divine,” under the pen name E. Elizabeth Gray.
GETAWAYS
Journey out to the Outer Banks
BY GARY BENNETT Special to The News-Post
My wife and I have been up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida many times. We’ve enjoyed the Atlantic Ocean in Bar Harbor and Kennebunkport, both Ocean Cities (New Jersey and Maryland), Cape May, Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville, Miami Beach and Key West.
But, somehow along the way, we missed the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
We finally made it this past fall, and I’m so glad we did.
The Outer Banks (or OBX as signs and license plates proclaim everywhere) is well-known around Frederick. Many families tell stories of renting a house on this narrow sliver of land that spans about 200 miles of coastline, inviting the entire extended family to join them. I can only imagine what fun this must be.
The Outer Banks is an interesting name. It is a barrier island (or more correctly, a series of barrier islands) sitting in the Atlantic Ocean a few miles from the North Carolina mainland. On a map, it resembles a wayward violin string or a dog’s crooked hind leg. “Barrier” means that the islands will eventually surrender to the ocean, but hopefully not for millions of years.
The islands are separated from the mainland by sounds, which we don’t have here in Maryland. With exotic names like Albemarle, Currituck and Pamlico, these large bodies of water are bigger than a bay or river but not as big as a sea. This gives the islands a secluded feel. Also, there are only a few access points, which increases the feeling of seclusion. You can reach the Outer Banks by highway, of course, but other areas to the south can only be accessed by ferry or small plane.
We arrived at Outer Banks via North Carolina Route 158, which winds its way down the coast from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. We crossed over the Albemarle Sound and landed near the small village of Southern Shores. From there, it was just a short, pleasant ride to our hotel in Kill Devil Hills.
From Frederick, our drive totaled about 5 and a half hours, covering 320 miles. Overall, it was pleasant. It helps to leave on a Saturday morning if you can, thereby minimizing the traffic around D.C. and Richmond. Once you hang a right at Hampton Roads and head south, traffic thins out nicely.
The Outer Banks begin at Corol-
la, far to the north, and stretches down to Ocracoke to the south. We didn’t have time on this trip, but one can traverse the entire length of the Outer Banks on picturesque NC Highway 12 (or Beach Road, as the locals call it) and never be more than 3 miles from the ocean. At its narrowest, this spit of land is only 150 yards wide from ocean to sound.
The best-known OBX towns are mostly clustered near the center of the island and have perplexing names. Perhaps the most well-known is Nags Head. No one is certain, but one popular theory is the town got its name from pirates tying lanterns to the necks of horses, or “nags,” to trick ships loaded with booty to run aground.
Kill Devil Hills got its name, so the story goes, from rum, which had washed ashore from wrecked ships and was so strong, it could “kill” the devil.
Kitty Hawk’s name is not quite as interesting. It most likely derives from the Algonquin word “Chickahawk,” which means “a place to hunt geese.”
The name first appeared on English maps in the 1700s. Kitty Hawk, of course, will be forever linked to the daring Wright Brothers and their ingenious flying contraption.
The Outer Banks is known for pristine but sometimes wild beaches, majestic sand dunes, wild horses and its many lighthouses. The central OBX beaches of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head each have their own distinctive personality but share pebbly, off-white sand, skinny shorelines, large oceanfront homes (including Millionaire’s Row), easy access, grassy barriers and numerous fishing piers.
If it’s a boardwalk you’re looking for, we recommend the peaceful, winding one along Currituck Sound in the tiny village of Duck. The Duck Boardwalk encourages a leisurely pace and can be accessed from the town park and other locations throughout the village. It extends for over a mile and offers beautiful views, a variety of wildlife and some retail establishments and restaurants.
The stars of the show at OBX are,
without a doubt, the rolling, majestic and seemingly never-ending sand dunes. Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head has the tallest active sand-dune system in the Eastern U.S., stretching up to 110 feet tall. The chain of dunes is protected by thick maritime forests and grasses. When we visited, families with young children were happily exploring the dunes on nearby trails.
Other must-sees when visiting OBX include the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and National Seashore, Currituck Beach Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, Jennette’s Pier (home to an excellent science and educational center) and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
The Wright Brothers National Memorial, inexplicably in Kill Devil Hills and not Kitty Hawk, includes a fullscale reproduction of the original plane that is not much bigger or sturdier than a hang glider, numerous exhibits, educational talks by docents, the 1902-‘03 camp buildings where the brothers performed their experiments, the carefully maintained 3,000foot airstrip, a mesmerizing sculpture of the brothers and other helpers preparing for takeoff, the “First Flight” boulder marking the takeoff point of the three experimental flights and the dominating, 60-foot memorial to their achievements at the top of a huge sand dune.
For food, Miller’s Seafood and Steakhouse in Kill Devil Hills serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, specializing in fresh seafood and aged steaks. For dinner, I tried the North Carolina sea scallops, which were seared and grilled to perfection, and my wife, Ellen, had the sesame-seared bourbon tuna. Both were excellent. The Miller family also owns the “American Pie” shop right next door that offers delicious homemade pies and ice cream.
For lunch, try Cosmo’s Pizza, the local, New York-style pizza shop. It sits unassumingly in a strip mall near Corolla, but the tasty food and friendly atmosphere make it worth the trip. Their red brick, wood-burning oven gives the place a warm, homey feel and provides a crispy, slightly burnt pizza crust that is so hard to find in Frederick.
We considered trying some North Carolina-style barbecue, but after learning the Eastern-style Carolina type is made using the “whole hog,” we demurred. Using the whole hog means the entire pig is barbecued, chopped up and mixed together. It is served with a vinegar-based sauce,
Photos by Gary Bennett
The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
The shores of Outer Banks, N.C. also not one of my favorites. The locals claim that pork served this way is the most tender with a deliciously distinct flavor. I guess I’ll never know.
For shopping, I recommend four local favorites: The Cotton Gin, Farmer’s Daughter, Gray’s and Kitty Hawk Kites. The Cotton Gin provides high-end shopping and seems to have something for everyone. True to its name, 100% cotton clothing dominates the offerings. This local landmark has been around nearly 100 years and is the goto place for gifts and souvenirs.
Farmers Daughter (there is no apostrophe to be found) is the quintessential beach shop with 16 OBX locations. The Kill Devil Hills location we visited specializes in what they call “fish hippie apparel.” You’ll need to check that out to see for yourself.
Gray’s Outer Banks Lifestyle Clothing Company (its long, official name) in Kitty Hawk specializes in coastal, casual resort wear. As soon as you step inside, you’re greeted by local history and friendly faces.
To really get into that beach vibe and double down on the “first in flight” mojo, visit Kitty Hawk Kites in Duck. It is celebrating 50 years in business. The colorful kites and hang gliders appear ready to jump into the air at any moment.
Two locals favorites we couldn’t resist are Brew Thru, a drive through convenience store offering everything you need, including beer and wine, and one of the last remaining Ben Franklin stores left standing in the U.S.
The former offers more than 100 brands of beers and wines you simply point to and pay for. That, my friends, is America at its best! The latter is a proud member of the five-and-dime
retail empire that once numbered over 2,500 stores, mostly in smaller locales nationwide, but now are fewer than 250. According to the manager, the Nags Head Ben Franklin has stood the test of time by adapting to the needs of its customers. It has become an immaculately neat beach gift shop, but its proud history is front and center thanks to the gigantic, unmistakable, red Ben Franklin sign and the oceanthemed mural that adorns the facade of the building.
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.
The Ben Franklin in OBX.
Outer Banks, N.C., is known for its sand dunes.
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Outer Banks, N.C.
BY ROCCO GEPPI
Special
to The News-Post
The dream world has fascinated and befuddled humanity for centuries, with many believing it serves as a connection between waking life and the deeper workings of the mind.
Andrew Moss, a dedicated social worker based in Frederick, has made it his mission to help others navigate the transformative potential of dreams.
Moss is the owner/practitioner of Frederick Dream Lab, a space he established to assist others with learning the personal and collective meanings of their dreams. He provides his clients an opportunity to unlock self-awareness, creativity and healing during the Dream Lab sessions, the next of which will run Jan. 14 through Feb. 18.
Moss has been intrigued by dreamwork and helping others navigate their nocturnal visions for as long as he can remember. But he was uncertain if this was the path for him. And then as luck, or perhaps fate, would have it, he had a dream.
“I had this dream, in which I saw my unborn child,” Moss said. “My son was … standing in front of me, just a 6-yearold boy. There’s this vision of him in the future. And for me, it was kind of a dream of reassurance that I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, but it felt like I was on the right path.”
It was this dream that propelled him to begin his research and studies on dreamwork.
While Moss’ dream helped reassure him that his journey into dreamwork could be fulfilling, a background in social work significantly informs his approach to dream interpretation.
Moss is a licensed master social worker, having obtained his graduate degree from Salisbury University. In social work, he emphasizes respecting individuals’ autonomy and unique experiences, a principle that seamlessly translates into dreamwork.
“The meaning of a dream comes from the dreamer,” Moss said. “The dreamer makes their own determination about
Frederick Dream Lab explores the subconscious mind for self-discovery
what a dream means to them. [I] can kind of help be with them and maybe offer them different suggestions about what their dream might mean, but when it comes down to it, it’s up to the person what kind of meaning they make out of their dream.”
Moss guides participants to uncover their personal interpretations, allowing
them to determine the significance of their dreams in their own lives.
Much like the therapeutic process in social work, dreamwork involves helping individuals navigate trauma, relationships and internal conflicts.
Moss believes that dream analysis offers a unique lens through which to address these issues.
“All the challenges we face in our waking lives show up in our dreams,” Moss said. “[My clients] have experiences of trauma and dealing with difficult challenges and relationships and dealing with power structures. It doesn’t just go away when you fall asleep. And so, having some experience [as a social worker] with how to work with people as they’re grappling with these challenging situations has really come in handy.”
Deeply influenced by the teachings of Carl Jung, Moss highlights the concept that every image in a dream reflects some aspect of the dreamer’s psyche.
“Dreams provide a broader and sometimes deeper view of who we are,” he said, adding that even unpleasant or challenging symbols in dreams can reveal hidden facets of ourselves.
Drawing from Jungian philosophy, Moss views dreams as a dialogue between the ego and the expansive self, aiming to guide individuals toward a sense of wholeness.
This past October, Moss held his first group dream session, dubbed the Frederick Dream Lab. In this setting, as well as one-on-one consultations, he encourages participants to share and interpret their dreams while finding ways to integrate those insights into daily life.
“Dreams often touch on themes we need to pay attention to but might otherwise ignore,” Moss said.
Whether it’s resolving conflicts, embracing change or slowing down, Moss aims to inspire actionable steps for personal growth in each individual who seeks his guidance.
Moss brings together ancient traditions and modern science in his dreamwork practice. One example is his exploration of dream incubation, a practice rooted in ancient Greek traditions, when participants would visit temples, hold specific intentions, and allow their dreams to guide them toward answers or healing. Modern dream incubation builds on these ideas, encouraging participants to be mindful and intentional before sleep to address pressing questions or challenges.
From a scientific perspective, Moss finds the work of researchers like Allan Hobson intriguing. Hobson’s findings
Artwork by Frederick artist Will Saxton.
Andrew Moss poses for a portrait on Dec. 18. on the brain’s heightened activity during REM sleep — particularly in emotional and memory-related areas — align with Moss’ belief that dreams hold essential insights. He emphasizes that despite their abstract or seemingly absurd nature, dreams are critical to our mental and emotional processes, often mirroring the creative exploration we engage in during childhood play.
Moss sees dreams as opportunities to explore emotions, creativity and possibilities, untethered by the constraints of waking consciousness. He often reflects on one of his favorite quotes from dream researcher Kelly Bulkeley: “Dreaming is imaginative play in sleep.”
By embracing the imaginative and playful aspects of dreams, Moss believes individuals can grow, heal and connect with their most profound selves.
“I love that [Bulkeley quote], because you think about what kids do when they’re playing around,” Moss said. “They’re processing emotions, preparing for future roles, experimenting with ways of being, exploring their creativity, and just having fun. That’s a part of dreaming, too. ... At just a base level, it’s to explore our imaginations unencumbered by the constraints of our conscious minds.”
Moss’ wife, Alecks, praises his deep understanding of dreams, describing how he listens to her
Tuesday night,” Donnelly said. “It allowed us to create this environment of trust and vulnerability that felt very comfortable and that I think is not as common, unfortunately, for adults to find anymore.”
While the philosophical and spiritual aspects of dreams are important in Moss’ work, he emphasizes practical applications. Clients are encouraged to keep a dream journal to record and reflect on their dream experiences.
In individual sessions, Moss helps clients focus on specific elements of their dreams, unearthing “aha” moments of self-awareness. He also guides participants in taking action to honor their dreams, such as resolving conflicts or spending mindful time in nature.
recount her dreams and helps her find interpretations.
“Andy is very good at [dreamwork],” she said. I learned a lot just by asking him myself. In the mornings, I would wake up and I’d be like, ‘Andy I just had this dream. Will you tell me what this means?’ And he’s like, ‘Well you know, it’s not always what I think it means. It really has a lot to do with your own take on it because dreams are so personal.”
“weird and esoteric practices.” Whether participants discuss recurring dream symbols, such as shadow figures or unexpected celebrity appearances, the sessions foster collective discovery and connection.
IF YOU GO
The next Frederick Dream Lab session runs 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday from Jan. 14 to Feb. 18 online via Zoom. Register at frederickdreamlab.com. Frederick Dream Lab will hold its first half-day retreat, Mugwort & Dreaming, on Feb. 22 at Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center. To learn more or book a spot, visit foxhavenfarm.org/events.
Alecks noted that he emphasizes the personal nature of dreams, fostering vulnerability and insightful exploration during group sessions. She recounted her participation in the Dream Lab session in October, highlighting the strong connections participants built through their open and meaningful discussions.
Moss’ dream circles provide a safe and collaborative environment for participants to share and analyze their dreams. These gatherings create a culture of acceptance and curiosity, helping individuals feel less isolated in their exploration of what Moss calls
“I was surprised to see how, when I started to do the dream reflections personally each morning ... I found it to be pretty spot-on,” said Claire Donnelly, one of the Dream Lab participants. “It created a time to be reflective and introspective.”
Group work can also amplify the therapeutic impact of dreams.
“Working together in a group allows for deeper insights that may not come from individual reflection alone,” Moss said.
This sense of community and shared exploration underscores the transformative potential of dreams, providing clarity and context that resonate beyond the dreamworld.
“It ended up being just a lovely, almost group-therapy experience, in which we got to spend this quality time in a small group, getting to know each other on a
For those skeptical about the importance of dreams or unsure about their ability to recall them, Moss offers simple starting points. By noticing recurring images, symbols or feelings, individuals can begin to connect their dreams to waking experiences, fostering curiosity and engagement.
“One of the most common refrains that comes from dreamwork is that dreams never tell you what you already know,” Moss said. “Dreamwork provides insights that are difficult to come by from any other source.”
Herbalism also finds a place in Moss’ dream retreats, thanks in part to Alecks, who is an herbalist. Herbs like mugwort are incorporated to enhance dream vividness or promote relaxation, while others like chamomile and lavender help create a tranquil pre-sleep state. These tools can connect waking life with the dream world, deepening the exploration process.
Rocco Geppi is a freelance writer, having earned his professional journalist credentials in his late teens, and has made a career out of his passion. He enjoys connecting with people, bringing communities together, and highlighting what makes the people and the community uniquely invaluable.
Staff photo by Katina Zentz
”Floating Beauty: Women and the Art of Ukiyo-e” — through Jan. 12, 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.
”Unraveling Narratives: A Dialogue in Toile” — through Jan. 12, Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. The exhibition aims to foster a visual conversation that highlights the interplay between tearing, collaging and the rhythmic motion of needle and thread. Works by Kate Norris and Jennifer McBrien. Noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
”Imprimatur” — through Jan. 26, NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Imprimatur comes from Latin imprimere, meaning to “imprint” or “impress. We would like to “impress” you with NOMA’s January exhibition featuring four printmakers: Judith Kornett, Andrea McCluskey, Julia Shrecengost and Lisa Tayerle. Their approaches to printmaking include many techniques, styles and subject matter. Artist talk
and demo 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 19. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 240-367-9770 or nomagalleryfrederick.com.
Frederick County Art Association Members Exhibition — through Jan. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media by FCAA’s approximately 100 members. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
All Members Show — through Jan. 26, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. The gallery is filled with the artwork of its15 members. Showing acrylic and watercolor, fused glass, forged steel, photography, mixed media. Gallery hours weekends throughout January, Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. eastsidearts313@gmail. com or eastsideartistsgallery. com
”Gash” — through Feb. 23, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Sculpture by Jin Lee. Provoked by recent political controversies surrounding women’s rights, Lee’s work focuses on conflict and responses to conflict’s power to result in transformation for the individual and society. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
”Time Is A Place” — through Feb. 23, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Noelani Jones’ work in this exhibition focuses on the accrual of thread in woven cloth and
Jin Lee shows
sculptural pieces in the solo show “Gash,” on view at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, on view through Feb. 23. Shown here, “Fecund,” by Lee.
Courtesy photo
its metaphorical and actual connection to time and place. All of the textiles in the exhibition have been made with reciprocity with the land in mind, from the cultivation of plants for dyeing to the utilization of a foot-powered loom. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.
”Sunflowers & Snow” — through February, Garryowen Irish Pub, 126 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, Pa. Paintings and prints by Dorothea Barrick. Daily 11 a.m. to midnight. 240674-9488 or 717-337-2719.
“Resting in Winter” — through March 9 at the Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithers-
View art across the ‘Spectrum’ at TAG
Throughout January, TAG/The Artists Gallery will present the group exhibition “Spectrum,” which has no set theme but rather leaves interpretation to the artists and the viewers.
“This show is the best of TAG with the diversity of the art, the techniques and concepts,” says exhibit committee chair Cathy Wilkin.
“Spectrum” opened Jan. 3 and runs through Jan. 26. Gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
TAG is at 501 N. Market St., Frederick. See theartistsgalleryfrederick.com, or call 301-228-9860 for more information.
burg. This solo exhibition by Gaithersburg photographer Timothy Lynch focuses mainly on close-up imagery of nature. “I named the exhibit ‘Resting in Winter’ because, like us, everything needs time to grow,” says Lynch. “I enjoy exploring artistic expression, particularly botanical photography in winter, showcasing wilting plants and fallen leaves that reveal the beauty of decay. In this process, while life diminishes, beauty endures.” Meet the photographer at a free reception from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 16. 301-2586394.
Jennifer Hudson: Solo 2025 and Bonnie Zuckerman: Forest of Dreams Exhibits — Jan. 9 through Feb. 4, Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Suite 100, Hagerstown. Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 9; virtual exhibit available Jan. 11. Hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. 301-7913132 or washingtoncountyarts. com.
Washington County Art Educators Exhibit — Feb. 6 through March 4, Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Suite 100, Hagerstown. Opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 6. Virtual exhibit online Feb. 8. Gallery hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. 301-7913132 or washingtoncountyarts. com.
“Out of Bounds II” by Colleen Clapp
“Aidos,” by S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino
“Burn,” by Cathy Wilkin
“Fall,” by Rhonda Smith
Frederick County parks carry on the tradition of hosting artists in residence
Art has been part of the history of national parks since the 1860s when Hudson River School painters captured the majestic Western landscapes that became our first iconic national parks. Their awe-inspiring works spurred Americans to preserve those lands for future generations.
Artist George Catlin, during an 1832 trip to the Dakotas, was perhaps the first to suggest the idea of a national park. Catlin traveled extensively and noted that Indian civilization, wildlife and the wilderness were in danger unless they could be preserved “by some great protecting policy of government … in a magnificent park … a Nation’s Park, containing man and beast, in all the wild[ness] and freshness of their nature’s beauty!”
Today, there are Artist in Residence (AIR) programs in more than 50 National Park Service units that preserve the connection between arts and the parks.
Catoctin Forest Alliance (CFA) manages the local Artist in Residence program jointly with Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park.
Artist selections for the program are made by a panel that includes local literary and art professionals. In addition to accepting a variety of visual media, the program began accepting written media as well in 2013 .
CFA was established in 2009 as a partner organization to Catoctin Mountain Park NPS and Cunningham Falls State Park MSP. One of the CFA founders was artist Elizabeth Prongas, who began the local AIR program here in 2010 to bring a new and diverse voice and constituency to the parks.
Since the inception of the AIR program, CFA has welcomed 34 artists to the Catoctin Mountains. They have come from California; Washington, D.C.; Kentucky; Tennessee; Massachusetts; Maryland; New Jersey; New York; Oregon; North Carolina and Virginia. The artists include painters, photographers, poets, a writer, a videographer, cast metal artist, a wool-felter, a journaling artist and a fabric artist/quilter.
The artists stay in a historic cabin in
transformation and healing. Wojnar works in traditional media and raw natural material. While in residency in Cunningham Falls State Park in September, Wojnar presented the workshop Hand-Bound Nature Books, wherein participants made nature journal books and hand-sewed the binding.
Herndon is a visual artist based in Raleigh, North Carolina, who works mainly with acrylic paint but enjoys exploring other mediums such as wood, mixed media and digital techniques. After graduating from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, with a BFA in painting and drawing, she started working as a concept artist designing environments for previously unheard-of worlds. This passion has continued in her personal works as she focuses on themes of life and nature and blends them with surreal imagination. She takes the realistic natural elements around us and exaggerates their color and shape to create compositions that give audiences new but familiar worlds to explore.
During her residency at Catoctin Mountain Park, Herndon presented a program at the Thurmont Regional Library, Visual Storytelling: An Exploration of Color. The participants took a short nature walk around the library. They then used elements they had seen on the walk to tell a story with a drawing and explore the ways that color can help to relay the message of the story.
Catoctin Mountain Park or a campsite at Cunningham Falls Sate Park for two to three weeks and produce art influenced by the mountain setting. After the residency, each artist donates one piece they created during their stay to the CFA AIR collection.
The AIR art collection has been on exhibit at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick, the Thurmont Library, the Emmitsburg Library and the Visitor Center in the Manor Area
of Cunningham Falls State Park. The collection is permanently housed in Catoctin Mountain Park.
This past fall, two artists came to the area for residencies in the parks — Rachel Wojnar and Reagan Herndon.
Wojnar is a multimedia artist and educator from Cumberland whose practice is focused on themes of ecological entanglement, biology and naturalism as they relate to human experiences of community,
The Maryland Theatre presents The Wild World of Animals
sponsored in partnership with the Washington County Arts Council Friday, January 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
During their residencies, they copresented a program at the Delaplaine Arts Center and spoke about their practice and what inspires their work.
The Artist in Residence program not only strengthens the bond between nature, art and the outdoors but the sale of the art produces funds to bring children to the parks for outdoor learning experiences.
For more information on CFA and the AIR program, visit catoctinforestalliance.org.
Courtesy photo
From left, Rachel Wojnar and Reagan Herndon at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick.
New Year’s Day, 2025. I’ve just learned of the tradition of binge-watching “The Twilight Zone” on Jan. 1 on SyFy, and I flee there, away from coverage of carnage in New Orleans.
I catch the “Dust” episode just in time for the miracle — a hangman’s rope breaks, sparing the life of a nice man the townspeople mistakenly thought guilty of something awful. I immediately think, “Gee, is this a metaphor for our next few years?
Maybe we’ll survive!”
Everyday Poetry
actions. The common things. When we do this — and it’s a real challenge for me — we always, always find their amazingness, their poetry.
SHERYL MASSARO
Three goals I have for 2025: don’t be so melodramatic (“duh, of course we’ll survive”); don’t cuss so much; and become better friends with gratitude.
That last one is kind of what my goal has been in contributing this column — possibly to nudge readers to take time to look at and think about everyday places, people, things,
Since I moved to downtown Frederick a few months ago, my main everyday view has been a stone wall. That is because I’m in a condo on the side of a building. But my unit is filled with light all day, and everyone who stops by is charmed by that wall. It’s the view I could afford, in this building. It is beautiful, charming, and I seem to need it.
Sheryl Massaro is a Frederick poet and oil painter. She has authored three books of poetry, all available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and, with her art, from sheryl massaro.com. Her poetry is in lower case as a nod to equality, no letter being more important than another.
Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige I (Japanese, 1797–1858), Village by the Tamagawa River, 1858, color woodblock, Museum Purchase, 1979.584.1C. Reading Public Museum, Reading, Pennsylvania. Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e has
drawn
Reading (PA)
generous support
Robert & Marjorie Hobbs.
Robert Eggers is driving himself mad trying to drive us mad
BY TRAVIS M. ANDREWS
The Washington Post
The movies Robert Eggers makes are deeply unpleasant.
Sure, so are most horror movies. But the director’s films don’t merely include the grisly and ghostly. They showcase the most disgusting aspects of humanity and the human body.
In “The Witch,” his debut feature about witchcraft in 1630s New England, a raven pecks at a woman’s nipple as she breastfeeds it and people drink blood from goat udders. “The Lighthouse,” about two loathsome men stuck in a remote lighthouse, is slicked with snot and spit from Willem Dafoe’s gassy seafarer, along with semen from Robert Pattinson’s, who masturbates compulsively as he slowly loses his mind. And while “The Northman,” Eggers’ Viking revenge epic set in the early 900s, includes fewer bodily fluids (if we don’t count the gallons of spilled blood), it has a small set piece centered on what appears to be a burping and farting contest.
“He’s shamelessly, shamelessly uncompromising,” says Bill Skarsgard, who appears in Eggers’ fourth movie: a bleak, psychosexual reimagining of the 1922 silent vampire film “Nosferatu,” a movie Eggers has cherished since he was 9 years old. It debuted on Christmas Day.
Eggers has released three dank, nasty, atmospheric films steeped in folklore and mythology and outfitted with ornate (and obsessively researched) costuming and set design. None of them are particularly mainstream affairs, yet “The Witch” made $40 million on a $4 million budget, and “The Lighthouse” made $18 million on an $11 million budget.
“I like archetypal stories — fairy tales, myths, folktales, legends, fables — because they always work, and you can always reinterpret them,” Eggers says in early December at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons. “They mean different things in different stages of your life. They’re always relevant to current events, and you don’t need to bend them, and you don’t need to break them.”
Eggers doesn’t focus on bodily functions merely to gross us out. He’s obsessed with historical detail, going so far as to have a costume designer make about 20 versions of iron-shod leather slippers — the kind a Romanian nobleman might wear — for Skarsgard’s Count Orlok (the vampire), even though the footwear appears in only a few frames of “Nosferatu’s” 132-minute running time.
Portrait of American filmmaker Robert Eggers in Los Angeles on Dec. 12, 2024.
Details are everything. When he would watch movies when he was younger, he says, he would be irked if all the characters wore similarly fitting clothes, and “it would seem like there was one tailor in the entire world.” So he strives to get things right.
A guy living in a lighthouse and drinking mugs of grain liquor every night would probably produce an abnormal amount of flatulence, so he put it on screen. To record a certain type of footstep, his sound designer went to an abandoned monastery in Ireland. When he has a character bite the head off a living pigeon in “Nosferatu,” he made sure to get the angle and amount of the bird’s arterial spray correct. And an undead vampire who is 250 to 300 years older than his victims would wear clothing from a different era.
It’s an attempt to achieve the unachievable. And it drives him mad.
“Historical accuracy is impossible. Even if you could achieve it, it would still be an interpretation,” he says. “A lot of times you have to kill your darlings, because I won’t do it if it’s not, quote, historically accurate.”
His movies are inspired, in part, by where he came from. Eggers grew up in Lee, New Hampshire, and spent his Halloweens visiting Salem, Massachusetts, while his peers went to Bruins games. He was fascinated by mythology and folklore, partially, he says, because of New England’s landscape: the colonial graveyards, the dilapidated farmhouses.
“I’ve always been drawn to darkness,”
he says.
But not too dark, at least not when he was young. Modern monsters like Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger were too frightening, but Eggers found a coziness in Frankenstein’s monster and Dracula and the other classic, pulpy movie monsters from decades earlier. That sense of the archaic extended to the authors he read: not Stephen King but Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft.
When he was 9 years old, Eggers saw “Nosferatu,” a silent German film from 1922 that’s an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula.” He was primed to like it: A year earlier he was inspired by the 1931 Bela Lugosi movie to dress as Dracula for Halloween.
He saw an old VHS version made from bad 16-millimeter prints whose intertitles were translated from a French version of the movie.
“You’re kind of viewing it through a dirty window,” Eggers says. “It felt like something that was unearthed from the past.”
He cherished that unearthed treasure as a burgeoning high school thespian, mostly in musicals. When he was a 17-year-old senior, he got a chance to stage his own play. He suggested “Nosferatu,” a silent movie on a high school stage.
The intertitles were projected as supertitles above the stage, along with clips from the original movie and a bit of footage he shot as one of his first forays into filmmaking. For a scene featuring Orlok in the bowels of a ship, they filmed in the
attic of his grandpa’s 18th-century farmhouse. Eggers, as Nosferatu, appeared to rise from a coffin because a friend was underneath, pushing a board up with his legs.
The costumes and makeup were black and white, but the blood was scarlet. When one character appeared to be spewing blood, he was actually spewing a mixture of stage blood and Mountain Dew Code Red.
A local artistic director saw the play and invited them to stage a more professional version at his theater, the Edwin Booth. It was a small hit in the area, and “it cemented the fact that I wanted to be a director,” Eggers says. “It also made ‘Nosferatu’ an important part of my identity.”
He continued to cherish “Nosferatu” as he graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York and began acting in off-Broadway gigs where “I felt like I couldn’t be worse at directing than the people directing me.” He cherished it as he started a small theater company but grew frustrated over how difficult it was to attract an audience.
And he cherished it as he found work as a set designer, as he began to make short films, as he tried to break into Hollywood. Even then, he wanted to remake the movie, but he also knew he would need a large budget to do it right.
He was writing screenplays, but no one was buying them. So he figured he’d make his own damn movie.
“It should be a horror movie,” he says of his thought process. “It should be under a certain budget. I’m probably going to have to shoot it in my proverbial parents’ backyard, so I’ll set it in New England. OK, what’s the archetypical New England spook? A witch. Hasn’t been a good witch movie in a while, so OK, cool.” Eggers hoped “The Witch” would get positive enough reviews that he could at least make another movie. It got more, including the directing award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. “I had my agent calling me before I had gone backstage to get a glass of champagne about studios wanting to have meetings about franchise movies,” he says. “It was like, ‘This is just as ridiculous as you imagined it to be.’”
He didn’t want to make franchise movies. “I don’t think that I am a good match to make a Marvel movie, nor would I want to make one,” he says. “There is no ‘my version.’” He wanted to make a “black-and-white dusty, crusty,
(See EGGERS 21)
G L Askew II for The Washington Post
Thursday Jan. 9
ETCETERA
Senior Cafe: The Place to Come for Coffee, Conversation, Friendship and Fun Events! Ask a Physical Therapist — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Tom Sutton from MedStar Physical Therapy in Frederick will be here to answer questions and demonstrate therapies that can benefit people of all ages. 21 and older.
301-600-8200.
fcpl.org.
Paws 2 Read with Go Team Therapy Dogs — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join Go Team Therapy Dogs to improve your reading confidence and make a new friend when you read aloud to a therapy dog. All ages.
301-600-8200.
fcpl.org.
“A Real Rap Show” — Live Music — 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery Riverside, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. If you like watching innovative live music in Frederick, then we need your support to keep it going. Check out these musical acts in “A Real Rap Show” created by Demetrius. No cover, free to attend, 21 and older only. 301-372-4880. matt@rockwellbrewery.com.
FAMILY
Teen Time: Minecraft — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Come build, explore, and play Minecraft with fellow teens at the library! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18).
301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
FILM
Classic Film Series: “Great Expectations” (1946) — 7:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Charles Dickens’ classic tale of Pip, a poor orphan who befriends an escaped convict and who grows up in the company of a bitter old woman, Miss Havisham, and her haughty young ward, Estella. Pip learns the rewards of both vindictiveness and gratitude as a result of these events. Sponsored by Wonder Book. $7 adult, $5 military, child, ages 62 and older and students. weinbergcenter.org.
GALLERY
Art at Night: Sculptor Toby Mendez — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. An evening with
Maryland-based sculptor Toby Mendez. Mendez primarily focuses on figurative commissions, combining a classical approach with a contemporary eye for site design. He has been creating sculpture in both the private and public sphere for over 30 years, including large public works such as the Thurgood Marshall memorial (1996) at State House Square in Annapolis, and the Orioles Legends Celebration Series (2012) at Camden Yards. This talk will be accompanied by a tasting from McClintock’s Distilling. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
Friday Jan. 10 CLASSES
American Red Cross Virtual Volunteer Information Session — noon to 1 p.m. at Virtual, Frederick. Learn about positions at the Frederick blood donation center, with disaster action teams and much more. Learn first-hand from volunteers and staff what it means to be a Red Cross Volunteer. The open house will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. You can join with or without video through your phone or computer. Pre-register for more information. Register at redcross.org/ volopenhouse and meeting information will be sent to you upon registration. 410-913-9154. kristi.giles@redcross.org. redcross.org.
FESTIVALS
Brunswick Pop-Up Market — 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kaplon Building, 102 W. Potomac St., Brunswick. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, local honey and farm-fresh eggs, sourdough and other baked goods, culinary mushrooms and smoked nuts, handmade jewelry and indoor plants, made-to-order beverages from Fresh Squeezed Please, premium olives and olive oils from Stefania Olive Oil. 301-524-1035. bmsfarmersmarket.com.
HEALTH
Chair Yoga — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Gentle chair yoga, suitable for all abilities. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.
MUSIC
Bluegrass Jam — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Ruritan, 8101 Crum Road, Walkersville. Open to all levels of acoustic musicians and vocalists. Spectators, families welcome.
Sandwiches, snacks and sodas available for purchase. No smoking or swearing. $5 donation at the door requested. 301-788-5570, 301-898-3719. trevella@comcast.net. mtpleasantruritan.com.
Saturday Jan. 11 CLASSES
Pull This, Plant That: Invasive Plants & Native Plant Alternatives — 10 a.m. to noon at University of Maryland Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick. Find out why and how to replace non-native plants —especially invasives — with natives that help our native birds, butterflies and other pollinators. You will learn to accurately identify and control invasive plants and discover native alternatives that are beneficial and beautiful. 301-600-1596. strice@umd.edu. bit.ly/FCMG25-InvasiveNatives.
Wreath Making Demo — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 South Glade Rd, Walkersville. Join Lori Himes with A Bloom as she demonstrates how to make a dried floral wreath. Make your own wreath to take home while supplies last. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.
Holistic Support for Perimenopause — 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Together with clinical herbalist Amy Boldt, MS, explore options for this natural (possibly challenging) transition in life. It’s time to dispel the old narrative and to shift the perspective, while at the same time learning about the changes that occur within the body. Find ways to naturally support common complaints such as hot flashes, mood swings, and disrupted sleep through herbs, diet and lifestyle. 21 and older.
$20 - $40. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
ETCETERA
New Year Sound Bath & Tea Ceremony with Lauren & Brian Dodge — 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Fox Haven Farm & Retreat Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Using singing bowls and other vibrational instruments, this 90-minute sound bath utilizes frequency, vibration and stillness to create a meditative and relaxing environment — promoting a sense of calm and peace. Bring your favorite tea mug or cup and yoga mat or meditation pillow, your favorite “tool” (ex. journal, tarot deck, paintbrush, running shoes, crystal, etc.) to focus your intention and re-charge your chosen object with
blessings for the upcoming new year. In this session, we will gently explore a brief intention-setting meditation, followed by a soothing sound bath and a mini tea ceremony to integrate the experience. $25-$45. 240-490-5484. alecks@foxhavenfarm.org. foxhavenfarm.org.
Frederick Apple Core — 10 a.m. to noon at Walkersville United Methodist Church, 22 Main St., Walkersville. A Macintosh User Group, meets the second Saturday of each month. Follow Apple Logo signs. Users of Apple and similar products (MacBooks, iMacs, Mac Pro, iPhone, iPod, iPad, iWatch, etc.) are invited to attend. All ages. bobesposito@mac.com. frederickapple.org.
Author Talk & Tea Tasting with Paulella Burchill — 11 a.m. to noon at Edward F. Fry Memorial Library at Point of Rocks, 1635 Ballenger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks. Celebrate National Hot Tea Month with Paulella Burchill, author and tea sommelier, who will talk about her new book, “I Want to Drink That!” Enjoy samples and techniques for making different kinds of delicious tea beverages. 301-874-4560. scwells@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Fredbricks with Falling Squares — 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at FAC Artist Studios Classroom, 7 N. Market St., Frederick. Every Second Saturday of the month. Immerse yourself in a world of creativity and innovation as we showcase the latest in brick-building technology. Whether you’re a seasoned builder or just starting out, there’s something for everyone at Fredbricks. Connect with fellow brick enthusiasts and unleash your inner architect! Register online through Eventbrite.
$15 adults, $10 kids.
301-662-4190.
info@frederickartscouncil.org.
FAMILY
Puzzle and Game Swap — 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Myersville Community Library, 8 Harp Place, Myersville. Bring your gently used puzzles and games to the library to exchange with others! Please be sure that all contributions are in good condition and include all pieces.
301-600-8350.
rkurtz@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
FILM
Silent Film Series: “The Plastic Age” (1925) — 3 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Hugh Carver is an athletic star and a freshman at Prescott College. He falls in love with Cynthia Day, a
Local Mentions
CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARDS
Available in our Market: Empire, Evercrisp, GoldRush, Granny Smith, Fuji Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Jonathan & Gala Apples
Seckel & Bosc Pears
Kale, White & Sweet Potatoes
Fresh Baked Fruit Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Fresh Apple Cider, Jams & Jellies
Gift Cards Available 301-271-2737
Open Daily 9am-5pm 15036 North Franklinville Rd Thurmont MD www catoctinmountain orchard com
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
Jefferson Ruritan Club COUNTRY BUTCHERING and BREAKFAST Sat Feb 1, 2025; To place advance (Pork) orders before Wed Jan 22, 2025 call (301) 473-7986 or (301) 834-6165
Pick-up orders Sat Feb 1, 2025, 8 am to noon
COUNTRY BREAKFAST, Sat Feb 1, 2025; 7 am to 11 am, 4603B Lander Rd , Jefferson, MD 21755
COUNTRY BREAKFAST
Union Bridge Vol Fire Co
8 W Locust St Sun , Jan 12 • 7a-11a
Sausage, sausage gravy, Hominy, puddin', pancakes, Scrambled eggs, biscuits, Fried potatoes, fruit, muffins Coffee & juice
$12 Adults, $14 Carry-outs
Children 7-12 $6, Under 6 Free Free Wifi Available Mary: 301-401-2824
Mentions
New Market Grange No 362 SOUP & SANDWICH TAKE OUT 14 South Alley New Market, MD
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Pick Up 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Soups-By the Quart - $9 00
Vegetable Beef
Chicken Corn Bean
Sloppy Joe - By the Quart - $14 00
Country Ham Sandwich - $5 00
Advance Orders by Saturday, January 18, 2025
Place orders by email at newmarketgrangemd @gmail.com or call Vicki at 301-799-9168
Please indicate quantity, name, and phone number Cash, Check or Credit
SOUP
SALE
by the quartstock your freezers!
Chicken Corn Soup Vegetable Beef $9 00/ quart Cash or check only
Orders due by Monday, January 13,2025
Call Karen at 410-775-7627
Baked table available
Pick-up on Monday, January 20 from 1-3pm
Johnsville UMC Parish Hall 11106 Green Valley Road (RT 75), Union Bridge MD 21791
SOUP & SANDWICH SALE
Pre-order by 1/6/2025 Pick-up Friday 1/10/25 9:00am-12:00pm 301-874-2368
All freshly made onsite 8" subs: $8 00 Cold Cut, Ham & Cheese Turkey & Cheese, Chicken Salad & Country Ham
Sandwiches: $6 00 Chicken Salad & Country Ham
Crab Cake Sandwich: $9 00 (fried or uncooked) By the lb: chicken salad $12; sliced country ham $12
Soup: Bean & Cntry Ham, Chicken Corn, Vegetable, bowl $4 00 / qt $8 00, Maryland Crab bowl $5/qrt $9
*New Hot Chocolate Bombs 2 for $6 00
Bake table and goodies available! Carroll Manor Fire Co
Pick-up at: 2793 Adams St, Adamstown, MD
Local Mentions
COUNTRY BUTCHERING
Wolfsville Vol Fire Co
Fresh pork on sale
Advance orders taken through Jan 20th
Unsold meat on sale
Feb 1st, 2-6PM at the Wolfsville Ruritan Park Call 301-293-1106
• Appliance
• Bed and Mattress Removal
• Mulch Delivery
• Lawnmower & Equipment Removal
• Light Demo
• Welding repairs and fabrication
• Hauling needs
• Dump trailer available for rent GREAT PRICES! 20% Off 1st Job! Please call to enquire Talkinscrap@yahoo.com
BARN SALE
Everything must go at discount prices! snowblowers and snowplows, lots of old tools, etc Pls call Bobby at 240-477-2158 in Poolesville
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
POODLE
PUPPIES
, 8 wks-old, ready for their Forever Homes, 2Parti Poodles (females), 3-Browns (2 males, 1 female), 1-Black (female), $300 ea , 240-578-9895
popular girl who loves to go to parties. He finds that it is impossible to please her and still keep up with his studies and his athletic training, and soon the two face some difficult decisions.
$7, $5 military, child, 62 and older, students. 301-600-2828. weinbergcenter.org.
Silent Film Series: “Laila” (1929) — 7:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. A spirited Norwegian Lass is torn between two suitors and two cultures.
$7 adults, $5 military, child, 62 and older and students. 301-600-2828. weinbergcenter.org.
GALLERY
Adult Crafternoon: Color Theory with Watercolor — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Public Library , 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Learn about color theory with a watercolor project. Feel free to bring your own project to work on and enjoy time with other crafters in the community. 18 and older.
eschenkelberg@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Sunday Jan. 12
ETCETERA
Jane Austen Tea Party and Trivia Challenge — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. A fun afternoon of fellowship and tea in honor of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday! Enjoy some tea and light refreshments while learning more about Jane Austen’s world. We will have teas to sample, goodies to eat, and Jane Austen trivia questions to answer. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Martin Brothers — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cactus Flats, 10026 Hansonville Road, Frederick. Bluegrass music.
HEALTH
Mindfulness Program — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Relief, fulfillment and self-understanding become radically more available when we view mindfulness practice through a broader lens of skill development. Learn how to practice mindfulness skills to improve
concentration, sensory clarity and equanimity. This program is presented by Josh White. 18 and older. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov.
MUSIC
F.A.M.E. Traditional Song Circle with Tomy Wright — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Faith Assembly of God , 3700 Burkittsville Road, Brunswick . Bring an instrument, your voice or just your ears for a couple of hours of music. Tomy Wright leads folks in singing and playing along, using the Rise Up Singing and Rise Again songbooks. which will be available during the gathering. 301-471-0889. d.koronet@att.net. frederickacoustic.org.
Calvary UMC Community Concert Series: Marjory Serrano-Coyer, violinist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chen, pianist — 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. Second St., Frederick. An unforgettable musical journey called “Tranquil Turbulence: A Musical Odyssey.” Experience the charm and elegance of Salzburg with Mozart’s masterful Sonata No. 26 in B flat major. Then, immerse yourself in the vibrant, exotic rhythms and harmonies with a sonata by Venezuelan composer Angel Sauce. Finally, conclude the odyssey with the powerful and expressive Sonata in A major by French composer César Franck. 301-662-1464. jsummers@calvaryumc.org. CalvaryUMC.org/concerts.
OUTDOORS
Second Sunday Tree Walk with the Frederick County Forestry Board — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at City of Frederick, Rec Center or Pergola, City of Frederick. Guided tour with the Frederick County Forestry Board. Learn how to identify common local trees and hear fun facts about each on a tour with the board’s expert guides. Registration required. Free. 301-473-8417. sonia@demirayink.com. frederick.forestryboard.org/tree-walk.
Monday Jan. 13
ETCETERA
Senior Men’s Group — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wegmans, 7830 Wormans Mill Road, Fred-
erick. Connect with other men in the senior community! We meet weekly at Wegman’s to talk and catch-up. Just bring money for coffee. 301-600-1234. virtualseniorcenter@frederickcountymd.gov. frederickcountymd.gov.
Getting Your Documents in Order/Renter’s Rights/Intake Clinic with Legal Aid — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Senior Center, 1440 Taney Ave., Frederick. An afternoon with Maryland Legal Aid. 301-600-3525. virtualseniorcenter@frederickcountymd.gov. frederickcountymd.gov.
Frederick County Senior Services Advisory Board Meeting — 1 p.m. at Bourne Building Training Room, 355 Montevue Lane, Frederick. For seniors. Open to the public. Meets the second Monday every month. 301-600-1234.
SeniorServices@frederickcountymd.gov.
Untrafficked! — and — Human Trafficking in Frederick County? — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Frederick Elks Club along with Frederick County Conservative Club, 289 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Human Trafficking AwarenessBecome an UnTrafficked Guardian and help fight child/human trafficking in Frederick! Presentations by Eric Colton, chairman of the board of Untrafficked.org, Berney Flowers, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) and author of “Black Values Matter,” and Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins on what is happening locally and how human trafficking is connected with illegal immigration. $10. 240-675-0749. pworsley@ frederickcountyconservativeclub.com. FrederickCountyConservativeClub.com.
POLITICS
Public Hearing for 2023-2033 Comprehensive Master Plan — 6:30 p.m. at Mount Airy Town Hall, 110 S. Main St., Mount Airy. The plan addresses several items including transportation needs, public safety, natural resources, adequate public facilities, among other elements. 301-829-1424. town@mountairymd.gov. mountairymd.gov.
Historic Tax Credit Workshop — 7 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Public Library Community Room, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Learn about programs that may be available for the rehabilitation of historic properties. The workshop will be hosted by the Maryland Historical Trust, the City of Frederick Planning Department, and the Frederick County Division of Planning and Permitting. 301-600-1832. cmartinkosky@cityoffrederickmd.gov.
Tuesday Jan. 14
CLASSES
Sol Yoga — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join us for this free yoga class offered by Sol Yoga. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.
FAMILY
Elementary Explorers: LEGO Building Time — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Calling all fans of LEGO. Join us if you’re a new fan of LEGO or an experienced builder. We will enjoy time building and creating with LEGO bricks. This program is for children in kindergarten through 5th grades (ages 5-10). 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
RECREATION
Basketball: Senior Recreation Council — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Walkersville Recreation Center (Elementary School), 83 Frederick St., Walkersville. Requires registration and $10 annual dues — see website. Enter through gym doors on the right side of the school. $2. 240-651-1865. gvblessing@comcast.net. srcfrederick.org.
Wednesday Jan. 15
CLASSES
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. There will be plenty of modifications offered to meet various levels so that ALL can enjoy the benefits of yoga. By donation. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop/classes-events.
Chair One Fitness: A Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities — 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Get a seated workout and dance to the music with Deidre Burriss of Chair One Fitness! This program is intended for adults with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.
ETCETERA
Mind Care & Games for Seniors, People Experiencing Memory Loss and their Caregivers — 11 a.m. to noon at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Games are among the many activities that can keep the human mind entertained and engaged. But more importantly, games can help stimulate our brains. Join in this station-based, interactive program that will offer: Dementia-friendly, dexterity-friendly puzzles, Water Wow! water painting, card games like Go Fish! and Old Maid, board games like chess, checkers and Candyland. The morning will also feature a guest speaker for caregiver support. 301-600-6333. dspurrier@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.
Natural Burial Presentation — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 W. Church St., Frederick. Michael Judd of Morris Orchard Natural Burial will present information about natural burial as a sustainable end-of-life option. A representative of Keeney and Basford Funeral Homes will share how they work with families opting for a natural burial. Bring your questions and
GRAY-O’LEARY
(Continued from 9)
member. “Sometimes we never see the station, miss dinner, and [our] head never hits the pillow. There is a ton of paperwork as well, so you spend hours completing it rather than collapsing in your bunk.
“My time at NIST was incredibly challenging, as we ran a lot of [emergency medical services] outside of the gates, in Gaithersburg,” she went on “Gaithersburg is one of the busiest EMS districts in the state. NIST had a 24hour on, 24-hour off schedule, which was grueling when you were up all night running EMS.”
Gray-O’Leary is still haunted by the day she lost her humanity. She knows the moment that everything changed, when she snapped at a victim instead of showing the empathy she’d always provided.
Firefighters, Gray-O’Leary said, are forever changed when they sign up to serve. As she put it, “There’s the time before you became a first responder, and everything after.”
Gray-O’Leary currently volunteers at the Laytonsville District Volunteer Fire Department, where it is quieter, averaging about two calls a night. She joined right after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My friend Dickie Atwell was there, and I’ve known him since my first year in the fire service, in ‘93. He was one of my mentors and a great guy, so I joined that department,” she said.
After Gray-O’Leary made it onto the roster, she needed a radio strap. Atwell told Gray-O’Leary he had several radio straps from which she could choose. One, she said, “had his name sharpened on it, and it looked like a salty old firefighter would carry it.” That’s the one she chose.
Atwell died just a few weeks after Gray-O’Leary began her work there.
“There’s a thing in the firehouse that you don’t wear the gear of someone who dies,” she said. It’s considered bad luck, she explained, and people will stop you from putting on someone else’s gear, but in her case, she can wear his strap because he gave it to her, she said.
In the Laytonsville firehouse, there is a “volunteer room,” where the firefighters hang out. The room is graffitied with engraved initials and one wall is a disjointed gallery of photographs depicting fires and car accidents. Gray-O’Leary describes the room as “a collage that is put there by the members. We have station photographers that often will film or record incidents, which we often will use for case studies and training.”
The photos also serve as a recording of collective experiences, she said.
“I think there is very little criteria for
Kari Martindale
Erica Gray-O’Leary released her debut poetry chapbook, “The Dark Side of the Divine,” in 2024.
putting something on the wall, just that you are a member and you felt that it belonged there. It is sort of a time capsule, in that sense.”
Gray-O’Leary said the wall gives her a sense of belonging.
“We all look at those pictures and know the huge responsibility we have to the community,” she said. “There is a story for each one, and only a few know those stories, and every year, fewer and fewer [people know]. [It] brings a genuine grounding to the work we do. We serve when the world is falling apart. It also reminds me that there are many that came before me and I am a part of something great.”
Gray-O’Leary took a break from fire service for about 10 years after working at NIST, where she’d found it difficult being a woman in the environment.
“I was a breastfeeding mom in a fire department of all men,” she recalled.
Although she did not report the sexism or bullying she experienced, after she left, a NIST employee filed an EEO complaint on her behalf.
“I am the type of person who will just go in and get the job done,” GrayO’Leary said. “I compartmentalize everything. I know it’s wrong and I [knew I was] being treated [poorly] and I just worked harder. I’m paying that price now.”
Gray-O’Leary’s chapbook was born from one of its poems, “Reverberation,” which was a response to a writing
EGGERS
(Continued from 17)
rusty, musty movie with the pipes and the sweaters and, you know, beards,” which became “The Lighthouse.” “The Northman” was inspired by his honeymoon in Iceland.
And “Nosferatu” is a childhood dream.
The movie — which stars Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Dafoe and Skarsgard — is his longest-gestating project. And while it’s steeped in folklore (this time Romanian), it’s his first explicit remake.
By the time his team arrived in Prague for two weeks of rehearsals before shooting, the movie was completely storyboarded and blocked, meaning Eggers already knew what every single scene would look like. He would often do this by having production assistants stand around his office in various configurations.
It’s not just the storyboarding or the script. “We know where the camera is going before the actors get there,” Eggers says. Instead of Steadicam, they used mostly cranes and dollies, which allow the camera to move freely 360 degrees and give a film a sense of motion. But they also make filming much more complicated.
prompt on the podcast The Shadow Eraser Poetry Hour. The hosts commented positively about her poem, encouraging her to keep writing about her firefighting experiences.
As she ages, Gray-O’Leary hopes to transition to working with the fire service community in a new capacity: occupational behavior safety. She is working toward a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis at Mount St. Mary’s University. With her thesis,“Behavior Skills Training (BST) paired with Mindfulness Action Plans (MAP) applied to firefighter self-rescue,” she is taking applied behavioral analysis to the fire community.
“We’re trying to use psychological flexibility training to do front-end work in training and at the station level, to create psychological resiliency in our first responders, so they have the tools to deal with the anxiety, PTSD and trauma,” she said.
In Gray-O’Leary’s poem “Niosh F2000-13,” she laments: “There is no one to rescue the rescuer.”
Poetry is one way Gray-O’Leary tries to rescue herself.
Kari Martindale is a poet, spoken word artist and teaching artist who has read at arts guilds across Maryland and performed at the White House. A roadtripper at heart, she has visited all 50 states and more than 40 countries.
If a shot is inside a house, for example, carpenters might need to quickly remove a wall to bring the camera in and then replace it before the camera turns around. All the actors refer to shooting this way as a dance. “It feels almost theatrical in this way, where it’s like every part of the set is living and breathing,” Depp says, “and you have to exist in that moment with everything and almost create a dance between the camera, theater actors, the walls that might be flying away.”
Co-star Emma Corrin adds: “You’re also at no point the most important thing in the room. It’s the camera that is the main focus.”
The resulting film feels like a sweeping epic, a big-budget Gothic horror movie filled with breathtaking shots — and blood and guts and rats (so many rats). The dialect is period-specific, and the movie’s pace is languid. Some might say glacial.
It’s a gamble, as was “The Northman,” his first large-budget film, whose knotty dialogue and hyperrealism didn’t capture audiences the way the studio had hoped. It was his first film to not turn a profit.
An ultraviolent remake of a silent German film isn’t exactly “The Avengers.” But, despite the seeming evidence to the contrary — all those bodily fluids pouring out of everyone — Eggers is not trying to actively repel audiences.
“I’m not an alchemist in my cell doing this for myself,” he said. “Making this kind of creative work is sharing what it is to be human with other human beings, even if the story is about an undead person.”
concerns. 18 and older.
301-471-0148. Lkcoyle@yahoo.com.
FAMILY
Lego Information Session — 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Do your children love building with Lego? Have you wondered about how to foster their love of all things Lego? Children’s Librarian Monica will share tips and ideas on how to bring Lego building to a new level! Monica is the mother of two grown sons who loved (and still love!) Lego. This informational program is intended for adults, however, your children are welcome — Lego bins will be available for LEGO fans to create with during this presentation. 301-600-7250.
frederick.librarycalendar.com.
HEALTH
Friends In Frederick Parkinson’s Disease Support Group — noon to 2 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Ruritan Club, 8101 Crum Road, Walkersville. The Friends In Frederick Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will begin the new year thinking about Parkinson’s Disease medications with Patricia Cash. Cash received her Doctor of Pharmacy in 1985. She currently works with the Frederick Integrated Health Network to improve outcomes for community dwelling Medicare patients. Lunch will be provided by the support group dining committee beginning at noon. 240-815-0080.
john.nicodemus@verizon.net. fifpdsg.org.
Thursday Jan. 16 CLASSES
Queer Art Social — 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Come paint, draw, create, make and mingle every third Thursday of the month in our Community Room! Bring something you are working on and or start a new project! You do not have to be a visual artist to attend, all forms of creating are welcome! This is a FREE drop-in social gathering! Music, sparkly drinks, tea and limited art supplies will be provided. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
BYOS: Yoga & Art — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Bring your own supplies and get ready to respond to this session’s featured source of inspiration: artistic mindfulness through yoga. Caroline Orlowski, artist, yoga instructor, and former Delaplaine intern, will lead the group in guided movement and meditation to practice intentionality with art. Bring your own artistic medium of choice (and yoga mat!) Easels are available. No yoga experience necessary. All bodies are welcome! Registration is encouraged. $10 ($8 members). 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
The Cutting-Edge Science of Wellness: Keys to Self-Care with Dr. Jedidiah Smith — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. The most
recent research in Quantum Neurobiology is changing the way we understand trauma and how it effects the human mind and body. It’s also revealing more effective ways of treating trauma. Join us for a five-week series and indepth discussion concerning this fascinating research.
$40-$80. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
Frederick County Civil War Roundtable Meeting and Presentation — 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Drew Gruber presents “The Siege of Yorktown.” The 1862 Siege of Yorktown is a story that’s been told and retold with equal parts fact and fiction for almost 162 years. Drew’s lecture will provide a new look at some of those tired stories and recognized photos, hoping to provide new insight and get the audience to think more critically about the “siege” which lasted almost one month.
Free for members, $5 suggested fee for non-members. gldyson@comcast.net.
frederickcountycivilwarrt.org.
FAMILY
Dog Man Party! — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. You loved the books — now come enjoy the party! Enjoy an afternoon of Dog Man themed crafts and activities! 301-600-6333. dspurrier@frederickcountymd.gov.
fcpl.org.
Teen Time: Lego (ages 11-18) — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Calling all teen fans of Lego. Join us if you’re a new fan of Lego or an experienced building. We will enjoy time building and creating with Lego bricks. Do you know where your love of Lego can take you? We will have information about taking your building to the next level! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18).
301-600-7250.
frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Tween Time: Lego (ages 8-13) — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Join a special Lego building time just for Tweens! Looking to have some dedicated building time with fellow Lego fans? Come to the library to have fun building and creating. 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Friday Jan. 17
CLASSES
Eating for Longevity: How to Cook the Blue Zones Way (5-Week Series) — noon to 1:15 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Want to live to 100? Certain communities around the world, dubbed Blue Zones by Dan Buettner at National Geographic, may have the key. The largest populations of centenarians live in Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California, and their longevity seems to be tied to
| Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 | 72 HOURS
a variety of common healthy behaviors, including (if not especially) how they eat, which is a mostly plant-based diet. In this 5-week cooking demonstration series, led by culinary coach Alison Wexler, you will learn about a different Blue Zone each week and how to cook plant-based dishes from that region. $90-$180. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
FAMILY
Junior Experts: How to be an Architect — 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Do you like to build things, and have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an architect? Join us to learn what architects do and try drawing your own plans! This program is for children in preschool through 5th grades (ages 4-10). 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
HEALTH
Feldenkrais: Awareness Through Movement — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Join us for Awareness Through Movement where you will be guided through movements that explore daily functions such as reaching, turning, breathing and walking. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.
MUSIC
F.A.M.E. Song Circle — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Mount Airy Town Hall , 110 S. Main St., Mount Airy. Make some music with other folks. All ages and abilities welcome. Bring an instrument, your voice, or just your ears. D.Koronet@att.net. frederickacoustic.org.
Saturday Jan. 18
CLASSES
Garden Pruning — 10 a.m. to noon at University of Maryland Extension Office, 330 Montevue Lane, Frederick. Learn what to prune in the winter and early spring and how to prune to get the most out of your plants. 301-600-1596. strice@umd.edu. bit.ly/FCMG25-Pruning.
Kombucha 101 — 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Learn all about kombucha history and the science behind the brewing and fermenting process! This will be an in-depth, hands-on learning experience and there will be plenty of time for questions. We will make our own delicious kombucha infusion and you will take home all the necessary ingredients to keep fermenting your own kombucha. $20-$40. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
ETCETERA
Myersville Indoor Farmers Market — 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Myersville Fire Co. Banquet Hall, 301 Main St., Myersville. Held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Shop local, enjoy fresh and high-quality
products, and support the sustainability of the region’s agriculture and economy. Shoppers can expect a diverse array of offerings, including seasonal produce, baked goods, meats, eggs, handmade crafts, and other unique items. 301-524-1035. myersvillefarmersmarket.com.
FAMILY
Animals in Winter — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. What do animals do when the weather gets cold? Drop in throughout the day to do some activities highlighting how some animals migrate, hibernate or adapt to stay safe all winter long. This program is for children in preschool and elementary school (ages 3-10) and their families.
301-600-7250.
frederick.librarycalendar.com.
MUSIC
Celtic Harp Trio — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Enjoy the beautiful music of the Celtic harp, violin and flute. 301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.
Sunday Jan. 19
FAMILY
Big Country Breakfast Buffet — 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co. Reception Hall, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy. The buffet will feature scrambled eggs, smoked sausage, bacon, French toast, pancakes, biscuits, home fries, sausage and chipped beef gravies, baked apples, makeyour-own-waffle bar, coffee, orange juice, milk, tea and hot chocolate. $15 adults, $9 ages 6 to 12, ages 5 and under free with a paying adult, cash or credit. 301-829-0100. info@mavfc.org. mavfc.org.
Monday Jan. 20
ETCETERA
Senior Men’s Group — 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Wegmans, 7830 Wormans Mill Road, Frederick. Connect with other men in the senior community! We meet weekly at Wegman’s to talk and catch-up. Just bring money for coffee. 301-600-1234. virtualseniorcenter@frederickcountymd.gov. frederickcountymd.gov.
COGO Second Annual Luncheon Fundraiser — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Delaplaine Art Center, 40 S. Caroll St., Frederick. Join this Community of Grace Organization event for an afternoon of inspiration, resilience and new beginnings. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, enjoy delicious Caribbean cuisine, impactful exhibits, and powerful performances — all to support a safe, supportive home for women and children in recovery. $70. 240-305-5723. communityofgrace.cogo@gmail.com. communityofgraceorganization.org.
Tuesday Jan. 21
CLASSES
Harmony in Healing: Monthly Homeopathy Exploration — 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. at The Common Market, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Unlock the secrets of holistic healing! Join our monthly group – a vibrant community where curiosity meets knowledge. Dive deep into the world of natural wellness as we explore the principles of homeopathy, share insights, and empower each other on our journey to optimal health. Hosted by Martina Gallagher, a knowledgeable third-year student from the prestigious Los Angeles School of Homeopathy. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop.
Sacred Sisters Circle: Embodying the Elements — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Give Rise Stuido, 125 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Join us as we journey through the elements, awakening our inner strength and restoring balance within. Through movement, meditation, creative expression, and deep connection, we will embody the powerful elements of nature and the life force that lives within. In this nurturing space, we will release, transform, and rise together, embracing renewal and alchemy.
Facilitator: Amanda Lucia. $20+ Sliding Scale. amandaluciaart@gmail.com. themind-bodyway.com/ sacredsistersfrederick.
ETCETERA
“The Price Is Right Live!” — 7 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The hit interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to hear their names called and “Come On Down” to win. Prizes may include appliances, vacations and possibly a new car! Play classic games just like on television’s longest running and most popular gameshow … from Plinko™ to Cliffhangers™ to The Big Wheel™ and even the fabulous Showcase. $78, $58, $50, $40. 301-600-2828. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org.
FAMILY
Elementary Explorers: Printmaking & Stamping — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Create artwork using printmaking and stamping techniques. This program is for children in kindergarten through 5th grades (ages 5-10). 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
RECREATION
Basketball - Senior Recreation Council — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Walkersville Recreation Center (Elementary School), 83 Frederick St., Walkersville. Requires registration and $10 annual dues — see website. Enter through gym doors on the right side of the school. $2. 240-651-1865. gvblessing@comcast.net. srcfrederick.org.
Wednesday Jan. 22
CLASSES
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. There will be plenty of modifications offered to meet various levels so that ALL can enjoy the benefits of yoga. By donation. 301-663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket.coop. commonmarket.coop/classes-events.
Preserving Your Family Memories — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Dorothea Mordan, owner of Chandler Designs in Woodsboro, will be presenting a program on preserving your family photographs and letters. This event is in conjunction with the FCPL Memory Lab. Dorothea will provide advice on how to plan for preservation, discuss the best practices for scanning, digital archiving photographs or slides, and archival storage options for originals. 18 and older. 301-600-7560.
lgrackin@frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org/calendar.
ETCETERA
Not Quite Burns Night — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Smoketown Brewing Station, 223 W. Potomac St., Brunswick. You are invited to the Friends of the Brunswick Library fundraiser, the annual Not Quite Burns Night, a slightly Scottish celebration of Poet Robert Burns’ work and life. Scottish trivia, poetry reading,
food and drink specials, and general gaiety. Silent auction on Facebook in the two weeks leading up to Not Quite Burns Night and display auction items at the event. Learn more about Robert Burns here: poetryfoundation. org/poets/robert-burns. FOLBrunswick@gmail.com. facebook.com/NQBN2025.
Thursday Jan. 23
FAMILY
Teen Time: Tea Time with Local Author Paulella Burchill — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Learn about the many ways we drink tea for enjoyment, to feel better and socially with local author, Paulella Burchill. Teens 13 and over can sample teas during this program. This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18). 301-600-7250. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Friday Jan. 24
CLASSES
Physical Therapy Education: Fall Prevention — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Middletown Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Dr. Matt Larson, an experienced physical therapist and Army veteran, will discuss fall risks, fall prevention, and techniques to improve balance. 301-600-7560. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
