At Home Places, Spring 2024

Volume 11, Issue 2

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Glenn Garvie

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Bridal Bridal

Eastbound and Gowns

The wedding bells rang in the Presbyterian Church in Hagerstown on June 1, 1905, as Miss Nellie Baechtel Loose was married to Dr. Victor D. Miller Jr. It was a rose wedding, roses predominating everywhere, decorations on an elaborate scale, and a ceremony attended by a fashionable assemblage of guests. The bride, daughter of the late Henry C. Loose, and her attendants were “handsomely gowned” according to reports of the day, and the event’s decorations on an elaborate scale.

Pictured here, the happy couple boarded their honeymoon train, bound for the eastern cities of New York and

Train Train

Boston, with the entire bridal party, plus some barefooted onlookers, posing for a keepsake photograph.

Upon the couple’s return, they took up residence at 135 West Washington Street, and the newlywed Dr. Miller Jr. proved to be a notable personality in the Hagerstown area for many years to come. The doctor held his practice at the homestead, while eventually expanding it with additions that included extra office spaces. The space would be rented out and used for a pharmacy, surgical suite, and medical offices.

In 1966, Dr. Miller’s sons, Victor D. Miller III and Col. Henry Loose Miller, donated their shares of the house to the

Washington County Historical Society. Today, the Miller House, named after the Miller family, is the society’s permanent headquarters, and the stately home still stands proudly today.

This vintage image was preserved and provided courtesy of Washington County Historical Society. To enjoy hundreds more historic views from society’s collection, visit washcohistory.org

EXPLOREALTOONA

WRITTENBYLESLIEPERLMUTTER

“Altoona/BlairCountyistheultimateSmall DestinationwithBigAdventures,”explains MarkIckes,theExecutiveDirectorof ExploreAltoona www.explorealtoona.com, showcasingthearea’scatchytagline.Heis enthusiasticaboutthemyriadofattractionsavailable:“LocatedwithintheheartofPennsylvania’s Alleghenies,Altoona/BlairCountyoffers adistinctive varietyofauthenticexperiences.Thereareunique, iconicsites,aswellasopportunitiestoexplore avast spectrumofinterests,includingrailroadingheritage, outdoorrecreation, ablossomingartsandculture scene,andclassicfamilyfun.”

Historyandheritagearebeingcelebrated throughoutthecounty. TheAltoonaRailroaders Memorial Museum,theonlysuchinteractivemuseuminthe country,tellsthestoryoftherailroaders’livesandhowtheyintrinsicallycultivatedthefabricandcultureof ahardworkingcommunity.HousedinthehistoricoriginalMasterMechanicsbuilding ofthePennsylvaniaRailroad, thislandmarkoffersthreefloorsof interactiveenvironments, aricharrayofartifacts,andcolorful orientationfilms.

Ickeshighlightsanothergem:“Themuseum’ssistersite,the world-famous Horseshoe CurveNationalHistoricLandmark,is theonlyplaceintheworldatwhichonecanobservetrains traversing amountainrange,theAlleghenies,intheliteralshape of ahorseshoe.Knownasoneoftheeightengineeringmarvelsof theworld,thismonumentaltransportationprojectwasbuiltby handby450Irishimmigrantsover afive-yearperiodbeginning in1849.TheHorseshoeCurvewillbecelebratingits170th anniversarythisyear.”

FortRoberdeau,openingforthe2024seasoninMay,is America’swesternmostRevolutionary Warsite. It features areconstructedwarfort,originallybuiltforthepurposeofprotectingthe leadminerswhoprovidedammunitionfortheContinentalArmy

ItislocatedinbeautifulSinking Valley,homeofmany Amishmarketsandoneoftherichestagricultural regionsinPennsylvania.

BlairCounty’sspecificplaceinhistorytrulycomes tolifeat BakerMansion,theonlyGreek Temple-style homeinPennsylvania.Thehomehasgonethrough extensiveinteriorrenovationandisknownasthesite servingasaninspirationfortheCBSseries, Ghosts, writtenbyAltoona native,JoePort.

Ickeselaboratesonthearea’svastlistofattractions:“Therearealsostellaroutdoorrecreational opportunitiesandbeautifulgreenspacesto exploreinthearea. ChimneyRocks is asignature naturalformationonthemountainside,southof Holidaysburg,BlairCounty’scountyseat.Itwas recentlylistedontheNationalRegisterofHistoric Placesintheconservationcategory.”

The September11thNationalMemorialTrail isevolvinginto a destinationuntoitself –anunbroken1,300milesystemofroads, trails,andgreenwaysthatlinkthethreenational9/11memorialsin New YorkCity,Washington, D.C.,andPennsylvania. Visitorscanalso discover Canoe Creek StatePark,chosenbythe PA Department ofConservation &NaturalResourcesasoneof“TwentyMust-See StateParks,”withabundantwaterandland-basedrecreation, a picturesque155-acrelakeandthehistoric,BlairLimestoneKilns.

Thosewithchildrenintowseekingclassicfamilyfuncanhelp celebratethe100thanniversaryofthe HerschellSpillmancarousel withits36hand-carvedhorsesatDelGrosso’sParkandLaguna Splash WaterPark. Takeinanexcitingminorleaguebaseball gamewiththeAltoonaCurve,an ‘AA’ affiliateofthePittsburgh Pirates,housedat Peoples Natural GasField,knownasoneofthe Mid-Atlantic’smoststellarbaseballstadiums.Kidswilllove avisit tothe SlinkyAction Zone,a familyfuncenter,featuring anewtwotierlasertagarenainthehometownoftheoriginalSlinky.Finish offwith ascenictrainexcursionthroughthebeautifulAlleghenies aboardthe EverettRailroad.Thesearejust afewofthebigadventuresthatawait.

Viewshedfrom ChimneyRocks, Hollidaysburg

Celebrates 100 Years Fort Frederick State Park

Within the Park, a 268 Year-Old Icon Still Stands

Inwestern Maryland, Washington County, is a historic icon, 268 years old. Fort Frederick, begun in 1756, is the only stone fort built by a British colony during the French and Indian War. This year, Fort Frederick State Park celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Colonial Governor Horatio Sharpe had seen a need for defenses on the western frontier at the outset of the French and Indian War, but not until 1756 did the Maryland Assembly approve £40,000 to build a fort at North Mountain. Sharpe directed much of the construction of the star-shaped fort himself and named the fort after Frederick Calvert, Lord Baltimore and Proprietor of Maryland. He designed its unique flag, with black and yellow, the Calvert colors, and the British Union in the corner.

Written by TRICIA LYNN STRADER

It took two years to complete and is one of the largest fortifications built by English colonists in North America, and could house a garrison of 200 men. The primary defenses were the bastions, which are arrowhead-shaped projections on the corners. They allowed for 360-degree field of fire from four six-pound cannons, one in each bastion. Walls are 18 feet high, 3 feet thick (except for thicker walls at the gate), and are at least six feet deep underground. Each face of the wall is about 179 feet long.

Maryland Companies of Foot garrisoned at Fort Frederick and Maryland frontier posts like Fort Tonoloway, present-day Hancock. Sometimes, Governor Sharpe called out militia from more settled parts of the province to do duty on the frontier, and troops from Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and

Virginia (later West Virginia) passed through the fort.

The design of the fort conforms to the style developed early in the 17th century by Sebastien de Vauban, a French military engineer considered the father of modern fortification. Exterior lines are 355 feet from bastion point to bastion point. Its stone wall is about 18 feet high and at least three major buildings origi-

Top: The impressive Fort Frederick is the centerpiece to Fort Frederick State Park in Big Pool, Maryland. COURTESY OF FRANK CERAVALO

A view of the main gate of Fort Frederick from inside the fort.

PHOTO BY TRICIA LYNN STRADER

PHOTO BY TRICIA LYNN STRADER

nally stood inside. The fort’s stone walls and two barracks have been restored to their 1758 appearance.

The fort shows American history from three centuries, from the Colonial period, through the Revolution and the Civil War, to the present. There was even a treaty between the garrison and Native Americans.

Park personnel and living historians give visitors a glimpse into fort life from various time periods.

Exhibits Original to the Property

Exhibits in the visitor center include mannequins in period dress to show fort life for troops as well as women such as laundresses and cooks. Artifacts have been found on the grounds, from smaller items to two sixpound round shot. The only things not original to the fort are a Civil War cap pouch and cartridge box, or a reproduction wampum belt.

For Robert Ambrose, Park Ranger II, the fort’s not only important for its factual history, but the stories of the people who built it, lived there, or were protected by its existence. He says the common soldiers or civilians didn’t write about the fort in diaries, but little by little, he and others have researched its history in hopes of telling more personal stories. There were at least eight women at the fort during the French and Indian War. Officers kept some records.

Of its history, he says, “We’ve got common soldiers, African Americans and women. We’ve got officers and politicians. . .it may not be a big turning point battle like a Gettysburg or a Yorktown, but it’s connected to so many of those things.

“People like George Washington knew this place. He was here for a day or two in 1756. I don’t know if he spent the night but was here, for sure. Thomas Jefferson knew this place and corresponded with people about the place. It’s all over Washington’s writings from the 1750s to the Revolutionary War.”

Cherokee Alliance During French and Indian War

In 1757, 62 Cherokee warriors under Wahatchey and Yaughtanew came from the south and formed an alliance with the colony at the fort. Ambrose says they have records of what the Cherokee said and items exchanged in friendship. The alliance is depicted in the exhibits.

“When the French and Indian War started here, there aren’t any American Indians in western Maryland,” Ambrose continues. “They’ve been pushed or moved further west by 1732, the last village in Maryland at Shawnee Old Town. The Shawnee and Delaware fighting against the English are living in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Those who allied with us here are the Cherokee coming up from Tennessee and South Carolina. They’re transient. They are enemies with Shawnee and Delaware, and wanted that alliance with us.”

He says the Maryland governor, in his writings with the head warrior of the Cherokee, asked the Cherokee to look at the white men as brothers, and to train the white men to fight in the manner of the Cherokee.

“We’re brought up to think every man then had a rifle and could fight from behind a tree, and was built like Fess Parker (who played Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett). They were farmers, shopkeepers. . .We had to be taught by the American Indians. This was the edge of the frontier here, the edge of settlement.”

The governor had said nearly onethird of militia-age men in Maryland didn’t have a gun or theirs was broken. Most of the population was in the cit-

ies, so that may be true.

By 1758, during the Forbes campaign that captured Fort Duquesne, today’s Pittsburgh, Maryland soldiers acted as scouts, rangers, and “Indians” for the army, and Ambrose says they were dressed somewhat like American Indians because they learned from them through the alliance.

“A great story of American Indians coming hundreds of miles, they teach our men how to fight, and they go home with their gifts. To me, that’s a fascinating thing. We think of white colonists fighting them. Here we have allies that worked, at least for a while.”

He said there are stories they can definitely tell at the fort, and stories they try to tell interpretively with information they have.

Various Periods of Fort Occupation

After the French and Indian War, the fort was shuttered, but not for long. It re-opened in 1763 during Pontiac’s War, or Pontiac’s Rebellion, as a refuge for 700 civilians. It shut down again, with no occupation, until 1778, when it was used as a prisoner of war camp through 1781 to hold thousands of British and German prisoners from the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown.

Exhibits at the Visitor Center depict the fort life of men and women through the years.

French and Indian War living historians stand guard. The flag in the background is unique to Fort Frederick, designed by the colonial Governor Sharpe in 1750s. COURTESY OF FORT FREDERICK STATE PARK

The Fort is Sold and Goes Agricultural

The state of Maryland sold the property in 1791. From then on, the land was farmed until 1923. Land inside the park boundary is still leased by a farmer.

African American Family Farms the Land

Nathan Williams had been born enslaved. His father purchased his freedom, and Williams later purchased the property including the abandoned fort in 1850. He, his wife and eight children farmed the land and were witness to Civil War skirmishes. Two companies of Union infantry were stationed at the Fort. They’re believed to have knocked a hole in the south curtain wall through which they trained a cannon toward Confederate territory across the Potomac. Confederate troops tried to dislodge the Union soldiers but were unsuccessful.

The Williams family owned the land until 1911.

“It’s kind of neat we have good connections with the descendants of Nathan,” Ambrose says. “The land spent more time as an agricultural concern than a military concern.”

A State Park Begins

Ambrose says the state purchased the property in late December 1922. It wasn’t really a park yet, because for the next year, the farmer who’d owned it had a lease for one more season.

A chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution commenced a tree-planting activity, and on Memorial Day 1924, the first official park event was held with a dedication.

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) restored its walls and began development of the park.

“They’re the story of the resilience of America during the Great Depression,” he says. “FDR found a way to keep these young men employed and off the streets, in a way that’s so meaningful. Not only was it meaningful for all of us and the parks they built, but meaningful for those guys. Those guys became in many ways the backbone of the Greatest Generation

UPCOMING EVENTS AT FORT FREDERICK

APRIL 25-28

18th Century Market Fair

that frees the world from Fascism and dictatorship.”

Fort Frederick State Park 100th

“We’re going to have a 100th anniversary of the park becoming a park on Memorial Day this year,” says Ambrose. “With COVID and everything, we weren’t sure what was going to happen, and through my research, the year 1924 was really when the park started, and we can have another 100th anniversary in 12 years for the CCC.”

Events this Memorial Day weekend will include programs from the periods of 1750s to 1930s. French and Indian War, Revolution, Civil War, CCC, and early park ranger interpretations will be held.

JUNE 15-16

An Army Marches on its Stomach: Soldiers’ Rations

JULY 1-7

The Fort in the American Revolution

JULY 20-21

The French in North America during the French and Indian War

AUGUST 24-25

Travel back in time to an 18th-century market fair with sutlers (period vendors) selling reproduced 18th-century wares including pottery, tin and copper ware, clothing, material and patterns, documents and books, ironware, muskets and accoutrements, horn wares, paintings and prints, or lanterns. Colorful entertainers and street peddlers will also be strolling around. Breakfast and lunch available on-site.

French and Indian Muster

SEPTEMBER 21

Civilian Conservation Corps

OCTOBER 12-13

Reduction of the British Army-The American victory over British at Yorktown, 1781

NOVEMBER 9-10

Fitted out for the Expedition: Trappings of the American Soldier 1753-1953

DECEMBER 7

A 1930s Christmas

“We’ve invited as many stakeholders in the park as we could to come out, set up a booth, and have a kind of fair,” says Ambrose. “Any agency, or organization we work with now or has been part of the park’s history. We should have a number of different groups from around the state and the area. We’ll even have some relatives of Nathan Williams. It will be a variety of things.”

He says there’s so much history to preserve for future generations.

“We’re pretty lucky we have this huge artifact, this 1.5 acre of land with a stone wall that’s been around 268 years.”

Fort Frederick is at 11100 Fort Frederick Road in Big Pool, Maryland. For more information on park events, admission fees, and camping, call (301) 842-2155, email fortfrederick. statepark@maryland.gov, or text 443805-1759.

Living historian Tim McCown repairs a musket lock in the armory.

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On the Allegheny Winter Express, shake off those winter blues with a train ride and made-to-order breakfast freshly prepared on board.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Brings Back Historic Locomotives

Written by LINDA HARKCOM

he Western Maryland Railway was originally built in 1909 to haul coal out of Maryland and West Virginia. Today, as part of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, historic locomotives still traverse the only remaining active part of those tracks. But now, as they ramble through the beautiful Allegheny Mountains, they carry tourists instead of freight.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad was founded as a scenic tourism ride in 1991. It offers tourists train journeys year round. Trains depart from Cumberland, Maryland, and travel west through the breach in the scenic Allegheny Mountains. Along the way, most trips pass through the 914-foot Brush Tunnel under Piney Mountain, over an iron truss bridge, around Helmstetter’s Curve and after climbing grades up to 2.8% on the 16-mile trek, they reach Frostburg, Maryland.

Eric Mencis, Railroad Operations Manager for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad says the last remnant of active track of the old Western Maryland Railroad lies between the towns of Cumberland and Frostburg. The rest of the line, he says, has been turned into bike trails and for other recreational purposes.

“We have the last little bit of that history that still operates trains,” Mencis says. “Now, instead of hauling coal and freight and goods, we haul scenic rides of passengers up to Frostburg or through the mountains. They get some time in town, some time to enjoy the views, and then

they take the train back to Cumberland, which was considered Maryland’s Queen City, as it was the second-largest city in Maryland back in the early 1900s, the early days of the railroad.”

Mencis notes that 75,000 visitors rode the trains on the railroad last year, which was up from 62,000 in 2022. In addition to their regular trips, tourists are particularly attracted to the various events the railroad offers on its rail cars throughout the year.

Travis Medcalf of Frostburg, Maryland, says his family has taken the train four times. His favorite thing about the railway are the varied experiences they offer. “We’ve travelled first class with lounge seating and snacks. Another time the railway added a full dome car, one of only five made in the United States, offering us a tremendous view and a great train fan experience,” Medcalf says. “It’s always a good time. When we have guests visiting, we always try to include a trip on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. A unique treasure right here in our own backyard.”

The Allegheny Winter Express runs each weekend through the last weekend of April.

“We offer Brunch trains on Saturday and Sunday,” says T.J. Abe, Onboard Manager for the Western Scenic Railroad. “You get to see the landscape

without any of the foliage on the trees, see a lot of the geographic features as we come through the mountains, which is really neat. It is very family-friendly. We typically carry two to three coaches full of passengers each trip.”

There are two classes of service for the trip: Lounge Class and Coach Class. Coach class costs $35 for adults and $20 each for the ride itself to Frostburg and back. Abe says the railroad has servers and bartenders throughout the trip to serve food and drinks available for an extra cost.

The First Class 21-and-up lounge car offers a private bar attendant, hors d’oeuvre platters and a $20 food voucher which is good for the brunch

menu on the train.

“There are table cars where they can go sit down and enjoy their meal, then they can go back to their other seats where they were prior,” Abe says.

Tickets for the lounge class are $85 and participants must be age 21 and older. Abe says these passengers also get a more personal experience.

“Typically when we are running our regular excursions, we have the conductors talking about the sites, but in our lounge class it’s a little bit more of a personalized experience,” Abe says. “Instead of the conductor over the PA system, the bar attendant is the one who is pointing out a lot of the sites and telling the more in-depth stories.”

Enjoy the fall foliage views as you take a trip up the mountain behind steam locomotive 1309 on the Fall Frostburg Flyer.

Take in a Maryland sunset aboard a train with full bar service, complimentary appetizers, and more during the Moonlight on the Mountain tours.

On April 27 and 28, they host their Spring Fling Express, which Abe explains has tickets that are more affordable for families.

“It’s a condensed train ride up to about five-to-six miles away from the station. We go up to a famous horseshoe curve along the line. We allow the families to deboard and plant flowers and see the really nice overlooks there. Typically, those tickets range around $15. Those are the ones the community really loves to ride and be part of,” Abe says.

The railroad provides the flowers to the passengers for planting during their excursion.

Their “Ice Cream Trains” offer a similar short trip but instead of flowers, riders get to enjoy ice cream along the way.

The railroad also offers Murder Mystery Trains where the Fowl Players of Perryville perform for passengers as they enjoy a meal in their table cars. This train event runs every other Friday through the end of April. May through October, they are offered the first Saturday of the month. In October, there is an extra Halloween train, which is the last one for the season. Tickets for these events are $135 per person, which includes a meal; alcohol is additional.

“They are incredibly popular trips,” Abe says. “They book out well in advance. For those looking to experience that, you want to make sure you are booking well ahead.”

The most popular excursion is their official version of The Polar Express. Last year, 35,000 visitors rode the train during this event, which ran from Black Friday in November through Christmas Eve. Abe says tickets go on sale for the event the week of July 4.

More details on each railroad excursion, including costs and departure times, can be found on the organization’s website at wmsr.com.

THE LOCOMOTIVES OF THE WESTERN MARYLAND SCENIC RAILROAD

Courtesy of wmsr.com

No. 1309

Constructed in 1949 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Chesapeake & Ohio Railway steam locomotive No. 1309 was built to handle the railroad’s heaviest coal trains throughout Kentucky and West Virginia until it was retired in 1956.

Sixty-four years later, No. 1309 took her first steps under steam after a meticulous and extensive restoration to service. In her first season on the WMSR, the locomotive became an outstanding tourist attraction for Allegany County, operating trains between Cumberland and Frostburg. The 1309 is now the largest regularly operating steam locomotive in the country.

No. 558

The first and only General Electric locomotive in the history of the WMSR arrived in August 2022. The 558 (formerly NS 3558) was built by Norfolk Southern in December of 1989 and built to operate long hood forward. This locomotive is not owned by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, it is currently leased from Northern Illinois & Wisconsin Railway.

No. 501

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad purchased No. 501 (formerly PRR 2249) directly from Conrail in 1995. The 501 was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in May 1963. After the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with Penn Central, the engine was passed down to Penn Central, then again to Conrail in 1976. The 501 has been a steady workhorse for the WMSR over the past two and a half decades.

No. 734

Several cosmetic changes and a tender from a New York Central 4-8-2 “Mohawk” completely transformed the appearance of the engine into a suitable stand-in for the longgone Western Maryland 2-8-0’s. Except for a period out of service in the early 2000s for retubing and other repairs, No. 734 gave the railroad many years of service until it was withdrawn in 2016 for the federally mandated 1472-day inspection.

The 734 is in line for a full rebuild from the railhead to the smokestack. As an icon of the Cumberland and Frostburg communities, the plan for the 734 is a full rebuild, pending funding.

GAP

Endless adventures await along the Great Allegheny Passage

Written by TRICIA LYNN STRADER

From Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there’s a pathway of about 150 miles that skirts alongside rivers, meanders around mountains, and crosses over valleys. The Great Allegheny Passage is an almost-level crushed limestone path for bicyclists, hikers, anglers, or people who want to stroll awhile in between quaint towns (with a paved section near Pittsburgh). Those towns are a microcosm of America’s pioneer history, from small rural mountain or valley farm towns to mining, milling, and steel towns that sprang up during the industrial revolution.

Much like the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal trail, the Great Allegheny Passage, or GAP, traces old footpaths and railroad corridors through wilderness,

The scenic Ohiopyle Falls in Ohiopyle State Park, Ohiopyle, Pa., one of the many “trail towns” along Great Allegheny Passage.

offering a glimpse into the country’s westward expansion. The GAP follows the old railroad lines, from Cumberland to McKeesport, and then from McKeesport to Pittsburgh, a mix of railroad corridors, old gas line rights-of-way, and newly built paths. When paired with the C&O Canal Towpath, it makes long-distance trail travel possible between Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

The non-motorized biking path gives birds-eye views, valley views, and scenery along the Casselman, Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers. Along its route, it squeezes through the Cumberland Narrows, crosses the Mason & Dixon Line, crosses atop the 2,392foot Eastern Continental Divide, and passes through the breathtaking Laurel Highlands and the lovely Ohiopyle State Park. It ends at Point State Park in Pittsburgh.

Visitors can take a long planned trip with stop-offs at towns with B&Bs, inns and campgrounds, plus enjoy cafes,

shops, and historical museums. Or visitors can walk or bike part of it and take Amtrak or other motorized services at various points to transport their bikes and gear to or from a given point. Outfitters and tour operators can help plan a visit. Parking and branded wayfinding signage is ample from end to end.

The Allegany Museum in Cumberland, Maryland, is a great spot for anyone starting or ending the GAP at mile marker 0. It was voted one of the top 10 Small Town Museums in the country by USA Today. Admission is free (donations are accepted) and is operated by an all-volunteer staff.

The museum, at 3 Pershing St., is a multi-story historical experience highlighting the region from the local Native Americans to pioneer settlers and beyond. It explores the American Revolution and Cumberland as a transportation hub in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Crossroads of America exhibition traces the history of human movement through Cumberland and Allegany County.

“Cumberland was really the way to the West,” says Allegany County Director of Tourism Ashli Workman. “The Allegany Museum celebrates Cumberland’s transportation past with river, canal, roads and rail travel. At mile marker 0 is the GAP trail and historic markers before 1845 of the National Road. George Washington’s cabin from Fort Cumberland is there near the National Road monument.”

Some highlights of the museum also are a glass room commemorating the area’s past in glass making, and one dedicated to brewing, as that was another important thing about the area. The former industry of tire manufacturing at Kelly Springfield is exhibited. And there’s a replica of George Washington thanks to artificial intelligence.

“The earliest portrait of Washington, he was in his 40s,” says Workman. “They did a lot of research on him for a regression to see what he looked like as a young man. It’s the only one of its kind, and

Cucumber Falls in Ohiopyle State Park, Pa. is a great sightseeing stop to take in some of nature’s best views.

White water rafting on the Youghiogheny River is a featured activity in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. COURTESY OF GO LAUREL HIGHLANDS

it’s at the Allegany Museum.” The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers year-round historic train travel through the scenic Allegheny Mountains, departing from Cumberland and ending at the mountain town of Frostburg. The train passes through a 914-ft. tunnel and provides some of the best mountain vistas that Maryland has to offer. Bikers can take a break by riding the railroad with their bikes loaded on the train.

One of the side stops available is the fairly nearby Fallingwater, the famous house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935. But not only is one Wright-designed or inspired house available visit near the GAP, but two more, Kentuck Knob and Polymath Park.

“All are very different experiences,” says Clinton Piper, Senior Administrator of Special Projects at Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. “You get the perspective on the architect Frank Lloyd Wright during different periods.”

Piper says Fallingwater is much in touch with the landscape, and suggests visiting during different seasons to fully embrace its architecture.

“Fallingwater feels different in each season. We do a winter self-guided walk. A lot of light penetrates deep into the house with no leaf cover. Sometimes the waterfall freezes. In spring are the wildflowers, and in summer the leaves of the tree canopy closes in around the house. In fall is the beauty of the changing leaves.”

A website for all three Wright locations is www.wrightlh.com.

He says there’s a lot going on yearround for the GAP. Skiing is available at three different locations in winter. Festivals and celebrations take place throughout the seasons. The section of the GAP near Ohiopyle State Park, one of Pennsylvania’s largest state parks, is very popular for biking and white water rafting in the nearby Youghiogheny River.

The GAP yields stunning views of waterfalls, gorges, river valleys, and farmland. Favorite sites are Helmstetter’s Curve, Big Savage Tunnel, Bollman Bridge, Keystone Viaduct, Pinkerton Tunnel, and Ohiopyle Low and High Bridges.

The GAP is a bucket list adventure for tourists from all 50 states and several countries annually. Upon its completion, the GAP was the first path inducted into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s RailTrail Hall of Fame.

“We get about a million visitors a year, bringing $121 million worth of economic prosperity to the region, especially among trail towns,” says Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy Executive Director Bryan Perry. “It took 35 years to build at a cost of over $80 million from half-private and half-public funds. Local volunteers maintain 99 percent of it. We promote the GAP to new and returning audiences, produce a guidebook and map, and include the C&O Canal Towpath.”

Today, the GAP carries a lengthy

portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, hosts a segment of the September 11 National Memorial Trail, and is a founding member of the Great American Rail Trail preferred route. “There’s a lot to do in the trail towns,” Perry says, “with museums, concert halls, diners, model railroad museums, and things like the George Washington self-guided walking tour of Cumberland or the underground railroad tour in Cumberland. There’s the Allegany Museum in Cumberland or the Appalachian Festival in Frostburg. Only 10 to 15 percent are thru-riders. Others go out for a ride, stop for lunch, and ride back. Frostburg to Cumberland is about an hour bike ride. Most do it in bits and pieces.”

He says he prefers to ride his bike to Cumberland and hop on Amtrak to travel home to Pittsburgh. For someone who may wish to keep up with friends, pedal-assist e-bikes are allowed. Bikes are available for rent also at some locations.

Showcasing southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial and cultural heritage is the Rivers of Steel Museum in Homestead. The Allegany Museum con-

A marker along the trail designates the Mason-Dixon Line.

An Eastern Continental Divide marker along the Great Allegheny Passage biking and hiking trail.

tains diverse collections about the culture of Western Maryland and Greater Appalachia. One exhibit covers George Washington in the region as a young surveyor, his exploits from the French and Indian War period, and his efforts as president to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. Another theme is the evolution of American transportation 1750 to 1900 by roads, canals, and trains and the role they played in encouraging westward colonization.

Eric Knopsnyder of GO Laurel Highlands says one of the best parts, in his opinion, is from Garrett in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to the Mason Dixon Line. He says people get many perspectives of the terrain and experiences from in the Laurel Highlands portion, from bridges to Big

Savage Tunnel, Salisbury and keystone Viaducts, Bollman Bridge, and the Eastern Continental Divide (and it’s all downhill from there to Cumberland). That portion is about 15 or 16 miles.

“There’s a great overlook just before the Mason Dixon Line near Meyersdale,” the Director of Public Relations for GO Laurel Highlands says. “I encourage them to do the entire trail, but this section highlights a lot in a short stretch. Meyersdale is a great stop for multiple-day trips with B&Bs that cater to people on the GAP. Ohiopyle is a must-see. It’s a tiny little borough inside Ohiopyle State Park with white water rafting, fishing, boating and the Laurel Highlands hiking trail. Confluence, once a mining and railroad town, has been reborn as

a trail town. It struggled for decades as industries were phased out. People came back because of the trail. Two people even moved from Seattle to open a café and artist residency. Another trail town, Connellsville is active because of the GAP, and they’re building things around the trail.”

Knopsnyder also recommends the September 11 National Memorial for a side trip. “Every American should see that at some point. It’s a very moving tribute.”

In the future there might be another portion of the GAP. Mark Fallon, an Allegheny County representative from Homestead area of the Regional Trail Corporation, says they’ve discovered more railroad tunnels.

“The Sandcastle (Waterpark) to Connellsville portion is where U.S. Steel Homestead used to be,” Fallon says. “There were also steel plants in Duquesne, McKeesport, and Christy. The trail goes past Kennywood Park. We’re trying to revitalize this area of the GAP and are proposing a spur off the GAP at a tunnel we found under the railroad. When spelunkers went in they found two small tunnels used in the steel industry. We might have a new aspect we’re calling the GAP Spur.”

Stay tuned.

LOOKING TO BRIDGE THE GAP?

For more information, these and other websites and tourist bureaus can provide answers.

gaptrail.org

GOLaurelHighlands.org

fallingwater.org

wrightlh.com

alleganymuseum.org

mdmountainside.com

riversofsteel.com

wmsr.com

The Ohiopyle High Bridge at sunrise.

Written by SARAH NADEAU

Spring blooms anew and gardeners are busy preparing to nurture young buds to flourish with nutrient-rich soil, fresh water, and ample sunlight. We should think of ourselves, perhaps, as gardeners, too, when we think about early childhood literacy. How do we best tend the garden for the babies and toddlers in our lives to grow to have a lifelong love of learning?

There are five simple early literacy practices for caregivers, as outlined by the Every Child Ready to Read initiative, to help promote pre-reading skills at home: singing, talking, reading, writing and playing.

Singing: Singing slows down language so children can hear the smaller sounds in words. Bouncing and clapping along to songs with rhythm can help them hear each syllable. Songs often have words that don’t come up in everyday conversations, so hearing that Jack and Jill are going to “fetch” a “pail” of water can grow their vocabulary. Singing is also a great way to introduce or reinforce new concepts like shapes, opposites and letters.

Getting Little Sprouts Ready to Read

Talking: Talking in ways that encourage children to respond is instrumental in helping them understand what they later read. Build awareness of sounds by making animal noises and pointing out new environmental sounds. Explain unfamiliar words and offer synonyms to build understanding of their growing vocabulary. Point out signs, labels, and other text throughout the day to make the connection between printed and spoken words clearer. Ask open-ended questions, have children retell a favorite story, or encourage them to predict what may happen next in a situation to keep those young minds engaged and talking.

Reading: Reading together is the single most important activity to help get a child ready to read. Point to words in repeated phrases as you say them together, pick out what you notice in illustrations, and relate what is happening in a story to the child’s own experiences. Read a variety of books to build background knowledge about a range of subjects. Allow children to help select books to read together and talk to them about what they liked in each. As they begin reading on their own, set a great example by reading your own book at the same time.

Writing: Developing fine and gross motor skills are important for writing. Ask children to draw pictures and tell you about them. As they become more familiar with letters, help them practice writing the letters in their name and sounding them out. As their skills develop further, ask children to draw and write their

own stories or write down everything they know about different topics.

Playing: Playing is a powerful way to learn. Puzzles and matching/sorting games are always great fun for early learning. Symbolic play (using one object to symbolize another), dramatic play (acting out sto-

ries), and roleplaying help develop language. Add text to play, for example by adding written menus when you play Restaurant. Children learn new words best when they learn them in context or a natural setting, so continue to offer unfamiliar words and descriptions to the words they use while playing.

With these tools and a library card, the gardens of your little sprouts’ minds can be nurtured so they blossom to the fullest, primed for learning, reading, and leading in the years to come.

Olde Homestead

310 South Main St., Boonsboro, MD 21713 240-329-9353

www.olde-homestead.com

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Cronise Market Place offers fresh local fruits & vegetables, jellies & ciders, a large variety of beautiful owers including hanging baskets, bedding plants, perennials, herbs & vegetable plants, lawn & garden décor, birdhouses, wind chimes and ags.

Olde Homestead offers a large variety of Country, Vintage & Farmhouse Decor, orals, curtains, linens, rugs, bedding, pictures, lamps, furniture, candles, jewelry, hand bags & unique gifts.

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Sarah Nadeau is the head of public relations at the Washington County Free Library. GETTY

Use the DASH diet Eat healthier and prevent or manage high blood pressure

Written by LISA MCCOY

Do you have high blood pressure?

About 20% of Americans have high blood pressure but do not know it because they do not experience specific symptoms. It is often called “the silent killer” because people die from a heart attack or stroke due to the elevated blood pressure. Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The rate of hypertension increases with age and specific ethnic groups, such as non-Hispanic blacks. Modifiable risk factors that increase your risk for high blood pressure are eating a high-salt diet, not being physically active, and drinking too much alcohol.

To combat the public health problem of hypertension in American adults, the DASH diet was created to prevent and treat high blood pressure and reduce people’s risk of heart disease. DASH (or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) was introduced in 1997 based on research funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). It is supported and recommended by the National

WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE?

The force of the blood pushing against the artery walls.

Measured in 2 numbers:

o The top number is systolic pressure when your heart beats.

o The bottom number is diastolic pressure when your heart is at rest

Kidney Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The DASH diet was ranked as one of the top 3 best diets overall by the U.S. News and World Report in 2024. It is also ranked in the top 3 for:

• best diet for bone and joint health (#2)

• best diabetes diet (#2)

• best family-friendly diet (#3)

• best heart-healthy diet (#3)

• best diet for healthy eating (#3)

• easiest diets to follow (#3)

The DASH diet is a healthy, balanced way of eating that limits sugary, salty, and high saturated-fat foods. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats are emphasized in the diet. The DASH diet does not list specific foods to eat but focuses on specific servings from different food groups to give you a balanced diet. The number of servings depends on how many calories you choose to consume. The recommendations listed below are based on consuming 2,000 calories a day. Let’s explore what to eat on the DASH diet.

WHOLE GRAINS

Aim for 6-8 servings per day

1 serving is:

• One slice of bread

• ¾ to 1 cup of cereal

• 1/2 cup of cooked rice, pasta, or oatmeal

• A small (2-inch diameter) muffin

• Half an English muffin

How to know if it is whole grain:

• Look for the yellow whole grain label on the packaging

• Check the ingredient list for whole

wheat flour (not just wheat flour)

• Enriched wheat and multigrain are NOT whole grains

Tip: Try to make half of your grains a whole grain at each meal (for example, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, brown rice).

VEGETABLES

Aim for 4-5 servings per day

1 serving of vegetables is:

• 1 cup of raw, leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, kale)

• ½ cup of sliced vegetables – raw or cooked (broccoli, carrots, squash, tomatoes)

• ½ medium white or sweet potato

• ½ ear of corn

• ½ cup of low-sodium vegetable juice

Tip: Look for ways to add vegetables to your meals (add spinach to an omelet, add veggies to a pasta dish or soup, serve salads with meals)

FRUITS

Aim for 4-5 servings per day

1 serving of fruit is:

• 1 medium piece of fruit (apple, orange, kiwi)

• ½ cup canned, frozen, and fresh fruit (peaches, pineapple)

• 1 single serve container of fruit (unsweetened applesauce)

• ½ cup 100% fruit juice

• ¼ cup unsweetened dried fruit (raisins, apricots)

Tip: Try to add fruit to each meal or as a snack (fruit in hot or cold cereal, fresh fruit salad). Fresh fruit make great grab and go snack!

BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORIES

Normal:120/80 or lower

Elevated: 120-129/80

Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139/80-89

Stage 2 hypertension: 140/90 or higher

*systolic or diastolic numbers determine the category

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Aim for 2-3 servings per day

1 serving of dairy product is:

• 1 cup of fat-free or 1% milk

• ½ cup of cottage cheese

• 1 cup of low-fat or non-fat yogurt

• 1/3 cup or 1 ½ ounces of low-fat cheese

Tip: Look for low-fat and low-sodium dairy products.

PROTEIN

Aim for 6 ounces or less of meat, poultry, and fish daily

Aim for 1 serving of nuts, legumes, and seeds 4-5 times a week

1 serving of protein is:

• 3 ounces of cooked meat, chicken, turkey, or fish

• 2 eggs

• 1/3 cup of unsalted nuts

• 2 Tablespoons of nut butter

• 2 Tablespoons of seeds

• ½ cup cooked legumes

It is best to choose lean cuts of meat and limit red meats to 1-2 times a week. Healthy nuts, seeds, and legumes include almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, kidney beans, lentils, and split peas.

Tips: Limit protein foods that are high in saturated fat and sodium (bacon, ribs, and fried chicken, fatty processed meats). Try having a meatless meal once a week using plant-based protein sources in your meals.

FATS AND OILS

Aim for 2-3 servings per day

1 serving of a fat or oil is:

• 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil (olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, safflower oil)

• 1 teaspoon of soft margarine

• 1 Tablespoon of light mayonnaise

• 2 Tablespoons of light salad dressing

HEALTHY VS UNHEALTHY FATS

Healthy unsaturated fats:

• increase your HDL (good) cholesterol

less likely to clog arteries

• contains essential fatty acids that your body needs

• unsaturated fats come from plants like olives, avocados, nuts, and seeds, as well as some fish and shrimp.

Unhealthy saturated fats:

• may clog your arteries

• increase LDL (bad) cholesterol

• should be limited for good health to <7% of your daily calories

• saturated fats include tropical oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils

Unhealthy trans fats:

• lead to inflammation and diseases including hypertension

• check the Nutrition Facts label for trans fats and avoid hydrogenated oils

• these fats were banned in processed foods by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018

ADDED SUGARS

Aim to limit added sugar to less than 10 grams daily

Added sugars may:

• increase the risk of heart complications

• contribute to weight gain

• cause tooth decay

• increase your risk for diabetes and heart disease

Where to find added sugars:

• candy

• packaged breads (doughnuts, muffins, Danish)

• breakfast cereals

• sugary beverages (regular sodas, sports drinks, fruit beverages that are not 100% juice like lemonade)

• fruit-flavored yogurt

• frozen meals, ice cream and other frozen deserts

• pudding, sorbet, jelly, jam

Tip: Natural sugars found in fruit, vegetables and milk do not need to be limited. Use the Nutrition Facts label to determine how many grams of added sugar are in a serving of different foods.

SODIUM

Aim for no more than 2,300 milligrams a day

Ideal limit is 1,500 milligrams or less per day

• Americans consume too much sodium in their diet, about 3,500 milligrams per day. The majority of this sodium comes from packaged, prepared and restaurant foods – not from the salt shaker at home.

• 1 teaspoon of salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium

Tip: Look for low sodium, reduced sodium, sodium free or no salt added foods. Use the Nutrition Facts label to determine the amount of sodium per serving and compare products when shopping. Cooking foods from scratch allows you to limit the sodium content in your meals. Try salt-free seasoning blends, herbs, and spices to flavor your food.

DASH-Plus is a new community-based high blood pressure management program for adults. It teaches the principles of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and includes simple exercises for adults to help individuals prevent or manage high blood pressure. The DASH-Plus program was developed by researchers and educators with the University of Maryland Extension (UME).

If you are interested in attending a DASH-Plus program in your community, contact Lisa McCoy, EdD, RDN at the UME-Washington county office at 301-791-1304 or lmccoy@umd.edu.

Lisa McCoy is a registered dietitian at the University of Maryland Extension

Beyond Therapy

Building Resilience and Success with a Morning Mindfulness Routine

Conversations about therapy inevitably come up with many clients, family members and friends. Discussions invariably lead to comments such as, “My therapist saved my life” or “Therapy is just not for me.” To some extent, both of these statements lack validity. Therapy is not for those who need it – it is for those who want it. Even if someone attends therapy weekly for an hour, they still have 167 hours of life to live outside of the safe space of their therapist’s office. Doing the work to regulate emotions, apply adaptive coping strategies, stay compliant with medication, and utilize the other relevant skills learned in sessions will often dictate whether enjoyment and optimum

Written by DUANE BOYD, LMSW

success from mental health therapy is achieved. Essentially, ‘you get what you put in,’ like everything else in life. The following information is intended to supplement what is learned in therapy. It is meant to collaborate with, and not contradict, the tools learned from individual treatment plans.

A helpful strategy that has been effective for clients is to create a morning routine. It is not reinventing the wheel and techniques were adapted from author Hal Elrod’s popular book, The Miracle Morning, to create a quick 10-minute routine that instills mindfulness, self-care and performance

enhancement into daily routines. The acronym for Hal’s fundamental activities is SAVERS, which stands for Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading and Scribing. It is apparent after a quick read through his book, a browse through his Facebook page, or a listen to his podcast, that his followers have created thousands of different ways to do this routine. Here are some suggestions adapted for an easy strategy in the effort to eliminate barriers:

• Use sticky paper or letters and attach messages on the mirror used most in the morning. These should have sayings written on them like: ‘Mind My Thoughts’ and ‘Stronger Than Yesterday.’ These are two very strong

affirmations denoting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and personal growth models utilized in therapy.

• Next, it is beneficial to take a few moments to stretch, do a yoga pose, do some pushups, or walk the dog; just a small amount of exercise to get oxygen flowing to the brain.

• Then, it is a great idea to read something inspirational. There are devotionals, religious texts, apps, and several other sources to access uplifting content.

• Afterward, take a moment or two concentrating on breath with eyes closed, focusing on affirmations or enjoying free thought.

• Finally, writing down the day’s activities is another way to start on a positive note. If there is a topic of interest for journaling that day, jot it down, too. Prioritize the list; there may be tasks that need to be done that day and others that can wait. That’s OK. It is enough. Visualize what it will feel like when that task is scratched off the list. Visualize being capable of anything. Think or say, ‘I am becoming my ideal self.’

Implement these ideas based on what feels most comfortable to you. Talk to a trusted therapist or loved one and ask for input. Remember, therapy is just one piece of the puzzle; it’s what you do in daily life that truly shapes your mental health in the long run. So, embrace this routine, adapt it to suit your needs, and watch as it enhances your overall well-being. Here’s to a brighter, more mindful future.

Duane Boyd, LMSW, is a therapist at Brook Lane’s outpatient clinic in Cumberland, Maryland, specializing in depression, anxiety, trauma and addiction. With degrees from Allegany College of Maryland, Frostburg State University, and Salisbury, he utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and Mindfulness Training. Outside of work, he enjoys chess, painting and real estate renovations, and cherishes time with his wife and 11-year-old daughter

Volunteer – it’s good for you!

Written by ROXANN MILLER

April is National Volunteer Month, but volunteering anytime – at any age – is just plain good for you. Volunteering is especially important for seniors.

Consistent volunteering can improve the health and well-being of people age 55 and older, according to AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for the nation’s volunteer and service efforts.

According to an AmeriCorps study:

• 32 percent of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who reported good health at the beginning of the study reported improved health at the two-year follow-up.

• Of those who reported five or more symptoms of depression at the beginning of the study, 78 percent said they felt less depressed two years later.

• 88 percent of Senior Corps volunteers who first described a lack of companionship reported a decrease in feelings of isolation after two years.

Washington County Commission on Aging serves as a clearinghouse for senior, volunteer opportunities in Washington County, through its Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The program offers volunteers, 55 and older, an array of volunteer opportunities in congregate sites, home-delivered meals, the Maryland Theatre, the Senior Center, as well as many other settings.

Last year, RSVP volunteers donated over 14,000 hours of their time and talents to various not-for-profit organizations in Washington County through RSVP, according to Susan Hurd, Community

Educator/Guardianship & RSVP Programs Manager at

the Commission on Aging.

“Volunteers are the hands and feet of nonprofit organizations. Without them, we cannot serve as many people and do as much as we do. They make us better and they make our organizations stronger,” says Hurd.

Volunteering makes an immeasurable difference in people’s lives, but it also makes a huge impact in the lives of volunteers.

John Sill, of Sharpsburg, Maryland, is one of WCCOA’s long-term volunteers at the Boonsboro Congregate Nutrition Site, where freshly prepared, noontime meals are served along with opportunities for socialization and recreation.

“Before lunch, I wipe down the tables and set them with paper placemats and plastic wear. Then, after lunch I wash the pots and pans,” Sill says.

With his family living in

Texas, and the passing of his wife Patricia, Sill says volunteering has given him a purpose.

“It keeps me from being alone. I guess that’s one of the main reasons (I volunteer). I enjoy being around people instead of being by myself,” he says.

Marlene Bowers, of Knoxville, Maryland, also volunteers at the Boonsboro location.

Her late husband Robert suffered from dementia, and she took him to the Boonsboro site for socialization.

“It was the best thing for him,” says Bowers, who decided to volunteer at the site after her husband’s passing.

“Volunteering gets me out of the house and among people. It gets lonely sitting in your house alone.”

Bowers serves the noontime meal, helps with arts and crafts, and pitches in wherever she’s needed.

Not only does Susan Taylor

volunteer as a Washington County Commission on Aging advisory council chairperson, but she also volunteers.

“I grew up with parents who demonstrated love for people by giving their time and talents to advocate for those who couldn’t advocate for themselves.” says Taylor.

She is one of the Meals on Wheels’ delivery drivers for Lynn Hendricks, who calls her a godsend.

“I depend on these meals, and seeing Susan (Taylor) makes me smile,” says Hendricks.

In addition to delivering Meals on Wheels, Taylor says it’s vital to spend time with Hendricks to see how she’s doing and to determine if she needs any other services or resources the WCCOA or its partners can offer.

“I saw a need in our community to try to keep our homebound seniors at home and to give them the safety check and the nutrition that they need to help that happen,” says Taylor.

Hurd says that there’s always a need for volunteers.

“We’re always in need of volunteers to share their time and talents with our community – together we are better,” she says.

If you’re over 55 and want to help your community, call Susan at WCCOA at 301-7900275, ext. 236, to learn about the many volunteer opportunities available.

Roxann Miller is the Director of Development at the Washington County Commission on Aging.

John Sill, of Sharpsburg, is one of WCCOA’s long-term volunteers at the Boonsboro Congregate Nutrition Site.

A Different Way of Looking at

‘Spring Cleaning’

Written by PAULETTE LEE

It’s spring! Yay! Windows open…flowers in bloom…birds are singing. Of course, the downside is there are also allergies, and those open windows? They’re dirty! That’s right, spring also means…spring cleaning.

I am not a fan. I figure if you can’t afford to have someone else do that hard housework then it’s probably time to move, or just live with dirty baseboards. However, in the event you are a senior and among those who are dedicated to doing your own spring cleaning, this website has some good tips: meetcaregivers.com/spring-cleaning-tips. Personally, I’m exhausted after just reading the “to dos”, so I’m going to concentrate this column on the concept of “purging”—getting rid of that which you no longer need, that which no longer defines who you are.

Often called “decluttering”, the act of organizing and getting rid of what you no longer use typically refers to physical objects in your home. Decluttering has many salutary effects: the sense of accomplishment, feeling good about giving to charity, clearing up space, not leaving a mess of unwanted junk for family after your demise. Budget dumpster.com offers some great tips on how to declutter your home at budgetdumpster.com/resources/how-to-

declutter-your-home.php, but what resonates with me is that decluttering is actually about getting rid of what is no longer relevant in your life; and that got me thinking: What about the people in our lives who are no longer relevant to whom we are now, or whose presence is “cluttering” our lives? What about the old feelings we’ve been holding onto – the jealousies, the angers, the resentments – that fill up spaces in our lives with their dark, moldy, dusty, hovering presences? Can we purge ourselves of them?

Yes, I believe we can. I’ve found one of the most effective ways of disencumbering myself of non-physical negatives in my life is to treat them as if they were physical – to symbolically pack and either store them away, dispose of them, or simply refuse them entry. And it’s so much easier to do when you think in terms of, “Do I really need this now in my life? Do I really want this now in my life?” We don’t need others’ judgments of us. We don’t need decades-old disputes to remind us of why we don’t get along with that sibling. Isn’t it actually enough to just know (and say), “My brother and I have never seen eye-to-eye”, or “I once considered her a good friend, but that friendship has run its course”? We can look at the reality of the situation as it is now, without having to live with the

emotions of what caused the situation, back then.

The key to identifying who or what feelings need to be purged from your life in this personal “spring cleaning” is to pay attention. How do you feel about yourself when or after you’ve engaged with that person? Why do you need those tired, old feelings of anger, resentment, jealousy, etc.?

The upshot is, getting rid of those people and those feelings we don’t need is probably a far more useful approach to “spring cleaning” than dusting baseboards and cleaning those pantry shelves. Just sayin’.

Paulette Lee is a former award-winning broadcast journalist and retired nonprofit and international development communications consultant. She lives in Hagerstown, MD and is host of the audio podcast, “WomanWorthy: Real Talk About Real Issues for Women Over 60”, named by AARP as one of “The Five Best Podcasts for Older Women”, online at womanworthy.podbean.com, or on most podcast apps.

TAKES

Spring Spring Wing Wing

Experience the Season With Educational Events at the Conococheague Institute

Written by MATTHEW WEDD

Spring can mean a lot of things for different people. While winter is a season of darkness, cold, death and melancholy for many cultures, spring changes all that with rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth.

This is seen most dramatically in the natural world with the ice and snow melting away (hopefully), new growth and flowers starting to bloom, and new creatures being born. The longer days, milder weather and more ample resources tell the animal kingdom to get out and “experience” life. So how can we as humans resist the same urge?

A majestic hawk from Miller’s Wildlife falconry program watches over Mercerburg’s Conococheague Institute.

For the Conococheague Institute (CI), conveniently located near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, it’s a time when our team can enjoy sharing our cultural and natural experiences with even more visitors in the region.

CI offers free programs every Saturday year-round, and we have had some great winter hits covering archery, women in brewing, and holding spinning workshops. Spring means more visitors, more dog walkers, more playground users, more picnickers and more education bookings…in addition to a lot more gardening and groundskeeping work to keep up with the spring growth!

This spring we are rolling out some new museum exhibits on “18th Century Medicine and Surgery,” “Conestoga Wagons” and very soon a “Rural Instruments of the Colonies” exhibit including bagpipes, crwths (a Welsh lyre), flutes, harps, bones, and more. These exhibits are available to see for free every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and during program bookings midweek. We look forward to sharing them with you.

While visiting the exhibits, be sure to experience one of our free Saturday programs at our log cabins, each with different themes exploring different facets of 18th-century fron tier life: How did people do laundry? What did tavern music sound like? What could you make for dinner with early spring garden greens?

During each of Saturday’s free programs there are chances to try the day-to-day life skills of frontier settlers for yourself, such as drawing water from the well, sowing seeds, starting a fire and much more. These experiences of living history make an impact for visitors both young and old far more than any text book could convey.

from F&M Trust, this event is free to the public, and no RSVP is required. You and your family can enjoy live animal presentations, crafts, and enriching experiences at our 30-acre site, which will foster a better understanding of the natural world.

This event has expanded from last year, but the highlights are undeniably the live animals that you can see up close and personal.

Wonderfully Wild, led by Jenny Kirkner, brings creatures (featuring pythons, lizards, mammals and more) up close for children, teaching them about the incredible ways to adapt and live. These animal encounters for early childhood not only amaze, but help overcome fears and misconceptions, encouraging stewardship and environmental awareness.

Miller’s Wildlife Falconry program led by Patrick Miller is a chance to meet Red Tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcons and more in person. By using knowledge, humor, and ecological enthusiasm, he inspires others to protect the natural world!

birding activities, identification and walks, The Institute’s ‘Water Striders’ doing hands on programs on stream health and the creatures living therein, Franklin County Library Bookmobile with lots of neat books on nature and Lucky’s Legacy doing pet meet and greets with adoptions.

And due to popular demand, the event will have food and craft vendors. Roll Time has sweet and savory egg rolls that are funky and unique, and Antietam Dairy will have delicious hand-dipped ice cream. 4 Herbs and 7 Spices Ago is just one of the craft vendors ready to share a sensory experience with you. There’ll also be fused glass, wooden swords, crochet items, beeswax candles and more.

Ready to start your spring experiences? Learn more about the Conococheague Institute, its programs, education bookings or events by visiting cimlg.org for more details.

This spring is also the first of our 2024 headline events and they’re experiences you don’t want to miss. Our “Get to Know Nature at the Conococheague Institute!” will be held on Saturday, April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Thanks to a generous sponsorship

Chesapeake Bay Foundation tree plantings will take place across our grounds and site, where you can learn how to plant a tree, the impact it has on the environment, and be inspired to go home and plant a tree yourself.

We have lots more outreach presenters from community partners: The Conococheague Audubon offering

Of course, if you’d like to make a donation, become a sponsor of our next event (June 1, WelshFest 30th Anniversary featuring live Welsh music and entertainment), contact Matthew Wedd at info@cimlg.org, call 717-328-2800, or via mail at 12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, 17236.

Above: Jenny Kirkner hosts the Wonderfully Wild animal presentation for children.

Members of the CI team and volunteers prepare for a tree planting.

Matthew Wedd is executive director of The Conococheague Institute in Mercersburg.

Taking Pride & Taking Part

Leadership Washington County Continues to Shape the Community’s Future

Written by TARA BOCKSTANZ

Leadership Hagerstown originated in 1987 as a program under the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, it evolved into a separate entity as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization known as Leadership Washington County. Since its inception, LWC has proudly conducted leadership classes for 37 years, marking a significant milestone in June 2023. Leadership Washington County exists to develop and inspire excellent leaders dedicated to serving the community and shaping its future.

TAKE PRIDE

Leadership Washington County stands as the sole entity within our community dedicated to unveiling the challenges and opportunities confronting our county, fostering connections

between emerging and established leaders, and providing comprehensive education on volunteerism and board governance to its participants.

TAKE PART

LWC’s mission is to inspire its graduates to either maintain or initiate civic involvement within our community. This may involve serving on non-profit boards of directors, pursuing candidacy for public office, or participating in various municipal or Washington County commissions.

TAKE THE LEAD

LWC alumni hold prominent leadership roles, serving in key positions and on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. Notable examples include City Administrator Scott Nicewarner and former County Administrator John Martirano. Additionally, grad-

uates such as mayoral candidate Bill McIntire, Councilman Peter Perini, Councilwoman Shelley McIntire and County Commissioners John Barr and Jeff Cline have pursued elected office after completing the LWC program.

In recent years, LWC has seen several graduates appointed to State of Maryland Commissions. During the Hogan administration, Melissa Noel was appointed to the Economic Development Commission, while Tereance Moore joined the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission. In 2023, Governor Wes Moore reappointed Tereance Moore to the Advisory Board on Medical and Adult-use Cannabis and additionally appointed him to the Trial Courts JNC for District 6 - Washington County. Nitza Rivera was also appointed to serve on the Governor’s Commission of Hispanic Affairs.

Class 35 visits Discovery Station.

Class 34 with Mayor and Councilwoman

Furthermore, LWC graduates hold numerous positions as Executive Directors/CEOs within various non-profit organizations in the community, including:

United Way of Washington County (Heather Guessford, LWC Class of 2013 - #26)

Maryland Symphony Orchestra (Kim Bowen, LWC Class of 2018 - #31)

Washington County Free Library (Jenny Bakos, LWC Class of 2021 - #34)

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (Sarah Hall, LWC Class of 2022 - #35)

Washington County Arts Council (Mary Anne Burke, LH Class of 1992 - #5)

Hagerstown YMCA (Maria Rubeling, LWC Class of 2016 - #29)

Horizon Goodwill (Dave Shuster, LWC Class of 2022 - #35)

Community Free Clinic (Nicole Houser, LWC Class of 2001 - #14)

Community Foundation of Washington County (Stacey Crawford, LWC Class of 2017 - #30)

ARC of Washington County (Troy Van Scoyoc, LWC Class of 2015 - #28)

Girls Inc. of Washington County (Maureen Grove, LWC Class of 2007 - #20)

Boys & Girls Club of Washington County (Addie Nardi, LWC Class of 2010 - #23)

Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Washington County (Tom Kline, LWC Class of 2009 - #22)

Breast Cancer Awareness (Stacy Horst, LWC Class of 2021 - #34)

Potomac Case Management (Dawn Johns, LWC Class of 2010 - #23)

Brooke’s House (Kevin Simmers, LWC Class of 2010 - #23)

Lasting Change (Kylie Johnson, LWC Class of 2018 - #31)

The R.W. Johnson Community Center (E.J. Fuller, LWC Class of 2019-#32)

The current LWC class includes the Executive Directors of the Maryland Theatre, Ladders to Leaders, REACH, and Discovery Station.

Aside from the abundance of LWC graduates serving as Executive Directors, a substantial portion of alumni are employed by some of the most prominent organizations in Washington County. Beyond the catalogue of non-profit leadership graduates, hundreds of businesses spanning every sector in our community have backed their employees’ involvement in LWC. Numerous major organizations in Washington County recognize the program’s value and opt to be represented annually in the class.

Educating leaders about the multifaceted impact of poverty on our community, the interconnectedness of local and state government, the enhancement of quality of life, preservation of cultural heritage, implications of business retention and expansion, the symbiotic relationship between K-12 education and post-secondary as well as career and technical education opportunities, the dynamics of the local healthcare system, and the legal and financial responsibilities entailed in serving on a board of directors cultivates leaders capable of comprehensively addressing issues from diverse perspectives.

Numerous individuals enrolled in our program also engage in neighboring leadership initiatives like Leadership Frederick County, Leadership Franklin County, and Leadership Berkeley County, among others. Consistently, feedback indicates that LWC offers a

Number of LWC alumni since 2012 with positions at these local organizations:

Meritus (18 graduates)

WCPS (17 graduates)

Fiserv (17 graduates)

Washington County Government (12 graduates)

City of Hagerstown (11 graduates)

Innovative, Inc. (10 graduates)

JLG (10 graduates)

Volvo (10 graduates)

Hagerstown Community College (8 graduates)

Washington County Free Library (8 graduates)

Bowman Development & Hospitality (8 graduates)

SEK CPAs and Advisors (7 graduates)

Middletown Valley Bank (7 graduates)

CNB Bank (7 graduates)

more rigorous and structured program, fostering enhanced engagement and providing greater avenues for relationship development. These connections play a pivotal role in driving positive change within our community. Notably, Leadership Washington County stands as the sole organization in the county with a mission dedicated to educating about our community’s challenges and opportunities while simultaneously inspiring civic involvement.

Interested candidates can apply each year between February 1 and March 31 for the upcoming class that will begin in September of the same year. For more information, please visit our website at leadershipwashingtoncounty.org.

Tara Bockstanz is the director of graduate engagement at Leadership Washington County.

Class 33 celebrating Cultural Heritage Day

Spring Into the Museum for an Array of Artistic Activities

Written by CRYSTAL SCHELLE

Spring is a time of renewal, and a time to celebrate all the activities coming ahead. As we look forward to the hatching of Canada goslings in City Park, we are so excited for what awaits us this year.

March brings with it a favorite exhibition of local photographers, “Cumberland Valley Photographers.” This juried exhibition is a long-standing tradition at the museum, and the photographers in this exhibition are local and regional artists. The exhibition opens Saturday, March 23 and runs until Sunday, June 2.

What makes it even more special this year is that our top two winners have a special connection. First Place Juror’s Award winner Taylor Brown, 16, of Hagerstown is a sophomore at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts. She won with her photo, “Girl in Grass,” which her photography teacher Kristen Green encouraged her to enter. Seems Green, who is lead teacher of the Photography and Cinematography Department, also decided to enter her own work, and came in second place to her student, taking Second Place Juror’s Award for “Looking Back.”

They both will be part of a special panel discussion to celebrate the “Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition” on opening day, Saturday, March 23. The free event begins at 1 p.m.

Unleash Your Inner Artist

Art classes are an important part of our educational programming. And this spring, there are many to choose from.

For years, we have offered free Saturday classes for elementary and middle school students. This year, from April 6 through May 25, we will launch our first Teen Studio for high schoolers. If you have a teenager with artistic skills, this will give them a chance to strengthen those skills in a fun atmosphere. For available slots, visit wcmfa. org/teen-art-studio.

Kristen Green won Second Place Juror’s Award in Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition for her entry “Looking Back.” Green is Taylor’s teacher.

Because we also believe in equity, diversity and inclusion, we are offering Empowering Creativity for Adults with Special Needs. The class is 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, and is led by artist and special needs educator Katherine Peterson. Cost is $12 for museum members and clients of Washington County Self Directed Services, or $15 per person. Contact Director of Education Kellie Mele at educator@wcmfa.org for more information.

Beloved educator Don Viar, spent years teaching in Washington County Public Schools. Since he’s been retired, he has continued to teach at the museum. This is a special opportunity as Viar will teach Composition and Drawing 101 over eight weeks, beginning Wednesday April 17. Cost is $180 for the general public or $170 for museum members. Call our office at 301-739-5727 to register.

Those who enjoy painting outside should join us Fridays in May, for our first informal Plein Air Meetup. Don’t worry if it’s raining, we have the atrium to keep everyone dry. The meetup is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and artists can come and go as they please. Bring your own supplies and enjoy the company of like-minded artists. Registration is not required but appreciated. Contact Donna Rastelli at 301-739-5727 or drastelli@ wcmfa.org.

Join us from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday,

Above: Taylor Brown, 16, of Hagerstown is a sophomore at Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, won First Place Juror’s Award with “Girl in Grass” in the Cumberland Valley Photographers Exhibition.

June 27, for Bingo, Brushstrokes and Beverages. This event allows participants to have fun while spending an evening in art appreciation. Play art bingo, sip a signature cocktail, socialize, and learn more about our collection. Limited space is available, so reserve your spot now. Cost is $25 per person. Call Donna at 301-739-5727.

We also have scheduled two camps this summer. Now is the time to sign-up the kids! Monday, June 17 through Friday, June 21, we are offering Palette Pioneers: Discovery Art Camp

The camp is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the museum. Day campers will be led by museum art educators who will guide campers as they explore local art and express themselves through hands-on activities. Cost is $280. Call 301-739-5727 to register. The camp is for ages 8-12.

The second camp is an Adaptive Art Mini Summer Camp from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27. This class is led by experienced special education teacher Hedi Coble for ages 5 to 11. Participants will explore various artistic styles and mediums through interaction with

exhibits and works from diverse artists. This program is free and students must be registered in advance. Hurry, slots are limited.

Remember the museum, just like the season of spring, is constantly changing. There are new objects that come out from our vault for visitors to see and experience, some that haven’t been seen in decades. Also, Kellie Mele, our director of education, is always coming up with exciting new interactive program for children and adults. If you haven’t visited since you were in elementary school or haven’t taken a class in years, now’s the time to spring into the museum.

Crystal Schelle is the director of marketing and communications for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays and most major holidays (closed Good Friday, open Easter Sunday). Visit us at wcmfa. org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. The museum is at 401 Museum Drive in Hagerstown. Email us at 301-739-5727.

Spring

Written by MARY ANNE BURKE

ItThe Wonders of at the Washington County Arts Council

is at this time of year that we rejoice in the wonders of spring and look ahead to the new beginnings of summer. And so, the Washington County Arts Council highlights two recognized artists and their exhibits. Their students will join them as they move on to their next experiences with dreams of proficiency in their visual art form, be it painting, sculpture, pottery, or photography.

Photography on Display

Ira S. Lourie, a photographer and Hagerstown physician, has assembled an exhibition of his photography focused on new abstract works demonstrating textures and patterns, including reflections. Dr. Lourie, who in the past has had three previous shows of his photographic landscape images, has challenged himself to a new photographic theme and will present 50 new images.

Along with his work, the April 2024 Exhibit, “Abstracts & Patterns” will include similar photographs from high school students. Dr. Lourie has challenged students from three Washington County Public School (WCPS) high school photography programs to submit photographic images to also demonstrate the Abstracts and Patterns theme.

Additionally, four WCPS teachers –

Mark Youngblood and Kristen Green from the Barbara Ingrahm School for the Arts, Josh Edwards at Clear Spring High School, and Marsha Secrest, at North Hagerstown High School – will join Dr. Lourie’s project and have agreed to create projects for their photography classes. These teachers along with Dr. Lourie will pick the 60-70 student pictures from those submitted to be hung in the student part of the gallery exhibit. “Abstracts & Patterns” opens at the Washington County Arts Council on April 4, with a 5 p.m. reception and runs through May 7.

Art From Alumni

In May, Sam Little, the visual arts teacher at St. Maria Goretti High School, will once again bring the selected art of students and faculty of St. Maria Goretti Catholic High

School, featuring work that explores the fundamentals of art through drawing and painting. Recognizing that the private school will forever be closing its doors at the end of June, Mr. Little has also invited Goretti alumni to highlight their works for one last time. As he wrote to Goretti alum, “This being Goretti’s last year has been an emotional and sometimes difficult time for many of our students, families, faculty members and alumni. I had the idea of including our entire Goretti family past and present in this year’s art exhibit so that we might celebrate Goretti’s history. If you are or have been associated with Goretti Catholic School and have the desire to share some of your talent with our community, we would love to feature your work in our show.” And so, Goretti has invited alumni, faculty, and student work to be a part of this unique celebration of the school’s rich history and legacy.

IraS . Lourie

Little

Meet the Author

Prior to the Goretti exhibit in May, the Arts Council features an April book signing at the Gallery on Saturday, April 27, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., with author Penelope Gladwell who will discuss and sign her latest book, Sarah’s Spring. Ms. Gladwell, now the author of three books, “loves using words to paint pictures in the hearts and minds of others.” As a teacher, a pastor, retired professor, and a leadership consultant, Penelope Gladwell wants to inspire others to live their best lives.

Art Classes

Spring also harkens end of school year concerts, plays, dances, and for some. dreams of graduation. For the young artist, the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation this

Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” THOMAS MERTON

summer offers multiple art classes and experience for rising fifth grade students through high school. The BISFA Summer Arts Academy hosts art programs in courses such as 2D Animation, Dance, Film and Darkroom Photography, Becoming an Actor,

Ceramics , Dancing for the Camera, Creative Writing, Piano, Strings, Vocal, Filmmaking, Cardboard Sculpting, Pop Song, and Visual Arts.

The Washington County Arts Council is again pleased to support the BISFA Summer Arts Academy through program scholarships. For information, contact Rachel at 240-3474934 or visit the Foundation’s website at barbaraingramfoundation.org/ summer-arts-academy.

Scholarship Opportunity

For graduating Washington County high school students as well as college students enrolled in study leading to a certificate or degree in the arts, the Washington County Arts Council has introduced a new arts scholarship program administered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, Maryland. For information, contact Engagement Officer, Hannah Coulter at 301-745-5210 or link to the application at cfwcmd.org/scholarships. Initial funding for the scholarship program was made possible in part by the Maryland State Arts Council. Donations to this scholarship program can be sent to Community Foundation of Washington County, Maryland, marked for the Washington County Arts Council Scholarship Fund. For more information, visit cfwcmd.org.

And do not forget your Mother’s Day, with an individually crafted gift of jewelry, glass, pottery, visual art, and more from The Gallery Shop of the Washington County Arts Council. Shop hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mary Anne Burke is the executive director of the Washington County Arts Council, 34 South Potomac St., in Hagerstown.

Springtime Adventures From Blossoms to Budgets

Written by JACOB W. BARR

As winter fades away, the arrival of spring beckons us to step out and embrace the beauty of nature. The warmer temperatures and blooming landscapes offer the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures. While the allure of being out and about in spring is undeniable, it’s also an opportunity to strike a balance between enjoying the season and managing your finances wisely.

Spring invites us to explore the great outdoors, and fortunately, many of these activities can be enjoyed without a hefty price tag. Take advantage of local parks, nature trails, and botanical gar dens for a budget-friendly escape. Whether it’s a picnic with friends, a hike in the woods, or a leisurely stroll among blooming flowers, these activities provide a refreshing break without draining your wallet.

Consider starting small with budget-friendly plants and seeds. Elect for DIY landscaping projects, repurposing materials, and embracing thriftiness. Gardening not only provides a fulfilling outdoor activity but also contributes to a frugal and sustainable lifestyle.

Many communities host springtime festivals and events that celebrate the season’s vibrancy. From cherry blossom festivals to farmers markets, these gatherings offer a chance to revel in the joys of spring without overspending. Attendees can enjoy live music, local food vendors, and a sense of community—all while sticking to a reasonable budget. Look for free or low-cost events in your area to make the most of the season without straining your finances.

For those with a green thumb, spring is the ideal time to dive into gardening projects. While creating a lush garden may seem like an expensive endeavor, there are ways to keep costs in check.

Springtime presents an excellent opportunity to prioritize health and fitness while avoiding pricey gym memberships. Take your exercise routine outdoors by jogging in the park, cycling on scenic trails, or practicing yoga in a peaceful garden setting. These activities not only promote physical well-being but also offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional fitness facilities. If the wanderlust bug bites, consider budget-friendly travel options during the spring season. Explore nearby destinations, take a road trip, or plan a camping adventure. Camping allows you to connect with nature, breathe in the fresh spring air, and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors without the high costs associated with traditional vacations. Pack your own meals and camping gear to keep expenses down while making the most of your springtime getaway.

As temperatures rise, the temptation to refresh your wardrobe can be strong. However, mindful spending is key. Instead of splurging on a complete wardrobe overhaul, focus on key pieces that can transition between seasons. Consider thrift shopping or participating in clothing swaps to update your closet sustainably. By being selective in your purchases, you can enjoy a springtime wardrobe without compromising your financial stability.

While spring cleaning is often associated with tidying up your living space, it can also be an opportunity to declutter your finances. Sell unwanted items online, organize a garage sale, or consider consigning clothes and accessories. The extra cash generated from spring cleaning can be directed toward your springtime adventures, ensuring that you enjoy the season without straining your budget.

As you revel in the joys of spring, take a moment for financial reflection. Consider setting specific financial goals for the season, whether it’s building an emergency fund, paying down debt, or saving for a future adventure. By aligning your springtime activities with your financial aspirations, you can create a harmonious balance between enjoying the season and maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Spring is a season of renewal, offering myriad opportunities to savor the outdoors and engage in budget-friendly activities. By approaching springtime adventures with financial mindfulness, you can bask in the beauty of the season without sacrificing your financial well-being. Whether it’s embracing nature, attending local events, or embarking on budget-friendly travel, springtime offers a wealth of possibilities for those seeking both enjoyment and financial stability.

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Jacob Barr and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Every investor’s situation is unique, and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your

advisor about your individual situation. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any

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