• You decide who will be in charge of your final affairs, not the government.
• You decide who will be your beneficiaries, not Maryland’s intestacy laws.
• A Will can likely avoid an expensive Bond qualification process.
• Cheaper initially…
Cons:
• A Will is going to go through the probate process.
• The probate process is very expensive and unnecessary, if planned ahead.
• Even with the help of a lawyer, the family has to go through a nightmare of government bureaucracy and red tape while grieving.
• The probate process causes delays in asset distribution, leaving beneficiaries in financial uncertainty.
• Unlike Revocable Trusts, Will and the entire probate process become public record to anyone with an internet access.
Revocable Trust Pros:
• Probate Avoidance. Assets held in a Revocable Trust avoid probate, the lengthy legal process of validating a Will and administering an Estate. The Revocable Trust can save your family a lot of time, hassle and money associated with the probate process of your Estate, also allowing beneficiaries to receive their inheritance more quickly.
• Privacy. Because assets in a Revocable Trust avoid probate, their administration generally does not require oversight from the courts, and can be handled privately.
• Security. A Revocable Trust is effective immediately after the signing, allowing someone else to serve on your behalf if you are ever unable to do so yourself.
• Control. Revocable Trusts can allow for greater control over asset distribution. You can specify detailed instructions and customize distributions to meet individual needs. This feature is especially useful for those with minor/young adult beneficiaries, or beneficiaries who have special needs.
• If you have real estate or a timeshare outside of Maryland, a separate probate case has to be initiated in that other state unless that property is retitled to your Revocable Trust.
Cons:
• Cost. The cost of creating a Revocable Trust is more expensive initially.
• Funding. A Revocable Trust is only effective if assets are properly transferred into it. Failure to fund the Revocable Trust correctly may result in some assets still being subject to probate. If you need help protecting your money and loved ones in the event of death or disability, call us at 301-414-8782 or self-schedule online at www.lenaclarklegal.com.
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Find It Inside
Young but determined, Sara Kephart quickly established herself as a chef and caterer based in Thurmont. Sara Kep’s Kitchen is a hit with customers of her weekly meal-delivery service and those wanting to grab a quick bite from her vending machine.
BY APRIL BARTEL / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK YOUNGBLOOD
SISTERS IN SERVICE
Sharon and Jeanne Jacko are sisters who share an interesting (and impressive) background: They are both veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps. With Veterans Day and the anniversary of the Marines taking place this month, the Jacko sisters look back on their service.
BY JOSEPH PETERSON / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK YOUNGBLOOD
DOING THE DISHES
Donations to local food banks tend to pick up during the holiday season, but the need is year-round. With uncertainty in funding and other concerns, are local pantries able to keep their shelves full to serve our neediest residents?
BY NANCY LUSE / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK YOUNGBLOOD
Farewell, Melvin
Guy Fletcher / Editor-In-Chief / gfletcher@fredmag.com
A year ago, the November issue of Frederick Magazine included a feature story about Melvin Hurwitz, a Downtown Frederick resident who many years ago served as a radio operator and waist gunner on a B-17 bomber during World War II. He flew in combat missions and humanitarian flights that returned French POWs home and airlifted food to war-torn Dutch communities.
But Melvin’s story did not end with his WWII service. He went on to help grow the family business we know today as Colonial Jewelers. He also participated in veterans’ reunions and even had an emotional exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy last year. Grasping Zelensky’s hand, Melvin called the Ukrainian leader “the savior of the people,” to which Zelensky responded,
“No, no, no, you saved Europe.”
You can read Melvin’s story, beautifully told by writer Lisa Gregory, at www.frederickmagazine.com/ articles/service-time.
Melvin passed away last month at the age of 100, a personal loss for those who knew him and a sad reminder that the Greatest Generation—the men and women who rescued the world from tyranny and built the United States into a global force after the war—is nearly
gone. Of the 16.4 million people who served in WWII, only about 45,000 are still alive, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Continuing our tradition of honoring those who served during the month that gives us Veterans Day, this issue of Frederick Magazine features a story about Jeanne and Sharon Jacko, two sisters who joined the U.S. Marine Corps at a time when women were not exactly a common sight in the corps. Please read writer Joseph Peterson’s story, “Sisters in Service,” starting on page 28.
As I have written in this space before, even though I have never served in the military myself, I have the greatest respect for those who risked their lives to protect the freedoms we all enjoy. It’s a personal mission for me, starting years ago when I made certain to call my father, who was drafted into the U.S. Army at the end of the Korean War, every Veterans Day to thank him for his service. Since he passed away 15 years ago, I try to reach out to others in my life who served on Veterans Day, including my best friend in high school, who was in the Navy while I partied in college. Rarely has the phrase “the least I could do” been more accurate.
In considering sacrifices made by people like Melvin, Jeanne and Sharon, I hope those of us who never had to endure boot camp, the rigors of combat or simply living apart from our families can fully appreciate the gifts they provided.
We should never take them for granted.
Have a safe and happy November. FM
“What
exactly does the Government shutdown mean? And what should we expect from the stock market during and after the shutdown?”
J. K. - Jefferson, MD
A:A government shutdown can sound alarming, but here’s what it really means:
Federal offices may close or reduce hours, and “non-essential” services pause.
Some federal workers may face furloughs or delayed pay, while places such as national parks and museums may shut their doors.
At the same time, many essential services continue, including Social Security and mail delivery.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
• Federal offices close or reduce hours
“Non-essential” services paused
• Some federal workers are furloughed or paid late
National parks and museums closed
• Services like Social Security and mail continue
It’s a moment that can cause disruption, but it doesn’t mean everything stops. We’ll be keeping an eye on these developments as they unfold.
During times like a government shutdown, market historians will look back to see what has happened in the months and years following a resolution to the event. The accompanying chart shows you what has happened in the stock market during the 100 days and one year after a shutdown. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Part of the Story
By Amy L. Metzger Hunt / Curator, Heritage Frederick
Even though the man depicted in this portrait is unidentified, much is known about the painter, John Johnston Markell, one of Frederick’s earliest artists of note.
The third of Samuel and Amelia Schley Markell’s five children, Markell was born in 1821 and reportedly already an accomplished watercolorist by the age of 8. At 17, he was a student of renowned artist Thomas Sully in Philadelphia. His coursework with Sully was left unfinished when he returned to Frederick due to his older brother William becoming very ill and dying at just 23 years old in April 1839.
Markell then traveled the region as an itinerant painter, advertising in June of that year in Leesburg, Va., that he wel -
This portrait of an unidentified man was recently donated to Heritage Frederick’s collection by Charles Markell III.
comed those interested in having their portraits made to come to his lodgings and review his work. Markell had plans to travel to Italy to continue his studies, but his life was tragically cut short. Like his older brother, Markell died at age 23 on Dec. 2, 1844.
Surviving today in the collection of Heritage Frederick are many works by Markell, including early watercolors, portraits and a stunning landscape of Frederick as viewed from Prospect Hill in July 1844. Two of John Markell’s self-portraits are also in the collection—one completed when he was 17 years old and the other when he was 22, painted just 10 months before his death.
Frederick City Hall, here wrapped in autumn colors, served as the Frederick County Courthouse from 1864 until 1982. FM
Photography By Michael DeMattia
State’s Top Teacher At Monocacy Elementary
For ALonna Soward-Puryear, it all goes back to the children.
The fourth-grade teacher at Monocacy Elementary School was recently honored as the 2026 Maryland Teacher of the Year, a weighty distinction that now makes her eligible for National Teacher of the Year recognition. She is the first Frederick County teacher in 15 years to be named the state’s top educator.
“I am very honored by it, but I try to keep the students at the front of it,” she says.
A product of Frederick County schools herself, the Frederick High
and Hood College graduate said it was important that she was surrounded by a cheering section that included her husband and parents when her name was announced at the Teacher of the Year gala. “Family is very important to me, and I talk about them a lot,” she says.
The Maryland Teacher of the Year Program serves all 24 Maryland public school systems. Educators selected for Teacher of the Year demonstrate excellence in teaching and inspire others within and beyond their school communities.
That sounds like Soward-Puryear, whose roles at Monocacy go far beyond the classroom. She mentors young educators and actively contributes to various staff and faculty teams. She has also served as a coordinator for summer programs designed to support kindergarten/pre-K readiness.
For Soward-Puryear, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind since winning the award. She recently spoke at the Maryland State Education Association’s annual convention—emphasizing the power of collective effort in education in ensuring every student feels welcomed and excited to learn—and is preparing for more public appearances. She will compete for the National Teacher of the Year award in the spring.
She enjoys speaking of the importance of teaching as a profession as part of the “village” that serves students.
“This career is not easy. It takes a lot of work” she cautions, while also noting the impact teaching has on children, communities and families.
“I think it is one of the most beneficial things we can do.”
She adds, “I want my students to remember I helped make them a better person.”
TOURISTS SHARE THE LOVE
Visitor spending in Frederick County reached a record $564 million in 2024, a 4.6 percent increase over the previous year, Visit Frederick Executive Director Dave Ziedelis announced recently.
According to the latest Economic Impact of Tourism in Maryland report, 2.1 million travelers visited the county in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic visitation levels for the first time since 2019. Officials say the sustained growth highlights the county’s appeal as a premier destination in the region, drawing both day-trippers and overnight guests from across the Mid-Atlantic.
Frederick County’s hotel rental tax revenue also set an all-time high, climbing to $65.5 million in the most recent fiscal year, a 7 percent increase over the previous year. Revenue from overnight stays continues to strengthen Visit
Frederick’s marketing and development programs, fueling longterm investments in the county’s tourism economy.
“Frederick County’s tourism industry continues to deliver incredible results—driving record visitor spending, creating jobs and enriching our community,” Ziedelis says. “What makes this success truly special is that it’s built on partnerships. From our historic downtowns and small businesses to our outdoor attractions and cultural destinations, Frederick County offers the authentic Maryland experience travelers are looking for.”
In its annual report, Visit Frederick noted its investment of more than $1.1 million into countywide programs supporting local nonprofits, Main Street programs and destination development—bringing the organization’s total community investment since 2006 to $8.8 million. Top states of origin outside of Maryland included Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida and New York, with international travelers arriving from Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. www. visitfrederick.org
Dave Ziedelis
LOOKING BACK AT 40 YEARS
Our year-long celebration of Frederick Magazine’s 40-year anniversary has us looking back at two issues this month and a lesson that sometimes we cover familiar territory more than once.
The first issue is from November 2000 and the second is from November 2008. Each has a cover that prominently features the face of an antique case clock, also known as a grandfather clock. Even though they are two different timepieces, both were made by famed Frederick clock maker John Fessler. The 2000 story was about local auctions and the 2008 story focused on antiques.
Fessler was born in Switzerland in 1760 and emigrated to Pennsylvania with his family as an infant. He received his training as a clockmaker in Lancaster and served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he settled in Frederick, opening a clockmaking and silversmithing business. His son, John Fessler Jr. eventually followed him in the business. Today, a Fessler case clock is considered to be a treasured and valuable antique.
So, how did two covers of Frederick Magazine, just eight years apart, have photos of similar clocks? There is no great conspiracy since the covers were produced by different photographers, art directors and editors; no one was plagiarizing their own work! What was more likely is that an attractive item caught the eye of a photographer and the art director and editor at the time agreed it would make a great cover. Indeed, it did.
TRANSIT STAFFERS HONORED
Two employees of Transit Services of Frederick County recently earned excellence awards from the Transportation Association of Maryland, a statewide organization dedicated to improving the mobility of all Maryland citizens.
The Rising Star designation was awarded to Mary Dennis, communications manager, who joined Transit in 2023 and has “excelled in her work in promoting Frederick Transit to the community it serves. She is an untiring advocate for public transit, engaging both the local community and elected officials. She has provided travel training, partnered with more than 15 organizations to adopt bus stops, and has previously been recognized as the 2023 Marketing and Outreach Award winner from Commuter Transportation,” organizers say. She has also been honored with the 2024 Frederick County Synergy Award.
The Outstanding Leadership Award was given to Jaime McKay, deputy director, who joined Transit in 2021. Since that time she has led transformative improvements—serving more than 925,000 riders in the most recent fiscal year (9 percent improvement over the previous year), enhancing routes, doubling the number of shelters and leading three projects that brought real-time arrival data, streamlined operations and expanded rural service, including Saturday rural route service for the first time.
“These accomplishments were possible thanks to Jaime’s hands-on style of leadership,” officials say. “She rides Transit buses regularly—not just as an occasional ‘let’s see how they’re running’ but as a passionate customer. She collaborates with staff and drivers and has earned the affectionate title from them of ‘Chief Morale Officer.’” Mass Transit magazine has recognized McKay twice for outstanding contributions and leadership in public transportation, and she has also received an award for her leadership on disability issues.
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PROST!
The spirit of a Munich festival, with the required food, beer and music, was on display at the annual Frederick’s Oktoberfest. The event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, drew thousands of attendees to the Frederick Fairgrounds for two days of festivities. Proceeds from the volunteer-run event support a wide variety of local charities. www.frederickoktoberfest.org
TECHFREDERICK GAMES
The 10th annual TechFrederick Games at Baker Park featured teams from local businesses tackling fun physical and mental projects in an Olympics-style format. The event is sponsored by TechFrederick, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting technology enthusiasts, professionals and organizations. www.techfrederick.org
RESTORATION CELEBRATION
Mountain City Elks Lodge #382, located at 173 W. All Saints St., hosted a celebration by members and elected officials on the recent restoration of the historic lodge that opened in 1923 and provides youth programs and community service.
Photo courtesy Chris Martin/Convoy
Creatives
Photos courtesy
Chris Martin/Convoy
Creatives
pix
COCKTAILS & CAROUSELS
A group of artists was challenged to put their own creative spin to carousel horses which were auctioned at the Frederick Arts Council fundraiser at 7th Sister, 228 N. Market St. Guests enjoyed beverages, including a signature cocktail, along with hors d’oeuvres and live music as they walked among the artwork arranged in the restaurant courtyard. www. frederickartscouncil.org
BLAZERS FOR A CAUSE
What began as a mission to find affordable secondhand fashion turned into a fundraiser dubbed Beer, Blazers and Baubles at Idiom Brewing Co. The event, which featured the sale of thrift store blazers, supported Heartly House. “What I love most about the event is that each blazer gets a second, maybe even a third chance, and in doing so, we help support others who are working hard to create a new path forward for themselves,” says organizer Amy Benton. www.heartlyhouse.org
HIGH SCHOOL BAND FESTIVAL
Frederick County Public Schools hosted the annual Marching Band Festival at Governor Thomas Johnson High School where all 10 FCPS marching bands made presentations.
NORTH MARKET STREET AND EAST 2ND STREET
SHARON JACKO JEANNE JACKO
Sharon Jacko followed her younger sister, Jeanne, into the Marine Corps, setting them both on a path that would define the rest of their lives together.
Despite experiencing early success climbing the corporate ladder, Sharon was at a crossroads in her late 20s: follow her job to its New Hampshire headquarters amid the economic uncertainty of the ‘80s, or try to capture whatever it was she kept noticing in Jeanne whenever she’d come home on leave. In what hindsight reveals as a pattern for the Jacko sisters, Sharon dove head-first into the path of adventure.
But with just two years between them, sibling rivalry meant not giving in right away.
“I was a rebel, so I went to all the other recruiting stations and saved the Marine Corps to the last,” Sharon says, before she recognized something that harkened to what she kept noticing in her sister. “I walked in there and it was night and day. And so, I enlisted.”
Marines will often speak of a bond between brothers in arms as the “it” factor intrinsic to the corps. But talk to anyone who knows Jeanne or Sharon Jacko of Frederick, who has seen them in action serving their community and living life
with enviable zest and exuberance, and it’s observable that something stronger than a Semper Fi camaraderie defines them: the bond of sisters who served together.
“It’s just always with you,” Sharon says of being a Marine. “When you’re walking down the street, you’re walking tall. You’re so proud of where you’ve been, where we’ve been and what we’ve done. It never leaves.”
Jeanne cuts to the chase: “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”
That core belief took early seed in the bond of sisterhood and would carry them through the challenges during the initial years of their military service in an era of slow but encouraging institutional change where women were a rarity in the Marine Corps, and sometimes not afforded the same stature or opportunities.
EMBASSIES AND BASKETBALL
When Jeanne Jacko enlisted with the Marines in 1976, she was told that women didn’t count towards a recruiter’s quota.
“I had to really convince my recruiter that I was worthy. He couldn’t have cared less if I enlisted or not.” Jeanne says. She joined anyway. When a pilot program launched in 1979 that opened up the Marine Security Guard School for female Marines, Jeanne jumped at the chance.
In a report titled The Very Few, the Proud: Women in the Marine Corps, 1977–2001 , Col. Nancy P. Anderson wrote that the initial 10 female graduates from that program had an opportunity to serve as guards at embassies around the world.
“Sgt. Jeanne E. Jacko was the fastest to respond, reporting to the U.S. embassy in Amman, Jordan,” the report said. In doing so, Jeanne became the female Marine security guard on duty, the report said. She remained in Amman until the Iranian hostage crisis, when the Marines sent her to Paris for a year.
But even when she was stateside, Jeanne didn’t stay put. For five of her eight years in the Corps, she was on the All-Marine women’s basketball team, which competes nationally, and traveled all over the country to play ball, including against her sister, Sharon. It was a new experience for the Jacko girls as they were used to being on the same team in high school.
“We’d always played together,” Sharon says. “No matter what, we were always on the same team.”
But in a Marine Corps basketball tournament, it was suddenly a showdown.
“So, we’re dribbling down the court, and we look at each other and just start laughing. It was in that moment where you were just like, ‘What is this!?’” Sharon says.
It wasn’t all fun and games; they had a job to do. And the Jacko sisters took their duty seriously. For Sharon, it would become a 26-year career, rising in the ranks to lieutenant colonel and volunteering to go to a warzone where she became the commanding officer for a company of 350 Marines in Iraq.
For both, it was, all of it, quite a long way from their hometown of Johnstown, Pa.
FREDERICK PROUD
Frederick’s post as a kind of midpoint between the big cities and the smaller, more rural towns of southern and central Pennsylvania makes it an ideal homebase for those who find themselves caught between the two and regularly need to visit both. Jeanne, who left the Marines after eight years and built a career at Costco, found herself needing to do just that. Being two hours away from Johnstown, where their mother still lived, yet close enough to regularly commute to the Washington, D.C., area for work proved to be the logistical solution that would lead to another trailblazing moment: Sharon’s arrival.
But Jeanne also liked Frederick for other reasons. “It took care of itself,” she says. “It’s such a very close-knit community that takes care of each other, and they take care of problems.”
It turns out, Sharon felt the same, and more. She found a community to plug into that carried for her something familiar about the camaraderie she missed in the Marines, and a place to devote herself to civic engagement and service.
“I immersed myself in the community,” Sharon says, joining boards and volunteering with organizations, Rotary among them. And just this year,
16 years after joining the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, she became its president. She’s also led and sat on the boards of other local organizations such as the Literacy Council, Heartly House, United Way, Veterans Advisory Council and others.
“There’s not one standout,” Sharon says. “I just know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. And each time I join a board or organization, the commitment to Frederick, the commitment to the people, becomes stronger.”
It’s a love of community reflected on the walls of their home as well, with many artworks of Frederick landmarks and scenery. In fact, the entire home is a veritable museum to the things the Jacko sisters have done, the ideals they cherish and the places and people they love.
And LEGOS. Interspersed throughout all the awards and art, certificates and medals and Frederick landscapes, are dozens of LEGO builds. Over the years they’ve become the go-to gift from Jeanne, as Sharon loves to put them together.
“I have the cat, the typewriter, the [galaxy], the lighthouse up right here. I have the Concorde, the space shuttle, the 747 carrying the shuttle,” Sha -
ron says, pointing to her collection. The LEGOS speak to the wonder they have for the world around them, and the whimsy to explore that world in a playful way.
Spend any time in Downtown Frederick and you’ve likely seen Sharon, or at least an image of her, anyway. On the RS Will Wealth Management building (154 N. Market St.), a mural by celebrated local artist Yemi Fagbohun features a large portrait of Sharon in honor of her civic leadership and for being a “tireless advocate for veterans and literacy in Frederick County,” as part of the caption reads on the Platoon 22 website, the nonprofit behind the mural series featuring veterans whose work is focused on suicide prevention and transition home support.
Sharon also received the prestigious Wertheimer Fellow Award for excellence in volunteerism, promptly funneling its $25,000 prize back into causes that benefit other veterans.
Ever one to share credit with her sister and fellow Marine, the fund she set up to distribute the prize money is named the Sharon and Jeanne Jacko Veterans Fund.
Recognition tends to follow the Jacko sisters. On a wall at their home, Jeanne has a leadership award from her participation in the Children’s Miracle Network fundraiser at work.
Flip through books on women in the military and chances are you’ve seen a somewhat famous photo of Jeanne, as well. Originally published in the Leatherneck magazine, the monthly publication for the Marine Corps Association, the 1979 photo has resurfaced in various places, most recently in an art poster for the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington and features Jeanne firing a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun equipped with a riot control canister. It was taken at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va.
And yes, that poster from the Women’s Memorial was sent to Jeanne by a friend and is proudly displayed among the many accolades, art and memories on the wall at home.
DO IT ANYWAY
Of all the symbols attendant to the armed forces, the Marine’s sword is arguably the most iconic one
of all. A slightly curved, single-edge carbon steel saber with a leather-wrapped grip, it’s not only the oldest continuously used weapon in military history, but earning the sword is seen as a rite of passage for most Marines.
The Sword Manual is a ceremonial drill that involves a set of sequenced movements that draw and present the standard-issue Marine sword. The manual takes practice to master, a task much more difficult without an actual sword. And because she was a woman, Jeanne Jacko wasn’t allowed one.
“One of the most prestigious gifts that they give you, whoever finishes undergraduate, is the staff [non-commissioned officer] sword,” she says. Jeanne and the two other women in her class of 125 had hoped for one nonetheless, especially so they could march in the parade at graduation with their colleagues in arms. The women would get together and practice the drills just in case. Ultimately, they were denied their request, even after an appeal years later.
It wasn’t until 1985 when women were authorized to carry the sword, and the younger of the Jacko sisters was already out of the Marines.
But when it came time for Sharon to receive her sword, she hit an unexpected snag, even after the 1985 policy. She wanted to practice the Sword Manual procedure, but there was someone in her way who didn’t want to adopt the new policy.
“The general of our base said, ‘No woman under my command will carry the sword,’” Sharon recalls. But her response was more outcomes-oriented than an appeal. “I went somewhere else and purchased it,” she says with a wry grin. “I told you, I was a rebel.”
She observed, however, that similar power dynamics at the time could be found in the corporate world just as well, and she had learned early on the importance of navigating around the obstructions.
“We went silently behind our closed doors and practiced [the Sword Manual],” she recalls. “And by the time I was a captain, I was being sought after to lead the parades because I could do that, and that’s what you had to do.”
Ascending the Marine Corps ranks meant occasionally embracing the attitude of “doing it anyway” and still being grateful for the experience.
“Even though I was a rebel, and I’m a fighter, and I’ll stick up for what’s right, my philosophy was no matter what you do, do your best and succeed,” she said.
The Jacko sisters are energetic lovers of life and give credit to the Marines for shaping them into the people they are today. What they took with them, that camaraderie, that esprit de corps that defines the Marines, they carry like a flame deep in their hearts. And when it comes to measuring progress, they wisely take the long view.
“When I came in [to the corps] 26 years ago, I wasn’t allowed to fire the weapon. I retire ... and there’s an all-female crew flying over Iraq,” Sharon says. “That’s what I saw in 26 years.”
Proud to be Marines, proud to be sisters, proud to call Frederick home and proud of who they are and what they’ve done in their life to help others.
“I’d do it all over again,” Jeanne says. “I wouldn’t change a thing. See, my Pandora bracelet has a little dog tag. I loved every minute, you know. It was an adventure.” FM
Center Stage
Legacy Continues at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre
The show is going on at the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre.
After more than two decades of ownership by the Kiska family, Way Off Broadway is now under the auspices of the folks behind Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theatre in Hagerstown.
The autumn show, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, is being followed by Once Upon a Christmas Night, starting later this month and running through Dec. 21. The 2026 season kicks off with the Agatha Christie mystery The Hollow, starting Jan. 16, followed by popular favorites Frozen, Grease and Young Frankenstein.
For 24 years, the Kiskas, led by the husband-and-wife team of Bill and Deb, and their son, Justin, have been the creative, business and logistical tip of the spear for Frederick’s only dinner theater. Now, they’re looking forward to their next act: retirement.
Over those years, the Kiskas led the theater through tough times, creative expansions and notable milestones. In two instances, they were granted the rights to be the first theater in the country to stage a show after its Broadway run. The first was The Wedding Singer in 2009 and last year they produced Diana, a musical based on the late Princess of Wales.
Not only were more regional premieres staged and new traditions developed under its stewardship, but the hallmark of the Kiska family’s creative ambitions was the belief that any show could be adapted for the Way Off Broadway stage in Willowtree Plaza.
Over the years, Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre has staged popular productions such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Mamma Mia! and, most recently, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.
By Joseph Peterson
Photos
courtesy Way
Off Broadway Dinner Theatre
“When someone would say, ‘That show is too big for you to do on your stage,’ it only made me want to show them we could,” Bill says. “Mary Poppins floated through the theater and onto the stage when they said I would never figure it out.”
Other creative efforts included making a car fly for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, creating a downpour for Singin’ in the Rain and boldly staging grandiose productions like Les Miserables or Cats
“We proved time and time again that a smaller venue can still present mega-musicals,” Justin says.
Over the years, ambitious projects weren’t the only thing that required creativity in navigating. Economic downturns and existential hurdles like a global pandemic, which shuttered many theaters across the country, became the moments where the Kiskas proved their mettle with the dogged determinism of a family that truly believes in the essential role theater plays within a community during trying times.
Then there was the time a car drove through their theater in the middle of the night, causing a five-month delay before they could continue their season with a production aptly named Disaster!
“We saw it as our job to entertain. When the chips were down, we all worked together,” Justin says. But because we knew how to work together, WOB always pulled through.”
Even this year’s autumn show is a reminder of resilience amid unexpected hurdles. Due to COVID-19, the highly anticipated Baskerville closed after only one performance. Now, it’s no longer the theater’s lost show.
“It’s the final thread that needed to be tied up,” Justin says.
There is much the Kiskas will miss, despite feeling ready to say goodbye. Looking back, Bill and Deb each find their own throughline that kept them going through a labor of love for nearly a quarter of a century.
For Bill, it was the audience counting on them to see a show.
For Deb, it was Bill’s energy. “His excitement and pride made me realize this was worth it,” she says.
That chance to give the audience an opportunity to sit back and enjoy the show is something the whole family took seriously, and it’s something they plan to enjoy watching from the audience.
“We proved time and time again that a smaller venue can still present mega-musicals,” Justin Kiska says, pointing to ambitious productions like Cats.
I always say,
‘There is nothing like live theater!’ “ ”
—Bill Kiska
artsy SPOTLIGHT
Madden, Peacock at TAG
Christoper Madden, whose work blends technical mastery with an offbeat sense of humor and mixed-media artist Karen Peacock are TAG/The Artists Gallery’s featured artists for November. The exhibits, at 501 N. Market St., run through Nov. 30 with an opening reception on Nov. 1 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
A master art copyist, Madden often works at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where he perfects his skills. This practice serves as the catalyst for his show “Twisted.”
Tune Up Unused Instruments
“My exhibit takes established masterworks and ‘twists’ them into new contextual meanings,” Madden says. “I’m honored to work directly from these pieces, but while I’m learning, I also explore how to make them mine through conceptual shifts.” His painting “Alice in MAGA Land” was accepted into the London Art Biennale 2025.
Peacock responds to these turbulent times with an alternate vision. Her exhibit, “Dance Lore,” imagines a world transformed by dance, spanning from prehistory to the near future. “I tend to distract myself from unpleasant situations with creative projects,” Peacock says. “If I can invent a better imaginary history at the same time, all the better.” She will donate 10 percent of all sales from “Dance Lore” to World Central Kitchen. www.theartistsgalleryfrederick.com
Have you played in the high school band or orchestra and haven’t picked up your instrument since?
The recently formed Main Street Community Ensemble is all about getting the band back together again. Rehearsals and music events are held at Christ Reformed UCC, 12 S. Church St., Middletown, on Mondays from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
No matter your skill level, you’re invited to join the ensemble, which celebrates a diversity of music and composers with members generating the playlist. If you no longer have an instrument, organizers will help you find one. Follow Main Street Community Ensemble on Facebook.
Recording Studio Available
After-School Arts & Mindfulness
Amplified Change, a nonprofit that has a mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk youth to explore their creativity and express themselves through various art forms, offers an after-school arts program at Give Rise Studio, 125 S. Carroll St., on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m.5:30 p.m. Open to all school-aged children, the cost is $10 per session, with scholarships available. Snacks are provided to the budding artists.
Organizers say the activities build confidence in the youngsters, celebrating progress, not perfection, and offers mindfulness tools to manage stress, improve focus and regulate emotions. Collaborative art projects are designed to foster community and connection. Follow Amplified Change on Facebook.
Whether you’re recording a song, mixing a track or producing a podcast, the Y Arts Center, 115 E. Church St., has a studio to meet your audio needs. The professional-grade studio offers high-quality services, specializing in recording, mixing and mastering, at $65 an hour for Y members and $75 for non-members. Those at the studio tout the space as “more than a studio—it’s a community resource and a place where creativity thrives.” www.recordingstudio@frederickymca.org
‘Black Gold’
Compost Crew Continues Local Initiative to Reuse Food Waste
Banana peels, apple cores and coffee grounds may seem like garbage, but these food scraps can morph into a living, breathing, microbial matter that gives life to soil.
This is the foundation of the business model of Compost Crew, which has absorbed Frederick’s Key City Compost and is continuing Key City’s goal of keeping food scraps out of landfills. “We’re focusing on making a high-quality soil amendment that can revitalize soil for our community,” says Ben Parry, CEO of Compost Crew.
It’s not a quick process, however. It takes up to eight months for food scraps to become the earthy, crumbly, rich brown soil enhancer that can help farmers grow crops and backyard gardeners cultivate flowers and vegetables.
“If you squeeze it into your hand, it should turn into a ball,” says Devin Mcelfresh, lead composter, reaching into a pile of finished compost and forming a handful into a loose clump.
The process begins with five-gallon buckets that each homeowner uses to save scraps. Most food—cooked, raw or moldy—is acceptable. That material is collected and brought to Utica Bridge Farms, where Key City established its composting operation.
There, Mcelfresh and other staff sort the scraps and make sure no plastics or other contaminants get into the compost. Food scraps are mixed with wood chips, leaves and other natural materials and placed in piles that slowly turn into compost.
At Compost Crew it takes up to eight months for food scraps to become the earthy, crumbly, rich brown soil enhancer that can help farms and backyard gardens.
By Karen Gardner
The piles are managed for moisture and temperature. Steam rises as moisture lifts out of the piles. Temperatures inside start to rise, as high as 160 degrees to preserve the right microbial combination. More importantly, there’s no odor.
“You don’t want it to go over 160 degrees because the bad bacteria starts to come in, which is what causes it to smell,” Mcelfresh says. “I pull temperatures routinely and aerate it throughout the week.”
Mcelfresh has been working at the farm since November 2021, when Key City was a small, local composting operation. Key City founder Phil Westcott opened the business in 2017, working with the city government to start collecting compost from all residents for free while offering curbside pickups to homes outside the city for a fee. Key City also partnered with several local schools to compost food scraps. Compost Crew acquired Key City in July 2024, and Westcott has moved on to other enterprises.
“I came into this industry not knowing it well,” Mcelfresh says. “Phil taught me a lot of what I know, but some of it is trial and error. It’s a simple process but a long process.”
Compost Crew, which opened in Rockville in 2011, now collects compost from homes, businesses, schools, and communities throughout the region and estimates it’s composted over 70 million pounds of organic material.
Compost Crew is continuing to collect compost from households in the city, as well as some local schools and businesses. Frederick County households outside city limits can sign up for curbside collection starting at $32 a month.
Finished compost is bagged and participating households get some of the “black gold” as part of their subscription.
Some of the finished compost is donated to schools, some is provided to local farms and some is packaged into five-pound bags and sold under the Farm Feast label.
Compost Crew hopes to build its partnerships with farms and schools. “We’re using the resources we already have out there,” Parry says. “George Washington used compost on his farm. Thomas Jefferson did, too. It’s been around as long as people have been farming.”
For more information, go to compostcrew.com.
Food scraps collected in five-gallon buckets from residences and schools are mixed with wood chips, leaves and other natural materials and placed in piles that slowly turn into compost.
It’s a simple process but a long process. “ ”
—Devin Mcelfresh, Compost Crew
biz bites
BUSINESS
Dynamic Receives National Honors
Dynamic Automotive, which grew from a single location repair shop into seven full-service locations around Frederick County, was named by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as its top small business after previously earning a spot on the list of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses. Founded by three auto mechanics in 1995, Dynamic Automotive
Golden Mile Alliance
Names Director
continues its vision to “treat customers like family and invest in employees like they are owners.”
Rehab 2 Perform, a physical therapy, sports rehab and pelvic health provider, was also included on the top 100 list, recognized in the Growth Accelerators category for using ingenuity and creativity in its ongoing growth strategy.
Robert “Rob” Van Rens is the new executive director of the Golden Mile Alliance. A long-time area resident and former Alliance board member, he brings deep community ties, extensive civic experience and a track record of supporting local businesses. The Golden Mile Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the economic, cultural and social vitality of the Golden Mile district.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with the business community, residents and local government,” Van Rens says. “Together we can continue the progress that has begun.”
Van Rens served as chair of the City of Frederick Historic Preservation Commission and his professional experience spans nonprofit leadership, government relations, project management and communications strategy. He is also a former owner of the Frederick Clay Art Center. www.goldenmilealliance.org
The awards honor small and midsize businesses across the nation. Honorees were selected from more than 12,500 applicants.
“The leaders of these companies demonstrate all of the essential characteristics of successful owners. They lift up their workforce, they value their customers and they’re actively invested in their communities. Dr. Josh Funk at R2P and Dwayne Myers, Jose Bueso and Lee Foreman at Dynamic have built outstanding cultures and treasured brands,” says Rick Weldon, president and CEO of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce.
Doug’s Automotive Opens
Doug’s Automotive Services, a family-owned and -operated auto repair shop, recently opened its new location at 312 E 4th St. The business has been serving Frederick with a commitment to providing honest and trustworthy repairs. The shop is proud to continue its tradition of delivering reliable service and expert care for all makes and models. “Our mission is simple,” says owner and ASE-certified master technician Doug Wade. “Service beyond your expectations.” www.dougsautomotiveservices.com
Bates Architects Celebrates 20 Years
Located in Downtown Frederick at 121 N. Court St., Bates Architects boasts a portfolio of designs that can be found throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the firm headed by C. Marty Bates, who has worked in the industry for more than 40 years.
The firm provides designs for commercial, public and residential clients and can point to projects such as the renovation of the Common Market on 7th Street, the Frederick Book Arts on South Carroll Street and, several blocks away, True Standard Distilling. www.batesarchitectspc.com
on tech
BUSINESS
By Jeni Lubbert
Esport Explosion
Once upon a time, “video games” meant Saturday mornings on the couch. Today, they’ve evolved into esports—a global industry that draws millions of viewers, fills arenas and even offers college scholarships. But you don’t have to be a professional gamer in Seoul or Los Angeles to take part. Right here in Frederick there are growing ways for everyday people to plug into the action.
Competing from Your Couch
Modern esports titles like Fortnite, Rocket League and Valorant let anyone jump into ranked play from home. Most games now feature online ladders that feed into local or national tournaments—no team contract required. Platforms such as Battlefy, FACEIT and Challengermode host open brackets where you can test your skills against players across Maryland and beyond. It’s the digital equivalent of a weekend soccer league, only with comfortable chairs.
Community and Campus Play
Esports have also made their way into education. Hood College fields an organized, competitive esports program, complete with a dedicated gaming arena and participation in collegiate leagues. Frederick Community College supports gaming through student-run clubs and campus tournaments that bring players together for fun and friendly competition. For high-schoolers, leagues like PlayVS and NASEF connect Maryland students to a national network of scholastic gaming, sometimes even leading to scholarships for esports-friendly universities.
More Than Playing Games
For those who prefer to be behind the scenes, esports offer plenty of creative opportunities. Local gamers can find their niche in broadcasting, graphic design, coaching and social media management. Platforms like Hitmarker post remote and part-time roles that can serve as a foot in the digital sports door.
And if you’d rather be the entertainer, you can tune into Twitch and YouTube Gaming to stream your own gameplay, commentary and tutorials for friends and followers.
Spectating as a Sport
Fans are just as vital as players. Big tournaments like the Esports World Cup or League of Legends World Champsionship are streamed live online, often with free chatrooms and community commentary. Some local breweries have hosted viewing parties, giving Frederick residents a social way to cheer for their favorite teams.
Game On, Frederick!
Whether you’re 15 or 50, all it takes is a console, a decent internet connection and a love of friendly competition. As technology and creativity continue to blend, the next big arena might just be your own living room.
Jeni Lubbert is a Project Manager at 270net Technologies, a website design and digital marketing firm in Frederick. Contact her at 301-663-6000, ext. 615, or visit www.270net.com.
Elin Ross
There are approximately 1,000 nonprofit organizations in Frederick County, but few if any have the longevity of Federated Charities, which provides reduced rental office space for such entities. Elin Ross, executive director of Federated Charities, shares the history of the organization and its renowned headquarters.
Scott: How did Federated Charities come to be?
Elin: Federated Charities was founded in February/March 1911 when a group of citizens decided to form a “federated charities” group. During the same time period, charitable societies were forming all over the United States, primarily with their purpose of alleviating poverty. The first charities listed in our 1912 annual report were the Free Kindergarten, The Free Night School and the Anti-Tuberculosis Society.
Scott: The home at 22 S. Market St. in Downtown Frederick has quartered the organization since 1930. It was bequeathed by Margaret Janet Williams in 1919 prior to her death in 1922. What is known about Williams and her family?
Elin: Margaret Janet Williams’ family was the third owner of the property originally built in 1820 by Edward Goldsborough and then owned by Henry Schley. The Williams family purchased the home in 1852. Margaret Williams, or Miss Janie/Jennie as she was called, was the last descendant of the family. Little is known about her. She was a charter member of the Frederick Daughters of the American Revolution and All Saints Episcopal Church. Photographs in our archives show a lively home, filled with art, plants and animals.
By Scott Grove
Scott: Can you describe the home’s outstanding features?
Elin: The Williams’ house is unique in that most of its historical character has been preserved through modern times, despite not being a “home” for many years. In part, this is because the Maryland Historic Trust holds a permanent easement on the interior. There are 19 rooms and at least seven fireplaces. It has been described as “an extremely rare example of a 19th-century urban form” by the trust. Considered Italianate in architectural style, the building is filled with soaring ceilings, ornate moulding and intricately carved ceiling medallions. There are several original light fixtures and chandeliers. The property features a legacy project containing some of the historic documents and art that are still in our possession.
Scott: What charities were operating out of the building post-World War II?
Elin: After the war, many of the direct services that were run by Federated Charities were assumed by public agencies. Its visiting nurse program became the earliest version of the public health department. Federated Charities began to welcome independent organizations to share the space. During that time, the foundations of our medical equipment loan closet took shape and operated until 2019. The Frederick Free Kindergarten remained in our building until it closed in the 1970s. Organizations like the earliest version of the 211 hotline started using our space, as did the United Way, Red Cross and countless smaller organizations.
Scott: What are the primary differences in the way charities operated then and now?
Elin: There’s an interesting book,
Charity, Philanthropy and Civility in American History, that notes the significant role played by religious groups and also highlights the work of women in the formation of charitable societies. Those listed as founding Federated Charities were all men from religious organizations, but when you look at the actual documents much of the visible work was done by women. Prior to the 1950s how charities functioned evolved as a body of practice but, after a major overhaul of federal tax code in 1954 created tax-exempt status, the institutionalization of “charity” was established as a sector that most of us recognize today.
Scott: In 2002, Federated Charities purchased the neighboring Pearre Pharmacy building at 16 S. Market St., followed by construction that connected the two buildings. What prompted this expansion?
Elin: The purchase of the Pearre building essentially tripled our size by adding approximately 16,000 square feet of space through renovation and additions. It made our building one of the larger Downtown commercial spaces. The expansion was seen as a way of evolving our identity and maintaining our presence in the heart of the community.
Scott: How many nonprofits does Federated Charities house and what is the range of services they offer to the public?
Elin: We host 11 to 12 nonprofits in our building annually under traditional leases. An additional three to five nonprofits use our Incubate+ space on a regular basis. The services our various tenants offer are quite diverse, integrating into every aspect of our community. We also share our meet-
ing spaces with any Frederick nonprofit organization.
Scott: How significantly does the reduced rent these nonprofits pay help their ability to serve the community?
Elin: Federated Charities underwrites at least $250,000 in rent costs annually for our nonprofit partners. Those are funds that they can use to pay for their housing, food, clothing, medical care and mental health services missions.
Scott: Frederick seems to be a city that developed as a result of philanthropy and volunteerism. Do you agree with this idea and if so, what statement does that make about the community?
Elin: Frederick is a “unicorn” but not
without the hard work and commitment of the people who live here and those who laid the groundwork in the early 20th century. I think part of what made that possible was the visibility of Federated Charities in the heart of a thriving city. It means that no matter what happens, there is a “home” for community services. While we’re not responsible for the tremendous number of nonprofits that exist today, we’ve helped build space where that can occur.
Elin Ross was born in Indianapolis and resides in Frederick with her husband. A fan of Frederick, she enjoys sourcing antiques and cooking. Scott Grove is the owner of Grove Public Relations, LLC., a marketing and advertising firm. His work also includes interpretive planning and exhibit design for museums and historic sites. For more info, visit www.scottrgrove.com.
Frederick is a ‘unicorn’ but not without the hard work and commitment of the people who live here and those who laid the groundwork in the early 20th century. “ ”
—Elin Ross FM
It’s been said that everyone wants to save the world, but nobody wants to do the dishes. In Frederick County that adage is turned on its head as hundreds of volunteers join in the grassroots work of feeding their hungry neighbors.
Whether it’s the cans and boxes of food donated by individuals and groups like churches, scouts and postal workers, or the countless volunteers who faithfully stock shelves and hand out provisions with friendly faces and kind words, the dishes are getting done.
Pantries currently operate in Walkersville, Brunswick, Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Urbana, Knoxville, Jefferson and Middletown, with two locations in Frederick. Additionally, service organizations, churches and government agencies provide hot meals and weekend backpacks of food to stave off student hunger on weekends.
Helping Hands and Caring Hearts, a nonprofit started by former social worker Jenifer Zimmer, has six locations and a traveling bus that provides groceries and clothing along with household and personal hygiene items. At the Frederick Rescue Mission, 419 W. South St., nearly 100,000 people a year receive groceries from a building on their campus that’s dedicated just to food distribution.
Middletown’s food bank at 301 W. Main St., inside the former town hall, has a long history of giving, tracing its roots back to Zion Lutheran Church’s mission in 1931 that provided food and clothing during the Great Depression.
Over the years, food banks have been important during other economic downturns, whether it’s a recession or the current pain of government layoffs and Washington’s deep cuts to social programs.
Ann Pond, of the Middletown pantry, recalls a person standing in line who had been using the services for a year.
“She said, ‘We couldn’t have made it without the food bank.’ We hear all these stories—I could tell you five million.”
Aside from heartfelt accounts, there remain hard facts. The United Way of Frederick County’s latest report on economic issues facing individuals and families shows 27 percent of the county’s households earn above the federal poverty line but still can’t afford basics such as housing, food or health care. The previous report assessed this group at 26 percent.
A concern among food bank organizers is being able to meet increasing demand. “We’re gearing up for the ‘what if’ when it comes to the government shutdown,” says Michele Ott, the City of Frederick’s assistant director of client services. The Rescue Mission recently posted on its website that “the volume of food recipients has increased significantly, partly because of the higher grocery costs.”
The city’s food banks, at 14 E. All Saints St. and 6040 New Design Road, don’t receive federal funds, so cuts at that level don’t directly affect them. Instead, they depend on the city budget and private donations.
allowing them to use. “We have the funding to build,” Pond says, “but we still need money for the interior, for shelves” and other furnishings.
“It’s a humungous community effort,” she says, involving churches, the Lions Club and other organizations, particularly Middletown Valley People Helping People.
Earlier this fall, they faced empty warehouse shelves, continuing from the summer when donations traditionally lag. Unfortunately, too many people think about feeding the needy only when winter holidays arrive. The pantries now await the annual Scouting for Food drive and collection by postal workers that happen around Thanksgiving.
‘We Love Holding Their Babies’
Food distribution is mostly handled based on the pantries’ physical space. In Middletown “one client comes in at a time, while everyone else waits in line on Main Street,” says Pond. “There is food choice, but also we pack [bags] ahead to keep it moving.”
Another step towards efficiency is having volunteers go to the outside line to get paperwork filled out ahead of time, bringing an added bonus. “We love holding their babies,” Pond says.
Middletown is in the process of building a new and larger food bank on a church-owned lot that the congregation is
At the Downtown Frederick food bank, clients go to the front desk to tend to paperwork, then have a seat to wait their turn wheeling a cart through the warehouse to get miscellaneous items such as baking mixes, condiments, toiletries and baby products to go with a pre-packed bag of food staples. As they wait, children sit quietly at a table, crayons and paper keeping them happy.
Twice a month the city sends a mobile food bank into various neighborhoods for those unable to visit the pantries. They choose locations with large parking lots, such as the Mental Health Association of Frederick County at 226 S. Jefferson St.
In Thurmont, clients line up in cars and trucks to receive their allotment of cereal, canned vegetables, fruit, soup, tuna, chicken, pasta, tomato sauce and peanut butter, supplemented with milk, eggs, bread and other bakery items, plus frozen meat and fresh produce donated by local grocery stores and sometimes by townspeople with abundant gardens.
Also located in a former town hall, the Thurmont food bank used to invite people inside to pick up groceries, but the space became too crowded. More shelves
were added to accommodate more food and a bank of freezers and refrigerators grew, containing dairy products and meat, including venison provided by hunters during deer season.
Packing bags happens three days a week with delivery on Fridays so that children have food for the weekend. The bags contain canned fruits, vegetables, tuna and chicken.
The Rescue Mission’s setup more closely resembles a grocery store. Organizers say this is a return to client choice where people “take the food that they and their families want, with less food waste” from being given things they don’t find tasty.
Growing Backpacks
Appealing to the tastes of youngsters is part of the challenge of the Backpack Ministry at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 E. Church St. The ministry started several years ago when a Bible study group wanted a community project. From serving one school and a handful of students, the initiative has grown to nine schools and close to 400 students.
The small closet in a building on the church campus has expanded into even more storage as the group widens its reach, seeking grants and educating the congregation about child hunger. Early in the program, a man stopped by the church office saying he had an unexpected windfall and wondered if the church had a special need. Hearing about the Backpack Ministry, he pulled out his checkbook and made a generous contribution. This type of largesse continues to reveal itself and some in the group see it as proof that in expanding their reach, God in turn provides the resources.
An administrator at Hillcrest Elementary, where 164 bags are received, sees only benefits, saying, “Students come to school on Monday better able to focus, participate and learn because their nutritional needs were met over the weekend.” The backpacks ease the family’s financial strain, she says, as well as modeling “compassion and care, showing our students and families that the wider community values their well-being.”
Food bank providers all around the county also regularly receive positive feedback.
“People using the services are very appreciative,” Frederick city’s Ott says. “I’ve heard people say that their prescription costs have gone up and now [with the food bank] they don’t have to make that choice of paying for medicine or for food.”
Adding to the tangible part of visiting the food bank are the interactions. “We have caring and compassionate volunteers who know many of the people by name,” Ott says.
In Middletown, Pond recalls a woman saying, “When you don’t have much, most people don’t want to have anything to do with you. But when I come in here, everyone is so kind.”
Even in the midst of worrying about supplies—“There’s a lower amount on the shelves lately than I’ve ever seen”—Pond still experiences what she calls “angel moments” when “somehow, something comes in and helps us out.”
Taking Food Expense Off the Table
Although she’s retired from the pulpit, Sally Joyner Giffin still has a flock. It’s the 60 or so volunteers at the Thurmont food bank where she has put in her time for 18 years. She’s quick to point out, however, that volunteers Harold and Anita Bollinger have done one better, serving more than a quarter century in the outreach that started 40 years ago “in a shed behind the church.”
It’s a diverse crew. There are grandparents and teenagers, college students and those with special needs. Some were ordered here by a judge to perform community service and others are clients returning as volunteers.
At the end of a Tuesday night shift that saw at least 45 families come through, a group of women were visibly tired, but still managed to keep smiling. “Helping other people,” was one woman’s favorite part of the job, while others added that it was “being together, working as a team” or “we always have a good time.” Giffin says at least 100 volunteer hours are logged weekly.
She explains the Thurmont food bank is not a pantry, providing just a smattering of food in an emergency. “We give two weeks’ worth of groceries” at every visit. “We try and take the food expense off the table,” so that people are better able to face other bills, keeping them from a financial hole.
Courtney Mullins, whose husband Elijah volunteers because “I want to give back to the community,” knows about
struggling. “This place does help,” she says while holding her squirming son. “I’ve always been grateful for whatever we’re given. Kids shouldn’t have to struggle.”
On a recent night the food bank ran out of bread. Shortages are always a possibility, even as volunteers pick up donations at local grocery stores hours before the food bank opens. They still have food from a federal program, but how long that continues is anyone’s guess. Pallets of goods arrive from the Maryland Food Bank, but they aren’t free. With all that’s going on, what’s the answer to solving hunger?
Alexia George, a student majoring in human services at nearby Mount St. Mary’s University, stands outside in the gathering dusk as the last people receive food. “Being generous,” she says to the question. “Offering what you can is a step. It feels like you’re doing something.” It’s doing the dishes.
Frederick County Food Banks
Brunswick Food Bank
18 S. Maple St., Brunswick, 301-834-9718
Brunswick Beacon 601 E. Potomac St., Brunswick, 301-834-9718
Emmitsburg Food Bank
130 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, 717-642-6963
Frederick Food Banks
14 E. All Saints St., Frederick 6040 New Design Road, Frederick, 301-600-1506
Frederick Rescue Mission 419 W. South St., Frederick, 301-696-6633
Glade Valley Food Bank 21 W. Frederick St., Walkersville, 301-845-4229
Greater Urbana Area Food Bank 240-529-4815 (call for location)
Helping Hands and Caring Hearts 12428 Fingerboard Road, Monrovia
Knoxville Food Bank
Mt. Zion AME Church, 202 Jefferson Pike, Knoxville, 301-834-7221
Middletown Food Bank 301 W. Main St., Middletown, 301-371-3182
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 3866 Jefferson Pike, Jefferson 301-473-8626 or 301-371-5721
Thurmont Food Bank 10 Frederick Road, Thurmont, 301-271-4554 or 240-288-1865
Eyes on the Prize
Sara Kep’s Kitchen puts Owner/Chef in her Element
By April Bartel / Photography by Mark Youngblood
THURMONT—For chef and caterer
Sara Kephart, it’s the “God always has a plan” philosophy that carried her from renting a tiny, shared kitchen by the hour to owning her own facility.
“Last November, I bought a commercial space that I turned into my commercial kitchen,” she says. “It was kind of crazy how everything played out.”
At just age 22 in 2020, Kephart started Sara Kep’s Kitchen as a weekly meal-delivery service and expanded into catering. The relentless rhythm of those early days was a challenge that is now a point of pride.
“On Mondays, when we’re getting ready for meal delivery, it’s at least a 12-hour shift in the kitchen”—not to mention planning, shopping, deliveries and other tasks. But the mission keeps her fueled. “Yeah, I’m tired, but we will get through it, and we’re going to feed so many people, and they’re going to have nutritious meals for them and their family throughout the entire week. How cool is it that I get to provide this service to people?”
Four years later, she realized it was time to make an investment in the future.
Her new homebase happens to be a place she’s loved since childhood. “I have been going to Hoffman’s Market since I was in the womb,” she says with a laugh. “I love that I have so many early food memories of going to Hoffman’s, and now it is my place.”
Her approach to menu design is comfort food made healthier. “A lot of my ideas start with thinking of foods that
Chef Sara Kephart feeds many hungry fans, whether it’s through her customized meal-delivery service or from the popular vending machine that serves subs, sandwiches and her popular salted chocolate chip cookies.
I really love, then figuring out ways to make them lighter,” she explains. “A lot of times it’s just a matter of correcting a portion size … then adding one or two servings of vegetables.” Weekly offerings include two family-style dinner bundles portioned for two or four people, plus about a dozen meal-prep choices. “All of those come with the macronutrients labeled … calories, fat, protein and carbs.” That transparency helps everyone from athletes to people managing diabetes. And she’s cheerfully accommodating. “People may require dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, low histamine. Whatever their dietary restriction is, for a chef, it doesn’t have to be that hard.”
Kephart’s vegetarian showstopper is as fun to say as it is enticing to eat. “My go-to vegetarian entrée that has literally never been passed up is a Lion’s Mane ‘Beef’ Wellington,” she says. “It feels so elevated and it plates really beautifully.” If needed, she can “easily swap the puff pastry for a gluten-free puff pastry” to make it vegan and gluten-free.
Part of her growth comes from a partnership with Catoctin Mountain Orchard. The market stocks a broad lineup from Sara Kep’s Kitchen—chicken salad and different sandwiches, plus packs of deviled eggs and crab deviled eggs (a best-seller), soups and potato salad. It’s a grab-and-go goldmine for weekday lunches and easy dinners.
In front of Kephart’s new place sits “Wendy” (pronounced Vendy), a refrigerated vending machine that doles out goodies like ham-and-cheese or Italian subs and delectable salted chocolate chip cookies any time of day or night. She gets a refill every other day or so, stocked with fresh items from the weekly menu.
Kephart says she couldn’t do what she does without a devoted team. “My girls. I love my girls. They are incredible,” she says. “They have the same attention to detail that I have, and they care about my business just like I do.”
As for what’s next, she’s pragmatic and optimistic. She can envision a few more Wendys across the area, but not immediately. For now, she remains focused on quality, partnerships and community with an overarching faith that she is right where she needs to be.
Standing in front of Sara Kep’s Kitchen is “Wendy” (pronounced Vendy), a refrigerated vending machine that is a grab-and-go favorite for those in need of a quick meal.
How cool is it that I get to provide this service to people? “ ”
—Sara Kephart FM
tiny plates ON THE TABLE
LAST CALL FOR FARMERS MARKETS
Consumers who depend on weekly farm markets to purchase fresh, locally grown ingredients have a few weeks left at three Frederick markets before the season ends. Field Fresh Farmers Market, 797 E. Patrick St., will have its last day on Nov. 22, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. This is also the last day for Frederick Farmers Market, 1215 W. Partrick St., which runs 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Frederick City Market, 622 N. Market St., will have its season finale on Nov. 23 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
PERSONALIZED NUTRITION
Brandi Wynne Nutrition, 53 E. Patrick St., began in part with the owner’s desire for the best way to feed her growing children, prompting her to enroll in grad school and become certified in both nutrition and physical training.
“It’s a science and an art,” Wynne says. “I don’t just give you a menu and a food list,” rather “we navigate the lifestyle” of the client.
“That’s the art part.”
The markets are brimming with fall fruits and vegetables, including apples, pears, winter squash, broccoli and kale, as well as bakery items, wine, cider and spirits, plus handmade soaps, jams and hot sauces. It’s the perfect place to gather produce for the winter and perhaps pick up some early holiday gifts. If nothing else, you can thank the hard-working farmers and producers who have already started thinking about next year’s season.
Some clients seek her services “when they’ve gotten lab work that they don’t like,” or perhaps received a medical diagnosis and “now we have to do something,” she says. Wynne offers a free 30-minute discovery call to dive into the person’s concerns, whether it’s gut distress, brain fog, fatigue, insomnia or cravings. “I am here to listen, support and motivate you every step of the way,” she says. Group workshops are also an option. www.brandiwynnenutrition.com
BAKEHOUSE ON THE MOVE
It began in 2018 from a home kitchen with sales at local farmers markets, then operating during the pandemic out of a commercial kitchen. Bakehouse bakery later moved to 69 S. Market St., where lines routinely form outside the building and crowds quickly clear the display cases. Bakehouse is once again on the move, undertaking the renovation of 155 W. Patrick St., for an even larger space.
Owners Kim and Dan MacDonald, who divvy up the duties with Kim doing the baking and Dan handling the business end, are looking forward to opening the new location in 2026.
Their menu includes multiple versions of croissants, buns, cookies, cakes, scones, muffins and biscuits. The new shop is being designed to allow two floors of seating, room for private events and an outside space along Carroll Creek. The menu also will expand with more breakfast items and lunch offerings.
The 1860s building, with its wood floors and exposed brick and beams, has been vacant for several years and requires renovation. But it’s a good guess the MacDonalds will use the same deft hands needed for crafting the perfect pastry in creating the perfect bakery. www. bakehousemd.com
ON THE TABLE
Voted
cravings
10 Tavern
10 E. Main St., Thurmont. 301-271-7422. Classic all-American cuisine. $
agave 137 Tequila Bar & KiTchen
137 N. Market St, Frederick. 240-439-4367 Best margaritas, tacos and entertainment on Market St. $$
airways inn
310 Aviation Way, Frederick. 301-228-2100. Sandwiches, salads and more. Adjacent to airport. $
H a.K.a. Friscos
4632 Wedgewood Blvd., Frederick. 301-698-0018. Upbeat sandwich shop also offering house-roasted meats, salads and potatoes. $$
aleKo’s village caFé
4304 Old National Pike, Middletown. 301-371-3500. Greek, vegetarian and vegan specialties, subs and salads. $
anchor Bar
5605 Spectrum Dr., Frederick. 240-651-5580. Home of the Original Buffalo Wing. $$
anTrim 1844 smoKehouse resTauranT
30 Trevanion Road, Taneytown. 410-756-6812. Open daily for dinner. French-American cuisine. Reservations required. $$$
aTlanTic grille
3531 John Simmons St., Suite D-05, Urbana. 301-810-5220. American steak and seafood restaurant. $-$$$
ayoKa aFrican cusine
100 W. Patrick St., Suite M, Frederick. 240-626-1801. Enjoy a taste of authentic African dishes. $$
H Beans & Bagels
49 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-620-2165 Light breakfasts and lunches. $
Beans & Dreams
203 E. Main St., C, Middletown. 240-490-7070 Café and coffee shop. $
H BeeF ‘n Buns ‘n ParaDise
1448 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-898-2075 Big burgers and great ice cream selections. $
Belles’ sPorTs Bar & grill
1202 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-696-9623 Great ribs and other American fare. $
Bellisario’s Pizza
934 N. East St., Frederick. 301-662-9233. Sauce and dough made fresh daily. $$
H Bentztown
6 S. Bentz St., Frederick 301-301-8430. Southern fare. $$-$$$
Big PaPi’s
5711 Industry Lane, Frederick. 240-651-5969 Authentic Mexican dishes. $-$$
H BlacK hog BBq & Bar
118 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-662-9090 221 Shorebird St., Frederick. 301-662-9600 3323 Worthington Blvd., Urbana. 240-699-0070. 100 Middletown Pkwy, Middletown. 240-490-8147. Specializing in various styles of barbecue. $$
Bollinger’s resTauranT anD uncle DirTys Brew worKs
210 N. Church St., Thurmont. 301-668-1522. Home-cooked meals, fresh baked pies, cakes and desserts. $$-$$$
BoneFish grill
1305 W. 7th St., Frederick. 301-271-3500. Contemporary grill chain offering a seafood-centric menu, plus steaks and cocktails. $$$
Brewer’s Alley
124 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-631-0089. Contemporary American regional cuisine and microbrewery. $$
Chicken wings, sandwiches and other family fare. $
Bushwaller’s 209 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-695-6988. Irish fare in an attractive pub setting. $$-$$$
The Buzz caFé
11801 Fingerboard Road, Suite 3, Monrovia. 301-865-4900. Scratch bakery and café that features breakfast and lunch items as well as custom cakes and goodies. $-$$
cacique
26 N. Market St., Frederick. 301-695-2756 Fine Spanish and Mexican cuisine. $$-$$$
H caFé Bueno
255 E. 4th St. 301-620-8858. Authentic Mexican food. Burritos a favorite. $-$$
H caFé nola
4 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-694-6652 Bistro café. Coffee, tea and sandwiches. $
H canaPés graB & go caFé 1 Frederick Health Way, Frederick. 301-663-8220. Offering signature breakfast items, pastries, soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods and more. $$
carriage house inn 200 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. 301-447-2366. Traditional dishes served in a colonial setting. $$$
carroll valley golF course 121 Sanders Road, Fairfield, Pa. 888-330-4202. American cuisine. $-$$$
carTerque BarBeque & grilling co. 1310 S. Main St., Mount Airy. 301-829-2222. Award-winning barbecue and seafood dishes. $-$$
H Avery’s MAryl And Grille 9009 Baltimore Road, Frederick, 301-228-2722. Fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks, burgers and wings. $-$$$ ★
Casa RiCo
1399 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-663-3107. Mexican fare in a comfortable, pleasant setting. $-$$
Cellar Door restaurant
5 E. Church St., Frederick. 301-695-8460 American Casual Cuisine & Cocktail Lounge. $-$$$
1700 Kingfisher Drive, Frederick. 301-8982027. 5100 Buckeystown Pike, #194, Frederick. 301-668-6301. A variety of hot gourmet sub sandwiches. Dine in, takeout and catering available. $
flaminG Grill & Buffet
1003 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-664-3388 Chinese, Japanese and American cuisine. $-$$
Pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches in a casual setting. $-$$
1306 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-732-5193. A wide array of authentic Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai
Liberty road Seafood & Steak
10524 Liberty Road, Frederick. 301-898-3181 Home of the largest crab in Frederick County. Open all year round. $$$
Long Shot’S
5400 Holiday Drive, Frederick. (inside the Clarion Hotel). 301-694-7500. Starters, salad, sandwhiches, BBQ, full bar. $$ -$$$
LoS amigoS
205 Frederick Road, Thurmont. 301-271-8888. Mexican food with specials through the week. $$
Lucky corner reStaurant
5100 Buckeystown Pike, Suite 174, Frederick. 301-360-5913. Vietnamese grill and noodle restaurant. $$
H madroneS
7810 Worman’s Mill Road #J, Frederick. 240-439-4010. Traditional American steak and seafood. $$-$$$
magoo’S Pub & eatery
1-A W. 2nd St., Frederick. 301-378-2237 Traditional Irish-American favorites. $$-$$$
the main cuP
14 W. Main St., Middletown. 301-371-4433 Casual café and coffeehouse. $-$$$
h manaLù itaLian reStaurant 5227 Presidents Court, Frederick. 240-578-4831. Authentic Italian restaurant serving traditional foods in a warm and cozy atmosphere. $$-$$$
mangia e bevi
Turning Point Center, 8927-J Fingerboard Road, Urbana. 301-874-0338. Italian comfort food at a good value. $-$$$
mariachi reStaurant
5854 Urbana Pike, Frederick. 301-418-6367 Fine Spanish and Mexican cuisine. $$
matSutake SuShi and Steak
5225 Buckeystown Pike (Westview Promenade), Frederick. 301-631-5060 Hibachi and Japanese cuisine. $-$$$
H may’S
5640 Urbana Pike, Frederick. 301-662-4233
Home-cooked meals, crabs. $$
H mayta’S Peruvian cuiSine
5010 Buckeytown Pike, Suite 148, Frederick. 301-732-4441. Fresh, authentic Peruvian cuisine. Serving lunch and dinner. Catering available. $-$$$
miyako
1005 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-620-0024
Sushi, noodles, Japanese steak house, specialty cocktails. $$$
simPLy asia Pan asian bistRo 120 Frederick Road, Suites B&C, Thurmont. 301-271-2858. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, sushi bar, Asian fusion, dine in, carryout, catering. $-$$
H south mountain cReameRy
50 Citizen’s Way, Ste. 101, Frederick. 301-383-8790. We take your favorite sweet and savory treats to a whole new level. Sweet: sundaes, milkshakes, and more. Savory: Farm-fresh pizzas, made from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. $-$$
south maRket sandwich co.
105 S. Market St., Frederick. 240-651-3797
A quaint, gourmet sandwich shop. $$
staRvin maRvin PizzeRia and subs 6942 Crestwood Blvd., Frederick. 301-695-7827 New York–style pizza, Philadelphia cheesesteaks and more. $
sumittRa thai
12 E. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-668-2303
Thai favorites including satay, pad thai and garden rolls. $-$$
suRf house isLand cantina 8925 Fingerboard Road, Urbana. 240-341-7157. Authenic surfer food and drinks. $$
SuShi Nomu
4969 Westview Drive, Frederick. 240-656-1330. Asian sushi. $-$$
suvai biRyani
11791 Fingerboard Road, Monrovia. 301-363-8725
Mixing classic recipes with a modern twist. $$
taco baR
1450 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-732-5716. Authentic Mexican fast food. $
Tempo di paSTa 244 E. Church St., Frederick. 240-780-8517. Gourmet Italian dishes. Handmade pasta. $$
taichi bubbLe tea
5866 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick. 240-815-7961. Bubble teas, fruit teas, ramen, poke bowls, sushi burritos and rice bowls. $$
taj mahaL baR & GRiLL
1301 W. Patrick St., Frederick. 301-682-2213
Authentic Indian fare featuring home made spices. Serving lunch and dinner. Wine and beer available. $-$$
taPia’s on main
203 E. Main St., Middletown. 240-490-8461. Signature brick-oven pizzas, pastas, paninis, house-crafted cocktails. $$-$$$
Known for dumplings with a variety of fillings. $$
uP on maRket bistRo 301 N. Market St., Frederick. 240-831-4847. Charming restaurant/bistro offering full service breakfast, lunch and dinner. Uniqueness and variety with a touch of elegance. $-$$$
vaLLey GRiLL sPoRts baR Hollow Creek Golf Club, 50 Glenbrook Drive, Middletown. 301-371-0400 Contemporary American cuisine. $-$$
H waG’s
24 S. Market St., Frederick. 301-694-8451 Classic hamburgers and fries. $
white Rabbit GastRoPub 18 Market Space, Frederick. 240-651-1952 Craft beer house serving high-end beer and food. $-$$
wiLcom’s inn 11234 Fingerboard Road, Monrovia. 301-798-8686. Iconic local landmark. International steakhouse and sports bar. $-$$
the wine kitchen on the cReek 150 Caroll Creek Way, Ste. 160, Frederick. 301-663-6968. Wine bar with American bistro fare. $$
H zi Pani café bistRo
177A Thomas Johnson Drive, Frederick. 301-620-1932. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Casual dining with full bar. $-$$
Volunteer VIPs
Wertheimer Fellow Awards Spotlight Passionate Community Contributors
By Guy Fletcher / Photography by Mark Youngblood
Honoring outstanding community service, the Wertheimer Fellow Awards were created more than two decades ago when the late Frederick businesswoman and volunteer Janis Miller Wertheimer left the Community Foundation of Frederick County a generous donation to support community organizations.
“Our community thrives because of individuals like our Wertheimer Award recipients, whose time and talents are an extraordinary asset,” says Elizabeth Y. “Betsy” Day, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “We are grateful to honor their service while carrying on the legacy of Janis Miller Wertheimer, whose vision and values remain at the heart of this awards program.
Adult award winners receive $25,000 each to support charitable organizations and causes of their choice. The youth award was created in 2012 and gives recipients $2,000 to present to the nonprofit of their choice.
This year’s adult recipients are Nancy Ernest-Pastor and Amy Rembold. The youth awardee is Armin Rahman. “The Wertheimer honorees remind us what’s possible when generosity meets action. Their service is a gift to our entire community,” Day says.
Nancy Ernest-Pastor
Nancy Ernest-Pastor is devoted to community service with hands-on volunteer work that has spanned decades. For more than 50 years, she has faithfully served her church— Bush Creek Church of the Brethren—caring for the building, supporting Christian education, tending to the grounds and helping with spring and fall dinners. An electrician, she has also traveled with Brethren Disaster Ministries to help wire, rebuild and repair homes in places devastated by natural disasters.
Nancy Ernest-Pastor (above, right) is considering a new charitable fund to support her church and/or disaster relief efforts. Amy Rembold (below, right) is an enthusiastic environmental educator.
“On Bush Creek’s website it reads: ‘Bush Creek Church of the Brethren is a spiritual family in Monrovia, Md., dedicated to their commitment to Jesus Christ and their love for all people. I can say that is the motto Nancy lives by,” says Sally Arnold, who nominated Ernest-Pastor.” Nancy is a true and faithful servant.”
With her $25,000 award, Ernest-Pastor is considering creating a new charitable fund to support her church and/or disaster relief efforts.
Amy Rembold
Amy Rembold is a passionate environmental educator whose commitment to community service spans decades and continents. She currently chairs the Frederick County Sustainability Commission, where she helps guide policy and community engagement efforts to promote sustainability. A dedicated Master Gardener, Rembold also chairs the BayWise Committee and has played a leading role in school and public garden initiatives that emphasize native plantings and watershed health. She also founded the first after-school 4-H program in Frederick County Public Schools at her alma mater, Lincoln Elementary.
“Amy Rembold’s larger service to Frederick fosters a more interconnected and vibrant community—a place where its youngest citizens strive to be good stewards to nature and helpful to their neighbor,” says Michael Rembold, who nominated his wife for the award.
With her $25,000 award, Rembold is considering creating a new charitable fund to support the 4-H program at Lincoln Elementary School.
Armin Rahman
Armin Rahman is a compassionate and driven young leader whose dedication to service has made a meaningful impact in her school and community. A 2025 graduate of Brunswick High School, she served as vice president and president of the National Honor Society, as well as vice president of the National English Honor Society. Through these organizations, Rahman has engaged in countless service projects that reflect her commitment to academic excellence and community betterment.
“Armin is an exceptional leader, calm, polite and organized. Being highly motivated to succeed, she is one of those rare teens who doesn’t wait to be told what to do next, but seeks out additional work,” says Robert Beavan, work-based learning coordinator at Brunswick High, who nominated Rahman for the award. “If you were to meet her, I think you too would be amazed at her maturity and selflessness at this age.” Rahman will award her $2,000 grant to Brunswick Branch Library.
Armin Rahman, a recent graduate of Brunswick High School, has focused her volunteerism on school service projects and community organizations like the Brunswick Branch Library.
The Wertheimer honorees remind us what’s possible when generosity meets action. “
—Betsy Day, Community Foundation of Frederick County
TRENDING
stylin’
I was a tactile kid, playing with PlayDoh and making wire sculptures. “ ”
—Elisabeth Arzt
FASHIONABLE, SUSTAINABLE JEWELRY
Artist Elisabeth Arzt spreads her talents across a wide-ranging body of work, not just settling on one facet. She uses tools such as a chainsaw and welding torch or the tiny implements required to create a ring or pendant. Often, one thing leads to another. While sifting through wood scraps after carving a totem pole, she discovered beautiful burls, the tree’s woody growth, to incorporate into her jewelry, which she describes as carrying “a strong sense of history, craft and sustainability.”
“It felt right marrying the metal with highly polished wood pieces,” Arzt says. “Wood has rings that tell its age; it’s a natural memory keeper.”
Much of her inspiration comes from nature (she grew up on a farm) and from personal connections. During childhood she visited auctions and flea markets with her grandmother and seeing all the costume jewelry “fueled my love for objects. I was fascinated by the history behind antiques.” Plus, “I loved to take things apart and redesign them. I could make my own things.”
Arzt’s education and training includes as a student at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at Geroge Washington University and working with a blacksmith in Detroit. Now, between her studio work, she teaches metal smithing to high school students.” It’s nice to pass this along, teaching them to use their hands and get a break from technology,” she says.
Arzt’s jewelry can be found at the Delaplaine Arts Center gift shop, (40 S. Carroll St.), NOMA Gallery (437 N. Market St.), area shows and on her website, www.finearzt.com.
tell us TRENDING
Christopher Enders Owner, Critters, Reptiles & Exotics
What was the spark that started your business?
I originally was planning on starting an exotic pet rescue, but after an African grey parrot I rescued passed away from liver failure only one month later, I realized I needed to do something different. I decided I needed to be “proactive” rather than “reactive,” and the idea of an education-centric pet store was born.
How is Critters, Reptiles & Exotics more than a store?
We prioritize education and discourage “impulse buying” of animals. We want you to come in, learn about the animal you are interested in—even pet it and hold it to make sure you feel a connection—before deciding to take it home.
Explain your mission to proactively care for these animals. The best way to protect exotic animals is to stop poor husbandry before it starts; this store was created as an immersive, experience-based learning environment with the hope to one day end the need for exotic animal rescues.
Describe some of the events you host at your store at 904 N. East St.
We have birthday parties (tailored to many different age groups) and we are rolling out a Junior Zookeeper program as an after-school program for children, where they can come take a “trip around the world” and learn about a variety of different animals, plus interact with a few each week.
We have free mini encounters with a variety of animals throughout the week, which may include feeding demonstrations, training tips and so on. We are working with local homeschool co-ops to set up field trips and other learning opportunities. We have
plans to have other events in-house, such as paint-and-sip nights, as well as a few others.
How do you help people get over the “ick” factor of some of these animals?
We spent most of our lives being told that these animals have an “ick” factor. My job is to tell the story the right way. When I pull out the 8-foot boa, after the oohhs, aahhs and gasps have settled, I explain how snakes are exactly like puppy dogs, explaining how they use their tongue the exact same way a dog uses their nose—all while mimicking the actions of a sniffing dog to get them to laugh. By associating something that they’ve been traditionally scared of with something they know and love, I’m able to at least get people to pet the snake and any other animal.
Do you have a favorite animal?
This is probably the toughest question. I have favorites in each category for many different reasons, but if I were to narrow it down, I would have to say my favorite in-store animal is my 8-foot boa, Carmen, because she gives the best hugs! And my favorite animal otherwise would be stingrays—my wife and I have been visiting aquariums for over a decade and love going to the stingray touch tanks to pet them.
Base Hit
Redevelopment Brings New Life to Fort Ritchie’s Past and Future
CASCADE, Md.—For more than 50 years Fort Ritchie was closely guarded by stone-turreted gates and secrecy. The 638acre Washington County property, tucked beyond the western side of the Catoctin Mountain ridge, once housed the facility for some of the most influential intelligence training of World War II.
Now, thanks to a multi-year revival project, the grounds are not only open to the public but becoming a vibrant community hub as both developers and historians work to preserve and honor the rich history that unfolded within the fort’s gates.
Named for Gov. Albert C. Ritchie, Camp Richie opened in 1926 as a Maryland National Guard summer training facility. When WWII began, the army leased the property and began recruiting trainees to the Military Intelligence Training Center at Camp Ritchie. Recruits trained in skills like interrogating prisoners of war, battlefield intelligence and intercepting enemy communications.
Today, the Ritchie History Museum seeks to preserve and recount those stories of heroism that were once a deeply guarded secret.
“Without their efforts, we would possibly have still won the war, but it would have taken them much longer,” says Katy Self, museum director. “I like to bring to light the sacrifices that they all made in service. We want to tell the stories of Fort Richie, but we can’t do that without telling the stories about veterans as well.”
What was once Fort Ritchie, a U.S. Army base shrouded in secrecy, is today an open, picturesque campus that invites visitors with amenities such as a museum, ice cream shop, craft brewery and more.
By Erin Jones
As buildings around the property are renovated, the construction team will send photos and descriptions of what they find to the museum. One day, paint scraped away revealed Gothic German writing. Trees behind the Mountain Top Ice Cream shop were found to be riddled with bullets from the area’s former life as a utility field. Many vintage cans of Old German beer have also been uncovered. Old German is now served at the Top Secret Taproom, which pays homage to the clandestine activities of the property’s former life.
John Krumpotich, owner and president of Ritchie Revival, first learned of the fort’s covert history at an event at the Fort Ritchie community center a decade ago. At the time, the center was the only structure on the property still functioning; the remainder was abandoned and frequently vandalized. He noted how many structures of historic significance were covered over in vines or rusted.
“The place speaks to history, not only from World War II. This place was an integral part in the U.S. winning World War II, but all of the military and civilians that came through this place, tens of thousands of people … had a great impact on the area,” Krumpotich says.
“I still get goosebumps talking about it now.”
Ritchie Revival began in 2021 with the renovation of nearly 60 townhomes. Harman Automotive was the first business to open, along with Mountain Top Ice Cream. Meritus Medical and then Greenhouse Café quickly followed.
Informational signage outside the café, the white-steepled chapel and many other notable landmarks was funded by the Delaplaine Foundation and allows visitors to appreciate the historic significance of the many structures throughout the property.
Nearly all of the 35 pristinely uniform “finger buildings” have been renovated. While the majority are residential units, seven have been turned into shops and storefronts. Visitors can browse easily between the holistic health and wellness store Apotheke Dujardin, Sweet Thyme Bakery, locally sourced general store Ritchie Rations, the Artisan Village at Fort Ritchie and the Nisei Gallery.
The Tudor-inspired Lakeside Hall, now an event venue, overlooks Lake Royer. Discovery Station recently relocated to the property from Hagerstown to continue its mission to ignite a passion for learning focusesd on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Future projects will include a nature center and a hotel.
The iconic Castle was built in 1927 by the Maryland National Guard for the purpose of a post headquarters. It has been preserved through the Ritchie Revival project.
The place speaks to history, not only from World War II. “ ”
—John Krumpotich, Ritchie Revival
postcards ON THE ROAD
BULGARIA
Mira Ivanova visited family and went to Shipka Monastery, built in 1902. The complex includes a church, monastic building. pilgrimage building, shelter and theological seminary.
BELGIUM
Connie Snook traveled on a work trip to Bruges, sometimes called the “Venice of the North” because of its canal-based design.
TENNESSEE
Cousins Mary Ann Eader Turney and Caroline G. Eader visited Eader House in Brownsville. The historic home was constructed shortly after the Civil War by members of the Eader family from Frederick.
you’re here ON THE ROAD
By Jake Wynn
Northern Exposure
As cooler air sweeps in and the fall leaves drift from the trees, northern Frederick County settles into a quieter kind of beauty. The mountain ridges glow bronze in the low light of November and this corner of the county feels somehow both timeless and alive.
In Thurmont, the self-proclaimed “Gateway to the Mountains,” Main Street is framed by church spires, 19th-century homes and the wooded slopes of Catoctin Mountain. Visitors still come here for the outdoor treasures of Catoctin Mountain Park and Cunningham Falls State Park, where late-season hikes lead to quiet overlooks and the soft, golden light of late fall filters through bare branches. It’s the perfect time for reflection, and for rediscovering the history that has shaped this community at the foot of the mountains for centuries.
Part of that story begins at Catoctin Furnace, founded in 1776 at the base of the mountains. For more than a century, the furnace produced iron that helped fuel the young nation’s growth. Today, visitors can explore the site at the Museum of the Ironworker, where exhibits tell the stories of families and laborers who lived and worked in this once-bustling village. Be sure to follow along the Iron Trail from the Furnace site into the Manor Area at Cunningham Falls State Park.
Main Street Thurmont continues to blend tradition with renewal. Admire murals, browse shops or stop for a warm meal after a day outdoors. On weekends, a visit to the Thurmont Historical Society, housed in a restored 1890s residence, provides a deeper look into the town’s past. Exhibits, photographs, and archives preserve the details of everyday life in northern Frederick County through generations.
Just outside town, Catoctin Mountain Orchard remains a fall and holiday favorite. Shelves brim with late-season apples, pies and the famous apple cider doughnuts. Across U.S. 15, Catoctin Breeze Vineyards draws visitors for tastings paired with sweeping views of the countryside. Nearby Roddy Road Covered Bridge, one of the county’s last wooden spans, offers a quiet spot for reflection and photography amid the final hues of fall.
A few miles north, a stretch of U.S. 15 known as the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Scenic Byway, Emmitsburg invites
exploration rooted in both faith and history. At the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the story of America’s first native-born saint unfolds in beautifully curated exhibits and historic buildings. As the 50th anniversary year of Mother Seton’s canonization concludes, there’s no better time to visit, walk the peaceful grounds and consider her legacy of service, compassion and education.
Just down the road in town, the Emmitsburg Antique Mall offers a change of pace and a treasure hunter’s delight. Inside, you’ll find aisles filled with vintage finds—classic furniture, books and collectibles that tell their own Frederick County stories. It’s an easy place to spend a cold afternoon browsing and reminiscing.
While you’re in the area, be sure to stop by local restaurants for a meal. Enjoy classic road trip fare with a stop at the Mountaingate Restaurant. After a hike on Catoctin Mountain, grab some lunch at the Thurmont Kountry Kitchen. Or, after browsing antiques in Emmitsburg, experience the cuisine at the Carriage House.
Northern Frederick County rewards the traveler who takes time to explore. You can spend your morning hiking under the changing light of the mountain, your afternoon diving into local history and your evening tasting the harvest from nearby farms and vineyards. In November, the pace slows but the beauty endures.
Jake Wynn is the senior marketing and communications manager at Visit Frederick, the designated destination marketing organization for Frederick County. Contact him at 301-600-4023 or jwynn@ fredco-md.net. Learn more about Visit Frederick at visitfrederick.org.
HOT PICK
Nov. 22, 23
Valley Craft Network
Annual Studio Tour
Middletown and Pleasant Valley areas. In this 44th annual self-guided tour, visit local studios showcasing fine arts and crafts and come away with inspiration and one-of-akind gifts and treasures, handmade in Maryland. 10 a.m.−5 p.m. www. valleycraftnetwork.org
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY
We Love Wednesdays Wednesdays in Nov.
Downtown Frederick. Why wait for the weekend? Make Wednesdays wonderful by shopping small, dining local and supporting the heart of the Frederick community. Every Wednesday, discover exclusive deals, discounts and special offers at participating local businesses. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. 301-698-8118. www.downtownfrederick.org
MET Comedy Night Fridays and Saturdays in Nov. Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. Enjoy comedy every Friday and some Saturdays through June. See The Comedy Pigs on Nov. 7 and 8, That’s What SHE Said on Nov. 14, Oh Crit! on Nov. 21, and Off-Key an Improvised Musical on Nov. 22. 8:30 p.m. 301-694-4744. www.marylandensemble.org
Historic District Ghost Tours Saturdays in Nov. and Nov. 7, 28
Downtown Frederick. In the Historic District Ghost Tour, participants take a journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past, with nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge and documented stories of the paranormal. Tours meet in front of Brewer’s Ally Restaurant, 124 N. Market St. Private tours also available. Reservations required. See website for tour times. $. www.marylandghosttours.com
Carillon Recital Sundays in Nov. Joseph Dill Baker Carillon in Baker Park, Downtown Frederick. The tower is open for guests to hear John Widmann, city carillonneur play the 49bell carillon of bronze bells. 12:30 p.m. www.bakerparkcarillon.org
THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
The Rocky Horror Show Through Nov. 8
Jack B. Kussmaul Theatre, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike. In this cult classic, squeaky clean couple Brad and Janet have some car trouble and are forced to seek refuge in the gothic castle of the mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Upon arrival, Frank-N-Furter and his kooky staff of Transylvanians open up the couple’s minds in ways they never imagined. See website for show times. $. 301-694-4744. www. marylandensemble.org
Melodic Memories
Through Dec. 13
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. This new exhibit features historic instruments and compositions, including the oldest surviving published music in county history, all in a living room setting. Melodic Memories also features a re-created stage where visitors can learn about the county’s ties to famous performers such as Patsy Cline, Jimmy Dean, Guy Lombardo and others. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $. 301-6631188. www.frederickhistory.org
Two of a Kind
Through Dec. 13
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. An exhibit dedicated to the lives and legacies of Joseph Dill Baker and Emory Coblentz, influential figures in Frederick County history. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $. 301-663-1188. www. frederickhistory.org
Timeless Toys
Through Dec. 13
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. From board games to dolls, marbles to rocking horses, this exhibit includes almost 200 objects used for play and fun, some of which date back to the 19th century, which were once enjoyed by local children. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $. 301-663-1188. www. frederickhistory.org
Acton Children’s Business Fair Nov. 1
Carroll Creek Linear Park, 110 E. Patrick St. Support young entrepreneurs and get a head start on holiday shopping at this annual event. Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and then open for customers at this oneday marketplace. Noon–3 p.m. 240-360-1879. www. childrensbusinessfair.org/ frederick-md
First Saturday: Love Local Nov. 1
Downtown Frederick. Support local businesses by shopping with an independent retailer, eating at a local restaurant, supporting local artists and exploring Downtown Frederick. Every First Saturday features streets filled with live music and entertainment and unique events at Downtown businesses. Many shops, galleries and restaurants will be open until 9 p.m. or later. 301-698-8118. www.downtownfrederick.org
Creative Outlet Nov. 1
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Kids and adults are invited to drop in to get creative together on art activities at family tables. Each session features a themed activity. This month, make an autumnal monotype print using gelatin plates. No large groups. 3 p.m.−5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Art & Architecture Walking Tour Nov. 1
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. Experience the history and beauty of downtown in this tour that explores popular architectural styles, local art and history. 10:30 a.m. $. 301-663-1188. www.frederickhistory.org
Inebriated Halloween Nov. 1
Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. A hilarious and spooky journey through some soon-to-be favorite stories of history with the latest installment of the Inebriated series. 8 p.m. 301-694-4744. www. marylandensemble.org
Art Matters Artist Talk Nov. 1
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Solo exhibition artists Eric Rottcher, Garrett Walker and C. Fred Tyner discuss the work in their exhibitions 2 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Historic Homes Tour Nov. 1–30
St. Joseph’s School, 339 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Discover the life and legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on a tour of the two historic homes and grounds where Elizabeth Ann lived and worked. Tours offered daily. See website for tour times. https://setonshrine.org/event
Linda Acierto & Lee Foran Nov. 1–30
Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St. An exhibition of works by featured artists Linda Acierto and Lee Foran. A First Saturday opening is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Noon–5 p.m. www.eastsideartistsgallery.com
Karen Peacock and Christopher Madden Nov. 1–30
TAG/The Artists Gallery, 501 N. Market St. An exhibition of works by Karen Peacock and Christopher Madden. Friday and Saturday, Noon–8 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–4 p.m. 301-228-9860. www. theartistsgalleryfrederick.com
Natural World in Photography: East Meets West Photos
Nov. 1–30
Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Jim Mosher presents views of nature recorded during a long career in traveling the western parts of the United States, and more recently while sailing the Chesapeake Bay and south along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. 301-466-2413. www.linksbridgevineyards.com
Veterans Show
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. This biennial exhibition of works in a variety of media showcases artwork made by former service members of the United States military. An exhibit opening and meet the artists event is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 301-6980656. www.delaplaine.org
Ciao Bella Nov. 1–30
NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St. An exhibition of works by Andrea McCluskey, Jeanean Songco Martin and Lisa Sheirer titled, “Ciao Bella.” All three artists present some of the work created during and after their time spent exploring the very different cultivated landscape around the village and environs of Montegiovi, Italy. An opening reception is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and an artist talk is scheduled for Nov. 15 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Noon–8 p.m.; Sundays, Noon–4 p.m. 240-367-9770. www.nomagalleryfrederick.com
1Eric Rottcher Nov. 1–30
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of mixed media titled, “After Party.” Rottcher’s work in this exhibition is an exploration of notions like joy, chaos, identity and the tensions between the highs and lows in life. An exhibit opening and meet the artist event is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Garett & Kacie Walker Nov. 1–30
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of photography titled, “Fleeting.” Bridging the gap between documentary and conceptual photography, the work in this exhibition is a look into the relationship between humanity and the natural world, reminding us that life is fleeting. An exhibit opening and meet the artists event is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Fall Festival at Magnolia
Meadow Farms Nov. 1, 2 13001 Creagerstown Road, Thurmont. Fun for the whole family featuring a corn maze, hayrides, jumping pillow, slides, mini ziplines, pedal carts, farm animal interactions, concessions, campfires, farm market, pumpkins, Moonlit Maze nights and more. See website for days and hours of operation. $. 301-606-4086. www. magnoliameadowfarms.com
Fall Fun Fest Nov. 1, 2
Gaver Tree Farm, 5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy. More than 65 attractions including a corn maze, hayrides, jumping pillows, beeline zipline, giant slides, barnyard animals, mini mazes, pumpkin barn, pedal karts, pick-yourown apples, games, playgrounds and more. Free hayrides to the pick-yourown pumpkin patch or purchase pre-picked pumpkins, gourds and fall décor at the farm market. 10 a.m.− 6 p.m. daily. $. 301-865-3515. www.gaverfarm.com
Baskerville—A Sherlock Holmes
Mystery Nov. 1, 2
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive. In this adaptation by Ken Ludwig, which comes as a fast-paced comedy, Sherlock Holmes and his crime solving partner Dr. John Watson take the stage to solve one of the pair’s most notorious cases, The Hound of the Baskerville. See website for show times. $. 301-662-6600. www.wayoffbroadway.com
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. An exhibition of paintings titled, “Around Our House.” Using traditional oil painting methods and the tradition of still life as a theme, Tyner’s works take on a contemporary feel when the specificity of the objects are considered, merging the past with the present. An exhibit opening and meet the artist event is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
C. Fred Tyner Nov. 1–30
EVENTS
Downtown Frederick Artwalk Nov. 2
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Take a self-guided jaunt Downtown and visit local galleries. The Delaplaine will feature jewelry, paintings and collage by Linda Daniels Cermak. Noon–4 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Autumn Excursion
Nov. 1, 2, 9
Walkersville Southern Railroad, 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville. Enjoy a leisurely ride through the woods and into picturesque Maryland farm country before returning to Walkersville Station and crossing the beautiful Monocacy River. Veterans will be honored on a special Veteran’s Train running on Nov. 9. Reservations recommended. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. $. 301-898-0899. www.wsrr.org
Mystery & Mayhem
Nov. 1, 8, 15
Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge, 19 N. Court St., Suite 100. Experience a captivating evening full of pre-show sleight-of-hand magic, a complimentary cocktail in the enchanting lounge and a unique stage show featuring a blend of magician-in-residence Jeff Madsen’s comedy magic, mind-reading and escape magic. 7:30 p.m. www.frederickmagic.com
Mount Olivet Cemetery History & Mystery Tour
Nov. 2, 16
Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market St. Guests discover Frederick’s history as they navigate through the labyrinth of graves, crypts and monuments of one of Maryland’s largest cemeteries. Tours meet inside the main gate. Reservations required. Private tours also available. 1:30 p.m. $. www.marylandghosttours.com
Coping with the Holidays Workshop Nov. 4, 14
Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way. This two-hour workshop will explore practical ideas to help cope with the holidays and ways to commemorate loved ones, especially throughout the holiday season. Register in advance. Nov. 4, 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Nov. 14, 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. 240-566-3030. www.frederickhealthhospice.org
Tuba Skinny Nov. 6
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. With their infectious energy, old-school charm and vintage instrumentation, Tuba Skinny has become a beloved traditional jazz band on the international scene. Drawing inspiration from early jazz, ragtime, country blues and New Orleans R&B, their sound evokes the spirit of a bygone era, with a timeless appeal that captivates modern audiences.7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
General
Grief Support Group
Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27
Frederick Health Hospice, 1 Frederick Health Way. A drop-in group designed to provide support to individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one. Participants can share their stories and express their grief as they work towards healing. Nov. 6 and 20, 2 p.m.–3:30 p.m.; Nov. 13 and 27, 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. 240-566-3030. www.frederickhealthhospice.org
Art at Noon: The Club: A Refuge for American Women Artists in Bell Époque Paris Nov. 7
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Jennifer Dasal joins the Delaplaine via Zoom to discuss her new book, The Club: Where Ameri can Women Artists Found Refuge in Belle Époque Paris. “The Club” was a revolutionary place for creativ ity, activism and empowerment, allowing women of ambition to grow as teachers, artists, and suffragists, and to forge connections with figures like Auguste Rodin, Ger trude Stein and Emmeline Pankhurst. Dasal is an art historian and the host of the ArtCurious podcast. Attend in person to enjoy a free coffee tasting from Dublin Roasters. Noon–1 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Frederick @ Night Nov. 7
Downtown Frederick. Experience an enchanting start to the holiday season as Downtown Frederick transforms into a winter wonderland, with luminaries and tree lights, live music, outdoor dining spots and shopping. 5 p.m.–8 p.m. www.down townfrederick.org
Over the Limit Comedy Fest Nov. 7
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Netflix and Comedy Central’s Todd Berry headlines this fundraiser for The Safe Ride Foundation, with showcase sets from favorite local comedians. The evening kicks off with a pre-show party featuring refreshments, giveaways and raffles, all in support of drunk driving prevention in Frederick County. 8 p.m. $. 301-6002828. www.weinbergcenter.org
The Thanksgiving Play Nov. 7–Dec. 7
Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in this biting satire, as a troupe of performatively “woke” thespians scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month without any cultural stumbles. See website for show times. 301-694-4744. www.marylandensemble.org
Downtown Frederick Light Walk Nov. 7–March 14, 2026
Downtown Frederick. Explore five creative lighting installations (Disco Garage, Starlite, Light Drops, Kaleidoscope and Snowfall) on display in downtown locations. See website for location map. www.downtownfrederick.org
Wild West Express Nov. 8
Walkersville Southern Railroad, 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville. Jesse James and his gang are on the loose. Expect an Old
West raid on the train and be aware that there will be the sound of gunfire. Reservations recommended. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. $. 301-898-0899. www.wsrr.org
Foundations of Frederick Walking Tour Nov. 8
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. Experience the history and beauty of downtown as knowledgeable guides share the fascinating stories that make up historic Frederick. 10:30 a.m. $. 301-663-1188. www.frederickhistory.org
Charlie Barnett: The Fireman’s Carnival Nov. 8
New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. Local Montgomery County composer Charlie Barnett brings his rich background in jazz, film and classical music to this colorful suite for string orchestra. The Fireman’s Carnival invites listeners to step into the world of a small-town summer carnival, complete with flickering lights, distant music and the warm buzz of community celebration. 4 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
Annual Veterans Day Parade
Nov. 9
Downtown Brunswick, East and West Potomac streets. Military and high school bands, marching units, majorettes, patriotic floats, antique cars and scout troops all come to show their patriotism at this annual event. The opening ceremony with a keynote speaker begins at 1 p.m. and the parade follows at 2 p.m. 301834-7500. www.brunswickmd.gov
Photo Print Swap
Nov. 11
The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St. Mingle and meet photographic artists, chat about work and processes and trade photographs. Prints must be no larger than 12x12 inches, must be original unframed work and can be any photographic medium, including digital, darkroom and alternative/experimental methods. 6 p.m.–7 p.m. 301-698-0656. www.delaplaine.org
Dan Tyminski Band Nov. 8
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St.
Throughout his career, Dan Tyminski has left a mark in every corner of modern music. His diverse solo projects and years of work with Alison Krauss and Union Station have yielded troves of award-winning music. In recent years, his live shows have become bluegrass fan favorites and are on must-see lists among music fans of any genre. 8 p.m. $. 301-6002828. www.weinbergcenter.org
The American Revolution Nov. 12
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Join Frederick County’s U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and Maryland Public Television for a preview screening of The American Revolution, a new six-part series by filmmaker Ken Burns. 7 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Nov. 13
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Step into the magical beginnings of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduces audiences to J.K Rowling’s Wizarding World, brought to life with stunning visual effects, enchanting characters and a heartwarming story about courage, friendship and self-discovery. Presented by Wonder Book. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828.
Queen: A Night at the Opera
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Experience Queen’s legendary album like never before, performed notefor-note, cut-forcut by world- class musicians. 8 p.m. $. 301-600-2828.
Evil Librarian: A New Musical
Nov. 14–16
New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. Based on the bestselling novel series by Michelle Knudsen, this fresh musical adventure brings supernatural teen romance to the stage with a clever poprock score and laugh-out-loud twists. Developed by Landless Theatre Company. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
Frederick’s Black Heritage Walking Tour Nov. 15
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. Visit landmarks and hear stories revealing Frederick’s Black heritage from the early 19th century to the present day. This tour features sites associated with enslavement and segregation and highlights the achievements of a diverse and vibrant black community in the pursuit of equality and freedom. 10:30 a.m. $. 301-663-1188. www.frederickhistory.org
Holiday
Craft Fair Nov. 15
Middletown Volunteer Fire Department Activities Building, 1 Fireman’s Lane, Middletown. A day of shopping and supporting the local community with artisans, raffles, baked goods, and lunch available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Middletown Valley People Helping People. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. www.middletown.md.us
Calvary United Methodist Church Holiday Bazaar Nov. 15
Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. 2nd St. Ring in the holiday season at this festive event featuring holiday crafts, a bake sale, a white elephant room, silent auction, holiday music, lunch, Santa’s workshop and Calvary’s famous homemade cheese balls. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 301-662-1464. https://calvaryumc.org
Handmade Puppet Dreams—Kid scapes Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Step into a world of imagi nation with this charming collection of short puppet films that celebrate the art of storytelling through hand crafted magic. 11 a.m. $. 301-600-2828.
Air Legacy: The Music of Henry Threadgill, Fred Hopkins and Steve McCall Nov. 15
Frederick YMCA Arts Center, 115 E. Church St. Air was one of the most impactful small groups of the 1970s and 80s, renowned for equalizing woodwinds, double bass and percussion into a readily identifiable ensemble sound. Air Legacy gives new life to the work with percussionist Pheeroan ak Laff, double bassist Hillard Greene and saxophonist/clarinetist/flutist Marty Ehrlich. 8 p.m. www.frederickartscouncil.org
and Susan Gray Nov. 16
Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. 2nd St. Award-winning musicians Laura Kobayashi, violinist, and Susan Gray, pianist, have been performing together for more than 30 years. The duo presents the standard repertoire as well as their specialty of the works of more than 25 19th to 21st century women composers. This event is free and open to the public. 3 p.m. 301-6621464. https://calvaryumc.org/concerts
Mockingbirds Fall Concert Nov. 18
Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 E. Church St. A heartwarming concert featuring Evangelical Lutheran Church’s youngest performing ensemble, the Mockingbirds, with a special appearance from the Training Chorus. 6:30 p.m. www.frederickmagazine. com/calendar
Imani-Grace Nov. 20
New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. Vocalist Imani-Grace returns with her signature blend of expressive jazz, heartfelt storytelling and undeniable artistry. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
FCC Jazz Ensemble II Nov. 20
Jack B. Kussmaul Auditorium, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike. FCC’s advanced jazz ensemble showcases a variety of combo-style music under the direction of Max Harrington. Reserve free tickets in advance. 7:30 p.m. 301-8462566. http://calendar.frederick.edu
Community Concert Series: Laura Kobayashi
Once Upon a Christmas Night Nov. 21–Dec. 21
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive. The magic of Christmas is in full swing at Way Off Broadway, making it the perfect place to celebrate the holiday season with friends and family. Always the most popular show of the year, blending songs and music from Christmases past and present, the show is perfect for the entire family. See website for show times. $. 301-6626600. www.wayoffbroadway.com
Helen Welch: Carpenters. The Songs. The Stories. Nov. 22
New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St. Internationally renowned vocalist Helen Welch brings the beloved music of the Carpenters to life in this heartfelt and captivating tribute. 7:30 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www. weinbergcenter.org
Nov. 21−23, 28–30
Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St. Discover the joys of shopping in seven buildings that house fine artisans, craftsmen and merchants. Find holiday presents for friends and family with a wide selection of fine art, pottery, furniture, jewelry, clothing, toys, wreaths, ornaments and more. 10 a.m.−5 p.m. $. 301-845-0003. www.marylandchristmasshow.com
Maryland Christmas Show
Civil War Walking Tour Nov. 22
Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St. Explore what it was like to live in Frederick during the Civil War. Stories include the last Confederate invasion of the North, the ransom of Frederick and the Battle of Monocacy. 10:30 a.m. $. 301-6631188. www.frederickhistory.org
A Motown Christmas Nov. 22
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. A family-friendly, high-energy holiday spectacular featuring legendary vocalists from The Miracles and The Contours. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. $. 301600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
AARCHways to the Past: African American History Bus Tour
Nov. 22
Maryland Double Deckers. Step aboard a vintage double-decker bus for a guided tour highlighting Frederick’s African American history and cultural legacy. Presented in partnership with AARCH, this moving experience brings untold stories and powerful moments to life. Tour begins at 125 E. All Saints St. 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m. www.marylanddoubledeckers.com/events
Annual Foothills Artists Studio Tour Nov. 22, 23
Adams County, PA. Meet fourteen artists and tour their studios nestled in western Adams County, Pa., just a few miles from Gettysburg. Eight studio locations will feature paintings, pottery, photography, printmaking, woodworking, jewelry, enamels, fiber and textile arts, bookbinding, illustrations, stained glass and more. This popular tour, located in the Fairfield, Orrtanna and Cashtown areas, is self-guided and may be completed in order. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.foothillsartists.net
Sailing Through the Winter Solstice
Nov. 22–March 2026
Carroll Creek Linear Park, Downtown Frederick. Carroll Creek is lit up with boats sponsored by local businesses for observers to enjoy. The fleet sets sail at a kick-off event with music and food trucks on Nov. 22 at 8 a.m. 301-5141182. www.coloronthecreek.com/sttws
Frosty Friday Nov. 28
Downtown Frederick. Kick off the holiday season with all-day shopping, live holiday music and caroling, photos
with Santa, marshmallow roasting, a cocktail competition, and free parking in Downtown Frederick. Most businesses are open 9 a.m.–9 p.m. with special deals and downtown-wide giveaways at the Snowflake Tree. 301-698-8118. www.downtownfrederick.org
Merry & Bright Holiday Lights
Experience Nov. 28, 29 Frederick Social, 50 Citizen’s Way. Hop aboard an iconic, vintage London Double Decker bus for a holiday lights tour in the heart of Downtown Frederick. This festive experience includes complimentary hot cocoa and a free photo with Santa after the 45-minute tour. See web site for tour times. www. marylanddoubledeckers.com/events
Small Business Saturday Nov. 29
Downtown Frederick. Shop Small in Downtown Frederick. With more than 200 locally owned and operated businesses, Downtown Frederick is the perfect destination for holiday shopping. 301-698-8118. www.downtownfrederick.org
Tuba Christmas Nov. 29
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Merry Tubachristmas returns with a variety of Christmas hits, delighting audiences of all ages in an annual Weinberg Center holiday tradition. Noon. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
The Freshman Nov. 29
Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St. Enjoy a showing on the big screen of this silent film from 1925 about a nerdy college student who will do anything to become popular on campus, accompanied by the mighty Wurlitzer. 3 p.m. $. 301-600-2828. www.weinbergcenter.org
Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells
Batman Smells Nov. 29–Dec. 21
Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St. Back by popular demand, based on the book by Barbara Park, this play follows the feisty and irrepressible Junie B. Jones as she plays Secret Santa to her least favorite classmate, Tattletale May. Don’t miss this family-friendly story full of laughs and life lessons. See website for show times. $. 301-6944744. www.marylandensemble.org FM
REFLECTIONS Richard Lebherz
By John W. Ashbury
Looking through Frederick Magazine for the past 40 years raises the questions: How did it get started and who started it?
Publishers Tom and Debbie Gorsline, transplanted Fredericktonians, placed an ad looking for someone to help get Diversions Publications off the ground, someone who knew the community, the people and the history. They made an appointment to interview a man in the garden of his house at 110 N. Bentz St. That man was Richard Thomas Lebherz, a native Fredericktonian, a World War II veteran, a novelist, a newspaper columnist and inveterate social enthusiast. His dinner parties were legendary. He was a fountain of information about old Frederick’s social underpinning and would always invite someone who was a newcomer that he knew would fit in and keep the conversations lively.
As Gorsline tells it today, he and his wife didn’t command the interview; it was Lebherz who was in charge. After the conversation, the Gorslines hired Richard and he held the position of managing editor for the next three years, giving the monthly publication that would ultimately become Frederick Magazine the foothold it retains today.
Lebherz was born on Nov. 3, 1921, the son of Harry J. and Mary Hershberger Lebherz. His father was the inventor of the widely sold and frequently used bottle-capper that sprang into prominence during Prohibition and the growth of home-distilled spirits.
After attending Miss Emily Johnson’s private school on Record Street, Lebherz graduated from St. John’s School on East 2nd Street. Next for him was the Institute of Contemporary Arts in Washington, D.C., and later Columbia University. World War II interrupted his formal education, but it didn’t stop there.
In the U.S. Army, he was stationed in England working for the Royal Air Force as a cryptographer and was then sent to Germany as an official correspondent. He later worked for Time Magazine for several years, during which he wrote three novels set during the war. All were published in England and later in the United States.
In 1964, he joined The Frederick News-Post as a regular columnist, earning quite a following as a drama critic. He
turned these columns into a collection in a 1977 book, Conversations with Practically Everybody.
He was also active in civic affairs. He was president for two terms of the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation. It was his supervision as the first chairman of the Plaque Committee that the foundation’s plaque, today displayed on many homes and buildings, was designed by Artemus Housewright. He was also responsible for the outdoor lighting at the historic Schifferstadt home with the help of the City of Frederick.
He was never far from recording and honoring the history of Frederick. He was chairman of the Landmarks Foundation for years and even named the Curator for the City of Frederick. Later, he was a member of the board of directors of The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center. He also funded The Charles Philips Reed Photographic Studio in memory of a close friend.
Perhaps his best-known literary work of interest to Fredericktonians is The Green Oasis: A History of Baker Park, 1928 to 2003. Other books of local interest include: Frederick: A Walking Tour (1993); Windows on Frederick (2001); and The Long and Intriguing History of the C. Burr Artz Library (2002).
He originated a program to collect manuscripts of local authors and donate them to the Hood College library, which was also the beneficiary of the Mary N. Lebherz Memorial Fund, named after his mother.
Lebherz also established a fund at the Community Foundation of Frederick County for the benefit of The Maryland Room at the C. Burr Artz Public Library, again honoring his friend Reed, who had died in 1988. In the years since, the fund has provided the library more than $100,000, now used primarily to purchase microfilm copies of The Frederick News-Post.
Lebherz died on May 21, 2004, and was survived by a brother and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by brothers Harry J. Lebherz, Jr., and John W. Lebherz. He was laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery. FM
Hall of Fame
By Jody Brumage / Archivist, Heritage Frederick
As families in the Middletown Valley awaited the return of local soldiers from Europe at the end of what would later become known as World War I, a group of citizens were determined to memorialize their service. The local newspaper, The Valley Register, urged this group to consider “a community house instead of tablets or monuments. … [H]ere the soldier boys would find entertainment and at the same time the public would have something that every town needs.”
The Homecoming and Memorial Committee set about creating this new community house. Two leading businessmen from Middletown, Emory Coblentz and Charles Shank, led the fundraising drive and personally contributed more than half of the cost of the project. Architect Edward Leber drafted plans for the $55,000 building to include a theater for 600 people, a community room and meeting spaces for the municipal government, the Everhart Post of the Amer-
After many years of disuse, Memorial Hall was renovated into apartments in 2023. The original facade has been restored.
ican Legion and the Middletown Public Library.
Memorial Hall was dedicated on April 27, 1923. Earl McKinley Kepler, a war veteran and member of the Everhart Post, operated the theater. Audio equipment was added later for showing sound films and the theater hosted stage performances, concerts and high school commencement ceremonies. In the 1930s, the east side of the building was modified to house the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company.
The Memorial Hall Commission disbanded and sold the building to the town government in 1931, who in turn sold it to the Middletown Valley Grange in 1955. The Grange added a plaque to the building with the names of 90 WWI veterans from the Middletown Valley.
