NEWS-JOURNALEmmitsburg VOLUME 3, NO.2 • WWW.EMMITSBURG.NET • WWW.MYFAIRFIELD.NET • FEBRUARY 2011 NEWS Fairfield Fire Department Deputies hold Fairfield may be forced to bring on paid firefighters within three years. Page 3 community forum Seton Values Award he recent rash of robberies of local deputies is determined, Dep. Jim Pastor Jon Greenstone, Jerry Tbusinesses generated enough Moxley said, “The bottom line is cost. Schwartz, Lorne Peters concern in town to gather more than Obviously, we’re a high-dollar item and Steve Trout are this year two dozen people at the first monthly because of the training we have and recipients. Page 3 deputy’s forum on Jan. 17. The the equipment we need.” Emmitsburg community deputies Police coverage accounts for more COMMENTARY started the forum as a discussion than 20 percent of the Emmitsburg Down Under between themselves and residents. town budget. We cannot send the climate to the Having that sense of comfort With the rash of robberies in between residents and the deputies town at the end of last year and the nuthouse, but we ought to be send- 2007 Vigilant Hose Company’s Hall of Fame winner Dot Davis ing the politicians... Page 9 is important because residents are beginning of 2011, many residents reaches out to congratulate 2011 recipient Larry Little a prime source for tips of criminal wanted to know if they would stop (See page 18 & 19 for additional details and photos on this year’s Pure Onsense activity in town. now with the arrest of two teenagers Vigilant Hose, Harney & Rocky Ridge Fire Company award banquets) Part of the democratic chal- “Never hesitate to call if it looks earlier this month. The deputies said lenge is for us to internalize oth- like something doesn’t belong in the they had other leads and names based “You can shoot right up into doing traffic stops was an effective use ers’ views and to temper our own neighborhood,” Dep. John McQuain on information from interrogations Pennsylvania and they’re gone,” of the deputies’ time, Moxley noted proposals. Page 9 told the audience at the Vigilant Hose and other sources that they were Moxley said, because of the lighter that it “used to be every car came Company. investigating for possible involvement police coverage in that area of the state. through town doing 40 to 45 miles ARTICLES Emmitsburg’s contract with the in the robberies. At one point, a community watch per hour on Main Street.” That doesn’t The Book of Days Frederick County Sheriff’s Office The town has also seen an increase in program had been suggested for happen now because drivers know that Mystic significance has, from the has three deputies working within residential robberies that the deputies Emmitsburg. It never happened the speed limits are enforced in town. earliest period, been associated the town. Otherwise, the town’s described as “crimes of opportunity.” because of a lack of interest, even Also, even while doing this, the with the wedding ring. Page 11 police coverage would rely on the Thieves see an easy target and take when it was proposed that all of the deputies make sure to check most The Master Gardener single sheriff’s deputy that patrols the the opportunity. The best prevention town could be considered as a single every street and neighborhood three A Gardener’s tips for curing the northern end of Frederick County. against these crimes is to lock doors community watch program, which times during each 10-hour shift. winter blues. Page 14 However, even with three deputies and windows and remove high-ticket would require fewer volunteers. If you need to contact the police, the working full-time in Emmitsburg, the items from view, particularly when Emmitsburg Commissioner Chris best number for emergencies is always Pets Large & Small town does not have 24/7 coverage. they are in cars. Staiger, who attended, said, “Even 911. If you have a non-emergency call As I advance in age I’m more “I think right now with three Something else that aids crimes at that reduced level, there wasn’t you can dial 301-600-1046. aware of my own mortality. deputies, we’re just covering the of opportunity in Emmitsburg enough community involvement to The next deputy’s forum will be at Losing Squeak left me feeling basics,” said resident Larry Little. is its location near the border of put a program together.” the Vigilant Hose Company on Feb. Page 16 closer to my own grave. When asked how the number of Pennsylvania. When one resident asked whether 21 at 6 p.m. History Part two of Margaret Hays War- ner’s memories of Emmitsburg in the early 1920s. Page 20 Commissioners’ race heats up he recent reassessment of communities,” said candidate Jim Mount Creative Writers properties in Adams County Martin (R-Biglerville). We challenged our Mount cre- T ative writer to come up with a (the first in 20 years) has created Martin is currently a Realtor with Valentine story to remember– such anger at significantly higher Prudential Real Estate. she didn’t let us down. Page 30 assessments in many cases and Two candidates running for election confusion among residents over are current commissioners George An East Timor Christmas the appeals process that it has Weikert (R-Cumberland Township) Mount St. Mary’s President created an environment for the and Lisa Woodward-Moreno (D- Thomas Powell and his wife, county commissioners’ race this Mount Joy Township). They stand Irene, spent the holidays with year that already has six declared the biggest risk of experiencing a voter new friends this year. Page 33 candidates. Three Republicans and backlash because of the reassessment three Democratic candidates are process. Commissioner Glen Snyder JOURNALS running for three seats on the board chose not to run for re-election. The Retired Ecologist of commissioners. “I believe the county wide Once upon a time rabbits and While the reassessment has led to reassessment will be the major issue squirrels both had short ears the candidate-rich race, they cannot in this year’s election and I am Current County Commissioner George Weikert and long tails. Page 12 impact the decisions that resulted prepared to address the process,” In The Country from that issue. The new board of Weikert said. Before being elected a argue with that is Paul Kellett “I’m very distressed on how they Want to look directly into the commissioners will be dealing with county commissioner, Weikert was a (D-Freedom), who filed suit against [the commissioners dealt] with the large eyes of a Great Horned other issues that face the county. township supervisor for 13 years and the county over the reassessments as reassessment,” Kellett said. “I don’t feel Owl? Page 14 “I think the reason people a member of the Gettysburg Area a Freedom Township supervisor. He they negotiated in good faith and they are coming out is because of the School District board for four years. is a Freedom Township supervisor didn’t follow the court order. It’s gone Cold War Warriors recent reassessment and how it was He explained that the outcome and a Realtor with Community beyond incompetence and is a little The history of the Cold War is handled, but we need to look at from the mass appraisal process was Benefits Real Estate in Gettysburg. dishonest.” filled with tales of spies who things like taxation, the budget and consistent with the effects other counties Benefits Real Estate in Gettysburg. continued on page 7 lived and worked in the land conservation,” said candidate experienced when they underwent the PRE-SORTED shadows. Page 22 Chuck Strevig (D-Union Township). same sort of reassessment. She is retired from the Pennsylvania “Everyone was afforded their STANDARD The Graduate U.S. Postage Department of Public Welfare after due process and hopefully followed Postal Customer Life as a routine is all about tim- working there for 29 years. through the appeal process in order PAID ing. What would you do with 45 “We need to find how to improve to get a value which they thought was Westminster, MD minutes of confined freedom commerce without upsetting the fair and equitable,” Weikert said. Permit No. 94 every day? Page 29 balance we have with our rural One candidate who might 2 | EMMITSBURG NEWS-JOURNAL | FEBRUARY 2011 NEWS the “Cradle of Bishops” because News Briefs in its more than two centuries of existence, it has graduated episcopal Spring Fling offers $30K in prizes Medical Associates, teaches skills alumni. Emmitsburg with a chance at an extra $500 like CPR, first aid and injury NEWS-JOURNAL Enjoy Vigilant Hose Company’s diagnosis under conditions one Thurmont man fatally annual spring fling at the Knott might experience outdoors in injured in accident 1 East Main Street ARCC Complex and support your extreme sports or wilderness areas. A Thurmont man was killed in P.O. Box 543 Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727 local fire company. The event will It is an annual course at the Mount an early morning accident on Dec. Office Number: 301-471-3306 Fax: 301-447-3057 feature cash or prize giveaways every usually taught in the winter. 30 in Carroll Valley. www.emmitsburg.com and www.emmitsburg.net 5 minutes from noon until 6 p.m. 27-year-old Patrick Michael Kolb, on May 21. A total of $30,000 in Mount graduate Jr., of Thurmont, was traveling News, events, history, humor and culture for the Historic Toms Creek Hun- prizes will be given away with a appointed to Archbishop westbound on Route 116 around dred geographical area: Emmitsburg, Zora, Carroll Valley, Fairfield, Harney, grand prize of $4,000.