72 HOURS October 16, 2025

OCTOBER 16

INNER SPACES

Erin Fostel documents the private refuge of women’s bedrooms

VINTAGE MEETS VISION: MARCUS BLOUNT TALKS SHOP

Walk into One Goods Co. on Patrick Street and you might think you’ve stumbled into a nostalgic T-shirt shop, but spend 10 minutes talking with owner Marcus Blount, and you’ll realize you’re standing in something closer to a cultural archive. The vintage shirts featuring hip-hop groups, cultural references and era-defining imagery represent more than fashion; they’re tangible connections to hip-hop’s foundational elements. Blount’s journey from childhood skate rat learning Beastie Boys riffs on guitar to professional DJ to shop owner follows a similar trajectory of hip-hop’s evolution from underground culture to commercial juggernaut. His critique of modern hiphop’s commercialization is pointed but earned — this is someone who’s spent 30 years living the culture. What makes the shop compelling though is Blount’s role as an active archivist and his mission to teach customers, especially young ones, about music. If ever there were a place to escape algorithm-driven consumption, this is it.

“LOCAL HAUNTS” TAKES A LITERAL TONE

Most haunted attractions pack their scares into converted warehouses or decorated barns, but Markoff’s Haunted Forest takes the opposite approach: 60 acres of actual woods in Dickerson where 30-foot bonfires illuminate the darkness and every snapping twig carries menace. Director of operations Paul Brubacher, who’s worked 29 seasons with the haunt, understands what makes outdoor terror distinct — wandering into unknown darkness, the genuine disorientation of navigating unfamiliar terrain by flashlight, hearing a twig snap and wondering if someone (or something) is there. What began in the early 1990s as a converted 1960s bus driven cross-country by the Markoff brothers has evolved into what Brubacher calls one of the country’s top-rated haunts.

HELP SHAPE PUBLIC ART ON THE BALLENGER CREEK TRAIL

The Frederick Arts Council wants your input on something most of us pass by without thinking twice: the 4.2-mile Ballenger Creek Linear Trail. This is an ADAcompliant ribbon of possibility winding through nature preserves, suburbs and school zones, linking communities to parks, businesses and each other. The FAC is conducting a survey to determine how public art might transform this thoroughfare into something even more remarkable. Whether you’re a daily jogger, occasional cyclist or someone who walks the dog while pondering life’s great mysteries, your perspective matters. See frederickartscouncil.org for more information on how to give your input.

FORGED IN HISTORY

The William F. Moran Jr. Museum hosts its 10th annual All Forged Knife Show & Auction on Oct. 18 in Middletown, and if you’re thinking “knife show” sounds niche, you’re missing the bigger story. Bill Moran essentially revived the lost art of knife forging in America, including the ancient Damascus steel tradition that produces those mesmerizing wavy patterns in blade metal. This year’s event has moved off-campus to accommodate growing crowds and features celebrity bladesmiths Ben Abbott and David Baker from the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire.” But the real draw might be the special collaboration knife up for auction, forged from Moran’s own Damascus steel billet by Master Smith Jay Hendrickson, with a handle carved by Steve Nuckels and a sheath by John Marshall. Also at the event, local watercolorist Rebecca Pearl will be signing her limited-edition print “100 Years in the Making,” which depicts Moran and his dog near the original shop.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Share your community stories and events with us! Email llarocca@newspost.com.

Into the Darkness: What frights await you

BY IAN CHEN Special to The News-Post

Deep in the woods of Dickerson, where 30-foot diameter bonfires illuminate the darkness and trails wind through 60 acres of carefully crafted terror, Markoff’s Haunted Forest has been perfecting the art of outdoor scares for more than three decades.

“It’s an incredible evening experience,” Paul Brubacher said. Brubacher is the director of operations and has worked with the haunt for 29 seasons. “You’re going to show up, you’re going to be out in the middle of nowhere. Come hungry, come happy, come dressed for the weather with good footwear, because you’re going on a hike.”

What sets Markoff’s apart from traditional indoor haunted houses is the forest itself. Visitors navigate the unknown darkness on a mile-long trail, where every snapping twig and rustling leaf could signal an actor — or just be the wind. The outdoor setting creates an atmosphere that indoor attractions struggle to replicate.

“A lot of the indoor-haunters we talk to really wish they had an outdoor space, because you get that vibe, you get that energy, you get that feeling of the woods,” Brubacher said. “You’re out there in the unknown. You hear a stick break, and you don’t know where it’s coming from.”

The haunt began humbly in the early 1990s when Nick Markoff and his two brothers, Matt and Alex, converted a 1960s bus into a mobile haunted experience. They drove it cross-country from Utah to Montgomery County, charging visitors a couple dollars to crawl through fake chainsaw scenes and tree-lined tubes. The venture raised funds for Calleva, their nonprofit focused on outdoor education that operates year-round camps and programs in Maryland and Virginia.

Today, Calleva stands as one of the top-rated outdoor education facilities in the D.C. metro area, offering everything from summer kids’ camps to corporate team-building programs and outdoor education credits for private schools. With campuses in both Maryland and Virginia, the organization provides rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, sailing, surfing and high-adventure trips to Mexico.

“Their core mission is to get people outside, get people unplugged,” Brubacher said. “We’ve only got one life to live. Would you prefer to be watching TikTok all day long or actually getting to experience what this world has to provide?”

From those modest beginnings, Markoff’s Haunted Forest has transformed into what Brubacher calls “one of the top-rated haunts in the country,” com-

plete with permanent structures, electricity, water, air power and Disney-like special effects. This year’s crown jewel is a three-story vampire castle facade built around massive doors acquired from Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell tour — 20-foot-tall portals that have become an instant photo opportunity.

“We’ve been open for a weekend now, and I’ve stood and watched every single person go up to them,” Brubacher said. “They all want to take selfies. It’s really an incredible set piece.”

The creative process behind the haunt is powered by a core team of five that works about six months each year, starting design conversations in November. But structured planning often gives way to improvisation.

“Halfway through, we’ll say, ‘You know what? Let’s just forget the plans and just do it willy nilly,’” Brubacher said. “We’ll just start putting hammers and nails and

screws together, and all of a sudden we’ve come up with something 10 times better than we actually planned.”

After implementing a timed ticketing system post-COVID, Markoff’s now welcomes about 3,500 visitors per night on operating evenings — down from the pre-pandemic crush of 6,000 — to ensure everyone can appreciate the intricate set designs and skilled actor performances. The haunt operates on weekends throughout October, with some Thursday nights added, plus a family-friendly “lights on” event where children can trickor-treat through the elaborate sets without scary actors.

What keeps the team motivated through exhausting six-month build seasons?

“It’s truly the love of Halloween and scaring,” Brubacher said. “This is our creative outlet. As tired as we are, hearing people’s reactions when they see our set

design or are scared by one of our talented actors — that was worth it.”

Markoff’s Haunted Forest Dickerson

Experience the region’s premier outdoor haunt featuring a mile trail through elaborate sets including a vampire castle built around historic Black Sabbath tour doors, a haunted town and massive bonfires. The 60-acre attraction offers Disney-quality special effects in a natural forest setting. Open select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in October, plus some Thursdays. Family-friendly “lights on” night available. Approximately 3,500 visitors per night with timed ticketing. markoffshauntedforest.com.

Field of Screams

Lancaster, Pa.

This Pennsylvania haunt features four distinct attractions including the Haunt-

at these area attractions?

ed Hayride, Den of Darkness, Nocturnal Wasteland and the Frightmare Asylum. Set on a working farm, multiple attractions allow visitors to customize their fear experience. Open select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout the fall. fieldofscreams.com.

Bennett’s Curse

Dundalk

This Baltimore haunt delivers intense indoor scares through twisting corridors and elaborately themed rooms. Known for its theatrical approach and detailed environments, Bennett’s Curse creates an immersive horror experience with elaborate sets and sophisticated special effects. The attraction focuses on psychological horror, featuring four haunted attractions: Halloween 3D, The Crypts, House of the Demons and Ravenbrook Asylum. The organization also operates Creepywoods, a separate ticketed nonprofit event at a different location that serves as a fundraiser for Bennett’s Adventures and Events Inc., which supports local theater and arts. Open Fridays, Saturdays and select Sundays and weekdays in October. bennettscurse.com.

Legends of the Fog

Aberdeen

Multiple haunted attractions under one admission offer variety for thrill-seekers.

Legends of the Fog features outdoor and indoor components including a Haunted Hayride, Haunted Hotel, Haunted Maze, and Slaughter House. The venue hosts special events throughout the season and offers concessions for a full evening’s entertainment. Open select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout October. legendsofthefog.com.

Laurel’s House of Horror

Laurel Built inside a once-abandoned movie theater, this venue bills itself as D.C. and Maryland’s largest indoor haunt-

of the Leech family homestead, where according to local legend, the family was robbed and murdered in 1804. New this season: six additional scenes on the original trail, plus expanded scenes on the Horror Hayride. The free-admission Leech Woods Midway offers food, alcoholic beverages, bonfires, glow-inthe-dark axe throwing, fire dancers, DJ entertainment and fortune telling. Open select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout October. leechwoods.com.

Jason’s Woods

Lancaster, Pa.

Jason’s Woods spans five full-size attractions of terror. This Pennsylvania destination features five distinct attractions: the Horrifying Hayride, Lost in Jason’s Woods, Zombie Apocalypse, Carnival of Fear and the Chamber of Horrors. The venue’s scale and variety make it a destination haunt, with food vendors and entertainment creating a full Halloween festival atmosphere. Open select Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights throughout October. jasonswoods.com.

Kim’s Krypt Spring Grove, Pa.

ed house. The all-indoor attraction offers multiple experiences: an immersive haunted house open throughout the Halloween season, horror movie-themed escape rooms featuring iconic films and paranormal investigation sessions for those seeking ghost encounters in the historic cinema. Open through Nov. 1. laurelhaunt.com.

Leech Woods

Damascus

This 30-minute immersive haunted trail follows the historic path from a 1790s hunting supply store to the remnants

Just across the Maryland border in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, this scream park packs five horrifying attractions into one location: the Haunted Mill, Horror of Menges Mill, Terror Trail, House of Eyes and Dark Despair. Additional experiences include a zombie-themed escape room and hearse rides, where you and your friends can take a ride in a classic historic hearse while lying in a closed coffin. Beyond the Halloween season, Kim’s Krypt offers paranormal ghost hunt experiences on select dates throughout the year. kimskrypt.com.

Ian Chen is a high schooler at Richard Montgomery who loves creative writing and journalism. In his free time, he enjoys solving crosswords and listening to music.

Scratching beneath the surface with hip-hop DJ

Marcus Blount, owner of One Goods Co. in Frederick

BY DARYL CAMPBELL Special to The News-Post

Marcus Blount, aka “Beezy,” is the owner of One Goods Co., a shop located on Patrick St. that describes itself on Instagram as offering “street-certified curated vintage tees, hats and more.” While concise, this description only scratches the surface of what the place truly represents.

After visiting the shop several times and playing a show there alongside hiphop DJ NOZS, I began to understand the deeper cultural roots present in the space. The vintage shirts feature designs from ‘90s hip-hop groups, artists, TV shows and movies from that era. They not only evoke nostalgia but represent a foundation for our modern times. It’s particularly interesting to see younger generations connecting with this shop as well — though Marcus and I are actually the same age, so there’s definitely a generational resonance at play.

As a musician myself, I approached this conversation primarily from that perspective. Marcus, whose DJ name is Lefto, took some time to talk with me about these connections.

How did your love of hip-hop begin?

I was a skate rat as a little kid. My mom bought me and my older brother a guitar, and I came across … I wanna say a Beastie Boys song. I can’t remember the name of the song. It was very early, simple hip-hop. Just riffs ... easy things I could just pick up. I would tune my guitar down and fiddle with the bass sounds. I was about nine or 10 years old, and these things were coming on MTV. That was my “grain of sand” moment. At that time, that phase of hiphop, that’s when it really took off. It really spoke to my soul. Also, hearing Nas on the song “Live at the Barbecue” — that’s really why I think I fell in love with hiphop.

Do you still DJ? Are you still a hiphop DJ? Also, how did you transition from playing guitar to being a hiphop DJ?

Yeah, I mean, once you are, you always are. I still have records, I still have the turntables here in the shop. I spin, just for fun for myself. I have friends, homies over once in awhile ... but, yeah. I was a professional DJ for awhile. I DJ’d for bands, I had a hip-hop group in high school. In college, I made hip-hop beats. I would rap. We did a couple of albums. We toured along the East Coast ... . The

guys in the field, you have to able to kick the ball. When you’re around guys who like hip-hop, you gotta be able to make some words rhyme and make someone laugh, make something funny out of the situation — or just observe and report quickly and articulately. But that wasn’t my forte. I was just OK at freestyling. I never entered into any real freestyle battle. DJing just felt more natural. I also knew I would be a DJ because they had a radio station at the college I went to, Virginia Tech’s WUVT, 90.7. I heard you could just sign up and maybe get a radio show, and they didn’t check IDs to see if you’re a student. We went up there and signed up and ended up getting a show. We did that for a couple of months and got some traction.

How did these earlier years lead to you opening your shop?

I would collect the shirts. There are a couple shirts here that I first cherished. I’ve kept them for ... 30 years now? DJing and playing that music, it just went hand-in-hand. There’s a huge fashion element to hip-hop. If you’re the front man of a band or hip-hop group, you wanna look good. You can see how it’s an easy connection. I curate and select these choice shirts. It feels like it lasts longer than spinning a set for some heads that are just drinking and vibing for a couple of hours. They’re like, ‘That was dope!’ Then ... ‘peace’ ... and that’s it. Creating a vibe in a shop is the same as creating a vibe DJing.

You told me you balanced DJing with bartending to support your passion, and how bartending eventually took over until you launched your streetwear and skatewear brand. What was the origin of your brand names?

way I transitioned from being into Nas as a kid to this, when I think I was 12 or 13, my mom asked what we wanted for Christmas. I wanted turntables. I was just dead set. They were so expensive, so my entire family came together. It changed my life. I’d go to record stores and buy records, figuring it out myself. There was like one other dude who did that in high school, so whenever there was a party, I would just show up for free. That led me into the college years, where I met up with some cool kids. One was a best friend I grew up with, who also got some turntables, and we started learning together. It’s kinda like when you and your best friend start a band. We started

a DJ band! We transitioned into DJing professionally and we’d enter contests. What was it about DJing, as opposed to emceeing or rapping? I can still rap. I can freestyle. Everyone in the ‘90s had to be able to stand around or sit around with your friends and do a cypher. Just like with hacky sack; you gotta be able to kick it around. If you wanna play soccer with some

Funny story. Previously, my streetwear and skatewear brand was called One Collective. We transitioned that to One Collective Goods and then this company, One Goods Co. It was the marrying of my street/skatewear brand and my passion for vintage clothing. The word “one” — I was born on April Fool’s Day, so April 1. My sign is Aries, the first sign. That number has always been around me my entire life.

Where would you like to see hiphop go from here?

I’m gonna be brutally honest. The state of what’s considered hip-hop right now? What’s considered mainstream? I don’t like it. People will say, “Oh ... unc is crazy, you’re an OG, you don’t

Bruce in the USA brings immersive Bruce Springsteen celebration to Frederick

Bruce in the USA brings immersive Bruce Springsteen celebration to Frederick

Experience Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s legendary live performances with Bruce In The USA, coming to the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick at 8 p.m. Oct. 17.

Bruce In The USA is more than a tribute — it’s a fully immersive celebration of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s legendary live performances. Fronted by Matt Ryan of “Legends in Concert” and backed by a powerhouse band of worldclass musicians, the show has thrilled fans around the globe with its energy and authenticity. Bruce In The USA delivers the spirit, sound and soul of The Boss like no one else.

Tickets start at $45 and are available at weinbergcenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-6002828, or in person at the Weinberg Center, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick.

The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of Oct. 17

Activities to do with the kids this weekend, courtesy of The Frederick Mom.

ESSL Spooktacular Science

9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17

Earth and Space Science Lab, 210 Madison St., Frederick

$6/person

Your kids have likely visited the ESSL during a FCPS field trip, but attending their special events is a must! Wear your costumes and get on the spirit because families are invited to the ESSL’s annual Spooktacular Science event this Friday featuring a variety of exciting and enriching activities. There will be creepy critters, spooky science demos at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. and multiple planetarium shows playing throughout the day every hour. Purchase tickets to your favorite planetarium show online at essl.sites.fcps.org.

Trek or Treat

•••

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18

Tree Trekkers, 9560 Old National Pike, Frederick $65/person

Imagine seeing a little Spider-Man or a zombie zipping through and trick-or-treat in the trees! Starting this weekend, you can! Frederick’s beloved outdoor zip-lining venue, Tree Trekkers, will be decked out in family-friendly, spooky decorations throughout the course. Get out of the house and bring the family to the most fun, high-flying course. Climb, swing and balance for 3 hours through 30 acres of trees with multiple different trails ranging in difficulty. Trekkers receive a bag of goodies, collect candy, and have a chance to win prizes for best costume. Additional Trek or Treat dates are October 24, 25 and 31. Tree Trekkers is recommended for guests age 8 and older. Reserve your tickets at treetrekkersmd.com.

•••

Touch a Truck

10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17

Middletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown Free

Calling all kids who love wheels!

Come see and touch real life trucks and vehicles while learning about the many important jobs they do! Between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Middletown Branch Library is the place to be. This free, kid-centered event is rain or shine and sure to put a smile on your little ones’ faces. •••

YMCA Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat

10 a.m. to noon Oct. 18

Downtown YMCA, 1000 N. Market St, Frederick Free

Check out this annual event hosted by the downtown YMCA! All families and community members are invited to celebrate the season and come out to its annual Fall Fest happening this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tons of activities for all ages, including Trunk or Treat (where children can enjoy trick-or-treating in a safe and fun environment — literally out of trunks), face painting, a fun

Photo Booth, a bounce house, lawn games, and a live atmosphere with music! Fall Fest is open to the community and free to attend

Pumpkin Patch Express

11 a.m. and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19

Walkersville Southern Railroad, 34 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkersville $25/adult, $23/child ages 2-12

This Saturday or Sunday, ride the vintage 1920s train on a rail excursion through Maryland farm country for about 45 minutes and make a stop at the pumpkin patch! Each guest will get to choose a pumpkin to take home. Perfect activity that’s memorable for the whole family. Children under 2 are free if riding on a lap, otherwise they must have a ticket. Can’t make it this weekend? The Pumpkin Patch Express is also offered on October 26 at the same times listed here.

Fall Fest

Noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 18

Westview Promenade Shopping Center, Buckeystown Pike and Crestwood Blvd., Frederick Free

Saturday, get dressed up in your Halloween costume and stop by Westview Promenade anytime between noon and 3 p.m. The shopping center is hosting a free fall festival complete with kid games and craftivities, face painting, a Selfie station, a wildlife exhibit and a magician. Full of fun and live music, this is a top pick for sure! Bonus — you’re right near dozens of shops and great places to eat. It’ll be a great afternoon!

Trunk or Treat

3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 18

Pediatric Movement Center, 4640 Wedgewood Blvd., Frederick Free

PMC is hosting an awesome special Halloween event where children can come dressed up in their favorite Halloween costumes and Trick-orTreat! If you haven’t been yet, this is a great chance to see all the playtime opportunities there. The event is free, but I encourage families to add-on the $15 Open Gym cost. They have climbing walls, a bounce floor, a ball pit and sensory room, and so much more. It’s the perfect chance for children to socialize, explore, and of course, play! Children of all ages welcome! To participate in the Open Gym portion of the event you must register online. •••

Family Game Day

1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 19

Utica District Park, 10273 Old Frederick Road, Frederick

$10/family

Join Frederick Parks and Rec this Sunday for Family Game Day! Now, this sounds fun. Step back in time and enjoy old classic games across the farmstead. Meet at the Snook Family Agricultural Area in Utica District Park. Families: test your skills with horseshoes, Jacks, and good ol’ lawn darts — a fun time for all ages and a chance to learn some games you may have stopped playing. Learn more and register at bit.ly/FCPRfamilygameday.

Tiffany Mahaney is at least a fifth-generation native to Frederick County, and she now proudly raises her own family here. To see more local family friendly things to do, follow her on Instagram @thefrederickmom.

Ron Young’s new novel ‘Mondays Forever’ is set in Frederick

BOOK SIGNING AT RICCI’S THIS WEEKEND

In a sweeping narrative that spans from the 1930s to the present day, Ron Young’s “Mondays Forever” takes readers on a journey through the life of Jasmine ‘Jaz” Greer, a 98-yearold African American woman with a hidden past. As Jaz nears the end of her life, she leaves behind a book for her granddaughters, Jessica and Rachel, revealing a world of love, sacrifice and literary accomplishment that spans decades.

The story unfolds primarily in Frederick, with portions set in Baltimore, New York and London.

Young weaves together themes of race relations, secret relationships, the impact of war on personal lives and the evolution of women’s roles across generations.

The central narrative of “Mondays Forever” is Jaz’s complex relationship with Ben Duncan, a war correspondent and author, with whom she shares a lifelong connection that blossoms during their Monday meetings, forming a unique romantic and literary relationship.

That partnership results in numerous bestselling novels published under Ben’s name.

The decision to keep Jaz’s contributions secret adds layers of complexity to their relationship and careers, reflecting the societal constraints of their time.

Young’s novel also explores the bonds of family and friendship, introducing characters like Isabella, Jaz’s lifelong friend, and Brittany, the daughter Jaz shares with Ben but raises with Isabella. The book explores the challenges faced by these unconventional families, touching on issues of race, adoption and the sacrifices made for love and career.

Young is an accomplished author, artist and public servant who has called Frederick home his entire life. His diverse career spans decades and includes roles as a spot welder, teacher, deputy state secretary, town manager, and 12-year Maryland state senator. Most notably, he served as Mayor of Frederick for 16 years, where he led the revitalization of the city.

“Mondays Forever” will be available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, major retailers, and online platforms. Young will sign copies of the book from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at Ricci’s, located at The Village at Worman’s Mill in Frederick.

This collaboration knife will be up for auction. The blade is from a billet of Moran’s own Damascus steel, forged by local Master Smith Jay Hendrickson. The handle was carved by Steve Nuckels and comes with a sheath crafted by John Marshall.

William F. Moran 10th annual All-Forged Knife Show & Auction expands into new venue this year

The William F. Moran, Jr. Museum and Foundation will host its 10th annual All Forged Knife Show & Auction from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Activities Building located at 1 Firemans Lane in Middletown. The show is free and open to the public, featuring 30 tables of knives and blades from local knife makers, several vendors and displays of Moran’s knives.

Moran’s historic workshop and forge, located a short distance from the Activities Building, will be open to the public. Attendees are welcome to tour the museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Moran’s knives and other handiwork.

Concessions will be sold onsite.

Moran, often called “Bill,” is known for reviving the art of knife forging in the United States, including ancient traditions such as pattern welded or Damascus steel.

“The All-Forged Knife Show and Auction is another way we share Bill’s art and methods with the community and encourage artisans to share their work, too,” says Robert Wilson, president of The William F. Moran, Jr. Museum & Foundation and executive director of the

W.F. Moran Bladesmith & Artisan Academy. “He’d be proud to see all these talented makers gathered today.”

While the event was previously held on the museum’s premises, the show moved off-campus this year to accommodate more makers and guests. This year’s knife show and auction will feature special guests Ben Abbot and David Baker from the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” television series.

The museum and foundation have also commissioned a limited-edition print, “100 Years in the Making,” by renowned local watercolor artist Rebecca Pearl to celebrate Moran’s life and work. The painting depicts Moran and his beloved dog near his original shop. One hundred prints will be available for purchase, and Pearl will be onsite to sign the prints.

A special collaboration knife will be also up for auction. The blade is from a billet of Moran’s own Damascus steel, which was forged by local Master Smith Jay Hendrickson. The handle was carved by Steve Nuckels and comes with a sheath crafted by John Marshall. For more information, email robert. wfmacademy@gmail.com or visit williammoranmuseum.com.

Longtime graphic designer Cheryl Dapsauski rebels against digital art — and AI — through new series of paintings

BY JENNIFER LEE

Special to The News-Post

Cheryl Dapsauski is among a group of artists who were invited to be a part of the grand opening of the Vault of Visions Art Gallery in downtown Frederick earlier this year.

Dapsauski emerged into the Frederick art scene in 2023, though she’s been an artist in some capacity for many years.

For a while, her focus was directed toward providing professional graphic design services, which she has offered for more than 40 years. She has been winding down her graphics studio and is only working with select clients at present.

More recently, she has shifted to work on a series of abstract paintings and other works, saying she “had a strong desire to explore abstract expressionism.” She wanted to amplify the fine arts side of her creativity.

Dapsauski’s new work, some of which is on view at Vault of Vision, represents her internal conflict she has with AI.

Though she’s always been a fan of technology, when “AI began to permeate our experiences online and my many artists friends were feeling the pressure of it taking up image creation space we used to occupy, I also felt resentful,” she said.

Dapsauski is surrounded by hundreds of visual artists, as well as professional musicians. She’s also married to a working musician. They all create original work.

“We have a way to distribute our work, and it’s through the internet,” Dapsauski said, noting that now that all of their work lives on the internet, AI can regurgitate it back to users.

“In general, once we understand that part of it, we get a sour taste. In some cases work is outright copied and repackaged for someone else’s profit,” Dapsauski said. “That is unacceptable.”

Dapsauski enjoys the creative design process and said her brain is well-suited to problem solve. She has gotten good at building a graphic file and is able to show the steps she takes to do so. The joy, for her, is in the process.

“With AI, I feel like I have some sort of intern following me around, making rookie mistakes I’ve been long past for years,” she said.

So she started spending time with her abstract paintings, not rushing the process. She obsesses over details. She

is patient. She allows her art to unfold in its own time. She does not want to miss the journey of creating a painting. For her, the painting process calls for introspection.

“Doesn’t AI art happen with a couple of words and a click? Wouldn’t I want to cut to the chase and have it right there without the mess? The answer is categorically no. I want all of the mistakes, the effort, the journey.”

Dapsauski set out to create abstract paintings that AI couldn’t possibly replicate. She wanted to approach her paint-

ings in a way only a human could.

“My thinking was that no way could AI touch this almost chaotic splashy thing I was trying to build with colors,” Dapsauski said.

It was her intention to insulate her work from AI and form a total separation. This was her rebellion.

She moved forward with her own knowledge of color and composition, and she began to see a her painting style emerge.

But then, at a Frederick County Art Association meeting, everything changed when she was introduced to the Color Cube. The Color Cube is a set of two boxes of cards, each card containing a harmonious color scheme of four to five colors. She created a couple of paintings based on the cards’ color schemes, painting within the constraints of the relatively small palette.

It was only after buying her own card set that she learned the color combinations were all created using AI. She was disappointed but soon realized that she could use these AI-generated color scheme cards to play with AI in her own way.

She challenged herself to recreate the

“Downtown,”

exact colors from the AI-generated color scheme cards with physical acrylic paint and then use those colors to create her paintings.

Still, she believes AI art “should be tightly regulated to protect the interests of individual artists.”

She uses AI as a tool to inform her artwork and color choices.

“The greens in [“Woodland Gloaming”] are reminiscent of sunlight coming through leaves in the evening sunset, which is the time of day gloaming refers to,” she said. “That’s poetry.”

Aside from using a palette of AI colors, she said she goes into each piece without a plan and uses her intuition to guide her.

Her painting “Community,” on view at Vault of Vision, was untitled at first. Using the Color Cube schemes, she went in intuitively and began to create based on color. She added shapes in spaces that felt right to her.

The painting eventually sparked something in her: her own connection to downtown Frederick. She noticed that the dominant color reminded her of the bricks in Frederick, and that’s when she arrived at the title of the painting.

“Part of what drew me to painting in abstract was the freedom I experienced when I abandoned the kinds of regulations that came along with building digital art,” Dapsauski said. “These pieces are a rebellion against the rules.”

Learn more about the artist at dapsauskidesign.com.

The American Visionary Art Museum’s 30th anniversary mega-exhibition is “Fantastic Realities: Truth Stranger Than Fiction, which opened Oct. 4. The year-long exhibition includes more than 130 artworks, ranging from surreal oil paintings, poignant ceramic subway scenes and haunting lithographs to poseable handcrafted action figures, chainsaw-carved minotaurs, and colorful hand-painted sci-fi galaxies. The exhibition focuses on depicted worlds: some artists channel from other dimensions, offering truths beyond our perceptions; others dream of what could be, mirror what is, or warn of what might yet come. Every motif, character, and setting has an express purpose. AVAM is at 800 Key Hwy. in Baltimore. See avam.org or call 410-244-1900 for more information. Shown here, “Whitesand,” mixed media on paper, by Edward Woltemate Jr., is on view at AVAM.

”Experience the Creativity” — through Oct. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Work in a variety of media from members of the Olney Art Association. Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Contemporary Kumiko” — through Oct. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. The work in this exhibition is inspired by Kumiko, a Japanese art form established in the Asuka era (600–700 AD). These intricate pieces made of wood, fabric, gold leaf, and paper are part of David Gootnick’s work which introduces Kumiko to the broader audience. Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Contemporary Innovations: Erin Fostel — A Room of Her Own” — through Oct. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Fostel’s charcoal and graphite drawings are focused on the bedroom as a unique place where a sole woman occupant can be free of the objectification and expectation imposed upon her most anywhere else. The work acknowledges each woman through representation of her space, rather than her body.

Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondaySaturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Seven Ideas About Paradise” — through Oct. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick.

This immersive experience in mixed media work by Julie Maynard takes inspiration from various mythological vantage points to explore the idea of paradise and humanity’s preoccupation with it.

Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondaySaturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

“Bio-Translations” — through Oct. 26 at Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Work by Craig Cavin. Call 301-473-7680 for gallery hours or for an appointment to view the show.

”Five Chicks With Brushes” — through Oct. 26, Links Bridge Vineyards, Tasting Room, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. An exhibit of artwork by a group of local artists called the Hands of the Artists. The artists are Sandy Cook, Pam Herrick, Ann Lundahl, Robin Seidel and Stephanie Torres. The exhibit features a variety of still life and landscape paintings, many of which celebrate local Maryland scenes. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends or by appointment. 301466-2413.

”If These Walls Could Sing ... “ — through Oct. 26, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Featuring local artists Sonja Mishalanie and Kathryn Phebus, in a tribute to the role music plays in the creative process. Hours are Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. eastsidearts313@gmail.com.

”Harvest Hues” — through Oct. 26, Gallery 322, 322 N. Market St., Frederick. Celebrates the

abundance of fall with paintings, sculptures and assemblages that highlight the season’s rural activities. Many of these works reflect the bounty of farms and garden plots that fill the local farmers’ markets, stores and area restaurants. Hours are 4-7 p.m. Friday, noon-8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. 240-961-2242 or gallery322.com.

”Futurity Dredge” — through Oct. 31 at Vault of Visions Art Gallery, 1 N. Market St., Frederick. Featuring artwork by James Connors, whose work invites viewers to experience drawing not only as a visual act but as a deeply spiritual practice of perception, transformation and creation. Connors explores the ways in which organic textures, machinic forms and intuitive mark-making reveal a state of unending birth. 240-315-5483.

Frederick County Art Association 2025 Exhibit — through Jan. 5, 2026, Frederick Health — Crestwood, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. Works in oil, watercolor, mixed media and photography by some of Frederick County’s most talented artists. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-215-1460 or frederickhealth.org/crestwood.

”Fleeting” — Nov. 1-30, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Photography by Garett and Kacie Walker. 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. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.

”Around Our House” — Nov. 1-30, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Using traditional oil painting methods and the tradition of still life as a theme, C. Fred Tyner’s works take on a contemporary feel when the specificity of the objects are considered, merging the past with the present. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.

Veterans Show — Nov. 1-30, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. This biennial exhibition showcases artwork made by former service members of the United States military. Works in a variety of media. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.

”After Party” — Nov. 1-30, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Mixed media by Eric Rottcher. His work in this exhibition is an exploration of notions like joy, chaos, identity, and the tensions between the highs and lows in life. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

Tom Lehrer’s music lives on in a little Frederick theater

BY ERIK ANDERSON

Special to The News-Post

For the small cult-like fan group who follows the satirical singer-songwriter Tom Lehrer, the title of a delightful local live show based on his work may cause some confusion. “Tom Lehrer Is Alive and Well and Has Given Away All Rights to His Music” comes across like one of his famously dark jokes, in light of the fact that the genius master of irony passed away in July at the age of 97.

Given Lehrer’s penchant for the macabre, like his song about holding onto his dead wife’s severed hand, one might be tempted to think the show’s title indicates an intention to prop up his corpse behind a piano as his greatest hits play through speakers. But no matter how much he may have liked that idea, the curious nature of the show title has a much more mundane explanation.

Andrew Baughman, a huge Tom Lehrer fan and the producing artistic director of Frederick’s Landless Theatre Company, came up with the show last year and took it on tour to six major cities. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to bring it to Frederick until after Lehrer gave lie to the show title, but now he says he plans to keep it here “indefinitely.”

The show runs in the charming subterranean performance space of Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge on North Court Street, the city’s only venue dedicated to comedy magic shows, which run every Saturday at 8 p.m. The stacked stone foundation, brick arch and exposed wood beams create a cozy historic setting, while the old-timey magic paraphernalia adds a bit of whimsy, making it feel like a natural place for a night of comedy.

As a nod to Lehrer’s long career as a professor and his tongue-in-cheek attitude toward academia, Baughman adopts the stage persona of Professor Charles Chucklenut and sets up the show as a webcast “lecture” for the supposed George Santos University.

With great alacrity on the piano, the self-styled professor plays through 20 of

Lehrer’s most famous pieces in answer to “texted questions” from the fictitious online audience, while the small real audience is encouraged to sing along.

For those who don’t know the words (a description that fits none of the nerds who buy tickets to a Tom Lehrer show), they’re projected as supertitles behind Baughman, so there’s no excuse for being a stick in the mud.

Prof. Chucklenut’s style mimics Lehrer’s own didactic approach, in which he would lead audiences through his uniquely witty takes on everything from politics to pest control.

Most of Lehrer’s work holds up well 70 years after he first performed it for his fellow brainy Harvard students, with little need for alteration and interpretation. I imagine the thought of poisoning pigeons in the park while humming a jaunty tune or of dancing a “masochism tango” is just as inappropriately hysterical today as it was in the 1950s.

At least part of the reason why Lehrer

IF YOU GO

Landless Theatre Company’s Andrew L. Baughman has been taking Lehrer’s razor-sharp songs on the road, reviving them for audiences who grew up on his records, as well as new generations discovering him for the first time. “Tom Lehrer Is Alive and Well and Has Given Away All Rights to His Music” runs each Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Frederick Magic Theatre & Lounge, 19 N. Court St. #100, Frederick. Tickets are available online at tomlehrershow.carrd.co.

still feels so relatable can be attributed to his status as modern satire’s founding father. While still surprisingly unknown in wider pop culture, he was a major influence on the comedy masters who set our sense of what is and is not OK to laugh at.

Matt Groening, creator of “The Simp-

sons,” and Weird Al Yankovich are just two of the cultural icons who regularly cite Lehrer as their starting place for understanding the absurd.

But just to make sure that legacy is well-preserved, Baughman does make some tweaks to keep Lehrer’s work up to date.

The classic “Whatever Became of Hubert” is transformed to “Whatever Became of [Mike Pence]?” in Prof. Chucklenut’s classroom. With lines like, “Do you dream about staging a coup?,” few other changes were needed to bring it right up to speed with current politics.

Prof. Chucklenut identified two of Lehrer’s hits that didn’t need any real changes at all, just a clear category title to be brought up to speed: The MAGA Anthems.

“I Wanna Go Back to Dixie” and “My Home Town” remind us that a certain type of American nostalgia has always played a big part of national politics.

Of course, Lehrer really is from another time, and history doesn’t really repeat or even rhyme as much as folk wisdom suggests. While his satire is deep, witty and dark, there’s a simplicity to it that seems to be lost in modern ironic internet meme culture.

It doesn’t take much familiarity with Lehrer to pick up that his satire is intended to advocate for straightforward positions. There’s no doubt that cheerfully singing “We’ll all go together when we go” in the nuclear age is meant to show his real-life distaste for global annihilation. His musical celebration of so-called “New Math” is a clear signal of opprobrium for that teaching method.

In an age when two people can get two entirely different meanings from the same meme, the real refreshing joy that comes from singing along to Lehrer’s foundational satire is the simple ability to tell that it is, in fact, satire. That feels like the legacy Baughman is carrying on.

Erik Anderson’s MA in medieval literature only qualifies him to write about Chaucer, but he’s going to tell you about local theater anyway.

INNER SPACES

Erin Fostel documents the private refuge of women’s bedrooms in her solo show ‘A Room of Her Own’

BY JENNIFER LEE

Special to The News-Post

Since early 2019, Frederick artist Erin Fostel has been creating a series that depicts the intimate spaces of women — specifically, their bedrooms. Working in graphite and charcoal, she portrays bedrooms as places where women can exist free from the objectification and expectations imposed on them elsewhere.

When did art become your career? How did this unfold?

Deciding where to go to college was when art probably became a purposeful path. The question was never if I was going to college, but where and for what. Not having any other interests, I thought art made sense. It was a thing that I spent hours doing outside of a classroom.

She is exhibiting the series of drawings at the Delaplaine Arts Center in Frederick in the solo show “Contemporary Innovations: Erin Fostel, A Room of Her Own.”

“I developed an interest in acknowledging the resilience required in rebuilding one’s life and wanted to display the value of sanctuary within the home,” Fostel said.

Fostel recently sat down for a Q&A about her career and her current show, on view through Oct. 26.

Did you always know you’d be an artist?

I have always been doing some form of art. When I was little, I was drawing or writing or doing some kind of craft like jewelry or dioramas. Initially, it was a thing that filled time. I like to joke that I got sent to my room a lot as a kid, for misbehaving. This was also the time before the internet and we had one TV in the house (only five channels and multiple overriding opinions on what to watch). I had to fill my time somehow. Art served this purpose. I did not know what being an “artist” meant and this wasn’t a consideration until I was thinking about college.

When I got to school at Maryland Institute College of Art, I realized two things: This is really expensive and I am out of my league. I was in school with students who had much more skill, possibly because they came from magnet art schools and I did not. But I remember that first year feeling like I had to catch up. This, combined with the reality of the cost of the school, put me into a state of mind where I treated MICA like a technical school.

By the time I graduated, I wanted to be very good at something. I had always loved drawing, and when I first arrived at MICA, we used a lot of charcoal in life drawing classes. I fell in love with the medium and decided to focus exclusively on charcoal drawing, aiming to be really good at it by graduation. I succeeded in this goal.

After graduating, I worked various jobs, and at the end of 2019 I quit my day job to make my studio practice full time. I am still learning how to make it a sustainable life, but I will celebrate six years of not having a day job at the end of this year.

What was it about working in charcoal and graphite that drew you into the medium?

Charcoal can be an unpopular

Works by Erin Fostel.

medium. It can be messy and unforgiving, as I am often told when I talk to people about it, but I find it very versatile and expressive. It is the oldest form of art — using a burnt stick of wood to make a picture — and being connected to the history of artmaking (all the way back to the caves) feels poetic. I also just really love gray tonal values and find them far more satisfying than creating with color.

I only use graphite to make very light tones that charcoal is too heavy to achieve, or to punch up a charcoal tonal value. My drawings are probably 99% charcoal and 1% graphite.

Your current exhibition at the Delaplaine is called “A Room of Her Own,” featuring drawings of the personal bedrooms of various women. How, if at all, did Virginia Woolf come into play when titling this show?

I had not read Woolf’s essay before starting this series. It had been recommended to me when I started

having conversations about the drawings. But it certainly resonated. The exhibition title is a nod to her and an acknowledgement that the need for one’s own space still, literally and metaphorically, exists today.

How did rendering other women’s bedrooms — as private interiors, often after upheaval — resonate for you personally? Did you ever seek a room of your own?

I went through a divorce in my early 30s, and I had the opportunity to reclaim my home space, which was transformative. And I have many friends who have had to do the same, some of whom I have helped move.

The very first bedroom I drew was of a friend who had just relocated to an apartment after a divorce, and she was celebrating her new chapter of life. This felt like a beautiful thing to commemorate. Even though the series is rooted in the experience of divorce, it is not a prerequisite. It was just the catalyst for fully appreciating the

control of one’s own space.

I started the series after I had moved in with my new partner, so I have never drawn my own bedroom for the project. (Each bedroom drawn can only belong to one woman and is not shared.) I do, however, currently have a large room of my own — my studio — where I spend my weekdays. It is private and designed to support me in all the ways I need, whether I am working or taking a midday nap.

What did you learn about the resiliency required in rebuilding one’s life while working on this collection?

That a lot of women share the same experiences, and that we very often do not talk about them.

What is your view on the objectification and expectation of women and how the bedroom reflects the inner life of women without those pressures.

Women are constantly subjected to ideas of how we should look and act

and are too often not entirely physically safe in public space. Private space — especially that which belongs only to the woman — allows her to be her fullest self without any impositions. And the bedroom, as a place of rest, is where she can be fully vulnerable, and so it’s

often designed or decorated to meet whatever need or desire she has.

Do you photograph your subjects before you create your art? And if so, what is the benefit?

I work from photographs because I don’t want the stress of working from

life. Light shifts and access is limited. Being able to work from a photo means I can capture the thing I love and then go back to my studio and take as much time as I want with making a drawing.

How did you find people willing to share their personal space with you? Did you encounter any reservations?

The project has been mostly volunteer. I made the first drawing by my own request and then posted it on social media asking if anyone else was interested. I was inundated with responses. I rarely request to draw a room, and if I do, it is of someone I know well. I try very hard to be respectful and not imposing when invited into a room, because I understand the inherent vulnerability of sharing such a private space. I have never encountered opposition or resistance. If I ever did, I would not draw that room.

What does it mean to you to be allowed into another’s personal and private space?

It is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. It is important to me to fully represent the space as best I can through my drawing abilities.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Behind the table at SPX

I’ve been in front of tables and behind them, and I can tell you that this comic book dude is a behind-the-tables kinda guy.

Lest you think I’ve had a stroke with all that word salad, let me explain. We’re in my favorite time of year. Not autumn, although the cooler weather helps. No, I mean the Small Press Expo and the Baltimore Comic-Con, the two sentinels of my annual comics experience, coming one after the other like juggernauts of geeky joy.

Yes, yes, you might respond. What does all this have to do with tables?

I’m getting to that, gentle reader.

SPX, as the Small Press Expo is known, was this September, and I attended not as a journalist nor as a regular punter but at the invitation of Flying Eye Press, a London, U.K., publisher of meticulous and gorgeously crafted graphic novels and illustrated books for young readers. (You may

remember them when they were called “Nobrow.” I wrote about my day at SPX, hanging around their table, in 2023. See “Of Baltimore and SPX and Bowie Stanning.”)

After taking a year off, Sam Arthur, the adroit and utterly charming creative director and cofounder of Flying Eye, returned to Bethesda for two days of tabling at SPX.

To give some context, I know Arthur through our mutual friend Tony Esmond (a former Nobrow employee). When Arthur and I ran into each other earlier this year, I mentioned that I’d be glad to help him out at SPX, and he — possibly foolishly — took me up on the offer.

I’ve had a lot of roles in this crazy comics industry. I’ve been a reader, collector and creator — and, now, a salesman. Funny how it goes. Despite my early trepidation (I worked in retail

Local author publishes ‘cozy murder mystery’ set in Baltimore

BY JENNIFER LEE Special to the News-Post

Never considering writing as his career, Frederick author Charles W. Ross published his fifth novel, “A Serving of Murder,” in July 2024 at the age of 92.

Becoming a novelist didn’t happen overnight.

By chance one day in June 1952, Ross stepped into the offices of the paper that is now the Frederick NewsPost while running errands. He struck up a conversion with publisher and general manager George Delaplaine, who was looking for a proofreader immediately. After a few questions, Ross started work the next day. This was perhaps the start of his relationship with the written word as a career.

Later, after attending college at the University of Maryland, Ross joined the Air Force in the summer of 1954 as an Aviation Cadet. There he would get flight training and graduate as a Navigator, receiving his wings. He was commissioned a second Lieutenant on May 21, 1956. It was in the Air Force that Ross began his writing career. While stationed in Germany as the Explosive Nuclear Safety Officer at Ramstein Air Base, Ross wrote his first magazine article, which led to more articles being published in the “Professional Safety,” a journal for the profession. Those articles led him to write a manual on computer systems for the profession of Occupational Safety and Health Management — and eventually, he would find himself writing novels.

In 2021, Ross began publishing a series of books called the Tamsen Chronicles.

His most recent release, “A Serving of Murder,” is a historical murder mystery set in a time when speakeasies flourished, booze was smuggled and the mob was the undercurrent to everyday life in cities.

Written in a similar manner to the kind of mysteries Louise Penny and Agatha Christie write, Ross said, he created what is called a “cozy murder mystery.” This mystery subgenre has two or three main characters that include a detective or a civilian sleuth. Cozy mysteries begin with a murder but, as the name implies, do not include much blood or gore. The ending wraps up with a solved case.

Charlie Ross poses with his new book, “A Serving of Murder,” at his home in Frederick.

“A Serving of Murder,” a story of pure fiction, is set in Baltimore in 1925 during the Prohibition Era. It takes place four years after the Volstead Act, officially known as the National Prohibition Act, which was designed to prohibit alcoholic drinks.

Ross shared that Baltimore City and Baltimore County were the only parts of Maryland that decided not to enforce the prohibition law; local law enforcement left it up to the federal government to enforce.

Ross began reading about the prohibition and its politics, specifically in Baltimore, in early 2024 and his fascination grew, ultimately inspiring him to set his murder mystery in the city at that time.

He also enjoys reading historical novels.

Ross said of writing historical fiction that it’s important to question every fact and detail about that time period and to research, question, check and recheck descriptions and historical facts. Knowing the era in which the book’s characters are living is paramount. When he is writing a scene, he asks himself whether a particular description is correct and factual for the time period.

Getting the historical events correct holds the story together and gives the reader a sense of place, Ross said. Stitching together this historic murder mystery was both fun and challenging.

The novel is “about greed and the reason behind why someone kills another,” Ross said.

The fact that the murder victim was searching for a missing DaVinci painting is just one thread in the story. The big question this book asks is why Reggie Cotham was killed — and what secret is powerful enough to murder someone in order to protect it.

On forming his characters, Ross began by creating the backstories of Detective Mat Finnley, MJ Bartlett, Reggie Cotham and then Thadius Newsom.

Detective Mat Finnley was born on a farm between Frederick and Walkersville, “so there’s a connection to Frederick, which may show up in succeeding stories,” Ross said.

Once Ross completed writing character sketches, he wrote the initial murder scene and allowed the characters to move the plot forward. As he wrote, the main characters dictated the need for more characters, so he stopped to create complete backstories for the secondary

GET THE BOOK

characters.

“A Serving of Murder” (independently published) can be purchased on Amazon and read as a standalone novel. His next book in this planned series will contain threads and connections to this initial book.

“Once my characters are in a scene, they decide how the scene will progress,” Ross said. “As the plot moved onward, the final scenes became evident. This isn’t seat-of-thepants writing as much as a characterdriven plot.”

When he was working on his last book series, he began reading countless books on creative writing.

“In many of those books, the authors would say something I thought really strange,” Ross said. “They proposed the situation where a writer gets to know the characters well enough that they will speak to him or her… I thought these guys must be smoking something.”

But sure enough, after beginning his writing journey, his characters have become his friends. He checks in with them to see what they’ll be doing each day.

“To begin the day’s writing, I always reread the previous day’s scenes to get into the story again. Then I begin a new scene and start the dialogue,” Ross said. “Once I do that, the characters will interact. They will answer each other and take over the scene.”

Ross said that the majority of the time, when he let the characters take over, his scenes evolved differently than how he had envisioned them.

“Usually the outcome was much better,” he said.

It’s always the next scene that’s the hardest to write, but writing has become an addiction for Ross, who admitted he now feels uncomfortable if he’s not writing each day.

“I didn’t realize it early in my life,” he said. “I think writing has always been a deep-seated passion.”

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ATTENTION THRIFTERS!

Grandma's Attic & Used Books

Jewelry, Household & Holiday Bric a Brac, Games, Toys, Puzzles & More! Sat Oct 18 9AM-4PM Sun 9-11AM

5843 Manor Woods Rd Frederick a St Joseph's Country Fair event Donations gladly accepted 10/12-10/17

. Shangri-La Detachment presents Marine Corps League Birthday Ball Saturday, Nov 15 Lewistown Fire Hall 11101 Hessong Bridge Road Frederick, MD

Doors open at 5pm Food will be served Live Music • BYOB For tickets, text: 240-674-5407

7TH ANNUAL HARVESTFEST ARTISAN AND CRAFT FAIR

SAVE THE DATE Sat Oct 25, 10a-7p Sun Oct 26, 9a-1p

St John Regional Catholic School Gym at St Katharine Drexel Catholic Church 8414 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, MD 21702

Participant inquiries and additional info: https://www saintdrexel org/ event/harvestfest-2024/

ARE YOU SEEKING SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER?

October 10 - 25

6:30 - 7:30 PM Nightly (except Mon/Thurs)

ARE YOU SEEKING SOMETHING MORE THAN WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER?

October 10 - 25

6:30 - 7:30 PM Nightly (except Mon/Thurs)

Hosted by Frederick SDA Church 6437 Jefferson Pike, Frederick, MD

Find peace, hope, and purpose for real life

Topics: Finding Truth in a World Full of Opinions, The Power of Sabbath Rest, The Art of Living Well & more! Free admission. Free study materials Free kids’ program. All are welcome!

CASH BINGO

Johnsville Ruritan Sat., Nov. 1, 2025

New Midway Fire Hall $20 00 Per Person Doors open 5p; Bingo: 7p 20 Reg Games, 3 Specials & Tip-Jars; Food avail Proceeds for Scholarship Fund Tickets: Karen 410-775-7519

CASH BINGO

Sunday, Nov 2, 2025 Woodsboro American Legion Auxiliary Doors open 12 pm, games @ 1:30 pm $40 for 25 games, includes 3 specials @ $150 and 2 jackpots @ $500; Reserve early and receive free special game-call Peggy at 301-514-7164; King tuts, bingo balls, holder jars and door prizes; Food, drinks, baked goods available

Donate canned food item for local food bank and receive free special game Proceeds benefit scholarships, veterans, and youth

CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARD

Available in our Market: Apples: Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, SummerSet, Jonathan, Crimson Crisp, Mountain Honey, Empire & Cortland Prune Plums, Pears, Kiwi Berries, Concord Grapes Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Peppers Kale, Cauliflower & Broccoli. Grab & Go Soups, Sandwiches, Deviled Eggs Chicken Salads

Jonathan, Crimson Crisp, Mountain Honey, Empire & Cortland Prune Plums, Pears, Kiwi Berries, Concord Grapes Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Peppers Kale, Cauliflower & Broccoli Grab & Go Soups, Sandwiches, Deviled Eggs, Chicken Salads, Potato Salad & Macaroni Salad. Fresh Baked Fruit Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Dumplings. Homegrown Flower Bouquets, Mums & Hanging Baskets Pumpkins, Gourds, Mini Hay Bales & Indian Corn Specialty CMO Ice Cream, Apple Cider Slushies, Jams & Jellies

U-Pick Apples Sat & Sun in October Call for picking time and availability 301-271-2737

Open Daily 9am-5pm 15036 North Franklinville Rd. Thurmont MD www catoctin mountainorchard com

COUNTRY FAIR

9am-4pm, Sat 10/18

St Joseph on Carrollton Manor 5843 Manor Woods Rd Frederick Games-Food-Beer Garden Grandma's Attic Thrift Used Book Sale Cornhole Tournament 1-3pm stjoesbuckeystown org

COUNTRY KITCHEN CARRY-OUT

St Paul's Lutheran Church 5 E Main St, Burkittsville MD

Apple Dumplings $6 00 ea Bean Soup $9/qt

Beef Slippery Pot Pie $10/qt Country ham sandwiches $5 00 each Bake table available Pre order by Oct 25

Pick-up Sat Nov 1 (9am-11am) Call 301-473-5299 or 301-834-8915

DRIVE-THRU DINNER AND BAKE SALE

St John's Lutheran Church of Creagerstown 8619 Black's Mill Road

When: October 18th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Menu: Fried Chicken, Green Beans, Pepper Slaw, Biscuit, and a Piece of Cake for $15

Bucket options:

• 8 pieces: $10

• 12 pieces: $15

• 16 pieces: $20 Deadline for Orders: October 12 Apple butter will also be available : $4/Pint; $7/Quart Orders can be placed by contacting Carmi Sayler at 301-401-0633, leaving a message on the church phone at 301-8985290, or texting 240-529-7471.

FALL FAVORITES HERE!

Butternut Squash, Pears, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, Apples, Peaches, Green Beans Mums, Pumpkins, Gourds, and more Fall Decor! 10 – 6 Daily, Closed Sunday 11434 Keymar Rd Woodsboro, Md 21798 240 439 9401

FALL GARDEN SPECIALS

Just in- another BIG shipment of beautiful Perennial Mums- only $7 ea We also have Pumpkins, Corn Stalks, Gourds, Mini-Pumpkins! Mulch: $3 50 for 2 cubic ft bags Only at DR Virts
 800 Petersville Rd, Brunswick, Md 301969-6115
Come on down & see me!
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GLADE UCC OYSTER, TURKEY & HAM

BUFFET DINNER

Walkersville Fire Hall

79 W Frederick St Fri Nov 7 • 4-7p Sat Nov. 8 • 11a-4p

Adults: $30 cash $31 credit card

Children 6-12: $15 5 & under: Free Carry-Outs: $1 extra Avail until 3:30p on Sat Dinner@Gladechurch org 301-845-6775

HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Sat., Nov. 15th, 2025

Libertytown Fire Hall

8:00 am – 2:00 pm 12027 South St Libertytown, MD 21762

Crafts, Homemade goodies, sandwiches, soups, bake table, raffles and much more For more information for table rentals call Mary 301-401-2824

Sponsored by Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary

MEAT BINGO

Occtober 25, 2025

$40 Admission Includes 6 Card pack And Meal 20 Games

10 Games for Meat Packages Worth $150+ 10 Games for $100 Cash Doors open @ 5:30 Games start @ 7 p m

Woodsboro Volunteer Fire Co 2 South Third St , Woodsboro, MD For reservations and info

Call Nancy at: 240-405-2068

Maximum 150 players

Snacks and beverages available for purchase NO Outside food or drinks allowed

OPEN HOUSE

Come see our NP owned Primary Care Practice: 10/18/2025 • 1-4 PM 110 Baughmans Ln Ste 206 Frederick, MD 21702

See our Facebook page for more details and to RSVP https://www facebook com /events/1442910066805675/ ?app=fbl

PRYOR'S ORCHARD

Apples, Pears & Cider

Ida Red, Late Fuji, Stayman Cameo, Red & Yellow Delicious Apples

Bosc & Asian Pears Honey, Nuts, Jellies & Fruit Butters

Also veggies as available White & Sweet Potatoes

Cauliflower & Broccoli

Turnips & Winter Squash & Assortment of Fall Items

Always call first: 301-271-2693

Open Daily 8:00am-6:00pm

2 miles west of Thurmont off Route 15 take 77 West, 1 mile to Pryor Rd

www PryorsOrchard com

SEAFOOD DINNER

Mt Airy VFC Auxiliary Oct 18 • 4p-7p

6 unlimited sides; 1 crab cake, 4 Shrimp, 1 Fried Flounder, 1 Chicken Tender

Eat in - $22

Kids 6-12 $10

Carry outs: $25

Kids: $13

Mt Airy VFC Reception Hall 1008 Twin Arch Rd, Mt Airy

Credit or Debit Cards Accepted

SLIPPERY HAM & TURKEY POT PIE CARRYOUT and country ham sandwiches Woodsboro Lutheran Church 101 S Main Street Sat, October 25, pickup from 11 am - 2 pm Quarts $9, sandwiches $5 Baked goods available For orders, leave message @ 301-271-3309

SOUP AND SANDWICH SALE

Jefferson Ruritan Club

Sat Oct 25th; Pick-up 11am – 2pm Beef Veg, Bean w/Country Ham, Chicken Corn Soup - $8/Qt Country Ham

Sandwiches - $4 50 ea

Homemade Apple

Dumplings - $5 ea

MUST PRE-Order by 10/22/25 Call (301) 473-7986 or (301) 473-8932

Jefferson Ruritan Center 4603B Lander Rd Jefferson, MD 21755

SPORTSMAN BINGO

Wolfsville Vol Fire Company Sat Nov 15th

Doors open at 4 pm Games begin at 6 pm

$40/person (includes meal) 20 Games (10 games paying cash, 10 games for guns)

Specials/Raffles/Tip Jars

Tickets: Karen 301-293-1106

SPORTSMAN’S BINGO

Sat, November 8, 2025

DOORS OPEN 5:00, BUFFET 6:00

GAMES BEGIN 7:30

NEW MIDWAY VOL FIRE CO

20 Games (10 Games paying $200 Cash, 10 Games for Guns), 50/50, Money Jars, Gun Jars

$40/Person includes Buffet Dinner

Tickets: Buddy 301-271-4650 or Nick 301898-7985

TRUNK OR TREAT

October 18, 2025 (Rain or Shine)

6:00-8:00 pm

Bush Creek Church of the Brethren 4821A Green Valley Road, Rt 75 South Monrovia, Md 21770 301-865-3013

Car to Car trunk or treating, hot cider, popcorn & S’mores Pumpkin Decorating, Scarecrow Making Follow us on Facebook

TURKEY, FRIED OYSTER & COUNTRY HAM DINNER

Bush Creek Church of the Brethren 4821A Green Valley Road, Monrovia, Maryland 21770 Rt 75 Between Rt 80 and Monrovia 301-865-3013

Saturday, October 25, 2025 12:00 p m – 5:00 p m

Ticket sales begin @ 11 am Menu includes mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, dressing, cole slaw, rolls, butter, ice tea, hot tea and coffee

Adults - $35; Children 6-12 - $12

Under 6 – Free; Carry-Out - $31 Cash or check No credit cards

WEEKLY BINGO

Every Friday Night Doors open @ 5 p m , Bingo starts @ 7 p.m.

Bonanza, Early Bird, Regular, Specials, Jackpot! Small Jackpot-$500 Big Jackpot-$1500 Great Food!

Thurmont Event Complex 13716 Strafford Drive Thurmont, Maryland Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, Inc

Farm Items & Equipment Yard Sales

EARLY 1941 CASE SC Runs well, new battery, mechanically sound, new tires $2500 OBO Call 301674-4934 or 240-793-9786

INDOOR/ OUTDOOR

VIGILANT HOSE COMPANY NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO 17701 Creamery Road, Emmitsburg, MD Wednesday, 12/31

Doors Open @ 5:30pm Games @ 8pm All Inclusive 9 pk/$50 for 30 games incl 2 $2000 Jackpots 6 SPECIALS @ $500 each

All other games $300/Incl Dinner Platter!

Reserved seating if tickets purchased by 12/12

Tickets purchased after 12/12 will be $60

No checks mailed after 11/28 For info: Pam @ 240-472-3484

Reserve right to change payouts if 200 are not sold

WORMAN'S MILL COMMUNITY YARD SALE Fri, Oct 17 • 5p to Dusk Sat, Oct 18 and Sun,

LOOKING FOR HOUSEKEEPER/ COOK male or female, FREE rent, Mt Airy, MD area, own transportation, Pls call to discuss 240-732-3829

Child Care/Home Care Services Services

CHILDCARE - MIDDLETOWN, MD (SPECIAL)

Kiddies

BLADEN LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICE

LANDSCAPING

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Thursday Oct. 16

CLASSES

FCC Music Major for a Day — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Community College Visual & Performing Arts Center, 7932 Opossumtown Pike , Frederick. Experience life as a music major at FCC. Meet Music and Audio Production faculty, students, and staff, tour the Visual and Performing Arts Center, ask questions, explore program options and more. Participate in a free music lesson with FCC faculty. Attend and perform in workshops on All-State and All-County audition music. Attend a performance featuring FCC Music faculty and more.

301-846-2566.

mgersten@frederick.edu. fcc2025musicmajorforaday.eventbrite.com.

ESL High Beginner’s Conversation Classes — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 East Moser Road, Thurmont. We welcome adults who want to practice their English to a conversation class hosted by the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Students will practice their speaking and listening skills with conversations guided by an instructor from the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Please note, registration is required by the Literacy Council of Frederick County. 301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Art At Night: Using Textiles in Art Therapy — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Licensed art therapist Whitney Dahlberg, LCPAT, will discuss the use of textiles in art therapy. She will share ways that textiles can increase emotion regulation and mindfulness and can access somatic memories held in the subconscious for processing. This talk will feature her research using textiles in grief to promote continued bonds, community and post-traumatic growth.  301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.

ETCETERA

Mason Dixon flea market — at Tonya Pilkerton, 14637 Sherwood Drive, Greencastle, Pa. New open air flea market alongside I-81, open weekends through Oct. 31. Vendors, food, restrooms, picnic tables, benches to rest.

717-765-1311. tonyaschroyer@yahoo.com.

2025 Exhibits at the Museum of Frederick History — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. See our all new and renovated exhibits, now through Dec. 13. $10 adults, $5 seniors and students. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.

Teen Time: Make Your Own Magnet Poetry — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Use old book and magazine pages to create your own magnetic poetry! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18).

301-600-7250.

FAMILY

Musical Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Music, movement and stories for the whole family. Designed for babies of all ages with a caregiver. 301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Elementary Explorers: Who is R.L. Stine? — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Step into the world of R.L. Stine, the author of “Goosebumps”! Discover how he became the “Master of Kids’ Horror” while exploring some of his most famous stories. From creepy masks that come to life, to mysterious mummies, and of course -ooey, gooey green slime. You’ll get to play games and enjoy some frightfully fun activities. It’s the perfect mix of chills and giggles! Recommended for elementary ages. This program is designed for children in grades K-5 and their caregivers.

301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Ghostly Masterpieces (Ages 9-13) — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Get into the spooky spirit! Join us to paint your very own ghostly masterpiece — cute, creepy, or somewhere in between. Add your own touches to provided art, just bring your creativity. Your ghost art is yours to take home and haunt your walls!

301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Family Fun: Reading with Heiress — 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Learn about body boundaries with Heiress, the service dog from the Child Advocacy Center. Through stories, experts will help kids know their own body, understand how to recognize inappropriate touch, speak up if body boundaries have been crossed, and build a support network!

301-600-6329. cdillman@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.

Disney on Ice presents Jump In! — 7 p.m. at CFG Bank Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore. Also 7 p.m. Oct. 17; 10:30 a.m., 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18; noon and 4 p.m. Oct. 19. Jump In! showcases world-class figure skating, high-flying aerial acrobatics, dazzling special effects, engaging interactive moments, and enchanting music. Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy as they use the Magical Mouse Pad to journey into the heart of unforgettable Disney tales, including “Moana 2,” “Inside Out 2,” “Zootopia” and more. mmiles@weinbergharris.com. www.disneyonice.com/ jump-in-fairfax-baltimore.

FESTIVALS

Fall Festival — at Summers Farm, 7503 Hollow Road, Middletown. For over 29 years, Summers Farm has been the go-to destination for fall fun in Frederick County. With

45+ exciting activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! 301-304-3031. info@summersfarm.com. www.summersfarm.com/fall-festival.

MUSIC

Live Jazz at the Cocktail Lab — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get swanky with us every Thursday night for live jazz and your favorite craft cocktails. 21 and older. 301-360-5888. monica@tenthwarddistilling.com. tenthwarddistilling.com.

Randy Travis: More Life Tour — 7:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. With lifetime sales in excess of 25 million, Randy Travis is one of the biggest multi-genre record sellers of all time and a recent inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame Class of 2016. Join Randy Travis and his original band with special guest vocalist James Dupre singing all 16 No. 1 songs for an unforgettable night of music and entertainment. Note: Randy Travis will very much be a part of the show and make a special appearance but will not be singing. See website for ticket pricing. 301-790-2000. boxoffice@mdtheatre.org. www.mdtheatre.org/randy-travis.

POLITICS

Mayoral Candidate Forum — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ (ERUCC), 15 W. Church St., Frederick. The League of Women Voters of Frederick County is hosting candidate forums related to the Nov. 4 general election where residents of the city of Frederick will elect a mayor and city council members. The forum for mayoral candidates – Michael O’Connor (D) and Tom Trott (R) – will be held Oct. 16. Open to the public. LWVofFC@gmail.com. www.lwv.org/local-leagues/ lwv-frederick-county.

Frederick County Civil War Roundtable and Presentation — 7 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine,

48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Author Scott Mingus will present “Railroads of the Gettysburg Campaign.” More than a dozen railroads in Virginia, Maryland and southern Pennsylvania played roles in the 1863 Gettysburg Campaign. These, of course, included the Gettysburg Railroad and its connecting partner, the Hanover Branch Railroad. Starting with the Battle of Brandy Station, discover how railroads influenced Confederate strategy, Union defensive tactics, and the impact on the civilian populace who relied on rail transportation. Free for members, $5 for non-members. gldyson@comcast.net. www.frederickcountycivilwarrt.org.

THEATER

Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” — 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. With laughs, a touch of mystery, and just enough spook to get you into the spirit of the season, “The Canterville Ghost” has quickly become ESPtheatre’s favorite fall tradition. Moving from a stage reading to a full production, our Ghost comes to life on stage — complete with creaky corridors, witty banter, and the most frightened thing imaginable: An American family in an English manor! Free. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. esptheatre.org.

Friday Oct. 17

CLASSES

Brain Boost: Doing Business in Frederick

and How the City Can Help — noon to 1 p.m. at Cowork Frederick, 122 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Free Lunch and Learn for the Frederick Business Community: Trying to grow your small business in Frederick? Hear an overview of the current business landscape in Frederick and how the City plays a role in supporting businesses. Get tips on getting help with funding, promotion, and more. 301-732-5165. heycowork@coworkfrederick.com. coworkfrederick.com.

American Red Cross Virtual Volunteer Information Session — noon to 1 p.m. at Virtual, Frederick. Learn about positions at the Frederick blood donation center, with disaster action teams and much more. Learn first-hand from volunteers and staff what it means to be a Red Cross Volunteer. The open house will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. You can join with or without video through your phone or computer. Pre-register for more information at redcross.org/ volopenhouse and meeting information will be sent to you upon registration. 410-913-9154. kristi.giles@redcross.org. redcross.org/local/dc-va-md-de/volunteer/ volunteer-services.html.

ETCETERA

Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Get ready for cold weather living, your next home project, and holiday gifting and entertaining. This annual showcase of inspiration and experts features 300 exhibitors

and home improvement pros with the latest items for indoor and outdoor spaces. More than 100+ crafters have beautiful gifts for everyone on your holiday gift list. $9. www.mdfallhomeandgarden.com.

Guided Exhibit Tours — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Join either archivist Jody Brumage or curator Amy Hunt as they explore the exhibits. Each tour is a unique experience based on the interests of the group and what special things staff wants to highlight that week. Descriptions of each week’s tour can be found on the Heritage Frederick website, which includes accessibility notes. Tours are included with admission. $5, $10. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org/event-calendar.

Swingin’Harmony back at Rockwell

— 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rockwell Riverside Brewery , 8411 Broadband Drive, Suite K, Frederick . Frederick’s premier big band is back at Rockwell. Swingin’Harmony is an 18-piece big band jazz band with a featured vocalist. Get ready to dance to jazz standards, funk, pop, rock and Sinatra classics. This is always a great time.  Harmonycornetband@gmail.com. Harmonybands.org.

Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market St., Frederick. Take a remarkable journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions

and revenge. True documented stories of the “paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest Operating Ghost Tour!” Reservations recommended. $17 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@MarylandGhostTours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

FAMILY

Storytime Stretchers — 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Story Stretchers brings stories to life through gentle stretching movements, helping children connect with tales in an interactive, playful way. As kids listen, stretch and move, they will build early literacy skills while fostering body awareness and mindfulness in a fun, engaging environment! This storytime is geared for ages up to 5 with a caregiver.

301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Superhero Storytime Stretchers — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Story Stretchers brings stories to life through gentle stretching movements, helping children connect with tales in an interactive, playful way. As kids listen, stretch and move, they will build early literacy skills while fostering body awareness and mindfulness in a fun, engaging environment! This storytime is geared for ages up to 5 with a caregiver.

301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Schools Out: Monster Mash! — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Calling all little goblins, ghouls and creatures of the daylight, it’s time to stomp, shimmy and shriek at the library’s Monster Mash Bash! Get your claws dirty with creepy-cool crafts, then hit the dance floor where the monsters groove, so bring your best zombie strut and be ready to dance like the undead! Costumes are encouraged, monster growls are welcome, and spooky giggles are guaranteed. Designed for ages 5 and up with a caregiver. 301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Autumn Jamboree — 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Dancing Bear Toys and Games, 15 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get tickets (required) for our first-ever Autumn Jamboree! Celebrate the season with mini pumpkin painting and making art with nature. Plus, we’ll have a pumpkin sensory bin to play with! Intended for ages 4 and up. Everyone is encouraged to dress up!

$5. 301-631-9300. info@dbeartoys.com. dbeartoys.com.

Teen and Tween Open Chess (Ages 9-18) — 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. School is out, come to the library and enjoy a game of chess! Open to all levels of chess players, bring your own chess set or use one of ours. Bring your friends and meet other chess enthusiasts. Ages 9-18.  301-600-7200.

bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Trail of Jack-O-Lanterns with Trick or Treating — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville. Admission includes our Trail, fire pits, fun farm show, and our Animal Barn (open 6 to 9 p.m.), trick-ortreating for children from 7 to 8 p.m. The Trail closes at 9 p.m. Bring your children (and your adults) in costume to add to the fun!  Available for purchase will be night hayrides, pumpkin flashlights, Trick-or-Treat bags, glow necklaces, and more! Gates open 5:30 p.m. Last admission is 8:30 p.m.  $16 (credit) for 2 and older (babies free). 301-865-9203.

info@greenmeadowsevents.com. greenmeadowsevents.com/events.

Kindred Hills Hayride and Haunted Trail — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kindred Hills, 8421 Ball Road, Frederick. 7-10 p.m. weekends. The madness starts with a brief hayride into the darkness, then you’ll walk along a dimly lit trail through the woods that will lead you past haunted remnants of a previous time until you find your way back to the safety of the modern day. Go to kindredhills.com for details regarding dates and times, and to purchase tickets. $30. 240-397-9825. info@kindredhills.com. kindredhills.com.

MUSIC

Eli Young Band — 7 p.m. at Tally Ho Theatre, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg, Va. The Eli Young Band performs live, bringing country hits like “Crazy Girl,” “Love Ain’t” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” $56-$116. 703-975-4463. jack@tallyhotheater.com. tallyhotheater.com.

Aristotle Jones: Appalachian Soul Man in Concert - Live Music — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Known as the Appalachian Soul Man, singer-songwriter Aristotle Jones blends soulful storytelling, funky grooves, and Appalachian folk tradition. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. $15 advance, $20 door. 304-876-3704. contact@operahouselive.com.

Magical Mystery Doors — 7:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. A tribute act that blends and layers the music of three legendary bands — The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Doors — to create something new and unique for music fans everywhere. Ticket pricing online. 301-790-2000. boxoffice@mdtheatre.org. www.mdtheatre.org/ magical-mystery-doors.

Bruce in the USA — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Bruce In The USA is more than a tribute — it’s a fully immersive celebration of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band’s legendary live performances. $55, $50, $45. 301-600-2868. dyoung@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ bruce-in-the-usa.

Live Music at the Cocktail Lab — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Every Friday in the Cocktail Lab we’ll be servin’ up our deliciously wild concoctions and some sweet tunes to get your weekend started off right. 21 and older. 301-360-5888. monica@tenthwarddistilling.com. tenthwarddistilling.com.

THEATER

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick. Sherlock Holmes and his crime solving partner Dr. John Watson will take to the stage to solve one of the pair’s most notorious cases, The Hound of the Baskerville this fall. However, this is a Sherlock Holmes mystery with a twist. The play’s afoot! From the award-winning mastermind of mayhem, Ken Ludwig (Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo), comes a fast-paced comedy about everyone’s favorite detective. Tickets vary by day. 301-662-6600. WOB@wayoffbroadway.com. wayoffbroadway.com.

Oh Crit! at MET Comedy Night — 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Roll for initiative! Oh Crit performs improv comedy fused with Dungeons & Dragons! Join them as they embark on an adventure of twists and turns, bizarre characters, and occasional epic failure … all with the help from you and the whim of an unforgiving 20-sided die. $15. 301-694-4744. contact@ marylandensemble.org.

Saturday Oct. 18

CLASSES

Freedom Bang Class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Freedom Bang is a

Meet Bob & Freddie. When it comes to local businesses, businesspeople and organizations in Frederick, they know best. Here is a personal interview with a 2024 Best of the Best winner or finalist about why they love what they do, helping those they serve and working in Frederick.

What Is Maryland’s Elective Share Law?

Maryland’s Elective Share Law is designed to ensure that a surviving spouse cannot be completely disinherited. Even if a Will or Trust leaves little or nothing to the surviving spouse, Maryland law gives that spouse the right to claim a portion of the deceased spouse’s estate.

is law is especially important for:

• Couples preparing or revising Estate Plans.

• Estranged or separated spouses who are still legally married

How Much Can a Surviving Spouse Claim?

Under Maryland law, with a few exceptions, the amount a surviving spouse may claim depends on whether the deceased spouse has surviving children or other descendants:

• If the deceased leaves children or descendants → the spouse may claim one-third (1/3) of the estate.

• If there are no surviving descendants → the spouse may claim one-half (1/2) of the estate.

e Expanded “Augmented Estate”

Traditionally, the elective share applied only to assets going through probate, such as property, bank accounts, and personal belongings in the decedent’s name alone with no bene ciaries assigned. But Maryland now includes what is called the “augmented estate,” which covers:

• Non-probate assets, such as life insurance or retirement accounts with named bene ciaries.

• Jointly owned property.

• Assets held in Revocable Trusts. is expansion prevents individuals from avoiding the elective share by moving wealth

into non-probate accounts, giving surviving spouses access to a larger pool of assets.

Deadlines and Exceptions

A surviving spouse must act within strict timelines: nine months from the date of death, or six months from probate of the Will (whichever is later). We routinely work with clients to make sure this is done correctly.

It is also possible to waive the elective share in writing, often through a marital or prenuptial agreement. is is common in second marriages where spouses prefer to leave assets to children from prior relationships.

Because the law is nuanced and includes exceptions, it can signi cantly a ect how assets are distributed if not carefully planned for in advance.

Why Planning Matters

Considering Maryland’s Elective Share Law during Estate Planning is critical to avoid unexpected disputes or court intervention. Proactive planning can protect your wishes, reduce con ict, and provide peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

If you are a Maryland resident, please contact us to discuss how this law may a ect you while creating your Estate Plan. Call us at 301-696-0567 or schedule online at www.lenaclarklegal.com.

is article is for informational purposes only. It does not create

pre-choreographed fusion of boxing, HIIT, hip hop, world dance, optional weighted gloves and just a touch of attitude. Offering a wide range of intensity options to help you customize your workout. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.

Free Chair One Fitness Community Kickoff: Move to the Music — 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. at William R. Talley Recreation Center, 121 N. Bentz St., Frederick. Chair One Fitness is designed to deliver a fun, musically driven, interactive, full-body workout that uplifts participants through dance and fitness moves. With energizing playlists from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s thru today’s hits, participants enjoy improving mobility and coordination.

301-370-7470. deirdre_burriss@msn.com. Playfrederick.com.

Conversation Class for English Language Learners — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Adults who want to practice their English are welcome to a conversation class hosted by the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Participants will practice their speaking and listening skills with conversations guided by an instructor from the Literacy Council of Frederick County. 18 and older. 301-600-7250.

Untold History: Scandalous, Tragic, and Unusual Stories from Burkittsville’s Past — 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at South Mountain Heritage Society, 3 E. Main St., Burkittsville. There are many stories from Burkittsville’s long history, some better known than others. This special walking tour will reveal

forgotten stories from Burkittsville’s past, some funny and scandalous, some tragic and humanizing, and others just plain unusual! What links these stories together is their power in connecting us to the past and the many generations that have called Burkittsville home over its long history. Register on Eventbrite. 240-818-1610. southmountainhs@gmail.com.

ETCETERA

Fall Freecycle Roundup — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 111 E. Airport Drive, Frederick. This event offers City residents a free, environmentally responsible way to dispose of bulky or reusable household items. Accepted items include furniture, appliances, bikes, large toys and swing sets, mattresses and box springs (limit of 3 per household), lawn equipment, grills (no propane tanks). Charitable groups will be collecting clothing and accessories, books, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes, electronics and computer equipment including TVs, plastics, furniture. Document shredding on-site. Open to City of Frederick residents only, proof of residency required. 301-600-1377 or 301-600-1178.

Gateway to the Cure Covered Bridge 5K — 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Eyler Road Park, 14 Eyler Road, Thurmont. Calling all runners & those who love to walk! Join us for a fun 5K in Thurmont that takes you through a covered bridge to support the Patty Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund! Check-in 7:30-8:15 a.m., start time 8:30 a.m. Online registration. $35. 240-741-2600. mlittle@thurmontstaff.com. thurmontmainstreet.com.

Annual Gigantic Used-Book Sale — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at South Mountain Heritage Society, 3 E. Main St., Burkittsville. Thousands of newly-donated books will be available for sale at the annual Gigantic Used Book Sale at South Mountain Heritage Society. 240-818-1610. southmountainhs@gmail.com. www.southmountainheritage.org.

Myersville Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to noon at Municipal parking lot, 301 Main St., Myersville. Saturdays through Oct. 25. myersvillefarmersmarket.com.

Friends of the Middletown Library Used Book Sale — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Friends of the Middletown Library Sale Barn, 3223 Old National Pike, Middletown. Thousands of books sorted by category. Payment by cash, credit or Venmo. Sale barn is located at rear of property, gates to parking area open at 9:55 a.m. In case of excessive rain, sale will be postponed to Oct. 19. Free entry. Visit the Facebook page: Friends of the Middletown Library. Friendsofmiddletownlibrary@gmail.com.

Frederick’s Black Heritage Walking Tour — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. 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. Tour starts at the Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St. Reservations required. 5, 8, 10, 12. 410-707-1105.

Outreach@FrederickHistory.org.

the events of 1862, 1863 and 1864 as they affected the Woodsboro community. Also, view artifacts and photographs in the restored train station. 301-520-7154. rickbontz@yahoo.com. woodsborohistoricalsociety.org.

Celtic Harp Trio — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Middletown Branch Library , 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Enjoy the musical stylings of the Celtic harp, flute and violin. 301-600-7560. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Family Storytime: Skele-fun! — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Come rattle, clatter and giggle with us! We’ll read silly skeleton stories, sing songs and shake our funny bones in this not-so-spooky storytime. Stories, movement, music and fun for the entire family. Designed for ages kids, with a caregiver. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

Monster Mash Dance Party! — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Get ready to do the Monster Mash at the Emmitsburg Branch Library! Wear your Halloween costume and create a Monster Friend to dance with to some spooky tunes! Ages up to 5, Elementary, and all ages. 301-600-6329. MDeHart@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.

Murder & Mayhem Walking Tours — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. There’s plenty of ghost tours to be found this time of year, but ours is spooky AND true! Delve into the true crime stories that haunt the streets of Frederick. From burglaries and brawls to bootlegging and bedaubing (vandalism), Frederick’s history is full of all things macabre — and we’re here to share them with you! This tour discusses violence and crime and is recommended for visitors age 12+. Pre-registration required. $12 adults, $10 ages 60+, $8 ages up to 12. 410-707-1105.

Outreach@FrederickHistory.org.

Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market St., Frederick. Take a remarkable journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge. True documented stories of the “paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest Operating Ghost Tour!” Reservations recommended. $17 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@MarylandGhostTours.com. marylandghosttours.com.

FAMILY

Open House at Train Station Museum — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Train Station, 6 Creagerstown Road, Woodsboro. Local historian Dahl Drenning will present a living history interpretation of the Civil War in Woodsboro. His publication of “Spies, Hostages, and Armies On The March” will be available for purchase. The publication includes

Boo Bash Fundraiser — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Urbana High School, 3471 Campus Drive, Ijamsville. Activities put on by clubs and groups in the high school. Come for the Haunted Hallway and stay for the games and snacks! Some clubs may charge a small fee for their activities. Purchase tickets in advance online, you may pay at the door but no cash will be accepted. Debit or credit card only.

$5 per child, $3 for students, free for adults. stephen.ward@fcps.org. uhsdrama.ludus.com.

Kindred Hills Hayride and Haunted Trail

— 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kindred Hills, 8421 Ball Road, Frederick. 7-10 p.m. weekends. The madness starts with a brief hayride into the darkness, then you’ll walk along a dimly lit trail through the woods that will lead you past haunted remnants of a previous time until you find your way back to the safety of the modern day. Go to kindredhills.com for details regarding dates and times, and to purchase tickets. $30. 240-397-9825. info@kindredhills.com. kindredhills.com.

FESTIVALS

St. Joseph’s Country Fair — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St Josephs Rectory, 5843 Manor Woods Road, Frederick. Attractions for all ages include games, live entertainment, food court, Sweet Shoppe, used book sale, Grandma’s Attic Thrift, raffles, auctions and more. Free admission, parking. All proceeds benefit historic St. Joseph Church renovations. 301-663-0907. countryfairsjocm@hotmail.com. stjoesbuckeystown.org.

Paw-O-Ween: A Halloween Party for the Pups! — 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ballenger Creek Park, 5420 Ballenger Creek Pike, Frederick. Celebrate Paw-O-Ween with

your furry, four-legged friend in a festive morning atmosphere designed just for dog lovers. Pups can enjoy off-leash play in designated areas, strut their stuff in a costume contest, and make new canine companions. Families can explore a variety of dog-related products and services at our vendor booths and exhibits. Pre-registration required. 301-600-2936. fcprmarketing@FrederickCountyMD.gov. bit.ly/FCPR-Paw-O-Ween.

Farmer ChuckBone’s Pumpkin Patch Fall Events — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Farmer ChuckBoone’s Pumpkin Patch, 6269 Ed Crone Lane, Frederick. Open weekends through Nov. 2. Pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, petting zoo, barrel train rides, gravel pit, pig races, nature trail, corn maze, slides, farm-related activities for kids, more. $7. 240-220-0675. decrone@comcast.net. www.farmerchuckbone.com.

Oktoberfest at Schifferstadt — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Supports the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation and the Rotary Club of Fredericktowne. The event features arts/crafts vendors, historical demonstrations, German band, and tours of the Schifferstadt museum. Food includes brats, pretzels, and the Original Strudel Factory. Beer garden with German and local brews as well as soda and cider. Free admission. 240-578-5997. gugelj78@gmail.com. www.fredericklandmarks.org.

Color Me Autumn Festival — 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Middletown Community Park, 7628 Coblentz Road, Middletown. Kids’ activities, food, music, trick-or-treating for kids, all ages can wear a costume, Haunted Forest, monster croquet, ball toss in the jack-olantern, craft table for kids, four large inflatables proceeds to benefit Frederick County Knuckler’s Marble Program. Rain or shine. 301-371-6171. middletownrec@gmail.com. middletown.md.us.

Pumpkins & Pippins Fall Festival — noon to 4 p.m. at Pine Hill Recreation Area, 12684 Mentzer Gap Road, Waynesboro, Pa. Bring the whole family to enjoy live music and have lunch from a food truck, with dessert from our bake sale. Activities include pony rides, Kid Zone Playground Games, a StoryWalk and more. In addition, shop at the vendor tables, and watch the star attraction — the Trebuchet Pumpkin Launcher! This event is a fundraiser for Buttonwood. Admission is by donation, cash or check. 717-762-0373. info@buttonwoodnaturecenter.org. buttonwoodnaturecenter.org.

Farm Animal Sanctuary Fall Festival — noon to 4 p.m. at Star Gazing Farm Animal Sanctuary, 16760 Whites Store Road, Boyds. Come celebrate fall with our animals …. in costume!  Tours to meet the animals face-to-face, hot vegetarian food, baked goods, craft activities for both children and adults, and very cute gift shop.  $15 per carload. 301-674-5716. info@stargazingfarm.org. shop.stargazingfarm.org.

Spirits of the Furnace — 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Catoctin Furnace, 12610 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont. The spirits come out one night a year at Catoctin Furnace. Meet a soldier in the Mexican American war

who died in a duel. See the ghost of an enslaved ironworker. You might even run into the Snallygaster, a creature who haunted the skies above Frederick County. $15 adults, $10 ages 12 and under. 240288-7396. ecomer@catoctinfurnace.org. catoctinfurnace.org/events.

FILM

Elie Wiesel: “Soul on Fire” — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. Told largely through his own words and eloquent voice, this film seeks to penetrate to the heart of the known and unknown Elie Wiesel — his passions, his conflicts and his legacy as one of the most public survivors of the trauma of the Holocaust. Recommended for ages 14 and up, with mature themes.

$13 std/$11 seniors & students. 304-8763704. contact@operahouselive.com.

Movie Night for Adults: American Graffiti — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Municipal Lot, 1 Veterans Way, Mount Airy. Remember cruising on a summer night? Relive those fun times with a viewing of the 1973 classic “American Graffiti.” 301-829-1424. acollier@mountairymd.gov. www.mountairymd.gov.

MUSIC

Dead For One Night: Grateful Dead Led Zeppelin Rolling Stones — 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Elder Pine Brewing , 4200 Sundown Road, Gaithersburg . Grateful supergroup Dead For One Night have rocked the Grateful Dead to Led Zeppelin and now The Rolling Stones for one night of dynamic live music. Featuring Daniel Kehoe of the Silverbooks on bass guitar, Tyler Golsen of the Silverbooks on drums, Andrew Roulette of Get Off My Grass on lead guitar and mandolin, Cyrus Jaghoory of Rays of Violet on lead guitar, and Adrienne Smith of the Dirty Middle on lead vocals.

The Ultimate Elvis Concert — 7:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Join an electrifying tribute show that transports audiences back to the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll. Featuring Cote Deonath, the 2023 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion. Together with The Infinit-E Tribute Band, known for their flawless renditions and energetic flair, Cote Deonath captures the essence of Elvis Presley, bringing his legendary music and charisma to life on stage. See website for ticket pricing. 301-790-2000. boxoffice@mdtheatre.org. www.mdtheatre.org/elvis-concert.

Spires Brass Band presents Dance: The Fusion of Music & Motion — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at JBK Theater, Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick. Another innovative concert is on offer by the award-winning Spires Brass Band. Kicking off our 31st season, October’s concert theme features dance of various styles and musical genres. The band will be joined by dance artists performing during several selections. Tickets available via EventBrite (search Spires Brass Band), or use the link via our website’s Concerts listing page. $20 adults, $5 students. info@ SpiresBrassBand.org. SpiresBrassBand.org/concerts.

BLOUNT

(Continued from 6)

know.’ By my story though, I do know! I’ve been listening to this since I was eight, nine, 10 years old! I’ve lived it and loved it my entire life. It’s a part of me. It’s a part of who I am. I just feel like the commercialization of hip-hop definitely started in the late ‘90s, like Puffy and Nas ... they started making huge money. For whatever reason, and there are tons of books about this, a lot of people will speculate about who takes ownership of why it’s so commercial now. We can debate that all day. It’s very watered down. It’s used as an easy way to make money by those who may or may not be very creative. Let’s say someone who doesn’t know how to freestyle, does not know how to actually rhyme words well, does not have respect for this genre — they can easily step in nowadays and make a quick buck. It’s not very fun anymore because of these muddled lyrics. Hearing people just mumble through tracks. People will not make coherent, knowledgeable sentences or observations that benefit me in any way. I would love to hear some rap artists that would enjoy structuring their songs again, the way Tribe Called Quest did.

COMICS

(Continued from 16)

as a young man and it was horrifying, mainly because I am not a people person), this was one of the best con experiences I’ve had. (Maybe not for anyone else who encountered me, but I enjoyed it.)

In large part, being behind the table, or “tabling,” as those-in-the-know say, felt like the place I was meant to be. I’m not built to wander the aisles with the rest of you. Oh no, I’m all about the prestige of that glorious three-foot high barrier. It’s VIP access, baby, especially repping a company with the prestige of Flying Eye. You see, I love — LOVE — meeting fellow creators.

I’m going to namedrop. Feel free to scroll on.

CARLOS SANCHEZ ... Keep an eye on this young man. The author behind “Rune: The Tale of a Thousand Faces” and its sequel, “Rune: Tale of the Obsidian Maze,” was signing his books at Flying Eye table on both days of SPX. I can’t speak highly enough of him. Not only is he insanely talented, he was so gracious to everyone who bought his book and made time for each and every one. In addition, he was a constant companion throughout the event, and I became very fond of him. Sanchez hails from Barcelona, Spain. Find him on

Or the way Nas would tell you a story. I would love to see those who love the art of emceeing, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti — the four things that make up hip-hop to me — I would love to see those people make it back to the mainstream.

What role would you like to play in this evolution?

I’m doin’ it! I love that I can talk to new customers that come in and wanna get a vintage shirt. We can start a conversation, and I can teach them, young and old. I specifically love talking to young kids who know a little bit about this stuff. They like hip-hop, they wanna respect it, but to be able to tell them about certain songs or albums? Or put them onto music when they hear a song in the shop? They’re like, ‘This is crazy — what is this?’

You really are an archivist. Your shop is truly a place to learn about hip-hop and other genres.

Yeah, definitely, and it’s being able to do that outside of a traditional museum ... a nerdy way. In the past, that was the way we learned about things. This is a cooler way. It’s a much more fun approach to being an archivist. Same thing with, I’m sure, people who own record stores. I would not have this shop

if it were not for hip-hop and music in general. I love Nirvana. I love Cypress Hill. Those are probably two of my favorite groups of all time. Led Zeppelin, Wu-Tang. Those shirts, they speak to me, the same way those songs speak to me. They present an image when you wear them so that you don’t have to explain yourself. I love helping people do that. Is there anything you’d like to tell future generations?

Don’t give up on loving the things that you love. Follow your gut. Follow your instincts. What thing, at a core level, is making you happy? While at the same time, not neglecting your core fundamentals of life, but follow what’s making you happy. Your body is trying to protect you from being hurt, sad or frustrated ... but you have to experience those things to grow your mind, body and spirit. It doesn’t know that it wants to grow and evolve. Evolution, I believe, is that. It’s us fighting the natural instincts of the brain and making it evolve. We are spirit! Our gut has to make our brain evolve. That’s the ultimate advice I can give a young person.

This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Daryl Campbell, who performs as Daryltron, is based in Frederick.

Instagram: @g_haller.

BOBBY ENGLISH ... Honorable mention, as English is working on a project for Flying Eye. We talked a ton of process and shop, which is the quickest way into my shriveled little heart.

DEAN HASPIEL ... “OMG, Haspiel is sitting next to us?” is really the only acceptable thought when you see an indie legend mere feet away, setting up his table. Yes, THAT Dean Haspiel, who has his own Wikipedia entry, who only ever wears black and who exudes an unapproachable New York swagger that belies the fact that his first reaction after I introduced myself was a massive hug, one of many that weekend. Not only is he a massive talent, he’s a massively nice bloke, and he’ll be at the Baltimore Comic-Con, which is Oct. 17 to 19 this year. You could just Google his name to see the long list of Haspiel-related stuff, but in particular, you should check out his newsletter: deanhaspiel.substack. com.

JESSE LONERGAN ... Of course I knew his name, but hadn’t really dived that deeply into his work, which is a mistake I’m glad the universe corrected. Sadly, I didn’t manage to score Lonergan’s newest opus, “Drome,” as he sold out on the first day — which isn’t a surprise, because the book is netting a ton of critical acclaim. We swapped comics and he gave me a copy of his

Batman bootleg, “We Ride at Night,” and I’m pretty sure I got the better end of that deal as I immediately resonated with his art. Find him at jesselonergan. com.

JOSE VILLARUBIA ... This one was slightly embarrassing. So, a polite fellow with a Spanish accent walked up to the table looking for Sanchez, who was at a panel. We chatted, right up to the moment my eyes landed on his name tag and I realized this was THE Jose Villarubia, colorist superstar and artist par excellence, and I lost my cool a bit. Luckily, he’s a gentleman. “I’m just a colorist,” he responded. JUST A COLORIST? So humble. Villarubia will also be at Baltimore, on a panel with, get this — Paul Pope. (I can’t help you if you don’t know who that is.)

TOM GAULD ... The New Yorker cover artist and cartoonist? The author of “Moon Cop” and “Goliath” and the just-published “Physics for Cats”? Oh, he just happened to accompany the Flying Eye crew to dinner at a local ramen restaurant. Did I realize who he was? No. No, I did not. And I really enjoyed “Moon Cop.” Visit him at tomgauld.com. If you have kids you’re trying to get interested in reading, try flyingeyebooks.com (and tell them Cliff sent you; it’s OK. I don’t get a commission).

SUNDAY, NOV. 2 12-3PM