(6/12) Summer park programs canceled

Thurmont has canceled the Community Park’s July and August recreation programs.

Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick told the News-Journal that the events were canceled due to concerns regarding maintaining COVID restrictions among potential attendees.

Humerick said, “If we couldn't adequately implement and comply with these (virus restriction) requirements, we could not ensure the safety of the program participants or our staff,” adding that the safety requirements for summer camps and programming are very strict.

The chief administrative officer said that he made the decision after consulting with Park Program Coordinator Michele Maze, Economic Development Manager Vickie Grinder, police Chiefgreg Eyler, and the members of the town Parks and Recreation Commission.

However, he said, “We are working on some fun programs in our parks that participants can do on their own, as well as some small group programs. We hope to have these programs ready to go inthe next two weeks, so we can start in July.”

Park trees saved from infestation

Although there is an ongoing Emerald Ash Borer beetle infestation in Maryland, Thurmont has managed to save over a hundred of the affected ash trees.

The Emerald Ash Borer beetle is an invasive species of beetle native to North-Eastern Asia, with an affinity for feeding on the inner bark of ash trees.

Humerick told the town council at their June 2 meeting that Davey Tree, the contractor treating the town ash trees, was "actually amazed...they said they have never seen a turn-around like they have in Community Park."

Humerick said that the goal was to not allow 170 ash trees to die at the same time, to at least let the loss be staggered throughout the coming years, "never thinking that we were actually going to be, literally, saving 130 to 140 trees, which is what we have done."

Methods used to attack the wood-boring beetles and save the trees have included trenching, and trunk injections.

Community Park concert to be held

Mayor Kinnaird announced at the June 2 town council meeting that a holiday concert will be held at Community Park on July 4, 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Thurmont's Gateway Brass Ensemble will be performing at the flagpole near the baseball field. The ensemble will be featuring patriotic music. The band members’ ages range from 14 to 85, according to visitfrederick.org.

The mayor suggested attendees bring blankets and lawn chairs, and to maintain social distancing eight to ten feet between attendees.

COVID update provided

Although the Thurmont town office has been reopened to the public, with certain COVID precautions still in effect, the public has been slow in taking advantage of the opening.

Town Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick told the town council at their June 2 meeting that, while some of the public has been coming in, "It remains slow." He attributed the low visitations to many people still doing business with the town over the internet, by phone, or via the town office drop-box. The town office was opened to the public on June 1.

Mayor Kinnaird reminded the public that upon visiting the town office, the public must still wear masks (which the town will provide if the visitor does not have one, or has forgotten it) and maintain the social distancing standards of 6-feet. If a bill is to be paid in-person, the mayor has asked that it be by card, check, money order or, if cash, to pay in the exact amount due. If a person is feeling ill, they are asked to not come to the office.