(10/2022) Walkersville Veterans’ Day Ceremony

Continually dedicated to raising a salute ensuring they are never forgotten, the 41st annual Walkersville Veteran’s Day service will be held November 6 at 1 p.m.

Veteran’s Day in Walkersville is a somber, reflective time that brings in a resolute crowd. "It is a small-town celebrating Veterans Day, so not local veterans are forgotten," according to Don Schildt, Veterans Committee Chairman. Walkersville’s annual Veteran’s Day Remembrance ceremony has taken off since the dedication of the Veterans Wall, Schildt said.

Walkersville’s Veterans Wall in Memorial Park contains over 400 names of service members including nine states represented and two Civil War veterans and is loyally preserved through volunteers.

This year’s guest speaker will be United States Marine Corps Sergeant (ret.), Adam Kisielewski, a double amputee wounded in the Iraq Conflict. Kisielewski serves as the President and CEO of No Person Left Behind Outdoors, a organization that helps wounded, injured and ill veterans through a variety of outdoor activities and outings.

Music will be performed by the Walkersville High School Band and Chorus. Color guard duties will be performed by Woodsboro Boy Scout Troop 1011 and wreath laying will be presented by Kolin Bernardoni and Steve Beall of the U.S Army. Honor Guard will be performed by AMVETS Post 7 Thurmont.

More information about the Veterans Committee can be found by contacting Schildt at 301-788-1056.

Blessing In A Backpack Donation

At its October 26 meeting, the Walkersville Town Council approved bridging a financial gap to ensure all local students are fed. Town support was sought from Blessings in a Backpack for additional funding to fill a gap of over 70 students eligible for the program but not receiving food.

Blessings in a Backpack is a national nonprofit organization with a chapter in Frederick County that combats food insecurity by supplying food for weekend meals to students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

The council approved the one time stop gap allocation for the amount of $9,750 for this school year.

Walkersville Elementary has a total of 250 students in the program and Glade Elementary has 130 students, according to representative Shannon Kelly. Council Vice President Michael Bailey asked Blessings in a Backpack to ensure the funding goes specifically to Glade Elementary and Walkersville Elementary schools.

The Economic Development Commission will also look into how the town can partner with local businesses to fundraise and support the program for future years, Bailey said. Kelly said this is an unusual year as Blessings in a Backpack school programs are usually fully funded. This marks the first year the program has had students on its wait list, she said.

Blessings in a Backpack is active with fundraising events in the local community, including a Summer Solace Run and a Ravens watch party at the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company, Kelly said.

Both the Walkersville High School and middle school have also run into student lunch debt, and the council approved a additional $6,000 to assist with the school lunch programs.

Kelly noted how imperative it is to support students going through food insecurity. "These are all kids in our community…These are our kids and they’re hungry. So how do we feed them?" she said.

Hercules Custom Iron Looks To Expand

The development of the county rail trail comes at a time that Hercules Custom Iron itself looks to expand its 36 West Pennsylvania Avenue location and facilities.

Adam McFadden general manager of Hercules Custom Iron, told the planning commissions that the projected F&P rail trail project looks to run right up to the existing Hercules facility and may even chew up some of the employee parking areas by the rail tracks.

Hercules is looking to expand its current property, located at 36 West Pennsylvania Avenue, and has interest in an adjacent property to add a storage building. The adjacent property is on the market, and as it is currently zoned residential, an agreement would be needed with the current owner for light industrial rezoning, Town Planner Susan Hauver said.

Regardless of the trail, McFadden said Hercules would create a buffer from their facility and neighboring properties.

No decisions were made by the planning commission during the informational meeting and with several aspects for Hercules to work through in the meantime, the commission will see if the facility still wishes to pursue the expansion and rezoning at a later date.

J&B Real Estate Opens Walkersville Office

J&B Real Estate Incorporated has now opened a second location in the Town of Walkersville to better serve the local community. J&B’s original location is in downtown Thurmont.

Cindy Grimes, current owner of J&B and licensed broker, chose Walkersville because it has "that same small-town feel" as Thurmont. J&B already does business in Walkersville, "so it seemed like a good fit," Grimes said in an email. The agency currently has several listings in the Walkersville area.

Four realtors will be working out of the Walkersville location; two of the new agents live in the Walkersville area already. "We will be able to focus on the needs of the Walkersville community and get more involved with supporting community events," Grimes said. One of the four agents will also be acting as the office manager and as the broker.

"We are excited for this new chapter of J&B Real Estate, Inc and we look forward to working in and supporting the Walkersville community," Grimes said.

J&B has been in Thurmont for 41 years, founded by Jim and Bonita Smith. Grimes was hired by the Smiths in 2006 as a full-time agent. She bought the agency from the Smiths in 2018, although Bonita remains on staff as an associate broker.

"We have a long history of serving Frederick County and we hope opening a second office in Walkersville will help us to serve the community even better," Grimes said.

More information about J&B Real Estate can be found at frederickcountyhomefinder.com.