(6/2023) Summertime is here! As I write this, I’m looking forward to the unofficial start of the season – the Woodsboro American Legion’s Memorial Day parade and wreath-laying ceremony. The annual tradition is one of the longest-running Memorial Day observations in the nation. We must always remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Jubilee at Utica Park
This year Frederick County celebrates 275 years since its founding. Festivities are taking place throughout the year, with the main event happening this month at Utica District Park. Frederick County’s 275th Anniversary Jubilee takes place from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. Bring your family to the park for this free event. There will be activities for all ages.
For the grand finale, 150 synchronized drones will light up the sky over the park to create a 15-minute spectacular show. This event is a first of its kind in Frederick County. The drone show begins at 9:20 p.m. and will run for approximately 15 minutes. The best spot to view the show is near the main stage.
You can find a schedule of events and more information about the 275th Jubilee at FrederickCountyMD.gov/275Jubilee.
Another way we are celebrating is through special video profiles of some of the many people who make our community special. Each month, the "Voices of Frederick County" video series from FCG TV features a different person or couple. The most recent video focuses on Julie and Sam Castleman, the people behind ThorpeWood. It's people like the Julie and Sam who make our community special. You can hear their story and enjoy the gorgeous scenery at the Old Mink Road retreat near Thurmont by visiting the County’s YouTube channel (FrederickCountyMD.gov/Youtube).
New Website
I am excited to share that we’ve made big changes to Frederick County Government’s website! Visitors will find a new layout with easy-to-read pages – even when you use your cell phone – and we have improved the search function.
One of the new features is a calendar section on the home page. You can find meeting information for the County Council and dozens of our volunteer boards and commissions, and regular programming for FCG TV. Quick links take you to the most popular pages, and large photos feature sights and sounds from around the county. A pop-up chat option can provide answers to frequently asked questions. Every page has a Google Translate button built in so the nearly 40,000 county residents who speak a language other than English can change the text on the page into their native language with just a click. Let us know how we’re doing with FCG FixIt, the County’s constituent services app that can be accessed from the new home page.
Thousands of people use our site every day to find bus routes, file permit applications, search for jobs, and more. This redesign should make it easier for everyone to find the information they need. My Administration’s Transition Team recommended an overhaul of the website to be more constituent-focused, and that is exactly what we’ve done with the new and improved FrederickCountyMD.gov.
New Faces
At the end of May, we said farewell to one of the trailblazers in Frederick County Government. Chief Financial Officer Lori Depies has retired after 20 years of remarkable service. Lori was the first woman to serve as County Manager, and she led our Finance Division for many years. Lori’s incredible knowledge and skills were integral to the County’s upgraded bond ratings over the past decade. Earning AAA ratings from all three bond rating agencies saves taxpayers millions of dollars and allows us to build more schools, roads, parks, and libraries. Clearly Lori has made a huge impact on the quality of life in Frederick County.
Taking over the reins from Lori as CFO is Walkersville native Dan Lewis. Dan first came to Frederick County Government 22 years ago when he was a student intern from Walkersville High School. Over the years, he has worked in a number of positions, including serving as manager of the Treasury Department, and more recently leading the committee that evaluated grant requests from Frederick County’s $50.4 million in American Rescue Plan funding.
Dan is a dynamic leader and he thoroughly understands the County’s finances. It’s exciting to appoint one of our own employees, who rose to the top of a national search.
