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Black Rock Farm to create cow-to-classroom experience
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 17, 2025 The cows at Black Rock Farm will soon be on the moo-ve. Black Rock Farm, north of Myersville, is implementing a cow-to-classroom mobile agritourism experience after receiving funding from a Frederick County Agricultural Innovation Grant. “The people that we will be going to are most likely people that don’t have the ability to come here,” Black Rock co-owner Victoria Robinson said. “This is what we k
4 min read
Brunswick teens head to Canada for 30-hour wilderness race
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on July 26, 2025 Just a few years ago, four Brunswick teens had never heard of “adventure racing.” Now, they are travelling to Canada this weekend to compete in a 30-hour adventure race that includes trekking, mountain biking and canoeing. Jared Monge, 18, Jeremy Bel, 18, Jossalyn Henry, 17, and Lillian Cheesman, 17, make up team “Full Steam Ahead.” The competition will involve roughly 22 miles of trekking, 53 miles o
4 min read
Frederick dentist expected to return to practice after 90-day jail sentence
By Sofia Montoya-Deck and Mara K. Bell Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 14, 2025 A Frederick dentist is expected to return to his practice after serving a jail sentence, according to his office. Dr. Brian Motz, 45, who lives near Myersville, began serving his 90-day jail sentence at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center on April 25 after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of misusing a phone to repeatedly call and harass his ex-fiancee. The entrance to
4 min read
New MARC plan presents increased services in Frederick, Brunswick
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 27, 2025 Frederick and Brunswick will get expanded train and bus services as part of a new Maryland Transit Administration plan to upgrade Maryland Area Rail Commuter operations. The Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) Growth and Transformation Plan, released Wednesday, aims to expand weekday service on the Brunswick line during the initial five-year phase. The Brunswick line currently runs from Washington, D.C
4 min read
Man accused of $100K ATM robbery
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 30, 2025 A Texas man is accused of robbing an ATM repairman and stealing nearly $100,000 from a Capital One machine last October. Ulyssius Tedrick Deron McGee, 31, from Houston, was one of three men accused of aiding in the robbery of $99,434 from an ATM at the Capital One bank on West 7th Street in Frederick, according to charging documents. A Frederick County grand jury indicted McGee on charges of robbery,
2 min read
Frederick County student wins gold at national SkillsUSA competition
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on July 3, 2025 A Frederick County Career & Technology Center student won gold at this year's annual SkillsUSA competition. Represented Maryland at the national competition in Atlanta, Andrew Winkler, 19, placed first in the sheet metal category for high school students. "It felt surreal," Winkler said of winning. "When they called back the top three contestants, we still didn't know who got first, second or third, so
4 min read
Frederick County shines light on solar savings
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on July 31, 2025 Frederick County property owners have until the end of the year to potentially save $19,000 or more on solar panel installation, courtesy of a county collaboration and soon-to-expire federal tax incentives. The county’s Division of Energy and Environment has partnered with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors since 2019 to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable in Frederick, saving prope
3 min read
Older drivers get safety refresher
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on July 24, 2025 Although Mary Barber and Mistie Harrison have been driving for decades, they both learned something new on Wednesday. When they were teenagers, Barber, 77, and Harrison, 81, were both taught to "pump the brake," meaning to repeatedly press and release the brake pedal, if skidding on a slippery roadway. However, in the 1990s, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) were popularized as a standard safety featur
3 min read
Fire & Rescue helps children learn firefighting skills
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 18, 2025 Eight-year-old Isabella Meister is still deciding on her career path. “If I could have two jobs, I would be a singer and a firefighter,” she said. On Wednesday, Meister got a sneak peak into the latter career choice at the second annual Junior Firefighter Academy sponsored by the Frederick County Division of Fire & Rescue Services. In partnership with Frederick County Parks & Recreation, Fire & Rescue
3 min read
Frederick man detained by ICE to have hearing in September
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on July 20, 2025 Frederick resident Alexi Canas will plead his case against deportation at an immigration court hearing on Sept. 9, according to a proceeding on Friday morning. Canas was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on March 12 after serving a two-day sentence at the Frederick County Adult Detention Center for driving on a suspended license. ICE officials transported Canas to Ba
4 min read
Frederick gears up for Saturday's high wheel bicycle race
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published by the Frederick News-Post on July 10, 2025 Fifty-five cyclists will ‘pedal to the medal’ this Saturday at Frederick’s 11th annual National Clustered Spires High Wheel Race. Competitors this year range in age from 17 to 75 and hail from 12 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, England and Sweden. Eleven Frederick residents will aim to keep the High Wheel title local for the first time since 2016. On Saturday, the race partic
5 min read
Animal shelter's longest resident finds new home after two years
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 12, 2025 The Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center’s longest resident, a dog named Evan, has been adopted by a former animal control officer. On May 2, after over two years at the shelter, the 7-year-old pit bull terrier mix found his forever home with the McVey family. “He’s a great dog,” Rachel McVey said. “He’s very sweet, very affectionate and he listens extremely well.” According to McV
4 min read
New principal chosen for St. Thomas More Academy
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 12, 2025 St. Thomas More Academy has chosen Daniel Lesho as its new principal. Lesho will begin as principal at the Middletown school on July 1, 2025, the school said in a press release on Wednesday. "I'm looking forward to working with these teachers, families and students to continue with the building of the classical Catholic education that is offered," Lesho said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon.
2 min read
Keys fans celebrate Opening Day in midst of stadium improvements
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Frederick News-Post on June 4, 2025 Nymeo Field's recent soundtrack of beeping construction trucks and pounding jackhammers momentarily faded away Wednesday evening, giving way to the cheers of fans during the Frederick Keys' home opener against the West Virginia Black Bears. At 6 p.m., an hour before game time, the parking lot was nearly full and fans were lined up outside the stadium, ready for the first game of the season. The Keys' 2
4 min read


Embrace holiday tunes year-around
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 25, 2024 The average human falls into one of two categories: those who love Christmas music and those whose hearts have been stolen by the Grinch. As we near December, Christmas music begins to fill the air—on the radio, in stores and in our homes. For many, these songs evoke memories of family, holiday joy and the spirit of giving. So why limit these jolly tunes to just one month of the year? Christmas m
3 min read


Director of Residence Life Departs
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published by the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 25, 2024 Director of Housing and Residence Life Michael Matos left Hood on Nov. 14. Students were notified of Matos’ departure through an email from Dean of Students Demetrius Johnson on Nov. 11. “We all wish him well in his next endeavor,” Johnson stated in the email. “Should you need additional support from the Office of Housing and Residence Life, please contact Mrs. Taylor ‘Amazing’ Gist or Mr. LaShaw
1 min read
Downtown Frederick hosts holiday events
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published by the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 25, 2024 As the holiday season approaches, Downtown Frederick is preparing to offer a boatload of fun events, including the annual presentation of watercraft along Carroll Creek. Each year, boats created by different organizations from the Frederick community are anchored along Carroll Creek between Market Street and Carroll Street. Back for its ninth year, “Sailing Through the Winter Solstice” runs from
3 min read


Hood no longer seeks baseball field at Max Kehne Park
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 21, 2024 Hood College will no longer be considering Max Kehne Park as a potential new baseball field, according to an email sent from Interim President Debbie Ricker on Nov. 20. “Based on overwhelming negative feedback from the surrounding community, we have decided to withdraw our proposal for Max Kehne and explore other options,” Ricker said in the email. The news disappointed members of the baseball te
3 min read


Students learn dollars and sense
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 11, 2024 Students have been learning about budgeting, loans, interest rates and more in a series of financial literacy courses offered by the Hood College Wellness Office and George B Delaplaine Jr. School of Business in partnership with M&T Bank. The four-session workshop began on Oct. 23 and runs until Nov. 13. M&T Bank staff lead each session, which has, so far, included the topics of budgeting, credi
2 min read


Baseball team searches for new field
By Sofia Montoya-Deck Published in the Hood College Blue & Grey on Nov. 11, 2024 Hood College’s baseball team is looking to secure a new home field after the Board of Trustees recently signed a letter of intent with the City of Frederick to use Max Kehne Park. The Board approved the terms for the new baseball field at its October 2024 meeting. The potential partnership would result in a shared public/private field at Max Kehne Park on Seventh Street. The park currently houses
3 min read
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