September 2026 – Gary Bennett Publishing

Hancock delivers trails, history and plenty of pie

By Gary Bennett

Buddy Lou’s Eats, Drinks and Antiques combines a restaurant with antiques and work by local artists at 11 E. Main Street in Hancock.

This article appears in the September 24, 2026 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

The charming little town of Hancock, in far western Washington County, is small but well worth a visit. It is a popular rest stop for motorists heading toward I-68 and points west or the Pennsylvania Turnpike and points north. But make no mistake: You can easily spend a delightful day in Hancock, especially if you are a hiker, biker or, most importantly, a pie aficionado. More on that later.

Hancock has about 1,500 residents, roughly 3 square miles of area and one main drag through town. It is geographically unique, sitting at Maryland’s narrowest point. Less than 2 miles separate the Pennsylvania and West Virginia borders there, creating a place on the map where you could seemingly pinch off Maryland and hand it over to West Virginia. Just west of town, Sideling Hill offers sweeping views of the surrounding ridges and valleys.

Hancock is one of the oldest settlements in Western Maryland. Settlers began putting down roots in the area in the 1730s, and the community was once known as William’s Town. The name Hancock derives from Edward Joseph Hancock Jr., whose family operated a ferry across the Potomac River. Hancock fought alongside George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

The town also has Civil War history. In January 1862, Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson demanded Hancock’s surrender. Union Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Lander refused, Jackson’s artillery shelled the town and the Confederate force eventually withdrew after an inconclusive action amid brutal winter weather.

Sumptuous meal at Buddy Lou’s Eats, Drinks and Antiques in Hancock.

Hancock has been designated Maryland’s official Trail Town. It offers easy access to the rustic C&O Canal Towpath, which parallels the Potomac River, and the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail. With restaurants and shops beckoning just steps from both trails, Hancock is a favorite stop for cyclists and hikers.

Hancock is about an hour west of Frederick via I-70. It makes an excellent day trip, but visitors who would rather stay overnight can find small hotels and the 1878 RiverRun Bed & Breakfast.

There is no missing Hancock as you travel west on I-70. On the eastern outskirts of town, motorists are greeted by one of the largest American flags I’ve ever seen. It waves majestically over the Blue Goose Market and Bakery. Be ready, though: The westbound exit into town is on the left.

Housing in Hancock remains comparatively affordable. Recent Census Bureau estimates place the median value of owner-occupied homes at about $190,900. The town also has a sizable retirement-age population: About 22% of its residents were 65 or older in the 2020 census.

BLUE GOOSE MARKET AND BAKERY

If you’ve never visited the Blue Goose Market and Bakery, you are in for a treat, and I mean that literally. This place is a snacker’s and browser’s paradise. It features more than 30 flavors of gorgeously displayed gourmet pies, many taking advantage of local fruit. If calories don’t count in heaven, I’m going to find a way to get a weekly fix of those freshly baked pies and cookies.

The bakery at the Blue Goose offers gourmet pie and other freshly baked goods.

In 2011, a modern building replaced the old barn-style store known as Hepburn’s Orchards. The larger store preserved the fresh produce and baked goods while adding an extensive gift shop with Southern flair. It sells everything from custom floral arrangements and clothing to jewelry and home decor.

You can easily spend a few hours browsing the merchandise, laughing at the snarky T-shirt and sweatshirt sayings — “And despite the look on my face, you’re still talking” — and snacking on fresh pie, gourmet foods and candies, Amish fudge, honey, cider, local wines and jams.

The Blue Goose draws on the area’s apple- and peach-growing tradition to make some of the freshest, tastiest pies you will ever eat. Although the orchard industry is smaller than it once was, Hancock became known during its fruit-growing heyday as the “Fruit Basket of the Nation.”

For my wife and me, stopping here to pick up cookies for the road ahead has become a tradition.

BUDDY LOU’S EATS, DRINKS AND ANTIQUES

Another can’t-miss stop is Buddy Lou’s Eats, Drinks and Antiques. The name says it all. Stop for lunch or dinner, then spend time perusing its collection of antiques and work by local artisans. Be prepared to stay awhile. No one is going to rush you. Patrons arrive by foot, car, boat or bike and are treated like family by the friendly staff.

Located at 11 E. Main St., Hancock, and just steps from the C&O Canal Towpath, Buddy Lou’s is a special place. It stands three stories high, with an open-air lower level and a sprawling, inviting patio. It somehow mixes past and present in a pleasing blend of casual charm. The walls are covered with memorabilia that keeps the eyes moving and engaged. The restaurant has a distinct country vibe, but the menu is unquestionably upscale.

Current menu choices include mushroom nuggets made with lion’s mane mushrooms, smoked pork nachos, a fried bologna sandwich, a crab cake sandwich and Buddy Lou’s pork belly BLT. Dinner selections include crab cakes, beer-can roasted chicken, pan-seared Atlantic salmon and rib-eye steak. Sandwiches are served with fresh-cut fries.

Just don’t ask to speak to Buddy Lou. You can pet her namesakes, though. Owner Diane Smith said the restaurant’s name combines the names of her dogs, Buddy and Lucy. “We wanted others to love our dogs like we do.”

The paved Western Maryland Rail Trail passes through Hancock on its 28-mile route between Fort Frederick State Park and Little Orleans.

C&O CANAL VISITOR CENTER

Several visitor centers interpret the history of the 184.5-mile C&O Canal corridor between Georgetown and Cumberland. Hancock’s visitor center, housed in the historic Bowles House, is one of the most interesting.

Located at 439 E. Main St., Hancock, the two-story brick house overlooks the Potomac River and C&O Canal near Lock 52 and the Tonoloway Aqueduct. The Bowles family occupied the house during the canal’s working years. Today, it illustrates life along the canal and in the neighboring village.

The exhibits tell the story of Hancock’s transformation from a modest colonial river crossing into a bustling commercial gateway. The arrival of the orchards, C&O Canal, Western Maryland Railway and National Road is depicted through illustrations and historical displays.

SIDELING HILL CUT

No trip to the Hancock area would be complete without a visit to the aptly named Sideling Hill Cut. Just a few miles west of town, the striking cut into the ridge was created by highway engineers during construction of I-68 in the early 1980s.

Blasting through the ridge exposed an approximately 800-foot cross section of folded rock layers formed hundreds of millions of years ago. The visible bands of sandstone, shale and thin coal seams are mesmerizing.

The site’s original geology exhibit center has closed, but the rest area, parking, walkways and pedestrian bridge remain. Visitors can climb the stairs to the bridge and overlook for a closer view of the exposed rock layers and the surrounding ridges.

If you go in winter, you may also be treated to some of the largest icicles hanging from a mountainside that you have ever seen.

The Blue Goose Market and Bakery’s gift shop carries clothing, jewelry, home décor, custom floral arrangements and local goods.

WESTERN MARYLAND RAIL TRAIL

The paved and well-maintained Western Maryland Rail Trail extends 28 miles from Fort Frederick State Park in Washington County to Little Orleans in Allegany County, passing through Hancock along the way. The flat, smooth trail follows the former right of way of the Western Maryland Railway and parallels the Potomac River and C&O Canal.

If traversing the unpaved and sometimes wet or rocky C&O Canal Towpath seems daunting, the rail trail is for you. Spectacular river views, preserved canal structures and wooded stretches all beckon within a mile or so of civilization.

Be prepared to share the trail with families with small children, inline skaters, walkers and joggers. That’s a small price to pay for such a delightful ride. Also, watch for wildlife, particularly turkeys, snakes, deer and occasionally black bears.

If peaceful but eclectic Hancock and its nearby attractions don’t delight you — which I can’t imagine — you can retreat to Fort Frederick State Park or Cacapon Resort State Park for camping, fishing and hiking, or to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, for an artsy, laid-back atmosphere.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Air feels heavy at Flight 93 National Memorial

By Gary Bennett

Wall of Names at Flight 93 Memorial and just beyond is the crash site.

This article appears in the September 10, 2026 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

“The air here just feels heavy.” That’s what my wife observed as we quietly walked around Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Strangers nodded in agreement.

I know exactly what she meant. It’s the weight of sorrow and lives snuffed out much too soon we were feeling. It’s the weight of the randomness and fragility of life. It’s the weight of unspeakable terror and profound courage.

Flight 93 National Memorial stands as a testament to the 40 passengers and crew members who lost their lives on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, battling four hijackers intent on crashing the jetliner into a target in Washington, D.C. Evidence indicates their intended target was most likely the U.S. Capitol.

For most of us, this day remains etched in our minds even 25 years later. But for the roughly one-third of the U.S. population born after 9/11, the memorial is important not only to help us remember but to teach an important lesson in what real courage and patriotism are all about. It is amazing what everyday Americans can do when put in a dreadful situation.

We all know the story.

Photo from Sept. 11 showing the aftermath of the impact.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, a bright and crisp late-summer day, four commercial airliners were hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists in a planned attack against the United States. Two were flown into the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City. A third crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

The fourth, United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 bound for San Francisco from Newark, New Jersey, left the ground at 8:42 a.m., more than 25 minutes behind schedule because of heavy airport traffic. That delay, and the incredible valor of the passengers and crew on board, saved countless lives a little over an hour later when the plane crashed into a southwestern Pennsylvania field.

After 46 minutes of normal flight, the hijackers overtook the cockpit at about 9:28 a.m., incapacitating Capt. Jason Dahl and First Officer LeRoy Homer. From near Cleveland, Ohio, the hijackers turned the plane southeast toward Washington, D.C.

Passengers and crew were forced to the rear of the plane, where they began making calls to family, friends and authorities. Through those calls, they learned that other hijacked planes had struck the World Trade Center and Pentagon and realized Flight 93 was part of the same attack.

They took a vote and made the agonizing decision to fight back.

Photos of Flight 93 passengers and crew.

At 9:57 a.m., passengers and crew began their assault on the cockpit. The hijacker flying the plane responded by violently rolling and pitching the aircraft in an attempt to knock them off balance.

The struggle continued for about six minutes. At 10:03 a.m., Flight 93 crashed into a Somerset County field at 563 mph, nearly upside down. There were no survivors.

The calls passengers and crew placed from the plane provided vital information about what was happening on board. Thirteen people made 37 calls between the hijacking and the crash.

They reported that the hijackers had knives, that a passenger had been stabbed, that a flight attendant had been killed and that two people believed to be the captain and first officer were lying injured or dead.

Upon learning of the other attacks, passengers and crew collectively decided to rush the hijackers and try to retake the plane. They must have known their actions would almost certainly have deadly consequences. They decided to act anyway.

The crash site was just 18 minutes flying time from Washington, D.C. The passengers and crew continued fighting until the final moments of the flight, and the hijackers crashed the plane rather than risk losing control of it.

Flight 93 National Memorial is the nation’s tribute to that heroic action and the people who carried it out.

Congress authorized the creation of the national memorial in 2002. A temporary memorial had already formed near the crash site, where visitors left flowers, flags, notes and other tributes.

The first features of the permanent memorial were dedicated Sept. 10, 2011. The Visitor Center Complex opened four years later, and the Tower of Voices was completed in 2020.

My wife and I visited earlier this year on the way back from Pittsburgh.

The first thing you see as you creep down the long and winding road into the memorial from U.S. Route 30 is the stately Tower of Voices, a 93-foot tower standing sentinel over the landscape and commemorating the 40 passengers and crew members with one wind chime for each.

On a breezy day, one can spend a long time listening in silence to the musical tribute to the lost souls.

Beyond it are the Memorial Groves: 40 groves of 40 trees honoring the passengers and crew. The nearby Allée, a tree-lined pathway connecting the Visitor Center Complex with Memorial Plaza, is lined with Red Sunset maples and follows the memorial’s sweeping “circle of embrace.”

The Visitor Center Complex stands beyond the groves and tells the story of the 40 passengers and crew members, their lives and the sorrowful events of the day in haunting detail.

The center includes exhibits, artifacts, a viewing window toward the crash site, a bookstore, the Flight Path Walkway and an overlook. All the exhibits are well done and understated.

The most moving part of the Visitor Center, without a doubt, is the bank of phones where visitors can hear surviving recordings and messages connected with calls placed from Flight 93.

Todd Beamer is credited with leading the charge to overtake the terrorists.

Thirteen passengers and crew members placed 37 calls between 9:28 and 10:03 a.m. Only a small number were recorded, but phone records and accounts from the people who received the calls helped authorities reconstruct what happened aboard the plane.

It makes you feel terribly insignificant and a bit of an interloper to hear these intensely personal and profoundly sad final messages. But listen you must.

No history book can do justice to what is learned through them.

The calls reported the hijacking and described the hijackers and their violent acts. Through conversations with people on the ground, passengers and crew also learned about the attacks on the twin towers and Pentagon.

Finally, and heartbreakingly, came messages of love to family and the realization that the plane was unlikely to land safely.

After listening, it is a short trip down the hill to Memorial Plaza, which borders the actual crash site and debris field. The crash site itself is off-limits to the public and remains the final resting place of the passengers and crew.

The plaza culminates at the Wall of Names, 40 polished white marble panels inscribed with the names of each passenger and crew member. A roughly 17-ton sandstone boulder in the field marks the general area where the plane struck the ground.

The field and woods beyond are now quiet and green.

If you go, you are sure to be a changed person. You will marvel at the astonishing courage of your fellow human beings.

Flight 93 National Memorial is about a two-hour drive from Frederick.

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the attacks, the National Park Service has planned several observances at the memorial. All are free and open to the public.

The 25th annual September 11 Observance will take place Sept. 11 at Memorial Plaza. A morning observance will include quiet reflection on the attacks, a reading of the names of the Flight 93 passengers and crew members and the ringing of the Bells of Remembrance.

An afternoon ceremony will include remarks, keynote speakers, music and a public wreath laying at the Wall of Names.

Additional events surrounding the anniversary will continue through the weekend, offering another opportunity to remember the 40 people whose courage changed the course of that morning.

We can all do better with Grandparents Day

By Gary Bennett

Gary Bennett, grandson Spencer & Rosie, August 2026.

This article appears in the September, 2026 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

National Grandparents Day is one of the lesser-known and widely underappreciated national observances. Like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, it’s not a federal holiday, but it pales in recognition beside the other two.

President Jimmy Carter first proclaimed National Grandparents Day in 1978. The following year, Congress enacted a law requesting an annual presidential proclamation designating the first Sunday in September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.

It rolls around again Sunday, Sept. 13.

A 9-year-old boy in 1969 is often credited with first suggesting the idea of honoring grandparents with a special day.

Lisa Foster (my sister) and her grandchildren, 2026.

Russell Capper sent a letter to President Richard Nixon suggesting such an observance. Nixon’s personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, wrote back, thanking Russell for the idea and explaining that the president ordinarily issued proclamations for special observances only when authorized by Congress.

From there, West Virginia resident Marian McQuade made it her business to build support for a national observance. West Virginia Sen. Jennings Randolph eventually took up the cause, and McQuade spent years campaigning for recognition of grandparents and older Americans.

President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first National Grandparents Day for Sept. 10, 1978. In 1979, Congress enacted the law establishing the annual observance, and Carter issued a proclamation designating the first Sunday in September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day each year.

The National Grandparents Day Council describes the day’s purposes as honoring grandparents, giving grandparents an opportunity to show love for their grandchildren and helping children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.

An honorable goal for sure.

Unfortunately, National Grandparents Day has not caught on the way its founders might have wanted.

If we go by national greeting-card sales — not a scientific method by any means, but valuable information nonetheless — Grandparents Day barely registers compared with the better-known observances.

The Greeting Card Association’s published figures put Christmas at about 1.3 billion cards, Valentine’s Day at 145 million, Mother’s Day at 113 million, Father’s Day at 72 million, Halloween at 20 million and Thanksgiving at 16 million. Grandparents Day doesn’t even appear among the association’s top seasonal card-sending occasions.

Why is this? It can’t be because grandparents don’t matter.

AARP estimates there are about 70 million grandparents in the U.S. Its 2026 research found that 69% of grandparents provide care for their grandchildren, averaging more than 500 hours annually among those who provide care.

Nine in 10 grandparents provide financial support for their grandchildren, spending an average of $2,654 per year. Altogether, AARP estimates grandparents provide about $172 billion in direct financial support to grandchildren each year.

All this should add up to a robust, loving and nostalgic celebration like Mother’s Day. But it does not.

No doubt many families are estranged for one reason or another. But perhaps part of the disconnect is that some parents simply aren’t instilling in their children an appreciation for the wisdom and guidance grandparents can provide.

In other words, grandparents can be taken for granted.

Like most things, this situation can be remedied if we have the will to do so.

GRANDCHILDREN (AND THEIR PARENTS) CAN DO THEIR PART

For grandchildren — with the help of parents if the grandchildren are very young — there are many things that can be done.

Simply spend some time with your grandparents. Make an appointment if you have to. Sometimes we forget just how important and special our grandparents are. Even a short visit could make them very happy.

Have a family dinner. Family time is hard to come by these days, but organizing a dinner with your grandparents, parents and siblings is a great way to spend time together. Plus, everyone gets to have some good old-fashioned home cooking, possibly with a fabled family recipe.

Enjoy a hobby together. Grandma might like to go to a farmers market, and Grandpa might love to go to a ballgame. A bit of company and transportation could brighten their day.

Play a board game, make a craft or buy some decorations. Even for the video generation, these old-school activities offer something new and different to do and can light up grandparents’ lives.

GRANDPARENTS NEED TO DO THEIR PART

So many relationships wither because some grandparents become set in their ways and preoccupied with their own wants and needs. Don’t be like that!

Meet your grandchildren where they are. If the grandkids are into soccer, gymnastics or even video gaming, give it a try or show up to root for them, even if it’s in your own living room. A little positive reinforcement without the threat of discipline goes a long way.

Initiate the conversation. Don’t complain that your grandkids never visit or call. Go to them! You’d be surprised that even the most jaded or selfish grandkids sometimes need just a little nudge to become more caring and empathetic.

Plan special days. Parents are busy. Take it upon yourself to come up with something grandkids normally wouldn’t do, like going to a water park, theme park, zoo or even just McDonald’s.

Get the cousins together. Families don’t always see eye to eye, and sometimes cousins don’t get many opportunities to spend time together. Grandparents can step in to provide a welcoming environment for everyone.

KEEP IT LOCAL

You’re a proud grandparent, and Sept. 13 is your day. Take advantage of it! Here are a few current discounts and outings that grandparents in the Frederick area might enjoy.

Michaels

For crafty grandparents, Michaels offers customers age 55 and older 10% off eligible purchases every day. The discount can be linked to a Michaels Rewards account for use online and in stores. Some exclusions apply.

Dunkin’

Dunkin’ Rewards members can earn 100 bonus points on Mobile Monday orders each Monday through Sept. 28. On Sept. 12 and 13, members can also earn 100 bonus points each day with the purchase of select Tennis Beverages at participating locations. Offers must be activated in the Dunkin’ app.

Green Meadows Petting Farm

Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville, offers its own Grandparents Day every Wednesday it is open: One grandparent receives free admission with one paid general admission. On other days, seniors can receive $3 off general admission at the gate. Visit greenmeadowsevents.com for current hours and admission information.

Maryland Florals

Maryland Florals in Frederick offers a Grandparents Day collection and local flower delivery. Visit marylandflorals.net for available arrangements and delivery information.