1. Enjoy the parade, festivities and fireworks with locals at Moorefield’s Independence Day Celebration.
Head over to Moorefield Town Park on Saturday, July 6, to enjoy an old-time “Americana” Fourth of July hosted by the Moorefield Lions Club. The whole shebang kicks off at 9 a.m. Throughout the day, enjoy free swimming, the club’s “famous BBQ chicken,” live music, games, free bouncy houses and a three-on-three basketball tournament. Catch the parade starting at 6 p.m., and then, of course, the grand finale – a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
2. Go with the flow and rent a canoe or kayak at Breezewood Adventures.
Breezewood offers customizable excursions on the south branch of the Potomac River. The south branch is a pristine portion of the waterway, fed by bucolic streams and snowmelts. Breezewood offers trips up to 35 miles and provides shuttles. Whether you prefer lazily paddling a canoe or zipping down rapids in a one- or two-person kayak, it will show your family a good time. Plus, kids of all ages are sure to love the guided fishing tours. Be on the lookout for bald eagles soaring overhead as you approach The Trough, a 6-mile gorge in this branch of the river.
3. Mount a horse and experience Lost River State Park from a new perspective.
The park’s nearly 4,000 acres of woodlands provide a peaceful getaway. It opened in 1937 and was named after a disappearing river that flows underground for a time before resurfacing.
In the park, you’ll find a restored Lee Cabin, “the summer retreat of Henry ‘Lighthorse Harry’ Lee, a Revolutionary War general and father of Civil War General Robert E. Lee,” across the creek from Lee Sulphur Spring. That spring is known for its rumored healing properties, according to West Virginia State Parks’ website.
Experience the park’s trails on horseback with Hidden Trails Stables, which offers guided tours. Be sure to ascend to Cranny Crow Overlook on Big Ridge Mountain to take in the view of five counties.
Staying in a cabin or at a campsite at Lost River State Park won’t be too hot to handle with the kids this summer, as you can all cool off in the park’s pool. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday through Labor Day. When you tire of swimming, try out the park’s archery, tennis, volleyball, badminton and horseshoes.
5. Raining? Go bowling at South Branch Potomac Lanes.
This modern facility offers “kids bowl free” times, as well as bumper bowling lanes specifically for the young ones. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the action revs up with cosmic bowling, which involves “laser lights, disco lights, black lights and runway lights with LOUD heart pounding music,” according to its website. Bonus: The lanes glow in the dark.
The six weeks from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July (with Flag Day on June 14 thrown in there for good measure) should be known as the “Honor America Sesquimonthly.” (If no one is claiming that phrase, I’ll be glad to.)
The feeling of pride we get this time of year is unlike any other. Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day is close, but different. The “holidays” are warm, cozy and faith- and family-oriented. This patriotic time of year is sometimes boisterous or somber, proud and neighbor-oriented.
There is something special about these six weeks. We make it a point to honor our fallen war heroes, Old Glory and our bold declaration of independence from Great Britain. It doesn’t hurt that all of this celebrating is done in front of a backdrop of delightfully mild weather so we can all get outside and share our good fortune with each other.
And, as with most human endeavors, a soundtrack of great music makes it even better.
There are many great traditional patriotic songs beginning with Frederick’s own “Star Spangled Banner.” Just watch any July 4 fireworks show and you are sure to hear the “who’s who” of patriotic music: “America” (My country ‘tis of thee), “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “1776 Overture,” “1812 Overture” (with canons firing), “Washington Post March,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Yankee Doodle,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and the stirring themes from our five military branches.
But did you know that recent country, pop and rock artists put pen to paper and came up with some fabulously patriotic songs to help us mark the season? Of course you did! But someone has to list them, so I’ll take it from here!
Here are my top 10 present-day patriotic songs from well-known artists. They deserve our gratitude for tackling a tough assignment and adding to our pride and warm feelings at this special time of year.
You won’t find many country songs here, because I’m not much of a country music fan. But my No. 1 song is proudly country.
1. “GOD BLESS THE USA” Lee Greenwood, 1984
This classic tune came into prominence after 9/11 and became an instant standard. Stirring and proud, it is played at most large events.
“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”
2. “AMERICA” Simon and Garfunkel, 1968
Bittersweet and soulful, this song represents a search for America that has seemingly disappeared. You’ll recognize the Paul Simon signature melody instantly.
“Let us be lovers. We’ll marry our fortunes together. I’ve got some real estate here in my bag. So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies and walked off to look for America.”
Simon & Garfunkel
3. “AMERICA” Neil Diamond, 1980
An immigrant’s anthem as they try to make a better life in America at a time when they were more welcome here.
“Free, only want to be free. We huddle close, hang on to a dream. On the boats and on the planes, they’re coming to America.”
4. “BORN IN THE USA” Bruce Springsteen, 1984
The Boss’ hard-rocking, explicitly anti-war anthem drips with defiance but recovers with a deceptively patriotic chorus.
“Born down in a dead man’s town, the first kick I took was when I hit the ground. End up like a dog that’s been beat too much till you spend half your life just coverin’ up. Born in the USA.”
5. “R.O.C.K. IN THE USA” John Cougar Mellencamp, 1982
A light-hearted but hard-driving spelling bee of a song that harkens back to the music of the ’60s.
“They come from the cities, and they come from the smaller towns, and beat up cars with guitars and drummers goin’ crack boom bam. R.O.C.K. in the USA!”
6. “AMERICAN GIRL” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1976
This is a tuneful song from an artist that left us too soon about making the most of your life in America.
“Take it easy, baby. Make it last all night. She was an American girl.”
7. “AMERICAN WOMAN” The Guess Who, 1970 (covered by Lenny Kravitz, 2013)
A bunch of Canadian rockers intimidated by American women who seem full of attitude and self-assurance. Kravitz made it relative again.
“Don’t come knockin’ ’round my door. I don’t wanna see your shadow no more. Colored lights can hypnotize, sparkle someone else’s eyes. So woman, get away from me-e.”
8. “PINK HOUSES” John Cougar Mellencamp, 1983
A tribute to the everyday folks that built America and wanted nothing more than a little piece of the American dream.
“Ah, but ain’t that America for you and me? Ain’t that America? Somethin’ to see, baby. Ain’t that America? Home of the free … little pink houses for you and me.”
9. “AMERICAN PIE” Don McLean, 1971
A 9-minute tribute to the day the music died in 1959 is layered with surreal imagery and a great sing-along chorus.
“So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry. Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye, singin’ this’ll be the day that I die.”
10. “I WON’T BACK DOWN” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1989
A defiant, “take-no-prisoners” song that captures the fighting spirit of America.
“Well, I know what’s right. I got just one life. In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around, but I’ll stand my ground. And I won’t back down.”
Tom Petty
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Chuck Berry’s “Back in the USA,” Brooks and Dunn’s “Only in America,” James Brown’s “Living in America,” Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag,” Jimmy Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner,” Faith Hill’s “American Heart,” Toby Keith’s “American Soldier,” Kiss’ “Rockin’ in the USA,” Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Red White and Blue,” Brad Paisley’s “American Saturday Night,” Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” Steve Miller Band’s “Living in the USA,” Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
The first director of Frederick County’s new Division of Housing, Vin Rogers, knows he has his work cut out for him. In this era of nationwide affordable housing shortages, he believes there are many ways, however, to help solve this problem in Frederick County.
This year, Housing was elevated from department to division, with a director for the first time. This change was based on a recommendation from County Executive Jessica Fitzwater’s transition team.
“It elevates us to a comparable position as other large divisions within the county,” Rogers said. “And most importantly, it’s a recognition that the county executive sees this as a key issue going forward.”
Rogers’ top priority is to update the 2016 Frederick County Affordable Housing Study, to know exactly how big the problem is.
The updated study is a key piece of the county’s affordable housing puzzle and will include the needs of Frederick County and the incorporated municipalities. In 2016, the study showed a deficit of over 11,000 units for those making less than $50,000 per year.
After measuring the scope of the housing gap, Rogers plans to devise a strategic plan to address it.
He feels it’s imperative to consider real-life circumstances in the affordable housing debate. “What happens when your adult children want to stay in the area and be close to their families? What happens when you have an elderly parent who can’t afford to stay in the home they have now? I think it is critical for us to help people understand why it is so important for our entire community.”
Rogers alsov expects to further refine and expand upon proven programs and policies that will be addressed in the study.
Rogers said the county’s moderately priced dwelling unit (MPDU) ordinance, which recently changed its fee structure, will need time to kick in. The ordinance requires developers to pay the county $2 per square foot of total development if they opt to not build affordable units.
Developers used to pay a relatively modest, static fee, but now must pay a larger, more dynamic one, which could cause them to build smaller, more affordable units.
Since the cost of land is the highest in construction, Rogers is eager to consider how much county-owned land can be devoted to affordable housing. The county recently applied for $7.5 million in federal funds to be earmarked for pre-development costs on county-owned land.
“If we are able to use county-owned land for affordable housing and have funds available for pre-development costs, we believe developer savings would be substantial enough to require deeper subsidized units or more overall units,” Rogers said.
Rogers said developers are hamstrung by red tape and suggested that a speedier, streamlined process, or “green taping,” is needed.
“We’d like to make it less burdensome for developers to bring projects to the table because it can take so long. I’d like to raise affordable housing projects to the top.”
Other jurisdictions of Frederick County’s size sell bonds to finance housing projects, replacing private equity firms as the main source of investment. This typically saves developers millions and allows more below-market units to be built.
“What I’m used to is a housing authority that can issue bonds. Unlike the city, Frederick County doesn’t have a housing authority. If we had something like that, we could be a bond issuer,” Rogers said.
Since there’s a clear need for more senior housing, which typically doesn’t add to school overcrowding and not much to crowded roads, Rogers sees substantial community value on focusing on seniors, but strategically.
“What I’ve found is that you must be able to demonstrate success before people will get on board with affordable housing development, including senior housing. You need to produce a property so impressive that people are open to more of it.”
Rogers sees accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as part of the solution. ADUs, sometimes called “granny flats,” are independent, self-contained units that can be within a single-family dwelling, as an addition, or on the same lot as the dwelling.
“I don’t know why we wouldn’t look at expanding opportunities for homeowners to provide ADUs on their own properties. I don’t think the impact of ADUs pushes us to the point where we shouldn’t go forward with them.”
More manufactured housing could help, he said. “The speed of building housing is a problem that manufactured housing could help address. The stigma of what some people call ‘trailer homes’ is slowly disappearing. The way they’re built now, it’s almost hard to distinguish them from other types.”
Rogers wants to continues the policy exempting developers from paying impact fees when they develop affordable housing units. He sees that as a key tool that requires careful consideration based on the site and the populations served.
“There’s no easy answer on how to balance the need for more housing with the clear strain on county infrastructure. But I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. We need to build, but we also need to preserve and make homeownership more affordable for the existing housing stock we have.”
On a practical level, Rogers hopes to build on a good working relationship with the city of Fredrick.
“The city is so important to affordable housing objectives. That is where the need is the greatest. We have a good relationship now, especially through the Affordable Housing Council, which has representatives from both the city and county. But the incorporated municipalities are very important, too. We hope to get them more involved in affordable housing issues.”
Editor’s note: Gary Bennett is a retired marketing executive. Hugh Gordon is the association executive for the Frederick County Association of Realtors and has decades of experience in the real estate world, including 24 years as a mortgage banker. They are longtime Frederick County residents and members of the Frederick County Affordable Housing Council.
When the Frederick Keys kick off their 2024 season with their first home game on June 11, a steady hand will be at the tractor wheel, keeping Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium in tip-top shape, as he has for years.
Head groundskeeper Mike Dunn is beginning his seventh year with the Keys. He is a 59-year-old married Army veteran with four kids and three grandchildren — and is one of the lucky ones who found his life’s calling. He is not only a master landscaper but counts himself as a big baseball fan, too.
Dunn has 27 years of professional groundskeeping experience. Before joining the Keys, he completed high-profile stints in the Sports Field Division of the Brickman Group at the Cooperstown All Star Village in New York, the Cocoa Beach Sports Field Complex in Florida and in the New York Penn League for a farm team of the Detroit Tigers.
He won the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s Ray Cipperly Groundskeeper of the Year Award in 2023 when he served both the Frederick Keys and Spire City Ghost Hounds during 88 home games, more than even Major League Baseball groundskeepers deal with.
The Ghost Hounds will not field a team in 2024, allowing Dunn a more manageable workload. The Keys play in the MLB Draft League and will host 40 home games from June through August. The official season kicks off June 4 with an away game against the West Virginia Black Bears. Opening day at Harry Grove Stadium is June 11 against the Trenton Thunder.
The head groundkeeper position is a full-time gig that reports directly to the Keys general manager. Dunn leads a staff of one full-time assistant and a part-time, game-day staff of eight.
A typical game day includes a fresh mowing in the morning followed by a heavy watering of the infield. In the early afternoon, Dunn and his staff set up the field for batting practice. After both teams bat, Dunn preps for the game, which includes dragging the infield, another watering, striping the batter’s boxes and changing out the bases. “Above all, we make sure the field is safe to play on,” he said. “The league insists upon that.”
The work does not stop when the team is out of town. Dunn is at the stadium every day sweating the details, whether a game is scheduled or not. “We cut the grass every day and drag the infield three times a day to move the conditioner around evenly to make sure it is level and there are no bad hops.”
Other responsibilities include edging the infield, spraying for weeds and pests, and completing any repairs to the mound or home plate area as needed. The height and slope of the playing mound and bullpen mounds must be precise. At home plate, Dunn makes sure the batter’s boxes and catcher’s box are level. He also edges the warning track and adds material to the soil as needed.
After the season ends in the fall, Dunn prepares the field for the threat of winter snow. “We do a spray application in November to combat against snow mold,” he said. “The application protects the grass if we get a lot of snow and it sits on the grass for too long. Snow mold disease is very bad for the grass.”
In late February or early March, Dunn begins his preparations for summer baseball. “We concentrate on getting the grass healthy by over-seeding, fertilizing, watering, aerating and top dressing with sand.”
Once the season begins, the Keys have lots of on-field promotions that put stress on the field but nothing that Dunn hasn’t overcome before.
“We have dogs on the field occasionally,” he said. “It can be a problem because dog urine can kill the grass. The Candy Drop and kids running the bases are no problem. Fireworks can be challenging. We always hope the wind is blowing out so the fireworks don’t land on the field. If they do, they need to be picked up quickly, and that can be a long process.”
Dunn’s advice for anyone wishing to get into baseball field management?
“Take pride in the work you do, enjoy what you do, and always have the field looking good and safe for the players. You must want to do this and be willing to put in long hours in all kinds of weather.”
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering andproviding childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.
Spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation. Sure, it has taken its sweet time getting established this year, but I think it’s finally here.
The crack of the bat means baseball is underway. Kids are out playing on jungle gyms again. The sweet smell of freshly cut grass, lilacs and dogwoods are in the air. People are out and about with big smiles plastered on their faces. Carroll Creek, Culler Lake and Market Street are alive with activity. Folks begin to grab outside tables to enjoy a dinner downtown. The thwack of tennis balls and clack of bocce balls punctuate the daily hum of activity. Windows are open at night. Butterflies and robins have returned.
And, as often is the case, the sound of music enhances this sweet atmosphere. I offer up here my top 10 picks for classic spring songs that will make you glad you made it through another tough winter.
1. “PIECES OF APRIL”
Three Dog Night, 1970
A slow and sweetly wistful song about remembering springtime and an early love.
“April gave us springtime, and the promise of the flowers, and the feeling that we both shared, and the love that we called ours.”
2. “I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW”
Johnny Nash, 1972
This reggae-infused anthem is hopeful and optimistic. Problems can now be faced squarely in the brightness of a new day.
“I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that made me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright sun-shiny day.”
3. “IT’S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING”
The Rascals, 1968
Carefree and optimistic, the song perfectly captures all the possibilities of a beautiful spring day laid out before you.
“It’s a beautiful morning. I think I’ll go outside for awhile and smile.”
4. “SPRING VACATION”
Beach Boys, 2012
If you didn’t know the Beach Boys were still releasing songs in 2012, this lilting song with the unmistakable harmonies will likely leave you wanting more.
“Driving around, living the dream, I’m cruising the town, digging the scene. I’m not gonna stress, not gonna worry, doing our best, no need to hurry.”
5. “APRIL COME SHE WILL”
Simon & Garfunkel, 1966
A quiet, simple, acoustic song (with artistically-licensed grammar), comes in at under 2 minutes and reminds me of a child’s nursery rhyme.
“April come she will, May she will stay, June she’ll change her tune, July she will fly. August die she must.”
Art Garfunkel, left, and Paul Simon serenade an audience of close to one-half million in New York’s Central Park at a free concert Sept. 19, 1981.
6. “MR. BLUE SKY”
Electric Light Orchestra, 1977
This bouncy, happy-go-lucky song features an electric guitar and robotic voice. It always makes me smile.
“Sun is shinin’ in the sky. There ain’t a cloud in sight. It’s stopped raining. Everybody’s in the play.”
7. “SEASON SUITE: SPRING”
John Denver, 1972
This typical John Denver guitar song pulls me closer to nature and somehow makes me feel better about myself, too.
“Open up your eyes and see the brand new day. The clear blue sky and brightly shining sun.”
8. “A FATHER’S FIRST SPRING”
The Avett Brothers, 2012
This sweet, haunting, melancholy song proves that spring songs don’t always have to be peppy.
“Sweetest surrender of winter, she put up her flag. It is waving. The thunder of summer is rumbling in.”
9. “PRIMAVERA”
Carlos Santana, 1999
A Latin, syncopated song from this other-worldly guitar virtuoso pays homage to planet Earth at the best time of year.
“Como la Semilla, Lleva nueva vida, Hay en esta primavera, Una nueva era.”
10. “APRIL”
Deep Purple, 1969
A 12-minute, mesmerizing rock opera with a sweeping guitar intro. Lyrics finally kick in at the 9-minute mark and are not kind to April or springtime.
“April is a cruel time, even though the sun may shine and world looks in the shade as it slowly comes away. Still falls the April rain.”
Honorable Mentions: Tori Amos’ “Spring Haze,” Coldplay’s “Up with Birds,” Dawn’s “Here Comes the Spring,” Donovan’s “The Lullaby of Spring,” Jack Hartmann’s “Springtime Dance,” Elvis Presley’s “Spring Fever,” Chris Rea’s “Fires of Spring,” Carly Simon’s “Spring is Here,” Frank Sinatra’s “It Might as Well Be Spring” and Donna Summer’s “Spring Affair.”
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.
Since 2016, brothers Zachary and Dylan Zmed, along with their partner and drummer Burleigh Drummond, have celebrated the pivotal music of the Everly Brothers with a heartfelt tribute.
That tribute, the Everly Brothers Experience, featuring the Zmed Brothers as the Everlys, plays at the Weinberg Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. April 20.
Presented by Key West Productions, the Everly Brothers Experience promises to be a trip down memory lane, revisiting the rich vocals and gorgeous harmonies popularized by the Everlys in the late ’50s and early ’60s.
“The music of the ’50s and ’60s are nostalgic for us,” they said in a press release. “Our parents raised us on it, and we feel that the Everlys’ contribution is greatly overlooked, especially by younger generations.”
The Zmed brothers do not try to impersonate the Everlys but honor their iconic sound by recreating the music as close to the original as possible.
I’m a little too young to remember the heyday of the Everly Brothers and other founders of rock ‘n roll as they came on the scene in the 1950s. However, it is no secret, for my generation at least, that the Everly Brothers had an outsized influence on the Beatles and many other iconic acts that came later. John Lennon and Paul McCartney made no secret of their admiration, patterning their unmistakable harmonies on the ones from “Don And Phil.”
Before the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney referred to themselves as “the British Everly Brothers” when hitchhiking to talent contests in England.
Other super groups, like the Beach Boys, Bee Gees, and Simon and Garfunkel, credit the Everlys as having a huge influence on their music.
I vividly remember my father was an avid Everly Brothers fan. He mostly enjoyed country music, especially Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, but he made an exception for the Everlys.
It was no wonder. The Everlys embraced elements of country in their music with some twangy vocals and steel-string acoustic guitars. Today, their music might be categorized as country rock. Along with Elvis, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and others, the Everly Brothers were among the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll.
As with many stars, the Everlys were raised in a musical family. They sang with their parents on the radio during their high school years. As they gained attention, they began writing and recording their own music. Their first hit song came in 1957, the hugely popular “Bye Bye Love.” It hit No. 1 in the spring, shortly after I was born, and stayed there for four weeks. You know the chorus: “Bye-bye love/ Bye-bye happiness/ Hello loneliness/ I think I’m-a gonna cry-y.”
Huge hits would follow, like “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (my No. 1 all-time favorite song about dreaming!), “When Will I Be Loved” (perhaps made more famous by Linda Ronstadt in 1974), “So Sad,” “Crying in the Rain” and “Problems.” Their biggest-selling single of all time, “Cathy’s Clown,” came in 1960. You know this one, too: “Here he co-o-o-omes: That’s Cathy’s clown.”
In a move that would be unheard of today, the brothers enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1961. Elvis did the very same thing. There were very few military exemptions back then, and it beat being drafted and sent to Vietnam.
But, unfortunately, unlike Elvis, the Everlys’ output and fame fell off upon their return. Their last big hit came in 1962 with “That’s Old Fashioned (That’s the Way Love Should Be).” The British Invasion took hold shortly thereafter, curtailing or ending the careers of many rock ‘n’ roll pioneers. They did, however, launch a successful touring career in the ’60s. In the ’70s, the brothers began releasing solo recordings — but no hits — and officially broke up in 1973.
They got back together for a while in the ’80s, performing periodically until Phil’s death in 2014. Don died seven years later in 2021.
In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everlys as the No. 1 greatest musical duo of all time. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1986, along with such first-name luminaries as Elvis, Chuck, Buddy and Jerry Lee. The Everlys were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019.
By all accounts, they were unaffected by their meteoric stardom. They said in 1960 at the height of their popularity, “We’re not Grand Ole Opry … we’re obviously not Perry Como … we’re just pop music.”
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.
Spring is in the air at Longwood Gardens, making it a great time to plan a getaway to this exquisite destination. Longwood Gardens is perhaps the best example of humans and nature working together — and the beauty that is possible if we can do that.
My wife and I recently enjoyed an early March trip, but we’ve visited Longwood Gardens at various times throughout the year, and it has much to offer in any season.
Longwood Gardens is only about three hours from Frederick (125 miles on I-70 and I-95) in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, part of the state’s Brandywine Valley near Philadelphia. It is a robust 1,000-plus-acre botanical garden, woodlands and meadows, all rolled into one, and one of the largest horticultural display gardens in the U.S. Over 1 million guests visit Longwood Gardens each year.
It is open year-round and provides a fascinating glimpse into plant life at all stages and at any time of year. Longwood Gardens employs numerous horticulturalists, scientists and researchers who focus on preservation, education and conservation. There are numerous events and performances to enjoy nearly every day, as well as educational lectures and hands-on workshops. But the star of the show is the more than 1,000 species of magnificently blooming flowers. We go for this unparalleled beauty.
SEASONAL DELIGHTS
There is something wonderful to see and smell any time of year at the Gardens. New life seemingly arises from every corner.
From January to March, your visit will be mostly indoors, under glass and warmly heated. You can wander from greenhouse to greenhouse and enjoy all the creations the master horticulturalists have put on display. Many are standing by to explain what you are seeing and to advise you on your own houseplant exploits.
Spring is prime time there. From March through May, you can enjoy a peaceful walk through unending blankets of color, as flowering trees put on a show along with dazzling tulips, fragrant wisteria and our favorites, the delightfully graceful lilies swaying in the breeze.
Currently in bloom are gorgeous, rare blue poppies and blue and lavender hydrangeas, wisteria and orchids. The horticulturalists explain these temporary beauties only last a week or two, but don’t despair if you miss them; nearly every flowering species is in full bloom this time of year.
From May through September, the Garden’s Festival of Fountains will delight you. The gardens are at their summer best, and towering, colorful, musically-timed fountain jets will enhance your experience.
We also enjoy exploring shady Pierce’s Woods to cool off and enjoy the wildflowers around the Grand Lake and the stunning countryside vistas from the Conservatory Overlook.
If you bring the kids, you won’t want to miss the award-winning and whimsically-themed Children’s Garden and fireworks displays. A summer performance series rounds out the activities. This season’s lineup can be viewed at longwoodgardens.org/events-performances.
In October and November, the aptly-named Chrysanthemum Festival steals the show. I’ve never seen so many breathtaking and creative displays of this old fall favorite. There are three treehouses to explore that provide a bird’s-eye view of the fall color below. There’s even an entire multi-acre meadow filled to capacity with golden mums that provides oohs and ahhs from visitors.
From November through January, A Longwood Christmas will take you back to a simpler time. You can wander the outside paths through hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights. Be sure to visit the historic main conservatory where you can warm up among magnificently decorated live trees, thousands of ruby red poinsettias and fragrant greenhouse-grown flowers of all types.
If you’d like to put off your trip until later this year, Longwood Gardens is working on a major expansion and preservation strategy called Longwood Reimagined that is scheduled to open Nov. 22. They promise “stunning new buildings, wondrous new indoor and outdoor gardens and fantastic new guest experiences.” I think we’ll check that out.
LOGISTICS AND DETAILS
Tickets are priced according to season but are still a good bargain, in my opinion. From roughly Thanksgiving to early May, adult tickets are $25. Seniors 62 and over pay $22. Children 5 to 18 are charged $13, and children under 5 are admitted free.
From mid-May to Thanksgiving, tickets are a few dollars more across the board. Tickets are timed at half-hour intervals to allow a limited number of guests to enter at a time, thereby cutting down on lines. You can stay as long as long as you like, however. I recommend allocating four to five hours to see most of the gardens, catch your breath and get a really good feel for it.
Hours vary, but in the spring (March through May), Longwood Gardens is open from roughly 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Mid-May through September, it is open until 10 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 9 p.m. on other days. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Tickets should be purchased in advance and are “rain or shine.” Refunds are not provided. Parking is free, but it can be a bit of a hike from the parking areas to the gardens. I’d leave about 15 minutes to accomplish this task. There is no tram service, but wheelchairs, scooters and strollers are allowed and available for rent.
Bringing food and drink into the gardens is not allowed, but there’s a picnic area just outside the park for visitors who wish to bring their own food. Pets and smoking/vaping are not permitted.
The Terrace restaurant within the gardens is a leisurely 10-minute walk from the Visitor Center. A self-service cafe and full-service dining room are both available there. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor beer garden at The Terrace, available seasonally and during select special events.
There is also a delightful full-service restaurant called 1906, named in honor of the year Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954) purchased the grounds that were developed into Longwood Gardens. Reservations are recommended. 1906 offers fresh, American, seasonal cuisine, with a focus on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. We had a wonderful dining experience there.
Outside the gates, many local restaurants offer discounted pricing for Longwood Gardens guests. I recommend that strategy if you go in the winter, as the restaurants within the gates are sometimes closed for renovation. We have enjoyed Floga Bistro, Sweet Amelias and Hangry Bear Creamery in Kennett Square.
Longwood Gardens is a pleasant day trip — about six hours roundtrip — but if you would prefer to stay over, there is no shortage of accommodations available in Brandywine Valley.
Many hotels, inns and B&Bs offer packages that include tickets to Longwood Gardens. There are close-by budget chains like Best Western, Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.
But for a more individualistic, adventurous stay, I recommend The Bookhouse Hotel in downtown Kennett Square. It contains more than 5,000 books for your reading pleasure. Or try the historic Brandywine River Hotel in nearby Chadds Ford.
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.
Does the never ending political rancor of the day have you down? Other than turning off Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, I have the perfect antidote for you – volunteering!
There are so many human needs out there, and let’s face it, government can never hope to serve them all, nor should it. That’s where we come in. Endless opportunities await you in Frederick County and beyond, if you have a sincere desire to make a difference.
I know what you’re thinking: “I’d like to volunteer but I just don’t have the time” …or maybe “I don’t know where to start.” If you live here but work in Montgomery County or Washington D.C., you may have a very good point on the first issue. I’ve been there, too. After three or four hours of roundtrip commuting piled on top of your work day, there is little time left for much more than dinner, TV and bedtime. No one can blame you for not getting involved.
But, I’m here to tell you that most volunteer organizations will happily take as much or as little time as you can spare. I can assure you that two hours spent volunteering once a week will feel much better to you than those two hours spent watching TV.
Actually, volunteering just two hours per week would make you a super volunteer. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, Americans who volunteer average about one hour per week doing so. And, there are a lot of us volunteers. Seventy-seven million adults in the U.S., or about one in three, volunteer in some capacity in 2017.
As for not
being sure about where to start, I can help you there, too.
Like to walk or run? Why not help out with an annual 5K or 10K walk/run to benefit a local health-related charity? There are too many to make a comprehensive list so I’ll mention just two: the annual Walk MS: Frederick will be held April 13 at Fredrick High School was held May 4 at Harry Grove Stadium to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society and people with MS Relay for Life on May 17 and 18 at Frederick Community College benefiting the American Cancer Society and celebrating cancer survivors. Organizations like these always need volunteers to set up, tear down, mark the course, serve refreshments, or to simply cheer on the participants.
Like to clean? Believe it or not this activity is therapeutic for some people including ones like me who sit behind a desk all day. If so, why not volunteer for the annual Bring a Broom Saturday event on April 27 to help clean up downtown Frederick and ready it for tourist season. Sponsored by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, this event is perfect for those of us who burst with pride for downtown Frederick and want it to look its best.
Similar to that event but available on an ongoing basis is the State Highway Administration’s Adopt a Highway program. Since that program started in 1989, 120,000 Marylanders have cleaned over 15,000 miles of roadside. If either of these programs seems a little daunting, you can bet your local homeowners association will have a cleanup day. If not, start one!
Can you speak, write, and read English reasonably well? The Literacy Council of Frederick County is always in need of English tutors. This activity is typically accomplished one-on-one with one or two students and only takes a few hours per week. The staff at the Literacy Council makes it extremely easy to be a tutor. They will train you over two Saturdays and provide all the materials you will need and a step-by-step lesson plan. If you are interested, contact Holly Bohman or Jennifer Szabo at the Council. I can tell you firsthand that being an English tutor is an amazingly rewarding experience.
Can you make more of a commitment? If so, I can recommend any of Frederick’s venerable service clubs. Each has a little different focus, but all are committed to making Frederick County a better place to live and work. For example, the FSK Lions Club, to which I belong, focuses on eye health but also gets involved in many other things such as childhood cancer, diabetes, environmental issues and hunger. Besides the Lions Club, there are the Elks, Kiwanis, Moose, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, Boys and Girls Club, Frederick Women’s Civic Club, and Rotary Clubs, to name a few. Take a look online at what they do and arrange a visit. They will be happy to see you and will probably invite you to dinner.
Do you have aging parents and care deeply about the Greatest Generation and other seniors? Then reach out to the Frederick Senior Center. They sponsor fitness classes, arts and crafts, health information programs and other special events. They also serve up a nice lunch and support Meals on Wheels. You could also reach out to Hospice of Frederick County, which helps to ensure a gentle passage through the final phase of life. Volunteers can work with terminally ill patients and their families to offer companionship, respite care and other services such as light housekeeping, running errands or pet care.
Want to make sure no one goes hungry? The City of Frederick and the Frederick Community Action Agency needs volunteers to help serve meals at the Community Table and to help gather and stock food items at the Food Bank You’ll be in good company. Collecting, distributing, preparing, and serving food is the No. 1 area of volunteerism in America.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. National organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, and United Way all have numerous local opportunities to help with housing, emergency relief and other human needs. Youth sports leagues need coaches, refs and other helpers. And don’t forget about local churches, volunteer fire associations, hospitals and libraries. All want and need your talents.
I highly recommend volunteermatch.org. Just plug in your zip code and they will serve up to you weekly all the close-in volunteer opportunities for you to consider.
Another April Fools’ Day is upon us, and it couldn’t have come at a better time! What? Have you not watched the news lately?
This great American un-holiday features trickery, monkeyshines, hoaxes, shenanigans and hijinks. Why April Fools’ Day is not a federal holiday, I’ll never understand.
April Fools’ Day comes on April 1 each year. No one quite knows why.
Some think it is connected to the vernal equinox, where Mother Nature fools us by changing weather from hot to cold every other day. One thing is for certain, however: Perpetrators must holler “April Fools!” at the end of the joke to clue in the unsuspecting party.
Though the day has purportedly been celebrated for centuries by different cultures, its exact origin remains a mystery. Some historians trace it back to ancient Rome and the appropriately-named festival of Hilaria. Others peg it to medieval France, when some fools couldn’t get the days straight on the newly created Gregorian calendar. (That’s actually pretty harsh. Can you imagine changing calendars today? We get grumpy just turning our clocks back one hour.)
The Brits ran with the concept in the 1700s, often sending people on phony cuckoo bird hunts. Later came “Tailie Day,” which involved pranks such as pinning fake tails or “kick me” signs on unsuspecting back ends.
My family must have lots of English blood. I can vividly remember my unsuspecting mother, who worked overnight at a Celanese plant in the 1970s, coming home with a fibery tail pinned to her derriere seemingly every morning.
My own grandchildren got in on the fun, too, by taping a “kick me” sign to my backside before a trip to the mall. Of course, I knew about it, but that didn’t stop me from playing along and listening to the heartwarming giggles as we strolled along.
The classic April Fools’ jokes of covering the toilet with plastic wrap or swapping the contents of sugar and salt containers are all well and good, but I would like you to think bigger.
To motivate you, here are some of the large-scale, classic April Fools’ jokes executed in recent history. They deserve our solemn respect.
• Swiss TV covered farm workers’ record spaghetti crop, complete with video of people harvesting the noodles from trees.
• George Plimpton reported on a rookie pitcher named Sidd Finch who could throw a ball 168 miles per hour
• An actor portraying Richard Nixon near the end of his life in 1992 announced he was running for president again, to the horror of everyone.
• Taco Bell announced they were purchasing the Liberty Bell and renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell.
• MIT engineering students dismantled the dean’s car and reassembled it on the administration building roof.
•••
Gary as a cool, hippie-type dude.
Not to be outdone, I am happy to relate my own efforts.
Before I do, please note that I am always happy to be the butt of the joke if it embarrasses someone else, preferably my good-natured but long-suffering wife. Also note that shenanigans don’t have to occur on Aprils Fools’ Day, but it helps!
For years, we have vacationed with very good friends in Florida. My buddy and I like to drive, while my wife and his wife prefer to fly. As good and faithful husbands, we always promise to pick them up at the airport, and we do.
For some odd reason that probably dates to my childhood, I delight in dressing up in outrageous costumes to meet my wife and her friend at the airport. I typically have a sign welcoming them to Florida and meet them with exuberant jolliness, much to their chagrin.
The looks on their faces are priceless as I stand in the welcoming line when they emerge from airport security. There is nowhere to hide. Pretending to not know me doesn’t work either. They are putty in my hands.
I have shown up at airports as the following:
• an Italian playboy in short shorts and a jaunty hat
• a cool hippie dude
• an extremely overweight and uncool tourist
• an unemployed biker.
Pro tip, if you are thinking of trying this yourself: Notify airport security before you change into your getup in the men’s restroom. They’re usually not amused, but it’s the right thing to do.
If you’re wondering about my buddy, no, he won’t dress up. But to his credit, he doesn’t try to talk me out of it.
Unfortunately, the cat’s out of the bag for me now, and I’m forced to be more creative. After years of happily flying without me, my wife now begs me to fly with her. If that fails, she has taken to searching the car for suspicious clothing before I depart.
Little does she know, I have costumers up and down the East Coast who are awaiting my call.
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.
Gary as the woefully out-of-place, jaunty European tourist, Armando.
Frederick resident Robin Brown remembers getting her multiple sclerosis diagnosis like it was yesterday. It hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks.
“I woke up one Saturday morning — it was April 26, 2008; I was 47 years old — and felt a tingling on my left side. I’d never felt anything like it before. Because a dear childhood friend had just survived two brain aneurisms, I got scared and took myself to the ER.”
Once there, she endured an MRI of her brain and spine. The neurologist on call delivered the bad news that she “probably” had MS.
Since MS is notoriously challenging to diagnose, she soon found herself at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for what she hoped would be a reversal of the initial diagnosis. She got the requisite lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap), which was frightening in its own right, and when the proteins came back positive for MS, the diagnosis was official.
“It was shocking,” Brown said. “No one in my family has it. My mother has rheumatoid arthritis, so I thought it may be that. The doctors ruled out other auto-immune disorders first such as Lyme disease and lupus. It only took four months to get my diagnosis, and that’s not normal. It usually takes a lot longer.”
Robin Brown and her “peeps” bring awareness to MS, raise funds and support each other.
WHAT IS MS?
Multiple sclerosis is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerve cells in the brain, optic nerve and spinal cord, called the myelin sheath. It causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. It is potentially disabling and affects nearly 1 million Americans.
Doctors don’t know why this happens. It is not necessarily genetic, environmental or due to the actions of the patients. Some studies show it may be a virus that can be contracted as a teen and remains dormant until later in life, but nothing has been conclusive.
Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely between patients and depend on the location and severity of nerve fiber damage in the central nervous system. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently. Other individuals may experience long periods of remission with no new symptoms.
There is currently no cure, but treatments are available to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms.
GETTING TO WORK
There is a bright side to Brown’s harrowing diagnosis.
In characteristic fashion, she threw herself immediately into the fight to find a cure. She was diagnosed in 2008 and began her association with the National MS Society the next year, where she’s been a valuable fundraiser and leader ever since.
To help find a cure and support those with MS, Brown is active in the MS Society’s main worldwide fundraiser, Walk MS.
“Walk MS brings us together,” she said. “I love that it gives me the opportunity to make others aware. It helps me feel not so alone. When I was diagnosed, I felt very alone.”
Walk MS is an event held in hundreds of cities throughout the world where the MS community, including supporters and loved ones, come together to walk, run or bike in support of those living with MS and raise funds to help find a cure.
Everyone is welcome to participate. There is no registration fee or fundraising minimum. While there is no fee to participate, every dollar raised helps those living with MS and their supporters. Since its inception in 1988, Walk MS has raised more than $1 billion to help people with MS and their caregivers.
According to Brown, the funds don’t all go to science. Some are used for critical but sometimes overlooked things, like respite care for caregivers, walking devices or vehicles that are wheelchair accessible.
“I do this for everybody, and, of course, it could be me one day that needs these things.”
WALK MS FREDERICK
Frederick’s next Walk MS event begins at 9 a.m. April 13 at Frederick High School. The day starts with a snack, sponsor booths, photos and an official ceremony.
At 10 a.m., participants start walking on the site’s supported and accessible routes, winding their way through Baker Park and back to Frederick High. There is a 3-mile route and a 1-mile route for those not quite as ambitious. The route is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. The event concludes at noon.
New attractions this year include the Center for People Living with MS and Circles of Support. The Center provides information about the MS Society programs and resources, including self-help groups and navigators. Individuals living with MS also receive swag items there.
Circles of Support provides complimentary hand-held circles to use during the opening ceremony: yellow for those who support the mission to cure MS, green for those who love or care for someone with MS and orange for those who live with MS. The waving signs are sure to be a memorable scene at the event.
Since recent COVID-19 restrictions have been detrimental to the Frederick walk, Brown has been asked to help rejuvenate this year’s event. Her role is to be a powerhouse fundraiser and key awareness advocate for the society and walk. She has done so for many years. She heads up a team affectionately known as Robin’s Peeps, a group of 10 to 12 team members who bring awareness to MS, raise funds and support each other.
In 2023, Frederick’s MS Walk raised about $62,000 and had 295 participants. Brown and her team raised $15,000 of this total and was the top team in Frederick. Brown personally raised $13,475 of the $15,000, which ranked her No. 157 in the nation, out of more than 100,000 participants.
The goal for the 2024 Walk is to have more than 350 participants and raise $67,000. The Greater D.C.-Maryland chapter, of which Brown is a member, aims to raise $1.2 million this year during their 10 Walk MS events in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
LIVING WITH MS
Brown does all this even though she has been one of the lucky ones whose symptoms have not progressed over the years. She doesn’t take this good fortune for granted. She leads an active life and works full-time as an associate agent in a busy insurance office.
“I know how lucky I am. I found the correct neurologist for me, and together we chose the correct treatment,” she said. “I use a medication called Rebif, which is injected three times a week. I am faithful to it, and it’s worked well for me. I’ve been on that same treatment since September 2008, and it has held everything at bay.”
Brown also credits her support system as key to her success. She counts support from her husband, mother, sister, other family members and countless friends as immeasurable.
“It is support for which I never have to ask. I attribute my success to working hard to manage my MS and to this unwavering support.”
Her deceased father also plays a surprisingly key role.
“My dad, who passed away in ’22, was always amazed about my attitude toward MS. He used to say that I have such a positive attitude that it’s never going to beat me. I hold on to that. It’s almost as if I just don’t want to let him down.”
Brown also co-leads a local peer support group called Messy Friends, with Dee Walter, a fellow MS warrior. The group allows folks to know they are not alone. They serve as a resource to provide information and share individual experiences.
“We Messy Friends don’t know everything, but we usually have access to information that’s helpful,” she said.
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.
