Frederick Uncut - FNP Podcasts: Recent Episodes
The Frederick News-Post
Frederick Uncut is a podcast where we invite area newsmakers to discuss issues pertinent to Frederick County during an unedited, unfiltered interview.
Dr. Randall Culpepper, deputy health officer for Frederick County, joins host Heather Mongilio to discuss the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, including how public health officials determine if the state hit a peak, what needs to be done for the state to think about reopening and what people should know about the data being put out by health departments.
On March 23 Frederick resident Barbara Barry was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Fighting the illness in isolation at home, Barry thought she might die. Barry Joined health reporter and host Heather Mongilio on the phone to discuss what the experience was like and how she feels after being cleared by medical professionals.
Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday morning that he would enact a stay-at-home order, effective at 8 p.m.Outside of essential activities, such as going to an essential job, grocery shopping or going to the pharmacy, people are to stay at their homes. They may go for walks, runs or bike rides outside, although they are to practice social distancing.Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio recaps the latest COVID-19 news, as well as news the past week in Frederick County.
On the same day Governor Larry Hogan announced an executive order to close all non-essential businesses to curb the spread of COVID-19, Frederick County confirmed its first two cases of community spread of the virus SARS-CoV-2.
Host Heather Mongilio discusses what this means for the fight to contain the virus in Frederick and what we can expect with the shutdown of so many businesses.
With all the COVID-19 news, two questions are on the tops of people’s minds. Will schools actually reopen and what should I do with my kids until then?
Frederick Uncut host Heather Mongilio spoke with Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Terry Alban, by phone, for an update on schools. Alban does not know if schools will reopen, but teachers and the school system are preparing for online instruction if necessary.
A Frederick County resident tested positive for COVID-19.
Minutes later, Gov. Larry Hogan announced a statewide closure of bars, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters.
Host Heather Mongilio speaks with city editor Allen Etzler about the changes in Frederick County under the COVID-19 pandemic. Then Mongilio speaks with food and education reporter Katryna Perera about school closures.
Perera also talks about her most recent food review and how that will change with restaurants closing.
With COVID-19, Frederick Uncut may be dropping more episodes in addition to the weekly episode.
Dr. John Dye, chief of viral immunology at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, joins host Heather Mongilio to discuss what researchers have learned so far about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.
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County Executive Jan Garnder, along with several county officials, held a briefing Monday afternoon to discuss the county's preparation for if or when the county sees a case of the new coronavirus disease, officially called COVID-19.
There are six cases of COVID-19 in Maryland, as of March 9, with four in neighboring Montgomery County, one in Prince George's County and one in Harford.
Producer Heather Mongilio spoke with Gardner after her briefing to speak more about how Frederick County is preparing for COVID-19.
Then food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins Mongilio to first talk about how the public school system and colleges are handling the coronavirus news. Perera then tells Mongilio about her latest food review.
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The new coronavirus, which first appeared in December in Wuhan, China, has been on many minds, especially as cases in the United States rise.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are at least 90 cases in the United States and six deaths in Washington state.
Globally, the disease has infected nearly 90,000 people and killed approximately 3,000.
There are a lot of questions and unknowns about the disease. To answer some, Frederick County Health Officer Dr. Barbara Brookmyer joined Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio to talk about COVID-19.
Then, food and education reporter Katryna Perera joined Mongilio to speak about her latest food review.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is a massive education reform proposal currently before members of the Maryland General Assembly.
There are two questions many are asking about the education reform, also known as the Kirwan bills. The first is, what will the bills do for Frederick County?
The second is, how will Frederick County pay for the reform?
To answer some of these questions, producer Heather Mongilio met with County Executive Jan Gardner and Joy Schaefer, government affairs director with the county executive’s office. Schaefer sat on the Kirwan Commission.
Mongilio then met with statehouse and county reporter Steve Bohnel, followed by food and education reporter Katryna Perera about different aspects of Kirwan.
Perera also spoke with Mongilio about her latest review. This week she looks at restaurants across the county participating in Restaurant Week.
Meghan King remembers buying heroin that came with a warning that the batch was strong.
She remembers preparing it and using it.
Then she remembers coming to after her boyfriend gave her Narcan.
King joined producer Heather Mongilio to discuss being in recovery and her 15-year struggle to stay sober. King is just shy of four months sober.
King spoke to Mongilio as part of a story on the number of opioid overdoses in 2019. Crime and courts reporter Jeremy Arias, who wrote the story with Mongilio, also joined her to discuss their reporting.
Then, food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins Mongilio to talk about her latest review. Music in this episode was used under a creative commons license and can be found at the link below. Relaxing Piano Music by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4273-relaxing-piano-music/License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Members of the deaf community in Frederick County have come together with a singular goal.
They want to create a Maryland Deaf Community Center, a centralized location for services and that would also serve as a community meeting place.
The group met Feb. 3 to talk about the creation of the center. President Linda Stoltz and Vice President Lori Bonheyo joined Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio to discuss the creation of a center.
Then, education and food reporter Katryna Perera joined Mongilio to talk about a Nazi flag that was hanging in a window at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School over the weekend.
The flag is used as part of a specific history class, Perera told Mongilio.
Perera also talks to Mongilio about a pop-up cocktail bar in Buckeystown that brings Valentine's Day to patrons in the form of cocktails and small bites.
More and more, homelessness in downtown Frederick has become a topic of discussion over how to address the problem.
To do a comparison of how the city of Frederick approaches homelessness, The News-Post sent city reporter Colin McGuire to two cities in the South to see how other governments address it.
City editor Allen Etzler joins producer Heather Mongilio to discuss the three-part series, which ran last week. Etzler also previews the upcoming week of news in Frederick County.
Then food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins Mongilio to discuss her latest review of a Japanese restaurant in Hagerstown.
While much of the conversation about diseases right now is focused on the coronavirus from China, the flu has been in Maryland for several weeks.
In Maryland alone, there have been 16,766 confirmed cases of the flu with 15 deaths, as of Jan. 18.
In Frederick County, there is at least one flu-related death. On Jan. 20, 5-year-old Lochlin DeSantis died from flu-related sepsis. Lochlin was a happy, giving child who was always running and always had a smile on his face.
City editor Allen Etzler temporarily takes over hosting duties to interview producer Heather Mongilio about her story on Lochlin. She spoke about how his parents invited her and editor Graham Cullen into their homes around 48 hours before Lochlin's funeral so that they could spread the message about flu-related sepsis.
Then Etzler tells Mongilio about other stories coming up in Frederick County this week before food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins Mongilio for her latest food review.
Finally, Mongilio accompanied crime and courts reporter Jeremy Arias and transportation reporter Ryan Marshall as they donated blood. Arias joins Mongilio in the studio to discuss why the two donated blood.
At the animal shelter at Frederick County Animal Control, a fair number of cages are empty. It is surprising considering how many articles talk about pets coming to shelters after people decide they no longer want the Christmas puppy or kitten.
Fortunately, the Frederick County shelter does not see that many returned Christmas animals, division director Linda Shea told producer Heather Mongilio.
Shea spoke with Mongilio about adopting an animal and gave her a tour of the shelter.
Then, crime and courts reporter Jeremy Arias joins Mongilio to talk about two boys who read to dogs at the shelter to help them calm down.
City editor Allen Etzler also joins to talk about the upcoming news of the week and recap what happened last week.
Finally, food and education reporter Katryna Perera stops by with pizza to talk about her latest review.
For comic book store owners, the popularity of Marvel Studios films and DC Comics films and television shows has not necessarily translated into more sales.
Instead, the two comic book stores in Frederick County have found new ways to encourage customers to come into their stores.
Business reporter Erika Riley joined producer Heather Mongilio in the studio to talk about her story. For Riley, looking at the comic book industry is a little personal since she grew up with parents who own a comic book store.
Local comic book store owners John Frazier, of Brainstorm Comics & Gaming, and Jon Cohen, of Beyond Comics, joined Mongilio individually in the studio to talk about their different ways of encouraging customers to come into their stores.
Then city editor Allen Etzler joins Mongilio to preview the rest of the week, including a big announcement for the Frederick County Board of Education.
Then, food and education reporter Katryna Perera comes to the studio to talk about her latest food review.
The Maryland legislative session kicks off Wednesday.
Each year, delegates and senators from jurisdictions throughout Maryland introduce bills that could potentially become law. Already, the Maryland General Assembly members have pre-filed some bills, including ones on contraceptives, the Public Information Act, and definitions of crimes, to name a few.
To discuss the upcoming session, The Frederick News-Post's county and statehouse reporter, Steve Bohnel, and city editor Allen Etzler joined producer Heather Mongilio in the studio.
The three previewed the legislation that could come this session before diving into how The News-Post will cover this session.
While Frederick Uncut might discuss some politics during the session, for weekly political news and updates on legislation, subscribe to FNP Politics to listen to In Session.
Food and education reporter Katryna Perera and Mongilio closed out the episode by discussing Italian food and Perera's latest review.
Goodbye, 2019. Hello, 2020.
To usher in 2020, producer Heather Mongilio and city editor Allen Etzler look back on the top stories of 2019 and the big themes of the last decade.
It was a busy year for Frederick with the city of Frederick and the county facing growing pains, two high-profile killings, a pediatrician charged with many sexual offenses, including 98 additional counts announced Monday. There were flood damage repairs, a conman, and multiple high school football champions.
Then Etzler talks about the future of The News-Post and what stories reporters will be working on in the coming year.
Food and education reporter Katryna Perera then joins Mongilio for her weekly restaurant review.
Star Wars wrapped up its third trilogy last week with "Rise of Skywalker." The film had mixed reviews, but for local super fan Rob Cross, it was a great ending to a movie series he first started as a child.
Cross is part of the 501st Legion Old Line Garrison, where he cosplays as Darth Vader. The legion is a nonprofit that sends Star Wars villains to hospitals and other events to greet people and brighten their mood.
Cross joined producer Heather Mongilio to talk about the last Star Wars movie and how he becomes Vader.
Then business reporter Erika Riley joins Mongilio to talk about financial troubles facing marijuana businesses because of banking restrictions.
To cap the episode off, city editor Allen Etzler discusses what stories Uncut missed and what is to come this week.
Recycling. It's something many Frederick County residents do.
As County Councilman Phil Dacey, who joined Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio, said, recycling has been ingrained in people as the right thing to do.
But recycling is costing the county around $6 million this year. And because of how recycled materials are sold on the market, the county is not recouping the money.
County government reporter Steve Bohnel joined Mongilio to talk about recycling in Frederick County, as well as how the different council members, including Dacey, are reacting. He also explains some of the options being discussed by the county government.
Later, city editor Allen Etzler joins Mongilio to recap the last week and look forward to news to come this week.
Then, food and education reporter Katryna Perera comes into the studio to talk about her latest food review.
Beer and trivia. Music with dinner. Yoga and a cocktail.
It will now be easier for breweries, distilleries and restaurants under 10,000 square feet to provide entertainment. The City of Frederick Board of Alderman unanimously approved an ordinance that would allow entertainment as long as it was inside, at least 500 feet away from residential properties — if not in a few specific zones — and was between a set time period, depending on the day.
Local establishment owners hailed the passing of the ordinance as a way of staying competitive with the Baltimore and D.C. markets.
For musicians, especially, the ordinance means more venues in a city that lost three in a span of a couple months.
Business reporter Erika Riley spoke with Andrew Bromhal, of Silent Old Mtns., about the ordinance, as well as a bartender at Olde Mother, where the band was playing.
Then editor Allen Etzler joins producer Heather Mongilio for a quick recap of the rest of the week in news.
And food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins Mongilio to talk about her latest food review. This time, she went to Foster's on the Point in Hagerstown.
Paul Foss stood in the what will be a double-wide trailer home. Right now, it looks more like a construction zone.
Walls and floors are planks. People, who are volunteers, were using construction equipment to continue the necessary work.
If Foss has his way, the mobile home construction site will be a mobile home ready for a family. In eyesight of the site is the reason so many people are volunteering to ready the mobile home. It is another mobile home. One that is blackened and charred, with about a third missing, the results of a Nov. 18 fire.
The family who lived there lost everything, Foss told producer Heather Mongilio. So his organization, Waterboyz for Jesus, stepped up to help rehome the family by the winter holidays.
Mongilio met Foss at the mobile home construction site to hear more about what happened to the family and what needs to happen to ready the trailer.
Then, food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins Mongilio to talk about her latest food review. She reviews a bar in Walkersville that ranges from sandwiches to filet mignon.
Frederick, like most other counties in Maryland, is facing an opioid crisis that does not discriminate based on age.
So, Sean Nicholson and the Phoenix Foundation want to bring a recovery high school to the downtown area as another way to tackle substance use disorder.
The high school is slated to open in September 2020 at 117 E. Church St., the current home of Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County.
Nicholson joined producer Heather Mongilio to talk about the recovery high school.
Then, city editor Allen Etzler and Mongilio give a quick recap of other news in the week before food and education reporter Katryna Perera talks about her latest review.
Perera gives out a five-star review to a local Italian market and offers advice for getting one of its signature sandwiches.
For students, snow days can be a blessing. After all, there is a reason there are many superstitions aimed at making it snow enough for school to be canceled.
But the Frederick County Board of Education might make a change to snow days that makes them less fun for students.
The board recently discussed the idea of virtual classes on snow days, where students have assignments that can be completed while at home.
There are complications and questions unanswered about how virtual classes would work that the board will consider before making a decision.
Education and food reporter Katryna Perera joins producer Heather Mongilio to talk about the possible schedule for next school year overall. Then the two discuss some of the benefits and challenges virtual classes would present.
City editor Allen Etzler, who attended Frederick County Public Schools, joins Mongilio later to also discuss the classes.
Etzler also offers a look ahead to some of the stories in The Frederick News-Post.
Finally, Perera joins Mongilio once again, this time to discuss the different food, often pork, a lot of pork, that she tried while vacationing in the Philippines.
Around 10:30 a.m. Monday, taps began playing. Musician after musician lifted their instruments to their mouth in order to "pass the call" from Mount Olivet Cemetery to Memorial Park.
After taps finished, local officials and residents to honor veterans at a ceremony around the monuments dedicated to wars.
Producer Heather Mongilio spoke with Ron Moss, who played taps on Monday, as well as some other veterans, about the holiday and issues facing veterans.
Then Shaun Butcher, the coordinator of the Brunswick Veterans Day Parade, joined Mongilio in the studio to talk about one of the oldest parades honoring veterans.
After, food and education reporter Katryna Perera talks to Mongilio about her latest food review.
The Washington Nationals made history with their 6-2 win Oct. 30, bringing home the team’s first World Series win.The World Series was even more special for Dennis Hetrick, who was one of the official scorers during the Nationals’ home games.Hetrick, who served as a long-time Keys scorer, joins producer Heather Mongilio and sports reporter Greg Swatek in the studio to first explain what a scorer is and talk about his World Series experience.Then food reporter Katryna Perera also joins Mongilio to talk about her latest food review. She got to experience high quality dining in a bit of a surprising place.
Before Keitchia Morris was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had a job, a house, a car.
But two years later, after several months of chemotherapy and surgeries, Morris is homeless.
Morris spoke with Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio at Faith House, a women's shelter where Morris stayed for several months while recovering from surgery related to her breast cancer.
She spoke about her treatment and some of the financial struggles she has faced since her breast cancer diagnosis.
Then Mongilio spoke with Irene Hollis, oncology financial counselor, and Jodi Gerber, a clinical social worker, at the James M. Stockman Cancer Institute. Hollis and Gerber spoke about how the cancer institute helps patients understand the costs associated with their cancer treatment, including those that are not medical.
Finally, education and food reporter Katryna Perera steps into the studio to talk about her latest food review.
A witch lives in the woods of Burkittsville. Well, not actually.
But 20 years ago, after the release of “The Blair Witch Project,” concerned viewers and people thought the students, who were really actors, were missing. That was in part due to marketing techniques by Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick, who created a website and flyers that made it appear that the students had disappeared.
That meant calls to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, which was listed on promotional materials. Even to The Frederick News-Post.
And the filming did not even take place in woods near Burkittsville. That was in Seneca Creek State Park.
There are still call-backs to Burkittsville in the movie, and features reporter Crystal Schelle and producer Heather Mongilio met at a cemetery in Burkitsville to talk about the movie.
Schelle also spoke with Sánchez about the movie’s lasting effects on the town.
Then food and education reporter Katryna Perera goes back to school with her food review. Perera tried lunches at elementary, middle and high schools, and she was pleasantly surprised with what she found.
Among common tips for staying friends with people or avoiding uncomfortable family dinners is to stay away from discussions about politics.
But Jim Carpenter and Natalie Abbas want to talk politics in a respectful and empathetic way. And the two — a Democrat from Frederick and a Republican from Myersville — want to help others in Frederick County have these discussions.
The two are part of Better Angels, an organization founded in 2016, to teach people how to talk politics.
Carpenter and Abbas join City Editor Allen Etzler to talk about having politically-charged conversations and give suggestions for how to handle some hot-button topics.
Then food and education reporter Katryna Perera joins producer Heather Mongilio to talk about her latest review at Cinco de Mayo, which has locations in Urbana and Middletown.
Horse-drawn carriages are a common site in downtown Frederick around the holidays.
So are the protests that accompany them.
The Frederick Board of Aldermen recently took up the issue of horse-drawn carriages again, this time looking at how often horses need to take a break.
City reporter Colin McGuire joins producer Heather Mongilio to talk about the history behind the horse-drawn carriages and the aldermen’s latest decision.
Then, food reporter Katryna Perera joins the show to talk about her latest food review.
The city of Frederick is beginning to create its comprehensive plan, and city officials want public feedback.
There's a questionnaire on the city's website, but the city has offered a new tool as well in the form of an interactive map. Now, people can select an area on the map, such as a particular road, and submit a comment. Those comments are then sent to the planning department for review.
Comments are then made public, so anyone, including producer Heather Mongilio, can look at them. Mongilio invited Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor to talk more about the comprehensive plan and the interactive map.
Then Mongilio goes to Brunswick, where she spoke with Councilman Nathan Brown about the movement to create a conservation district for its downtown.
Finally, food and education reporter Katryna Perera comes into the studio to talk about her latest food review.
The past few years have been rough on farmers.
Changing economics, weather and other factors have caused family-run farms — especially those in the dairy industry, — to sell land or the complete farm to make ends meet.
Even in Frederick County, the number of dairy farms are dwindling. In 1950, there were 1,369. As of Aug. 7, there were 60, according to the story reported by Kate Masters and Allen Etzler.
Masters and Etzler spoke to the next generation of farmers. The ones who are taking over the farms left in the county.
Etzler joined producer Heather Mongilio to talk about reporting the story and what he took away.
Then, Ben Sowers, co-owner of South Mountain Creamery, talks to Mongilio about taking over his family farm with his sister and his hopes for his children and his sister’s children.
Mongilio and county reporter Steve Bohnel also recap the latest on the two teenage brothers charged in the assault and death of a 59-year-old Mount Airy man at The Great Frederick Fair.
And finally, education and new food reporter Katryna Perera stops by to talk about a restaurant she described as an “Indian Chipotle”.
It's the middle of September, the pumpkin spice latte has returned to Starbucks, and Maryland is experiencing the second coming of summer.
But in Frederick County, the middle of September means one thing: the return of The Great Frederick Fair.
And the fair is great, in size alone. But to break it down a bit more, Frederick Uncut brings the guide to The Great Frederick Fair.
First, crime and courts reporter Jeremy Arias joins producer Heather Mongilio to discuss ride safety. The rides at the fair are inspected leading up to the beginning of the fair, and, as Arias explained, possibly during as well.
Then Mongilio and county reporter Steve Bohnel take on The fair. Together, the two discuss everything fairgoers might need to know, from parking to food.
At its core, The Great Frederick Fair is an agriculture event, and Bohnel and Mongilio, admittedly two city-bred reporters, witnessed the birth of Buttercup, a calf.
Desiree Tucker came to Frederick County for the opportunity to send her children to a better public school system.
She and her husband moved from Prince George's County. He worried about their children attending school in a largely white county, but Tucker said it was similar to how she grew up.
Her child went through kindergarten, and Tucker told producer Heather Mongilio there were some eye-opening moments when it came to the lack of diversity in the school's curriculum.
Then education reporter Katryna Perera spoke with Board of Education member Michael Bunitsky about the Racial Equity Committee and ways that FCPS does and does not include diversity in the curriculum.
Perera joins Mongilio to talk about reporting the story after speaking with Bunitsky.
[Editor’s Note: Frederick County Public Schools was invited to take part in this podcast discussion, but no representative was made available. A request for written comment went unanswered.]
School has yet to start for the students at Parkway Elementary School, but it is the parents, and some kids, that have butterflies over the upcoming school year.
Due to low teacher staffing, Frederick County Public Schools had to choose between classrooms with one teacher to approximately 30 kids or multi-grade classrooms. The schools went with the latter.
At Parkway, there are only nine teachers this year, down from 12 the previous one.
Producer Heather Mongilio spoke with education reporter Katryna Perera about what multi-grade classrooms are and why parents feel uneasy about the decision.
Then three parents of Parkway students join Mongilio to talk about how the decision will affect them.
Representatives from Frederick County Public Schools were unable to comment by deadline Monday.
Finally, features reporter Kate Masters joins Mongilio to speak about TLC's "90 Day Fiancé," which features a Frederick resident. Masters and Mongilio also speak about Burger King's Impossible Whopper and whether people can tell the difference between a beef and a plant-based burger.
Tristan Poffenberger's "American Ninja Warrior" dream ended not with a bang but a splash during the Baltimore city finals.
The 19-year-old finished 14th in the qualifying round, also in Baltimore, but the third obstacle in the city final proved too challenging. Poffenberger is one of the handful of Frederick County residents to take on the obstacle courses over the years.
And he told Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio and Sports Editor Josh Smith that he hopes to come back next year.
Poffenberger spoke with Mongilio and Smith about his two runs and what it took to get on the show. Poffenberger also shares his story about growing up with parents who had trouble with substance use and how that led to "American Ninja Warrior."
Later, features reporter Kate Masters joins Mongilio to discuss how Frederick's city ordinance makes it difficult for breweries and distilleries to have entertainment.
Connie Ray, program manager of the Frederick Food Security Network, and Hood College student Heidi Gonzalez Ramirez spent Monday morning digging holes.
The two were helping to build a greenhouse that will be used as part of the Frederick Food Security Network. The network uses produce from community gardens around the city, including those at The Frederick News-Post, to help provide fresh fruit and vegetables to those living in food deserts.
Ray and Ramirez joined Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio to talk about the Frederick Food Security Network, community gardens and a new cold storage room through a grant from the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek.
Later, features reporter Kate Masters joins Mongilio to talk about her two-part series on statues in Frederick. Masters wrote about fashion designer Claire McCardell, whom people can thank for ballet flats and pockets on dresses.
A statue honoring McCardell is planned. This week in 72 Hours, Masters looks at other well-known statues around the area, including trying to figure out what the statue outside Frederick City Hall is called.
When Trudy Suggs, her husband and four children go to the movies, they have three options.
They can use glasses that provide captions, use a screen that reflects captions projected from the back of the theater or go to an open captioned screening, where captions are part of the film.
Suggs and her family are part of Frederick County's deaf community, and she spoke with producer Heather Mongilio about the how the local movie theater works to be accessible to the deaf community.
While the movie theater does try to be accommodating, there are still room for improvement, Suggs said.
Then News-Post reporter Becky Duke Wiesenberg, who wrote the story, spoke with Mongilio about why she wanted to report on the deaf community and how she found the Frederick Deaf Moviegoers on Facebook.
Later, Mongilio discussed the latest with the research halt at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Then, Mongilio and News-Post reporter Hannah Himes traveled to Urbana where they spoke with the O'Hopp family about two giant pumpkins they are growing.
Walking in downtown Frederick, vacant buildings are likely on only a few people's minds.
People stop at the local restaurants, peruse merchandise in store windows or grab a drink at one of the bars.
But people stop their downtown stroll at 3rd Street, where a patch of vacant storefronts discourages people from continuing down Market Street, city Alderman Ben MacShane said.
MacShane and Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio walked around downtown Frederick looking at buildings that quickly gained new tenants and those that have sat empty for a year or longer.
During the tour, MacShane talked about a proposed ordinance that would create a registry for vacant buildings.
Later in the episode, features reporter Kate Masters joins Mongilio to talk about the upcoming edition of 72 Hours.
The city of Frederick unveiled its logo over the past month and a half. When the city posted it to its Facebook page July 2, backlash was swift.
Commenters described the logo as looking like a wounded duck or something their children did in kindergarten. Others questioned the money the new design cost and why the city chose an out-of-state firm.
New-Post reporter Jeremy Arias joins Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio in the studio to talk about the new logo, the backlash and steps moving forward.
Then Frederick Alderman Roger Wilson speaks with Mongilio about the process and lack of public input into the new logo.
Later in the episode, Mongilio speaks with Go Team Therapy Dogs handlers about bringing their trained therapy dogs to the Frederick County Courthouse.
Man landed on the moon nearly 50 years ago.
Mike Menzel, then 9, watch as Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon's surface. He was a child of the Space Age, he told reporter Hannah Himes, and the moon landing helped inspire him to go into a space-related career.
"As I said, I was a child of the space program," he said. "I wanted to be, when I was growing up, I knew I wanted to be an astronomer or an astronaut or some kind of engineer that designed spacecraft[s]."
Menzel now works for NASA.
Himes spoke with Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio about interviewing Menzel. Her story will come out later this week.
Later in the episode, Mongilio toured the new Mission of Mercy mobile dental clinic and spoke with Dental Director Roslyn Kellum.
Then, sports reporter Greg Swatek joins Mongilio to speak about the late Don Boyer, longtime track and field coach at Middletown High School. Swatek will talk more about Boyer on The Frederick News-Post's podcast, The Final Score.
Features reporter Kate Masters then joins Mongilio in the studio to talk about 72 Hours.
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A physician on the Golden Mile wants to bring a shuttle to the area to help people get better access to health care and to basic needs.
The Golden Mile circulator, yet to be named, will be paid for by Dr. Julio Menocal, who owns a practice on Baughmans Lane. The shuttle will likely start in November and run twice a day.
Menocal first started thinking about a shuttle system about five years ago. He will meeting with members of the Golden Mile Alliance and county staff this month about his plans.
Menocal spoke with producer Heather Mongilio about bringing a shuttle to the area, why it is needed and what gave him the idea.
Later in the episode, features reporter Kate Masters joins Mongilio to talk about the upcoming issue of 72 Hours. Masters spoke about a cat cafe coming to Frederick, as well as new legal changes that allow distilleries to sell cocktails.
Depending on whom you ask, the nine Supreme Court justices dealt Maryland a blow Thursday when they decided that the federal court did not have jurisdiction over gerrymandering.
The Supreme Court decided Thursday, in a 5-4 vote, that they could not decide if the map of the 6th Congressional District in Maryland or a map in North Carolina was unfairly drawn to give an advantage to one political party over the other.
Walter Olson, a Frederick County resident who served as co-chair of Gov. Larry Hogan’s Redistricting Reform Commission, was in Washington, D.C., for the decision and called it “disappointing.”
“I’m going to say that we are all losers because a fairer system benefits both parties,” Olson said.
Olson spoke with Frederick Uncut producers Heather Mongilio and Allen Etzler about the Supreme Court’s decision and what it means for the state.
“If it weren’t for the states behaving so badly on this, we wouldn’t be here talking about remedies,” Olson said. “So really, even though Congress is where I would like to point, the real ultimate failing is that of state legislatures who are being self-serving, both when they draw their own legislative districts, as plain a conflict of interest as they can be stepping into, and also when they devise districts in the U.S. House of Representatives in order to pursue politics as they do.”
Later in the episode, Etzler and Mongilio speak with Paul Milton, the new editor of The Frederick News-Post. Milton reflects on the importance of journalism and the role of community newspapers.
Then, features editor Mallory Panuska joins the producers to talk about the upcoming issue of 72 Hours, including a preview of an article by county government reporter Steve Bohnel on some of the local dive bars.
A large crowd filled Carroll Creek Linear Park on Saturday, with many on hand dressed in rainbow colors as they celebrated Frederick Pride.
Frederick Pride, an annual event, celebrates acceptance and inclusivity for those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. This year was also the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City’s Greenwich Village.
Frederick Pride is a day of celebration, but the LGBTQ+ community in Frederick continues to face issues. Kris Fair, chair at The Frederick Center, joined Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio and city editor Allen Etzler to discuss how attitudes toward those in the LGBTQ+ community have changed since the first Frederick Pride, then called Picnic in the Park to protect those who attended.
Although there have been great strides, Fair said the Frederick community still has more work to do.
“I would argue that nobody in this country, no city in this country, no matter how diverse, is there yet as far as truly protecting LGBTQ people,” Fair said. “So it’s our job to go out and find better and more affirming ways of doing it.”
Later in the episode, features reporter Kate Masters speaks with Mongilio about a burlesque studio in Boonsboro and whether that would be possible in Frederick.
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A fire broke out in seven town houses in the 500 block of Carrollton Drive in Frederick shortly before 9 a.m. June 7. Eighteen people were displaced, and the town houses considered a total loss.
The Red Cross, as well as a local church, is assisting the displaced residents. News-Post reporter Rebecca Duke Wiesenberg joins producers Heather Mongilio and Allen Etzler to talk about the fire.
Mongilio also spoke with Sarah Davis, disaster program manager with the Western Maryland chapter of the Red Cross. Davis discussed how Red Cross is helping those displaced by the fire.
Later, Mongilio and Etzler discuss Mongilio’s story with News-Post reporter Jeremy Arias on how doctors and police officers give death notifications before talking about Etzler’s upcoming cover story for 72 Hours’ Pride edition.
Linking Youth with New Experiences (LYNX) at Frederick High School connects students with opportunities, such as internships or learning new skills that they might not have with traditional high school education.
LYNX celebrated its second year, and education reporter Katryna Perera attended both the ceremony and a classroom experience where she spoke with students, Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Terry Alban and the chef leading students through how to cook a three-course meal.
Frederick Uncut host Heather Mongilio and Perera welcomed LYNX advocate Beth Sands into the studio to hear more about the program.
"Every student at Frederick High School is a LYNX student," Sands said. "They don't have to apply to be a LYNX student. The minute they walk into those doors as freshmen, they're LYNX students."
Later in the episode, Mongilio speaks with features reporter Kate Masters about her story on a guitar shop in downtown Frederick, as well as what is coming up in the latest edition of 72 Hours.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing the second-largest outbreak of Ebola.
As of June 1, the World Health Organization confirmed 1,900 cases with 1,245 confirmed deaths.
An international response team from Battelle’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Integrated Research Facility traveled to the DRC to help train local responders on testing Ebola samples. The team also goes to Liberia to work on ongoing clinical trials.
Bonnie Dighero-Kemp and Gregory Kocher join producer Heather Mongilio in the podcast studio to speak about their work with Ebola.
Fort Detrick’s connection to Ebola extends back to the late 1970s, when Ebola was discovered. Later in the episode, Dr. John Dye, with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, joins Mongilio to talk about the hemorrhagic fever and the advances USAMRIID has made.
Finally, Cols. Nancy and Jerry Jaax, who worked for USAMRIID in the 1980s and were featured in Richard Preston’s “The Hot Zone,” now a National Geographic Channel show, will speak with Mongilio.
Friends and family described Heather Williams as a kind-hearted person who would help anyone.
On May 2, Williams, of Jefferson, was found deceased at her boyfriend’s home. Her boyfriend, Chris Lee Myers, 39, of Jefferson, was arrested and charged in her death.
Producers Heather Mongilio and Allen Etzler spoke with reporter CJ Fairfield about a vigil she attended for Williams.
At the vigil, Fairfield spoke with Williams’ parents. Her father encouraged people to donate to Heartly House in Williams’ memory.
Williams’ friend Jordan Abel spoke about her own abusive relationship and how Williams helped her leave it.
Later in the episode, Abel speaks with Mongilio and Etzler about her experience with domestic violence and ways people can help survivors.
The Frederick News-Post’s arts and culture publication, 72 Hours, is undergoing a redesign.
The layout will incorporate a cleaner look with more white space and art. There will be new columns, including an advice column and a music section, and the food review section is getting a new name.
Features editor Mallory Panuska, features reporter Kate Masters and page designer Katlynn Almansor join Frederick Uncut producer Heather Mongilio in the studio where they discussed the new design of the publication.
Masters also spoke about the first piece in a series looking at the arts scene in Frederick and some of the obstacles local artists face in creating art downtown. Her story will be the cover of the edition coming out Thursday.
Later, city editor Allen Etzler joins Mongilio in the studio to recap some of the news of the week, including a look at flood coverage, an partnership with local law enforcement and the FBI to catch sexual predators and the results of a point-in-time survey on homelessness.
A downpour in mid-May 2018 left stormwater drains overflowing, cars submerged and millions of dollars in damage to local infrastructure. Frederick County experienced a half-foot of rain during the storms.
On the first day of rain, May 15, 911 received more than 300 calls and local fire and rescue services performed more than 60 rescues. Riders of the MARC train heading for Brunswick were stalled on the tracks for hours. The damage to the infrastructure was about $6 million, with an additional $16 million of damage to businesses and residents.
As Wednesday marks the first anniversary of the flooding, Frederick Uncut producers Heather Mongilio and Wyatt Massey review what happened in May 2018 and how the rising waters affected the community.
Later in the episode, environmental, agriculture and statehouse reporter Samantha Hogan joins to talk about the anniversary story she worked on with city reporter Jeremy Arias.
After an unannounced lockdown drill at Middletown High School in mid-April, questions about how safety drills are handled in local schools revealed the fine line school leaders walk between traumatizing students and preparing them for this reality.
Unannounced drills to prepare for active shooters are becoming increasingly common as schools have been the scene of high-profile shootings, such as the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.
This week, Frederick Uncut producers Heather Mongilio and Wyatt Massey discuss how Frederick County Public Schools handles unannounced drills.
Later, students Laurelle Maubert, a 15-year-old at Saint James School, and Navian Scarlett, a 17-year-old senior at Frederick High School us to talk about their experiences with the drills and how it affects students.
After more than a year of public hearings and heated debate, the Brunswick City Council voted to send a letter of support for an affordable housing project on the Railroad Square site.
Verdant Development Group will still need to submit a site plan and take other steps — including presenting to the city’s Planning Commission — before the project would be brought back before the council for full approval.
Understanding the full story of the Railroad Square development requires going back more than a year. This week, Frederick Uncut producers Heather Mongilio and Wyatt Massey speak with reporter Kate Masters, who was covering Brunswick when the development was introduced.
Members of the Brunswick community were concerned the affordable housing development would increase crime in the area or hurt local property values, according to Masters.
Later in the episode, Mongilio and Massey discuss the recent updates on the project and how feelings among community members have shifted as the project has been updated. At a public gathering the day before the City Council meeting, several residents who said they were opposed to the project when it was first introduced said they were more willing to see the project move through the planning stages.
Local and state leaders have turned their attention to tobacco use with a number of events and initiatives in the county to prevent the habit, especially among young people.
This week, Frederick Uncut producers Heather Mongilio and Wyatt Massey speak with several reporters from The Frederick News-Post about stories related to prevention of tobacco use. First, legislative reporter Samantha Hogan discusses how Maryland’s changing the legal age to buy cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 is designed to curb usage.
Later in the episode, city reporter Jeremy Arias talks about a trip to West Frederick Middle School in March for a program hosted by the Asian American Center of Frederick to raise awareness about the health problems with tobacco use. Students rang a bell every 72 seconds to signify the rate in America in which someone dies from a tobacco-related illness.
Finally, Mongilio talks about a trend educators are seeing with children in middle and high school using e-cigarettes. In early April, the Thurmont Addiction Commission held a discussion with parents about vaping and its dangers.
The five-part series “A Marriage Con” details how a man from Western Maryland allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from multiple women, including declaring them dead and creating fake accounts in their names.
As the series concludes, producer Heather Mongilio discusses the final articles and the failures in systems established to stop crimes like the ones Williamson is alleged to have done. Mongilio also talks about what questions remain in Williamson’s cases and how the ex-wives and girlfriends are rebuilding their lives.
The five-part series “A Marriage Con” details how a man from western Maryland allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars from several women, including declaring them dead and creating fake accounts in their names.
With the series at its mid-point, producer Heather Mongilio discusses her reporting of it, including how she connected with Williamson’s wives and verified their stories through court documents and police reports.
Later in the episode, Mongilio talks about why these cases stand out from previous domestic violence stories she has covered.
Download the episode this week to hear directly from the women about their experiences in marriages and relationships with Williamson. Williamson’s location remains unknown with multiple states looking for him.
Part two of this series in Frederick Uncut comes will be out later this week.
https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/local-girls-make-historic-move-to-scouts/article_1367062d-1542-50dd-8581-34fd08d1d525.html
Frederick County continues to face an opioid crisis that has ripped apart communities across the nation. More than 47,600 people died across the country in 2017 from an opioid-related overdose, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
In Frederick County in 2018, there were 55 fatal opioid-related overdoses and 279 non-fatal overdoses. Last week, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick County Health Department and Frederick County Chamber of Commerce held a joint summit to raise awareness of the opioid problem.
On this week’s episode, producer Heather Mongilio went to the summit and spoke with some of the leaders there. Jay Hessler, a coordinator for the health department’s local addiction authority, said the summit brought awareness as well as empowerment for those who may be struggling
Later in the episode, features reporter Kate Masters joins to discuss the upcoming edition of 72 Hours.
On Sunday evening, hundreds of community members gathered in the parking lot and on the lawn of the Islamic Society of Frederick to mourn the tragic loss of life to terrorism.
The vigil came nine days after a terrorist attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. A white supremacist with hateful views of Muslims and immigrants carried out the attacks during Friday afternoon prayers, killing 50 people and injuring 50 others.
On this week’s episode of Frederick Uncut, producer Wyatt Massey talked to those gathered at the vigil about their reactions to the news.
Fred Berney proposed to his wife Ellen approximately a week after they met at a dance.
The two have been married for more than 50 years, and owned a video business together. But in 2014, Ellen was diagnosed with spatial Alzheimer’s Disease. She has trouble drawing two intersecting rectangles, finding buttons on a remote, reading and knitting. While her eyesight is fine, her brain cannot see.
Ellen had to stop working due to her diagnosis, and, every day, Fred faces a dilemma. If he works at the video company, he confines his wife to a chair in front of the television. If he takes care of Ellen, he cannot complete projects and is unable to bring in money.
But the Berneys are not alone. Financial hardships are common among seniors as they face more health problems and limited incomes.
Producer and host Heather Mongilio spoke with the Berneys at their Walkersville residence about how they met and their current financial strains.
Then producer Wyatt Massey and features reporter Kate Masters join Mongilio in the studio to preview this week’s issue of 72 Hours.
What started as a now-deleted tweet amplified widely by Kim Kardashian, the “Momo Challenge” went viral in the past week, especially among youth. The fake challenge claimed there were videos encouraging children to harm themselves or commit suicide spliced into otherwise regular youth content.
The image of Momo is actually that of a sculpture created by a Japanese artist. The challenge associated with the image has surfaced before but gained particular traction in the United States last week.
Parents and school districts across the country reacted as though the challenge was real, including Frederick County Public Schools. Three schools in the county sent out email notices about the challenge without mentioning the story was a hoax.
A week ago, a multinational conference of United Methodist Church leaders voted to toughen the church’s stance on sexuality, banning gay clergy and same-sex marriage. The conference was intended to bring a resolution to the church whose position on sexuality had become increasingly ambiguous. Previously, local churches and jurisdictions have cut their own path on whether to advocate for gay rights.
However, the decision added fuel to an already controversial topic. LGBTQ church members and advocates felt the church was denying them basic rights. More conservative church members felt their church was returning to being a pure organization.
On this week’s episode of Frederick Uncut, the Rev. Dr. Eliezer Valentín-Castañón, senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church, talks about being caught in the middle of the debate. As he told his congregation on Sunday, clergy or churches that do not follow the agreed-upon stance on sexuality will be removed. He would be one of them.
Later in the episode, producer Heather Mongilio speaks with two board members of The Frederick Center who discuss how the recent church decision on banning LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage affected their membership.
As the temperatures begin to climb and the season changes, the Frederick County Public Schools Board of Education and County Council are entering their own season: Budget season.
Over the next few months, the two elected bodies will be deciding where to put funding for the upcoming year. To better understand how the budget process works and what will be prioritized this year, Frederick Uncut producer Emma Kerr sat down with Brad Young, Frederick County Public Schools Board of Education president.
Later in the episode, Steve Bohnel, county government reporter for The Frederick News-Post, joins the show to discuss the county budget process. Bohnel details how much of county spending is pre-determined each year and where the “discretionary funds” may be headed in the upcoming year.
Bohnel has previously reported about how new legislation in the near future from the council on school construction fees and impact fees is unlikely.
An outbreak of measles in Clark County, Washington, has provided more fuel to an ongoing national debate about the role of vaccinations and the freedoms from immunization requirements.
More than 40 cases have been confirmed in Washington, and the state's governor, Jay Inslee, has declared a state of emergency. So far this year, measles cases have been confirmed in 10 states across the country.
This week, Frederick Uncut producer Wyatt Massey spoke with Kurt Seetoo of the Maryland Department of Health Center for Immunization to learn more about the importance of vaccines. The center oversees various immunization and vaccination programs in the state, such as the Vaccines for Children Program.
Plus, producer Graham Cullen takes a field trip with a recorder in hand to gather audio of a vaccine being administered- to himself.
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, some couples will be scrambling to find the perfect gift. Randy Olmstead, chef and owner of Perfect Truffle in Frederick, has a business designed not just to fill the need for last-minute gift but fulfill the dreams of local candy lovers.
The chef said couples should think about what flavors the other person likes instead of simply buying any box of chocolate. Instead, the holiday can be made special by what is bought, he said.
“I’m going on 32 years of marriage, and I’ve learned that just you don’t just buy something. There has to be reason behind it,” Olmstead said.
This week, Frederick Uncut producer Emma Kerr visited Perfect Truffle to learn about how the chocolates are made. Olmstead detailed how he picks the perfect combination, such as his white ginger pear tea. The chef said not all candy is made equal.
Listen to this week’s episode to learn how Olmstead uses 17 different chocolates in his blends, along with the process of melting chocolate to put it back in the perfect solid form.
More than 300 parents and community members attended the first informational session about the upcoming school redistricting, which primarily touches the Urbana, Linganore and Oakdale communities.
This week, we hear from those parents and community members who worry a redistricting could mean significant changes for students and their families. Hosts Emma Kerr and Wyatt Massey talk about what the redistricting — affecting nearly half of all Frederick County Public Schools — will mean for those families and what to expect in the coming months.
https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/social_issues/annual-homeless-count-documents-lives-of-those-struggling-in-frederick/article_34ba3586-aad5-5815-965b-9d05a34fd6fa.html
“[The federal government] sneezes and Maryland catches a cold.” That’s how Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot describes how intertwined the state is with the federal government.
Franchot calls in to discuss with cohosts Colin McGuire and Emma Kerr the ongoing government shutdown - now the longest in history - and what it means for not just the thousands of federal workers who live in Maryland, but also contractors and tertiary effects.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced the formation of an exploratory committee on Dec. 31. Speculation of a presidential run continues to buzz around former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) told Stephen Colbert she “might” run.
In this episode, elections expert and former Maryland Secretary of State John Willis breaks down lessons learned from 2016, voter turnout in 2018 and his take on who’s got a chance.
Don't forget to Ask Us Anything. Email ekerr@newspost.com or send us a direct message on Twitter.
Del. Carol Krimm, who was chosen to be the Frederick County delegation chairperson this session, sits down with hosts Colin McGuire and Emma Kerr to discuss expectations for this year’s General Assembly and what bills she will be pushing for.
Stick around at the end for a new segment, Ask Us Anything, where we solicit questions from listeners and answer them on the podcast. Email you questions to Emma at Ekerr@newspost.com.
And be sure to subscribe to the FNP Politics podcast feed to catch episodes of In Session where our Annapolis reporter will report on all the goings on during this session.
Host Colin McGuire and News-Post city editor Allen Etzler sit down to discuss the biggest stories affecting Frederick County in 2018.
As America becomes a more secular nation, Christmas and Easter are increasingly becoming the only opportunities faith leaders have to reach an extended audience at church.
Wyatt Massey, religion reporter at the Frederick News-Post, sat down with Frederick Uncut hosts Colin McGuire and Emma Kerr to take listeners inside churches and behind the pulpit on Christmas — the Super bowl of sermons. While some faith leaders choose to keep things hopeful and merry, others push for messages about today’s social issues like immigration. While they all say they are seeking authenticity, just how should a faith leader preach to this sudden influx of less loyal followers?
Plus, on this holiday issue, hear a little bit about the hosts’ favorite Christmas memories and what this year of podcasts has meant to us.
In part two of our two-part series on modern dating, two young Frederick-area women sit down with host Emma Kerr to get candid about the dating landscape today.
Bleak and exciting all at once, this week’s guests give listeners insight into the other side of the coin. Dates are easier to come by, but challenges like keeping safe and decoding the ghosting-like behavior of their male counterparts make for an episode that is just as depressing as it is hilarious. They say despite all of the ups and downs, they still believe some day they’re going to find the one — he’s just a swipe away.
This week, technology has changed every aspect of our lives- including how we find love. In the first of a two part series, we hear from two young men on their search for a partner in 2018 - using the machine gun right strategy on tinder and looking for a confident woman in the world of digital convenience. Next week, we’ll get the perspectives of two young women.
As the days get shorter and temperatures continue to drop, many of us begin to experience the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder — also known as the winter blues.
It's a fairly common disorder that can have wide-ranging impacts on our lives. Psychologist Kelly Donahue, of Everyday Therapist in Frederick, describes symptoms to look out for such as over- or under-sleeping and weight gain in the winter months during this episode of Frederick Uncut, and what you can do to create positive thoughts and mindsets even on the most gloomy winter days.
This week, Donahue talks hosts Emma Kerr and Colin McGuire through the changes going on in our brains and explains why these symptoms pop up in the first place.
https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/levels_of_government/state/governor/hogan-forms-emergency-commission-to-redraw-th-district/article_5d63b073-20a1-5a67-9cde-ef92e1b33d52.html
The turkey doesn’t matter.
At least, according to Christine Van Bloem, culinary master and chef at the Kitchen Studio Cooking School.
It’s all about the sides: noodles, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and rolls. Colin McGuire and Emma Kerr sat down with Van Bloem to chat about homemade vs. store-bought, what to bring to Thanksgiving to impress, and what to do with all of those leftovers.
And of course, don’t forget the dessert — and the controversial pumpkin pie.
Our banks have data on us dating back decades, websites are tracking our every move and just how do those apps use their microphone permissions?
On this week's episode of Frederick Uncut, costs Emma Kerr and Colin McGuire sit down with MAZARS Director of Cyber Security Philip Jones and Mount St. Mary’s University Professor Mary Catherine Kennedy to break down the complexities of digital privacy. We learn how to protect yourself, more about the increasingly-common internet shaming trend, and privacy laws everyone should keep in mind.
the Jewish community in Frederick and beyond is still reeling from an October 27th shooting in which eleven congregants were gunned down in a Pittsburgh synagogue. The shooter, who has been charged with a hate crime among other charges, shouted “All Jews Must Die” as he fired an AR-15 and three Glock .357 handguns at random. Incidents of anti-semitism are on the rise in the United States — in 2017, reported incidents of anti-semitism rose by 57 percent according to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest report. Rabbi Jordan Hersh joins Emma Kerr and Colin McGuire from the Beth Sholom Congregation in Frederick to describe the moments and days since the shooting, and his hope that hate can be overcome.
With one in four women and one in seven men having experienced domestic violence in the United States, News-Post reporters Heather Mongilio and Wyatt Massey reported on different aspects of domestic violence in Frederick County.
Co-hosts Colin McGuire and Emma Kerr are joined by Mongilio and Massey as they discuss their reporting, which included firsthand accounts of several survivors of domestic abuse.
In a special edition of Frederick Uncut, we delve deeper into an investigation published by The Frederick News-Post last week. The investigation found that Frederick Community College President Elizabeth Burmaster has been accused of bullying and abusive behavior for decades in her prior roles as an educational leader. These complaints are nearly identical to current complaints being lodged by FCC faculty.
We’ll hear more details not included in the investigation from the faculty who came to The News-Post anonymously in the form of emails and phone calls.
All three candidates running for county executive agree that the opioid crisis and a productive County Council are important issues in Frederick County, while pointing out different ways to solve them.
Incumbent Jan Gardner (D), state Delegate Kathy Afzali (R) and longtime business and nonprofit leader Earl Robbins (unaffiliated) are on the ballot for that position on Nov. 6. They came in this week for a special debate episode of the Frederick Uncut podcast.
Over the past few weeks, the nation has turned its attention back to Anita Hill, revisiting her 1991 testimony in which Hill said she was sexually harassed by her then-supervisor and current Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, both at work and outside the office.
Young women have unique experiences in the early stages of their careers, with some experiencing sex discrimination and others finding mentors and support through other women and colleagues.
Today, two prominent, young Frederick women — Frederick County Assistant State's Attorney Amanda Leatherman and Karen Crum Nicklas, executive assistant at The Great Frederick Fair — give their advice for women everywhere who want to push past barriers and claim space for themselves in their fields.
While homelessness numbers in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore may dwarf those of Frederick County, you might not know Frederick is experiencing a four-year high for unaccompanied students experiencing homelessness, according to The Frederick News-Post’s reporting.
This week on Frederick Uncut, your hosts Emma Kerr and Colin McGuire talk with Ed Hinde, head of the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership, about how the community can help and what it might take to reverse the trend of growth.
Camp David is nestled in the bounds of Catoctin Mountain Park, but you wouldn't know it if you visited. The private presidential getaway turned 75 last year, and it's been a retreat for presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Donald Trump, who's controversially preferred Mar-a-Lago or Bedminster.
The closest the public will ever get is from well beyond its maximum security fences, but on Tuesday, we get a peek inside Camp David and its home, Catoctin Mountain Park, with Rick Slade, ranger and park superintendent.
Hurricane Florence didn't deliver the damage to Frederick County that forecasts originally predicted, but Special Operations Battalion Chief David Barnes and his crew still stood at the ready.
Barnes, who oversees the county's swift water rescue operation, joined podcast host Colin McGuire and city editor Allen Etzler to explain how he got into special operations in the fire and rescue service, and how his units prepare for hurricanes or heavy rainfall.
The large amount of rainfall this year has forced the county to run more swift water rescue calls in 2018 than in recent years, Barnes said. The county is projected to run well over 100 swift water rescue calls by the end of the year — up from the 70-80 that would occur in a typical year, according to Barnes.
Barnes explained the challenges in completing swift water rescue operations during flooding conditions on roads as well as water rescues along the river.
Many people understand the needs of children with intellectual or development disabilities, but conversations are rare about the needs of adults living with these disabilities. Community Living provides services and resources for these Frederick residents.
Host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Wyatt Massey sat down with Elaina Lyons, fundraising and marketing director of Community Living, to talk about the organization’s work and educating community members about the lives of adults with disabilities. Lyons previewed Community Living’s upcoming 1920s-inspired gala “Frederick Goes Gatsby,” along with other fundraising programs.
Lyons also talked about her career as a journalist, her favorite TV show and which “Great Gatsby” movie she prefers.
Paula Poundstone, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and David Sedaris - just some of the acts to look forward to during the 2018-2019 season at the Weinberg Center.
Host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Kate Masters sat down with Barbara Hiller, the marketing manager for the Weinberg, to discuss the year’s lineup and some of the shows she’s looking forward to the most. Some were expected (Maria Bamford, for instance) and some, like the Portland Cello Project, were not. But they’re all very different from Hiller’s former career as the director of marketing for the Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute.
Hiller also had some great responses to some very silly questions, including the three people, living or dead, she’d most like to have dinner with. Two of her responses — Eleanor Roosevelt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — would make for some pretty interesting conversation.
Frederick County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Tim Snyder never planned to become a teacher. Snyder studied art in college and wanted to become a graphic designer. After getting real experience with the work, he decided it wasn’t for him. He instead combined his love of education and creativity — and competitiveness — to become an art teacher and coach. An Urbana Middle School art teacher and Urbana High School cross-country and track and field head coach, Snyder said he aims to look at each student individually to provide them with the best mentorship and instruction. Drawing on his own experiences, he helps students find their motivation both in and outside the classroom. On the latest episode of Frederick Uncut, Snyder sat down with host Colin McGuire and News-Post education reporter Emma Kerr to look back on his first few months as Teacher of the Year and advise us on everything from finding our path in life to pre-race diet best practices.
Reliable private transportation. An affordable place to live. A safe and enriching childcare program.
These are just some of the services offered by area charities that will benefit from the 2018 Unity Campaign for Frederick. The annual collaborative fundraiser aims to break the record books by raising $475,000 for 31 nonprofits that provide health, educational and financial stability programs to struggling Frederick families.
But where exactly does that money go? And who does it help? And why does it matter?
On this special episode of Frederick Uncut, host Colin McGuire and reporter Nancy Lavin talk with United Way of Frederick County executive director Ken Oldham about the expanded scope and size of this year's collaborative campaign, which kicks off Sept. 11 followed by the signature "12 days of giving" Sept. 11-23. By the way, the end date happens to be Oldham's birthday, if you're looking for a gift idea.
We also hear from leaders of three three Unity Campaign participants about the programs and people they serve with the help of fundraisers like Unity.
Rick Trawick, director of Second Chances Garage, highlights the need for affordable, refurbished cars that give rural residents a way to get to work, to the store, or many other services otherwise inaccessible by public transportation. Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County's Executive Director Ron Cramer talks affordable housing, and the ways Habitat has filled the need for first-time home-owners and longtime residents of deteriorating properties. Lisa McDonald, the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County's executive director, explains how planned expansion into the old Lincoln Elementary School will allow the club to quadruple its after school and summer programming for children and teenagers.
Track star, outspoken advocate for minorities, Spanish-speaker and Kardashian-hater. Paige Tolbard is the newly-minted Student Member of the Board of Education, and she's launching her tenure on the board with a bang.
When things got heated during a conversation about racism and the achievement gap at last Wednesday's board meeting, Tolbard says she spoke for the students who would otherwise be unrepresented. A senior at Frederick High School, she ran a campaign on promoting school safety and providing information in both Spanish and English for the growing population of English Learners in Frederick County.
On the latest episode of Frederick Uncut, Tolbard sat down with News-Post county government reporter Allen Etzler and News-Post education reporter Emma Kerr to bring us inside the mind of the modern high school student, tell us a little about the personal experience she brings to her new role and address the challenges of being heard as a student.
She also tells you about her favorite star, Jake Paul — just kidding — and her primary means to getting a laugh: Twitter.
Per-Olof Kippel is back in Frederick this week to try to earn a second trophy to put in his bike shop. Kippel, the defending champion, joined the Frederick Uncut podcast this week with host Colin McGuire and reporter Allen Etzler to chat about high wheel bicycles and the upcoming race.
Kippel discussed shipping his high wheel bicycles from Sweden to Pennsylvania, where he traveled to pick them up Monday and assemble them before taking them to Frederick.
Kippel, who will compete in high wheel races in Belgium and Frederick this year, talked about his affinity for Frederick’s race course — a nearly half-mile course he said provides the perfect blend of slight hills and straightaways.
The race is on Saturday with events scheduled to start at 1 p.m. The championship race is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
Through juggling duties as a Frederick city alderman and Frederick County’s director of government affairs and public policy, Roger Wilson averages roughly 14-hour workdays. This week, the first-term alderman also found some time to sit down with Frederick Uncut host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Mallory Panuska to talk about a variety of topics, including balancing the two jobs, for the latest episode of Uncut. Wilson was one of the three new aldermen elected to the board in November, and within eight months he has already managed to spearhead an ordinance to form a Youth Advisory Council, co-sponsor legislation to create a senior citizen tax credit for low-income city homeowners and help allocate money for sidewalks in the fiscal 2019 budget. Wilson also talked about his goal to bring back bulk trash pickup to the city, his dedication to transparency and ethics and the candidate he is endorsing in the 6th District congressional race.
Background reading:
https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/real_estate_and_development/walkersville-officials-accuse-fcps-of-bait-and-switch-over-rock/article_ad7c9677-58e1-56fa-8eba-e1ced0598a6b.html
Kevin McMullen, the outgoing athletic director at Catoctin High School, looks back on a long career of coaching and teaching in Maryland. After 26 years in Frederick County Public Schools and 14 in Anne Arundel County before that, McMullen discusses the role athletics plays in the educational career of many students he's worked with.
After months of preparation and many long days, Frederick County Election Director Stuart Harvey can finally take a breather — at least a short one.
Not only will Harvey and his staff soon transition to the general election in November, but they’ll also assist with the upcoming city election in Brunswick.
Harvey took some time this week to stop by the studio for the latest episode of Frederick Uncut, with host Colin McGuire and News-Post City Editor Pete McCarthy.
Harvey opened up about what first got him interested in politics, which resulted in a career overseeing elections. On this week's episode, find out the greatest challenges associated with preparing for an election, including what happens when unforeseen issues pop up at the last minute.
Harvey also explained what the typical days and weeks are like leading up to the primary. Here's a hint: Picture 80-hour workweeks.
The team is taking the week off, but we'll be back with a new episode featuring news maker next week.
On this week's episode of Frederick Uncut, James Tucker, superintendent of Maryland School for the Deaf, joins host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Hannah Dellinger to discuss his philosophy on deaf education as well as challenges that the deaf community has historically faced in education.
Tucker discusses his role in protests at Gallaudet University that led to the hiring of the school's first deaf president in 1988, and the deaf community's early adoption to advances in communication technology.
Kris Fair caught his first glimpse of a gay relationship watching "Queer as Folk" through his family's home TV.
It was the early 2000s and Fair, then a student at Linganore High School, didn't know anyone who was "out" as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ): none of his classmates, his teachers or community members. Fair himself was unsure of his sexual orientation; he thought he liked men, but was somewhat convinced by the systemic mantra that it was "just a phase."
A chance perusal through the Sunday night TV options led him to the Showtime TV series, which he could only view through a scrambled picture because his family did not subscribe to that channel.
Fast forward almost two decades, and Fair's then-concealed and uncertain identity as a gay man has become an integral part of his life and advocacy for LGBTQ rights, including as president of the board of directors for The Frederick Center.
On the latest episode of Frederick Uncut, Fair sat down with host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Nancy Lavin to detail the journey of acceptance, both personally and community-wide, that has occurred with regard to the LGBTQ community. Among the many signs of progress is the expansion of Frederick Pride, which will hold its 7th annual event Saturday in downtown Frederick.
What began as a small community picnic in Ballenger Creek — not even titled a "Pride" event to avoid some controversy, according to Fair — has blossomed into a full celebration along Carroll Creek Linear Park.
Fair also shares his own "coming out" story, reflections on his recent bid for political office, and his favorite TV show ... which, surprisingly, is not "Queer as Folk."
In a special episode of the Frederick Uncut podcast, host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Allen Etzler discuss the flooding in May, which stranded motorists, train passengers and caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
The two are joined by staff reporters Mallory Panuska and Hannah Dellinger, as well as photographer Graham Cullen, as they recount their reporting from during and after the flood.
Hear from county residents Linsey and Louie Ashton, whose Feagaville neighborhood sustained extensive damage from floodwater, which swept away animals, vehicles and brought down a garage.
Listen as downtown business owners Ashley Goldston, owner of Indellibelle, and Bob Berberich, co-owner of Vinyl Acres, speak to Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor as he visits with downtown proprietors affected by the flood.
Stona Cosner, superintendent of Frederick’s Wastewater Treatment Plant also discusses how the facility couldn’t keep up with the amount of water entering the system, which led to wastewater backing up into some basements in the city.
Daniel Phoenix Singh wants everyone to be closer to the arts — and to integrate arts and creativity into more aspects of everyday life.
Singh, who has been executive director of New Spire Arts since January, has a big vision for artists in Frederick and bringing more creative influence to areas like urban planning and education.
He wants Frederick’s children to explore art and dance and music in new ways and apply those skills to other areas of life like conflict resolution. And he wants New Spire Studios to be a place where artists of all ages can learn new skills without fear of failure or judgment.
On the latest episode of Frederick Uncut, Singh sat down with podcast host Colin McGuire and News-Post reporter Danielle E. Gaines to talk about embracing his love of arts in the U.S. after immigrating from India in his late teens. He also shares his Bollywood favorites and the role of art in his personal development.