LOCAL GROOMER OPENS NEW BUSINESS
April 20, 2010
C&K GROOMERS has recently opened in Thurmont. Cheryl Bottomly, along with her daughter Kaylia, has opened her own small breed dog grooming business in her home. Their hours are 9am-1pm Wednesday through Saturday.
Cheryl and Kaylia love dogs. They have three-Buddy, a Toy Poodle puppy, Angel, a Bichon Frise, and Sabrina, a toy Chihuahua. For ten years, Cheryl groomed dogs for her family and friends. She has had her grooming license for five years, and groomed for Main Street Groomers for four years. She also took one semester of veterinary assistant schooling. Wanting to open her own business, Cheryl obtained her business license in 2009. Kaylia assists her Mom by bathing and blowing dry the dogs, which she has done for ten years. Kaylia is an artist-she does comic book and graphic novel forms, web design, and is writing a novel that she hopes to have published.
To schedule an appointment, call C&K Groomers at 201-271-7813. References are available upon request.
Visit Mountain Memories
April 20, 2010
Visit Mountain Memories by Eleanor Crampton
A Hodgepodge of Goods
Mountain Memories is a gift shop located at 102 Frederick Road, Thurmont; it is owned and operated by Pat Manahan. Pat rented the building that she occupies 12 years ago when her daughter-in-law told her that Cozy had a vacancy at one of its Cozy Shops. Mary Portner, Pat’s good friend, helps her in the store.
The shop’s signature items are the artwork hand painted by Pat. The shop carries a variety of unique items, including glassware, cobalt-blue and antique glassware, animal figurines, other figurines, hand painted gores and slates, teapots, cookie jars, aprons, plastic bag holders, pillows, candles, candleholders, estate sale merchandise, Biblical plates, clocks, planters, baskets, stuffed animals, silk flowers, jams, jellies, plaques, new and used clothing (some Western), chairs, benches, tapestry, swags, shelves, etc. Handmade cabinets, made by Pat’s husband, are also available for sale. A jewelry collection has just been added to the inventory. Mountain Memories is a gift shop with a distinctive assortment of treasures.
Pat accepts credit cards and cash. Store hours are Monday through Friday 10am-2pm during the winter and 10am-4pm during the summer, Saturdays 10am-2pm, and Sundays Noon-3pm. Mountain Memories phone number is 301-271-9100. So, support your local businesses and stop by and say hello to Pat while you browse this special shop.
Senior Moments-Lifetime of Civic Duty by Carol Hutson
April 3, 2010
We often hear of people who go above and beyond for their community; those who always put the needs of others before their own. We have many such people in “Our Town,” people who first and foremost truly want to make Thurmont, a better place to live. One such person is our own James Mackley.
James H. Mackley, born on January 3, 1929, to Lloyd and Ruth Mackley. Jim being the fourth generation volunteer firefighter, followed in his great-grandfather James C. Mackley, grandfather Irvin Mackley, and father Lloyd Mackley’s footsteps when he joined the Guardian Hose Company volunteer fire department on December 6, 1945, at the tender age of 16, he was one of the youngest volunteer firefighters at the time.
“Because so many men were in the military they lowered the age limit which allowed Jim and others to join.” noted president of the Guardian Hose Co. Wayne Stackhouse.
“December 6, 2010, will commemorate his 65 years of dedicated service, Jim has served the fire co. and the Thurmont Ambulance Co. with dedication unlike any other.” he added. Trustee, Terry Frushour advises, “Jim took his fire training course in 1946, served as Assistant Fire Chief and as Fire Chief from 1978-1987 and received the Special Life Member award on February 15, 1975. He was inducted into the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Association Hall of Fame in 1997.” Assistant Treasurer Bill Zentz added, “What is important to know about Jim, he remained an important member of the company long after many people burned out, he is phenomenal.” Wayne advised, “Jim Mackley came up through the ranks, starting as a line officer hanging off the back-end of the truck, all the way through to chief. He is well respected. I call it, a PILLAR, if you wanted to build a foundation for a fire company, he would be the COLUMN you would build around. He has been instrumental in every aspect of the fire co. He still takes active interest in the meetings and fund raisers.” Terry adds, “Jim has always been a mentor for many in the co. He is someone to look up to if you wanted to set goals. He was an assistant Boy Scout leader and very active in his church and on the church council, Jim and Dot have served Meals on Wheels for years to seniors in our community.”
Jim has seen many changes in the fire company, “When I started they did not have turn-out gear. My first big fire, cinder sparks filtered down burning holes in my coat,” Jim remembers. Jim was an active member of the fire co. until he had a very bad spill on his scooter while responding to the fire alarm, hitting his head on the curb he was flown to Hagerstown for treatment, which ended his career otherwise at 81 he would still be gearing up at the sound of the alarm.
One important aspect I took away from my interview with these very active- life long dedicated members of our Guardian Hose Company is, they are not only a ‘brotherhood of firefighters,’ they are family! None, taking credit or trying to standout above the rest. A foundation as President Stackhouse said, that has built this fire company into the most active VOLUNTEER fire company in Frederick County!
Jim served in the Navy after he graduated from high school in 1946, his tour of duty took him to the Mediterranean for two years, after which his adventurous spirit lead him to Alaska where he worked for a gold mining company for two years.
It was on one of his visits home in 1951, that fate intervened, while driving his Chevy a pretty young nursing student riding in a Model A Ford called out, “I like Chevy’s.”
That was the beginning of their love story. Dorothy grew up on a farm in Bedford, PA and was training at Victor Cullen’s Sanatorium to be a nurse. Jim and Dorothy dated for three years. Jim knew that Dorothy was the one he wanted to spend his life with, they were married on June 5, 1954. They moved into their home on Main Street five months after their marriage and has lived there ever since. Dorothy worked as an in-home nurse until retirement. They have been blessed with three wonderful children: Mike (Chuck), Ruth and Sally, and have seven beautiful grandchildren: Ryan, Sarah, Meghan, Emily, Matthew, Elizabeth and Christopher. Jim loves it when his twin granddaughter’s, Sarah and Meghan say “Oh, pappy your so cute!”
Jim is well known for his sense of humor and pranks. In his younger days while trying to attract Dot’s attention as she and her friends were swimming, Jim and his mischievous pals hooked firecrackers to the spark plugs of their car, it startled the girls when it gave a loud bang when they started it. Jim recounts the time Dot and her friends were bowling, he and his playful pals placed a bucket under the back axle of their car, when the girls tried to leave the back tires only spun. “Jim and the chief of Rocky Ridge fire company have always try to outdo each other,” states Trustee Frushour, “I remember the time Jim presented the chief with an agitator from a wash machine.” he laughs.
Jim’s Treasured Moment: Getting married and the birth of their children and grandchildren.
Jim’s Senior Moment: Being honored in 2005 for his 60 years of service to the fire company.
Dorothy’s Treasured Moment: When their son Chuck was ordained 25 years ago, he is currently serving as minister to the United Church of Christ in Clear Spring.
To share your senior moment contact me at carol@thurmonttimes.com
Thanks to Thurmont Town Staff by Kenny Oland
April 3, 2010
The snow storms of February 2010 will not be soon forgotten. 40+ inches of snow within 10 days is more than we have had in a long time. I’m sure that there are a number of people who are hoping that it will be a long time before we experience it again.
A little information about the Town of Thurmont, which you may not be aware of, the area of the corporate limits is about 4 square miles, about 28 miles of streets, about 1 ½ miles of sidewalks, 6 parking lots, and 10 parks which are maintained by the 5 member staff, including the Superintendent Butch West, of the Streets and Parks Department.
During snow and ice events the Streets and Parks Department must call on other departments for manpower to assist in clearing the streets and sidewalks of snow and ice and the spreading of salt. During the February 2010 blizzard the Town of Thurmont had 10 Town employees working around the clock to open the streets and then attempt to keep them open while the wind blew, the snow drifted and more snow fell. Before it was over these 10 men put in over 1,200 hours, not getting home to take care of their own families until the Town streets were passable and safe.
During these storms the Town had two large dump trucks, 2 medium dump trucks, 5 pick-up trucks, 2 backhoes, 1 bobcat with a snow blower attachment, and 2 walk behind snow blowers working to open the streets, Town maintained sidewalks, and parking lots, while using over 63 tons of salt.
Assisting the Town was W. F. Delauter & Son, Inc. by providing 2 large rubber tire loaders, 1 bobcat loader, and 3 tandem axle dump trucks. Kirby Delauter, working with Butch West, made the clearing of the streets of Thurmont a priority.
Mr. West stated that as they worked to open the streets the Town began to run out of fuel. Mr. Delauter was not able to get his fuel truck to Town so the Town called upon Bernie Sweeney, Direct-To-You Gas on North Church Street, who made his way to his gas station, opened it to allow the Town to purchase fuel to continue in their efforts to clear the streets.
As we not reflect on those 10 days, we can be thankful to the few dedicated, hard working town employees that go unnoticed as they go about their daily tasks of making Thurmont the place we chose to call home.
We should also be thankful for people like Kirby Delauter, W. F. Delauter & Son, for his assistance in opening streets and clearing the downtown area of snow. To Bernie Sweeney, Direct-To-You Gas, for coming out during the storm to open his station so the equipment could obtain fuel to keep going.
Last, but not least, the Town employees who worked all those hours to clear the streets so we could get back to “normal” as soon as we did.
They are, Left side, back row: Tim Eyler, Streets/Parks, Brad Weddle, Electric, Gary Hodges, Electric. Front Row: Butch West, Superintendent Streets/Parks, Jeff Kilby, Sewer.
Right side, back row: Danny Miller, Streets/Parks, Jim Brown, Zoning. Front row: Dave Grimm, Streets/Parks, and Lee Hanvey, Streets/Parks. Not present Troy Wastler, Sewer.
After pushing all that snow, clearing the streets, parking lots, and sidewalks Mr. West is proud to report no one was injured.
With the information presented in this article, the next time you see one of these hard working, dedicated employees quietly going about their daily tasks, you might want to stop and thank them. Thank them, not only for what they did during the blizzard but what they do every day to make Thurmont the Town you call home.
Thank you guys for all you do every day.
Kenny Oland
Fitness Matters By George Puvel
March 14, 2010
Expert answers to your health and wellness questions
Question: It’s obvious to me that women see their physicians much more frequently than men. As a guy, I want to be proactive about my health, but I really don’t know how often to schedule regular check-ups. Any advice?
Answer: That’s a great question, and one that lots of fellas have probably been curious about. To be honest, it really depends on who you ask. Every doctor is different, and I’m sure they all have an opinion when it comes to this issue. My advice would be to ask your personal physician first. You can also follow something I like to call the 5-year rule. This means that you should schedule a doctor visit at least every 5 years, starting right after high school and continuing through to age 50. After that, more frequent visits may be in order in hopes of catching any health issues early on as you get older. Ideally, the visits should include a basic physical exam, as well as comprehensive blood work. This should be enough to keep you healthy and happy for years to come, but again, ask your doctor what he/she thinks as well!
Question: Boot camps seem to be a pretty popular form of exercise these days. What do you think of these workouts-worth a try?
Answer: You’re right-boot camps have taken the country by storm. Group exercise instructors are including them in the club setting, and we’ll soon be including them as well. I like boot camp workouts because they’re different. They get you out of your fitness comfort zone. When workouts become stagnant, results tend to follow, and this is sure to have a detrimental effect on your motivation to exercise. These types of workouts also tend to focus on multi-joint, full-body movements with both cardio and strength components, which often produce greater fitness benefits. But that’s not even the best part! Boot camps are a lot of fun, and we all know you’re more likely to participate in something that you find enjoyable.
Question: Lately, I’ve become much more aware of my carbohydrate intake, specifically focusing on sugars. I watch sweets and limit refined grains, but what about fruit? It obviously has a lot of sugar, so should I limit that too?
Answer: Fruit is essentially all sugar, but it also has lots of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Because of this, there is no reason to limit or avoid fruit. In fact, most people could probably use an extra serving or two each day. The only individuals that may need to moderate their intake a bit would be those dealing with diabetes, but even they can still have a few servings daily, as long as they’re spaced well throughout the day. Generally, when we talk about limiting sugar, we’re focusing on the added sugars that seem to appear in so many foods. Added sugars contribute significantly to overall carbohydrate and calorie intake, and are one of the many reasons for the nation’s expanding waistline. Unfortunately, it’s very easy for an avoidance of added sugars to become an avoidance of all sugars, and even carbohydrates in general. Let’s not forget-carbohydrates are an important energy source for the brain, the red blood cells, and our muscles. And carbohydrate-heavy foods are not just empty calories; they contain a variety of other healthful nutrients as well!
About the author: George Puvel is the club owner at Anytime Fitness in Thurrmont. To submit a question for future articles, please contact the author at Thurmontmd@anytimefitness.com.
Senior Moments-Lifetime of Civic Duty by Carol Hutson
March 13, 2010
We often hear of people who go above and beyond for their community; those who always put the needs of others before their own. We have many such people in “Our Town,” people who first and foremost truly want to make Thurmont, a better place to live. One such person is our own James Mackley.
James H. Mackley, born on January 3, 1929, to Lloyd and Ruth Mackley. Jim being the fourth generation volunteer firefighter, followed in his great-grandfather James C. Mackley, grandfather Irvin Mackley, and father Lloyd Mackley’s footsteps when he joined the Guardian Hose Company volunteer fire department on December 6, 1945, at the tender age of 16, he was one of the youngest volunteer firefighters at the time. “Because so many men were in the military they lowered the age limit which allowed Jim and others to join.” noted president of the Guardian Hose Co. Wayne Stackhouse. “December 6, 2010, will commemorate his 65 years of dedicated service, Jim has served the fire co. and the Thurmont Ambulance Co. with dedication unlike any other.” he added. Trustee, Terry Frushour advises, “Jim took his fire training course in 1946, served as Assistant Fire Chief and as Fire Chief from 1978-1987 and received the Special Life Member award on February 15, 1975. He was inducted into the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Association Hall of Fame in 1997.” Assistant Treasurer Bill Zentz added, “What is important to know about Jim, he remained an important member of the company long after many people burned out, he is phenomenal.” Wayne advised, “Jim Mackley came up through the ranks, starting as a line officer hanging off the back-end of the truck, all the way through to chief. He is well respected. I call it, a PILLAR, if you wanted to build a foundation for a fire company, he would be the COLUMN you would build around. He has been instrumental in every aspect of the fire co. He still takes active interest in the meetings and fund raisers.” Terry adds, “Jim has always been a mentor for many in the co. He is someone to look up to if you wanted to set goals. He was an assistant Boy Scout leader and very active in his church and on the church council, Jim and Dot have served Meals on Wheels for years to seniors in our community.”
Jim has seen many changes in the fire company, “When I started they did not have turn-out gear. My first big fire, cinder sparks filtered down burning holes in my coat,” Jim remembers. Jim was an active member of the fire co. until he had a very bad spill on his scooter while responding to the fire alarm, hitting his head on the curb he was flown to Hagerstown for treatment, which ended his career otherwise at 81 he would still be gearing up at the sound of the alarm. One important aspect I took away from my interview with these very active- life long dedicated members of our Guardian Hose Company is, they are not only a ‘brotherhood of firefighters,’ they are family! None, taking credit or trying to standout above the rest. A foundation as President Stackhouse said, that has built this fire company into the most active VOLUNTEER fire company in Frederick County! Jim served in the Navy after he graduated from high school in 1946, his tour of duty took him to the Mediterranean for two years, after which his adventurous spirit lead him to Alaska where he worked for a gold mining company for two years. It was on one of his visits home in 1951, that fate intervened, while driving his Chevy a pretty young nursing student riding in a Model A Ford called out, “I like Chevy’s.”
That was the beginning of their love story. Dorothy grew up on a farm in Bedford, PA and was training at Victor Cullen’s Sanatorium to be a nurse. Jim and Dorothy dated for three years. Jim knew that Dorothy was the one he wanted to spend his life with, they were married on June 5, 1954. They moved into their home on Main Street five months after their marriage and has lived there ever since. Dorothy worked as an in-home nurse until retirement. They have been blessed with three wonderful children: Mike (Chuck), Ruth and Sally, and have seven beautiful grandchildren: Ryan, Sarah, Meghan, Emily, Matthew, Elizabeth and Christopher. Jim loves it when his twin granddaughter’s, Sarah and Meghan say “Oh, pappy your so cute!” Jim is well known for his sense of humor and pranks. In his younger days while trying to attract Dot’s attention as she and her friends were swimming, Jim and his mischievous pals hooked firecrackers to the spark plugs of their car, it startled the girls when it gave a loud bang when they started it. Jim recounts the time Dot and her friends were bowling, he and his playful pals placed a bucket under the back axle of their car, when the girls tried to leave the back tires only spun. “Jim and the chief of Rocky Ridge fire company have always try to outdo each other,” states Trustee Frushour, “I remember the time Jim presented the chief with an agitator from a wash machine.” he laughs.
Jim’s Treasured Moment: Getting married and the birth of their children and grandchildren.
Jim’s Senior Moment: Being honored in 2005 for his 60 years of service to the fire company.
Dorothy’s Treasured Moment: When their son Chuck was ordained 25 years ago, he is currently serving as minister to the United Church of Christ in Clear Spring.
Hello Thurmont from Commissioner Terpko
March 5, 2010
Hello Thurmont,
We weathered the storm and made it through all the snow. We did have some tough challenges and town staff, as always, handled the situations with ease and the utmost professionalism. With approximately 50 plus inches of snow that fell, the town staff had to literally remove most of the snow on most streets in town. There were many streets where staff had to use a skid loader to remove snow from the roadways and then run a plow on the road to remove any remaining snow. Most of the town residents had patience and understanding in this matter. I know a lot of people wonder how town staff determines which roadways are to be cleared first and why. Well it is done according to need, for example: Main roadways through town are done first and roadways to our industrial area of town. Then staff does the hills, side roads and roads leading to businesses such as grocery stores, etc. After these roads are done, then the town starts in developments and clears those roads. During the blizzard, town staff had to also open roadways for 1st responders or emergency responders so they could get out to assist others in town or in the county. Town staff will also assist the police department, ambulance company or the fire department on calls to ensure the roadways are clear and they can respond to the residents in need. For the most part this plan works well. Where town staff ran into problems is when we have a major storm and residents have vehicles parked on both sides of the streets. This causes problems trying to get a plow down the road and then the street does not get cleared or cars get plowed in or worse a car or vehicle gets hit. The Board of Commissioners is working on a plan with staff to possibly alleviate this situation. A suggestion would be, in developments where people have driveways and yards, put the cars there and remove them from the streets. Other areas possibly have everyone park on the even side of the road when it starts to snow, and then after the road is plowed, have everyone move to the odd side of the street. Then staff can have both sides of the road plowed. We also have the options of using the town parking lot for some residents who need off street parking. This plan is only in the discussion state, so if anyone has a suggestion or idea, please feel free to contact any one of the Commissioners with your thoughts and ideas. We welcome any suggestions to help make the plowing of snow go as smoothly as possible. Stay tuned, there will be more to come.
We will soon be working on next year’s budget. It is definitely going to be another challenging year. We will be reviewing all operations and expenses in each department. Keep watching for updates to budget items in all departments, including electric, water, and sewer. We will work diligently to not raise taxes, and keep all rates affordable.
In closing, I would like to thank our town staff for all the work they did during the blizzard keeping our roads clear, electric on, and water and sewer operating; also, our emergency service agencies which kept our residents safe and secure. I would also like to thank the following companies and people. The Guardian Hose Company, and the Ambulance Company for housing people who were stranded, could not get home or had to work to keep us safe or be able to respond to emergencies. WF Delauter and Son for help with snow removal, Biser Electric for assistance during the storm, Jan Lawyer for getting a business owner to work to provide fuel to the town to operate the equipment, and Direct to U for opening to provide diesel fuel to the town staff to operate all equipment to remove snow and allow our residents to get out and around.
Until next time,
All the best
Commissioner Ron Terpko
A word from Emmitsburg Mayor Jim Hoover
March 5, 2010
Snow or no snow this is the time of year that begin planning for this year’s community activities. Over the past several years activates such as the Farmers Market, Pool Parties, Concerts in the Park, Ice Cream Socials and the Powerful Partnership with Mount Saint Mary’s have been established. This year the Powerful Partnership has been expanded to include the National Emergency Training Center, Provencal House, Emmitsburg Library and Frederick County Parks and Recreation. And, again this year I will be hosting the 4th Annual Bar-B-Que Competition. Look for posters around town for dates and times of the many activities coming up.
In other business, the Lincoln Avenue water and sewer line construction is well under way. We have heard from many of you about the condition of the street and asking how much longer the project will take. Obviously the project has encountered some weather related delays, the projected is expected to be completed toward the end of April weather permitting. We understand the project has been creating some inconveniences and we appreciate the communities’ cooperation. Originally this project included improvements to add additional curb, cutter and sidewalks but, due to plans by the utility company to replace the telephone poles those improvements will be completed at another time in the near future.
Another project of community interest is the baby pool. Last year the baby pool was closed all season and is likely to be closed again this season. The pluming to the pool is in need of complete replacement but, the pluming is located under the pool. To replace the plumbing, part of the pool bottom will have to be excavated, this is not unusual but, it is costly. The Town is getting bid proposals for a variety of options to repair the pool and to replace the pool with playground equipment. Those options will be discussed and possibly considered at the March 15, 2010 Town meeting. The intent is to improve the overall pool complex. Recently (over the last 3 to 5 years) we added additional tables with umbrellas, a pavilion with picnic tables and bar-b-que grills and many infrastructure upgrades.
In closing I want to remind everyone that the Town Office is open until 7:00 p.m. every Tuesday. This is a great opportunity to pay water bills, pick up and drop of permit applications, reserve pavilions and pick up keys.
Should You Convert to a Roth IRA? (Part 2)
February 22, 2010
by Samuel N. Asare, MBA, CRPC, CMFC
As of last month’s writing we were estimating this to be a three-part series. However, upon a closer look, we are not quite sure how many parts the series will end up containing. Our intention is to discuss the salient points that you, as an investor, must understand and take into consideration as you decide whether or not converting to a Roth IRA is something that will benefit you and your family.
Is It True That Only Traditional IRAs Can Be Converted?
There seems to be a lot of misinformation out there, one of the significant distortions being that you must first convert your investment into a traditional IRA, and then into a Roth. In reality, just about any qualified plan may be converted. Qualified plans are those into which you deposit before-tax dollars and defer taxes on the growth as well. Examples include traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and tax-sheltered annuities. However, non-spouse heirs who inherit traditional IRAs cannot convert them to inherited Roth IRAs. Also funds from a SIMPLE IRA that is less than two years old cannot be converted to a Roth.
Must My Employer Allow Me to Convert My Work-Related Funds?
Although the law permits you to convert and you may want to, your employer’s retirement plan policy supersedes everything else. Most employers’ policies do not allow the transfer of retirement plan funds while you are still employed by that establishment.
For instance, say George has accumulated $400,000 in his employer’s qualified 401(k) program. Now George wants to convert all or a portion of his funds to a Roth IRA; however, his employer’s policy does not allow any transfers while he remains employed at the firm. That’s tough luck for George unless, of course, he resigns.
How Is the Transfer Made?
The transfer can happen in one of two ways:
- You may request that your current fiscal custodian transfer the funds directly to a new Roth custodian.
- You may request that the funds first be released to you, and you then turn them over to your new Roth custodian. However, if you use this indirect approach, the new account must be set up and the money deposited into it within 60 days.
Are There Minimum and Maximum Amounts That Can Be Converted?
The amount you convert is completely up to you. You alone make that decision. The “new” law is not an all-or-nothing situation. We must tell you, though, that most investment firms require their own minimums to maintain an account with them; however, those limits have nothing to do with the law. And we can virtually guarantee that you needn’t worry about the maximum amount.
Say Sarah has $100,000 in her traditional IRA. She may decide to convert $5,000, $10,000, all $100,000, or any amount in between.
Is 2010 the Only Year That Such Conversions May Take Place?
As the law stands now, you may convert beyond 2010. Of course, just like any other laws, Congress may suddenly decide to change or repeal this law at any time. More to the point, this is one of the primary areas where investors are receiving misinformation and being rushed into making decisions, some of which are not financially savvy.
As we laid out in Part 1 - please refer to last month’s edition - these conversions have been available for the past 13 years, so any advisor who is behaving as if you are doomed if you don’t act now is, frankly, projecting a false sense of urgency, and you would be well advised to be very cautious dealing with such folks. The more interesting and more important question is where has your advisor been all these years?
Having said that, as retirement planners, we understand the power of time and compounding, so we’d want our investors to take advantage of good opportunities that will enhance their wealth as soon as possible, BUT only after performing proper due diligence.
Thurmont Times readers requiring assistance in determining how their Roth conversion numbers play out may request a free, no-obligation consultation by calling (301) 949-4449 or visiting www.LaserFG.com
A senior financial strategist with Laser Financial Group, Samuel is an accomplished personal finance expert, a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor, and author with years of experience in retirement-tax planning. He regularly contributes to and is featured by various media outlets, including TV and radio.
“Nan”- Through the Eyes of Love by Carol Hutson
February 22, 2010
Who could be more special to a child then their grandparents? They love you unconditionally because they want to, spoil you rotten because they can, and are always there to make the hurt go away.
It is never their intention to take the parent’s place, but to enhance the grandchild’s life. It is very comforting for a child to know that in grandmas and grandpa’s home they are more special than anywhere else. This is Nan’s story seen through the loving eyes of her family.
Lillian, born 11/01/1919, to Paul and Myrtle Crilley, met Donald A. Marshall in September 1934, when she went with her aunt and uncle and others to Eyler Valley on a truck ride before attending services at their Episcopal church. “I believe it was love at first sight for Donald.” Lilly stated. “We were married the following summer on August 15, 1935.”I still have all the notes he wrote me.”
They had two wonderful children, Donald J. and eleven years later their second child Paula. Donald J. married Alice Bowers and had their only child- Bev. Paula married James Garman and had their only child Chris. Unfortunately, the love of Lillian’s life passed away on June, 11, 1985; sadly, followed by their son Donald J. who died on her birthday, November 1, 2001 of cancer.
Lilly known as “Nan”, to her grandchildren Bev and Chris, great-grandchildren Amy, Jennifer, Lucas and most recently twins Jacob and Elizabeth and one darling great-great-grandchild, Austin.
Paula writes lovingly of her mother, “My fondest memories of my mother as a child are wonderful.” ” All of the hugs throughout the day, the great home-cooked meals, the nurturing when I was sick and the love in everything she did. As a teenager, our home was the “hang-out.” “She worked away from home all day, came home and cooked a great meal for whoever happened to be spending the night.” “Friday nights were always the same—out to dinner and then shopping. I always brought a friend along, every week I came home with new clothes and the latest 45 rpm records. She never bought much for herself, but was content to make me happy. I fondly remember the holidays as we would gather in the kitchen and bake cookies, cakes and made candy.” “Fishing trips to the river with campfires over which we cooked dinner and burned marshmallows. I remember how proud she was at my son’s birth and how she beamed at his college graduation. Now, I see how happy she is to hold his children in her arms. She has been through so much in the 90 years. She is so much more than a mother—she is my confidant, my friend.”
Bev remembers fondly, time sent at her grandparent’s home the loving arms that held and comforted her when she was ill. “My first memories of Nan and Pap, were Sunday rides before dinner.” “Once we drove as far away as Cumberland, MD.” “I loved staying with my grandparents during the week.” “Nan always watched me walk to school.” “Pap liked to see me dressed up in pretty dresses.” “I still have the purple and white dress and the popcorn dress they bought me for graduation.” Now ninety, Nan is a cancer survivor of 40 year. She is a proud woman and a fighter, she is my bionic woman.” Bev states proudly.
Looking through several photo albums as we turned the pages of Lilly’s life, Bev and Lilly reminisced about past summers and holidays spent in the loving home Lilly shared with her family and memories of friends she holds so dear. Lilly remembers fondly her dear friend Mary Fogle. I asked Bev to sum up in one word her feelings for her grandmother. Looking across the table at her beloved Nan, with teary eyes and whispered, “LOVE.”
Chris, first memories of his grandmother- Nan is her homemade fudge. “She is the only one I know who made it from scratch!” She always put family first she made big meals for all of us, she was at every school and band function,” Chris remembers fondly.
Amy and Jennifer- her eldest great-granddaughters by Bev and Terry, responded “Nan is one of the most honest, caring, loving and sweetest people in our lives.” “We are truly lucky to be able to call her our great-grandmother.” “She has always been there to lend an ear or shoulder when needed.” “She truly has been a blessing to me in many ways by showing me there is nothing that cannot be overcome with the love and support of your family.” Amy continues
Sharon, a neighbor of eight years is a constant companion to Lilly, “Our friendship started by bringing in her newspaper, over the years we would sit for hours and talk.”
“She is a lovely woman, I feel like part of the family now,” Sharon states
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