For generations, the people of Middletown Valley have told tales of the Snallygaster- a mysterious creature that dwells deep in the caves of South Mountain. Some say it’s a myth. Some say it’s real. But this Halloween, best friends Holly and Peter are finally going to get to the truth behind the legend…if it doesn’t get to them first!

I love odd things and local legends, so when Patrick Boyton contacted me about getting the word out on his new children’s book it didn’t take much convincing. The Snallygaster is such a weird and unique beast, the Frederick area should be glad to have it’s legend hovering over us. Anyway, enough from me, here is the info about the book:

In 2008, Frederick author Patrick Boyton published Snallygaster: the Lost Legend of Frederick County, a historical account of the mythical, dragon-like beast said to inhabit Western Maryland. The book proved to be so successful, Boyton has followed it up with a children’s novel featuring the local monster.

Beware, the Snallygaster follows a pair of adventurous Middletown Middle School students in their quest to locate the mysterious monster rumored to live on South Mountain. Even though the story has a Halloween setting and deals with things that go “bump in the night,” Boyton insists that his chapter book is more spooky than scary.

“I grew up reading authors like Ray Bradbury and John Bellairs. I wanted to capture that nostalgic eeriness found in their children’s books,” Boyton said.

Beware, the Snallygaster will appeal to young readers who enjoy R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series, but their parents should be pleased that the supernatural elements in Boyton’s book are handled with more subtlety. “I tried to avoid anything gross or overly frightening, choosing instead to emphasize character and mystery” the author said.

Beware, the Snallygaster is available on Amazon now and will be available at Snallygaster Gifts and Turn the Page next week. And hopefully coming to other area stores and the library soon.

I was wondering if you knew anything about the magnets that show up every once in awhile all over Frederick. They always have a simple tribal face in black and red with an accompaning saying. This time the saying is, “These have been your marching orders.”

Any information you have about this would be greatly appreciated in soothing my curiosity!

So what say ye? Anyone out there know the source or reasoning behind these magnets? Anyone have a photo of one?

I think very few people know that several facades along South Market Street are just that, facades. If you step around back, it looks like a movie set with steel beams holding up the one wall that fronts the street. These properties have been like this for decades but were recently auctioned off. Perhaps there will be a bit of new development here in the future.

I did not know that.

Consumer Inquiries: Media Inquiries:
(877) 227-9587 Claire Burke
Hunter PR
(212) 679-6600

WELLPET LLC VOLUNTARILY RECALLS

CERTAIN LOTS OF CANNED CAT FOOD

Tewksbury, MA (February 28, 2011) – WellPet LLC announced today it has voluntarily recalled certain lots of Wellness^® canned cat food.

While recent laboratory testing found that most lots of Wellness canned cat food that were tested contain sufficient amounts of thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1), some of the lots listed below might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine. However, out of an abundance of caution, WellPet has decided to recall all of the lots listed below.

Cats fed only the affected lots for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. If your cat has consumed the recalled lots and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:

Wellness Canned Cat (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;

Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with 10NOV13 or 17NOV13 best buy dates.

Consumers who still have cans of cat food from these lots should stop feeding them to their cats and call us at (877) 227-9587 Monday through Friday, 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Consumers with further questions should visit our website at www.wellnesspetfood.com or call us at this same number.

WellPet discovered the lower thiamine levels during independent testing conducted together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in response to a single, isolated consumer complaint received by the FDA. Although WellPet has received no other reports concerning thiamine in its products, WellPet has taken additional steps with the manufacturer to ensure that this does not happen again.

“As a pet parent myself, I’m concerned for the health and welfare of all pets, and as a company we are committed to delivering the most nutritious natural pet food,” said Tim Callahan, chief executive officer of WellPet, the maker of Wellness products. “Even though the chance of a cat developing a thiamine deficiency is extremely remote, we are voluntarily recalling all of these lots of our canned cat food as an extra precaution.”

Supplies were being moved around. Several elevator workers even claimed they saw a woman in a white dress walking around the second floor.

Employees reported feeling ” … uncomfortable being alone in the basement where the offices were moved after the elevator’s construction.”

Good and creepy. I hope the FNP does a follow up story on the results of the paranormal investigation that took place.

Apparently the land it’s on is owned by a church or something.  There are signs that tell you to slide at your own risk and there are burlap sacks available to slide on down the slick wooden surface.

Imagine a bumpy bowling alley tilted on end. You are the human bowling pin! No fear! A pile of sawdust awaits you at the bottom. Grab one of the scraps of fabric at the base (burlap sack is the fastest), climb the ramp and slide away!

Locally known as a “Sliding Board”(35 ft High x 100 ft Long). Close to Thurmont, MD, home of Camp David.

How did I not know about this?  Has anyone been there?

It’s located on Motter’s Station Rd  (MD 76) , 1/4 mile north of Rocky Ridge.  Admission is free!

Our power went out for several hours, as did the power in the entire region.  The bars and restaurants around FSK Mall were filled with people who had stories to tell about the damage to their properties as they waited for their power to be restored.  Quite frankly, I have to give major kudos to Allegheny Power for getting the power back as quickly as they did.  Jim and I drove around the area today to survey the damage and it is extensive.  The pictures on the FNP link above do not do justice to the amount of property damage, especially on Ball and Mussetter Roads.  We saw whole buildings destroyed, whole tree lines uprooted, evidence of trees that had been cleared off roads and a lot of people out cleaning up their yards.  Thankfully as far as we know, no one was hurt.

Speaking of crazy weather, my friend Eric sent me this picture taken with his cell phone from inside Brewer’s Alley last Thursday, 7/23.  That was the night we got a ton of rain, roughtly 4 inches in a half  hour/45 minute period, about 10:00 at night.  You can tell from the picture that Market Street was completely flooded.  By all accounts, the water was off the street about a half hour after it stopped raining.  Good to know the flood control project at Carroll Creek works.

• Viet Gourmet on Rosemont is now open. FMO reader Lynn reports that “My family and I went there Saturday night and it was definitely worth it.  The food was excellent, service was great and the prices were even better.  They also offered 25% off the bill.  It was their first night open.”
• My wife noticed that Gymboree has opened up in the Westview Promenade.
• Construction on The Westview Village is humming along and according to this PDF that Meahern dug up the following tenants will reside in the new shopping center: Mama Lucia, Wow Cafe and Wingery, Mimi’s Cafe (I think this is the place), and Five Guys.
• Frederick’s Giant Coke bottle has moved to Hagerstown after the Frederick Plant shut down. At least we still have a giant horse and candy cane in our stable of roadside attractions.

~Guy~

The Snallygaster!

The Snallygaster is one of Maryland’s own cryptids, a creature that falls “outside of taxonomic records.” These are the animals of myth and legend, the creatures that are seen but whose existence is never proven. These are the beasts whose photographs are always out of focus, always fuzzy. What does the Snallygaster look like? How will you know it when it appears on your doorstep looking for candy? (Truthfully, the Snallygasters are more known for their fondness of blood than candy corn.)

Perhaps the Snallygaster’s most defining feature is its one eye and its very large wings.  Other characteristics are debated, but it probably has a beak. It is reported as having claws, but it is also reported as having hooves. At times it has tentacles. It is reptilian, it is bird-like. It resembles a flying octopus.

The word Snallygaster has its origins in the German phrase “schneller geist,” meaning quick spirit. There are early references to ghosties and ghoulies that could be the Snallygaster throughout Frederick’s history. The documented Snallygaster, however, is a twentieth century beast. The first newspaper article about the Snallygaster appeared in 1909 in the Middletown Valley Register. A smattering of articles appeared during that time. The Snallygaster then went dormant in this area until 1932, when a series of sightings were again reported in the Middletown paper.

The Snallygaster’s travels throughout Maryland are not limited to Frederick County.  It has been seen not only in neighboring Carroll and Washington Counties, but as far away as Baltimore and Cecil Counties.

If you want to learn more about the Sanllygaster, Patrick Boyton, local researcher and author, will be speaking at 7 p.m. Monday at the Middletown Branch of Frederick County Public Libraries about his recent book about the beast. For further information about this event please call the Middletown Branch at 301-371-7560.

You can also purchase Mr. Boyton’s book Snallygaster: the Lost Legend of Frederick County online.

~Guy~