SUGAR NOTCH â In May, 17-year-old James Scholten accidentally snapped his fishing rod during a trip to Frances Slocum State Park.
The mishap was devastating for Scholten, who has Down syndrome and other medical challenges. On the water, however, Scholtenâs focus shifts away from the medical issues to just one thing: âI want to catch a really big fish,â he said.
And he wants to do it with a fishing rod of his own.
Thanks to local charity Fishing for a Cause, Scholten is back on track toward his goal of landing a big one. Hanover Twp. resident George Bowers, who founded the charity, visited Scholten on Dec. 17 with a few early Christmas presents. In addition to a fishing rod, Scholten received his own tackle box stocked with lures and a new fishing buddy in Bowers, who also gave the family a $1,250 check to help with medical expenses.
As we settle into the winter season, many of the winter activities of Frederick past are pleasant memories. Christmas and holiday memories for 2020 will be few. We have had Christmas Day with 60 degree temperatures, thunderstorms, snowstorms, sleet, rain and sun. But this year, we have Christmas with COVID-19.
I do not remember the Christmas I received my first train, an American Flyer. But, I can vividly recall the Baltimore & Ohio train that ran around the Christmas tree at my Uncle George and Aunt Kitty Castleâs house in Brunswick. Uncle George was an engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad out of Brunswick. Not to confuse, My Uncle George Bowers was a brakeman on the Baltimore and Ohio and also lived and worked out of Brunswick. The Christmas train at Uncle George Castleâs consisted of a Baltimore and Ohio diesel locomotive and what seemed to be a hundred black coal cars with white âB&Oâ on each side. Uncle George Bowers would also have a âB&Oâ