Have you noticed the Little Free Pantry in Poolesville? It is intended as an occasional resource to supplement other food security programs like those of WUMCO-Help and Community Farmshare. It also assists those who only have an occasional need. Located in front of the Presbyterian Church, and refilled by townspeople and church members, the Little Free Pantry provides yet another way to fill the gap in food security for all area residents […]
The first paper currency in the new world colonies was issued in 1690 by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Other colonies soon issued their own currency. Of course, counterfeiting was soon to follow as an issue. In 1739, Benjamin Franklin first addressed the problem of counterfeiting. He used his Philadelphia printing presses to print paper currency with nature prints using raised patterns cast from actual leaves. Franklin printed notes for Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.
If you are resolving to improve your health in the new year, you might start with your heart. Surprisingly, there are real physical differences between a man’s and a woman’s heart. In general, a man’s heart is as much as 25% larger than a woman’s heart and has the capacity to pump blood easier than a woman’s heart. That is not just because men are larger than women. By ratio, the size […]
White’s Ferry is one-of-a-kind on the Potomac River. Until it closed in June 2021, it was the last operating ferry on the Potomac River, transporting vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians from Maryland across to the Leesburg area of Virginia.
If you miss that 20-minute trip to Leesburg and dread the now 45+-minute route, join the Poolesville Fair Access Committee at White’s Ferry on Thursday, December 29TH at 2:00 […]
Over 4,000 years ago the Babylonians celebrated the new year with an 11-day festival, Akitu. That March festival occurred after the Vernal Equinox, the day of equal sunlight and darkness, and commemorated the victory of their sun god over an evil sea goddess. During the festival they either reaffirmed the king’s divine power over his people or replaced him.
The advent of Julius Ceasar’s Julien calendar in 46BC shifted the start of the […]
Montgomery County Recreation fitness passes will be free for Montgomery County residents in 2023. Starting Jan. 3, 2023, the free pass will provide access to fully equipped fitness rooms, open gym (drop-in) activities and game rooms at any recreation center during regularly scheduled hours.
“We are pleased to be offering this service free to our residents in 2023,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “As we head into the new […]
As the Earth ‘s poles reach the maximum tilt away from the sun, we experience the winter (hibernal) solstice. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). Although the winter solstice itself lasts only a moment, the term sometimes refers to the day on which it occurs. At the winter solstice, the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky and the […]
Calling all book lovers and avid readers. Whether you have been a regular at our PS! Book Club or would like to join us, we invite you to help us choose our reading list for the 2023 PS! Book Club. In the past year, we read a mixture of genres, non-fiction, novels, historical fiction, and fantasy. The book club gives us a chance to read selections we might not ordinarily choose for ourselves and […]
Centuries before the birth of the central figure of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth, many countries and cultures celebrated the promise of light and rebirth that would follow the Winter Solstice.
The end of December was a perfect time for a celebration in most areas of Europe. Most cattle were slaughtered before they had to be fed during the winter. For many, it was the only time of year when they had a supply […]
Kwanzaa, an annual holiday that begins on December 26 and lasts through January 1, is a relatively new creation, though it has its roots in the traditions of community and cultural spirit of the African harvest festivals going back generations. The name comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits”.
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, and families who celebrate it often celebrate it in addition to Christmas, […]