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The Community Foundation of Frederick County honored three area residents for their "selfless contributions of time, energy and talents to the Frederick County community" this week.

On Monday, Miriam Lane of Union Bridge, Eugene Long of Thurmont and Frank Parsons of Frederick were recognized as the foundation's 2009 Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism. Each received $10,000 to establish a new fund at the foundation or add to an existing fund there.

The awards are made possible by a bequest from the late Janis Miller Wertheimer, a Frederick businesswoman and volunteer.

A press release from the foundation gave the following accounts of each Wertheimer Fellow:

- Lane was chosen because she "has inspired many with her tireless service to others, despite her own ongoing battle against cancer." A retired physical therapist, Lane now volunteers with Mission of Mercy, traveling through Frederick County to serve patients four days each month at the mobile healthcare clinic's sites in Frederick, Mount Airy and Brunswick. She is Mission of Mercy's only physical therapist, enabling the nonprofit to help many patients who could otherwise not afford therapeutic treatments.

Lane plans to use her award to create The Jane White Fund for Mission of Mercy. Jane White was the director of the Korean orphanage where the Lanes adopted their daughter in 1986.

- Long, a retiree in his 80s, "refuses to take it easy" and is always on the lookout for people in need or situations that he could improve, according to the foundation. He is a longtime member of the Thurmont Lions Club. In 2004, Long spearheaded a project to revitalize a walking trail along the old trolley route through Thurmont and worked through 18 months of permitting and design. He secured many significant donations of equipment, labor and money so that the trail could be dedicated in September 2007.

Late last year, Long spearheaded a fund drive dubbed "Callie Needs a Van" for an 8-year-old girl and her family. He helped raise more than $38,000 to provide a new van and home improvements for the girl, who is wheelchair-bound because of spinal muscular atrophy.

With his award, Long has established The Davey Long and Mike Compton Memorial Fund in memory of his son, Davey, and his wife Shirley's son, Mike, both of whom took their own lives at a young age. The fund will award grants at the recommendation of the Longs and with the approval of the Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

- Parsons first sought out volunteer opportunities at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick after his retirement in the mid-1990s. It was a natural fit, given his career in the U.S. Air Force in the Medical Service Corps and his years as administrator in military and civilian hospitals. Parsons has served as a docent with the museum, has volunteered thousands of hours and traveled thousands of miles to and from the museum and other outreach sites. At the museum, he gives guided tours and inspires diverse groups of visitors with his passion for the Civil War and for medicine. He conducts educational presentations for school groups, authentically dressed as an 1860s civilian physician — a role he extensively researched to ensure the accuracy of every detail. He has achieved master docent status and been recognized by the Tourism Council of Frederick County for his interpretive skills.

With his award, Parsons has established The Frank R. Parsons Fund for the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. The fund will support community education so that the story of medical care during the Civil War continues to be told to the general public.

Boy Scouts earn archeology merit badges

This summer, nine area Boy Scouts earned archeology merit badges with the help of Colby and Kathleen Child, professional archeologists and active Boy Scouts of America members from Frederick.

A Boy Scouts of America camp annually held at Camp Airy in Thurmont was transformed into a seminar about the techniques and methods of archeology. The Scouts heard lectures from the Childs and other archeologists and also did "sandbox archeology," or fake digs, created time capsules and arrowheads, conducted research and wrote short papers, Colby Child said.

The program makes use of the Walkersville Watershed property, which houses two archeological sites. The Scouts performed actual excavations on the sites, which have produced domestic artifacts, such as glass fragments and shards of pottery vessels in the past.

The archeology badge program is often popular at the camp and "I think it's because [the Scouts] get to get out and get in the dirt," Child said. But it also "gives them an out-of-school opportunity to practice their school skills" such as math and writing, he added.

‘Turkey Trot' to benefit Hope Alive

A "Turkey Trot" is scheduled to start at 8 a.m., Nov. 26 at Emmitsburg Community Park.

The 5-mile run will begin at 8 a.m., and a 1-mile walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. Participation is free, but any donations will be given directly to Hope Alive, a nonprofit shelter for homeless women and children in Sabillasville.

For more information or to register, contact David or Stephanie Weigelt at 301-447-3530 or david@immersionactive.com.

Emmitsburg Lions Club earns donations for scholarship fund

A combined $5,000 was donated to the Robert F. Gauss Senior Memorial Scholarship Fund in Emmitsburg last week.

Gauss was a dedicated member of the Emmitsburg Lions Club. Since his death in 2000, the Lions have accepted donations to the fund and distributed three $1,000 scholarships to college-bound Emmitsburg students via an essay contest.

The Lions Club accepted three separate donations for the fund last week. Gauss Electrical Service, R.F. Gauss and Associates Surveyors and Engineers and the JoAnn Hance Memorial Golf Tournament, sponsored by The Carriage House Inn, each donated funds, according to Robert Gauss Jr.

For more information on the fund or scholarship, call Gauss at 301-471-7469.

Frederick man completes basic training

Brent Michael Zimmerman of Frederick graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash.

Zimmerman underwent 32 days of professional training and evaluation in the aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. He was assessed on performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course.

Zimmerman is the son of John Raymond and Sigrid Botker Zimmerman of Frederick, and a 2006 graduate of Tuscarora High School.

Send items for North County Notes to Courtney Pomeroy at cpomeroy@ gazette.net or call 301-846-2127.