Town reduces 2021-22 property tax

The town commissioners approved the municipal budget and set the property tax-rate for Fiscal Year 2021-22 at their June meeting.

The General Fund was approved in the amount of $1,907,085, while the Water Budget was approved in the amount of $711,592 and the Sewer Budget was approved in the amount of $853,295.

The property tax-rate was reduced from .36 cents per $100 worth of assessed property to .3464 cents per $100 worth of assessed property. The reduction was due to the increase of the value of local properties as the result of re-assessments, so the actual tax dollars that property-owners will pay will not sufficiently change.

If the town had retained the .36 cents per $100 rate, the revenue generated would have amounted to $739,656, and would have to have been the subject of a public hearing and incorporated in an ordinance. The .3464 cents per $100 will yield an anticipated total of $711,786, but its adoption would not entail a hearing and the adoption of an ordinance. The end result is that the amount of tax property-owners will pay will be about the same that it was last year.

Ice cream and bakery coming

Emmitsburg is about to add-on a new business – an ice cream dairy and bakery. Ripleigh’s Creamery, McSherrystown, has been busy renovating the old feed store located on East Main Street that was recently occupied by the Emmitsburg Food Bank and Catoctin Pregnancy Center, and is presently planning on initially having an ice cream-only service on July 3.

Owner Laura Maring told the News-Journal that, initially, Ripleigh’s will have a walk-up window for customers to order their ice cream (milkshakes might also be available by the end of July).

During the remainder of the year and into spring of 2022, the building will be overhauled and the company’s entire McSherrystown dairy and bakery operation will be relocated to the new location. The building, she said, "needs a lot of work."

Ripleigh’s was named for the owner’s 14-year-old daughter, a graduate of Mother Seton School, who also pitches in and makes the ice cream as well.

The ice cream produced by Ripleigh’s is made with milk acquired in partnership with Apple Valley Creamery - a small family-owned dairy farm and creamery located in East Berlin, Pennsylvania - who maintain their own herd. "Our ice cream is so fresh that we use milk which arrives from cow-to-product at Ripleigh’s facility within 72 hours," Maring said.

The owner said she and Ripleigh had been working on the concept of an ice cream and bakery operation for about two years, when they discovered the old granary property was for sale.

For additional information, visit the Ripleigh’s Creamery website at ripleighs.com.

‘Shake shop’ opens; pizzeria planned

A new business has opened in the Silo Hill "strip mall," specializing in "healthy, gourmet shakes."

Mason Dixon Mixin opened its doors in the Silo Hill strip mall on June 19 and features 40 flavors of shakes and "energy teas," and is owned by Emmitsburg resident Kelly Moreland.

Moreland said she was "thankful for everyone who has helped us along the way, and all who have continued to follow and support us on social media" adding, "We cannot wait to meet everyone in-person and share these delicious, healthy smoothies."

Emmitsburg may also soon have a pizzeria replacement for the recently closed Stavros Pizza. Town Planner Zach Gulden told the News-Journal that a new pizzeria, Tuscany's, will be located where Stavros had been for many years.

Guilden said Tuscany's owners have acquired a town sign permit and change-of-use permits, but is presently awaiting county permits. The town planner said he did not know of the businesses’ intended opening date at this time.

Retired Jubilee manager honored

At their June meeting, the Emmitsburg commissioners presented a proclamation honoring recently retired Jubilee manager Richard Boyd. Boyd retired from his position with the local grocery store at the end of May.

Boyd had served as the store’s manager from 1982 (six years after Jubilee had opened its doors) until 1996, and again from 2000 until his retirement this year.

The former manager was recognized for focusing on providing steady employment for local teenagers and senior citizens, as well as for those from the surrounding communities during his total 35 years of managing the store.

The proclamation further stated, "Mr. Boyd worked with the Greater Emmitsburg Historical Society to select pictures of Emmitsburg’s past, and incorporated them into store decorations, not only to add character (to the store), but to further solidify Jubilee’s place in the community."

Additionally, recognized was Boyd’s sponsorship of youth sports teams, and his support of local churches, civic organizations, and various fundraisers by donating groceries, dairy products, meats, and bakery items.

The proclamation ended by noting that the town recognized "the positive impact of Richard David Boyd (had) to the Emmitsburg community."

Boyd, who was present to receive the proclamation, thanked the mayor and commissioners for the presentation, and added, "This is a wonderful town. I just love it."