Jonathan was integral to the planning, design and success of Brunswick Crossing. Not only was he an incredibly talented engineer and architect, Jonathan was from Brunswick and cherished the community. Jonathan graduated from Brunswick High School class of 1987. He received his bachelor’s degree at Brigham Young University in 1994, he went on to earn a double master’s degree in architecture and structural engineering at North Carolina State University. Jonathan established his own firm, Allgaier Structural Engineering and Fusion Architecture Planning Design. His projects have included the new Hood College gymnasium (as structural engineer), the Frederick County Board of Education building (structural engineer), the Brunswick Fire Hall (architect and S.E.), and the Brunswick Crossing Community Center (architect and S.E.). He was also a structural engineer for the 2010 Winter Olympics, as well as for at least ten Super Bowls.

Jonathan’s work can not only be seen in the large signature buildings in Brunswick Crossing  including the Community Center and the Brunswick Fire Station, but also his eye for even the smallest of details. His intimate knowledge of Brunswick, his home town,  lead to connecting every street name in Brunswick Crossing to Brunswick’s rich heritage.

We are honored to call Jonathan not only a colleague, but also a dear friend. In honor of Jonathan, the development staff at Pleasants Development will be observing Jonathan’s contribution to Brunswick Crossing and the Brunswick community by placing a black bunting on the Brunswick Crossing community monument Saturday, September 22. When you walk the streetscapes of Brunswick Crossing, please take a moment to pause and admire their beauty in honor of our dearly departed friend Jonathan Allgaier.

Do you have a sweet-tooth? Would you love to taste local wines? If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions then come on down to Brunswick Main Street this Saturday, September 22^nd from 1:00pm-6:00pm and enjoy the 2^nd Annual Wine and Chocolate Walk just minutes from Brunswick Crossing.

The walk will be spotlighting 13 of the area’s local vibrant wines from 6 Maryland and Virginia vineyards. The 2012 wine list features wines from Black Ankle Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards, Knob Hall Winery, North Gate Vineyards and Elk Run Vineyards. And for those of you looking to satisfy your sweet-tooth, the delicious chocolatiers include chocolates from the Perfect Truffle, Salazon Chocolate Company, Taza Chocolates, Chocolove, MC2 Confections, and chocolate bars from MOM’s Organic Market. Also, at the Wine Walk, enjoy Apple Cider from Distillery Lane Ciderworks and Lemoncello from Bloomery Plantation Distillery.

Not a fan of Wine and Chocolates? No worries. This year’s walk will once again feature local Frederick County breweries and include selections from the craft beer world that demonstrate the quality and diversity of flavors the craft beer industry has to offer. Brian Roberts, master brewer at Mad Science Brewing Company serves up the best BBQ in Frederick County! Brian’s smoked meats made their Brunswick debut to rave reviews at the 2011 Wine & Chocolate Walk. Enjoy free samples of chicken, pork and beef along with the award-winning suds from some great craft breweries.

And for more fun, the Brunswick Railroad Museum is hosting their second annual vintage fashion show as part of Main Street Brunswick’s Wine and Chocolate Walk on Saturday, September 22. The fashion show will be held at 2 pm and 5 pm in the former Kaplon’s Department Store at 102 W. Potomac St. in downtown Brunswick as part of Journey Stories, a traveling Smithsonian exhibit. The show will feature the Dapper DJ spinning the victrola’s and clothing from Venus on the Half Shell.

If you haven’t had the chance to visit Journey Stories, come on down. The exhibit is here until October 12, 2012. Journey Stories examines the intersection between modes of travel and Americans’ desire to feel free to move. The story is diverse and focused on immigration, migration, innovation, and freedom. It is accounts of immigrants coming in search of promise in a new country; stories of individuals and families relocating in search of fortune, their own homestead, or employment; the harrowing journeys of Africans and Native Americans forced to move; and, of course, fun and frolic on the open road.

Tickets are on sale for $15 and may be purchased online at www.wineandchocolatewalk.com or at many area businesses including the Green County Inn and Headquarters Barber, Salon and Spa. Didn’t get a ticket on line? Its ok, registration opens at 12:30pm at Square Corner Park in downtown Brunswick. The Wine and Chocolate Walk requires a ticket, however, many of the events are free. For more information visit http://wineandchocolatewalk.com/details/.

It’s going to be a beautiful day. Come early and hike the trails of Brunswick Crossing and the scenic C&O Canal. Visit Brunswick Crossing’s 4 decorated models and see why we are Frederick County’s most dynamic planned community! So many fun activities so close to home!

Participate in this fun adventure in the kitchens by giving thanks and sharing food. Bring a canned or boxed food item to donate and benefit the Brunswick Food Bank.

The Brunswick Food Bank provides meals to over 300 families a year in the Brunswick Area. Staffed by volunteers and donations, the Brunswick Food Bank serves as the model for the other 8 food banks of Frederick County. All canned and boxed food donations benefit the Brunswick Food Bank.

About Brunswick Crossing – A Master Planned new Home Community  in Frederick County

Situated on 552 acres in Brunswick, Maryland, Brunswick Crossing is a master planned community with resort-style amenities including a planned marketplace, clubhouse, separate pool house, 26 miles of paved trails and walkways and more.

Brunswick Crossing is located in Brunswick, Maryland, about 12 minutes from Frederick, Maryland, 20 minutes from Leesburg, Virginia, and 60 minutes from Washington, DC. For community updates, directions, and to be the first to learn about new home pricing and purchase incentives, please visit: www.brunswickcrossing.com.

You don’t have to look farther than your own back yard if you live in Brunswick Crossing for awesome family fun this weekend! Brunswick Main Street will be holding the 4^th Annual Red, White, and Brew Bull Roast and Bluegrass Festival.

This year’s event will be held for the first time down by the beautiful Potomac River at the Brunswick Family Campground. Come on down! Main Street will once again be cookin’ up some fantastic barbeque and servin’ it up with Flying Dog Brewery Beer on Saturday, September 8^th from 3-7pm. River & Trail Outfitters now lease and manage the campground and are so excited to work with Main Street in hosting the event. River & Trail Outfitters will have bikes for rent at the campground or bring your own for riding on the beautiful C&O Canal. Another great reason to be in Brunswick this weekend!

Think you have tasted the best barbeque? Not unless you’ve had Brunswick’s own local legends Tim Simmons and JT Naylor barbeque with Charlie Smith, who has served as Chief Chef every year since the Red, White, and Brew began. This year’s menu will include Charlie’s famous Memphis Pit Beef Barbeque, Baked Beans, Homemade Cole Slaw, Ice Cream, Iced Tea, Water, Soda, Wine, and of course, Flying Dog Beer on Tap! And the best part, it’s all you can eat!

Red, White, & Brew has become a premier fundraising event for the organization, Brunswick Main Street. Each year attendance has grown. Last year’s event was sold out with over 300 ticket holders. Proceeds from Red, White, & Brew are earmarked for downtown revitalization projects. Brunswick Main Street is a non- profit community organization working to Revitalize the Heart of the Community and improve the quality of life for local residents.

Beside all the good eats, Main Street has “beefed up” the music this year! The headliner band performing at the event is non-other than “The Darren Beachley Band”! Darren Beachley’s voice may be one of the most recognized in acoustic/bluegrass/roots music today. He’s been touring and playing professionally for over 30 years.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at Green Country Inn, Head Quarters Barber and Styling Salon, Brunswick Hardware or purchase online. Tables of 10 can be purchased for $350 and individual tickets are $40. Limited tickets will be available at the event. Ticket price includes dinner, beverages including beer and wine, and music. Call Main Street manager Mike Sparks at 301 834 5591(leave a message) or Abbie Ricketts at 301 834 9207 for more information or visit www.brunswickmainstreet.org.

We are gearing up for a great weekend in downtown Brunswick along the scenic Potomac River and C&O Canal. See why Brunswick Crossing is where you’ll want to call home. Fun festivities and adventures are waiting for you to enjoy in your own back yard. We are Frederick County’s most dynamic planned community!

Back to school starts this week in Frederick County many fall sports practices have already started. No matter which sport your child is practicing, he or she will need special nutritional intake because of the increased physical activities.  Most athletes will increase their food and energy needs. An average athletic teenager may need 5,000 calories a day as compared to the 3,000 calories of a nonathletic counterpart.

Water is perhaps the most important component for proper nutrition for an athlete. Although water does not contribute energy to the person, it will keep your young athlete fully hydrated. Dehydration is one of the most serious problems of athletes during games and practices since they sweat a lot (losing water and salts). Water should never be restricted for any practitioner of sports, especially for high school teenagers. In addition to the water itself, drinking plenty of water also replenishes different ions that may be lost during sweating.

Carbohydrates are very important in sport nutrition since they are the source of fast and ready energy when needed. Carbohydrates for your athlete may come from different sources such as: cereals (oatmeal, pastas, brown rice, corn, peas), fruits (apples, bananas, oranges), or vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, and green beans). It is recommended that the person increases the carbohydrate intake from various sources and not use only one. Bananas have the added benefit of increasing potassium intake and also helps stop cramping of muscles.

High school athletes do not need a high-protein diet but do need high-quality protein. Protein plays a vital role in muscle development and health, tissue repair, wound healing and hormone regulation. Have your athlete avoid high-fat protein found in fried fast food burgers and instead focus on grilled lean beef or chicken, eggs, seafood, seeds, and nuts and nut butters.

Athletes should eat both protein and carbohydrates several hours before sporting competitions to allow the meal to digest and eat a small snack of fruit, fat-free yogurt or a piece of whole-grain toast closer to the event time to avoid feeling hungry and to give themselves energy.

Brunswick Crossing is wishing all our fall athletes a safe and fun season. Go Railroaders! Brunswick Crossing is Frederick County’s most dynamic planned community located in Brunswick, MD. And best of all, we are part of Frederick County Public Schools!

Looking for some fun this weekend minutes from Brunswick Crossing? Distillery Lane Ciderworks is having their “First Press of the Season” festival this Saturday, September 1, 2012. Ciderworks is located on 95 acres just outside of the historic town of Burkittsville in Jefferson, MD. The farm dates back to the Civil War and is protected by both historic and environmental conservation easements. The property is known as “The Encampment” and is rich in Civil War history!

Distillery Lane Ciderworks is the first licensed cidery in Maryland. Although the farm does not make traditional wine (hard cider has approximately the same alcohol content as wine, but is made from apples instead of grapes), it operates under a winery license. More trees have been planted since 2001 and the orchard is now nine acres (over 3,000 trees)! The rest of the 95 acres of the farm are mostly pastures and woods. Ciderworks also offers some of the best “fresh cider” which is cider with no alcoholic content.

Ciderworks grows both dessert and cider apples, but you won’t find the apple varieties that they grow in grocery stores. They chose to grow specialized cider and baking apples—you can taste the difference between their apples and store-bought apples!

Head out to Distillery Lane Ciderworks for cider tasting, tours of the orchard, apple picking, cider pressing, live music, bee keeping demonstrations, lectures on the Civil War history of the farm, fresh cooked seafood, and the best ice cream in Maryland. It will be fun for all ages! Join the festivities from 10am-6pm. To find out more about Distillery Lane Ciderworks visit their website: www.distillerylaneciderworks.com.

See why Brunswick Crossing is the best place to call home – with adventures like Ciderworks around the corner. Brunswick Crossing is Frederick County’s most dynamic planned community with so much to see and do within minutes of your new home front door!

If the sky stays clear on Friday night you will be able to see the rare “Blue Moon”. Take a walk up to the event area at Brunswick Crossing behind the new community center, which is under construction for a great view. Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the evening’s natural event. This will be the last chance to see a Blue Moon as it will not happen again until 2015.

Don’t expect to see a large blue ball in the sky as the Blue Moon is not defined by the color of the moon, but the rarity of 2 full moons in one month. August had its first full moon on the 1st of the month. Blue moons are also defined as the forth full moon in a season. The last Blue Moon was on December 31st, 2009 and was a New Year’s Eve Blue Moon.

Astrology experts say that there are on average 3 full moons per every season including spring, summer, fall and winter.  When a blue moon occurs, a particular season welcomes an extra full moon.

A blue moon happens every 2.7 years on average and it is even rarer to catch a double blue moon, which is when a blue moon occurs twice in one year.  The last double blue moon occurred in 1999 with the next one expected in 2018.

You have heard the phrase “once in a blue moon”? When people use this phrase is meant to refer to something extremely rare, like the occurrence of a second moon happening in the same given month.

Harvard University astronomer Avi Loeb said “the moon is far more important to lovers, literature and folklore than to science”.

Cue up the Elvis records! “Blue Moon…. You saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own.” In song and literature, blue moons have long symbolized lost love and melancholy. Elvis set the standard for lunar heartbreak in his 1956 pop hit “Blue Moon.”

The blue moon will be at its fullest on Friday, August 31, 2012 at the time 9:53 am. EST.

Be on the lookout for the rare blue moon, or you will have to wait until 2015 before the next one! You don’t have to wait for a “once in a blue moon” to visit Brunswick Crossing. Visit us today and see why we are Frederick County’s most dynamic planned community. We have it all!

When something this special rolls into Brunswick Crossing’s own backyard, you should experience it to the fullest. The Smithsonian is coming to Brunswick, and the city is preparing in a big way.  Journey Stories will use engaging images with audio and artifacts to tell the individual stories that illustrate the critical roles travel and movement have played in building our diverse American society.

Journey Stories, a Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibition is touring Maryland and  will be making a six week stop in Brunswick  beginning Friday, August 31st.  This dynamic, interactive exhibit explores how America moves and covers everything from slavery and immigration to the advent of the station wagon and vacationing in the mid Twentieth century. The local Journey Stories Committee, headed up by Brunswick Library librarian Robin Bowers and Brunswick Railroad Museum curator Rebecca O’Leary, has been hard at work for over a year developing, planning, and fundraising for a full calendar of complementary exhibitions, programs, and presentations.

Journey Stories will examine the intersection between modes of travel and Americans’ desire to feel free to move. The story is diverse and focused on immigration, migration, innovation, and freedom. It is accounts of immigrants coming in search of promise in a new country; stories of individuals and families relocating in search of fortune, their own homestead, or employment; the harrowing journeys of Africans and Native Americans forced to move; and, of course, fun and frolic on the open road.

The first weekend of Journey Stories is jam packed with activities, kicking off with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the exhibit site at 10 am on August 31st. Festivities will continue throughout the day with a Brunswick Stew Cookoff, an international dance festival featuring Native American hoop dancer Pete Four Winds, the Beaton School of Irish Dance, and the Tears of Aset raks sharqi troupe, and an open air concert courtesy of the Community Foundation of Frederick County with GRAMMY nominated artist Ray Owen, who will be performing his “Casey Jones and the Great American Railroad” show. Saturday, September 1 will feature a presentation on Civil War medical techniques with an interpreter from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and a Civil War dance performance and fashion show from the Victorian Dance Ensemble, while Sunday, September 2 will see an all day World War One living history encampment. Times and locations for all events can be found at www.journeystoriesbrunswick.org or by calling (301) 834-7100.
Journey Stories runs from August 31 until October 12.  Most events are free, and will be held in The Kaplon Building located at 102 W. Potomac St, Brunswick, Maryland 21716.  Please check the website for special events.  www.journeystoriesbrunswick.org

Summer is coming to an end and Frederick County, MD schools open on Monday, August 27^th. We would like to remind everyone, parents and drivers, to do their part to keep kids safe as they wait for the bus or walk to school. As drivers head to work Monday morning, please give yourself a little extra time for your commute. New bus stops and bus routes could cause delays. Also, please be aware of crosswalks for those students who walk to school. Be prepared to stop and please be kind to crossing guards.

Parents should take the time to talk about safety with their kids before they head back to school. A great idea recommended for parents of students that walk to school is to walk the route with their kids before the start of the year to assess any hazards and select a course with the least number of traffic crossings. Some important reminders are kids should cross the street with an adult until they are at least 10 years old. If an adult cannot be present, please have your child walk with a friend or in a group. Make sure to cross the streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Never run out into the streets or cross in between parked cars.

Those students that ride a bus also need safety rules. Younger children love to play with friends while waiting for the bus. Please remind students not to play in the streets and to be aware of vehicles as much as drivers need to be aware of children waiting for the bus. Make sure that your student always walks in front of the bus when it stops where the bus driver can see them.

Commuters need safety rules as well. Please slow down and be especially alert the residential neighborhoods and school zones. Many areas in Frederick County have speed cameras set up now in school zones. Avoid having your picture taken and obey the speed limit for the safety of all our Frederick County School children. Take extra time to look for students at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Not all intersections will have crossing guards. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully. Watch for children on and near the roads in the morning and after school hours. NEVER pass a stopped bus unless instructed to by the bus driver. And again, please give yourself extra time for your commute to work during the school year. Most important, reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Put down your cell phone and don’t talk or text while driving.

Adults can teach and model these safety rules by setting a great example when driving or walking your child to school.

Brunswick Crossing would like to wish all Frederick County students, teachers and families a safe and happy 2012-2013 school year. Brunswick Crossing is the most dynamic planned community nestled Brunswick, MD! Visit us today!

Gearing up for back to school with books and supplies also means coming up with great ideas for packing lunches. While most consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day, lunch is equally important when it comes to children’s health and learning. Healthy lunches make you feel good as a parent as well as sets healthy eating habits for life.

Sandwiches are the most traditional lunch meal. The varieties are endless which keeps children from becoming bored with their meals. You can use different types of meats and breads to add variety. Peanut Butter and Jelly also tastes great on whole wheat or multi-grain breads. Try a vegetarian sandwich by using whole wheat pita stuffed with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes and sprouts. Have your children help decide what goes in the lunch box. Kids are more likely to eat it if they helped to prepare it. If you are sending your child to school with a meat sandwich, such as turkey or ham, be sure to use an insulated lunch box. Add orange juice as a delicious drink.

Soup and salad can make for a delicious change of lunch menu and will be very nutritious for your child. Use a good thermos for the soup to keep it hot. How about chicken noodle soup with a garden salad topped with diced cheese, some whole grain crackers and canned fruit packed in juice? Salads can include fruit toppings such as blueberries, strawberries, or peach slices for a change of pace. Add walnuts, almond slices, pecans or chow mien noddles for little bit of crunch. You can also try a cold pasta salad to mix it up.

Leftovers also make healthy lunches for your kids. Most leftovers can be eaten cold. But if leftovers need to eaten hot, be sure to use the right type of container to keep it at the right temperature until lunch time. Try packing some leftover chicken with a side of vegetables and starch. Add some fruit to round out the meal. You can also pack some leftover take out, such as a slice of pizza with a small salad and some grapes.

Breakfast for lunch is a great way to change it up a bit and makes it fun for your child. Try a simple healthy breakfast-lunch meal like a bowl of your child’s favorite cereal. Add a banana and a thermos of cold milk. Or, maybe a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese, orange slices, and a cup of yogurt. Whole wheat blueberry pancakes or waffles with syrup, a side of strawberries, and a cold thermos of milk to drink is just another great breakfast for lunch. Worried about keeping the milk cold? Have your child by the milk at school.

These are just a few ways to send your child or children back to school with some great healthy lunches that will give them the energy for the afternoon and healthy eating habits that will continue through life.

Brunswick Crossing is gearing up for back to school. The Brunswick Elementary, Middle and High school are part of Frederick County Public Schools and are less than two miles from our community. Visit us to see why we are Frederick County’s most dynamic planned community!