Nov 14, 2017
The weather for today will be cold but turning partly sunny with a high in the upper 30s by this afternoon for the Trader’s Cookie Party from 3:00pm-6:00pm.
Also, plan to attend the HART benefit buffet dinner and dessert ‘Til Death Do Us Part Murder Mystery tonight at Dutch’s at Silver Tree from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Call 301-387-7729 to register.
The Greater Grantsville Business Association is holding a free Garrett County Business Formation and Expansion roundtable starting at 8:30am tomorrow, November 15th. The non-profit roundtable will immediately follow. Contact ggba@visitgrantsville.com to register or for more information.
Congratulations to J.T. Lewis, who won his opening game as the Garrett Lakers’ head ladies basketball coach on Friday! The men also won their first game of the season. NOTE: These games are convenient, are a lot of fun to attend and are a great “night-out” for folks on a budget.
The next public meeting of the Board of Garrett County Commissioners will be held starting at 3:00pm on November 21st.
Terry Helbig and team at the B&O Museum in Oakland are always looking for new volunteers to work at the museum on projects ranging from model train display set-up to Christmas decorations. Give Terry a call at 301.616.0661 to learn more about volunteer opportunities at the museum.
The holiday season is right around the corner, which means the 10th annual Festival of Trees is almost here. Many groups, including two from Garrett College, are busy working on their submissions to support the Dove Center. Come see all the trees, centerpieces and wreaths on November 24 and 25 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds! All can be bid-on at the live auction at 6:00pm that Saturday.
Garrett Institute of Lifelong Learning is presenting a special program on November 17th beginning at 11am at the Oakland Community Center (old armory) on 8th Street. Helen Lorenz, mother of local resident Donna Miller, was about 10 years old during WWII when her family was relocated to an internment camp in Crystal City, Texas. Her parents were German. All are welcome to attend this free session of GILL programming, even if you are not a member.
Here’s another reminder that the Maryland Health Exchange sign-up for health and dental plan coverage is open until December 15th. Registration is open all year for certain other groups, such as those experiencing a life event or those on Medicaid.
Yesterday, a ribbon cutting was held for the Meadow Mountain Trail system of Garrett Trails. This multi-purpose trail is 14 miles long (one-way) and, they say that, it has “one of the best overlooks in the county”. Congratulations, friends!
Nov 13, 2017
The weather for today will be scattered rain and even snow this morning changing to light rain this afternoon. Highs in the mid-40s.
The Ruth Enlow Library has three interesting events going on today, including a LEGO Club meeting in Kitzmiller, a Community Conversation session in Grantsville and a talk on the Bayeux Tapestry in Oakland.
Speakers Brooke Neel, Henry Scully & Steve Clark will provide an informative presentation on the Flight 93 Memorial features and updates, educational programming, the Visitor Center and Learning Center. The event is free at the Springs Museum/Folk Meeting House at 1711 Springs Road in Springs, PA starting at 7:30pm tonight.
On November 10th, Governor Hogan announced that that all military veterans, including residents and nonresidents, will be granted free admission and entrance to the network of 72 state parks managed by the Maryland Park Service. There are currently 414,000 veterans living in Maryland.
I attended a wonderful Veteran’s Ceremony at the Veteran’s Park on Saturday 11/11 at 11:00am. Note the frigid temperatures had the fountain half-frozen.
The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is sharing information about a recent recall of portable fire extinguishers manufactured by the Kidde Corporation. There have been almost 400 reports of problems related to these Kidde fire extinguishers and Kidde has recalled almost 38 million fire extinguishers due to alleged malfunctions. Remember to check your numbers if you have a Kidde.
Saw a number of fishermen in boats out on the lake in the mild weather on Sunday. According to the Maryland Department of Natural resources, the focus is on walleye, smallmouth bass and yellow perch along steep rocky shorelines and deep grass.
We breathe in the clean, crisp Fall air here in Garrett County, consider the fact that India’s Delhi residents are facing a serious smog “event.” CNN reports that breathing air in Delhi is the equivalent of smoking 44 cigarettes a day!
I went to Kitzmiller over the weekend and saw the Apple Maps car …. wish I could have gotten a photo!
Nov 10, 2017
Chance of snow this morning (there are already flurries in some places) and unseasonably cold highs in the 20s. Winds could gust up to 35mph. Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a low of 25 and a high of 32 and Sunday will be chance of rain and snow – low of 32 and high of 43.
We salute you! A heartfelt thank you to all the men and women that have served their country, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Garrett College is holding their annual Remembrance Day Roll Call on today in the auditorium from 7:00am – 4:30pm. This year members of the community will read the names of our men and women who died in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past decade.
Here’s our list of local restaurants offering Veterans Day (November 11th) discounts, including:
- Denny’s: (Nov 10) Free Build Your Own Grand Slam from 5:00am to noon
- IHOP: (Nov. 10) Free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7:00am-7:00pm
- Perkins: (Nov 11) You can enjoy a complimentary Magnificent Seven Breakfast
- Uno’s: (Nov 11) Enjoy a free entrée or individual pizza (with an entrée or pizza purchase of equal or greater value.)
- Green Turtle: Nov 11) Offer valid for a free item up to $12 or $12 off on a more expensive item
*Check participating locations before you go and note that you will probably need your ID Card or DD 214 for each of these*
Oakland will be holding a Veteran’s Parade tomorrow at 10:30am in Downtown.
On Saturday, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Our Town Theatre and Ruth Enlow Library will co-host a Canteen at the Theatre. The Canteen will begin with a Presentation of the Colors, with the American Legion’s Color Guard, and the service songs will be played to honor each branch of the armed forces, followed by a reading of “letters home” and other programming.
Anybody know who belongs to this doggie that was found at the intersection of 495 and North Glad on Thursday? If so, please call the Garrett County Animal Shelter at 301-334-3553.
Just heard that the WMXA Cash Bash scheduled for Saturday evening at the Oakland Elks Lodge has been rescheduled to January 13th
Moonshadow in McHenry has concerts by The Tonehounds, Mateo Monk and Jason McDonald this weekend.
Garrett County Public Schools Superintendent Barbara Baker plans to seek feedback from parents and the community regarding the strategic planning for the future success of the school system. See the link for the complete schedule.
Some tidbits (giblets?) for Thanksgiving table conversations: According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, an adult turkey has between 5,000 and 6,000 feathers. And, turkey droppings tell a bird’s sex and age. Male droppings are j-shaped; female droppings are spiral-shaped. The larger the diameter, the older the bird. Now you know!
The Rural Maryland Council will host its biennial summit “Bridging the Divide: Strengthening Rural and Urban Communities” on Friday, December 1, 2017 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland.
A new community organization, HABco, is holding a Monday Morning Mojo event on November 20 from 7:30am-9:00am. This event intends to create an opportunity for coffee, collaboration and motivation among creatives, entrepreneurs and community leaders. This event is $10 per person and limited to the first 20 participants.
Nov 9, 2017
Mostly cloudy turning partly cloudy this afternoon; highs in the mid-40s with wind around 10mph and gusts up to 20mph.
The Women’s Networking Group had a great meeting at Ace’s Run yesterday. Keep up the good work – and networking – ladies!
Business After Hours is this evening from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. It will be held at First United Bank & Trust on South Second Street in Oakland.
For you dedicated leaf peepers, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports that there are still some parts of Maryland where the fall foliage is just now peaking. I think I’ll stay in beautiful Garrett County all the same…
Ken’s Irish Pub in Friendsville is presenting Jason Shaw with Brandon Kling on percussion, this Saturday (11/11) at 8:00pm. They will be mixing in one of the greatest rock stars of all time, Tom Petty!
Here’s an interesting fact: According to the American Immigration Council, 15.2% of Marylanders were immigrants in 2015. That’s almost a million individuals. In addition, 11.3% of the population were native-born Americans who had at least one parent that was an immigrant.
Cancel that! A Touch of Class Limo reports that they had a few wedding cancellations for this weekend and that they are offering discount pricing on some great vehicles. Call them at 301.698.2650 or email them at info@atouchofclasslimosuines.com.
Do you know of a business that deserves recognition for making an investment in Garrett County? Honor their work and the project by submitting a nomination that demonstrates how the company has influenced your community while transforming the lives around you. This event is sponsored by Maryland Economic Development Association and the deadline for nominations is December 8th.
Nov 8, 2017
On October 24, 2017 the Maryland State Board of Education unanimously voted to adopt proposed amendments to the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Title 13A State Board of Education Subtitle 04 Chapter 16 Programs in Fine Arts. The revisions are aligned to the following recommendations in The Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council Arts Education in Maryland Schools Members of the State Board of Education Final Report (2014).
Recommendation A: Revise the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) to provide specific direction to local school systems in the consistent implementation of comprehensive fine arts programs in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts for all children at all grade levels.
Recommendation D: Revise the Maryland State Standards for Fine Arts Education.
Included in the regulation are revised Maryland Fine Arts Standards which now align with the National Core Arts Standards that focus on the artistic processes of creating, presenting, responding and connecting.
Notable changes in the regulation are:
- The inclusion of prekindergarten in fine arts instruction
- The delineation of experiences in all art forms for students in prekindergarten – grade 5.
- The ability for students in grades 6-8 to specialize in one or more art form.
- The addition of Media Arts as the 5th art form as defined by the National Core Arts Standards.
- The inclusion and formalization of the Fine Arts Education Advisory Panel to advise MSDE’s Superintendent on issues and best practices relevant to fine arts education.
This is the culmination of the collaboration of over one hundred arts education stakeholders from across the state with representation from all 24 school districts. Representatives from local school systems, arts organizations, higher education, arts administrators, arts educators and professional artists representing each of the fine arts disciplines: dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual art contributed to this outstanding work. All are to be commended for their constant commitment to ensure that 100 percent of Maryland’s students will participate in fine arts programs as part of a world class education that addresses the whole child.
The next phase of the process is the publication COMAR 13A.04.16 Programs in Fine Arts in the Maryland Register on November 13, 2017. It will become effective on November 23, 2017.
Nov 8, 2017
Partly sunny this morning turning to partly cloudy but warmer with highs in the low 40s.
Important reminder for our readers: Potomac Edison is planning a power outage today that will impact customers in the McHenry and Oakland areas between 9:00am – 9:15am. This is an outage for construction/repairs. In the event that it needs to be rescheduled for weather, they will move it to Thursday, November 9th from 9:00am – 9:15am.
Lots of interesting programs today for kids and adults at the Ruth Enlow Library branch locations throughout the County.
One more reminder: Women’s Networking Lunch @Ace’s Run at 12pm today!
Maryland Matters recently shared a LTE with more information on the Garrett County College Tuition Program that was followed up with a response from Dr. Bernard Sadusky Executive Director of MACC (Maryland Association of Community Colleges). The “promise” program is an excellent program for our community!
Congratulations to my colleague Max Hill on his election to the town council of Loch Lynn Monday. Way to go Max!
We have heard of some local restaurants offering Veterans Day (November 11th) discounts, including:
- Denny’s: (Nov 10) Free Build Your Own Grand Slam from 5:00pm to noon
- IHOP: (Nov. 10) Free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7:00am-7:00pm
- Perkins: (Nov 11) You can enjoy a complimentary Magnificent Seven Breakfast
- Uno’s: (Nov 11) Enjoy a free entrée or individual pizza (with an entrée or pizza purchase of equal or greater value.)
- Green Turtle: Nov 11) Offer valid for a free item up to $12 or $12 off on a more expensive item
*Check participating locations before you go and note that you will probably need your ID Card or DD 214 for each of these*
In 2013 Brett Simpson entered into and completed what is considered to be one of the hardest bike races in the world, Tour Divide. Simpson is scheduled to give a presentation as part of the Adventure Sports colloquium series on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00pm in room 1013 in the Center for Adventure & Outdoor Studies (CAOS) building at Garrett College. Call 301-387-3330 for more information.
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and since Americans collectively spend nearly $200 billion per year on obesity-related health costs, the personal-finance website WalletHub yesterday released its report on 2017’s Fattest States in America. Interesting fact: Maryland ranks 24th.
The Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs is offering two programs on government procurement and related topics in Crownsville on November 28th. It’s a drive but government contracts can really help any business grow.
Nov 7, 2017
In 2013 Brett Simpson entered into and completed what is considered one of the hardest bike packing races in the world, Tour Divide. Tour Divide travels 2,745 miles down the Rockies from Canada to Mexico. This solo, self-supported race involves over 200,000 feet of climbing. Simpson is scheduled to give a presentation as part of the Adventure Sports colloquium series on Tuesday, November 14 at 7 p.m. in room 1013 in the Center for Adventure & Outdoor Studies (CAOS) building at the McHenry campus of Garrett College.
The adventure sports colloquium series presentation is part of a course for students enrolled in the Adventure Sports program. The general public is also invited and welcome to attend the presentation.
After the Tour Divide, Simpson participated in other bike races and tours including the Arrowhead 135 (a winter fat bike race with temperatures reaching -50F) and bike touring the Idaho Hot Springs Route. He will share with the audience his adventure of a lifetime, and will also have his bike and some ultralight racing gear with him at his presentation.
Originally from Portland, Ore., he has worked in the field of experiential education for almost 25 years. During that time, he spent time working for a wide range of companies throughout the country in multiple outdoor disciplines including trekking, backpacking, biking, whitewater and sea kayaking, rafting, canoeing, rock and ice climbing and mountaineering.
His travels eventually brought him to Bloomsburg, Pa. to work for one of the oldest college outdoor programs in the country, known as Quest. A long-standing leadership development program at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Quest uses experiential and outdoor education to develop self-reliance and leadership skills in student leaders, and serve the greater community throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Working his way up from staff coordinator to associate director, he eventually became the executive director for seven years before leaving to pursue other opportunities.
During his time at Bloomsburg University, he also worked with the College of Business to start an executive training program known as LEEP (Leadership and Executive Education Program). He continues to work for NOLS Wilderness Medicine teaching throughout the country. His professional life has transitioned into work that involves splitting his time between carpentry, wilderness medicine, executive consulting and professional photography.
Simpson has led multiple trips in Ethiopia, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador taking in their breathtaking beauty, rich culture and diverse outdoor activities. Additionally, he has managed trips and traveled, biked, climbed, paddled, and backpacked extensively throughout the United States and Canada.
He has an undergraduate degree in outdoor recreation and leadership and a master’s degree in education.
For more information on the November 14 colloquium presentation that is open to the general public, persons may contact the Garrett College Adventure Sports office at 301-387-3330.
Nov 7, 2017
The Friendsville Lions Club recently approved 2 new members for membership in the club. Membership in Lions Club is by invitation, and Lion Renee Larue was officially inducted into the club by First Vice District Governor Gerry Beachy at their regular club meeting. The club meets at the Jubilee Diner in Friendsville on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at 6:30 PM each month.
Lions Clubs perform service activities that include collecting food for local food pantries and volunteering to help blind persons. They also raise funds to help purchase eyeglasses for the needy and to help many other organizations including Lions Clubs International Foundation. That organization recently provided $100,000 in grants to hurricane impacted areas.
For more information about becoming a member of the Friendsville Lions Club, contact club secretary Barry Frazee at barry.frazee@me.com or by cell phone: 304-288-1904.
Nov 7, 2017
Be careful out there: It will be a high of 37 and low of 31 today with a chance of freezing rain in the afternoon. Winds up to 15mph.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families of the shooting in Texas on Sunday.
Calling all real estate investors and artists: Don’t forget to attend the A&E District Explained meeting this evening at the Penn Alps restaurant in Grantsville. You’ll learn all about the benefits of buying or renting real estate in the Grantsville and Oakland Arts Districts.
Remember to mark your calendars for Wednesday’s Women’s Networking Lunch at Ace’s Run from 12pm-1pm sponsored by the Garrett County Business Hub. The cost $15 to cover the cost of lunch.
Health is in the news:
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners will be holding its semi-annual Board of Health meeting during the monthly Health Planning Council on Thursday, November 16, 2017 beginning at 8:00 am in the Health Department Conference Room. Interested persons may contact Robert Stephens, Health Officer at 301.334.7700
Maryland Health Connection Open Enrollment is available until December 15, 2017. More on how to enroll and the information needed can be found on the Health Connection website.
Garrett Regional Medical Center scores high on recent ratings of hospital safety in Maryland. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is a public service provided by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization.
The Chamber is holding their Business After Hours this Thursday at First United in Oakland. The event goes from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
How sweet it is. A class on Wilton Candy making will be offered by Garrett College Continuing Education and Workforce Development in Grantsville on Wednesday, November 15, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. To register for this course, persons may contact the CEWD registration desk at 301-387-3069.
While many flowers are finished blooming by the fall, pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, wasps and flower flies are still out foraging for food. This late group of pollinators also includes the monarch butterfly, which needs nectar to fuel its southward migration. See some examples of “late bloomers” that provide nectar at this time of the year.
Our rural County is home to many, many dogs and dog lovers, including Mike and Sarah. For you dog lovers out there: Today is National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day. Give your dog a big hug and we’ll talk again tomorrow…
Nov 6, 2017
It will be cloudy this morning and highs in the upper 50s falling to the upper 40s by this afternoon. Chance of rain is 90%.
The public Commissioners Meeting is this afternoon at the Oakland Courthouse.
According to just-released figures from the Chamber of Commerce, Garrett County saw an 11% increase in county accommodations collections in August 2017 over August 2016, a 53% increase in heads on beds and an 8.3% increase in sales tax collections. According to the Maryland Office of Tourism, Garrett County’s increases even outpaced Maryland’s tourism growth, with State tax revenues specific to tourism increasing by 4.1%, while Garrett County grew tourism sales tax revenues 6.8%.
Congratulations to the Oakland Fire Department for a great Gun and Cash Bash on Saturday. I had a great time introducing a downstate buddy to a little Garrett County culture. Great prizes, great food, great people all for a great cause.
Congratulations are also in order for friend and colleague J.R. Kearns, Director of the Garrett College Library. JR’s law review article on the legal history and religious practice of snake handling was cited by the prestigious journal The Encyclopedia of American Civil Rights and Liberties.
The town of McHenry, including the Deep Creek Lake area has been named by TripAdvisor as one of America’s 18 America’s 18 Best Fall Foliage Getaways by the Water.
A big THANK YOU to Helen and Walter Atwill, Garrett County residents since 1986, who celebrated their last day as volunteers at Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) last week. The Atwills, both in their 90s and married 72 years, have donated well over 8,000 hours to the hospital over the last 26 years!
Helen and Walter Atwill at the reception desk on their last day at GRMC
Lots of insight into the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ progress and programs on their website, including Secretary Belton’s November Letter. http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2017/11/01/secretarys-message-november-2017/
Part-time Garrett County resident and Deep Creek Times reader, Alice, shared her guest room decor with us! After a recent move into a new part-time home on the other end of the state, the “DCL Room” just had to be set up first!
The Garrett County Arts Council and Grantsville Arts & Entertainment committee will host a public meeting at Penn Alps Restaurant Tuesday evening at 6:00pm to explain the benefits of renting or purchasing property in the A&E District. They will also explain the tax benefits to artists in the district. All are welcome to attend.
Nov 5, 2017
Garrett College has partnered with the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) to combine efforts on the importance of pedestrian safety amongst the College community. The SHA recently collaborated with Ocean City and College Park on a pedestrian safety campaign.
Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects the entire community; young and old, drivers and walkers, in the day and at night. Many unnecessary injuries and fatalities occur as a result of either the driver or the pedestrian. The SHA contacted Garrett College to discuss how they could assist with particular challenges that the College faces. They also reached out to Cecil College.
“Garrett is a unique institution that has many offerings but our location can present a challenge when it comes to accessing other community resources,” stated Shelley Menear, Coordinator of Safety, Security and Compliance at Garrett College. “We are aware of potential safety concerns for both pedestrians and drivers and are diligently working with a variety of community and state partners to not only promote safe practices, but to also develop new means for transportation to and from campus.”
In collaborating with the SHA, staff members at Garrett College developed two pedestrian safety campaigns to raise awareness of the issue. Both safety campaigns were implemented at the start of this fall semester. The first campaign, ‘Look up, Look out’, targets drivers. When driving on Mosser and Bumble Bee Road, individuals are encouraged to do the following: slow down and observe posted speed limits, always stop for pedestrians, stay alert and keep his or her eyes on the road.
‘Walk Smart’ is the second safety campaign that focuses solely on pedestrians and actions one can take to make the roads a safer environment for those traveling by foot. Safety tips for pedestrians that are shared amongst Garrett College students are: walk single file, walk facing traffic, remove earbuds, stay visible and wear bright and/or reflective clothing,
Garrett College has taken many initiatives to further reinforce the importance of pedestrian safety among students. In addition to the SHA partnership, other valuable measures have been established to inform students and the College community on this issue. Pedestrian safety is discussed at new student orientation (which became mandatory this fall), residence hall meetings, and at the fall Welcome Fair, where reflective wrist bands were handed out and issued to students.
Campaign flyers are posted throughout the College, including both residence halls on campus. Garrett’s Safety and Security department also shares information regularly about pedestrian safety through social media. Other efforts include regular emails and updates throughout the semester and student outreach when negative pedestrian behavior is occurring – Safety and Security staff stop and directly speak with students about proper procedures when walking along the road.
For more information on pedestrian safety efforts underway at Garrett College, persons may contact Shelley Menear at 301-387-3037 or shelley.menear@garrettcollege.edu.
Nov 5, 2017
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce won two awards at the 37th Annual Tourism and Travel Summit presented by the Maryland Tourism Coalition in College Park, Maryland last week. Competing against nominees from other counties in the state, the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce won the Best Product or Event award (Small Category) for their Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area 5th Anniversary Celebration and the Best Digital Campaign for their “Garrett County 360° Virtual Reality Experience”.
The Best Product or Event award (Small Category) is given to an event, tour, destination, program or experience that is innovative, a model for others and a successful Maryland tourism product with a budget of less than $5,000. The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area (MMGTW), a program of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, celebrated its 5th Anniversary of becoming a certified Maryland Heritage Area in November 2016. The celebration included the unveiling of a new Visitors Center Heritage Photo Display, guest speakers and citations/proclamations from U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, U.S. Representative John Delaney, MD Senator George Edwards, MD Delegate Wendell Beitzel, and the Garrett County Commissioners. MMGTW is one of 13 state certified Heritage Areas and has worked with partners throughout the county, helping to obtain grants to complete numerous projects, securing nearly $900,000 in funding over the past five years.
“We are so honored to have received the Best Small Event award from the Maryland Tourism Coalition for our Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area’s 5 Year Anniversary Celebration,” said Jen Durben, Heritage Area & Groups Director at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “This award is shared with our community and the partnering organizations that have made and will continue to make the heritage area program a success.”
The Best Digital Campaign award is given to an entity who integrates digital media in a creative and unique way. The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce launched a 360° virtual reality experience of Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County on their website, visitdeepcreek.com, in September 2017. The experience, a result of the Chamber’s partnership with virtual reality company, YouVisit, includes 360° video and photos shot at 22 locations throughout Garrett County. Many of the locations include “living video scenes” where people come to life – either participating in the activity (golfing, whitewater rafting, kayaking) or speaking directly to the visitor telling them about the location they are viewing. Not only is the experience available for anyone who visits the Chamber’s website, visitdeepcreek.com, via desktop or mobile devices, the experience is compatible with virtual reality headsets which the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce will be taking to travel and consumer shows so prospective visitors can view the beauty and activities of the area.
“We are honored to accept the Best Digital Campaign award for our new 360° Garrett County virtual reality experience,” said Sarah Duck, Director of Tourism & Marketing at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “Our 360° experience allows us to showcase all that Garrett County and the Deep Creek Lake area have to offer to our visitors in an innovative and unique way and to be recognized by our tourism industry peers with this award is particularly gratifying.”
For more information about the Maryland Tourism Coalition and the annual Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit, visit mdtourism.org. For more information on the Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area, please visitwww.garrettheritage.com. For more information about the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, please call 301.387.4386 or log onto www.visitdeepcreek.com.
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is the largest professional business association in the region with 600 members representing every industry in the community. The mission of the Chamber is to organize, support and represent Garrett County’s business community in advancing common interests and additionally to promote Garrett County’s hospitality and recreation industry by attracting visitors to the county through comprehensive marketing.
Nov 3, 2017
The weather for today will be chance of rain, highs in the low 60s; winds gusting to 25mph. Saturday is rain likely and 54 degrees while Sunday looks like chance of rain and 62 degrees.
There’s an Advanced Weaving Class this Friday, Saturday and Sunday where previous students of Ann Jones can take their knowledge to the next level with an intro to reading and planning drafts that you will then weave. Various projects and materials with lots of handouts. There is a fee and we don’t know the times, so act early Friday if you are interested.
The Swanton Community Center is holding an All You Can Eat Buckwheat Cake Dinner this Saturday, Nov 4th. It will be the last one until 2018!
Party with the Oakland Walmart on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the “Toys that Rock” event. Take your kids to play with top toys and take selfies with Santa. FREE.
November is Native American Heritage month and the Deep Creek lake Discovery Center is celebrating with some great programs this weekend. The Discovery Center is open every Friday – Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm this month.
Smoke N Mirrors Gallery and Studio in Oakland is hosting dream interpreter Rose Gordy this Saturday at their free Dream Workshop from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
Maryland’s craft beer industry had an overall economic impact of $637.6 million and supported or created 6,541 jobs in 2016. This is according to an economic impact study conducted by the Bureau of Revenue Estimates that was released during the Reform on Tap Task Force meeting held Wednesday, Oct. 25.
As I write this there are a whole lot of very talented Civic Club of Oakland ladies in my basement hand crafting their entry tree for November’s Festival of Trees. It always takes a lot of effort, but the outcome is magnificent and the cause is a great one – the Dove center.
A skunk in the northern end of Garrett County recently tested positively for rabies. There was an altercation between the skunk and a domesticated duck. Persons with questions should call the Garrett County Environmental Services at (301)-334-7760.
This month’s Chamber Business After Hours will be held at First United Bank in Oakland on November 9th, from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
Oh my! A Night of Mayhem, Mystery and Murder will be held at Dutch’s to benefit HART for Animals on November 14th, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Cost is $65. Call 301.387.7729 for reservations.
Deep Creek Lake, the Wisp and I68 were “inventions” that shaped our County, its economy and people. Fast Company magazine lists the following top five inventions that shaped the workplace: Otis Elevator (1858), Five-day workweek (1908), Rolodex (1966), Casual Fridays (1966) and finally, the Cubicle (1968) … (from their September issue)
Nov 2, 2017
Cloudy; chance of showers 50% but warmer with highs in the mid 60s.
We hope you like the new look we implemented yesterday? Just a little change for now, with some new features coming in the future. We have totally rebuilt the technical platform Deep Creek Times is running on, so it should be more reliable and faster too…
MoonShadow is hosting “Community Night” and offering a rock painting event – you supply the rocks, they will supply the paint from 6:00pm-9:00pm tonight.
The Fort Detrick Alliance and Hagerstown Community College are hosting a Technology Showcase on November 9th starting at 4:30pm. The featured speaker is George Davis, CEO of Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).
That was a close shave… Did you know it is “No-Shave November?” No-Shave November is a web-based, non-profit organization devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education.
Also, as we previously reported, the Garrett County Sheriff’s Department is participating in No-Shave November to raise funds for their Christmas gifts program.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites young hunters to hone their skills with the help of an experienced adult during two Youth Waterfowl Hunt days: November 4, 2017 and Feb. 10, 2018. There are licenses and regulations involved so you’ll want to learn more before hunting.
Important note for our readers: Potomac Edison is planning a power outage that will impact their customers in the McHenry and Oakland areas on Wednesday, November 8th between 9:00am – 9:15am. This is an outage for construction/repairs. In the event that it needs to be rescheduled for weather, they will move it to Thursday, November 9th from 9:00am – 9:15am.
President Trump has nominated a top aide to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to be the next U.S. attorney for Maryland. Robert Kyoung Hur, 44, has worked since June as principal associate deputy attorney general under Rosenstein, the top federal prosecutor in Maryland from 2005 until his appointment this year to the No. 2 post in the Justice Department.
The Ruth Enlow Library will host a lecture about the 900-year-old Bayeux Tapestry by artist and designer Dolores M. Andrew. The lecture is scheduled for Monday, November 13 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at the Oakland Library and is free and open to the public. To register for this event contact Bonnie at 301.334.3996 x0117 or bonnie@relib.net.
Speaking of art, the Allegany Arts Council has a lot going on in the coming months, from gallery exhibits to performances. Chris Sloan and his team do a great job.
Nov 1, 2017
The Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) has announced the beginning of their outreach effort for the State Development Plan, which they are calling A Better Maryland. Their outreach efforts will involve a series of Listening Sessions in all 23 counties and Baltimore City, and those Listening Sessions will begin in Garrett County on Monday, November 6, 2017. The purpose of the Listening Sessions is to engage and connect with the public, local governments, state agencies and other stakeholders across Maryland and solicit their feedback on what should be included in a State Development Plan and how it can help state agencies and local governments plan A Better Maryland.
Citizens are encouraged to attend the public meeting which will be held at 6:00 PM in the Garrett College Auditorium, 687 Mosser Rd, McHenry. At the meeting participants will engage with each other and with Planning staff on how A Better Maryland can best advance local needs and contribute to collaborative planning across the state.