Aug 31, 2018
Happy Labor Day weekend! The weather will be:
Friday – Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76 and low around 64. A chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm.
Saturday – Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77 and a low around 64. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Sunday – Partly sunny, with a high near 80 and a low around 65. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms (30%).
Monday (Labor Day) – Mostly sunny, with a high near 81 and a low around 65.
Some nice events at the Deep Creek Lake State Park Discovery Center today and through the weekend. Also, some good things happening at Sang Run State Park.
Partners in Crime is appearing at the Black Bear Tavern this evening at 6:00pm.
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. There will be a candlelight vigil at the Glades Town Park in Oakland. Don’t have much more than that on local efforts, but it is a global effort.
It’s community Game Night at the Garrett College cafeteria Friday evening from 6:00pm – 9:30pm. Free and open to all (12 and older must be accompanied by an adult). Contact Rick Egvedt at 301.501.8218 for more information.
Savage Road is playing at the Little Yough Summer Music Festival this evening from 7:00am – 9:00pm. Savage Road is a high-energy country band based out of Western Maryland. Bring a chair or blanket for this free concert at the Pavilion in downtown Oakland.
Tell them you “saw” it here first! There’s a Crosscut Saw Competition at New Germany State Park on Saturday at 1:00pm. Families can learn about old time log cutting and cabin building.
Take a trip back in time via 80s Night Saturday at MoonShadow at 9:00pm. You can dress-up, hear original 80s music and remixes and take in the vibe.
You can join a ranger on a two-mile Sunday Stroll at New Germany State Park from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Learn about plants and animals along the way.
Here’s something different for visitors (and locals too): There’s a East Coast Truck and Tractor Pulling event tomorrow and Gun, Bow and Cash Raffle at the Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department from the 3rd through the 7th.
There’s a lot of other events going on at the lake and in the area this holiday weekend. Check out our Events Calendar for the whole scoop.
Did you know that Garrett County is the first county in Maryland to have a Barn Quilt Trail? We now have 38 beautiful quilts in our county. Check out the quilts and the wonderful scenery this weekend using the map available from the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County.
On August 30, 2018, at Southern Middle School / Broad Ford Elementary School parking lot, during school dismissal, there was a minor incident between two school buses: Bus 52 and Bus 21. There were students on both buses, but there were no injuries to any students or staff.
The Garrett County Health Department Population Health, Innovation, and Informatics Unit, located in Garrett County, Maryland, recently received a national award and recognition as its innovative health planning collaborative pilot project, the Garrett County Planning Tool, located on MyGarrettCounty.com.
Finally, don’t forget to vote in the 2018 Deep Creek Times People’s Choice Challenge, which ends on September 8th. We have numerous nominees in 40 categories. Just do it and let your favorites be recognized.
Here’s an awesome rain storm photo from Mark Richards:
Aug 30, 2018
Yesterday was a really nice day at the lake. Today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening before 10pm and patchy dense fog after midnight. A low around 63.
Ready for some football? There will be a non-competitive, pick-up game of soccer at the Discovery Center at Deep Creek State Park from 9:30am – 11:00am this morning. Hurry up and join on in.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the state’s 2018-2019 early migratory game bird hunting seasons.
You can bring your needlework – whether it’s knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, embroidery, or lap quilting, and join others for two hours of relaxation and fun at the Oakland branch of the Ruth Enlow Library today from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.
Hey there, want to get mugged? Check out the Greene Turtle Mug Club this evening from 5:00pm – 7:00pm At their McHenry location. Interesting and successful concept!
The Deep Creek Wedding and the Garrett County Wedding Professionals recently made a $500 donation to the GEMS organization as a portion of proceeds from their jointly held Belle Soirée event. GEMS is a mentoring program to benefit 7th-grade girls where mentors meet students weekly at both County middle schools.
Dam it! Or, actually un-dam it! The NOAA Restoration Center has been studying the physical and biological effects of dam removals to understand and be able to predict what will happen to an area when a dam is removed. Though our readers might find this of interest.
A new book is on shelves by Garrett County resident Nathan Sorber. In Land-Grant Colleges and Popular Revolt Sorber uncovers the intersection of class interest and economic context, and its influence on the origins, development, and standardization of land-grant colleges.
This is not in Garrett County but looks very interesting and worth the drive or stop on the way back downstate. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites the public to attend an open house from 11:00am to 4:00pm September 9th at the Woodmont Lodge in Washington County. There will be tours of the 18,785 square foot lodge, programs on conservation, biking/hiking trails and even a “scales and tails” program.
This great action video submitted by wDCT.live correspondent Jamie S. makes me want to learn how to wakeboard! Very cool!
Aug 30, 2018
Celebration Showcases County Wedding Industry and Empowering Females
OAKLAND, MD, August 27, 2018 — A first of its kind, semi-formal event, The Belle Soirée, was held May 30, 2018 at Chanteclaire Farm. At this social event of the season, Garrett County Wedding Professionals and TheDeepCreekWedding.com shared the details of Garrett County wedding industry with over 175 attendees.
Since the special event and hospitality industry is dominated by women, many of whom are also local business owners, Garrett County Wedding Professionals saw an opportunity to potentially inspire future industry leaders by partnering with the young women’s mentorship program GEMS.
A project of Garrett County’s American Association of University Women (AAUW) Garrett Branch, Girls Empowerment Middle School pairs volunteers with middle school students in weekly one-on-one sessions throughout the school year.
Before the main Belle Soiree event there was an informal reception for the middle school GEMS participants and their mentors. The ladies were invited to get hair and makeup accents and talk directly with local entrepreneurs and business owners.
Also, a portion of the proceeds from The Belle Soirée event ticket sales were donated to GEMS.
Garrett County Wedding Professionals (GCWP) committee member Elizabeth Williams shared, “Beyond a financial contribution, inviting GEMS to The Belle Soirée also provided an opportunity for the mentors and mentees to interact outside of the classroom, and engage female business leaders in their community.”
The AAUW-Garrett Branch received a check for $500.00 presented to GEMS organizer Linda Carr by Sarah Myers of The Deep Creek Wedding.
“An empowering role model is important in our world today and we are thrilled to support this initiative in Garrett County,” said GCWP committee member Marcia Warnick.
“We appreciate these local female role models partnering with our organization. GEMS is important as a component of the AAUW organization and topics covered with mentees are self-image, their role as a young woman in our society and how to keep herself healthy, whole and safe,” said Carr.
For more information about GEMS or to volunteer, contact Linda Carr at 301.746.4433 or lindacarr7125@gmail.com.
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About the Garrett County Wedding Professionals: Garrett County Wedding Professionals, also known as “GCWP”, is an industry association created in 2015 after a gathering of local wedding professionals. GCWP holds regular socials and educational sessions to build connections, strengthen skills and continue supporting the growth of weddings in the mountains of Maryland. GCWP is now a group of more than 120 wedding professionals who serve Garrett County and the Deep Creek Lake area.
About The Deep Creek Wedding: www.TheDeepCreekWedding.com is a vendor website designed to significantly grow the demand for wedding services in Garrett County/Deep Creek Lake area and promote the region as a top destination for weddings. To do this, we partner with GCWP to use the crafted and creative voices of our local wedding professionals.
About GEMS: The Garrett County GEMS (Girls Empowerment Middle School) Project is a volunteer program that pairs adult mentors with 7th grade girls. Studies show that youth with a caring mentor in their life will be more likely to succeed in school, avoid negative peer pressure and experience higher self-esteem compared to peers without positive adult mentors. In the 2018 – 2019 school year GEMS will have 20 mentors mentoring 10 young girls at both middle Garrett County schools.
Aug 29, 2018
The weather for today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 80 and a low around 66. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening.
There’s wood crafting, quilting, tin punching, corn hole games and more traditional activities and demonstrations for free at Sang Run State Park all day today.
The Greater Oakland Business Association is looking for sponsors for the 51st Anniversary of the MD State Banjo, Fiddle and Mandolin championships! We are reaching out to you for your support this year. The sponsorship levels are $1000 or $500. Contact Michelle Ross at City hall at 301.334.2691 for more information.
There’s still lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams and jellies and more at the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market in Oakland. It is held at the downtown pavilion in Oakland from 10:00am – 1:00pm today.
Also, Double Oak Farms in Swanton (3118 Bittinger Road across from The Cornerstone Market) is now offering maple syrup products from Black Bear Maple Camp and Sweet Corn (self-serve) in addition to their beef products in the meat store (open Tues-Thurs 5:30-8:00pm).
The last free Stage Wisp summer concert for 2018 is tonight on the lawn at the Wisp Resort. Bring a chair or blanket and listen to the sounds of Bryan Elijah Smith from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. There’s also food available for purchase.
It’s Open Mic Night #24 at MoonShadow this evening from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Come on by and belt out a song or two as there are still open slots. Or, you can just chill and enjoy the great food and beverages.
New Germany State Park will host a three-day Maryland Hunter Education Course on Sept. 25th, 27th and 29th for first-time hunters obtaining their hunter education certification. Students must attend all three sessions to be eligible. Any student under the age of 13 must have an adult accompany them during all three sessions and must register for the course in advance.
Here’s a link to the Baltimore Sun’s website that lists scores for all Maryland and Garrett County schools for the recent PARRC tests administered state-wide. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a consortium featuring six states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Educational Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education, that work to create and deploy a standard set of K–12 assessments.
Have you taken a look at our What’s New Around Town page? There’s a recently added Humble Produce Stand and there’s a new Mountain Bike Trail near the Lake.
Check out this photo from Carol Williams along Marsh Hill Road on the Lake:
Aug 28, 2018
Yesterday turned out to be beautiful! Today’s weather will be mostly sunny, with a high near 84 and a low around 66. Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm.
I had a great time Sunday evening at the farm of Piet and Rosie Versteegen. They hosted a wonderful kickoff for Garrett College’s new STEM building fundraising campaign.
The Garrett County Chamber is accepting nominations for this year’s Golden Ambassador until September 8th. This winner of this prestigious honor will be announced at this year’s Autumn Glory Dinner.
Sponsored by Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, in conjunction with Garrett County Economic Development, join a lively conversation about the food we eat on tonight from 6:00 to 8:15 PM at Garrett College.
It’s never too late to earn your high school diploma and Garrett College is offering a number of adult education courses at a number of locations starting in mid-September to help you or a family or friend do just that. Call Carol Mowbray Brooks at 301.387.3770 or email her at carol.mowbraybrooks@garrettcollege.edu for more information.
BuzzFeed just released a piece on the Top 15 Affordable Lake Vacations Everyone Should Take and yes, you guessed correctly, Deep Creek lake is included!
There’s a “Thriving Population Open House,” sponsored by the county’s Department of Planning and Land Management, on September 10th from 3:00pm – 6:00pm at Garrett College. The event is open to all and will focus on matters relating to housing, community facilities and services, including education, libraries, health care, fire and emergency services, public safety, law enforcement and solid waste. Any questions can be directed to Deborah Carpenter, Director, Garrett County Planning & Land Management at dcarpenter@garrettcounty.org or 301.334.1924.
This sounds neat: There will be a ribbon cutting and dedication of the new 1920 Baldwin Steam Engine on September 15th at the Oakland B&O Museum starting at 11:00am. Guitar and banjo railroad music and barbecue chicken and hot dogs available at moderate prices along with engine, caboose and Station tours.
Leadership Garrett County is accepting applications for its third year which starts September 20th. It’s a great program available for current and future community leaders and is dedicated to providing positive change via relationship building, knowledge and action. Call 301.387.3069 and ask for Jodi McClintock or Max Hill.
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded over $245,000 to the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department and the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company for new equipment.
I just heard that the Deep Creek Art, Beer and Wine Festival has been having some minor problems with their volunteer registration system. If you have volunteered, please be patient relative to receipt of your assignment and if you have not volunteered, please consider doing so.
Here’s a wDCT.live report from Paula at HART for Animals (one of the beneficiaries of the Art, Wine and Beer Festival) to tell you more about the festival:
Aug 27, 2018
The area temperature seems to be cooling off a bit. Today’s weather will be partly sunny, with a high near 80. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm; chance of precipitation is 30%. Low around 67.
I heard the “secret” Speakeasy Saturday night at the Courthouse in Oakland went very well, with some really nice costumes. Here’s a photo of some attendees before the event at the Manor Steakhouse.
While us adults are still having fun, Garrett County kids start school today! Good luck to all for a great school year!
The students will be dismissed 3 hours early today. FYI – Schools will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2018, for the Labor Day holiday.
Watch out for jaws! There’s an Aquatic Adventure this afternoon at 2:00pm at the Discovery Center. Check out Deep Creek Lake fish and other critters, starting in the discovery room and then moving out to the dock.
It’s walk-in advising and registration at Garrett College this week. Classes start September 5th, so if you or someone you know wants to attend, call or stop by the admissions office ASAP (301.387.3044).
Bumper sticker: “Stress is caused by lack of fishing.” Largemouth bass are biting at the lake according to the Department of Natural Resources weekly fishing report.
The Allegany County Arts Council is hosting Rebecca Grace Jones at their Saville Gallery and Susan G. DeVan at the Schwab Mountain Maryland Gallery. Both exhibitions will continue through September 16th.
The upcoming Western Maryland Mission of Mercy dental clinic (October 12 and 13) is looking for volunteers. Contact Michele Walker at the County United Way at 301-722-2700.
Many of us think of Automobile Association of America (AAA) as an emergency roadside assistance service, but they do much more according to this brief piece from Smarter Travel. For example, they can map trips for you and also offer notary services. Thought our readers might find useful.
Thanks to Gerald Rizer for sharing a vide of the Western Maryland Truck Show convoy on Saturday.
Aug 24, 2018
The Mission of Mercy (MOM) free dental clinic is in need of volunteers to help make the two-day event a success for the approximately 360 individuals expected to receive treatment at the Allegany County Fairgrounds on October 12th and 13th with setup on the 11th.
Volunteers are needed to help register patients as they enter, direct parking, help set up meals for the volunteer staff, and more. The clinic runs Friday, October 12th from 7 a.m until 5 p.m and Saturday, October 13th from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and serves adults only. Additionally, volunteers will also be needed to help break down the clinic the afternoon and evening of the 13th. Volunteers may sign up for the shift that works best for their schedule. Patients are expected to come from Allegany County and surrounding areas.
This Mission of Mercy will be smaller than past events, with only 20 dental chairs used. The two-day clinic will require approximately 150 general volunteers to assist the 220-member volunteer medical staff, which includes dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, oral surgeons, physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses.
Unlike past Mission of Mercy events, this year’s clinic will see patients by appointment only. The public will be able to schedule appointments starting in early September; a phone number for making appointments will be published in the near future.
To volunteer, go to www.westernmdmom.com and click on the link for non-clinical (general) shifts regarding volunteering, or call Michele Walker at the County United Way at 301-722-2700. You can also check out the event via Facebook at www.facebook.com/westernmarylandmissionofmercy.
Aug 24, 2018
The weather for the weekend will be: Sunny tonight with a high near 73 and a low around 57. Saturday will be partly sunny, with a high near 74 (a slight chance of showers after 3am) and a low around 61. Sunday will be mostly with a high near 78 and a low around 66. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon – chance of precipitation is 30%.
Don’t forget our Deep Creek Times People’s Choice Challenge is winding down … vote for each of your favorites once a day until September 8th!
Hurry! You can get up to 15% off of the cost of a season pass at Wisp if you purchase by September 3rd.
Kelly Lynott is appearing Friday evening at the Black Bear Tavern in McHenry from 6:00pm – 10:00pm. Also appearing in the area Friday evening is Herb and Hanson, who will be playing at MoonShadow from 8:00pm – 10:00pm.
The Kalliopeia Foundation out of San Rafael, California has a new online magazine that explores “the timeless connections between ecology, culture, and spirituality.” I am not super familiar with it, but thought some of our readers might be interested, as it looked different and interesting. Check out their issue #2 and judge for yourself.
The Western Maryland Truck Show starts today! 2 Days of Big Rigs, Fun, Food, & Country Music Featuring the Jason Aldean Tribute Band.
The annual Country Fest and Auction will be at the County Fairgrounds from 8:00am – 4:00pm Saturday. There’s food, tractor pulls, music, demonstrations and more, plus lots of quilts.
The pool at nearby Dans Mountain State Park will be closed Aug. 27th – 31st due to a shortage of lifeguards as staff return to school. All scheduled pool parties will be honored and the pool will be open Labor Day weekend.
You better be careful! The McHenry Barrack of the Maryland State Police will be conducting a DUI Checkpoint in Garrett County on September 2nd. The goal of the checkpoint is to reduce the number of drunk and drugged drivers on Garrett County roadways.
The USDA has announced grants for rural development – REDI – that may very well be applicable to our needs in Garrett County. The deadline is September 5th.
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has a long and important role in Garrett County and surrounding areas. Check out this map of Diabetes Rates in Appalachia (in 13 states, including Garrett County) and check out their newsletter as well.
There’s LOTS of fun and interesting events in the area this weekend. Check out our Upcoming Events section for specifics.
Aug 23, 2018
Yesterday turned into a really nice day. Today’s weather will be sunny, with a high near 68 and a low around 54.
The Maryland Workforce Legal Services Division of the Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. will be holding office hours in the Garrett College Southern Outreach Center/Oakland Armory Building on eighth street today from 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
We are very sorry to report the passing of former long-time Oakland mayor Asa McCain. Our condolences to his family and friends.
You can take a free guided-hike today with a naturalist from the Discovery Center to the old Brant Mine. There is moderate walking involved and the hike goes from 10:00am – 11:45am.
It’s meatloaf night at Penn Alps in Grantsville. Check out other dining specials at the Deep Creek Times Dining Guide.
O Solo Mio! I am just practicing for the karaoke feature at the Black Bear Tavern this evening. You can sing your heart out with DJ Dubya from 7:00pm – 11:00pm.
The Board of County Commissioners of Garrett County recently approved three new School Resource Officers (SRO’s) for the Garrett County Sheriff’s Department. The new SRO positions will bring the total to six SRO’s serving the Garrett County Public Schools.
The Oakland Arts and Entertainment district will be hosting a “Speakeasy” at an undisclosed location on Saturday. There will be entertainment, food, beverages, etc. Go to www.oaklandaedistrict.com for information. I think this is a great, fun idea and apparently popular, as it is sold out with a wait list (you can add your name).
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering a unique opportunity for a dozen women to take to the field September 28th – 30th for a fun weekend of sporting clays, a shotgun skills clinic and an optional upland bird hunt.
The Civic Club of Oakland is sponsoring a bus trip – open to all – to the huge Christmas Show in Harrisburg on November 29th. It is a bit difficult for me to think Christmas and snow in August, but for all you planners, this looks like a fun trip. Disclosure: My wife Jean is the president of the Civic Club and yes, I am absolutely trying to earn some brownie points here! If you see her, please tell her that her caring, thoughtful, wonderful husband put this in today’s Daily Notes. Thanks!
Kyra Tramontana shared a few awesome photos and videos with us: Here is a paddle board adventure on Deep Creek Lake!
Aug 22, 2018
Yesterday saw some intense periods of rain, but there were boaters and kayakers out on the lake despite the weather. Today’s weather will be mostly cloudy, showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. A high near 66. West wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Tonight, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear with a low around 52.
Sang Run State Park is offering a “Preserving the Harvest” workshop this morning from 10:00am – 11:30am. They will be demonstrating canning and dehydrating using a recipe they found on the farm.
If you want fresh fruits, vegetables and other producer-made goodies, check out the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market today in Oakland at the Pavilion downtown. The market goes from 10:00am – 1:00pm and there have been some really nice seasonal fruits coming in these past few weeks, including peaches.
Today is Locals Day at Mountain State Brewing Company, with locals getting 30% off all flatbreads. Yummy!
Do you own or are you considering purchasing an older home in the area? Well, there’s a program this afternoon from 1:00pm – 7:00pm at the Ruth Enlow Library in Oakland just for you. Historic Property Guidance, offers a free expert from Preservation Maryland for free tips and guidance on a number of topics.
Go North, go North! The Greater Grantsville Business Association Open House, showcasing the best of Grantsville-area businesses, is this evening from 5:00pm – 8:00pm in the fire hall. For more information contact ggba@visitgrantsville.com.
The Town of Grantsville also shared this video of the Vagabond Tour that came through the Garrett County on Monday. These Model T vehicles are crossing the historical Casselman River Bridge (the largest single-span bridge at the time of construction in 1813) in Grantsville, MD.
The Plate Scrapers (no, I didn’t make up that name) will be playing at the Stage Wisp Concert Series this evening on the Wisp lawn from 6:30pm – 9:30pm.
New Germany State Park has some nice programs set for late August and early September including hiking, music, cooking and even ultimate frisbee. Looks like some really nice events.
Here’s a little something on Garrett County’s history courtesy of Al Feldstein and the Garrett County Historical Society. For those not familiar, Deer Park is near Oakland (South East) and is still a very nice “bedroom” community with some nice historic homes.
Aug 21, 2018
The weather for today will be showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. A high near 75 and a low around 62.
Yoga in the Park in Friendsville Town park today from 10:00am – 11:00am with Sera Beth Weaver. Kids over nine welcome to attend and there’s a playground, sandy beach and restroom facilities.
Due to the potential of storms today, the fourth and final Deep Creek Lake hydrilla herbicide treatment for 2018 has been moved to tomorrow, Wednesday August 22nd. If you see red and white dive flags, please stay at least 100 feet away, as divers are in the water.
Sang Run State Park is holding a free Dutch Oven Demonstration today from 11:00am – 12:30pm where attendees will learn how to cook and clean a Dutch oven. Free goodies too!
Don’t forget to consider a movie or one of our area retailers or dining establishments should it rain or if you just need a break from outside.
Cindy’s Fund is holding their twice-monthly Cancer Support Group this evening at 6:30pm at the board room at Garrett Regional Medical Center. This group is open to all: patients, family, friends and caregivers.
In a pickle? Actually, learn how to make pickles: Garrett College, in coordination with the University of Maryland Extension, is sponsoring a one-session course, Cucumbers: Pickle Your Pickings, at Southern High School in Oakland on Wednesday, August 29th, 6:00pm – 9:15pm. Call 301.387.3069 for more information or to register.
I spent some time last evening at one of the “meet the candidate” sessions being conducted around the county for local candidates. I was impressed by the candidate and the nice turnout of local folk. I urge all to please learn about the issues and candidates for the election and to vote in November.
Here’s a wDCT.live video from Mary Beth M. from Long Island talking about her visit to Deep Creek Lake area this past weekend.
Aug 20, 2018
The weather for today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 70 and a low around 66. A chance of showers, mainly after 2pm – chance of precipitation is 30%.
Went to the Wings and Wheels show on Saturday but it started to rain as soon as we arrived. Travelled to Falling Water on Sunday and it was great. A really unique attraction less than an hour away from the lake. I highly recommend it. I’ll be back at Wings and Wheels next year as it is always a great show.
The Property Owners Association of Deep Creek Lake announced Saturday that Paul Weiler will be its next President, replacing Bob Hoffman. Other leadership changes include Lulu Gonella, who will be assuming Paul’s previous role of VP, Communications and Grant Callery, who will be replacing Lulu as the Editor of The Dispatch. Good luck to all and special thanks to Bob for all of his efforts over the past five years.
Fishing with a Naturalist will be held at Discovery Center today starting at 10:00am. Kids seven and up can gather on the shores of the Discovery Center for fishing basics. Poles, bait, and tackle are provided. $4/person, adults (16+ must have a license). Pre-registration is required as space is limited.
Now, this is something you don’t see every day: The 100th Anniversary of the Vagabond Commemorative Model T Tour is today and the caravan of approximately 27 model T’s will be traveling from the Summit Inn, near Uniontown through Grantsville and assembling at Swallow Falls State Park.
The Garrett Institute of Lifelong Learning will be holding their summer picnic on August 27th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at the Lewis Family Pavilion in Oakland. The picnic is for those interested in the Garrett Institute for Lifelong Learning (GILL), a group dedicated to lifelong learning for all, and their new course/workshop offerings. Contact Jean at 301.387.3781 for more information or to register.
The Tri-County Council is hosting a “Rural Small Business Lending Forum” to enable “rural prosperity through access to capital,” on September 6th in Hagerstown. The event is from 11:30am – 3:00pm in the press room at the Herald Mail.
Garrett College and the ALICE Training Institute have teamed up to bring ALICE Training Instructor Certification to Garrett County on October 16th and 17th from 8:00am until 4:00pm. The course will be held at the Career Technology Training Center in Accident, Md. and will help citizens and organizations prepare for potential violent intruder or active shooter situations.
For those readers interested in economic development and the site selection process, Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA) is hosting a conference at Rocky Gap on October 21st – 22nd. This conference will also serve as a regional kickoff for Economic Development Week.
Here’s a unique opportunity nearby; if you’re interested, we suggest you get in touch with this organization via email at EXTRASPGH@GMAIL.COM to verify dates and times.
Aug 17, 2018
The weather for the weekend will be mostly cloudy today with showers and thunderstorms likely this afternoon with a high near 74 and a low around 65. Saturday will be cloudy with showers likely and thunderstorms also possible after noon; high near 71 and a low around 62. Sunday will be partly sunny, with a high near 70 and a low around 60.
Help your kids or grandkids get “school ready.” The Learning Beyond the Classroom bus will be at two county locations today: Pleasant Valley and Crellin.
Last chance to Stuff the School Bus on Friday! The United Way will have a yellow school bus at the Walmart in Oakland from 10:00am – 5:00pm on Friday. All branches of First United Bank and Trust will also accept supplies Friday. You can go there and donate school supplies that go directly to Garrett County students.
There’s an Old Time Jam Friday evening from 6:30pm – 9:30pm at the Lake House at New Germany State Park. Join musicians and listeners at this free jam to enjoy “old timey” Appalachian music.
The Western Maryland Consortium, one of Garrett County’s local workforce development agencies, recently announced the hiring of a new Business Services Specialist to help meet the needs of Garrett County businesses. The Consortium offers a wide range of services such as on-the-job training and work experience programs.
The National Road (Route 40) construction began in Cumberland, MD in 1811 and reached Wheeling, WV, about 140 miles later, in August 1818. Happy 200th Birthday!
Northern High School Softball shared that today is the last call to sign up for fall ball in Morgantown, WV. The season starts September 9th and there are double headers each Sunday through October 21 in the afternoons. Cost is $35. Contact Jon Houser at 301-268-4710 for more information.
I’ll be going to Garrett County Wings and Wheels on Saturday. The annual event at the Garrett County Airfield in McHenry features airplanes, classic cars and RC aircraft demonstrations from 10:00am – 4:00pm. Just look for the signs on 219 near the Mosser Road intersection.
There’s a History Hike at New Germany State Park Saturday starting at 10:00am. You will learn about local industrial history and other interesting tidbits.
Wine versus beer? You can decide at the A Touch of Class Wine and Beer Tasting Tour on Saturday from 12:00pm – 4:00pm. The tasting tour leaves from and returns to Deep Creek Beverage and costs $49.
There’s LOTS of good things going on at the lake this weekend. Baer Bones and Phryg at Black Bear Tavern and Moonshadow, respectively, on Friday evening. Scott Alexander will be at Mountain State Brewing Company on Saturday. Check out our Entertainment Guide and other events on our Upcoming Events Calendar or List.
We wish you weekend full of fun!
Aug 17, 2018
The Western Maryland Consortium, one of Garrett County’s local workforce development agencies, recently announced the hiring of a new Business Services Specialist to help meet the needs of Garrett County businesses.
The Consortium, located at 14 South Eighth Street, Oakland (the former Oakland Armory), offers A wide range of services for those seeking employment and for businesses seeking employees or training for those employees.
Job Openings:
Is your business hiring? Let the Western Maryland Consortium be a resource for your business when looking to fill job openings. The Consortium can help you with the challenges of finding qualified candidates for the positions you are hiring and works with job seekers to enhance their skills and ensure they are job ready.
On-The-Job Training:
The Western Maryland Consortium also offers an On-the-Job Training (OJT) program. Not all OJT participants have to come from the Consortium. If your business has an applicant who resides in Western Maryland and is unemployed, underemployed, dislocated, or considered low income, he/she may be eligible to participate in the program. This “Reverse Referral” is an easy process that requires giving the applicant an enrollment session information sheet and pre-enrollment form, both of which are available at the Consortium’s office. The applicant contacts the Consortium’s office, and its staff takes it from there.
On-the-Job training allows workers to become skilled at a position while working on the job. In the end, your business has an experienced worker.
If an applicant is found eligible, the Consortium will reimburse your business for a percentage of the wages paid:
–For adult workers: 50% of wages
–For youth aged 18-24: Up to 75% of wages
Workers must be full-time, working at least 32 hours per week. Reimbursement time will vary depending upon the job and the employee’s skills at the time of hire.
The OJT program generally runs from 4 to 26 weeks, until the employee is proficient. Pending satisfactory evaluation, the employer agrees to hire the worker permanently.
Work Experience:
Work experience allows an employer to teach a worker how to do a job at the actual job location before being hired.
For six weeks, the employer can train the eligible employee at the Consortium’s cost. The Consortium pays for everything, including wages, workers’ compensation, and taxes for the worker to train full-time. Afterward, pending satisfactory evaluation, the employer agrees to hire the employee permanently.
In some instances, On-the-Job Training can be combined with Work Experience.
Aug 16, 2018
The weather for today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 79 and a low around 67. A chance of thunderstorms after 5pm is 30%.
You can take a hike to the historic Brant Mine this morning at 10:00am. The hike “starts” at the Discovery Center’s historic mine room and continues until 12:00, with moderate walking.
The 2018 Deep Creek Times People’s Choice Challenge is still on and we are seeing a lot of voting activity and interest. If you or an institution/individual you know has been nominated, please congratulate them and vote! You can also point them to this link which gives nominees some tools to celebrate and promote their candidacy.
Don’t have a large plot of land but like to garden? Check out the Garden Demo and Tour at Sang Run State Park today starting at 11:00am. The naturalist will show you how to grow veggies in a confined space.
It’s Open Mic Night at Our Town Theater this evening starting at 7:00pm. This monthly event is open to for anyone to perform music, monologue, song, readings, etc.
The Black Bear Tavern in McHenry has Karaoke with DJ Dubya this evening from 7:00pm to 11:00pm.
There’s some good fishing for largemouth bass at the lake at this time according to Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources Fishing Report.
We just heard that Garrett County Officials and the Department of Natural Resources have agreed that the $250,000 which was previously approved (2016) for Deep Creek Lake dredging will be reallocated to study sedimentation processes and develop a sediment mitigation/remediation plan.
Check out this trailer for the Wings of a Dove documentary premiere event featuring the Crellin Elementary School steel drum band and Engage Mountain Maryland on September 14th. The documentary was presented to the Garrett County Board of Education and the presentation included the story of how the documentary came to be, the importance of arts education in public schools, and how community support can enhance the learning experience for students.
Have you seen the What’s New Around Town page recently?
We liked the cover photo of this blog that shares a recent family vacation in Deep Creek Lake:
Family Fun at Deep Creek Lake Maryland