Today will be cloudy with a chance of light rain; a high near 42 and a low around 36. Saturday will be showers likely, mainly between 10am and 4pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy, with termperatures staying near 42. Southeast wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Sunday will be a chance of showers, mainly before 9am then partly sunny, with a high near 54 and a low around 38.
The Center on Rural Innovation just announced a Rural Innovation Initiative that will work to bridge the opportunity gap in rural America by helping communities build the capacity to create resilient, innovation-based jobs. I am sure there are opportunities for Garrett County that could be enabled and funded by this effort.
Speaking of Toys for Tots, local Internet Service Provider NeuBeam, a service of Declaration Networks Group, is donating $10 to Toys for Tots (toysfortots.org) for every Internet installation completed through the end of 2018. Not only do new subscribers get the benefits of the Internet, but they also get to help others in need. Nice job.
Oakland Weight Watchers has changed their name and has two new meeting times – see the details on our What’s New Around Town page.
On Sunday, the Garrett Community Concert Band will present its holiday concert on Sunday at 2:30 pm in the Garrett College auditorium. The title of this year’s concert is “Good Tidings at Christmas,” and it will feature a variety of holiday favorites, both secular and religious, plus a special Hannukah piece dedicated to the people who lost their lives recently in the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. That’s a nice touch I think.
Yesterday was snowy and windy all day, but it appears without a lot of accumulation. Today’s weather will be cloudy, with a high near 35 and a low of 32. A chance of freezing rain before 2am, then a chance of rain. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
I have heard from many of our loyal readers that they enjoy the Daily Notes every morning with a good cup of coffee. So here’s a few facts I just picked up from the Wall Street Journal: More than two billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day; The industry employs 125 million people; Beethoven’s morning coffee was made from exactly 64 beans each time. Now you know!
Even as the weather grows colder, there is still good fishing at the lake and in streams according to the State of Maryland DNR Fishing Report. They report everything from trout, to chain pickerel on the hooks. I am sure, as the report notes, that fishermen are looking forward to the ice fishing season once the lake freezes over to a safe thickness.
Oakland and its “A Great Small Town Christmas” program has a lot of activities and shopping events starting with the Our Town Theater Christmas Market on December 1st and the official tree lighting on the 7th outside the B&O Railroad Museum. They are also having another Lucky Elves (that’s Elves, not Elvis) contest.
The Red Cross is holding a blood drive on Friday December 7th at the American Legion from 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm. Call 1.800.RED.Cross to schedule an appointment to donate. Thanks!
“Job” opportunity: St. Peters Church in Oakland asked us to spread the word that they are looking for a new Santa for their activities this season. Their past Santa has stepped down. Perhaps a contract dispute or he moved to the North Pole permanently or he may have gotten a promotion. But, what’s higher than Santa? Seriously, if you are a member of their parish (or not) contact Patricia at Secretary@GarrettStPeter.com to learn more. Ho, ho, ho.
OK, here’s more on coffee or specifically on a few “fillers” mentioned by the Wall Street Journal that used to be included by greedy coffee merchants way back in the day: baked horse liver, burnt rags and brick dust. Really. I think it is safe to say you will not find any of those in the coffee provided by our local Garrett County merchants. Have a great one folks.
Yesterday was cold, windy and snowy, and hopefully another harbinger of a great local ski season. Today’s weather will be cloudy, with a high near 20 and a low around 17. Snow showers likely, mainly before noon. Wind chill values as low as zero. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
As always, we try to keep you updated on the most recent and year to date snowfall totals each season. This morning, I am awaiting confirmation for the amounts in the last 24-hours but it will be updated as soon as possible.
There was a house fire on Penn Point Road in Oakland early yesterday. While the house was a total loss, the occupant was alerted by the smoke alarm in the home. Don’t forget to check your smoke alarms.
Good news: Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) recently unveiled a million-dollar fundraising campaign to purchase a new CT Scanner that will enhance patient care. Direct donations for the CT Campaign can be made online by visiting www.grmc-wvumedicine.org. Contact Steve Bortz of the GRMC Foundation at 301.533.4304 or sbortz@gcmh.com for more information.
Garrett College will host their first ever home wrestling match tonight, Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 7pm vs. Penn State Fayette.
Pizza, pizza. The Home Schoolers Series will be held this afternoon from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the Accident branch of the Ruth Enlow Library. Home-schooled students will hear a brief lecture and then proceed to a local pizza place to create their own personal pan pizzas. Preregistration required, so call this morning if interested.
Speaking of pizza, I heard that Brenda’s Pizza will be closed a few days this week – reopening Friday – as they get new flooring installed. Their full menu will be available at their carry out window during this time and Traders Coffee House is open and has limited seating.
Also at the library, the Cover2Cover Adult Book Club will meet at the Kitzmiller library this evening from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The book selection for this month will be Secrets of Garrett County: Little-Known Stories & Hidden History of Maryland’s Westernmost County by James Rada. I have had the pleasure of meeting James at a workshop and also have read this book. It is worth a read even if you can’t make tonight’s event, as it is filled with interesting tidbits, stories and history and is a very easy read.
There’s Team Trivia tonight at the Greene Turtle in McHenry from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm. The casual team format makes for a relaxing time, along with the good food.
There’s an “Out of the Box Workshop: Time Management” this Thursday from 10:00 am-Noon at Garrett College. Call 301.387.3069 for more information or to register.
I just heard that Senator George Edwards and Delegate Wendell Beitzel have announced that they will hold their annual pre-legislative briefing on Monday, December 3rd starting at 6:30 pm. This meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Garrett College GEIC Building, in Room 111. All citizens are encouraged to attend and are free to ask questions.
Yesterday had mixed weather around the lake, including wind, rain and a dusting of snow. The weather for today will be cloudy, with a high near 25 and a low around 19 degrees. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible and nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Yesterday afternoon Governor Hogan announced an executive order to establish an Emergency Commission on Sixth District Gerrymandering to fulfill the order issued on November 7th by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The Governor has appointed three members of this nine-member multi-partisan commission which will convene immediately to meet the district court’s requirements. Garrett County is in the Sixth District and current and future boundaries will impact citizen “clout” statewide.
Cyber Monday continues to be an important part of retail holiday spending in the US. According to projections from Adobe Analytics, yesterday was expected to bring in $7.8 billion in sales this year, and will be the single largest online shopping day in the U.S, eclipsing Black Friday ($6.22 billion) and Thanksgiving ($3.3 billion). As we await final numbers, please, please remember our local small businesses.
The County Commissioners yesterday announced the agenda for their next board meeting on December 3rd. The agenda includes road a road naming, hazard mitigation updates, business park land sale and a legislative update. The meeting is, as usual, open to the public.
“Safe Schools Maryland” is a tip line and mobile app designed to streamline reporting of possible threats to students and school facilities. Anyone can anonymously report information via a mobile app, online at www.SafeSchoolsMD.org, or by calling 1-833-MD-B-SAFE (1-833-632-7233).
The Deep Creek Lake area has large natural wonders and also many small ones. We have kept this hollow log in our garden area to provide shelter to little critters. When I went out to check on the garden Sunday, I noticed a mushroom had grown on the top of the opening, providing a little “awning” for any inhabitants. There’s also some mushrooms visible on the inside. A little mini-ecosystem for our small friends.
The weather this weekend was interesting, from cool and sunny to an ice storm Saturday, then warmer on Sunday. Here’s a landscape photo I took showing the ice on trees Saturday morning. The weather for today will be rain showers before 2pm, then rain and snow showers likely. Temperature rising to near 43 by 10am, then falling to around 34 during the remainder of the day. South wind 13 to 16 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Tonight, a low-temperature tonight of 24 with a west wind 18 to 21 mph and gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
As you continue to digest your Thanksgiving meal, consider some of these facts from the University of Illinois Extension: About 88% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, and that represents over 700 million pounds of the bird (I think I ate most of that, unfortunately). Here’s the link to some additional factoids for your reading pleasure.
I went to the Festival of Trees on Friday. I never cease to be amazed at the creativity of various individuals and teams. Some of the themed trees (and wreaths) were truly works of art. I hope that the Dove Center had another successful fundraising event. It looked like they did, based on the smiles and crowds. The chili dogs weren’t bad either (just performing quality control, of course).
As an educator and businessman, I know the importance of a good science, technology, engineering and mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education for our young people. Add-in the arts, and you get S.T.E.A.M. which is really hot (pun intended) these days. The Kitzmiller branch of Ruth Enlow library is hosting a STEAM Kids event today from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Even experiencing S.T.E.A.M. at a young age can open up a world of learning and career opportunities for youth and the team at the library does a great job of helping us out in this area.
Speaking of the library, they are hosting a LEGO Club this evening from 6:00 pm – 7:30 at the Oakland branch, with a themed build for children four and older. Some may not know the tremendous program we have in Garrett County from K-12 and at Garrett College in LEGO competitions and robotics. We have some great student teams that have won international recognition and competitions, all helping our students build many skills in addition to STEAM.
I went to the movies Saturday evening with my wife and we watched Widows, an interesting film with an all-star cast that dealt with “survival” and determination. Not an academy award nominee, but some good entertainment with some interesting action. We have the local up-to-date movie listings all the time on Deep Creek Times.
Calling all local artists. The Allegany Arts Council is hosting a Holiday Market Artisan Village again this year, from December 4th through the 30th and they are accepting applications for “consignment” from area artists. We have so many artists, artisans, and makers around the lake — here is the application from the Allegany Arts Council.
The weather for the weekend will be: today – sunny, with a high near 36 and a low of 28. A slight chance of freezing rain after 3am. Saturday will be rainy with a high near 42. and a low around 38. South wind 7 to 14 mph. Sunday will be partly sunny with a high near 49 and a low of 37.
We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did. I (Mike) had an especially nice day celebrating my grandson’s first birthday as well as having friends and family over for a nice dinner. We also had some international students over for dinner and enjoyed that added aspect to the day. I am truly blessed and thankful.
Well, the Festival of Trees, the event that unofficially kicks-off the holiday season in Garrett County is back today and Saturday for its 11th year. There is something for everyone, including visits with Santa, great food, treats, craftspeople and of course the wonderful, creative trees and wreaths (which you can bid on after the public event is complete Saturday evening). Plus, the proceeds go to help the very important work of the Dove Center non-profit.
The Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF) is holding a Black Friday sales event on season tickets (30% discount). I know many of our readers like the arts and especially the GLAF performances that feature a variety of music. So, if you want to give a different type of gift, or just give the gift of great music to yourself, go to their site on Friday.
MoonShadow in McHenry is presenting music Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They are hosting Greg Short, Gilbert Lee, and Billy Breslin, respectively on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Our new water temperature gauge is set-up and reporting information. It’s a temporary device and certainly not scientific but gives good insight; reporting every 15 minutes. Check it out and see what you think even if you aren’t planning on jumping-in this weekend.
When visiting or even relocating here, it may be easy to forget the lake area’s rich history, including its historic dependence on natural resources such as coal and timber, so I thought I would include this brief story on the Farmington, West Virginia mine disaster that occurred 50 years ago. That disaster claimed 78 lives and is a reminder of the area’s mining history, which is still present, though to a much lesser degree.
Today’s weather will be cloudy, with a high near 30 and a low around 15. A chance of snow showers mainly after 1pm; total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. West wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, will be mostly sunny, with a high near 24 and a low around 14.
Many of our readers will be traveling today (after reading the Deep Creek Times, of course) so I thought I would share some traffic projections from the Maryland Department of Transportation. Follow the link and you will know and can share at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow to impress your family. Be safe.
It’s Locals Day at Mountain State Brewery, with 30% off all flat bread pizzas. There are other deals listed in our Dining Specials should you want to take it easy before the big Thanksgiving cooking (and eating) frenzy. Please note that some local (non-dining) establishments close early today, so always check before planning a visit to a government agency or other entity, such as the library, which is closing at 5:30 pm.
Don’t forget to “shop small” this week as the holiday shopping season officially kicks-off. From Oakland through to Grantsville and in-between, we have some great local shops. Remember to check our Shopping Guide for local retail establishments and especially visit them on Small Business Saturday, which is celebrated around the state. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community and our advertisers listed in the Guide help us keep Deep Creek Times free to all readers.
Shop Small
Here’s one for the fisher(wo)men among us: A photo of a young man with the northern pike he caught in a river in Minnesota. It’s a whopper that measured in at 45.25 inches. We have Northern Pike here at the lake, but most pike measure only a few feet long at best. I wonder if this pike’s even larger cousin is just waiting at Deep Creek Lake to make someone as happy as this fellow.
Today’s weather will be cloudy, with a high near 32 and low around 24. A chance of snow showers; total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
The horrific fires are still burning out West and, I heard yesterday, won’t be contained until the end of November. According to Justin Berk, we have seen smoke from the fire here on the East Coast.
There were a few fires in Garrett County over the last few days, too. A house fire in Friendsville, a car fire in Mt. Lake Park and I just heard about another, unconfirmed, home fire in Grantsville. To my knowledge they are unrelated and all are under investigation by authorities.
There’s a Cancer Support Group sponsored by Cindy’s Fund this evening at the Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. It is open to all those impacted by cancer: patients, survivors, caregivers, family and friends.
The Garrett Community Concert Band will be presenting its winter concert, Good Tidings at Christmas, in the Garrett College auditorium on December 2nd starting at 2:30 pm. Tickets will be available at the door; adults $8, students $2, children under 6 yrs are free. They are some talented folks and the price makes for a nice family outing.
Growing up here in Garrett County, some of the tradition and culture of West Virginia has been shared with us. Sarah wanted to share the story of the pepperoni roll — she used to have one every day as part of school lunch. Have you had one yet?
I love this time of the year especially because people come together to do good deeds and help others. I just heard that the St. Peter’s Senior Moments 50+ Gang has voted to make their Christmas donations to the Warm the Children Fund and to the area’s Meal’s on Wheels program. They also invite all to join them for their “Crazy Christmas Luncheon” at Moonshadow at 1:00 pm on December 5th.
We do our best to recognize and include events from non-profits in our Daily Notes and/or Upcoming Events, so please send any announcements for fundraisers, etc. to us at info@deepcreektimes.com. It especially helps if you include a link to a web page for additional information.
Did you know that Thanksgiving is the day of the year with the most home fires caused by kitchen equipment and that Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci warns that the leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking? The National Fire Protection Association has prepared a list of Thanksgiving Safety guidelines to help ensure a safe holiday for us all:
Sunday turned into a really nice day, with temperatures in the 60’s. Today will be cloudy, with a high near 46 and a low around 32. Rain after 4pm; chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
The Board of Trustees of the Ruth Enlow Library will meet today from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm, at the Oakland Library. The public is invited to attend.
Correction: I just heard that Harvest Moon market will, in fact, not be opening again after all. A little confusing, and not sure if that is final, but I wanted to communicate that latest news to our readers, as I had previously reported it would be opening.
Here’s the latest Watershed Wisdom Update from the Friends of Deep Creek Lake. They do important work and are good folks. I agree with many of their positions and the need for funding and help from the state. Not sure I agree that the snow was bad the other day (it was beautiful and important for area recreation and small businesses) 🙂 or that the lake and it’s tributaries have water quality troubles. Not perfect, and we want to improve water quality, but I am not sure “poor” is appropriate. Perhaps somewhat “challenged” on some measures. You decide and you can read their full newsletter here.
Zillow just published an interesting online article on seven places in America that will “pay you” to move there. I know we have, and have had, some good first-time home buyer incentives in Garrett County as well. Thought it was interesting as various municipalities, large and small, work to drive population growth. It has me thinking about what else we can do here to drive our county population (about 29,000 – 30,000) that has been relatively flat and is aging.
The Greater Oakland Business Association (GOBA) meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th has been cancelled. The next open meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 16th at 6:00 pm at Oakland City Hall. Committees need to be prepared to be at that meeting to present. You can contact Michelle Ross of GOBA/City Hall at 301.334.2691 with any questions or for additional information.
Well, we had our first real “frozen precipitation event” (that sounds pretty cool) of the season yesterday. Lots of organizations closed or delayed around town. Certainly was beautiful though.
We got our official precipitation reports from a weather reporting station in Oakland. For the last 24-hours: 2.3″ of snow | .88″ of precipitation. That will likely vary wildly around the county with the interesting combinations of snow, freezing rain and sleet we received.
Today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 31 and a low of 28. A chance of snow showers and freezing drizzle before 1pm, then a slight chance of snow showers. West wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Saturday will be partly sunny, with a high near 38 and a low around 28. Sunday will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 38 and a low around 30.A chance of snow showers after 10am, mixing with rain after 2pm. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
What a turkey! Turkey Trot that is. Why not get out there Saturday morning and help support the Southern Garrett Athletics Association while getting some exercise at their annual 5K run and 1 mile walk at Broadford Park. You can even register day-of.
Congratulations are also in order for Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC). Their Subacute Unit won its fifth consecutiveBest Nursing Home award from US News & World Report, receiving the top rating for both the facility overall and for short-stay rehab. Keep up the good work GRMC, your community appreciates you.
Don’t forget to come out to the Outdoor Studies Open House in room #111 of Garrett College’s GIEC building Saturday starting at 9:30 am. Prospective students and parents will get to meet staff, faculty, alumni and students in the award-winning, unique Adventure Sports and Natural Resources & Wildlife Technology programs. If you know someone who loves outdoor adventure or is interested in the natural environment this event is for them. Call 301.387.3044 for more information and to RSVP or just come on out on Saturday.
Brushes and Blush, a Girl’s Day Out, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the Deep Creek Lake Volunteer Fire Company. The fundraiser will feature demos and tutorials on age-appropriate skin care and makeup applications featuring Beauty counter educator and advocate, Hilary Findo. All the products will also be available for sale with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Foster Appalachia.
An online company called Sickweather offers a web application that forecasts flu and allergy trends with supposed “85%+ accuracy.” They just announced that they are now providing their forecasts for 50 US cities, with more coming. While our area is too “small” to get specific coverage, I thought my readers might be interested in checking this out for the national and big-city projections.
Lots of things to do this weekend from music to education. The Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park has some nice, interesting activities (inside and outside, for both children and adults) this weekend. Here’s their list, and check our Upcoming Events section for more details and other events.
Friday November 16 All Day – Hands on Science Room Open and Scavenger Hunts Available
Saturday November 17 11:00 a.m. Story & Craft – Join us for the story Stinky Owl, featuring the birds of our Aviary. After make an origami owl craft and meet a live owl. Free1:00 p.m. Roving Naturalist – Meet some of the folks that care for the animal ambassadors in the Discovery Center. During this time, live animals will be out for a close-up hands on experience.
Sunday November 18 11:00a.m. Pinecone Bird Feeders and Songbird I.D. – It’s that time of year again! As you are making a pinecone bird feeder to take home with you, learn about the birds that are stopping by the Discovery Center bird feeders. 2:00 p.m. Aviary Feeding – Join us to learn some interesting facts, hear each bird’s story, and watch these amazing raptors eat!
Shelley Argabrite, M.A., Garrett County Strategic Health Planner, is being honored as a Community Star by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. The Community Stars publication highlights leading experts implementing strategies in Communities across the nation to improve rural health and transform systems through innovation and collaboration.
In recognition of National Rural Health Day, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) announced its premier list of Community Stars including Shelley Argabrite, Garrett County’s nationally-recognized Strategic Health Planner and Public Health Innovator.
Argabrite will appear in the 2018 edition of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health’s annual Community Stars publication, which highlights the leading experts implementing strategies in communities across the nation in strides to improve rural health and transform systems through innovation and collaboration. The 2018 Community Stars publication will be available online at PowerofRural.org beginning on November 15, 2018.
“Incredible support from our county commissioners, previous and current internal leadership, staff, and the solution-focused community members in Garrett County continue to showcase the collective efforts of a community that cares and understands we can do more together,” said Argabrite. “Each of these committed individuals are the true community stars – people who advance this work further every day because health equity matters!”
This recognition marks a banner year for the Garrett County Health Department’s Population Health, Innovation, and Informatics Unit, having also received numerous additional awards and recognition from a variety of state and nationally-organized entities.
National Rural Health Day is led by NOSORH on the third Thursday of November every year as a day of recognition for those who serve the vital health needs of nearly 60 million people residing in America’s rural communities, estimated to be 1 in 5 Americans. NOSORH is the member organization serving all 50 State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) including the Maryland Department of Health’s State Office of Rural Health.
State Offices of Rural Health provide support to rural hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and first responders in several ways including technical assistance, funding that supports workforce development, population health management, quality improvement initiatives, and more.
To learn more about Argabrite’s work, visit MyGarrettCounty.com and explore the digital community planning collaborative that has been nationally recognized as a 2018 Promising Practice by the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
Garrett Regional Medical Center’s Subacute Unit won its fifth consecutive Best Nursing Home award from US News & World Report, receiving the top rating for both the facility overall and for short-stay rehab, a new designation in the annual rankings of nursing home facilities across the country.
The coveted annual award is based on data provided by Nursing Home Compare, a program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is a federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing home facilities. Data considered in the methodology used by US News to determine nursing home performance is measured over the course of the year, with facilities required to meet certain performance standards consistently throughout the 12-month period.
Winning the award means Garrett Regional Medical Center is included in the US News & World Report’s Nursing Home Finder as a “Top Performer;” of the 224 nursing home facilities in the state of Maryland, only 38 achieved the Top Performer rating.
Caption for attached photo: Left to right front row: Erica Wilt, GNA; Margaret Kaiser, MD and Subacute Medical Director; Keisha Glotfelty, RN; and Melanie Platter, GNA. Left to right back row: Amanda Beitzel, COTA; Kendra Thayer, Senior VP of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer; and Lori Davis, RN, BSN and Subacute Director of Nursing.
“We are thrilled that our Subacute Unit has once again reached this achievement, now for the fifth year in a row. Our 15-member subacute team is at the core of what makes our hospital such a special, welcoming place for patients,” says Kendra Thayer, Senior Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “They are a compassionate, cohesive team – they not only treat each patient like family, but they also treat each of their coworkers like family, too. Their commitment and hard work is very deserving of this recognition.”
GRMC’s Subacute Care department is a ten-bed unit designed for patients who may fall between nursing home care and hospital care. Subacute patients require complex care or rehabilitation. Some patients might be recovering from a stroke, surgery, cardio-respiratory conditions, or wound care.
“We serve between 350 to 400 patients annually and work with each patient to achieve individualized goals, enabling them to reach their highest level of function. Our unit offers a home-like atmosphere with its own dining area, activity room and laundry facility to provide patients with the care and education needed to function when they return home,” says Lori Davis, RN, Director of the Subacute Unit. “With extended rehabilitation, our patients truly become like family to us as their stays can vary from eight days to several weeks. It can be bittersweet when they complete their rehabilitation and return home; we’re always incredibly pleased for them, but we miss them once they’re discharged.”
The new U.S. News ratings include only 1,874 Best Nursing Homes in Short-Stay Rehabilitation. That’s a small fraction of the 15,000-plus nursing homes in America – fewer than 1 in 8 facilities nationwide met U.S. News’ exacting standard. Additionally, GRMC’s subacute team members have received individual recognition in 2018 including Maryland Activities Director of the Year, American College of Health Care Administrators’ 2018 Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award and DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®.
As I write these notes Wednesday evening, all the talk is about the Deep Creek Lake area’s upcoming storm warning. When Sarah adds in the weather in the morning things will be much “clearer” but there has definitely been buzz around town for this first storm. We shall see.
The weather today will be snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 3pm, then freezing rain and sleet. Temps staying about 29 degrees all day. East wind around 18 mph. Total daytime ice accumulation of 0.1 to 0.3 of an inch possible. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible tonight.
The Snow Emergency Plan for Garrett County is be implemented at 0745 (AM) today. Once the Snow Emergency Plan has been placed in effect, Maryland Law requires motorists to operate vehicles that are equipped with snow tires as designated by the manufacturer or equipped with chains. Studded tires are allowed from November 1 through March 31. During the declaration of a snow emergency, a person may not park a vehicle on any highway designated as a snow emergency route.
The following highways have been designated as snow emergency routes in Garrett County:
On the other side of the globe, Travel + Leisure just announced Japan as their 2018 Destination of the Year. Japan is the 2018 destination of the year for many reasons — dynamic cities, whimsical islands, unparalleled natural beauty — but perhaps what truly makes it a winner is its ability to keep travelers coming back for more. Japan is great, but I think Deep Creek Lake and the mountains of Western Maryland are pretty special too, and easier to get to! Sayonara for now folks!
Correction: Deep Creek Times incorrectly reported the November 14 Board of Education Public Meeting would be at Northern Middle School when it should have been reported as being held at the Central Office in Oakland. Our apologies for the mistake.
The livestream from the Board of Education public meeting held 11/14/18 is below:
The weather certainly has changed: When I left work last evening my car had an icy slush on it. Today’s weather will be partly sunny, with a high near 31 and a low of 25. Tonight has chance of freezing rain and sleet, mainly after 4am.
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING: Heavy mixed precipitation possible and total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches and ice accumulations of one tenth to two-tenths of an inch are possible. There is still uncertainty regarding precipitation types and amounts with this system.
It’s Customer Appreciation Day today from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Deep Creek Lake branch of First United Bank. They just redesigned the whole branch layout and it looks really great. Check it out and take a chance on winning a big prize as well.
There’s a number of events going on at the various branches of the Ruth Enlow Library today, including programming for children and adults, and culminating in a meet/greet/Q&A with local author Ellen Callahan in the evening.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners has approved the creation of a County Communications Office. This office will proactively provide government information to the public and will be staffed by one part-time employee: Deep Creek Times’ own Sarah Myers! Sarah will help the County fulfill its strategic plan and tactical communications goals. Congratulations Sarah!
Due to the threat of inclement weather tomorrow, the Cat Wars event has been canceled. The organizers hope to reschedule in the spring.
Our Town Theater in Oakland is presenting Trouble in Gooseland this Friday evening at 7:00 pm and this Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm. This is a children’s show and is less than one hour in length.
