Mar 5, 2020
A group of concerned citizens recently approached the Garrett County Sheriff’s Department and The Board of Garrett County Commissioners to request a resolution to recognize Garrett County as a Second Amendment Sanctuary County.
A Second Amendment Sanctuary County is a measure taken by local-level governments to express its commitment to the Second Amendment; the rights of all United States citizens to keep and bear arms.
The Board of Commissioners will accept comments on this topic through March 20, 2020. Comments may be sent to gccomments@garrettcounty.org or addressed to:
Board of Commissioners
203 South Fourth Street
Oakland, MD 21550
It is especially important to note that if such an action were to be formally proposed or considered locally, it would not give anyone the right to ignore laws. Instead, a resolution would spell out that Garrett County opposes restrictions that violate the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Due to the structure of the Maryland government, a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution is only symbolic as any state-level laws will supersede any local-level laws or resolutions.
“Anyone committing a crime with a firearm or found in possession of a firearm prohibited by law will be pursued,” said Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley. “The Second Amendment Sanctuary County measure, if taken at the local level, would emphasize that we believe the Second Amendment is the right of all citizens.”
Mar 5, 2020
The weather today will be mostly sunny with a high near 46 and a low around 33. A chance of snow showers tonight with little or no snow accumulation expected.
Looking ahead to tomorrow we are expecting some accumulation; maybe as much as 4-6 inches of snow within the next 48-hours.
Marvin Geovany Mejia shared his lake view from this weekend with us!
A great article from Ohio shares the Deep Creek Lake area by season.
Congratulations to Clark Frazee for being selected as the random winner in February’s “Where Am I?” contest. Have you made your guess for March?
FYI: The reduction (from 6% to 5%) but industry expansion (including professional services) to sales tax that was proposed to help cover the costs of the Kirwan Commission’s educational overhaul has not been approved by lawmakers. There is still a sales tax expansion to certain services up for consideration in this session.
From the Garrett County Board of Education: “This morning, March 5, 2020, at 12:35 AM, Maryland State Police notified Garrett County Public Schools that a bomb threat against Northern High School had been reported to them. At that time GCPS emergency personnel were immediately deployed to the school to coordinate with law enforcement. The police K-9 units arrived to scan the high school to ensure the safety of all students and staff. At 5:30 AM the entire school was cleared. There is no need to adjust start times or bus schedules for today. There will be an increased police presence at Northern today and tomorrow.”
I am on the board of the United Way of Garrett County and I know first-hand the work that is done here in Garrett County to help folks out of poverty. Many of us have more than one cause that is close to our hearts but UW focuses on helping LOCAL families with matters related to education, financial stability, and health. Currently, we are only at 50% of our campaign goal so, if you are so inclined, we are still collecting donations.
Mar 4, 2020
Following the deadly and destructive tornadoes in Tennessee early Tuesday morning, an outbreak of severe weather continued to pummel portions of the United States Tuesday evening. Around the lake, today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 45 and a low of around 28 degrees. West winds of 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Increasing cloudiness over night.
Thanks to our friends at Garrett Regional Medical Center. They just sent over their official rain and snow measurements for the month of February. The offical numbers for February are 2.54 inches of rain and 13.8 inches of snow. The average high temperature-wise for the month was 44.8 degrees and the average low was 23.8 degrees. Thanks folks!
Speaking of the weather, I think a lot of us (me included) hope for it to either snow a lot or to STOP raining. Here’s a neat photo submitted by Chris Nichols that shows the regional snow cover on March 1st as presented in a US National Weather Service satellite photo. As usual, we are in that little “finger” that drops down into Garrett County. If you look closely, you can see the state line delineations and if you look really closely, you can see me waving from my front yard…
3/1/20 snow cover
The Manor Steakhouse asked us to spread the word about their St. Patrick’s Day special. They are planning a fun evening with delicious Irish Cuisine and special Irish drinks! Call them for Reservations at 240.488.1104. Keep your eyes on our Upcoming Events and Dining Specials sections for upcoming, additional events and special St. Paddy’s dining deals.
Speaking of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, I heard it has really gone to the dogs! Well, at least at HART for Animals it has. See this photo for proof:
Other than embarrassing this poor fellow (or is it a lady?), HART has been up to some really good “stuff,” as usual. Through February 2020 year-to-date, HART has performed/enabled the following – Low-Cost/No-Cost Spays & Neuters: 133; Rescue & Transports: 111; and Adoptions: 40 And, HART is celebrating MICRO CHIP MARCH by offering $10 savings this month! Why micro chip your pets you may be asking? Well, the American Humane Association estimates over 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the U.S. every year. 🙁 A micro chip is a simple product of our high-tech age. Click here to read the findings of a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Mar 3, 2020
Contributions to the United Way of Garrett County annual campaign currently total $35,000 toward the $70,000 goal. The organization provides dollars to human service programs in the community.
United Way leverages donations by advocating for collaboration to reduce duplication and relies on community partnerships to focus on the most pressing needs. Additionally, the organization’s collective volunteer time equates to a contribution of over $225,000 annually to provide maximum regional impact.
County United Way Executive Director Juli McCoy notes that the organization has not been immune to the sudden, and unexpected changes that took place in 2019. Contributions from longtime partner Verso ceased immediately with their announcement, and additional unknowns with other companies continue to linger due to out-of-the-area corporate decisions. Garrett County contributors were affected by these changes and funds were lost as a result. “The reality of where the overall campaign currently sits is that vital programs and services will immediately have less availability for those in need and in some cases, will cease to exist. This also creates a very discouraging outlook for emerging programs that show promise of creating a major impact.”
During the current fiscal year, over $25,000 has been invested in Garrett County through programs focused on education, financial stability and health. Included is safe and reliable care for area children that provide nutritious meals, peer-to-peer interaction and adult mentors, as well as tutoring. A longtime partner with Garrett County Community Action, United Way has helped the organization maintain its Meals on Wheels program ensuring local seniors have a healthy meal each day. A program to help with prescription medications provides stability with life-saving medications to give flexibility with limited incomes for food and other basic needs. Volunteers responsible for making funding decisions have been longtime advocates of the power of mentoring at-risk children, and providing safe and reliable care for children of working households.
United Way partnerships extend to the Boy Scouts, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Pressley Ridge, Garrett Mentors, Habitat for Humanity and Western Maryland Food Bank. Additionally, United Way’s growing relationships with area businesses has established a unique pathway to other goods and services for nonprofit organizations.
The community is urged to consider a donation of any size that will put United Way closer to its goals. This can be done by mailing a check to PO Box 394, Oakland, MD 21550 using the online giving option at www.cuw.org, or contacting the office at 301-722-2700 to set up a recurring gift. McCoy noted that this is the easiest way to establish an ongoing investment in the organization. “A major source of our contributions come through payroll deductions, which operates in a similar way and creates an opportunity to make a gift most wouldn’t consider in one payment. The United Way staff is 100% invested through payroll deduction.” Donors are reminded that their gift is used as they would like and should provide a memo or note indicating to which county they would like their gift directed.
“We have all been witness to the generosity that exists here. In times of need, we come together and help strangers, because of an unexpected tragedy or simply a basic, human need. This is what we need now – for our community to come together and help us continue to address the issues holding so many back from a bright future or to just overcome a barrier.”
Mar 3, 2020
Just as forecast, it was warmer and rainy yesterday. Today we will have occasional showers throughout the day, with a high temperature of 53 degrees and a low of 33 degrees.
March is Women’s History Month! What started as Women’s History Week in 1978 in Santa Rosa California is now celebrated the whole month of March. Here’s some additional information for you.
March is Women’s History Month
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce invites all Chamber members to the next Marketing Roundtable event which will feature updates on the town of Mountain Lake Park. The meeting is Wednesday, March 18 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Chamber conference room. Mayor Don Sincell will also provide an update on the upcoming Chautauqua events coming to the town in the Summer.
Since 1939, Leader Dogs for the Blind has operated one of the world’s most respected and innovative guide dog programs and is heavily supported by the donations from Lions Clubs around the world. The Deep Creek Lions Club is sponsoring a benefit dinner for this cause on March 30th, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Please join us and you’ll enjoy a great dinner, hear an inspirational talk from a recipient of a Leader Dog guide dog and help support this great organization. Clink here for more information.
To celebrate and support Women’s History Month, WalletHub just released a report on the “Best and Worst States for Women” that uses their unique methodology that includes voting percentages, poverty rates, incomes, etc. to rank all the states. Massachusetts came in first and Louisiana last. Where did Maryland place you ask? Well, click this link to see the full report, methodology and how we ranked. Hint: We did fairly well.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Oakland is serving fish dinners for Lent again this Friday, from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Jean and I ate there last Friday and they were good, with lots of community spirit filling the room. Cudo’s to all the volunteers at the church that made it all possible.
Have a great Tuesday folks…
Mar 2, 2020
If you have been at the lake this winter, you probably noticed that we have not had much of a winter. It’s been cold but there has been a serious lack of snowfall. Now that the calendar is turning to March, if Mother Nature is not going to send us any snow, then I am ready for spring! So, when the weather turned warm the last week of February, I decided to venture outside and take a hike.
I wanted to walk a trail I had not been on before and one I hoped would not be too difficult. I chose part of the Meadow Mountain trail – the one with a trailhead on Route 495 just north of New Germany Road. It did not disappoint. The sign said it was about 1.5 miles to the overlook. The trail was flat and in great condition the first half mile. After that the trail was not groomed but well-marked and easy to follow. Only the last half mile or so was a bit of a climb but not difficult and when I reached the overlook, the view was fantastic. It was a clear, beautiful day and the mountains to the east spread out before me in all their majesty. Not very colorful, but I promised myself to go back often during the year to observe how the landscape changes. There is actually a shorter, much easier trail to the overlook from the trailhead on Frank Brenneman Road (off New Germany Road).
Garrett County is known for the many trails she offers. Seems like everyone goes to Swallow Falls and hikes that trail- and for good reason. Muddy Creek Falls is an iconic destination in the county. But there are so many more trails to hike with options ranging from difficult (think Backbone Mountain High Point – https://www.eastcoasthiker.com/trails/backbonemd/) to easy/handicap accessible, like the Loch Lynn Wetland walking trail. http://www.garretttrails.org/loch-lynn-trail.html
For the ‘vacation hikers’, I offer some suggestions for trails that are a bit easier to navigate so everyone in your group can participate if they want to.
Deep Creek Lake Lions Park on Bumble Bee Road (next to HART) offers easy trails (officially the Meshach Browning Trail) with little to some elevation change and stream crossings, depending on the trail you take (there are five in all). The entire loop of trails is about 3.3 miles. There is a fenced dog park located here and the trails are dog-friendly. There are trail maps available at the Visitor Center in McHenry or visit here http://www.deepcreeklions.org/MB-Trailhead.html for more information.
Not all trails are confined to the State Parks or around the lake. Head up to Friendsville right off I-68 (exit 4 or take Route 42 north from McHenry) and try their easy trail before or after exploring this cute little town. http://www.garretttrails.org/friendsville-town-trail.html Part of this trail is paved so the walking is easy for strollers or wheelchairs or folks who prefer a smooth surface.
Kitzmiller offers a similar walking path along the North Branch of the Potomac River. http://www.garretttrails.org/kitzmiller-town-trail.html The drive out to Kitzmiller will take about 45 minutes from McHenry but it’s a beautiful country drive and a visit to the Coal Bucket Café is worth a stop for refreshment and learning a bit of coal mining history. You also get a great close up view of the wind turbines as you make your way along route 135.
Cranesville Swamp is another interesting, easy trail not too far from the lake. Located off Cranesville Road, it is a bit tricky to find. The trail is quite flat – parts have a boardwalk. The trail goes through a pine forest and wetland peat bog. About 100 species of birds can be found here, including eight that are state-rare. The Visitor Center has a good map as well as a brochure explaining the details about the swamp. Definitely worth a visit. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/cranesville-swamp-preserve/
The best way to get information on all the trails in Garrett County is to stop in at the Visitors Center in the heart of McHenry – it’s right next to the Greene Turtle. Just tell my friend Lillian or one of the other staffers that you need some trail maps. Garrett Trails http://www.garretttrails.org/ is a good online source of information. The visitors center should have one of their paper maps.
Remember to hike safely – carry water, dress in layers and make sure your phone is charged. Although you may not have phone service, there will be some great photo opportunities along the way. It’s always a good idea to hike with at least one other person. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. You will notice there are no trash receptacles in the parks or at the trailheads so please take your trash with you and ‘leave no trace’. Respect the animals you may encounter. We are visiting their world when we venture into the forest so keep your distance. Wearing a bell or something that jingles when you walk will alert animals that you are nearby and they will most likely keep their distance as well.
Happy Hiking!
Mar 2, 2020
Happy month of March folks. I hope February was good to you. After a “brisk” weekend, with lots of activity at Wisp and the area, the weather for today will be warmer, with a high of around 52 and a low of around 41. The day will also be windy, with gusts up to 28 miles per hour possible and it will likely include some rain, mainly after Noon.
Don’t forget that the online Polaris system at Ruth Enlow Libraries will be down for three days, starting today. This is due to the expansion of their collection due to a “merger” of sorts with the resources of other Western Maryland library systems. They will be integrating the systems. You will still be able to check-out items but they request that you not return items during this time. Here’s some more information.
The Commisioners are holding a public meeting and community presentation this afternoon at Garrett College. The session starts at 5:30 pm and will be held in room 111 of the GIEC (100) building on campus. I heard their last meeting in Grantsville a few weeks ago was standing-room-only and that there was some impassioned discussion. Here’s the agenda for today’s meeting.
We have a GREAT lake here in Garrett County, but perhaps we should be extra happy that it is not one of the Great Lakes. After several years of above average rain and snowfall in the region – last year was the wettest on receord – homes and infrastructure have suffered in the tens of millions of dollars of damage due to rising and record water levels on the Great Lakes. Severe shore erosion and “monster” waves are forcing some to abandon or relocate their homes to safer ground.
Finally, here’s an important public service announcement (PSA) we were asked to run by a mysterious “individual” that appeared on my doorstep this weekend. Here you go…
Public Service Announcement