Oct 9, 2020
The American Red Cross and the Garrett County Health Department will host a blood drive on Friday, October 16, from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Southern Garrett County Rescue Squad at 200 Baltimore Avenue, Oakland, MD.
All donors at this blood drive with a valid email address on file will automatically be entered to win a $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card (Restrictions apply, see amazon.com/gc-legal). The Red Cross will be giving away five gift cards! (See Official Rules and terms and conditions of this Giveaway.)
“The need for blood is constant, and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community,” said Landon Custer, AmeriCorps Member at the Garrett County Health Department. “Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.”
The Red Cross is currently performing antibody tests on all donations. This test screens for antibodies in the blood, which are formed when fighting an infection, like COVID-19. An antibody test assesses whether the immune system has responded to the infection, not if the virus is currently present. The results of the antibody test will be available to donors by logging in to their Blood Donor account on the Blood Donor App or online within one to two weeks after the donation.
Important: The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, including COVID-19. Anyone feeling unwell for any reason, should postpone their donation. Individuals who believe they may be ill with COVID-19 should not present to donate until they are symptom free for 14 days and feeling well and healthy.
To donate blood, a person must be healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years old, (or 16 years old with parental consent form), and have not donated blood in the last 56 days.
Remember that using RAPIDPASS can save you up to 15 minutes.
Using RAPIDPASS is simple. On the day of the blood drive just:
- Visit www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass
- Read the information
- Answer the questions
- Print the pass and bring along or email the pass to yourself and show on your smart phone
To schedule an appointment call Venessa at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111, or visit redcrossblood.org.
Oct 9, 2020
For students and parents looking for resources this school year, the Ruth Enlow Library is your place to visit! The library has been open for a while and they want to help you find what you need – whether it’s online or in person (with a mask).
Offering online resources, online tutoring, online databases, “Activity of the Day” lists, Literacy Kits, photocopying, lamination, printing, use of 3D printers, binding tool, Internet access (including drive-up WiFi), and more! Explore our website at www.relib.net/learningathome for more links and options that are available for students learning at home and homeschoolers.
Oct 9, 2020
Garrett Regional Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ this spring by Leapfrog Hospital Safety Gradea national distinction awarded by the Leapfrog Group recognizing GRMC’s achievements in providing safe, high quality health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to helping improve health care in the United States. The Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months, assessing how well the hospital prevents medical errors and other harms to patients.
“As the nation copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and health care workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We hope this ‘A’ helps thank the people who work and volunteer for GRMC. They are role models in putting patients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country’s time of need.”
“Receiving an ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group this year is a direct result of our commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients,” said Kendra Thayer, Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Operating Officer at GRMC. “Safety and quality are at the forefront of everything we do.”
Developed under the guidance of a national expert panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 28 measures of publicly available hospital data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
GRMC, which is clinically affiliated with WVU Medicine, was awarded an ‘A’ grade in April, when Leapfrog updated grades for spring 2020. To see Garrett Regional Medical Center’s full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
The A grade from Leapfrog marks the third top level achievement in quality care awarded Garrett Regional Medical Center this year. In January, GRMC was given a coveted 5-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and in March it was named a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by the Chartis Group, which rates acute care rural hospitals throughout the United States on a variety of patient-related data points.
“The recent recognitions Garrett Regional Medical Center has received all stem from the hard work and dedication of our incredible staff,” noted Mark Boucot, GRMC’s President and CEO. “I am honored and proud to be part of a team that makes excellent patient care the focal point of everything we do. It shows in the distinctions won, and it shows in our exceptional patient care statistics. Our mission of striving to treat every patient like family means we work to provide the best care possible.”
Garrett Regional Medical Center is among the top rated hospitals in Maryland. GRMC is the top rated hospital in the state for reducing hospital-acquired conditions, and has had the lowest readmission rate in the state for the past four years. GRMC’s surgical site infection rate of 0.08% is far below the national average of 1.9%. It is ranked in the top 50 hospitals in the United States for its low readmission rates for both COPD patients and for patients diagnosed with sepsis.
The Leapfrog Group was founded in 2000 and is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for improved quality and safety in American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. Leapfrog assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety and helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
Garrett Regional Medical Center is an award winning, progressive, Joint Commission accredited acute care facility with 55 inpatient beds in Oakland, Maryland. The hospital serves a population of 46,000 within Garrett County and surrounding communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Originally established in 1950, the hospital has continuously evolved to advance the health and wellness needs of the region. Through its clinical affiliation with WVU Medicine, GRMC offers comprehensive health care services unique to a rural location. GRMC is one of the county’s largest employers with more than 450 team members, who are each dedicated to our mission of striving to treat every patient like family. Learn more at https://www.grmc-wvumedicine.org/
Oct 9, 2020
As Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) celebrates its 70th anniversary this month amidst a national pandemic, the small community hospital originally established in 1950 continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community to which it is dedicated. From its start as a community hospital serving Garrett County, GRMC has grown into a true regional medical center serving a population of 46,000 people living in eight counties across three states. It has also become one of Garrett County’s largest employers with more than 500 team members.
The history of the hospital dates back to 1946, when George W. Loar, a resident of Oakland, left the town $135,000 in his will to be used for the construction of a county hospital. On May 15, 1950, Garrett County Memorial Hospital officially opened its doors. Today, GRMC has grown into an award winning, progressive, Joint Commission accredited acute care facility with 55 inpatient beds and a plethora of outpatient services.
“From our modest beginning as a small county hospital, our commitment to patient care and the community has never changed,” said GRMC President and CEO Mark Boucot. “We’ve worked to create a hospital able to provide the services people need, and the services we’ve provided over the years have reflected the changes and growth in the health care industry. That is certainly the case today. One of the best things that I was able to do when I came to GRMC was to develop the History Hall. Through creating the memorial to the hospital’s history, I learned about the hospital and the people who formed it. I’m grateful to be here and to cherish the unique history we have and the hospital it’s become.”
In 2015, the hospital became clinically affiliated with West Virginia University Medicine, and Garrett County Memorial Hospital officially became Garrett Regional Medical Center. The new affiliation allowed GRMC to greatly expand services, which now include cardiopulmonary, heart and vascular, cancer care, infusion therapy, nephrology, orthopedics, wound care, behavioral health, dermatology, and a host of other outpatient services not typically found in a rural hospital setting.
GRMC has received numerous national recognitions for quality of care, patient outcomes, and patient safety. This year the hospital was awarded a coveted 5-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, named a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by the Chartis Group, and received an ‘A’ grade by the Leapfrog Group for their achievements in providing safe, high-quality health care.
“As GRMC reaches the significant milestone of its 70th anniversary, I want to recognize our incredible physicians, providers, and staff for their dedication to our mission to treat every patient like family,” said Boucot. “They live that mission, every day. It’s so humbling to think of all the talented and dedicated people that worked here over the years and those who work here today. I’m honored to be in a leadership role here.”
GRMC is the top-rated hospital in the state of Maryland for reducing hospital-acquired conditions, and has had the lowest readmission rate in the state for the past five years. GRMC’s surgical site infection rate of 0.08% is far below the national average of 1.9%. It is ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the United States for its low readmission rates for both COPD patients and for patients diagnosed with sepsis.
This year the hospital has faced unique challenges as healthcare facilities across the country adapt to a global pandemic.
“We are experiencing a watershed moment in healthcare,” said Boucot. “As we face new challenges, the efforts of our staff will be remembered as an important part of our history for years to come. I am very grateful for those who make our hospital a special place. What we have accomplished over the years, even during these challenging times, is truly amazing.”
For more information visit www.grmc-wvumedicine.org.
Oct 9, 2020
Michael Hough, Garrett County Director of Economic Development, has announced his resignation effective November 10, 2020.
Mr. Hough joined Garrett County Economic Development after his retirement as the Western Maryland and Pennsylvania Regional President of BB&T Corporation.
During his tenure, Mr. Hough was instrumental in the management and advancement of several economic development department initiatives to include:
- Keyser’s Ridge Industrial Park
- Infrastructure development
- Broadband
- Leadership on broadband expansion projects
- New construction spec building the McHenry Business Park
- Partnership with MEDCO (Maryland Economic Development Corporation) for 20,000 square feet of leasable space with direct connection to the Garrett County Airport
- Business Development
- Hired a Business Development Specialist to work with the municipalities and attract development opportunities in our communities
- Workforce Housing Project in Grantsville
- Acquisition and development of a housing project in Grantsville with County contribution less than 15% of total project costs
- Business Assistance Loan Programs
- In response to COVID-19, PPE (personal protective equipment) and Operating Cost grant opportunities for local businesses
“Mike’s perspective was valuable in making headway on several Economic Development Department initiatives,” said Board of Garrett County Commissioners Chair Paul Edwards. “We look forward to seeing these projects to fruition.”
In the interim, Kim Durst, Manager of Business Development will oversee the day to day operations of the Department. Kim may be reached at 301-334-1992 or kdurst@garrettcounty.org.
Oct 9, 2020
The Maryland State Police is currently looking for a missing runaway juvenile. The missing child is Danelle Ruth Miller, 14 years of age.
She was last seen on Wednesday, 10/7/20, at approximately 1230 hours when she left her residence in the Grantsville area of Garrett County, Maryland. She was wearing a black zip up jacket, blue jeans, green tennis shoes and a blue and gold Northern Huskies backpack.
She is around 5’7″ tall and weighs 135 lbs., has a medium build with brown eyes and black shoulder length hair.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack at 301-387-1101 or 301-895-1101
Oct 9, 2020
In the upcoming weeks, Secret Shoppers will be visiting local alcohol retail establishments to assess ID checking practices. Secret Shoppers, all of whom are of legal age to purchase alcohol but young enough to trigger an ID check, will hand a green card complimenting the clerk or server who correctly checks an ID, or a red card if the clerk or server fails to verify the purchaser’s age.
Unlike law enforcement inspections, licensees and staff will face no legal penalties for failing to check the ID with this program. It will be conducted for the sole purpose of providing feedback to licensees on actual staff age-verification performance.
“We hope to increase the number of alcohol ID checks being performed in Garrett County with our Secret Shoppers and this new program that we are calling “Green Thumbs UP, Red Thumbs DOWN,” said project coordinator, Lori Peck. “A focal point of this program will be incentivizing the staff at alcohol retail establishments for conducting proper ID checks.”
Fake ID’s have become very sophisticated, and to recognize those staff who inspect ID’s carefully, each will be rewarded with an incentive. Prior to the Green Thumbs UP, Red Thumbs DOWN visits, the name of the Secret Shopper will be sent to all alcohol retailers. The checks will be repeated again in six months.
Green Thumbs UP, Red Thumbs DOWN is funded by Garrett County Health Department’s Substance Abuse Block Grant. One of the goals of the program is to evaluate current retail practices and educate about best practices to prevent underage sales of alcohol. Through the years, the Health Department and the Liquor Control Board have funded alcohol compliance checks and vendor education about underage drinking laws, proper ID checking, and the protocol for compliance checks.
This Green Thumbs UP, Red Thumbs DOWN initiative is supported and endorsed by the Garrett County Liquor Control Board, and also the Maryland State Police.
The program is partially funded by the Maryland Department of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For more information, contact Lori Peck at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.
Oct 9, 2020
Environmental Health Services of the Garrett County Health Department reports the fourth case of laboratory-confirmed rabies for 2020 in Garrett County. An unvaccinated feral barn cat, submitted from the Oakland area to the Maryland Department of Health laboratory, was confirmed positive for rabies on October 1, 2020.
Two weeks prior to the testing of the barn cat, the property owners noticed that the cat had endured trauma to the face. After many attempts of trying to capture the cat, the owners finally succeeded. The owners took the cat to their local veterinarian office where its wounds were treated. The cat displayed mild neurological symptoms and then passed away on its own.
Due to the lack of rabies vaccination and unknown exposure at the time, it was imperative that the cat be tested for rabies immediately. After careful review, it was determined that there was no direct exposure with the barn cat and that post-exposure prophylaxis would not be required.
It is important to remember that if your pet is exposed to a wild animal, do not handle your pet within two hours after contact. However, if it is necessary, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after contact. If you have been bitten by a wild animal that cannot be captured or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies, seek medical treatment immediately.
Although the involved cat was a feral barn cat, it is still a legal requirement that all cats, dogs, and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies. Pet owners are urged to check the vaccination records of their pets. Vaccination is necessary after four months of age but can take place as early as 12 weeks of age. Environmental Health Services will be holding a low-cost rabies clinic on October 17, 2020 at the Health Department. Persons with questions regarding rabies or rabies clinics should call Environmental Health Services at 301-334-7760.
Oct 9, 2020
The weekend looks great! The weather today will be sunny with a high near 67 and a low around 55. South wind around 6 mph. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 68 and a low around 56. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers after 9am. The temperature will be a high near 67 and a low around 57.
Columbus Day, Monday, is looking to be mostly cloudy, showers likely; a high near 63 and a low around 55.
The Deep Creek Mountain Land Company has let us know that they are in the final stages of selling the remainder of their DCL lots. See more information here.
The MD DNR has a lot to report today: First, they were busy stocking trout across the state but, in Garrett County the following were stocked last week:
- Bear Creek: 600 rainbow trout
- Casselman River: 600 rainbow trout
- North Brach Potomac River (Westernport): 600 rainbow trout
- Piney Reservoir: 1,000 rainbow trout
- Savage River: 600 rainbow trout
- Youghiogheny River: 600 rainbow trout
- Youghiogheny River (C & R): 600 rainbow trout
- Youghiogheny River (Friendsville): 600 rainbow trout
- Youghiogheny River (Oakland): 600 rainbow trout
Next, the Deep Creek Lake Policy and Review Board hold a virtual meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 from 4-6 p.m.The meeting is open to the public. The public may attend and participate by Google Meet using this link or by telephone. Also, please visit the Deep Creek Lake Natural Resource Management Area website for more information on how to participate. An agenda will be posted on the website in the upcoming days.
“The western corner of Maryland is seeing peak foliage setting in, headlined by the vivid yellows, reds, and oranges of maple leaves.”
A like-new DR chipper newly listed in our Online Marketplace. Check under the “miscellaneous” category.
Thanks to Gena Sweeney for sharing a few amazing fall foliage photos with us!
We hope you have a chance to ejoy Autumn Glory weekend! It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year! Our Celebrating Autumn Glory page has a number of new events listed and be sure to check out the details for the Oktoberfest at Shrimp on the Barbie, Cars and Ice Cream and several craft shows that were recently added!
Oct 8, 2020
The weather today will be sunny with a high near 57 and a low around 42.
I have to say I’m a little disappointed in seeing that great forecast; the Thursday night of Autumn Glory has always been the Oompah Celebration. There was usually a Fireman’s Parade, an Oompah band, traditional German dinners, and more. All of this has been cancelled because of COVID-19.
Things are a little different this year, but! There still will be some happenings to celebrate Autumn Glory this weekend. Check out our Celebrating Autumn Glory event page for the events we know about.
At the Autumn Glory Kick-Off yesterday, the Chamber of Commerce named Terry Helbig as the 2020 Honorary Golden Ambassador of the 53rd Annual Autumn Glory Festival. Congratulations, Terry!
Garrett. 8 Cinemas is still working through the logistics of being reopened. This past week, they were closed again. They have let us know that they will be open for showings tomorrow, October 8.
A reminder that the landfill is on the Winter Schedule: The change to winter hours denotes that on Saturdays, the landfill will close at noon and the scales are closed. No commercial loads, or loads that need to be weighed, will be accepted on Saturdays until April 15, 2021.
The collection sites remain open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 6:00 p.m.
Also, please note the following important dates:
- The landfill and the collection sites are closed Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26) and Christmas Day (Friday, December 25).
- The landfill and the collection sites are open Columbus Day (Monday, October 12), Veterans Day (Wednesday, November 11), and the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27)
- On Election Day (Tuesday, November 3), the sites are closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The landfill is open.
Here’s an amazing sunset from Red Run Cove shared with us by Chip Mathieson:
I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy all of the Autumn Glory Festivities!
Oct 6, 2020
Yesterday was just about perfect weather-wise. Left my office for a bit of air and a quick swim and then took my wife for a nice lunch at Brenda’s. Today will be sunny, with a high near 66 degrees and a west wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 44 and with some wind.
I am glad President Trump is home now and recuperating, but I am still concerned about his team and all those with COVID-19 throughout the nation and world. Some poorer, developing nations are getting hit really hard, as are some areas in this country. Plus, small businesses and their employees are really getting hammered. I sure hope things are better in the near future. In the meantime, we all need to be thinking about what we can do to support local individuals and businesses that may not be as fortunate as we are.
I bet you didn’t know that there are over 250 species of spiders in Maryland? Well there are and the latest edition of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ HabiChat newsletter covers that topic and many more, including monarch butterflies, stem nesting bees, native grasses and how to support garden wildlife. Here’s the link.
Speaking of nature, the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market will be taking place this morning at the pavilion in downtown Oakland from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The plan is for the outdoor markets to continue through October.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Maryland officials reported 413 new cases of the coronavirus and six new deaths associated with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, yesterday, while the state’s reported seven-day positivity rate declined for the first time in 11 days.
With some states choosing to delay further reopening or even bring back some previously lifted restrictions due to surges in COVID-19, the personal-finance website WalletHub yesterday released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions. WalletHub utilized a measure of 17 variables for each state to determine their rank. I thought readers might find the article interesting.
While certainly different from previous years’ events due to the pandemic, the 53rd Annual Autumn Glory Festival is kicking off today. You can pick up copies of the official guide to events at the Garrett County Visitors Center located at 15 Visitors Center Drive in McHenry or download it online at visitdeepcreek.com/53rd-annual-autumn-glory-festival
Oct 6, 2020
Today we will have patchy fog between 7:00 am and 8:00 am. Otherwise, it will be sunny, with a high near 62 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 49. West wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
The Garrett County Health Department received positive COVID-19 results for one additional person over the weekend, bringing the current county total positives to 76. The new positive COVID-19 case is a female in her 30’s with no symptoms who has already completed her isolation. There is one Garrett County resident currently in isolation due to positive COVID-19 test results. For more information call 301.334.7770 or 301.895.3111.
Management at Garrett 8 Cinemas has made the decision to close Monday – Wednesday beginning yesterday. They will remain open Thursdays through Sundays. I wanted to make sure all were aware in case someone was planning a visit to the movies before Thursday.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) plans to reopen its six E-ZPass® Customer Service Centers within the MDOT MVA branches at limited capacity and by appointment only beginning Tuesday, October 13th. Note that all customers must schedule an appointment to visit an E-ZPass Customer Service Center in these MDOT MVA locations by calling 410.537.8400. Services are also provided 24/7 to citizens in the comfort of their home at ezpassmd.com or via the Interactive Voice Response system, at 1.888.321.6824.
Congratulations go out to Jeff Hinebaugh, Director of Emergency Services at Garrett Regional Medical Center, Crystal Sadowski, Dave Sweitzer, and Jeremy Whitacre who represented GRMC in the annual Marine Corps Golf Tournament held in late September. The team finished in second place. Personally, I generally shoot in the low 70s, then I really get awful on the second nine holes…
Here’s a fish story for you anglers seeking some new arrivals: Yep, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources just stocked 2,000 trout yesterday in Garrett and Allegany counties. Here’s the details and locations. Get ’em while they are still wondering what the heck happened!
As the sun sets on the summer boating season, I thought I would share this photo submitted by regular contributor Ed O’Connor of his dock at sunset on Saturday. Ed is fortunate to still have his boat in the water at this point due to low end-of-season water levels (note his dock placement). Thanks for sharing Ed and I hope you get some more days in…
Late Season Sunset at the Lake
Oct 4, 2020
I hope you all enjoyed the great weekend. Weather was crisp, but it was sunny and beautiful out. Today will be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 53 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 39.
We certainly offer our best wishes, prayers and hope for a speedy recovery to President Trump, the first lady, others in our government and all that have contracted COVID-19. This year has certainly been a challenging one for our county and its citizens. I do hope that we can all put our political differences aside and move forward as one nation.
On a more positive note, Jean and I had the chance to eat at the Rooster’s Nest in Grantsville Saturday evening. The restaurant is owned by Sandy Fazenbaker, one of my stronger and favorite students from when I taught at Garrett College. Sandy is a long-term cook/food worker that was able to make her entrepreneurial vision a reality. It is a nice, reasonably priced, “country place” with a variety of offerings, and with noteworthy BBQ and grilled offerings. My steak was great! Give it a try for a casual meal and tell her Mike says Hi!
Took this photo looking west from the 219 overlook north of Accident on Saturday. I think the photo just about sums up the Garrett County countryside in a nutshell. With all the leaves looking to be at almost peak, the ride up and around was really nice. I urge readers to walk, run or ride around the county to experience the season’s beauty.
Garrett County
During the 2019-2020 school year, each public school in Garrett County participated in the Garrett County Health Department’s Play Hard, Live Clean (PHLC) campaign, a healthy lifestyle campaign designed to encourage youth to make good choices by recognizing and rewarding them for certain positive lifestyle accomplishments from kindergarten through high school. The culmination of the campaign for seniors is the awarding of a scholarship to one Northern High student and one Southern High student who earned points for participation in PHLC. The scholarship can be used for work expenses, health expenses, or further education of any kind. The winners for 2019-2020 were Alexis House from NHS and Jacob Nazelrod from SHS. Congratulations Alexis and Jacob.
Please check out this month’s Deep Creek TImes Cover Story if you have not had a chance to yet. The Cover Story is on the innovative fundraising approach and great work being conducted by Deep Creek Lake Watershed Foundation to help maintain Deep Creek Lake water quality. You can find the article here.
HART For Animals continues to do GREAT things for our furry friends, and HART’s numbers year-to-date, as of September 2020 certainly support that: Spays & Neuters: 508, Rescue & Transports: 503, and Adoptions: 115. The revenues generated by the services at the HART Animal Center support the basic operating costs of the facility, including staff and maintenance, so that HART may serve the animals and the community through their mission programs. Those programs are supported through donations and fundraising. HART uses 87% of all revenue to pay for those programs, including rescue, transport, spay/neuter, sheltering, and adoption.
Speaking of HART, their fundraiser in partnership with GLAF, the “Wine & Weekend” Raffle justfinished and they announced the winners, which we congratulate:
Diane Ward Lett, Laytonsville, MD
Lisa Jan, McHenry, MD
Audrey Glassberg, New York, NY
Gary & Luanne Ruddell, McHenry, MD
Thearin Wendel, Reston, VA
We have an owl, or actually owls, on our property that sometimes keep us awake at night, listening to their rythmic “hoots.” And that is not at all a complaint, as it is one of the neat things about Garrett County. I was reminded of our local feathered friends when I saw the results of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2020 Photo Contest. The grand prize winning photo was taken by Zaphir Shamma of Gunpowder, and while the subject of Zaphir’s winning subject is not from our area, I thought it was worthy of inclusion here. Great photo Zaphir!
Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl by Zaphir Shamma
That’s all for today folks. Have a great week…
Oct 2, 2020
The weather today will be partly sunny with a high near 50 and a low around 36. West wind 5 to 13 mph. Saturday will be patchy frost before 10 am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 54 and a low around 39. Sunday will be partly sunny,with a high near 56 and a low around 43. Note – scattered showers after 3pm. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Our friend, Glenda, has shared the official weather measurements for the month of September: Average HIGH temperature was 73.8, and the average LOW temperature was 51. Total precipitation was 2.6 inches.
Breaking news this morning: President Trump and first lady test positive for COVID-19
I made a mistake yesterday in announcing the Spread the Warmth program — please note that this is an Oakland Oil program. What a great way to help our community!
The fall foliage in Garrett County is “near peak” — the link has several area photos taken by local park rangers.
The MD DNR mentioned they will begin fall stocking of thousands of brown, golden, and rainbow trout in select creeks, lakes, and rivers across the state starting in early October.
The September “Where Am I” winner was David Weaver! Congratulations, David! Make sure you check out this month’s contest photo.
As we talk about enjoying our great “lake” (hint-hint for the contest above….) Mike has written an excellent Cover Story. Take a moment to read and maybe get inspired.
Thank you, Kelly: We have selected Kelly’s photo for our Featured Photo of the Month.
This weekend make plans for the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market on Saturday and the One Maryland One Book 2020 Discussion on Sunday.
Oct 1, 2020
By: Mike Tumbarello
Taking Care of the Lake: An Opportunity to Help the Watershed!
With a name like Deep Creek Times, we are certainly cognizant of, and intrinsically tied to, the presence, health and impact of Deep Creek Lake on our mountain community and to our online enterprise. Over the two-plus decades of its existence, Deep Creek Times has witnessed, and to some degree, impacted the lake, its reputation and the public’s appreciation of all it has to offer.
When Bob Hoffman of Deep Creek Watershed Foundation board of directors shared a story of a recent donation to the Foundation, I thought it was noteworthy and important to share for a number of reasons. First, the Foundation holds an important position in helping preserve and enhance the quality and benefits of Deep Creek Lake to individuals and the community as a whole. Second, I liked the story and thought it was definitely worth sharing, as it could be the start of something really powerful.
Bob recently approached Mickey and Phyllis Nye, good friends of Bob and his wife Julia, about making a donation to the Foundation. Mickey and Phyllis own a second home on the lake that they sometimes rent out to visitors. The couple graciously gave a generous donation to the Foundation but then went further and decided to donate a percentage of their rental income on an ongoing basis, thereby creating an annuity of sorts for the Foundation. They also matched the portion of rental proceeds they donated.
Not only is this a wonderful gesture, but it is also one that could logically be replicated by other owners of rental properties of all types, particularly those known as transient vacation rental units, or TVRUs. Frankly, some TVRUs across the nation have gotten a “bad rap” for some reasons, including increased traffic, noise, etc., all of which as a member of an HOA board, I am familiar with. Nonetheless, these rentals provide a service to out-of-towners and homeowners, as well as aid the economic vitality of the community.
I think this quote from Mickey Nye also helps elucidate the reason for the donation and the win-win nature of this type of donor relationship: “Phyllis and I are very pleased and proud to be the first family to donate a percentage of their income from our Transient Vacation Rental Unit on Deep Creek Lake to support the fine work of the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation. We realize the lake and surrounding watershed are beautiful gifts that need to be preserved and protected for posterity (italics added). We hope many others will follow our lead and donate in this fashion to support the important work of the Foundation and become benefactors.”
Bob Hoffmann, Mickey and Phyllis Nye
I agree with Mr. Nye and truly hope others will follow their lead and donate to the Foundation. This could be big! For those readers not familiar with the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation, they are a 501 (c) 3 organization that focuses on the implementation of the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan by satisfying its goals as well as supporting other projects that contribute to the health and cleanliness of the watershed and Deep Creek Lake.
One of the Foundation’s current initiatives is its Water Quality Meter Campaign, which would help monitor and keep the 95-year-old lake’s water quality at a high level. Their goal is to purchase at least five meters at a total cost of approximately $100,000. These meters are currently being used in the Chesapeake Bay, Lake Tahoe and the Great Lakes and would go a long way to helping the Maryland Department of Natural Resources monitor our water quality by collecting data on temperature, acidity, chlorophyll, oxygen, etc.
The Foundation is an all-volunteer organization, so donations largely go to projects they initiate with public and private partners. The bottom Line: The Foundation is made up of good people, doing important work, for an important cause, and they need our help. I encourage all readers to visit the Foundation’s website at www.deepcreekwatershedfoundation.org. You can also reach Bob Hoffman at rahoffmann93@gmail.com with questions about the Foundation, it’s works or how to donate.
Please check out the website and strongly consider a one-time or ongoing donation to this very important and worthwhile cause.
Mike Tumbarello
October 1, 2020
