Feb 22, 2021
County Commissioners Announce Public Meeting Agenda
PUBLIC MEETING AGENDA
Monday, March 1, 2021
Meeting will be Live Streamed at https://www.facebook.com/garrettcountygovernment/
Agenda Session Times are Approximate
The Board of County Commissioners may close a portion of this public meeting and move into Executive Session to comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicial requirement that may prevent public disclosure about a particular proceeding or matter
*To comment on agenda items – please send to gccomments@garrettcounty.org
4:00 Call to Order of Public Session
County Administrator – Additions/Deletions to Public Meeting Agenda
Approval of Public, Administrative, and Executive Meeting Minutes
4:05 Garrett County Health Department – COVID 19 Update – Robert Stephens
4:10 Proclamation: Women’s History Month – March 2021
4:12 Avilton Community Association – Request for Fiscal Year 2022 County Property Tax Abatement
4:15 Board Appointments:
- Garrett County Planning Commission
- Garrett Trails Advisory Committee
- Garrett Regional Medical Center – Commissioner Edward’s Appointee
4:20 Garrett County Purchasing Department
Bid Awards:
1. Health Center Roof Replacement Bid #21-0204
2. Courthouse Exterior Painting Bid # 21-0211
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
Public Issues or concerns that are to be presented to the Board of Garrett County Commissioners during any Public Meeting should be scheduled with Carol A. Riley-Alexander, Executive Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners/County Administrator.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners next scheduled Public Meeting will be Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Please check the web site www.garrettcounty.org for meeting information.
Feb 22, 2021
PAS @ Oakland Is Staying Connected with Virtual Programming
Staying connected! That’s what the Partners After School (PAS) @ Oakland is doing with its programming this school year. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, it put the staff and the students in a very difficult situation. How could they keep serving their students and families in a safe and productive way? Virtual programming was the answer!
The Oakland online program meets virtually with students three times a week for one hour each day. Students participate in a variety of activities such as trivia night, music night, service projects, and other fun activities that give the students a break from the stresses of online learning and lets them interact with their classmates outside of school. At the same time, activities focus on increasing trauma-informed services and preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Helping the team with programming this school year is the University of Maryland 4H Extension Office. They bring activities such as Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) and Health Rocks Mentoring curriculum to the already active program. Students also participate in prevention lessons provided by Prevention Specialist Kristen Walker from the Garrett County Health Department each week. Students get hands-on lessons that empower and support them in their daily lives.
Thanks to the Garrett County Public Schools Meal Program, the staff of PAS @ Oakland have been able to pick up and deliver food to all their students each week. Students also receive a packet of materials and supplies for the activities for the following week. This is also allowing the staff to touch base with the parents to see how they are doing and to offer any resources they may need. PAS @ Oakland is making sure families are doing well and thriving during this difficult time.
PAS @ Oakland is actively recruiting new students to join in their adventures. Students in 3rd through 8th grades who go to Broad Ford Elementary, Yough Glades Elementary, or Southern Middle School are invited to come and see for themselves how much fun After School can be.
The PAS @ Oakland staff consists of James Michaels, Director; Kristen Walker, Prevention Specialist; and Assistants Candace Jones, Derek Silbaugh, Cassy Baker, and Madison Prudnick. Volunteer services are provided by AmeriCorps member Landon Custer.
Partners After School programs are provided by the Garrett County Local Management Board (LMB), Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services, United Way of Garrett County, Garrett County Department of Social Services and University of Maryland Extension Office. Programs are administered by Garrett County Health Department. For more information call 301-334-7730.
Feb 22, 2021
We had a cold and white weekend, with yesterday being clear, sunny and very bright with the sun reflecting off the snow and ice. Today expect rain and snow, becoming all rain after 1:00 pm, with a high near 37 degrees. South wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Tonight we have a chance of freezing rain before 10:00 pm, then a chance of snow and freezing rain between 10:00 pm and 4:00 am, then snow likely after 4:00 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Here’s a great photo taken by Jenael Falcao on Friday evening, February 19th as she was winding down her skiing at Wisp. It really captures the conditions and the beauty of the mountain even in the evening hours. Thanks for sharing it with us Janael.
Wisp Up-Close in the Evening
The Garrett County Health Department, along with many other locations across the country, continues to wait for vaccine delivery because of nationwide weather delays. A shipment is not expected to be received until at least today. Because of the delivery delay, the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the MEDCO Building in the McHenry Business Park scheduled for today has been cancelled and all appointments are being automatically rescheduled for March 8th at the same time as the original appointment. No patient action is required and call or check the website for more up-to-date information.
We covered this in part last week, due to the Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake donation of funds for a water meter to the broader program for five water meters to be donated by the Deep Creek Lake Water Shed Foundation (to the DNR). This is a VERY important undertaking by the Watershed Foundation as it will provide short- and long- term water quality monitoring at five additional locations around the lake. Click here for the full story and see the photo below of a water quality meter. We all owe a big thank you to the Watershed Foundation and all that have supported them in this effort.
New Deep Creek Lake Watershed Foundation Meter Design
Sarah covered this last week, but I thought I would share again in case anyone missed it: From a LawnStarter report “many of the best vacation rental home cities are near attractions in greater Appalachia”. Over half of Americans plan to travel in 2021, and more than a third will stay in a vacation home or homeshare rental during the winter and spring. Get here: Deep Creek Lake is proving to be an excellent location for a vacation home. The rental market at and around the lake is rockin’ it!
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced winners of the annual fifth-grade Arbor Day poster contest. Three schools in Maryland that are home to the top winners will benefit with tree plantings this spring. One of the winners was in nearby Flintstone, in Allegany County. Yabba dabba doo for these students… All winning poster entries are posted online. Check them out as the work is very impressive.
Just heard that the always popular fish dinners and fish dinner takeout at the St Peters in Oakland parish hall for Lent have been cancelled this year. They hope to resume next year.
All branches of the Ruth Enlow Library will be reopening for in-person service at normal hours as of Monday, March 1st. Masks will still be required for all patrons five years of age and up, and social distancing rules remain in effect. Books may only be returned through the book slots and late fees will resume after April 1, 2021. Find more information at www.relib.net.
Have a great Monday and rest of the week dear readers…
Feb 21, 2021
The Deep Creek Watershed Foundation’s (DCWF) Water Quality Meter Campaign is Hugely Successful !
The DCWF’s Water Quality Meter Campaign was initiated in the early part of 2020 and will continue during 2021. Board Members and Advisors to the Foundation realized that assisting the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to deploy “state of the art” meters is critical to ensuring good water quality in Deep Creek Lake (DCL) for both the near term and long term. Biologists and other DNR Staff identify, through the data collected by the meters, potential impacts on Water Quality for further investigation and/or the application of appropriate remedies.
Due to the generosity of a wide variety of donors responding to our campaign and associated requests for support, the DCWF is able to purchase FOUR Water Quality Meters which will be donated to DNR for exclusive use at DCL in the coming years. The purchase of these meters represents a donation from the DCWF in the amount of $60,000 as part of the Foundation’s public-private partnership with the DNR which benefits DCL and the watershed. But there is more! In addition to all the above good news, the Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake (POA) also made a one-time contribution of approximately $15,000 to the DCWF enabling the purchase of a total of FIVE WATER QUALITY METERS which will be donated to DNR. These new meters will enable DNR to increase the breadth and specificity of water quality data which can be shared with the public.
YSI, the company which makes the meters, assisted with very reasonable pricing for this multiple meter purchase. In addition, the DCL Manager, Eric Null, and Natural Resources Biologists Julie Bortz and Christine King were instrumental in making certain the meters purchased by the Foundation and the POA contained the proper specifications to ensure their compatibility with those purchased by the DCL Manager for use at DCL.
From the Foundation’s perspective, the WQM Campaign thus far has been truly a successful team effort on the part of many folks and as the campaign continues this year we hope many more folks will donate to it so the Foundation will be able to do even more for DCL and the Deep Creek Watershed.
Please visit the DCWF website at: www.deepcreekwatershedfoundation.org for more information and ways to donate.
Feb 17, 2021
ForeFront Power and TurningPoint Energy Announce the Completion of Four Community Solar Projects in Maryland, With Three More on the Way
ForeFront Power and TurningPoint Energy today announce the completion of four Maryland-based community solar projects. The Leigh Friend Solar Project was completed this month, and three additional projects (Kingsville, Croom Road, and South Osborne Road) began delivering power to residents in late 2019. Together, these four projects created over 150 jobs and represent 9.8 megawatts-DC (MW) of solar power being delivered to over 1,300 households in Garrett, Prince George’s, and Baltimore Counties. This solar energy will provide tens of thousands of dollars in county revenue over the 25-year lives of the projects.
These projects were awarded to and developed by TurningPoint Energy as part of the State of Maryland’s Community Solar Pilot Program. ForeFront Power purchased the projects in 2019, constructed the projects, and now serves as the long-term owner and operator. ForeFront Power and TurningPoint Energy are collaborating on three additional community solar projects in the state that will enter operation in the coming quarters.
“As a long-time Maryland resident myself, I’m proud to play a part in empowering our state’s local communities to have a say in the types of energy powering their homes,” said Michael Smith, CEO of ForeFront Power. “Solar energy keeps Maryland’s air clean, while bringing jobs and economic growth to our state at a moment when this is needed.”
“These seven projects demonstrate the resilience of the solar industry and U.S. economy in these trying times and the importance of leadership in progressing the economy forward by the State of Maryland, Maryland Public Service Commission, Baltimore County, Prince George’s County, Garrett County, ForeFront Power, and TurningPoint Energy,” said Jared Schoch, president of TurningPoint Energy. “We remain committed to investing in Maryland and its communities through continued development of community solar projects, which generate tax revenue, create jobs, provide electric bill savings and allow us to invest in deserving local causes at a time when Marylanders need it most.”
TurningPoint Energy and its partners have also pledged more than $90,000 in community investment to worthy food pantries, emergency response service providers, schools, fire stations, and police stations in concert with development of these projects. TurningPoint Energy has already delivered on $45,000 of this commitment to date.
“Maryland’s support of clean and renewable energy development is evidenced through its commitment to thoughtful solar development, net metering policies, and aggressive renewable portfolio standards. Community solar projects are particularly important to ensuring that all Marylanders, regardless of income-level or where they live, have access to the direct benefits of solar power,” said Chairman Jason Stanek of the Maryland Public Service Commission.
Support in Garrett, Prince George’s, and Baltimore Counties:
“There is no doubt that clean, green energy will be a huge part of the future and I’m happy to support efforts to diversify our energy supply. Equally as important are the well paid, long-term jobs that are created by this industry. Implemented correctly, solar energy is an excellent economic development opportunity for Baltimore County and I’m proud to have one of the first solar farms in the 6th district, with hopes of more to come,” said Councilwoman Cathy Bevins of Baltimore County.
“Garrett County has been pleased to collaborate with TurningPoint Energy to develop this renewable solar energy project. The County supports clean energy development and is thankful for the additional jobs afforded by this and future projects by TurningPoint Energy and its partners,” said Garrett County Commissioner Paul Clayton Edwards.
“Driving down electricity costs, creating jobs, combating climate change, and generating tax revenue are very compelling reasons to support solar. We have been impressed by the resilience of the industry and specifically TurningPoint Energy’s efforts to keep developing these projects, especially during a pandemic,” said Prince George’s County Council Chair Calvin Hawkins.
Benefits for the Community:
Community solar projects offer all the benefits of solar to those who are unable to install solar at their home. These projects enable individual households, whether they rent or own, the ability to source electricity from a community solar project at a discount to current utility rates.
Beyond the customer-level benefits, these projects will also benefit local communities economically and environmentally. The projects have utilized various local expertise and labor during the development and construction processes, including local legal, consulting, engineering, and land expertise. During operation, many of the projects engage local electricians and landscaping maintenance providers. Additionally, ForeFront Power also planted pollinator-friendly ground cover at the project sites to foster habitat for bees, birds, small mammals, and other wildlife.
About ForeFront Power:
ForeFront Power is a leader in the United States for solar and energy storage solutions. The ForeFront Power team holds more than a decade of experience working together across nearly one gigawatt-DC (GW) of renewable electricity, spanning more than 1,300 distributed generation and community solar projects. Serving business, the public sector, and community solar customers in the U.S. and Mexico, ForeFront Power is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York City and Mexico City. ForeFront Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co. Ltd., a global energy infrastructure and investment leader with a robust balance sheet and an “A” credit rating from Standard & Poor’s. For more information, visit forefrontpower.com.
About TurningPoint Energy:
TurningPoint Energy is a clean energy development, advisory and investment company with solar development projects underway throughout the United States. Its principals have experience developing solar projects for utility and community solar clients totaling more than $2.5 billion in value over 1.1GW of operating solar power plants throughout the United States within the last decade. TurningPoint Energy is a lean, privately-held firm that adapts to its clients’ needs and finds ways to invest in its clients and their communities…at every turning point. For more information about TurningPoint Energy, visit https://turningpoint-energy.com.
Feb 17, 2021
The weather for today will be partly sunny, with a high near 25 degrees with wind chill values as low as zero. Light and variable wind.Tonight expect snow, mainly after 2:00 am. Low around 21. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Dress for very cold conditions!
With the cold, icy weather yesterday, we were placed under a snow emergency plan, which is now to be lifted. The snow emergency plan 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 1st through March 31st.
Oakland mayor Jay Moyer administered the oath of office to Police Academy Graduate, Patrolman Bryson Bittinger at a special ceremony at Oakland City Hall on Friday, February 12th. Bittinger, the son of Bill and Nichole Bittinger, grew up in Oakland and graduated from Southern Garrett High School in 2017 before earning an associate’s degree from Garrett College. Congratulations Bryson.
Here’s a simple, nice shot of a deer in the snow, as submitted by Dot Sissler. I guess deer like cleared roads/paths just like we do. Thanks for sharing Dot.
Deer on the Path
The Property Owners Association of Deep Creek Lake has announced a donation of about $15,000 to the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation for the purchase of an additional Water Quality Meter. The Foundation is funding the purchase of four meters which will bring the number of permanent meters in the lake to eight. The ultimate goal of DNR is to have a meter in every cove. The meters measure water temperature, salinity, conductivity, pH, depth, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and chlorophyll (which is a measure of algal biomass). The permanent placement of the meters will allow continuous rather than “snapshot” monitoring of water quality. That is great news on many fronts and we thank the POA and the Watershed Foundation for their great work on this.
More detailed information on the lake and water quality can be found at the DNR website “Eyes on Deep Creek Lake” – http://eyesonthebay.dnr.maryland.gov/dcl/deepcreeklake.cfm. There is also detail available on the Deep Creek Watershed Foundation site which includes a PowerPoint presentation to the Foundation Board in April of 2020 entitled “DNR’s Continuous Water Quality Monitoring Project at Deep Creek Lake” by DNR Biologists Julie Bortz and Christine King, see – https://www.deepcreekwatershedfoundation.org/water-quality-testing
And, in case anyone is wondering why the lake’s water quality is so important, here’s just a few of the reasons. High quality clean water provides:
- Protection of property values and investments for you and your family for many years to come.
- Carefree swimming, boating, water-skiing, and more.
- Healthy habitats for a wide variety of fish and other aquatic creatures.
- A clean lake for residents and visitors alike to enjoy which, in turn, supports Garrett County’s reputation as a great place to visit and live.
- A strong foundation for continued community small businesses and economic stability, including a strong tax base.
The importance of the lake to our quality of life and to Garrett County’s success cannot be underestimated!
With many students continuing their education remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and BLS data showing a correlation between higher education levels, higher income and lower unemployment rates, the personal-finance website WalletHub yesterday released its report on 2021’s Most & Least Educated States in America, as well as accompanying videos. In order to determine the most educated states, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 metrics that examined the key factors of a well-educated population: educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races. Maryland performed very well.
How educated is Maryland? (1=Most; 25=Avg.):
- 25th – % of High-School Diploma Holders
- 10th – % of Associate’s Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults
- 3rd – % of Bachelor’s Degree Holders
- 2nd – % of Graduate- or Professional-Degree Holders
- 6th – Avg. University Quality
- 18th – Racial Gap in Educational Attainment
- 1st – Gender Gap in Educational Attainment
For those of you who like to get into the details, you can see the full report here: https://wallethub.com/edu/e/most-educated-states/31075
Finally today, a plug for a friend, executive chef Larry Roby. Larry has been accepted into a national Favorite Chef competition. The winner will be featured in Bon Appetit magazine, and will also win a cash prize. The event will be helping feed the hungry, so if you know or wish to support our local chef, please vote and pass this along to as many as you can. Voting starts today. Here’s the link: https://favchef.com/2021/larry-roby
Feb 16, 2021
For today, snow is likely, mainly after 1:00 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 21 by 5:00 pm. West wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Tonight, we have a chance of snow before 1:00 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Wind chill values as low as -1. West wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
As if the pandemic has not confined us enough, now some of us are experiencing an ice jail! Thanks to Russ Dijak for submitting this photo of icicles that resemble the bars on a jail. Nice photo Russ. Let me out…
Ice Jail
With all the snow, Wisp is really booming and busy. We continue to hear reports of visitors arriving at Deep Creek Lake planning to ski, snowboard or tube and being disappointed due to all of the slots already being reserved. If you are coming out to the area and wish to partake of Wisp’s great amenities, plan in advance and reserve your spots. Just a tip. Here’s the link to their site.
After many years of advocacy, last week Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development released a statewide housing plan with maps for every are of the state prepared by the National Center for Smart Growth and Enterprise Community Partners. Here’s the Link to the Full Report.
Virtual Community Development Day will be held in Annapolis on Wednesday starting at 11:30. They want to hear from folks in all counties to ensure an equitable recovery across the state of Maryland at all levels and to help partners secure the resources to provide badly needed services throughout Maryland. Join them for a short virtual program with representatives across the state! Last chance to register here and note that only registered participants will receive program link.
A good friend of mine, Patrick O’Brien, mentioned this to me and I said I would include in Notes. I am definitely NOT preaching here as we at Deep Creek Times celebrate and support ALL religions. This looks interesting and informative as it will include inspired testimonies from three men imprisoned overseas for their religious beliefs. It is a virtual and free event to be held on March 5th at 6:30 pm. You can find more information and register at VOM.org/event.
Here’s a great photo form another friend, Clint Bradley, which does a great job showing the winter wonderland we are living in these days. He took this shot from his bedroom window on Saturday. If you are not in town this week, this gives you a great idea of what you are missing. Thanks Clint for the great photo.
Winter Wonderland
I will add that if any of our readers have special non-profit events, religious or otherwise, please send to us at info@deepcreektimes.com and we will do our best to mention it in Notes and elsewhere on the site as space and time allow.
On a more secular note, my wife and I just finished watching the six seasons of Longmire on Netflix. It is a “PG-rated” series with beautiful mountain scenery (sound familiar, only in Wyoming) about a small town sheriff and his team and community. It also includes a fair amount of insight into native American culture and life. Just a suggestion if you are looking for something…
Feb 15, 2021
I hope you all had a very nice Valentine’s Day. I sure did. My wife Jean and I went for a nice swim at the CARC, then got some take-out sandwiches at Brenda’s Pizzeria. Happy belated Valentine’s Day to all of our readers.
The weekend had some minor precipitation, which included more localized freezing rain and/or freezing fog. With all that and the snow, it is truly a winter wonderland out here now. I have seen lots of folks pulling over off the road to photograph the trees, fields and the frozen lake. Here’s a photo of a small evergreen showing the snow, ice and frozen fog on its branches.
Everything is Coated and Beautiful
Today we can expect patchy fog, snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely before 1:00 pm, then a chance of freezing rain between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm, then a chance of freezing rain and sleet after 5:00 pm. Patchy freezing fog between 9:00 am and 11:00 am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 32 degrees. Limited accumulations expected during the day. This evening we expect freezing rain and sleet before 3:00 am, then freezing rain, possibly mixed with snow and sleet. Low around 28.
Please be careful on the roads and when you first walk outside your house today, especially on steps. There is a high likelihood of a thin coat of ice on things. This appears to be shaping up to be an active week throughout the country. Check this AccuWeather
link to see some of the potential events and which ones will impact us here on the mountain.
Last Wednesday I mentioned I was scheduled to receive my COVID vaccine up at the business park on Bumble Bee Road in McHenry. Well, I went and I got the shot. In addition to feeling safer due to the shot (my second one is scheduled for March), the process was really simple, fast and easy. The health care workers and all involved were friendly, professional and engaged, making the experience about perfect. So, a BIG shout-out to all involved at the McHenry site and throughout the County, especially Ms. Dee Kennell, RN, who gave me my vaccine. Here’s her photo after giving me my shot. And, for the record, I didn’t even cry! Get yours scheduled as soon as you can…
Dee Kennell, RN
Governor Larry Hogan provided an update on Maryland’s vaccination initiatives as well as other COVID-19 items during a press conference Thursday. In Garrett County, COVID-19 vaccination appointments with the Garrett County Health Department are already fully booked for February. Allotments for March are currently being reviewed and vaccination clinics are being planned for March. Registration links will be available on garretthealth.org beginning in late February. At that time, appointments will be open for March clinics for Garrett County residents not yet vaccinated from Phase 1A and 1B, as well as Garrett County residents who are at least age 65. Here’s the whole press release with some good information in it.
Here’s the schedule for remaining winter Mountain Fresh Farmers Markets that are held at Simon Pearce.
Have a great Monday dear readers…
Feb 14, 2021
State and Local Update on Vaccination Rollout
By Garrett County Joint Information Center Team
Governor Larry Hogan provided an update on Maryland’s vaccination initiatives as well as other COVID-19 items during a press conference Thursday. His update included information about visitation policies for hospitals and nursing homes, vaccine administration, and plans for additional mass vaccination sites across the state.
Limited visitation is to resume at Maryland hospitals and nursing homes per Maryland Department of Health (MDH) orders. Each hospital will set its own visitation policy, which must comply with CDC guidelines. Indoor visitation at nursing homes may resume as early as March 1, 2021, as long as facilities do not have active cases and follow proper testing protocols.
The Governor announced that Maryland has created the infrastructure to administer between 50,000 and 100,000 doses of vaccine per day as more vaccines become available. The current record number of vaccines administered in one day in Maryland is 26,179.
A mass vaccination site will open at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday, February 25, making it the third mass vaccination site in Maryland. Hogan reported that additional sites are planned to open in March in the Western, Southern, and the Eastern Shore regions of the state. The exact locations of these sites have not yet been released.
In order to facilitate better planning, Governor Hogan directed state health officials to provide county leaders with four-week projections for vaccine allotments for their local health department clinics.
In Garrett County, COVID-19 vaccination appointments with the Garrett County Health Department are already fully booked for February. Allotments for March are currently being reviewed and vaccination clinics are being planned for March. Registration links will be available on garretthealth.org beginning in late February. At that time, appointments will be open for March clinics for Garrett County residents not yet vaccinated from Phase 1A and 1B, as well as Garrett County residents who are at least age 65.
It was also announced during the Governor’s press conference that MDH and Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) have launched a program to provide up to 1 million COVID-19 tests for both public and non-public schools. Testing supplies will be provided in proportion to the number of students and staff returning for in-person learning this school year. Schools will be able to opt-in to this voluntary program.
Each Maryland county was asked to appoint an equity officer to serve as a liaison to the Maryland Vaccine Equity Task Force in order to closely coordinate equity initiatives, including working with local partners to stand up mobile clinics to reach critical populations.
Additional COVID-19 resources:
- If you have COVID-19 like symptoms, schedule a testing appointment at the Health Department by calling 301-334-7697.
- Free COVID-19 testing is available (with or without symptoms) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the MEDCO Building in the McHenry Business Park. Pre-registration is recommended. Visit garretthealth.org for more information.
- For all other COVID-19 related questions, or to report a COVID-19 compliance issue, call the local COVID-19 Hotline number at 301-334-7698.
Feb 10, 2021
Today we have a slight chance of snow before 9:00 am, then a slight chance of snow and freezing rain between 9:00 am and 10:00 am, then snow likely after 10:00 am. Patchy fog late morning and then after 2:00 pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 32 degrees. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.Tonight we expect snow with patchy fog around 25. Chance of precipitation is 80% with new snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
You can check out the bigger picture of the next storm from AccuWeather here. If you scroll down you can see the Deep Creek Lake area in the purple shading.
Herrington Manor State Park yesterday reported a nice base of 8″ -10″ on their cross country trails, with one inch of “fresh fluff” as of yesterday morning. Their Red, Blue and Green trails are open and were last groomed on February 3rd. Due to the pandemic, they are still not offering ski and snowshoe rentals. You can call them at 301.334.9180 for more information.
Maryland providers have now administered 727,828 COVID-19 vaccines, and 85% of all first doses received from the federal government have been given. The daily average for shots administered increased today to 24,871. I finally found a benefit to being over the age of 65. I am scheduled to get my COVID vaccine today. I have never been this excited to get a shot before!
Michele Liston, branch manager of the Friendsville branch of the Ruth Enlow Library, has announced her retirement effective at the end of February. A 32-year veteran of the Library and fixture of the Friendsville community, she will be greatly missed by many. We wish her the best and thank her for all her years of service to the community.
The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) announced yestereday that effective February 16th, all licensing and registration forms will be available on the statewide licensing portal Maryland OneStop (onestop.md.gov), including patient and caregiver applications, provider registrations and certifications, clinical director applications, business license and registration applications, and cannabis agent registrations. Please contact onestop.mmcc@maryland.gov with any questions.
The Garrett County Public Schools announced that the annual comprehensive kindergarten registration program will begin on February 16, 2021. This program is for all children entering kindergarten for the first time in August 2021. Children who will be five years old by September 1, 2021, are required to register for kindergartenHere’s some feel-good environmental stories for you, from both fresh and marine environments.
The Garrett County Public Schools also announced that they will be accepting applications for Pre-Kindergarten starting February 16th. To be eligible for this program, a child must be 4 years old by September 1, 2021. Interested persons need to complete a pre-kindergarten application online or at the school within their district.
Despite a challenging 2020, NOAA Habitat continued protecting, restoring, and telling stories about habitat and its value to fisheries and communities. Here are the stories, videos and topics that surfaced as some of their most popular content throughout the year. Some inspirations for us within the Deep Creek Lake watershed I think.
Finally today, the Garrett County Health Department is sponsoring the distribution of Narcan at community sites around the county. Individuals can pick up Narcan and receive education on how to administer it. Narcan is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It can quickly restore normal breathing to someone who has experienced an opioid overdose. Pickup events will take place from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at the following dates and locations:
- 02/16 – Mountain Lake Park Town Hall
- 02/23 – Deer Park Community Building
- 03/02 – Grantsville Park, Volleyball Court Pavilion #3
- 03/09 – Bloomington Fire Department
- 03/16 – Loch Lynn Town Hall
- 03/23 – Accident Town Hall
Feb 9, 2021
Crisp and clear day yesterday. Today a little snow is likely, mainly before 1:00 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36 degrees and a west wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Tonight will be cloudy, with a low around 22.
Don’t forget to vote today if you live in Friendsville. The Friendsville town elections will be held in their town hall on Chestnut street. Here’s more information.
I beleive that things are picking up and looking better relative to COVID vaccinations and incidence. As of yesterday, Maryland providers had administered 699,733 COVID-19 vaccines, and 84.3% of all first doses received from the federal government have been given. Further, 12.30% of the Garrett County population has been vaccinated (first doses). To-date, the County has 1,821 confirmed positives and 57 deaths.
Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has again been awarded an ‘A’ by the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade a national distinction recognizing Garrett Regional Medical Center’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safe health care. GRMC continues to “rock it” on many levels and we are all very fortunate to have them in our rural community. Here’s more details on their latest recognition. Way to go Mark and team!
Just heard that State Farm Agent Andy Nelson has opened an office right beside Shentel opposite of the Walmart intersection in Dr. Wolfes old office. Andy is taking over a part of Rob Michael’s previous book of business since Rob has recently retired. Andy plans to work hard to fill the shoes of Rob and continue his legacy of providing excellent customer support and integrity to the community. Feel free to call Andy at 301.859.4040. We wish Andy and his new team the best.
Join the Ruth Enlow Library today for a 30-minute lesson from the kitchen for healthy ideas on what to do with canned tomatoes with Howard County’s SNAP Ed’s educator, Razan Sahuri. The event starts at 2:00 pm with registration required. Here’s the scoop
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the proposed fiscal year 2022 annual work plans for the following state forests: Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River. The comment period concludes March 5th. Annual work plans help the department identify priorities within the scope of the forests’ long-range management.
And, speaking of the DNR, they have posted the proposed 2021-2022 Migratory Game Bird Seasons for public review and comment through Feb. 26. The department’s website also features a short presentation detailing the remaining steps in the regulatory process, data updates, and the status of the Atlantic Population (migratory) Canada goose population. Citizens can provide input online, by phone at 410.260.8540.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month! Schedule your pet’s appointment for a free oral screening and assessment at the Bredel Clinic at HART on Bumble Bee Road, and receive 15% off any dental work when you schedule your appointment within 30 days after your pet’s dental assessment. Call them at 301.387.7729 for details nd to schedule. Gee, I wonder if this applies to my pet guppy, aka “JAWS?”
Feb 8, 2021
Garrett Regional Medical Center Nationally Recognized with an ‘A’ in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
Oakland, MD – Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has again been awarded an ‘A’ by the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Gradea national distinction recognizing Garrett Regional Medical Center’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safe health care. This marks the second consecutive A that the regional medical center has received from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. Leapfrog assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ to all general hospitals throughout the United States based on the hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections and other harms to patients.
“We are extremely grateful to hospital leadership and health care workers who have remained steadfast in prioritizing patient safety as our nation battles COVID-19,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “This ‘A’ is a testament to the care and commitment of those who work for Garrett Regional Medical Center. With the current pandemic exposing existing flaws within the U.S. health care system, we appreciate GRMC putting patient safety first. Lives depend on it.”
Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety 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.
“This recognition of excellence in hospital safety stems 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. We have established certain standards and quality measures that have become a way of life at GRMC. It shows in the recent distinctions we have been awarded and in our exceptional patient care statistics.”
The A grade from Leapfrog marks the third top level achievement in quality care awarded Garrett Regional Medical Center in recent months. GRMC was given a coveted 5-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and was named a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by the Chartis Group last spring. The Chartis Group rates acute care rural hospitals throughout the United States on a variety of patient-related data points.
“The staff at GRMC, in every department, is very much involved in helping us cope with the current health crisis. Each day they demonstrate their courage and dedication by coming to work and caring for those in our community,” Boucot continued. “It is an inspiration and we are so grateful for their commitment to treat every patient like a member of their own family.”
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% is far below the national average of 1.57%. In addition, 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/
Feb 8, 2021
We had a nice weekend weather-wise, with lots of skiers in town. The weather for today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 33 degrees. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. We have a slight chance of snow showers after 1:00 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Don’t forget that the Kitzmiller Lions Club is currently holding a Soup Sale! Order your soup by the quart or by the gallon. Chili, Vegetable Beef, and Chicken Noodle available. Why not combine your soup pick-up with a trip to the history-rich Kitzmiller area of Garrett County.
And, speaking of local Lions Clubs, the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club is still looking for experienced skiers to serve as sighted guides at Wisp this week and February 16 and 17th. Contact Joey Simson at 301.616.4586 or at jsimson14@gmail.com for more information.
Garrett County will be famous! Well, it is already pretty famous, but Maryland Public Television (MPT) will be featuring a farm in Garrett County on the next Maryland Farm and Harvest show. It is scheduled to run this Tuesday at 7:00 pm. Tune in.
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center recently had two electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations installed by Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The stations are among the first such units the company has installed in its Maryland service area. Now, I just need a new Tesla!
The Deep Creek Lake Policy Review Board will hold its first meeting for 2021 at 4:00 pm this afternoon. Public Attendance is virtual only. Join on Google Meet: meet.google.com/ebd-cxyi-bte Or by phone: 978-484-0550 (PIN : 465087870).
Here’s a quick factoid for you folks: When Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine recently asked readers if the pandemic had taken a toll on their retirement nest egg, 84% said “no” and that they were on track, and 16% said “yes,” due to lower earnings, dialing back contributions and/or having to take a loan or withdrawal from their retirement account.
Don’t forget that MoonShadow Restaurant is offering an outdoor firepit complete with free s’mores (with the presentation of a Wisp ski pass). Call ahead because seating may be limited! 240.442.5542.
Have a wonderful Monday dear readers…
Feb 3, 2021
We are in a winter wonderland for sure after the past few days of snow. The weather for today includes a chance of snow showers before 1:00 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 24 degrees, with a west wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 13. West wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Glenda at Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) just sent us their measurements for temperature and precipitation for the month of January. The average high temperature for the month was 35.2 and the average low was 20.1 degrees. They measured rain for January at 1.04 inches and frozen precipitation at 7.2 inches. Thanks for sharing Glenda. I should note that we are looking for some addional measurement sources for these winter months. More information to follow in the future as we try to provide a broader view of area conditions.
The MD DNR Forest Service is now accepting reservations for the 2021 Backyard Buffer Program in Garrett and Allegany Counties! Landowners in these counties with a stream, drainage ditch, or other waterway on their property are eligible to receive a packet of 25 tree seedlings for planting on their property. Seedlings will be available for pickup sometime in April. More information will be sent to program applicants once pickup details are finalized. Requests to participate must be received by March 19th (or when the program reaches capacity). Sign up using the Google form here.
The winter months are the time of year that people spend the least amount of time outdoors. This mean that children whose parents or caregivers smoke are most at risk for experiencing the health effects of secondhand smoke. So, the Garrett County Health Department is promoting a campaign to “Go Out for Your Kids.” The “Go Out for Your Kids” campaign recommends that smokers never smoke in their homes or their cars, instead opting to smoke only outdoors. Another option is to quit smoking. The Garrett County Health Department provides ongoing Quit Now classes or phone support at no cost. Nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges are available, as well as Chantix or Zyban. For more information or to register for support, call the health department at 301-501-8574 or the Maryland Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or www.kickingtobacco.com.
While housing and tourism seems to be booming around the lake, I know many businesses, especially in the service sector and to varying degrees, have been seriously hurt by the pandemic. Some recently released national statistics support that. Measured year-over-year, the economy contracted 3.5% in 2020, the largest decline since just after WWII. The good news is that the national economy grew at a seasonably adjusted 2.5% in the fourth quarter, on top of a strong third quarter. The bottom line is we are possibly seeing the clouds part and maybe some sunshine of late. Let’s hope it continues.
First United Bank & Trust appears to always be on the forefront of embracing banking innovation. Click here for some information on their latest digital banking efforts.
Feb 2, 2021
Well, it snowed just about all day yesterday. I am guessing we received about 12 inches total the past few days and we are still under a winter storm warning.
Today we have a chance of snow showers before 10:00 am, then a chance of snow showers, freezing rain, and sleet between 10:00 am and noon, then snow showers likely after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 22 degrees. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Tonight, snow showers likely, mainly before 1:00 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
The Kitzmiller Lions Club is currently holding a Soup Sale! Order your soup by the quart or by the gallon. Chili, Vegetable Beef, and Chicken Noodle available. Quarts are $9, Gallons are $36. Orders and money due by February 12th. Soup pick up will be at the Coal Bucket Restaurant on February 16th. You can contact the Kitzmiller Club through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Kitzmiller-Lions-Club-267611003276677 or email Stephanie at schoch705@gmail.com to order.
The Garrett County Health Department will allow persons age 65 through 74 to begin scheduling appointments as soon as the vaccine is available . These are the only groups that will be eligible to schedule appointments from the Phase 1C group at this time. Links will be available on Garrett County Health Department’s website, garretthealth.org, for COVID-19 vaccine appointments whenever slots are available, and removed whenever the appointments are filled. Announcements will be made on the Health Department’s website, Facebook page, and local news media when a new link is available for registration.
The Maryland Municipal League (MML) invites all eligible Maryland 4th graders to participate in the “If I were Mayor” essay contest. This year’s theme is Teamwork through flexibility, respect, leadership, and civility. This year, the contest prompts students to answer the following questions: If you were Mayor…1-List an issue you think is a problem in your city/town/community. 2- What would you change to help solve the problem? And 3- While everyone is virtual, how would you bring people together to help. All essay submissions are due by March 30th by midnight. However, digital entry forms must be turned in by noon on March 30 in order to receive the Dropbox link necessary to submit the student’s essays. See the link above for more information and complete contest rules.
Here’s a link to some interesting state statistics relative to the pandemic, COVID cases and vaccinations. It seems like we are gaining momentum statewide and locally. I keep hoping that more vaccinations become available locally so we can take care of our community, as the state and nation also recovers.
Governor Hogan’s office reports that hundreds of volunteers from the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps are supporting vaccination clinics across the state. Sign up to volunteer at a vaccination clinic. The State of Maryland has launched a grassroots public outreach and equity campaign to promote vaccine confidence. These vaccines are safe, effective, and authorized for use by our country’s leading medical experts. Join the GoVAX campaign. To receive additional updates, text ‘MdReady’ to 898-211. Marylanders are also encouraged to visit covidlink.maryland.gov to review vaccine safety and efficacy information.
Garrett Regional Medical Center’s recently opened new primary care facility on Wolf Acres Drive, located at the site of Dr. Daniel Miller’s former practice, continues to accept new patients. Garrett Family Medicine provides comprehensive primary care services for people of all ages, from infants and children through those in need of geriatric care. The clinic’s primary care provider, Brooklyn Ayersman, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), provides services that include diagnosing conditions, prescribing medication, and dictating patient care.
This is an interesting opportunity for the right entity: The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is seeking public and private nonprofit organizations to serve free, nutritious meals to children and teens this summer thorough the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program. The deadline for applications is May 31st. For more information about the SFSP, please visit www.eatsmartmaryland.org. Interested organizations should contact the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs at 410.767.0199.