Deep Creek Lake MD News and Local Resources: Daily Notes

Yesterday was a little on the cool side, but was a nice day nonetheless.  Today will be mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers (mainly in the afternoon and evening) with a high near 68 degrees. Showers are likely in the late evening, mainly after 2:00 am, with a low around 58.

Don’t forget it is Wednesday, so the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market is open today at the pavilion by the town parketing lot in downtown Oakland.  The market is open from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

Just heard that the Garrett County Fair is a “go” for early August.  I hope all attendees stay safe.

The late Paul W. Weiler was posthumously awarded the Dr. Jeanne H. Neff Award for Distinguished Service on behalf of the Garrett College Foundation on Friday, June 12^th at the GCF Board of Directors meeting that took place remotely over Zoom. I knew Paul and attended that meeting and I can say it is truly deserved.  He was a smart, kind and giving individual that was a quiet asset to the college and community.

Two new grants have been made available to local businesses. Formerly known as the Garrett County Kick-Start Grant program, a modified grant for small businesses will now be known as the Garrett County COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant. In addition, a new grant program known as the Garrett County Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Grant has been developed. These are available as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic and are offered through Garrett County Economic Development to native Garrett County businesses. 

The Mountain Laurel Garden Club is hosting its popular perennial plant sale this Saturday, June 20th, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (rain or shine, no pets) in downtown Oakland. The sale will be held in Daley Park, the area outside the Garrett County Historical Society at 107 S. 2^nd St. The sale features over 60 varieties of native plants, perennials, shrubs, and herbs that have been grown and potted from members’ gardens in Garrett County. Entrance is free and tickets are not required. Note: In accordance with state and Garrett County Health Department guidelines, all workers and shoppers must wear masks and appropriate social distancing measures will be observed.

The Power of Possibilities Conference will be held on June 30th, starting at 9:30 am. This is a virtual event made possible by the collaboration efforts of Garrett County Economic Development and the college. Power of Possibilities is a business plan competition that is held annually. and that encompasses a focus on emerging industries, business collaboration, and entrepreneurship. To register for this free event, please email cristey.kordyban@garrettcollege.edu before 5:00 pm June 26th.

This one is a little weird. The Office of the State Fire Marshal has been made aware of a fictitious online poster circulating on various social media accounts, referencing Independence Day celebrations and Social Distancing. The author would have the reader believe Governor Hogan has issued a directive on a specific way to handle sparklers as well as a limited time celebrating outdoors. This poster is fake and was produced without the authority of the Governor’s Office or the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Speaking of fireworks, readers can check the Maryland State Fire Marshal website at www.firemarshal.mdsp.org for listed public fireworks displays throughout the state. And yes, I believe our own Fire on the Mountain public display is a “go” and will be great as usual.

So, now I am thinking about holidays.  I bet you didn’t know that today is: National Eat Your Vegetables Day, National Apple Strudel Day and also National Cherry Tart Day in the USA! So please make sure you EAT YOUR VEGETABLES!!!  And, then you can have your apple strudel or cherry tart for dessert. Have a great one folks…

Yesterday was a nice day, even if a bit cooler and with some clouds.  Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 69 degrees and with a low around 53.

The Allegany Arts Council just announced that the virtual home of the 6th Annual National Photography Competition & Exhibition is up and running! Although the exhibition doesn’t officially open until Saturday, June 27th, you can get a sneak peak at the incredible photography being showcased this year by visiting www.alleganyphotoshow.org.  This is always an impressive show and note that the photos are for sale too!

Nicole at the Greater Oakland Business Association (GOBA) has sent over some signage for use during the pandemic as businesses of all types begin to open. The signs are from the State of Maryland and were distributed through the Governor’s office.  Here’s a link for you to see the downloadable samples available.

Thought I would post this link to information from the Small Business Administration (SBA) relative to changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small businesses, including new guidelines for eligibility and also for foregiveness.

Garrett College will reopen the Community Aquatic and Recreation Complex (CARC) on Friday, June 19th at 5 p.m. as permitted by Governor Hogan’s latest executive order. The CARC will operate under its normal hours – 6:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Friday; 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturdays, and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sundays – but patrons will notice changes implemented to provide a safer and healthier environment. I am really looking forward to getting back to the swim of things at the CARC!

The County’s Joint Information Team sent us a reminder I am passing on here: Governor Larry Hogan’s Executive Order from June 10th removed many of the restrictions placed on businesses and gatherings. However, the Governor’s Order kept in place the requirement for the use of face coverings in retail, food service, and personal care businesses for both staff and customers.

Check out this month’s Cover Story from Bob Boal at Boal & Associates in Oakland.  Sarah and I thought it was timely due to all the tax law changes from the coronavirus pandemic.  Thanks Bob for your easy to understand insight that will definitely get folks thinking and also acting.

Two new postings to our Online MarketPlace for boats in the past two days.  Go to the Online Marketplace for details, photos and more:

#1. A 2003, 115 HP Mercury fuel injected 4 stroke, 2003 Bass Pro Pontoon Trailer – Duel Axle with brakes. 25 inch pontoons with lifting strakes, under deck wave shield, 5 step stainless ladder, full Sunbrella Mooring Cover, full instruments with dept finder, vinyl floor covering, on-board washing down system, large Bimini Top, ski tow bar, Kover Clamp winter storage system (pictures available), all life preservers and accessories, 370 engine hours – excellent condition. Asking $15,000, if interested call Dave @ 724-693-9769

#2. A 2008 Tahoe 215 I/o Deck Boat – 4.3 L engine. Garmin GPS navigation/fish finder. Bimini Top. Brand new upholstery on all of the cushions. Radio and speakers updated last season. New prop spring of 2019. Also included: table and 2 fishing chairs. Low hours, very clean. Swim ladders on front and back of boat. Comes with custom dual axle trailer. This boat has always had regular annual maintenance, stored in a mine every winter, never exposed to harsh winter elements. Sink and faucet are operational. The only reason we are getting rid of it is we are finally fulfilling my wife’s desire to own a pontoon boat. $19,100 OBO. call John 412-295-5035

Saturday was really nice, yesterday was rainy.  Today we have a chance for showers early morning, then partly sunny, with a high near 66 degrees. Southeast wind 11 to 13 mph. It will be partly cloudy in the evening, with a low around 52.

I am working on this Daily Notes column late Sunday afternoon and when I look outside my window I see a palette of shades of green on the trees, shrubs, flowers and grass. Very peaceful and feeling blessed to be here on the mountain. After seeing the national news lately, I wish all in all locations could know our Deep Creek Lake area peace and happiness. I urge you to take a minute, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment – your moment – here at the lake or wherever you are reading this.

Speaking of peace at the lake, It is the season and lots of folks are in town and that is good for them and our small businesses, and yes, even for us locals on many levels (even with the additional traffic). Please be patient with one another, tourists, service workers and establishments trying to incorprate the “new normal” and the myriad rules associated with the pandemic.  Thanks.

June is Great Outdoors Month across America.  All the more reason to get out and enjoy the lake area’s environment, both flora and fauna.  Here’s a link to a U.S. Census Bureau page with some interesting statistics on participation in various activities and related expenditures.

We get a lot of questions from folks related to some of the big events around the area.  It looks like the July 4th “Fire on the Mountain” fireworks display is a “go.”  I hear the county agricultural fair is still under discussion as to “if” and in what form.  I have heard that Art & Wine will likely not happen in its usual form, and will keep readers informed when we know more.  I believe Autumn Glory is still being assessed, along with the myriad other, related events.

For information from the Governor’s office on COVID-19 incidence and related, including statewide testing locations, please click here.  They also have some interesting county-level statistics for comparison. It sounds like the Governor is cautiously optimistic, based on recent numbers.

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce will hold a virtual Business Before Hours, Legislative Wrap-Up, from 8:00 am to 9:30am on Tuesday, June 23rd. District 1 Senator George Edwards and District 1A Delegate Wendell Beitzel will be featured and provide their perspectives on the 2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly. They will discuss legislation that passed, what did not pass and how businesses and Garrett County will be impacted. Cost is $5/person and you can register online at visitdeepcreek.com or contact Holly Lane at holly@garrettchamber.com

HELLLLLOOOO to all the Learning Beyond the Classroom folks out there!  It’s BUS WEEK and we are so excited to send you on an adventure this week. We challenge each family to work as a team and complete the family scavenger hunt posted! Each time you complete a task sign the square. If you do not have a printer at your home, feel free to use any piece of paper you can find and make a list of one to nine! We would love to see pictures of you and your family on the scavenger hunt.

On Friday, June 19, Garrett County will be celebrating everyone who completed their Family Scavenger Hunt, by giving you a coupon for a free large pizza from several local businesses. You will need to bring your completed paper to one of the following three locations between 10:00-10:30.

Grantsville Senior Center
125 Durst Ct., Grantsville, MD

Friendville Fire Department
122 Walnut St., Friendsville, MD

Garrett County Community Action:
41 Highview Dr., Oakland, MD

HAPPPPPY SCAVENGER HUNTING!!! Check this video out for more insight into this effort: https://youtu.be/cceF1I9srtM

Have a great Monday folks…

The weather today will be sunny with a high near 74 and a low around 48. Saturday will be increasing clouds, a slight chance of showers before noon, with a high near 65 and a low around 49. Sunday, partly sunny, chance of showers with a high near 63 and a low around 51.

Many local restaurants are sort of scrambling to be able to open to a 50%-capacity outdoor dining today, Friday, at 5pm. Please be patient as this is new for everyone!

Also, outdoor amusements businesses such as go-karts and mini-golf are allowed to resume today.

A big DCT welcome to Lawn Coach, LLC – Growing the best lawns in Garrett County! Are you looking for a reliable landscaping professional in the Deep Creek Lake area? Lawn Coach can do landscape installation, weekly lawn mowing, weed control, brush learning, leaf clearing, and projects like walkways and more! Give Jeff a call at (301) 616-8472 and tell him Deep Creek Times sent ya!

Currently, a majority of the county has cable or satellite television programming from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania instead of Maryland because of our geography and FCC markets — the county has looked into this situation and the Commissioners have said they will investigate adding Maryland channels while not removing Pittsburgh channels.

The Chamber is offering a free webinar next Wednesday at 9am to talk PPP updates, loan forgiveness & “what’s next” in Coronavirus legislation. Register with Holly at holly@garrettchamber.com.

There are new construction cabins on the mountainside at The Lodges at Sunset Village – that’s what’s new around town! These cabins will be known as the Grandview cabins and you can sign-up to be the first to know when they available for reservations.

It looks like a GREAT weekend to grill! The State Fire Marshal offers top safety tips for gas and charcoal grills:

• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders should always be transported in the upright position
• Ensure all connections are tight
• Make sure grease is not allowed to drip onto the hose or gas cylinder
• Store the cylinder (including those attached to barbecues), outdoors in a shaded, cool area
• Read thoroughly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for gas grill use.

• Use only a small amount of charcoal starter fuel
• Once a fire has been started, never add more starter fuel!
• Use great caution in disposing of ashes.

The Farmer’s Market is tomorrow morning from 10am to 1pm in the Mountain Fresh Pavilion in Oakland.

Also, it’s another FREE FISHING DAY all day!

Last but not least, as we reopen around town, we are SO excited to see entertainment is beginning again: Tonight and tomorrow there will be an acoustic duo — LIVE — at 6pm on the Mountain State Brewing Co. DCL patio.

The weather today will be mostly sunny with a high near 71 and a low around 53. West wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Governor Hogan held a press conference last evening to announce that Maryland is moving forward with additional Stage Two openings as of 5 pm tomorrow (June 12):

• INDOOR DINING. Restaurants can resume indoor operations at 50 percent capacity, with appropriate distancing, and following strict public health requirements consistent with the CDC, FDA, and the National Restaurant Association. Maryland Department of Health directives.
• OUTDOOR AMUSEMENTS. Outdoor amusements and rides, including miniature golf and go-kart tracks, may resume with appropriate health and safety protocols. Capacity restrictions at pools will be increased to 50 percent with strict safety guidelines still in place. Guidelines and best practices.

Reopenings Effective Friday, June 19 at 5pm:

• INDOOR FITNESS ACTIVITIES
• CASINOS, ARCADES, AND MALLS
• CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. All child care providers may begin to reopen, and the number of individuals child care providers can have in one room has been expanded to a maximum of 15.
• OUTDOOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. Outdoor high school sports may begin to resume practice and training activities within the same guidelines that were previously announced for youth sports programs.

While things are opening up at the state level, more local cancellations have been made:

There will be no Oakland Pocket Park movies for the 2020 Season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The members of the Accident Vol Fire Department have canceled the 2020 4th of July Homecoming Celebration. Also, the August Friendsville Days Festival is canceled.

As far as we know, the Fire on the Mountian Deep Creek Lake fireworks display is still ON for July 4.

Parents: The Garrett County Public Schools will be sending out a survey to gain your feedback on school reopening. They are encouraging one survey per public school student. The most-recent GCPS meeting can be found here.

Mt. Lake Independent Baptist church recently met with members of the Oakland City Police Department and the Garrett County Sherriff’s Office to present them with personalized gifts in recognition of their service to the community.

There is a WaterQuest 15.4 canoe newly listed in our Online Marketplace. Includes 3 new Skis life preservers & 2 paddles for $400 cash. Call (301) 387-5374 for information.

Yesterday was another great day around the lake, with temperatures reaching the mid-80s.  Today we have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon and evening. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83 degrees and a low of about 61, with the wind picking up later in the day.

Just in time for the season, a number of local eateries are now providing outdoor seating options in addition to carry-out.  I know Manor Steakhouse is, as is Dutch’s and Greene Turtle, plus Moonshadow and Mountain State. Check out our dining guide and be sure to call in advance to confirm a specific establishment’s availability.  And, don’t forget it is summer season, so expect crowds at peak times.

Speaking of food, the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market is open today from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in downtown Oakland.  They always have an array of good local and regional produce and other goodies.

The Baltimore Sun reported 500 new cases of the coronavirus yesterday, while the state’s hospitalizations from COVID-19 remained beneath 1,000. Things continue to look up locally and in the state.

Members of the Town of Oakland’s Clean and Green Team recently cleaned up planters and filled them with flowers so they can be placed throughout the downtown area. This year the flowers were purchased with funds raised by the Clean and Green Team at The Tucker County “Run For it” last September. The Clean and Green Team is one of several revitalization teams formed in 2016 to assist with revitalization projects for Oakland. Keep an eye out for the planters and thanks Clean and Green Team!

Planters in Downtown Oakland

The Board of County Commissioners Public Meeting previously scheduled for June 16th has been cancelled.  The next scheduled Public Meeting will be held on Monday, July 6th  beginning at 4:00 pm.

Yesterday was another great day.  Today will be sunny, with a high near 85 degrees and a low around 67. Get outside and enjoy the great weather!

Here’s a nice photo taken on the lake yesterday by Ed O’Connor.  Nice job Ed and we appreciate your sharing.  Like I said, we all should try to get outside and enjoy.  Note that great blue sky folks!

Great Day on the Lake

Ed also mentioned that he noticed that the channel markers under the 219 bridge are in different locations this season.  Anyone have any insight?  Let us know at info@deepcreektimes.com and we will share with other readers.

Garrett Regional Medical Center’s Family Health & Wellness Services, through their partnership with Sheppard Pratt Health System, has expanded child and adolescent mental health care in the region with telepsychiatry. GRMC patients will have real-time consultation appointments with Sheppard Pratt psychiatrists and licensed mental health providers. Through video conferencing they will assess a patient’s behavioral health needs and provide counseling, therapy, and comprehensive treatment plans. Well done GRMC!

Speaking of health and young people, The Garrett County Health Department  yesterday announced the May winners of the kNOwDRINKING Talk it UP. Lock it UP! Pledge Contest, designed to get parents to store and monitor alcohol responsibly. Emily Nelson and Jennifer Koach were chosen as the gift card winners. Of the 60 Facebookusers that participated in the May pledge:

• 93% pledged to: Not provide alcohol to youth under the age of 21 in my home, on my property, or anywhere else.
• 83% pledged to: Educate youth about underage drinking and be a positive role model.
• 60% pledged to: Not purchase large quantities of alcohol that is not secured, and to monitor alcohol in my home.
• 53% pledged to: Store alcohol in a harder to reach area.
• 45% pledged to: Lock up alcohol in my home.

Nice work folks!

And, keeping-up with our “health theme” today, Garrett County Community Action has announced six separate food drives throughout the month of June. Nonperishable food will be collected, at the following locations on the following dates:

• Pine Grove Church of the Brethren:

June 11th 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
June 15th 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
June 18th 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

• Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department:

June 19th 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

• Friendsville Volunteer Fire Department:

June 20th 10:00AM to 12:00 PM

And, finally, here’s a reminder about safety from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and being ready for summer storms:

It’s Storm Season!

We had a great weekend weather-wise.  Saturday had a bit of cloudiness, but the sun won out and Sunday was perfect! The weather for today will be sunny, with a high around 76 degrees and a low of around 56.  Enjoy!

Took a hike Sunday with Jean on the Meadow Mountain Trail off New Germany.  A relatively easy trail of .75 miles out to an observation deck.  We were rewarded, in addion to the great view from the deck, of this close-up view of Lady’s Slippers.  A little past peak, but special nonetheless:

Meadow Mountain – Lady’s Slippers

Note that a lot of the trees and underbrush have been removed from part of the trail-area.  The Forest Service is harvesting timber.  See the photo below, but still definitely worth the hike:

Harvesting Timber Adjacent to Meadow Mountain Trail

There are a lot of visitors and locals out and about at the lake these days.  I welcome all and remind all to please follow regulations/guidelines, including social distancing and the wearing of masks.  I went to a local retail establishment the other day and very few patrons and no employees had on masks. One fellow was even coughing (right in front of the cashier). I was surprised and will not be back, at least for a while. I firmly believe we need to all keep one another safe.

Along those lines, I went into another retail establishment over the weekend.  It was a busy place and they (the retailer) definitely had “their act together” on all levels. They did a great job but, some patrons, both locals and visitors, seemed to be challenging or laughing at the “counting of entrants” and the resulting line to get in and distancing on the line.  Really?  We are all in this together, and in addition to the serious health impact of COVID-19, a second wave will cause great harm to the economy. OK, I feel a little better now.

On the positive side, we heard from Maryaland officials on Sunday that COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached their lowest level in eight weeks. That is surely great news.

The Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County begins its 2020 Summer Reading Challenge today. This year the theme “Imagine Your Story” brings to life stories of fairytales, fantasy, and folklore. All participants will receive a free book at their first visit and various prizes for each level of completion. Then, they can visit the library starting in July for take-home activities to go along with all of your literary adventures. Pick up a physical copy of the log at your local library branch or go to www.relib.net to download your own copy to print at home. Nice stuff here to keep those young minds engaged and sharp during the summer.

Saying goodbye to Hydrilla! The first of four Deep Creek Lake hydrilla herbicide treatments is scheduled to take place today. Treatment is always subject to change due to weather conditions. During the treatment process, boaters are asked to stay clear of the treatment boat while it is underway so that the proper dosage of herbicide can be administered. Once applied, there are no recreational restrictions associated with the herbicide.

I saw this post on Facebook from a friend and thought I would share. I do not know the author, but it is timely insight from the restaurant and server’s perspective… “IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT EATING OUT…..

Yes! Restaurant patios will be open ! This is a new world though. You’re most likely going to a restaurant that threw together a patio in hopes of making some money. The building was not designed for this. They are trying their best but everything may not be perfect. Eating in the streets is fun but it’s going to be hard on the employees. They have to wear a mask and gloves no matter how hot and go possibly a few hundred feet to get more water. They are going to be hot, sweaty and most likely overwhelmed because these restaurants are not set up for this. Please help your servers in this journey by doing the following

Finally, I want to recognize all of the brave men and women who fought on D-Day (June 6th anniversary was Saturday) and served our country in so many ways in WWII and before and after.  We are the land of the free, because of the brave. Times are a bit challenging now in our country on a few fronts, but we are America and will get through this as we always do – together. Be kind, be safe and stay healthy, and have a great week dear readers…

The weather today will be cloudy with a high near 73 and a low around 63. A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Saturday will be mostly cloudy then gradually becoming sunny with a high near 75 and a low around 51. Sunday will be sunny with a high near 69 and a low around 49.

There have been peaceful protests centering on the Black Lives Matter movement here locally. This past week they were gathered on the corner of Oak and 3rd Street in Oakland. I’m not sure who is organizing the effort but I’ve heard that folks have been welcomed; if you see them stop by and participate if you’re inclined.

Here’s a timely story: All This Chaos Might Be Giving You ‘Crisis Fatigue’

It’s National Donut Day! Stop by Glazed and Confuzed (open until 12p) for your FREE donut! Tell em Deep Creek Times sent ya!

“Deep Creek Lake anglers are finding good fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass near floating docks that dot the perimeter of the lake. Read more.”

Also, it’s a FREE FISHING DAY tomorrow, June 6.

Don’t forget the farmer’s market tomorrow from 10am – 1pm at the Town Parking Lot. A friend of mine was looking for rhubarb and they said they have it there! Who wants to make me a strawberry rhubarb pie? ☺️

It’s no secret that I love biking the roads and trails of Garrett County – this video is about mountain biking at Deep Creek Lake State Park:

Enjoy your weekend!

The weather today will be partly sunny, with a high near 77 and a low around 62. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon through the night.

Congratulations to my niece, Allison! ❤️She has a “drive-thru graduation” tonight from Broad Ford Elementary School! Congratulations to all Broad Ford Bobcats and all Garrett County graduates!

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced Wednesday that the order requiring the closure of non-essential businesses will be lifted at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 5th. This is the beginning of Stage Two of his Roadmap to Recovery plan.

St. Peter’s Church wanted to share that a couple from the church will be saying the Rosary on the front steps of the Church this Friday, June 5th at 3:00 pm. Feel free to join them.

The nearest Makerspace has just received grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission in the amount of $200,000. With this investment, the Board, in concert with Allegany College of Maryland, will prepare 14 workers/trainees for careers in metal fabrication and manufacturing. Follow this link to view the full press release.

Make your guess in this month’s “Where Am I?” contest!

Our MD Licensed and USDA inspected friends at Double Oak Farms want you to get your fresh beef! Delmonico, T-Bone, Sirloin, Skirt, & Cube Steaks, Chuck, Sirloin Tip & Rump Roasts, Ground Burger in very limited quantities, etc! Also, they are still taking orders for future butcherings!

Here’s the live stream of the most recent Garrett County Public School meeting.

The Ruth Enlow Libraries of Garrett County remains the only library system in the state offering curbside service.

Yesterday turned out to be a nice day, if a bit windy.  Today’s weather will be mostly sunny, with a high near 79 degrees. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. There will be scattered thunderstorms and showers after 5:00 pm, with a low of about 62.

Here’s a nicely “framed” photo taken yesterday afternoon showing the sun and clear weather, as submitted by Ed O’Connor.  Nice job Ed and thanks for submitting.

A nice day at the lake

The 2020 Mountain Fresh Farmers Market Summer Season (Saturdays and Wednesdays) is happening!  The market is taking place today from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the pavilion by the town parking lot in downtown Oakland!  Check out the fresh veggies and other goodies for sale.  You can also go here for more information including guidelines to follow at the market due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s a housekeeping item:  We have been a bit delayed in getting out the Ace’s gift cards to winners of our photo contests, etc.  The reason has been due to the changing work environment due to the coronavirus.  I just got some Brenda’s Pizzeria cards instead (Ace’s is still closed) and will send those out instead so we can get you taken care of.  Just wanted winners to know I didn’t forget them. So, basically, the gift card is (almost) in the mail!

June is National Safety Month. With the U.S. devastated by the coronavirus pandemic this year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s Safest States in America  Here’s some interesting factoids for you:

Key Stats

• South Dakota has the fewest murders and non-negligent manslaughters per 100,000 residents, 1.36, which is 8.4 times fewer than in Louisiana, the most at 11.37.
• New Hampshire has the fewest thefts per 1,000 residents, 12.75, which is 2.8 times fewer than in New Mexico, the most at 35.55.
• New Jersey has the most law-enforcement employees per 100,000 residents, 473, which is 2.2 times more than in Washington, the fewest at 211.
• Delaware has the lowest share of high school students who were bullied online, 10.10 percent, which is 2.1 times lower than in Louisiana, the highest at 21.20 percent.

To view the full report and see Maryland’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/safest-states-to-live-in/4566/

Here’s a really nice sunset photo submitted a few days ago by Diane Defibaugh.  Nice work Diane and thanks for sharing.

Sunset at Deep Creek Lake

Be safe, happy and healthy dear readers…

Yesterday was a little on the cool side, but was a gorgeous day at the lake! Today has a slight chance of showers before noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the early afternoon and again in the evening. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72 degrees and a low around 63.

Speaking of the weather, we just got the statistics in for May from Glenda at GRMC.The average daily high temperature in May was 64 degrees, with an average low of 45.4. Rainfall was at 5.22 inches and yes, we even had a total of one inch of frozen precipitation during the month of May. Thanks Glenda.

The results are in and Deep Creek Lake WON!  FishingBooker, an online platform that matches fishing guides with anglers seeking a guide, just announced the best fishing spots in the state of Maryland and Deep Creek Lake came in first place!  Here’s the link. And, that’s no fish tale…

One more interesting feel-good fact from the FishingBooker study: According to FishingBooker, their recent study found that the majority of people (at least those they sampled) will still be traveling this year, but with one major difference. Over 55% out of the 353 people questioned answered that they plan on traveling closer to their homes. That bodes well for Deep Creek Lake area establishments and bookings.

The Garrett County Health Department just announced that the entire prevention team in the Health Education and Outreach division has been certified as community health workers (CHW). Community health workers are the frontline staff for public health and are often a member of the community they serve, which enables them to act as a liaison between health and social services and the public. CHWs facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competency of service delivery. Nice job and congratulations to all!

Good news regarding COVID-19: Staff and residents of Goodwill Nursing Home and Assisted Living in Grantsville were tested on Wednesday and Thursday of last week in conjunction with the state initiative to test all long-term facilities in the State. The facility tested 348 residents and staff and all tests were negative. That really is good news!  Thanks for all your efforts folks.

Maryland Humanities has awarded $515,000 in funding for 100 Maryland nonprofit organizations ($5,150 per organization) through their CARES (coronavirus relief) Act Emergency Relief Grants Fund. The Garrett County Historical Society and Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF) were the two organizations in Garrett County that received funds. Congratulations to both of those deserving organizations.

Happy June 1st folks!  The lake area was certainly alive with activity this weekend, and the weather certainly cooperated.  Today will be sunny, with a high near 64 degrees. and with a calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Tonight will have increasing clouds and a low around 49.

Speaking of the weather, Bob Doyle, local season/sky expert and professor emeritus at Frosturg State University, tells us that summer officially begins on June 20th. Summer is the season with the the longest sunlit days with the shortest mid-day shadows.  Actually, summer offically arrives in Oakland at 5:44 pm that day!  Set you watches!

Thanks to Dee Dave for submitting this photo of two locals during feeding time by the lake.  Nice photo and thanks again Dee.

Feeding at the Lake

Sarah covered this in the weekend version of the Daily Notes, but I thought I would reiterate that a number of local establishments have opened their outdoor dining facilities as provided for in the Governor’s latest guidelines. We have added the outdoor dining to our COVID-19 restaurant resource guide and here are the spots able to offer outdoor dining right away (please be patient as this is new and just began, with the order coming effective on Friday):

• Black Bear Tavern
• Deep Creek Funzone (formerly Smiley’s)
• Dutch’s at Silver Tree
• Greene Turtle
• The Honi-Honi
• Mountain State Brewing Company
• UNOs

And speaking some more about food, Jean and I ventured to Alpine Lake Resort (just over the border in Terra Alta) for some carry-out Saturday night.  Here’s a photo of the results.  Really tender and tasty ribs at a nice price and just a short trip from Oakland area.  We really try to support all our local restaurants and businesses and hope our readers will too.

Great Carry-Out

The Baltimore Sun reported 763 new cases of the coronavirus and 21 more deaths yesterday as Baltimore’s mayor and Maryland’s governor voiced concern that protests in the city and elsewhere could lead to a surge in new cases. The additions bring Maryland to 52,778 total cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. As of Sunday, 2,411 people have died due to complications from the virus. While the world seems to get crazier, I am glad I am here in good, old Garrett County.

Please send us photos of you and your family out and about using natural or man-made amenities around the lake.  These could include: boating, kayaking, hiking, nature, golf, family action photos, plants, animals, outdoor dining, shopping, art, etc.  Send them to info@deepcreektimes.com  and we will do our best to publish them as the lake activity continues to increase in coming weeks.  Thanks in advance.

Have a great week folks…

The weather today will be partly sunny with a high near 74 and a low around 54. A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Some storms could be severe. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Saturday will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 66 and a low around 44. Sunday will be sunny with a high near 60 and a low around 39.

The Maryland Governor has approved outdoor dining as of 5pm today. Restaurants must:

• Ensure patrons are appropriately distanced with no more than six people seated at a table, with the exception of members of the same household.
• Ensure patrons are seated at least six feet away from each other, except for households seated together.
• Use single-use disposable paper menus or sanitize reusable menus between each seating.
• Sanitize outdoor tables and chairs between each customer seating.
• Train staff in the current CDC COVID-19 health and workplace guidelines.
• Begin screening procedures including daily temperature checks of all staff.
• Ensure staff wear masks or face coverings when interacting with other employees or patrons.

We have added the outdoor dining to our COVID-19 restaurant resource guide and here are the spots able to offer outdoor dining right away:

• Black Bear Tavern
• Deep Creek Funzone (formerly Smiley’s)
• Dutch’s at Silver Tree
• Greene Turtle
• The Honi-Honi
• Mountain State Brewing Company
• UNOs

Please be patient with all of our eateries this weekend: the Governor’s rules are new and may take some major adjustments and growing pains.

The Deep Creek Lake Watershed Foundation has published its current & future projects pertaining to Deep Creek Lake & the surrounding watershed.

“Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and Maryland Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles today announced the filing of a suit in federal court against the owners of the Luke Paper Mill for seepages into the North Branch Potomac River that threaten public health and the environment.”

License-free fishing days are this summer on June 6, June 13, and July 4 — you don’t need a fishing license, trout stamp, or registration.

After receiving and reviewing public input, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has selected the state’s 2020-2021 migratory game bird hunting seasons. These selections are now awaiting final approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What a dramatic sunset captured by Betsy Potts! WOW: