Deep Creek Lake MD News and Local Resources: Daily Notes

The weather over the weekend included sun, clounds, snow and rain, with Friday and Saturday having some serious wind gusts at times. Here’s a photo from my front porch Friday afternoon:

Friday Afternoon Snow

After a warmer and sunny Sunday, the weather for today will be cooler and hold a chance of rain and snow showers before 1:00 pm, then a chance of rain showers, with a high near 40 degrees. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. There’s a chance of snow showers in the evening, with a low around 31.

Even with the cooler temperatures and staying pretty much at home the last two months, my wife and I still do carry-out once a week or so.  And Saturday, we wanted some great Italian food, and that means Brenda’s Pizzeria.  Here’s an “action photo” of the carry-out team (and my order ready to go) as I was ready to take the goodies home for us.  We had chicken parm and eggplant parm, which not only tasted great but got us thinking of the simple pleasure of dinner out, hopefully in the near future. Can’t wait to get back to “normal.”  Thanks to Brenda, JB, Jeanne and the whole team for offering carry-out during these crazy times!

Saturday Night Carryout at Brenda’s Pizzeria

Don’t forget that us locals (and second homeowners and visitors) need to support our local small businesses.  Here’s the link to our shopping and food establishments, many of which are open (and/or online) during the pandemic.  Please check out the list and support our community!  Thanks.

And, along those lines, here’s a very positive piece on Deep Creek Lake by the NBC affiliate in Washington DC.  Looks like Railey, Wisp and a lot of other local enterprises have a good plan and are ready to open. Check it out!

Even as we plan for better times, Maryland officials reported Sunday that the state has confirmed 1,053 new cases of COVID-19, which brings the total for Maryland to 32,587 known cases. Twenty-eight more people died due to complications from the illness since Saturday, bringing the state total up to 1,538 fatalities.

The Chamber is hosting a member webinar on Wednesday, May 13th, at 9:00 am on Understanding the Employee Retention Tax Credit and Work Share Unemployment Programs. While most of the disaster loan and grant programs are close to maxed out, these two programs could provide additional financial assistance for your business. The webinar is free to attend but registration is required. REGISTER HERE to receive the link or contact Holly Lane at 301.387.6171 or holly@garrettchamber.com.

Bob Sutton of the Deep Creek Lake Property Owners Association sent out a reminder and nice summary of the Governor’s order that went into effect last week.  I know we have reported on it, but it is important, so here’s the POA’s summary, pretty much verbatim for your reference and review (and see below for a nice photo of the result at the lake):

“As of 7:00 am May 7th, 2020 Governor Hogan lifted the recreational boating ban for Maryland. The following link gives additional information: Click Here.  A summary of the current rules are:

BOATING

Recreational boating activities, including motorized and non-motorized vessels and personal watercraft, are permitted, however:

• Boaters must be with immediate family members or people with which they reside. o No more than 10 people can be on a boat at one time, including captain and crew.

• Boats must be distanced from each other by at least 10 feet and are prohibited from rafting up, beaching, or having rendezvous events.

o Boats are prohibited from docking at restaurants or bars. Marinas can reopen to recreational boaters, but must adhere to Maryland Departments of Commerce and Health guidelines.

BEACHES

The state park beach will be opened and outdoor exercise such as walking, jogging, running, swimming, and fishing will be permitted, however:

• Guidance on social distancing must be followed.

• The prohibition on social gatherings must be strictly followed. Chairs, blankets, and picnics will be prohibited.

CAMPING

DNR will begin accepting reservations for overnight tent and RV camping in state forests, parks, and other campgrounds, however:

• Campers must be with immediate family members or people with which they reside.

• Guidance on social distancing must be followed.

• No parties or reservations for more than 10 people will be granted for any one site.

FISHING

Recreational fishing activities, including catch-and-release, are allowed, however:

• When fishing from a boat, one must be with immediate family members or people with which they reside.

o No more than 10 people may be on a boat at one time, including captain and crew.

• When fishing from onshore or at a dock social distancing guidelines must be followed.

• Fishing tournaments remain prohibited at this time.

IMPORTANT—The Maryland stay-at-home order remains in effect. If folks come to Garrett County from elsewhere in the State, they are still expected to self-isolate for 14 days in order to prevent spread of the COVID19 virus.”

Finally, here’s a nice photo as submitted by Tammy Cross, of a happy young fisherman and his catch taking advantage of the restrictions being lifted.  Nice photo and nice job young man! Better times and a great summer season are on the way! I feel it coming…

First Catch of the Season!

Have a great Monday folks!

 

The weather today will be rain. High near 47 and low around 22. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Tonight rain and snow showers likely before 2am; little or no snow accumulation expected. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 37 and a low around 30. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high near 52 and a low around 36. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

“A new coat may be the perfect Mother’s Day gift this year as temperatures in several major cities across the United States will dip lower than those that were recorded on Christmas Day.”

I’d like to start by wishing the best mother in the universe a Happy Mother’s Day! I love you!

Jim Chason sent us this one! Very cool:

The weather today will be sunny, with a high near 54 and a low around 37. West wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Have you read the latest Cover Story? Our Garrett County community is amazing!

Governor Hogan yesterday announced that there were “Permitted Outdoor Activities” such as outdoor exercise activities (walking, hiking, running, biking, or individual and small group sports such as golfing, tennis, and similar activities); outdoor fitness instruction; recreational fishing, hunting, shooting, and archery; recreational boating; horseback riding; and vi. visiting cemeteries.

These activities MUST BE DONE IN COMPLIANCE with the rest of his orders.

It looks like there will be a “new normal” developing here in Garrett County (and the rest of the world) and we will work hard to keep you updated with specifics.

The Town of Friendsville is holding a spring cleanup for all residents:

BlackBear Tavern & Restaurant is holding their weekly photo contest —  winner of a $50 gift card will be chosen!

The Manor Steakhouse is kicking off their takeout specials tonight!
* Seafood Lasagna with Garlic Bread -$15.00
* Mini Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy – $12.00
* Grilled Chicken Dinner Salad – $13.00
* New York Strip Steak with Baked Potato & Vegetable Medley – $21.00
* Chicken Parmesan over Angel Hair Pasta – $16.00

The weather for today will include showers, mainly after 2:00 pm with a high near 42 degrees and a low of about 29.  That low will contribute to the chance of snow showers between 1:00 am and 2:00 am this evening.

So, if you thought April was wet and cool, here’s the official numbers as submitted by Glenda at Garrett Regional Medical Center: Average high temperature for the month was 56.7 degrees, average low was 34.8 degrees, with 7.24 inches of rain and 1.3 inches of frozen precipitation for the month. I could use a little more sun and warmth and a little less rain in May.

Here’s some interesting statistics from a new study for your consideration: There are 34 million single-person households in the United States. Since COVID-19 has prompted shelter-in-place orders across the country, those living alone are completely isolated, and job losses are not mitigated by help from roommates. Maryland has 604,272 adults that live alone, which is 13.2% of all adults in the state which is the 9th lowest percentage of adults living alone among all U.S. states. Here’s a link to the full study by Self Financial for your reading pleasure. Please think about reaching-out to someone in our community that is living alone.

And speaking of statistics pertinent during the COVID-19 pandemic, WalletHub just released a report on the best and worst states for nurses in the US.  Where did Maryland come-in you ask?  Click here to find out!

Closer to home, Garrett County Health Department was notified yesterday of one additional confirmed case of COVID-19 in Garrett County. This new positive case is a person in her 20s who is employed at an Allegany County facility with a known outbreak, and she is isolating at home. A total of 286 COVID-19 tests have been administered in Garrett County, with 249 negative results and 5 positive results for Garrett County residents.

The next Chamber Business After Hours to be held on May 14th from 4:30 – 5:30 pm, will be virtual!  This virtual networking event is a fun opportunity for everyone to see each other again and reconnect! This event is free to attend. Register online at visitdeepcreek.com or contact Holly Lane at holly@garrettchamber.com. Upon your registration, you’ll receive an email confirmation with the link to join the event. Please make sure to also register through zoom as well.

Yesterday was a very nice day.  A little breezy, but nice and sunny.  Today will be cloudy and cooler, with a high of 46 degrees and a low around 36.  There is a chance for precipitation during the day and definitely in the evening.

Here’s a close-up photo of the first apple blossom of the season, as photographed by regular reader and contributor Joe Vitek.  Thanks Joe!

First Apple Blossom

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking citizen input during the scoping period relative to some potential changes to brook trout fishing regulations.  Here’s the link to the page that explains more on the scoping for brook trout and other species that will impact us in Western Maryland.

Saturday was a nice day at the lake.  Sunday, less so, with some showers in the afternoon.  Today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 53 degrees and a northwest wind of 13 to 17 mph. Monday night will see Increasing clouds, with a low around 36.

Maryland continues to see increases in confirmed cases and deaths from the coronavirus, but Saturday showed a slight decline in hospitalizations, which state officials have said is key to eventually easing restrictions. There were 989 new cases in Maryland reported on Sunday. Hopefully, we will see a positive trend develop in coming days.

Garrett County celebrated and thanked our Healthcare Heroes on Saturday.  Here’s a link to some nice photos of many of them.  Thanks folks for all you do to keep us safe and our community great!

HART sent this over: #GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place tomorrow, May 5th – in addition to the regularly scheduled December #GivingTuesday – as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Help HART continue their mission to save the lives of homeless animals. To donate, you can visit their website, or by mail to HART, P.O. Box 623, McHenry, MD 21541, or by calling them at 301.387.7729. Please help the fur-balls if you can!

Here’s a look at HART’s numbers year-to-date through April:
Low-Cost/No-Cost Spays & Neuters: 216
Rescue & Transports: 186
Adoptions: 66

Maryland Humanities has announced a $500,000 CARES Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Emergency Relief Grants Fund.  This is a new funding opportunity for Maryland nonprofits who offer humanities programming as a significant part of their mission. The goal of this new fund is to help sustain Maryland’s infrastructure to ensure that organizations can continue to provide opportunities for public humanities programming and civic learning in Maryland’s diverse communities.

Have a great, productive and healthy Monday folks…

Welcome to May!

The weather today. will be cloudy with a high near 51 and a low around 39. Scattered showers, mainly after 10am. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Saturday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 61 and a low around 52. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 64 and a low around 46. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Showers likely, mainly before 2am.

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations and Sales has created a few zoom backgrounds for you to download. We are all wishing we were at the lake, that’s for sure! Also, Taylor-Made is giving away a Deep Creek Vacation! Nominate a first responder to win.

Locally, the Garrett County Health Department is reporting the Roadmap to Recovery Will Be Slow Process.

The Maryland Attorney General has issued an Advisory about stimulus payments — on April 29, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 20-04-29-03 prohibiting financial institutions from garnishing this financial assistance, except as related to child support.

St. Peter’s Church has shared with us that there will be a group prayer today, Friday May 1st, at 3pm (EDT).

There’s a free bear-proof container listed in our Online Marketplace. Contact John at 202-812-5393.

Check out the Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas for information on common invaders and how to properly remove them.

#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Keep in mind, locally, we have the portal at www.GarrettHealth.org/community/ to organize donations and generosity of our community. I should also mention on a state-level, there is also the Maryland Unites portal.

The April Where Am I?! winner was Robert Clark. Congrats! Take your guess in the May contest.

The next public meeting will be held Monday, May 4, 2020 at 4pm and will be streamed on Facebook.

AccuWeather is making a prediction for Summer 2020 weather:

The weather today will be cloudy with a chance of showers. High near 57 and a low around 41.

We were asked to share: the project going on now at the intersection of Mosser Road and will U.S. 219 is primarily to widen the intersection. There will also be upgrades to the signal and resurfacing.

County. United Way and Wal-Mart will collect food items in Allegany County for the Western MD Food Bank on May. 5, 2020.

Garrett County Community Action is also collecting food here in Garrett County for individual distribution on several dates:

Friendsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue

Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department
Friday, May 1st 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Accident Volunteer Fire Department
Wednesday, May 6th 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Southern Rescue Squad
Thursday, April 30th 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 2nd 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire Department
Tuesday, May 5th 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

The MAERDAF fund has announced Fiscal 2021 application information. This grant is financial support to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that promote statewide and regional planning, economic and community development, and agricultural and forestry education efforts.

Local resident Len Shindel is working on commemorating the Garrett County Road Worker’s Strike. That link is to the Baltimore Sun newspaper and it may not open but the victory was a to allow the workers to join the union.

Fentanyl contaminated drugs are becoming an increasing problem in Garrett County. The local health department has launched a campaign, Fentanyl Fast Facts, to help educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl.

Here’s a large home for sale just minutes from the lake. Listed by Jay Ferguson with Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales:

Yesterday was another cool, dreary and rainy day.  I am thinking that after the last few weeks Mother Nature owes us some good weather soon and a great summer season as well. Today we will have a chance of showers, mainly after 2:00 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 65 degrees and a low of about 48. There will be a southeast wind of 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Kista Powell, teacher at Northern Garrett High School, has been named the 2020-21 Garrett County Teacher of the Year. Ms. Powell teaches Allied Health and Biomedical Science at Northern High School. She has been employed by Garrett County Public Schools since 2014.  Congratulations Kista.

Here’s a sign of the times.  Falling Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is opening-up on May 8th, but with a twist.  You will have your own personal butler.  Really.  They will practice social distancing and are touting it as “Five Star Service from a Distance.” That’s innovative.

Under pressure from media and others, the state has agreed to post data on COVID-19 cases at nursing homes, which account for most COVID-19 deaths in some counties.

The Deep Creek Lake Lions Club has postponed its boat auction that had been scheduled for May 16th. It will hopefully occur in June, with a date TBD. I will keep you informed and please reach out if you have a boat you wish to donate.  This is a big fundraiser for the club and the proceeds go to help many in the community.

Looking for something enriching and different to do at home during the pandemic? Want to learn a new skill that could be used for your own personal interest or to advance your business? Then consider this online course on Blogging and Podcasting for Beginners at Garrett College that can get you started and help you learn how to develop a plan for content, setup, and maintenance. Here’s the scoop. h

Yesterday was cool and cloudy until mid-afternoon, when the sun came out.  Today, showers are likely, mainly between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 52 degrees and with a low around 46.

So, I have some inside information that Barbie and Ken just had a Deep Creek Wedding.  Yeah, that Barbie and Ken and here’s a photo to prove it!  If you want some more insight as to what the heck I am talking about, go here.  More photos too. Oh, they are already on their honeymoon… at the lake, of course!

Barbie and Ken at Deep Creek!

Even as Governor Hogan has prescribed his three-phase process to open-up the state, Maryland is expected to continue to see an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, since the state is increasing the number of tests being completed. Because of this, the main gauge officials will use to determine when the first phase of recovery can begin is the statewide rate of hospitalizations and the number of patients admitted to ICU.

The Chamber invites members to hear an update on the CARES Act and a discussion on returning to work. Stephen McAllister, Executive Director of the Eastern Region, Congressional & Public Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will discuss the recently passed supplement to the CARES Act including new funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) & Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. He will also discuss returning to work https://wallethub.com/blog/social-distancing-survey/73704/.and reopening the American economy including how Americans and businesses can return to work safely, successfully and sustainably. Here’s the link to more information.

Here’s some interesting factoids from a recent survey conducted by WalletHub: Social Distancing Survey

• Online shopping is a popular stress reliever: 36 million Americans use online shopping as their number one way to cope with social distancing.
• Nearly half the population still ventures outside: 48 percent of Americans go outside at least once a day while self-quarantining.
• Women worry more: Women are 40 percent more likely to feel anxious than men due to social distancing.
• People want to see family most: 34 percent of Americans are most looking forward to seeing family once this is over, more than the amount that are most excited to see friends or go out to eat.
• Most Americans use masks: 60 percent of Americans are now wearing face masks due to the coronavirus.
• Social distancing provides an opportunity to build skills: Almost 29 million Americans are using the social distancing time to learn something new.

The complete survey results can be found here. There’s also information on the states: where it is easiest and most difficult to attain social distancing.

Finally, Manor Steakhouse just sent over their latest menu and a reminder that they are doing carry-out every week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Jean and I have gotten their carry-out a few times recently and the process is easy and the food is great. Please call between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to order your dinner (240.488.1104). Check them out and send me a note if you have a nice takeout story from Manor or another local-area establishment. Here’s a link to our Dining Guide.

Have a great Monday folks…

We had a very wet Sunday.  Today’s weather will be cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The low will be around 38. When will the weather turn warm and sunny?

Maryland officials reported Sunday that the state has confirmed 815 new cases of the coronavirus along with 30 fatalities, a decrease in both the number of new cases and deaths after the state reported its deadliest day of the pandemic Saturday. Hopefully the start of a trend.

I heard the new Maryland unemployment portal was down yesterday.  It will hopefully be up and running again by the time you read this Monday morning.  They had to fix a few glitches.

We’re all getting sick of the “c word”. Data from Wikipedia reveals that traffic to the page “2019-20 coronavirus pandemic” has fallen by about 70% since its peak back at the end of March. As curves have flattened, so has interest. Google data agrees, with peak coronavirus searches coming in the week beginning March 15th, more than a month ago.

On the local and good news front, the number of COVID-19 cases for Garrett County residents is holding at 4 cases. There has not been a positive case identified since April 6th and the cases that were identified were each related to travel. There have been 224 tests administered to date, with the first testing beginning at Garrett Regional Medical Center on March 16.

Also locally, The 2019 Maryland Recycling Act Recycling Reports that were originally due on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 are now due on Friday, May 15, 2020, due to the pandemic. Businesses can continue to send in reports by fax, email, or first-class mail. It is not recommended to drop-off reports in person to recycling sites or the Landfill Office. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Madigan, Recycling Coordinator at the Solid Waste & Recycling office at 301.387.0322.

Have a great Monday folks…

The weather today will be rain showers mainly before 2pm. High near 52 and low around 44. Saturday will have a chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a high near 56 and a low around 44. Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2am. Sunday will have showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 49 low around 36.

There’s nothing official in the forecast but Allegheny Mountains Weather mentioned the higher elevations could see some ….uh, dare I say it, snow Sunday night into Monday. “Snow in the air to lower elevations to 2000-2500′ with coatings” ❄️

Friday-Flashback! Black Bear Tavern & Restaurant is running a photo contest on its Facebook page every week until they’re able to re-open. Each Saturday, they choose one winner for a $50 gift card to BBT. Last week’s winner was Lu Roe with her photo of the BBT Softball team “Bad News Black Bears” from many years ago:

From the Maryland Department of Labor: Today, April 24, the Maryland Department of Labor is launching a new one-stop unemployment insurance application to allow all Marylanders to file all types of claims entirely online.

There’s a free webinar on how to avoid COVID-19 related scams from Congressman Trone’s office; including the sale of fake COVID-19 testing kits, the offer of delivery of cleaning supplies, and the impersonation of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) personnel. Today at noon.

Barbara Baker, Superintendent of Garrett County Public Schools, announces Kista Powell, Allied Health and Biomedical Science teacher at Northern Garrett High School, as the GCPS 2020-21 Teacher of the Year.

The proposed new reading and language arts materials and resources for preK to 5th grade are available for review by the general public. Members of the community are welcome to review and comment. Contact Mrs. Stephanie Wesolowski, Curriculum Specialist, at 301-334-7656, for questions or for more information.

Be on the lookout for Spotted Lanternflies; be vigilant to prevent the spread into Maryland.

The most recent Garrett County Commissioners public meeting was streamed online.  Note, details were covered for statewide primary election that has been moved to June 2 and will mainly be vote by mail.

There’s a recently announced job opening in the State’s Attorney’s office.

Unacast – a data provider – is still producing the social distancing scorecard. Garrett County gets a grade of a D+. I’m still not certain of this company’s methodologies but you can use it to compare us to other areas.

And, speaking of comparing Garrett County, be sure to respond to your 2020 Census! Garrett County’s response rate is under 40%. Visit my2020census.gov to respond.

The weather for today will be rain, mainly after 2pm. High near 54 and a low around 46. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Today’s post seems loaded with gratitude! It’s a good day to pause and appreciate everything — we hope you all had a great Earth Day!

DCL is the BEST corner of this earth in my opinion!

Here’s a great photo showing our “Hailstorm Meets Spring” at the lake that was taken on Tuesday thanks to Jim Chason. Thanks for submitting Jim.

Did you participate in the “drive-thru thank you” parade that was held last evening for the frontline at GRMC? It was sort of an impromptu event organized by Mr. Chuck Nolan. Thank you, Chuck, thank you, to those who participated and, thank you, to the staff at the hospital going above and beyond.

Here’s a great photo of a nesting Bald Eagle at Deep Creek Lake that was submitted by Vince Zello. (This was taken just recently!) Thanks Vince.

What an amazing sight; grace and beauty!

Yesterday’s weather was crazy.  We got a late morning thunderstorm with some serious hail. It was preceeded and followed by rain.  See below for a photo I took from my front porch. More fell in the afternoon. Today will be sunny, with a high near 46 degrees and a low of 38. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Hail Storm at the Lake

And, here’s a great photo taken by Mark Richards of the approaching storm.  Thanks Mark.  Nice work.

Incoming storm

Good news and bad news.  We wanted to do some carry-out from Brenda’s Pizzeria Monday evening and could not get through to them.  I thought their phone line was down but it turns out they were so busy they could not keep-up with the orders! That is good news for Brenda and her great team of folks and makes me happy. They are adjusting their personnel (they always give great service) and will be ready for next Monday.  Glad to see they are getting lots of orders.  Please keep ordering from them and our other local restaurants.

The Deep Creek Lake Lions Club wants your creativity! We’ll mail you a 3D printed panel of Meshach Browning for you to paint/decorate and return to us to be included in a community art project. You’ll also receive a mini-sculpture of him and history brochure/map about Browning that are yours to keep. Great boredom-busting project and you’ll be contributing to a community art project that will be publicly viewable at our Bumble Bee Rd park and trail system. Click this link for more information from my fellow Deep Creek Lake LION Chris Nichols.

On a final note, this Daily Notes is a bit shorter than most. The reason?  I intentionally left out any reference to the pandemic or related problems, statistics and impact.  I needed a break from it and think many readers needed one too.  Be safe, happy and healthy folks…