Deep Creek Lake MD News and Local Resources: Daily Notes

The weather today will be mostly cloudy with rain before 2pm. High near 67 and a low around 62.

Sunset at Deep Creek Lake State Park by Catherine Gardner:

Every Tuesday is Ladies Lounge.

Southern Middle School will be hosting Back to School Night on Tuesday, August 27 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Students will walk through their class schedules with their parents and meet with teachers. A Corn Roast and light refreshments will be available for all.

The Maryland Historical Trust is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Maryland Preservation Awards! You may complete a nomination here using the 2020 guidelines. Nominations are due September 13, 2019. Awards are presented in four categories: Leadership and Service, Education and Community Engagement, Project Excellence and Stewardship.

Roots Yoga is offering specials this week: PURCHASE YOUR SEPTEMBER MEMBERSHIP THIS WEEK AND GET WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY FREE OF CHARGE! or attend unlimited classes for one low price of $60 this month only. Choose to come to 3 classes a week, or 5, or more! View the schedule here: https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/RAYEHW/classes.

It’s a slow news day … maybe everyone is gearing up for the holiday weekend? I know I am ready for the unofficial switch to fall!

A reminder that the Garrett County Commissioners recently signed a proclamation designating September as National Recovery Month in Garrett County, and asked everyone to turn the county purple as a show of support.

Happy First-Day-of-School to Garrett County Public School students! Here’s your reminder to stay alert for school buses!

The weather today will be partly sunny with a high near 68 and a low around 58. Southeast wind around 14 mph.

So many lake activities for our last lake day before school starts — this weekend with friends!

Reader’s Digest has compiled a list of the most beautiful lakes for swimming. Of course, Deep Creek Lake has made the list!

One last movie night in the yurt at Wisp Resort this season — tonight’s movie is Honey I Shrunk the Kids beginning at 7:30pm.

The nearby pool at Dans Mountain State Park will be closed today through August 30 due to a shortage of lifeguards as staff return to school. The pool will be OPEN over Labor Day weekend (11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Aug. 31 – Sept. 2), and will then close for the season.

The 2019-2020 migratory game bird hunting season details, shooting hours and bag limits have been published and details on purchasing stamps have been released. More information for all Maryland hunting seasons can be found in the 2019 – 2020 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.

Leadership Garrett County is accepting applications for the 2019-2020 class!

International Overdose Awareness Day is on August 31. Read more about the event here.

The weather today will be partly cloudy with an 80% chance of rain; mainly before 11am. High near 66 and low near 53. The weekend is shaping up with both Saturday and Sunday to be mostly sunny with a high near 70 and a low around 54.

[insert Dog Days of Summer joke here] Photo by Mitchell Wayne:

The Deep Creek Lake Watershed Foundation has announced the winner of the bids for the donated Flying Scot #16. And, the winner is …… Brian O’Brien!

BLENDED REALITY is tonight at the Little Yough Music Festival beginning at 7:00pm. With country music influences ranging from Taylor Swift, Jon Pardi, and Johnny Cash to Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum; the trio works to ‘blend’ all of that together when they are writing, composing and arranging music.

The Country Fest & Auction will be tomorrow (August 24) from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. The “fun stuff” listed on their website schedule of events includes Gospel Music, Pony Rides, a Pedal Tractor Pull at 11:00 A.M, an Aerial Candy Drop at 1:00 p.m. (weather permitting),Barrels of Fun Rides, Milking the “Cow”, Miniature Horse and Cart Rides, Live Animal Petting Zoo and Skill Demonstrations all day.

There are FREE Mountain Bike Intro Courses on Sundays in August at Wisp Resort!

Lots of live music happening this weekend – check out our Entertainment Guide.

There will be a DUI Checkpoint in Garrett County, Maryland on August 29, 2019. The Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, and the Maryland Department of Transportation are working to reduce the number of drunk and drugged drivers on Garrett County roadways.

I love it when websites share their “best-of” trips and put Deep Creek Lake on the list! This time, the list is for the best day trips from Western, PA from WPXI.

There’s good bass fishing and good chances of catching monster bluegill on nightcrawlers this time of year at Deep Creek Lake, MD.

New Germany State Park will be hosting a Maryland hunter education course on September 10th, 12th, and 14th. This class is for first-time hunters obtaining their hunter education certification.

With a few very light exceptions, the rains held off again yesterday. Today’s weather will be mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 3pm and 4pm. High near 78 and a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

It’s the “dog days” of summer, so I guess it is time to think about… winter! Check out this historic photo of Wisp Resort courtesy of our friend Al Feldstein and his “Feldstein’s Historical Stuff” Facebook site. From Al’s postcard history book of Garrett County, published in 2006: “It was in 1955 that Helmuth Heise and several businessmen began to transform Marsh Mountain, a cow pasture owned by a local farmer, into a make-shift ski area. Skis were rented from the back of Helmuth’s pickup truck. In 1958 a lift is added to replace the original rope tow and by 1959, only Heise holds to the dream of developing the area as a winter resort. He operates the ski area alone.” We have come a long way since those humble beginnings.

Don’t forget that “there is still time” to register for the Fall Semester at Garrett College.  Great, cost-effective programs in a small, caring environment and there is still financial aid available. Call admissions ASAP at 301.387.3044 if you are interested. Classes start on September 4th.

The Deep Creek Lion’s Club had a very successful Poker Boat Tour on Sunday and raised well over $1,000 to support their programs. Not resting on their laurels, they have a first-time-ever event planned for the fall: The Mountain Lion Trek.

So what is it you ask? Teams of around four (4) people will travel by car and complete missions between McHenry and Oakland.

• Missions range from puzzles, physical challenges, or social media tagging and all have different point values
• Each teams’ score is tracked on a phone-based app, so they are competing in real-time
• Date: Saturday, Sept 21, noon-4:00 pm (registration starts at 11:00 am)

This will be a totally new-to-the-area event and is projected to have over 200 participants for the first year! The Lions are looking for participants and sponsors…

Have you seen the trout stocking map managed by the Maryland DNR? http://gisapps.dnr.state.md.us/TroutStockingMap/

The first day of school in Garrett County is Monday, August 26.

Also, the Public Schools’ Strategic Facilities Committee (SFC) will meet Friday, August 30, 2019 at 10:00am. The meeting will consider a set of long-term and near-term actions and projects, to be reviewed by the Board at the meeting of September 10, 2019. Community feedback meetings will be held in the week of September 16, and final recommendations will be presented to the Board for action on November 12, 2019.

The rain mostly held off yesterday and it was a nice day. Today’s weather will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm. High near 76 and low around 66. West wind 10 to 13 mph.

The Oakland Train Station has big dreams! FYI – they would like:
*America by Rail Amtrak from DC to Cumberland, tour bused to Romney, Durbin, Cass, Elkins, Oakland, Grantsville Cumberland and then back to DC by Amtrak. We have already been in touch with Mountain Thunder, Potomac Eagle, Mountainrail (Durbin, Cass, Elkins).
*Acquire additional land between beside our museum for additional storage.
*Repaint or polish the caboose.
*Paint window sills.
*Get approval by Americorps to supplement volunteers so they can be opened seven days a week.

The Railroad Experiences & Knowledge presentation will be given by Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss tomorrow at the B&O Train Station at 7pm. He is a past terminal Superintendent with CSX and a 4th generation railroader.

Did you see the Instagram photo I posted? It must be an unplanned “B&O day” ….

Stage Wisp Concert Series – Savage Road (a high-energy country and southern rock band) is tonight at Wisp Resort. Come out at 6:30pm! FREE

Are you aware of the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit Program? The tax credit will be available to Maryland taxpayers who live in Maryland for this 2019 tax year, incurred at least $20,000 in undergraduate/graduate loan debt, and have at least $5,000 still outstanding. Apply by September 15.

We are excited to announce we already have over 3,000 votes in the 2019 People’s Choice Challenge! Don’t forget to vote today!

Governor Hogan’s budget includes approximately $1.2 million to refurbish the athletic fields at both Northern Garrett and Southern Garrett High Schools.

The weather for today will be partly sunny — a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. High near 80 and low around 66.

Thanks to Matthew Bogart for making me hungry this morning — their family and friends crab feast from this weekend looks delicious!!

Dave Taylor, head wrestling coach at Southern Garrett High School will be inducted in the Maryland Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He has been the Rams head coach for 18 years.

The Garrett County Health Department will be offering flu shots:
Consenting students will receive the vaccine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates: Northern High School, Wednesday, September 25; Southern Middle School, Thursday, September 26; Northern Middle School, Monday, September 30; and Southern High School, Wednesday, October 2.

For the final concert of the season, Music at Penn Alps is pleased to present Jonathan Carney on violin with John Nauman accompanying on piano in the Great Hall at The Spruce Forest in Grantsville, MD on Saturday, August 24, at 7pm. Tickets are available for $20 at the door, in the gift shop at Penn Alps Restaurant, or on-line at https://www.musicatpennalps.org/tickets. [Persons 19 and under are admitted free.]

Here’s a short spotlight on a love for raising livestock in our community; capped off by the Garrett County Agriculture Fair each year.

The 2019 Garrett County’s Most Beautiful Person contest is accepting nominations until August 23, 2019. Each year the County conducts a search for our unsung heroes who selflessly assist those around them. The nomination form is available here.

The weather for today will be mostly sunny with a high near 80 and a low around 65. Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm.

Splashdown! Tiffany Harris shared this photo of a Deep Creek Lake waterskier over the weekend — I love the way the water glitters in this shot!

A BIG welcome to JTF! JTF is a local company offering party and event rentals, and team building programs. If you are thinking about an event they have rentals such as bubble soccer, archery tag, laser tag, snookball, cornhole, ping pong, over-sized checkers, over-sized Connect 4 and more! JTF is completely mobile and brings the fun to you!

Fishing with the Naturalist is today from 10:00am – 2:00pm — Kids 7 and up join us on the shores of the Discovery Center for fishing basics. Poles, bait, and tackle are provided. $4/person, adults (16+ must have a license). Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Also, Aquatic Adventures begins at 2:00 pm. The group will head to the docks to use aqua scopes and dip nets to catch critters and fish that call Deep Creek home.

Don’t forget about FREE movie night in the yurts! The Goonies will be showing tonight; doors open at 7:30pm.

A seller has reduced the price of a cedar canoe for sale in our online marketplace. I just think it’s gorgeous!

September is sneaking up on us — be sure to volunteer for the annual Deep Creek Art, Wine, and Beer Festival on September 7!

Be sure to vote for your Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake, MD favorite services, products, professionals, and experiences in the 2019 People’s Choice Challenge!

The weather today will be mostly sunny with a high near 78 and a low around 62. Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 81 and a low around 65. Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunday will also be mostly sunny. A high near 82 and a low around 67. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm — chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tim Shahan shared this timelapse from the top of Wisp Resort with us!

VOTING IS NOW OPEN! Vote for your favorites in the 2019 People’s Choice Challenge contest!

Click here to vote in each category!

Here are a few events I personally find unique or interesting but be sure to check out the entire weekend calendar of events and entertainment.

• Birding at Sang Run State Park today at 8:00 am at Sang Run State Park
• Stuff the Bus at the Oakland Wal-Mart from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Country artist Floyd Cowger at Black Bear Tavern tonight! 6-10pm
• Garrett County Airport Wings and Wheels Fly-In
• Yoga in the Dolemite Yurt – All experience levels welcome.
• Oakland B&O Museum Ticket to Ride Charity Tournament
• Camping with Black Bears at New Germany State Park at 3:30pm
• Buffalo Run at MoonShadow Saturday night beginning at 8:00pm

Bill’s Marine Service is having a Bennington pontoon demo day this Saturday — call to reserve your demo 301-387-3474.

Our public schools recently authorized a pilot program to grant permission for students at the high school level to miss two days prior to Labor Day for work-related purposes.

A stoplight is gone and there is a new 4-way stop on Second Street in Downtown Oakland.

The Garrett Chamber is accepting Autumn Glory parade float applications until September 6.

MD counties and municipalities can apply for grant funding from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund. The projects must be in direct support of public outdoor recreation including the acquisition, development, and maintenance of outdoor recreational areas, facilities, and properties.

This morning, the Railey Realty camera captured some early morning fog. I don’t want to admit it but, the seasons are beginning to change here in the mountains:

Drumroll please … the long-awaited, eagerly anticipated, as promised FLASH-DEAL for Deep Creek Times readers is here! TODAY ONLY: YOU GET $2-OFF A DOZEN FRESH GLAZED AND CONFUZED DONUTS … you just have to stop in from 7am – 2pm and mention DEEP CREEK TIMES! (if you’re looking for suggestions, I would try the “ladybug” … raspberry topping with chocolate chips) YUM ????

The weather today will be partly sunny with a high near 75 and a low of 61. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm.

I am a sucker for a cute dog photo — thanks to Sarah Gibson Kilbey for sharing her vacation with us!

The Deep Creek Lake Ninja Course is now open and located at Deep Creek Fun Zone.

The Garrett County Health Department, the Stand Together Garrett County Against Drugs consortium, and the Garrett County Commissioners, ask the entire community to observe National Recovery Month and participate in Project Purple.

How to Train Your Dragon, The Hidden World is tonight at dusk. The last Pocket Park movie this summer!

Plan to stop by Wal-Mart on Friday for the United Way of Garrett County Stuff the Bus campaign. A collection site for school supplies that stay here locally to the public schools as well as college students.

The Maryland Fishing Report was just released yesterday by the DNR.

Opened a new business? Expanded your business? Hit a milestone of 50, 75, or 100 years of continuous operation? Apply to be recognized at the Chamber’s 8th Annual Business & Industry Appreciation Business Before Hours in September.

The weather today will be mostly cloudy with a high near 74 and a low of 62. Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm.

The scheduled herbicide treatment at Deep Creek Lake will be performed today, August 14. For full details regarding these efforts, please visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website. The map below shows the affected areas of the lake:

Happy 45th Birthday, WIC!

Wednesday means the Farmers Market from 10am-1pm. View all of the veggies, fruits, and keto baked items?! available this week!

First Impressions and What’s that Reptile will be at The Discovery Center today at 11am and 2pm, respectively.

The Oakland library is having a book reading of “Manny The Lamb” by children’s author Delores Kight! “A delightful story about a lovable lamb who wanders away from the flock and Jessie, the faithful shepherd who rescues him” Open to all ages at 4:30pm.

Also, at the Accident library is a presentation and demonstration on ham radios from 5-6pm.

It’s Locals Day at Mountain State Brewing Co. – grab yourself (and your family) 30% off flatbreads before the Stage Wisp Trail Heads concert or challenge your friends to Team Trivia at the Greene Turtle.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recertified MDOT MVA’s REAL ID process, making Maryland the first state to achieve that designation. The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and creates standards for secure driver’s licenses and identification cards nationwide.

One final reminder; If a student is interested in playing football for Southern High School, the student is to attend the first practice of the year at the high school’s practice field today at 3:30 pm. All students who participate must have a physical examination completed and a copy ready to turn in at 3:30 pm — from Coach Nazelrod.

Garrett Institute for Lifelong Learning has announced the September schedule of classes.

The weather today will be showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy with a high near 74 and a low around 64. Showers and thunderstorms may produce periods of heavy rainfall and isolated flash flooding is possible in areas that receive repeated thunderstorms. A few of the storms may be severe, with damaging wind gusts being the primary threat.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Deep Creek Lake, MD courtesy of Bill Dietrick!

The fourth of four hydrilla herbicide treatments is scheduled to take place today although treatment is always subject to change due to weather conditions. An overview of the complete 2019 plan is available here.

Local Deep Creek resident Bob Spear has published a book on his thoughts on politics titled 21st Century Common Sense: A Bold Reform Agenda for our Broken, Gridlocked, Dysfunctional, and Boring Politics. Congratulations on the publication, Bob!

Tuesday is Ladies Lounge at Sipside — 25% off all glasses of wine with bottomless chocolate plus door prizes from opening to closing (3:30-9:30) every Tuesday.

If it’s going to be a dreary day, try Solar Flow Yoga early tomorrow morning. Stretch and flow with intentional breath through sun salutations and grounding yoga postures.

A gently used hot tub cover has been listed for sale in our online marketplace under “hot tubs”.

The Garrett County Planning Commission is accepting public comment on the draft update to the sign chapter within the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance until August 20, 2019. Info to make your comments to the Commission can be found here.

The weather today will be mostly sunny with a high near 80 and a low around 65. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 12am.

Here’s an action photo of members of the Sackett and Reitmeyer families that got together at the lake this weekend. They cruised-up on the boat and got some donuts at Deep Creek Donuts!

It’s Movie Night in the Yurts! Beginning at 7:30 pm tonight it’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at Wisp Resort.

#ShopMDTaxFree! The Comptroller of Maryland is promoting a $2,500 MD college scholarship for shopping tax-free and mentioning it on social media! Plus, the University System of Maryland has offered to match the $2,500 scholarship if the winner attends a USM institution.

All you have to do is:
1) Take a fun photo or video while shopping
2) Write a witty caption
3) Post to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #ShopMDTaxFree

Any Maryland college, community college, and trade school students can enter the contest!

A reminder that MD State Park Annual Passes are available — $75 for Marylanders; $100 for out-of-state visitors. This pass is unlimited day-use admission and boat launching at state parks, and a 10 percent discount on state-operated concessions and boat rentals

Garrett College is holding its last New Student Advising Day this week on the 16th.  They still have openings, financial aid and residence hall space.  If you or your kids or grandkids can’t make the 16th, you can still come in for “Walk-In Advising Days” up until August 30th. Garrett College is a great place to start, or continue your academic or career journey to success. Contact the Admissions Department at 301.387.3044.

The contest is still open for the Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest! Submit your photos by August 30 for a chance to be featured in the 2020 wall calendar and/or cash prizes.

Did you know? A meteor shower occurs when the Earth plows through the orbit of a comet. And, that we have a monthly update on our Garrett County Skies page?

We will be watching the “best meteor shower of the year” … the Perseid Meteor shower from the Discovery Center 9:00 pm tonight. There will be naturalists and astronomers on hand to guide you through the night sky.

Keep an eye on Daily Notes this week for an exclusive deal on donuts from one of the lake area’s premier donut shops. This deal is for Deep Creek Times readers only and will be communicated the day-of the sale, so it will be a “flash-sale” for Deep Creek Times insiders (that would be YOU!).  Keep an eye open for more deals like this on donuts and other products/services in the coming weeks.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the business owners who were impacted by the fire along Garrett Highway on Sunday morning — my sister-in-law’s mom’s massage shop, a cousin’s salon, a photographer studio, a daycare, and an insurance company were deemed a total loss.

The weather for today will be mostly sunny with a high near 72 and a low of 55. It will be a great weekend: Saturday and Sunday will be mostly sunny and clear with highs in the low 70s and lows in the high 50s.

Lauren Hess shared this tough tiny tot at Deep Creek Lake!

This week is National Farmer’s Market week: August 4-10. Be sure to stop by Oakland on Saturday from 10am-1pm.

There is a lot going on this weekend — to name a few events:
????Birding at DCL Discovery Center
????Hot Dogs for Hospice
????Drive-In Dinner and Cruise-In to benefit FTC Team 2818
????Seafood Nights at The Manor Steakhouse
????30th Annual Friendsville Days Festival
????Entertainment all weekend
????Little Yough Summer Music Festival – Cold Chocolate
????Night Hike at New Germany State Park
????Bittinger VFD Chicken BBQ
????Kids Watermelon Eating Contest
????Jenny Wilson Jazz Quartet
????8th Annual Cruise-In for Hospice

A Supra ski boat listed in our Online Marketplace has just recently been reduced in price! There’s still a lot of summer left!

Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is Sunday August 11 through Saturday August 17: Qualifying apparel and footwear $100 or less, per item, are exempt from the state sales tax. The first $40 of a backpack or bookbag purchase is also tax-free. Accessory items, except for backpacks, are not included.

10 Bucks a Foot is the new Garrett Trails fundraiser! (And, click on the link to see their newsletter featuring yours truly in her Deep Creek Times jersey as part of the Garrett County Gran Fondo write-up)

Since we’re talking bikes — Zach Adams, of Appalachian Dirt, is a featured profile in Highland Outdoors magazine. His company has been building new mountain bike trails at Deep Creek Lake State Park.

A free TIPS for Concessions training being offered in September (9/24) for qualifying non-profit organizations or businesses who are affiliated with a non-profit fundraiser. RSVP to Brenda at the Garrett County Health Department: 301-334-7730 or brenda.sisler@maryland.gov.

A reminder that MD State Park Annual Passes are available — $75 for Marylanders; $100 for out-of-state visitors. This pass is unlimited day-use admission and boat launching at state parks, and a 10 percent discount on state-operated concessions and boat rentals.

Also, the contest is still open for the Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest! Submit your photos by August 30 for a chance to be featured in the 2020 wall calendar and/or cash prizes.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal would like to share basic lightning safety tips as Maryland continues to experience thunderstorms with damaging lightning strikes — read more safety tips here.

• If you can hear thunder, you are in striking distance of lightning. Look for shelter inside a home, large building, or hard-topped vehicle immediately.
• There is no safe place outside. Places with only a roof on golf courses, sports fields, and picnic areas are not safe during a lightning storm. Small sheds should not be used as a source of shelter.
• If a person is struck by lightning, call 9-1-1 immediately.

The weather today will be increasing clouds with a high near 76 and a low around 61. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm.

What in the world is THAT?! Melanie West captured a photo of this turtle swimming in Deep Creek Lake:

Tonight is the August Business After Hours (BAH) hosted by the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club tonight from 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm. The event will be hosted in the pavilion next to the dog park. Call Holly to register at 301-387-6171.

From  2:00pm to 3:00pm join Ashley Bodkins from the University of Maryland Extension Division of AGNR & Natural Resources to discover the world of edible plants and flowers at the Accident branch of the Ruth Enlow Library. Please contact the Kim at 301-746-8792 register.

Every Thursday is Team Trivia Night at Mountain State Brewing Co. (in Deep Creek). Trivia starts at 6:30pm and house prizes are awarded for first, second & third places.

Tonight is Ant-Man and the Wasp movie under the stars in Downtown Oakland.

Eric Null, DCL Lake Manager, asked the DCL Property Owners Association to alert you that the State Park boat ramp facility will be closed Saturday, September 14th from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and Sunday, September 15th from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for the Savage Man Triathlon.

There is an always-garaged, one-owner Subaru Outback for sale in our Online Marketplace under “VEHICLES”.

Garrett County Board of Education unanimously voted to accept the bid of an outside consultant (Educational Facilities Planning LLC) to help Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) develop a strategic facilities plan. A SFC (Strategic Facilities Committee) was formed and membership includes local business leaders, community partners, parents, and several members of GCPS staff. All of the meetings are public and information regarding the meeting times and locations are publicized far in advance. Members of the community are welcome to attend so their voice can be heard in the public and open forum. More information can be found on their website here.