Deep Creek Lake MD News and Local Resources: Daily Notes

The weather today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 72 and a low around 57. Saturday will be partly sunny, with a high near 73 and a low around 57. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. High near 67 and a low around 59.

Today is national donut day! Glazed & Confuzed Donuts is doing a FREE cinnamon sugar donut all day! Tell em Deep Creek Times sent ya! ????

A group of road cyclists take on a climb near Deep Creek Lake, MD yesterday.

Today is the Shawny Marley for Cindy’s Fund Lions Club Chicken Barbecue at the Oakland American Legion from 11am-7pm. Chicken dinners will be available for delivery to businesses, pick up or dine in at the Oakland American Legion.

Tonight is the Relay For Life of Garrett County United from 6:00-11:00pm at the Garrett County Fairgrounds; honoring the strength and courage of every cancer survivor and lighting a luminaria for every life taken too soon.

The State Parks have several events, there is entertainment each night and there are many other events this weekend. To name a few: the Discovery Center at the Deep Creek Lake State Park will do an Aviary Feeding today at 2:00pm, tomorrow is a Board Game session at the Accident Library with the Mountaintop Table Top Club, and Sunday is Family Day at Spruce Forest Artisan Village.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is also the second Maryland License-Free Fishing day and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and tickets are still available!

A delegation from Garrett County travelled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congressional members and federal agency leaders on four priorities for Garrett County: (1) funding for the Oakland-Trout Run Combined Sewer Treatment Plant, (2) funding for Required Infrastructure Projects for Small Rural Municipalities (3) Better data of existing Broadband and funding for continued development, and (4) Market-rate Workforce Housing Development funding assistance.

Garrett College – President’s Office will be hosting the June Chamber Business After Hours next Thursday, June 13th from 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm.

The weather for today will be partly sunny, with a high near 71 and a low arounnd 57. Isolated showers before 11am.

Tonight is the Watershed Moments: The Past, Present, and Future of Climate Change event at the Appalachian Lab at FSU (6:30-8:30pm).

Purchase your tickets now for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra on June 8th starting at 7:30 pm.  A a romantic summer program will feature works by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, with Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition finalist Yuliya Gorenman as soloist.

What’s New Around Town? Slopslide Market in McHenry just installed new Maryland Lottery machines. Also, The Rooster’s Nest restaurant is now open in Grantsville.

Garrett County reported the highest harvest numbers during regular spring and junior hunt seaons with 429 turkeys. Overall, Maryland hunters reported harvesting 4,002 wild turkeys.

Garrett College has announced their rescheduled Resource and Success Fair which will now take place at the college on June 25th. They have an interesting program for all impacted by the Verso plant closure, including information on job hunting, starting a small business, educational opportunities, financial aid and much more.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce the award of 19 Community Parks and Playgrounds grants, totaling $2.5 million, to municipalities across the state. Garrett County was awarded over $158,000 to construct a walking trail, waterfalls and historical signage at the Leo Martin Memorial Park in Mountain Lake Park.

Governor Larry Hogan declared 2019 the Year of the Veteran and MD DNR has several programs and special rates for military veterans, active duty service members, and prisoners of war including:

• Any active duty military personnel, Maryland National Guard member, or veteran can enter any Maryland state park day-use area without paying the entry fee.
• If you are a resident of Maryland on active duty with the armed forces and are on leave with official leave orders, you may fish without a fishing license in Maryland.
• A complimentary lifetime hunting license is available to Maryland residents certified as a former prisoner of war or a disabled American veteran.

The weather for today will be cloudy with a chance of showers before 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 71 and low around 60.

Thanks to Kendall Ludwig for sharing this baby turtle found at Herrington Manor State Park yesterday:

Mountain Fresh Producers Association sponsors a “Producer-Only” farmers market in Oakland. Fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, baked goods, crafts, jams, jellies, herbs, plants, flowers, and more today from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The newest Wildfulness podcast (#53) is posted: The Lost Art of (Wildful) Listening & How to Get it Back.

A second rabies case was reported for 2019.

Buy your tickets now for the Hidden in Plain Sight Club Night event to be held on August 24. Your $50 ticket admits one to the secret location for the fundraiser benefitting the Oakland A&E District. Tickets sold out well before the event last year.

We are counting down to RAAM! The bicycle Race Across America has riders passing right by Deep Creek Lake through Timestation 47. There are 39 solos riders of RAAM 2019 that will depart from Oceanside, California on June 11 and the team start (relay) will begin Saturday, June, 15. This year, solo rider Christoph Strasser will try to complete the race across the country in under 8 days.

Mountaintop Soccer Association (MSA) is extending the registration deadline for this coming fall soccer season until June 30, 2019. They have also extended the early-bird $50 registration fee through June 14, 2019. (the fee is $75 after June 14th). June 30th will be the hard deadline for signups.

Welcome to our newest advertiser, Glazed & Confuzed Donuts! Located at Funland in McHenry, Glazed & Confuzed is open Fridays 7am-2pm, Saturdays 7am-2pm and Sundays 7am-1pm until JUNE 13. Also, if you have an order for 4 or more dozen, you can get a custom order at anytime! 301-387-7134.

Get ready for this breakfast of champions on Friday! 🙂

I’ll say it: it’s cold! I saw photos of a frost in Bittinger this morning. The weather today will warm up and be sunny with a high near 70 and a low around 56.

This photo is awesome – taken at Swallow Falls and shared with us by @mamaa_mel and @erin.cos on Instagram:

Today is the Lawyer at the Library event — offering free civil services. At the Oakland Branch of the Ruth Enlow Library from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

Later this evening is a unique concert for our area — the group Wana Wõromaa Wunkorkestri (WWW) from Oakland’s sister city in Estonia will be performing at the Oakland Community Center. The concert is free.

Congrats, Grads! Northern and Southern High School’s held their graduation ceremonies over the weekend. Also, 32 students were honored with the first Work Ethic Diploma from our local Chamber.

Did you know? AERS is a Maryland Medicaid funded program that is available locally. AERS provides comprehensive evaluations for anyone 18 or older, and also for older adults and functionally disabled adults who need connected to resources, need long term care, or are at risk for institutionalization.

Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office is looking for more information regarding a boat fire involving four boats at Xtreme Power Sports in Accident over the weekend. Anyone with information is requested to contact 301-387-0437 or 301-766-3888.

The weather for today will be sunny, with a high near 57 and a low around 40. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph.

The Verso Luke Mill ceased operations after 131 years on Friday. This will have a huge impact and ripple effect for our community. Here is an opinion piece by Logan Ray Kitzmiller, trustee, United Steelworkers Local 676.

Mike took this photo off of the docks at Stilwater:

The weather for today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 70 and a low around 56. West wind 7 to 9 mph. Saturday will be sunny, with a high near 73 and a low around 57. A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunday is mostly cloudy, colder, with a high of 67 and a low around 45. Showers likely before 11am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 11am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tonight from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Accident Elementary is holding an Art Gallery, Entertainment, Silent Auction Food & More.

Tomorrow is the first of three license-free fishing days in Maryland.

This weekend has tons of entertainment and outdoor events like the Garrett Trails Clean-up day, the Garrett County Celtic Festival, and the first outdoor Farmer’s Market of the season. Have fun!

Garrett College sophomore Zack Harvey shot a 163, to take fourth place overall in the DIII Region XX golf tournament, to advance to the NJCAA Golf DIII National Championship Touranment for the second year in a row.

Here’s a simple graphic and article related to, what seems to be, a surge of ticks this season:

NBC’s ‘The Voice’ to hold auditions in Pittsburgh on June 19.

The Garrett County Arts Council is hosting three events for the BlueShift Dance group — a masterclass, a workshop and a performance the weekend of June 15th and 16th. BlueShift Dance offers unique and immersive experiences with the human body in performance. The masterclass is for dancers, the workshop is for those who would like to learn dance, and the performance for the general public. Tickets are limited!

In light of the recent severe weather, State Fire Marshal Brian S. Geraci is reminding Marylanders about the life-saving precautions to take when operating portable generators:

• It is important to remember to NEVER use portable generators inside a home, garage or shed. Generators should be used OUTSIDE ONLY.
• While in operation, portable generators should be in a well ventilated area away from all doors, windows and vent openings.
• Regardless of whether your garage is attached or detached to the house, do not use the generator inside of it.
  • Even opening the garage door does not make this a safe option.
  • Remember to allow the generator time to cool down before refueling, and never refuel while in use. Fuel must be stored in a proper, approved container that is outside of all living areas.
  • Make sure to have working Carbon Monoxide detectors properly installed in your home.

*Information contributed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Fire Protection Association.

The weather for today will be mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms expected after 1pm. High near 69 and a low around 56.

Glen Champlin of Glen’s Home Inspections shared this bear in his backyard:

Tonight from 600pm-900pm, the last Have a HART Guest Bartender Challenge will be at Ace’s Run Restaurant & Pub — there will be fun and some amazing silent auction items that supports HART for Animals.

The Celtic Festival is this Saturday from 10:00am-6:00pm offering 5 stages and 3 fields of all-day entertainment in Friendsville, MD. Some highlights are: Shanty Irish, Iona, Aurora Celtic, Greg Latta, Lynn Dale and more! Also, Chautauqua speakers, living history and the MASA Highland Athletic Games. Visit their website for the complete list!

The Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner is June 6th with a registration deadline of Friday, May 31. The dinner celebrates the Chamber members but also the Volunteer of the Year and the Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award are presented.

The closure of the Verso Luke Mill will have a big impact on our region —  state officials have appealed to the U.S. Department of Labor to rule that the plan closure was due in part to trade practices that disadvantaged the workers at Luke. A favorable ruling from the federal government will result in an extended severance for workers along with extra benefits for training and education. Also, the mill provides all the water and sewage service for the town of Luke that will need to be addressed.

Speaking of displaced Luke Mill workers, Camp Dawson in Kingwood, Preston County, WV, will be holding a Job Fair at the Oakland Armory, 14 North Eighth Street, Oakland, MD, tomorrow, May 31, 2019, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The event is open to the public.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on June 1 to celebrate the completion of the Phase IV extension of the nearby Western Maryland Rail Trail.

The weather today will be partly sunny, with a high near 74 and a low around 64. Scattered showers and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. West wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Thanks to Russ Dijak for sending in this photo from over the weekend:

A reminder here to get our Daily Notes, news, and events right to your email inbox – sign up for our once-weekly newsletter here: https://deepcreektimes.com/newsletter-sign-up/

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites anglers to three license-free fishing days: June 1, June 8 annd July 4, 2019. These annual events allow everyone the chance to fish without needing a license, trout stamp or registration. Read more.

The GOBA (Greater Oakland Business Association) Annual Dinner will be on Tuesday, June 18th at 6:00 pm at the Elk’s Lodge. It is open to the public, GOBA business and/or their representatives and volunteers and the meal will be catered by the Elk’s Lodge.

Season 2 Episode 2 of Lakefront Bargain Hunt Renovation will air this weekend on June 1 at 9pm on HGTV. About the episode: “Fix Up on Deep Creek: A couple heads back to their favorite spot from their college days to search for a new vacation home. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, Deep Creek Lake is the largest freshwater body of water in the state of Maryland and the couple thinks it will be a great place to settle down. They’re searching for a fixer upper they can customize with three bedrooms, an open concept design, a large outdoor living space and easy lake access for everyone in the family.”

The Garrett County Board of Commissioners Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2020 Constant Yield Rate will be held at 5:30pm (after the public meeting) on June 3, 2019 at the Garrett Information Enterprise Center at Garrett College.

The weather today will be mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. High near 76 and low around 64. West wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

We had a nice long weekend and some of our readers shared their photos with us! It wasn’t all play for Michael Baumstark over the holiday but at least his office has this great view:

We’d love it if you share your DCL photos with us!

I spent the weekend all over the county: First, the town-wide yard sale in Friendsville. Then, the Downtown Oakland Kick-Off to Summer (where I was able to get the always-delicious Rotary french fries) and then kayaking with my family on Jennings Randolph Lake. Monday was more somber as we honored the loss and sacrifice made by our military members and families at a picnic in Swanton.

A local family celebrates 50 years working the same tree farm. Congrats to the Bittinger-Helbig-Miller family who owns 60 acres in southern Garrett County!

There was a major accident on I-68 Eastbound that had traffic stalled for several hours on Friday afternoon; we are thankful there were no fatalities. Maryland State Police McHenry investigated and was assisted by the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, Natural Resources Police, MSP Aviation, Northern Garrett Rescue, Grantsville VFD and Eastern Garrett VFD.

The Mountain Fresh Farmer’s Market summer season will start June 1st and run through Oct 31st with markets on both Wednesdays and Saturdays. These markets will be held outdoors at the Mountain Fresh Pavilion (in the Oakland Town Parking Lot) from 10:00 am til 1:00 pm come rain or shine.

Maryland is often referred to as “America in Miniture” and we love our mountains here on the Western side of the state. Deep Creek Lake was named an “essential summer outing mountain getaway” by the Washington Post. Read the article about the best in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Partly sunny today with a high near 73 and a low around 59. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm.

Today we honor the men and women who died while serving in our U.S. military. Have a blessed day.

The weather for today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 70 and a low around 60. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 75 and a low around 66. A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 73 and a low around 60. Also, a 50-70% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon.

This weekend is the unofficial start of summer and we’re SO excited! I bought this lightweight hoodie at Deep Creek Lake State Park Discovery Center yesterday — I LOVE it!

The Garrett County Arts Council has announced that Mrs. Kathy Beachler will be the new Executive Director on July 1. She takes over for the retiring Ms. Karen Reckner after a 10-year tenure.

The Garrett County Sheriff’s Office has clarified a recent point: “The Sheriff’s Office had recently placed a notice for residents to be cautious of individuals posing as Potomac Edison employees who may be trying to gain entry into their homes. Although this was a true statement, one local company should not be confused with those individuals who had a criminal intent. HOT SHOTZ Home Performance is a local reputable home energy service provider … should you receive literature from them, please understand that they have your best interests in mind. I am sorry for any confusion that this may have caused. – Sheriff Rob Corley”

Double Oak Farms has mentioned their freezers are stocked fully with steaks, brisket, patties, kabobs, ribs, burger, and roasts for the weekend! Located across from Lee’s Corner Market in Swanton. Open today until 8pm and Saturday Sunday and Monday 9am to 6pm.

The United Way of Garrett County is requesting partnerships with any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a focus of education, financial stability or health. Learn more about partnering here but note the deadline for application is approaching soon.

There are many events happening and entertainment acts performing this weekend. Check out the events calendar and entertainment guide but here are some brief mentions: the Kendall Trail 5k, the Oakland Kick-off to Summer, music at Sipside Lounge, MoonShadow and Black Bear Tavern.

Below is the schedule for the last few weeks of school in Garrett County for the 2018-19 school year:

Monday, May 27: Memorial Day; schools closed
Wednesday, May 29: Seniors last day of school
Saturday, June 1: High School Graduation at the CARC
(Southern High at 10:00 AM, Northern High at 2:00 PM)
Monday, June 10: Three hour early dismissal for students
Tuesday, June 11: Last day of school for students; three
hour early dismissal
Wednesday, June 12: Last day for teachers

Have a fun and enjoyable weekend!

The weather today will be partly sunny with a high near 72 and a low around 57. Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 3pm. West wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Large hail and damaging wind can be threats this afternoon / evening.

This morning’s sunrise courtesy of the Railey Realty camera at the Lakeside Creamery:

Have a HART Guest Bartender Challenge is tonight at Dutch’s at Silver Tree — HART hosts take your bar and food orders and their tips support our homeless animals. Plus silent auctions, 50/50 drawing and lots of fun!

Tomorrow, early, is Birding at Sang Run. Learn tips to birding by ear and listen for distinctive songs, as we stroll through Friends Delight. Meet at the kayak launch. Bring binoculars and wear waterproof hiking boots. Walk is of medium difficulty and will begin at 8am and last approximately 2 ½ hours.

From the Southern Garrett Athletic Association: Congratulations to Josiah Hebb (High Jump), Mike Leydig (High Jump), Aiden Schwab (300 Meter Hurdles), Tia DeGiovanni (Long and Triple Jump), Heidi Nelson (Pole Vault) and Makayla Maule (Discus and High Jump) for qualifying for the State Track and Field Meet this Thursday and Saturday!

The Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center is celebrating 20 Years of “Bringing People and Natural Resources Together” this summer! Stay tuned for special events throughout the summer to celebrate.

The 2019 Graduation ceremony for both Northern and Southern Garrett High Schools will take place at the CARC at Garrett College on Saturday, June 1, 2019. More specific information for Southern can be found here.

A local 11-year-old child, Aaron Ashby, needs help to fight his leukemia. Cindy’s Fund is holding a chicken bbq and blood drive on Friday, June 7, at the Oakland American Legion and they are looking for a  bone marrow match. If you’re a match, they are looking for donations. More details can be found at the link above.

The weather for today will be partly sunny, with a high near 70 and a low around 60. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am.

Take your kids (of any age) to the Kitzmiller library and explore a variety of activities that focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) tonight! From 4:30-5:30pm.

Here’s a photo from behind the scenes of the styled shoot I participated in at North Glade Inn yesterday. Isn’t it just gorgeous?! If you’ve not heard of a styled shoot before it’s basically a mock wedding where vendors can get marketing images taken by photographers.

As the unofficial start to summer approaches (Memorial Day Weekend), the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) reminds the nearly two million motorists anticipated to travel MTDA roadways this holiday to plan ahead, travel off-peak and put safety first:

• Devote your full attention to driving – it is illegal to text and use hand-held cell phones while driving in Maryland.
• Buckle Up!  Every Trip.  Every Seat.  Every Time.
• State law requires vehicles to move over when approaching an emergency, transportation, service and utility vehicle or tow truck with red, yellow or amber flashing lights.  If you are unable to move over, slow down.
• Do not tailgate – keep a safe following distance.
• Make sure your vehicle is “road ready.”  If your vehicle becomes disabled, remain inside and call #77 for assistance.

The weather today will be cloudy then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 61 and a low around 47.

County Roads Division crews will be completing culvert replacement on Crellin Underwood Road today and delays can be expected between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The suggested alternate route for traffic during the time of delays includes Route 39 and Underwood Road. Any questions can be directed to the Oakland County Roads Garage at 301-334-9337 or 301-334-1510

Tonight is the Glade Garden Party if you’re looking for something fun to do: networking, mac and cheese bar and the Terah Crawford Band will provide entertainment! Tickets will be available at the door.

From our friend Lisa with the Wildfulness podcast: an extensive episode on the “Chautauqua Then and Now” Festival in July is posted!

From the Property Owner’s Association: DNR undertook a pilot Zebra Mussel Monitoring project from May 2018 – October 2018. Zebra Mussels are an invasive freshwater mussels species. The following bullets summarize the findings but click here to view the full report:

• Temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH are within or near the preferred zebra mussel habitat range in the lake.
• Overall, Deep Creek Lake is thought to be at low risk for zebra mussel colonization due to low calcium and water hardness concentrations in the lake, as these factors are important for zebra mussel growth, reproduction and survival.
• No zebra mussels were found in the lake, at any location, during any of the 2018 visual surveys suggesting the species is not currently present in Deep Creek Lake.
• The 2018 monitoring effort should be continued in 2019 and 2020 to account for inter- annual variability in temperature and precipitation, which can affect water quality.
• Visual surveys should continue at a similar frequency, as in 2018, to ensure that no populations of zebra mussels exist in Deep Creek Lake.
• Additional monitoring, such as random dock surveys, as well as eDNA studies should be considered if determined to be appropriate and resource feasible.

The Del McCoury family has invited any Verso (Luke Mill) employee, spouse and their children to be admitted free on the final day of their four-day bluegrass music festival Delfest. The festival begins this Thursday, May 23 and goes to Sunday, May 26 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.

Be sure to register for the 5th Annual Kendall Trail 5K Run/3K Walk that will be held this Saturday. It is a fundraiser for Friendsville Ruth Enlow Library and there are cash prizes for 5K first, second and third place male and female runners ages 18 plus. Special gift prizes for the top three Youth under 18 and to the oldest and youngest runners.