Deep Creek Lake MD News and Local Resources: Daily Notes

The weather for today will be sunny, with a high near 44 and a low around 35. Tonight will see some rain, mainly after 4am East wind 6 to 11 mph and gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

The Accident Adult Book Club will meet at the Accident branch of the Ruth Enlow Library today at 11:30 am this morning.

Alpine Lake near Terra Alta West Virginia will be hosting the Chamber’s November Business After Hours  this evening from 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm. Alpine Lake is a short drive and a “world away” from Deep Creek Lake. 

There’s Music Express Karaoke this evening at the Black Bear Tavern in McHenry from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

It’s local night at Dutch’s this evening.  Check out their great food and get a discount just for living here!  Check out our Dining Specials section for more local specials.

Own a business? Find out if your company and your idea qualify for the upcoming DOD and NOAA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitations to win Government seed money for your company at a one hour, free webinar on Friday. I have worked with TEDCO and some of the presenters and this is the real deal. 

The annual Garrett College Veterans Roll Call this year will be held Friday and will honor our fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan.  It will begin at 7:00 am in the college auditorium and include a (Nationwide) Minute of Silence at 2:00 pm followed by bagpipers playing Amazing Grace and a video of Steve Smith’s song The Brave. There will be a 21 Gun Salute and Taps at 4:30 pm. All are invited to attend all or a part and honor our fallen heroes!

This amazing sunset photo was sent in to us by Dee Dave yesterday – WOW!

Also – don’t forget if you are a past or present Garrett Mentors board member or mentor, the 10-year celebration is tonight!

Heard we may be in for some potential snow this weekend.  We will follow and keep you apprised of the situation. Today’s weather will be mostly sunny, with a high near 50 and a low around 32. West wind 8 to 13 mph.

Unofficial voting results are in. At present time, the reports show wide-margin victories in several categories:

Commissioner District 1: Republican Larry Tichnell won over Democrat Judy Carbone
Commissioner District 2: Republican Paul Edwards won unopposed
Commissioner District 3: Republican Jim Hinebaugh won over write-in Republican Bob Gatto
District 1A House of Delegates: Republican Wendell Beitzel won over Democrat Mike Dreisbach
District 1A Maryland State Senate: Republican George Edwards won unopposed
District 2 Board of Education, Rodney Glotfelty won over Nathan Sorber

In the only local, tightly contested race, incumbent Monica Rinker won over Fred Gregg by 113 votes for District 3 Board of Education representative. For more information, visit https://www.garrettcounty.org/board-of-elections/news/

Potomac Edison has planned a brief power outage for the following locations: Accident, Friendsville, McHenry, Oakland.  The outages will occur sometime between 11:00 am and 11:30 am this morning.

Here’s an interesting read: I thought our readers might like to see Hazard Mitigation Plan from Allegany County. Once in, just click on the link. Detailed but interesting.

Frostburg State University (FSU), in partnership with regional chambers of commerce and economic development organizations, is conducting a survey of local businesses and citizens relative to the proposed implementation and impact of a $15 minimum wage. This anonymous survey should take 10-15 minutes of your time and your participation is very important. If you would like to receive the results of the survey, please indicate that at the end of the survey.

The Chamber reports that Garrett County’s unemployment rate in August, the latest month with available data, was 4.4%, as compared to Maryland’s 4.2% and the nation’s 3.9%.  Allegany County’s rate was at 5.9%.

Click here for a fun video a colleague sent me yesterday: A fox, a bear and mid-term elections, oh my?  Actually, I think it demonstrates the benefit of persistence and overcoming obstacles and since we have bears in our area I thought I would share. Note: This is not meant as a political commentary/endorsement, but the video is cool and worth watching (you can turn off the sound if you wish).

The “off-season” still offers some good fishing — here Matt Jones shares his chain pickerel catch with us!

Yesterday was cool and misty around the lake. Today will be partly cloudy and breezy, with a west wind 11 to 20 mph. Gusts as high as 43 mph. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before  3pm. High near 58 and low around 40.

Today is election day. Some would say “finally!” This has definitely been an interesting year, with some significant, contested races for a number of offices.  Here’s a link to the Garrett County Board of Elections which has another link to the sample ballot.  Best of luck to all the candidates and please get out there and VOTE.

We just heard about this new collaboration for the arts in our area: The JumpStart Theatre program will be implemented in Western Maryland beginning in the 2019-20 school year through a partnership between the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) and the Mountain City Center for the Arts (MCCA) in Frostburg. The JumpStart Theatre program creates sustainable theatre arts programs in middle schools. We’ll share more when we have more details.

Did you know that there are 2.5 million veteran-owned businesses in the United States? Collectively, they employ 5 million individuals and have over $1 trillion in annual revenue (receipts).  Now you know.  The SBA has a nice fact sheet I thought my readers might be interested in perusing to learn more as a lead-up to veterans day later this week. Veterans just keep giving back to our community and country and we have a few very successful veteran-owned businesses here in Garrett County. Thanks!

So, you went and voted and now you are hungry.  Our newest advertiser, Ledo’s Pizza has a special today: two calzones or strombolis for $11.99.  Not too shabby.  If you are in the mood for something else, check out the specials on our Daily Specials board. Tell them the Deep Creek Times sent you!

According to Oakland Volunteer Fire Department: Oakland, along with Deer Park, Kitzmiller, Southern Rescue, GC EMS, GC Emergency Management, GC Hazmat Team, Oakland Police and MD State Fire Marshall office responded to Walmart in Oakland for a suspicious package yesterday afternoon. Upon arrival Chief 40 assumed command and placed ER43 and E23 and T44 crews on fire standby, while Oakland police secured the area with U48 and Trailer serving as command post for the incident. Command also requested MD State Fire Marshall Bomb Squad and GC Hazmat Team to Assist in identifying the suspicious package. Fire Marshall’s were able to assess the package thru multiple techniques and quickly deemed the package safe.

There’s a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels/Grantsville Senior Center this Friday evening starring Wheeling Jamboree star Steve Smith, with special Guest Rusty Halo and the Durst Brothers Band. It’s at the Grantsville Senior Center from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Call-301-895-5818 or 301-334-9431 ext. 6139 by November 7th to reserve a spot (if you are dining). Cost is $10, and only $3 for music only.

It has been an exciting year for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, as it celebrates its 150th anniversary and looks to the future with enhanced equipment, manpower and technology. This month the department welcomes 44 new officers to their ranks.

Sunday was a brisk, breezy and sunny day with some showers overnight. The weather for today will be mostly cloudy with showers likely, mainly before 10am. High near 54 and a low around 49. Southeast wind 6 to 16 mph.

Story Tails, a program at the Grantsville branch of the Ruth Enlow Library, is offered today from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Designed to help children develop confidence in reading, each child reads to a dog for 15 – 20 minutes, with the dog’s handler sitting nearby to give reading assistance if necessary. All dogs are certified by Therapy Dogs International. All dogs are then given a multiple choice test to see if they remember what the children read to them (only kidding). This is a great program!

A Touch of Class Limousines just let us know that they are offering a 10% discount on their hourly rate for reservations made in November.  There are some qualifiers, so ask when you give them a call on 301.698.2650 if you are interested in learning more.

There’s a free workshop on Choosing Health Insurance this evening at the Oakland branch of the Ruth Enlow Library from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. University of Maryland Extension Educator Lisa McCoy, RD, offers this free workshop on understanding your health insurance options, making sure you have the right insurance for your family, preparing for unexpected expenses and taking control of your healthcare costs. Registration is not required.

The Chamber’s next Marketing Roundtable event will feature updates on the town of Oakland. The meeting is November 7th from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Chamber conference room. This is an opportunity for area marketing professionals and Chamber member businesses to get an update on all of the new happenings in downtown Oakland, including Brenda McDonnell’s new restaurant and Pat Franc’s SipSide Lounge. There will also be a general update from GOBA’s Michelle Ross. Registration is required and is limited to 30 individuals.

November is American Diabetes Month.  With about 29 million American adults having type 2 diabetes, I wanted to share “the month” and that statistic as diabetes can really throw you a curve, including a 100- to 200- percent increase in medical expenses. I took the quick American Diabetes Association diabetes risk test online just now as I prepped for this post. Took me less than a minute to complete.

If you don’t feel like going to work today or don’t like your job, check out this photo of the inside of a coal mine in Frostburg, circa 1905.  Pretty primitive and dangerous looking conditions to be sure. This photo is courtesy of local historian Al Feldstein — thanks for sharing with us Al!

We just received this listing of activities available at the Discovery Center at Deep Creek State Park later this week.  As usual, they have a nice program schedule planned for the month.  We’ll share more as the month progresses:

Friday, November 9
All Day – Hands on Science Room Open and Scavenger Hunts Available

Saturday, November 10
11:00 am Hungry Critters – Meet us inside the Discovery Center as we feed the critters! You will be given a chance to touch a live reptile or amphibian!
2:00 pm. First Impressions – Some animals are born with a bad reputation.  This interactive program shows that even creepy crawlies have their own important role in nature.  At the end of the program, get the opportunity to meet one of the real animals behind the misconceptions.

Sunday, November 11
11:00 a.m. Pine cone Bird Feeder Making – It’s that time of year again! As you are making a pine cone bird feeder to take home with you, learn about the birds that are stopping by the Discovery Center bird feeders.
2:00 p.m. Aviary Feeding – Join us to learn some interesting facts, hear each bird’s story, and watch these amazing raptors eat!

Yesterday turned out to be a wonderful day at the lake, except for some clouds in the early evening. Todays weather is cloudy with a high near 51 and a low around 36. Showers likely, mainly after 5pm and a Southwest wind of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Saturday rain and snow showers likely until about 2pm; mostly cloudy, with a high near 41 and a low around 34. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a crisp high near 48 and a low around 40.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!  Bittinger’s All You Can Eat Wings are back! Come out to the Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department on Friday night and enjoy all you can eat wings for $15! Eat-in starts at 5:00 pm and take-out begins at 4:30 pm.

Wanted to let our readers know that our Railey Realty webcam at Lakeside Creamery is down for maintenance and an upgrade.  Our Deep Creek Times webcam and our other webcams around the lake, county and Wisp are all up and running and available to give all a good view of the weather, traffic and conditions. They are a great way to get a real-time look at things when you are out of town or en-route to the area.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting orders for shrub and tree seedlings from the John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery for the spring 2019 planting season. There are over 50 varieties of trees and shrubs available for purchase, including over 20 pollinator friendly options. Minimum order is 25 seedlings of the same variety.

HART for Animals is hosting their annual Black Tie and Tails event at Wisp on Saturday.  This is great event, by a great organization, for a great cause. Give them a call to see if there’s still room to squeeze-in.

The MD Small Business Development Center, Western Region, is partnering with the Federal Reserve to conduct a Small Business Credit Survey for both pre-start and existing businesses and would like business owners or managers to participate.

The Allegany County Arts Council is hosting Will’s Creek Exhibition – “Overlooked” – a juried arts exhibition of contemporary American art.  In its 19th year, the submitted artworks will be on display at the council’s two professional art galleries from this Saturday through December 1st.

There’s lots to do at and around the lake this weekend, including high school football and a bunch of music.  Check them all out in our Events section. 

Finally, as I write this, there’s a group of lovely and talented Civic Club ladies in my basement working on their decorations and tree for the Festival of Trees event later this month.  Here’s a quick photo I took of the team around their work-in-progress tree.  They do great work for our community!

Yesterday was unseasonably warm (remember Hurricane Sandy!) and it was a nice day here at the lake. Today will be partly sunny, with a high near 68 and a low around 50. Southwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Rain likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 1am.

Happy November dear readers!  November gets me thinking about the holiday season and all that goes along with that.  Did you know that November was the ninth month of the ancient Roman calendar and retained its name (from the Latin novem meaning “nine”) when January and February were added. November occurs in late spring in the Southern Hemisphere and late autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

Working H Meats has started taking orders for fresh, GMO-free Thanksgiving Turkeys. Order online here.

Don’t forget that there is a Women’s Networking Lunch today at Ace’s Run Restaurant and Pub at Noon. Contact Terah Crawford at 301.487.4914 for more information and to see if there is still room.

Chill out! The Adult Coloring Club meets from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm today at the Grantsville branch of the Ruth Enlow Library. This program is free and designed as a quiet time for adults to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.  To register contact Kim at 301.895.5298 or kim@relib.net.

There’s Music Express Karaoke this evening at the Black Bear Tavern from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

Congratulations to Audrey W. for correctly guessing Autumn Glory in Downtown Oakland as our October “Where Am I?” contest. Be sure to send us your guess for this month’s contest!

Did you know that Maryland ranks as one of the fastest-growing states for distilleries in the country, with 25 distilleries of all sizes and over 100 brands on the market. Garrett County even has its own cooperage (distillers’ barrel maker) in early development.  To celebrate Maryland’s growing presence, November has been declared Maryland Spirits Month.  Check out this interactive map site for more information.

The weather for today will be partly sunny, with a high near 63. and a low of 55. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph. And a 30% chance of precipitation after 5pm.

Happy Halloween to all.  We wish you all a safe and fun holiday!

Today’s Mountain Fresh Farmers Market is the final outdoor market of the season.  It runs from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at the downtown pavilion in Oakland.  There will be indoor markets on select dates over the winter starting November 17th.

Five new members were inducted into the Garrett College Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday evening, including:  Darryl Dupert, baseball (1987-89); Marcia DeBerry Knepp, women’s basketball (1989-91); Lawrence Nesselrodt, baseball (1979-81) and coach (1985-93); Ernie Shotwell, baseball (1973-75); and Erica McBride Stewart, women’s basketball and volleyball (1997-99). Congratulations to all of these exceptional individuals.

There’s a number of children’s activities today at the Oakland, Friendsville and Accident branches of the Ruth Enlow Library.

The Maryland Historical Trust is hosting workshops around the state for prospective applicants for the fiscal year 2019 Capital Grant Program for historic preservation projects. This grant is a competitive funding program for construction projects on buildings or structures on or eligible for the Maryland Register. I am guessing we definitely have some structures in the area that qualify.

There is a new listing in our online marketplace: a 2013 Buick Enclave. Take a look!

There’s a Women’s Networking Lunch this Thursday at Noon at Ace’s Run Restaurant and Pub. I bet you can still RSVP and attend.  I have heard nothing but good comments about these monthly events.  Contact Terah Crawford at 301.487.4914 for more information.

On a more ominous note, did you hear that famous Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger died yesterday in the prison in nearby Bruceton Mills, West Virginia (off of I 68, on the way towards Morgantown). It was apparently his first (and last) day at the prison where it looks like he may have been murdered. He was made famous as the subject of the Oscar-winning film “The Departed” and was also played by Johnny Depp in the film “Black Mass.” Fortunately, we don’t have any prisons in Garrett County and I like it that way.

Here’s a reprint of today’s Halloween activities again for our readers:

????????WEDNESDAY, OCT 31????????
Trick or Treat
Southern Garrett Rescue Squad @5pm-6:30pm

????????WEDNESDAY, OCT 31????????
Arrowhead Market Trick or Treat
Arrowhead Market @5pm -7pm

Candy Giveaway
Oakland Lowe’s @5pm-7pm

✭Town of Friendsville Trick or Treat
Friendsville Town Limits @5:30pm-7:30pm

✭Town of Grantsville Trick or Treat
Grantsville Town Limits @5:30pm-7pm

✭Town of Mountain Lake Park Trick or Treat
Mountain Lake Park Town Limits @5:30pm-6:30pm

✭Town of Oakland Trick or Treat
Oakland Town Limits @5:30pm-7pm

Divine Hope Church Trunk-or-Treat
110 Weber Road Oakland, MD 21550 @5:30 – 7pm
Also giving away Bibles and food; for more information: 240.321.4673

✭Town of Accident Trick or Treat
Accident Town Limits @6pm

Trunk or Treat
Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire Dept @6pm-8pm

Fall Festival
Accident Fire Hall @7pm-9pm
Glow in the dark room, hay ride (weather permitting), photo booth and refreshments available. Sponsored by Accident Community Planning Group and Ruth Enlow Library (Accident Branch).

Mad Hatter Halloween Party
MoonShadow @8pm-11pm
A SPOOKY TEA PARTY with DJ/HOST: KRISS LOORE. Vintage halloween clips on the big screen, games, costume contest, spooky stories, & more! $5 cover

Here is a sunset photo I captured last evening:

Weather for today will be patchy fog before 10am; otherwise, mostly sunny with a high near 52 and a low around 44.

The Ruth Enlow Library is holding their children’s STEM Festival at the Kitzmiller branch from 10:30 am – 11:00 am this morning.

Don’t forget that early voting is open until November 1st at various sites around the county.  You can check out the ballot online to get the “lay of the land” before you vote.

Here’s the link to the Garrett County Board of Elections home page for additional insight on voting locations, etc. for election day on November 6th.

A special thanks to Kellie Zbignewich for this cute photo!

The library also has a Lap Sit activity for children scheduled for today from 10:30 am – 11:00 am at the Oakland branch location.

The Greater Oakland Business Association is looking for member events for Christmas to put in their communications by this Friday.  They are also looking for donations for children’s gift bags and the sleigh ride. Contact Michelle Ross at GOBA (phone – 301.334.2691 or email – mainstreetgoba@gmail.com) for more information.  Note your organization must be a member of GOBA to donate.

Did you know that according to a survey conducted by Lend Edu, the average American intends to spend $185.50 on Halloween this year? This number is up from their report last year, which found that the average American intended to spend $169.81 on Halloween in 2017.

Showers likely today, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 41 and a low of 35 degrees. West wind around 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

On Friday, Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general and four major cities in filing written comments demanding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) withdraw their proposal to eliminate the national Clean Car Standards.

David Levesque, Employment Specialist and Workshop Facilitator with the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, will be at the Garrett College Southern Outreach Center/Oakland Armory Building today beginning at 8:00 am, for in-person job seeker assistance. Appointments encouraged (call 301.777.1221, ext. 317 to schedule), but walk-ins are welcome.

Congratulations to Mike Koch and Firefly Farms for being named 2018 Champions of Maryland Manufacturing by the Regional Manufacturing Institute (RMI).  Firefly and other honorees will be celebrated at a November 29th gala in Baltimore.  

Here’s a “Watershed Wisdom Update” just issued by Friends of Deep Creek Lake. An “nteresting” photo of Arrowhead Cove is included.

What does your dream cabin look like?  Take this simple and quick “quiz” from Zillow to gain some insight into your personal “cabin style.”  Based on my answers, looks like I prefer simple and traditional, which doesn’t surprise me.

The 2018 Wild Turkey Observation Survey Summary shows turkey reproduction in Western Maryland was below average, but populations remain healthy and sustainable and should provide ample opportunity for hunters seeking to catch a bird for dinner.

Here’s the Halloween event listing that Sarah put together for you and as first published late last week. Please watch out for Ghouls and Goblins as you have some fun!

????????MONDAY, OCT 29????????
Trick or Treat
Hill Top Fruit Market (Grantsville) @5pm-7pm

First Peoples Annual Trick or Treat
Grantsville Shopping Plaza @5:30pm-7pm
Children dressed in costumes can stop by each of the participating businesses starting at the Shop N Save end.

????????WEDNESDAY, OCT 31????????
Trick or Treat
Southern Garrett Rescue Squad @5pm-6:30pm

????????WEDNESDAY, OCT 31????????
Arrowhead Market Trick or Treat
Arrowhead Market @5pm -7pm

✭Town of Friendsville Trick or Treat
Friendsville Town Limits @5:30pm-7:30pm

✭Town of Grantsville Trick or Treat
Grantsville Town Limits @5:30pm-7pm

✭Town of Mountain Lake Park Trick or Treat
Mountain Lake Park Town Limits @5:30pm-6:30pm

✭Town of Oakland Trick or Treat
Oakland Town Limits @5:30pm

Divine Hope Church Trunk-or-Treat
110 Weber Road Oakland, MD 21550 @5:30 – 7pm
Also giving away Bibles and food; for more information: 240.321.4673

✭Town of Accident Trick or Treat
Accident Town Limits @6pm

Trunk or Treat
Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire Dept @6pm-8pm

Fall Festival
Accident Fire Hall @7pm-9pm
Glow in the dark room, hay ride (weather permitting), photo booth and refreshments available. Sponsored by Accident Community Planning Group and Ruth Enlow Library (Accident Branch).

Mad Hatter Halloween Party
MoonShadow @8pm-11pm
A SPOOKY TEA PARTY with DJ/HOST: KRISS LOORE. Vintage halloween clips on the big screen, games, costume contest, spooky stories, & more! $5 cover

 

 

We have compiled a list of upcoming Garrett County Halloween Events — there’s something going on for everyone!

 

????????FRIDAY, OCT 26????????
Yough Glades Annual Fall Fest
Yough Glades Elementary School @6pm
For Yough Glades students and their families; Kidz Bop DJ, food, cake walk, games, dress up and more.

 

✭Town of Kitzmiller Trick or Treat
Kitzmiller Town Limits @6pm-8pm

 

Judy Center and Partners Family Event *NEW LOCATION*
Old Gym at Garrett College @5pm-7pm
Costumes and fall festivities! The gym will be set up as a mad scientist lab where the kids will visit all the decorated tables and receive all kinds of goodies. There will be face painting and other activities.

 

House of Illusions Haunted House
Kitzmiller Elementary School @8pm
Cost $ 5.00 per person; Questions? Call Heather Berg 301-334-7730. Event sponsored by the Kitzmiller Empowerment Group

 

????????SATURDAY, OCT 27????????
Trick or Treat Open House
WoodmenLife (103A Drane Drive, Accident) @11am-3pm
Come out in your best costume and check out the area WoodmenLife office. Enjoy refreshments and sign up for prizes.

 

GCC Technologies Annual Trunk or Treat
GCC Technologies (across from 84 Lumber) @12-3pm
Trick or Treating for kids 12 and under; haunted house, Halloween games, contests, bake sale… and more!
Please donate a canned good per person for admission. All proceeds to benefit Garrett Mentors and Cindy’s Fund.

 

Trunk or Treat
Oakland Tractor Supply @1pm-4pm

 

FOR THE THRILL OF IT *NEW LOCATION*
White Barn at Lucas Farm @5pm
Presented by Brenda’s Body Shop and Samantha Funding the Arts: fun, games and dancing activities. Working to break the record of 147 zombies so recruit your friends!

 

No Tricks, All Treats Family Glow Night
Sunny Daze Salon (115 Arnold Lane, Mt Lake Park) 5pm-8pm
Candy, games, bob apples, face painting, prizes – kids and adults! The brightest glowing costume wins!

 

Kitzmiller Fall Social
288 W. Main St, Kitzmiller @5pm
Costume judging @5:30pm; raffle, food, games and activities for all ages.

 

✭Swanton Community Halloween Social
Swanton Community Center @5pm
Parade at 5:30 through part of downtown Swanton. Trunk or Treat to follow. Food, drinks, and raffles too!

 

House of Illusions Haunted House
Kitzmiller Elementary School @6:30pm
Cost $ 5.00 per person; Questions? Call Heather Berg 301-334-7730. Event sponsored by the Kitzmiller Empowerment Group

 

Halloween Party
Mountain State Brewing Company @5pm-10pm
Costume Contest, DJ Shawn and more!

 

????????SUNDAY, OCT 28????????
Trunk or Treat
Crellin United Brethren (Church past Gibson’s gas station on left) @2pm-4pm
The community of Crellin is joining together to make Trunk or Treat bigger and better than before; If you are interested in decorating your vehicle and handing out candy, please be in a parking spot between 1-1:30 so we can be set up and ready by 2! Any questions contact Amber Martin 240-442-7619

 

????????MONDAY, OCT 29????????
First Peoples Annual Trick or Treat
Grantsville Shopping Plaza @5:30pm-7pm
Children dressed in costumes can stop by each of the participating businesses starting at the Shop N Save end.

 

????????WEDNESDAY, OCT 31????????
Arrowhead Market Trick or Treat
Arrowhead Market @5pm -7pm

 

✭Town of Friendsville Trick or Treat
Friendsville Town Limits @5:30pm-7:30pm

✭Town of Grantsville Trick or Treat
Grantsville Town Limits @5:30pm-7pm

✭Town of Mountain Lake Park Trick or Treat
Mountain Lake Park Town Limits @5:30pm-6:30pm

✭Town of Oakland Trick or Treat
Oakland Town Limits @5:30pm

 

Divine Hope Church Trunk-or-Treat
110 Weber Road Oakland, MD 21550 @5:30 – 7pm
Also giving away Bibles and food; for more information: 240.321.4673

 

✭Town of Accident Trick or Treat
Accident Town Limits @6pm

 

Trunk or Treat
Eastern Garrett Volunteer Fire Dept @6pm-8pm

 

Fall Festival
Accident Fire Hall @7pm-9pm
Glow in the dark room, hay ride (weather permitting), photo booth and refreshments available. Sponsored by Accident Community Planning Group and Ruth Enlow Library (Accident Branch).

 

Mad Hatter Halloween Party
MoonShadow @8pm-11pm
A SPOOKY TEA PARTY with DJ/HOST: KRISS LOORE. Vintage halloween clips on the big screen, games, costume contest, spooky stories, & more! $5 cover

Scott Alexander is at Moonshadow in McHenry on Friday evening from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Moonshadow will also be hosting 18 Strings on Saturday evening from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm.

There’s more than ghosts and goblins around this time of year and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month brings to mind the need of small businesses in Garrett County and elsewhere to protect themselves.  In fact, an estimated 25 percent of businesses don’t open again after a major disaster, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety. Protect your small business by identifying the risks relevant to your location, both natural and man-made, and developing a plan of action.

Some animals are actually born with a bad reputation! Check-out this interactive program, First Impressions,  at the Discovery Center on Sunday to learn if their reputations are truly deserved.

The weather for today will be increasing clouds with a high near 47 and a low around 35.

You may have heard about a big Nor’easter supposedly headed our way… currently it is looking like it will be a rain-filled weekend. Keeping an eye out, though, anything is possible.

There was a Maryland House of Delegate candidate forum held at Allegany College earlier this week.  Some interesting and opposite perspectives and opinions related to the fracking issue (yes, “that” again) came out in the discussion.  I think it’s worth a read whatever your position.

Garrett College announced that it is the recipient of a $2 million gift from a trust set up by the late Daniel E. Offutt III, an Oakland native who was an artist, metal sculptor and philanthropist. This gift will go towards supporting the college’s new STEM building, programs and scholarships. Congratulations!

Speaking of grants and Garrett College, their Continuing Education division is offering an “Introduction to Grant Writing” workshop on November 5th and 12th, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm at the G.C. Northern Outreach Center in Grantsville. Call 301.387.3069 for more information or to register. This introductory workshop is for those who are unsure of how to write a grant, approach funding sources, or make grant dollars work for their needs.

You can choose an old favorite or a new tune and sing your heart out with Music Express at Black Bear Karaoke tonight from 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm at the Black Bear Tavern!

The Maryland Environmental Trust, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is accepting applications through November 15th for “Keep Maryland Beautiful” grants. This program will help volunteer-based, nonprofit groups, communities and land trusts in Maryland to support environmental education projects, litter removal, citizen stewardship and to protect natural resources in urban and rural areas.

The Greater Oakland Business Association (GOBA) has a few events coming up:

• Trick or Treating in Oakland is Wednesday, October 31st, from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm.
• The Veterans Day Parade is Sunday, November 11th, at 11:00 am.
• A Great Small Town Christmas will be December 7th & 8th.

The weather for today will be partly sunny, with a high near 42 and a low of 27. Still a bit windy with Northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.

The Market Fresh Farmers Market is winding down for the season over the next two weeks, with one market today from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.  They are also planning on holding their Winter Market again this year.

Congratulations to two Garrett College golfers: Sophomore Zack Harvey won the WPCC championship held at the Links of Spring Church in Apollo, Pennsylvania this weekend. Also, teammate Brady Merrick, a freshman, was selected to the five player WPCC all-conference team. Way to go gentlemen.

Check out the bedroom set and an antique motorcycle for sale on the Deep Creek Times online marketplace.

Kam Gillespie of Haley farm is giving a lecture this evening from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Indira Gandi, the first female prime minister of India.

The Garrett County Commission for Women is hosting a program around the short documentary Heroin(e) this Saturday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Garrett College Career Technology Training Center (CTTC) in Accident. The cost is $10.

Oh Deer! Garrett College is offering a Home Deer Processing workshop to provide hunters with basic skills to process their own deer. Topics include field dressing, knives, skinning the deer, meat cutting and packing. The course is November 5th, 7th and 12th, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Career Technology Training Center in Accident. Contact Continuing Education at 301.387.3069 for more information or to register.

We just found this in the Baltimore Business Journal online edition. A massive home situated on the lake will go to auction later this month after being previously listed for $2.69 million. The six-bedroom home on Shingle Camp Road spans 13,215 square feet of indoor and outdoor space that includes a private dock. The estate will sell without reserve, and bidding will take place via an online marketplace beginning Oct. 25th through Oct. 29th.

The annual Art Beckman Breakfast to benefit Cindy’s Fund will be held at Southern Rescue Squad on Saturday, November 10th from 7:00 am – Noon. There’s all you can eat pancakes, French toast and plenty of other breakfast goodies available, all for a donation.

The weather for today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 52 and a low around 32. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

As reported by Allegheny Mountains Weather, we are to keep an eye out for potentially a significant winter event this upcoming weekend. As always, models do vary but the Euro model shows potential Noreaster heading our way this weekend.

Author Melanie Burgess will share her award winning book, Stinky Owl, at the Kitzmiller branch of the Ruth Enlow Library from 10:30 am to 11:30 am this morning. The story is inspired by the birds at Rocky Gap State Park Aviary. The program is free and open to the public and copies of the book will be available for sale, so fly on over!

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now accepting orders for shrub and tree seedlings from the John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery for the spring 2019 planting season. The nursery offers more than 50 species of shrubs and trees for large-scale plantings on private land. Orders can be made by emailing seedlingsales.dnr@maryland.gov.

This week is School Bus Safety Week and governor Hogan has asked all drivers to please obey school bus signs and be aware of our children leaving or boarding the bus. According to a Maryland State Department of Education study of of school bus “stop arm” violations in Maryland, a total of 3,812 violations were recorded on a single day last spring, compared to 3,384 observed violations in 2017.

Congratulations go out to Judy Carbone, president of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Garrett Branch, who was named the 2019 AAUW-Maryland Woman of Distinction at the 2018 Fall Conference of AAUW-Maryland this past weekend.

Saturday, October 27th, is National Drug Take Back Day, when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is providing the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. There are three permanent collection points in Garrett County. Americans turned in 450 tons of prescription drugs at almost 10,000 sites during this event last April!

Just heard that St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Oakland is having their next Senior Moments 50+ Gang lunch get-together at Tomanetti’s on November 7th. Everyone can gather for the 12 noon Mass in the Daily Mass Chapel and then meet for lunch.  They will also have a little discussion regarding what to do for  Christmas donations to various charities in the community.

We had our first snowfall of the year yesterday.  Just a dusting of less than an inch, but it was still beautiful. Today’s weather will be mostly sunny with a high of 51 and a low of 39. Here’s a photo from our back yard yesterday morning.

The monthly Lego Club, designed for children ages four and up and featuring free building time with lots of building bricks, is on from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm this evening at the Oakland branch of the Ruth Enlow Library. Children are encouraged to build a creation based on a new theme each month.

We are happy to welcome two new physicians to Garrett County:  Mariana Bollinger, MD, and Jason Van Antwerp, MD, are both on staff at Garrett Regional Medical Center. Both are serving general patients and both will also be serving OB patients, which Dr. Bollinger has already begun. Welcome to our community!

Deep Creek Winter Sports Team (DCWST) registration for the 2018-19 Winter Season is now open for children, grandchildren, relatives or friends ages 7-18 who are avid/aspiring skiers or snowboarders. Joining DCWST provides for a great experience and skill-building, along with opportunities to compete regionally and locally in sanctioned ski races and snowboard competitions.

For those of you really into state-level public works details, I wanted to make you aware that the next Maryland Public Works meeting will be held in Annapolis on October 31st.

The Civic Club of Oakland is sponsoring its first-ever bus trip to the Pennsylvania Christmas Show in Harrisburg, PA on Thursday, November 29th. This Christmas Show is one of the largest in the country according to the event web site www.pachristmasshow.com. Tickets are available through www.eventbrite.com (search PA Christmas – Civic Club of Oakland) and are $53 (including fees).

While the warm-weather months are traditionally seen as the best time to buy a home, there is something to be said for purchasing in the fall season according to a recent article in Zillow.com.  Now all of you out-of-town readers have no excuse not to act and buy a second, or first, home in our great community.