Deep Creek Lake MD News and Local Resources: Daily Notes

Happy Valentine’s Day! ????

The weather today will be a chance of snow showers and freezing rain between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of flurries and freezing rain after 5pm; otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 29 and a low around 20. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.  Saturday will be a chance of freezing rain after 8am, mixing with snow after 5pm. Patchy fog before 2pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 27 and a low aroun 24. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Saturday night is a chance of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Sunday will be mostly cloudy wiht a slight chance of freezing rain mixing with snow in the afternoon. A high near 31 and a low around 18. Calm wind.

Look at these adorable clay earrings a friend’s daughter made! She is so talented! (if you’re interested in a pair, message us and I will connect you with Harper’s mom)

Herrington Manor State Park is, again,a great place to cross country ski. There is about a 12″ base with the red, blue and green trails having been groomed, Thursday 2/11. Note: per Governor Hogan’s most recent order in regards to COVID-19, Herrington Manor and New Germany State Park are not offering cross-country ski (or fat bike) rentals.

The latest reported COVID-19 information for Garrett County includes:

• 6% of county residents have received a COVID-19 vaccination and 4.7% have received their second doses compared to the state rates of 9.4% for first and 3.0% for the second
• A 7-day case rate of 11.32 per 100,000 Garrett County residents, compared to Maryland’s case rate of 21.7
• A 7-day positivity rate of 3.87%, compared to Maryland’s rate of 5.32%
• A total of 1,823 COVID-19 cases
• A total of 57 deaths due to COVID-19 or its complications

Better late than never (after the last storm….), our SnowStix are on their way! Tell Mr. Berk that Deep Creek Times sent ya!

Did you know? Located in the McHenry Business Park adjacent to the Garrett County Airport, there is a MEDCO (Maryland Economic Development Corp) spec building is now available for lease? Over 20,000 square feet of flex space!

Garrett County’s Agriculture Marketing Grant Program was created to aid in the promotion of agriculture-based businesses in Garrett County. Grants up to $750 each may be awarded annually to fund up to 90% of project costs.

One more reminder about the Kitzmiller Lion’s Club Soup Sale!

It’s AYCE FISH DINNERS tonight at Alpine Lake Resort (just 7 miles from Oakland) and Valentine’s Day Dinner Specials and RIB NIGHT tomorrow evening!

And, lastly today, I bet you’re curious about this virtual event: Wild Sex: How Nature Does It by Kerry Wixted, Education and Outreach Specialist.

The weather today will be cloudy with a chance of snow showers and freezing rain. A high near 30 and a low around 17. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. There is a slight winter threat for Saturday, and Monday into Tuesday. If these threats materialize, they may cause travel disruptions.

The Snow Emergency Plan for Garrett County went into effect at 2030 hours (8:30 PM) yesterday. We received nearly 8″ of snow overnight. It’s a pretty slippery snow; my husband couldn’t get in the driveway after work yesterday.

Send us your winter DCL photos! We’d love to see your winter wonderland! Email info@deepcreektimes.com

COVID-19 testing at the MEDCO Building in the McHenry Business Park is canceled today due to inclement weather. Persons with symptoms may call the Garrett County Health Department at 301-334-7697 to schedule an appointment. Testing will resume on Tuesday unless otherwise announced.

Did you know? Maryland State Parks welcomed a record number of visitors in 2020—more than 20 million—far surpassing the previous record of 14.9 million total visitors in 2019.

Thanks to Cody Organ for sharing his winter vacation photos with us (and you!):

A reminder from the Town of Oakland: The Town’s weather forecast for the coming weekend and next week calls for low temperatures within the 20’s and below. The anticipation of extremely cold temperatures may have an effect on the Town’s water distribution system and may result in higher than normal water main failures. The Town of Oakland Water Department recommends that citizens and businesses consider leaving a small trickle of water running in a sink to avoid water line freezing. See more tips about avoiding freezing pipes here.

Today we have a slight chance of snow before 9:00 am, then a slight chance of snow and freezing rain between 9:00 am and 10:00 am, then snow likely after 10:00 am. Patchy fog late morning and then after 2:00 pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 32 degrees. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.Tonight we expect snow with patchy fog around 25.  Chance of precipitation is 80% with new snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

You can check out the bigger picture of the next storm from AccuWeather here. If you scroll down you can see the Deep Creek Lake area in the purple shading.

Herrington Manor State Park yesterday reported a nice base of 8″ -10″ on their cross country trails, with one inch of “fresh fluff” as of yesterday morning.  Their Red, Blue and Green trails are open and were last groomed on February 3rd.  Due to the pandemic, they are still not offering ski and snowshoe rentals.  You can call them at 301.334.9180 for more information.

Maryland providers have now administered 727,828 COVID-19 vaccines, and 85% of all first doses received from the federal government have been given. The daily average for shots administered increased today to 24,871. I finally found a benefit to being over the age of 65.  I am scheduled to get my COVID vaccine today.  I have never been this excited to get a shot before!

Michele Liston, branch manager of the Friendsville branch of the Ruth Enlow Library, has announced her retirement effective at the end of February.  A 32-year veteran of the Library and fixture of the Friendsville community, she will be greatly missed by many. We wish her the best and thank her for all her years of service to the community.

The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission (MMCC) announced yestereday that effective February 16th, all licensing and registration forms will be available on the statewide licensing portal Maryland OneStop (onestop.md.gov), including patient and caregiver applications, provider registrations and certifications, clinical director applications, business license and registration applications, and cannabis agent registrations. Please contact onestop.mmcc@maryland.gov with any questions.

The Garrett County Public Schools announced that the annual comprehensive kindergarten registration program will begin on February 16, 2021. This program is for all children entering kindergarten for the first time in August 2021. Children who will be five years old by September 1, 2021, are required to register for kindergartenHere’s some feel-good environmental stories for you, from both fresh and marine environments.

The Garrett County Public Schools also announced that they will be accepting applications for Pre-Kindergarten starting February 16th. To be eligible for this program, a child must be 4 years old by September 1, 2021. Interested persons need to complete a pre-kindergarten application online or at the school within their district.

Despite a challenging 2020, NOAA Habitat continued protecting, restoring, and telling stories about habitat and its value to fisheries and communities. Here are the stories, videos and topics that surfaced as some of their most popular content throughout the year. Some inspirations for us within the Deep Creek Lake watershed I think.

Finally today, the Garrett County Health Department is sponsoring the distribution of Narcan at community sites around the county. Individuals can pick up Narcan and receive education on how to administer it. Narcan is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It can quickly restore normal breathing to someone who has experienced an opioid overdose. Pickup events will take place from 6:00 – 7:00 pm at the following dates and locations:

• 02/16 – Mountain Lake Park Town Hall
• 02/23 – Deer Park Community Building
• 03/02 – Grantsville Park, Volleyball Court Pavilion #3
• 03/09 – Bloomington Fire Department
• 03/16 – Loch Lynn Town Hall
• 03/23 – Accident Town Hall

Crisp and clear day yesterday.  Today a little snow is likely, mainly before 1:00 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36 degrees and a west wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Tonight will be cloudy, with a low around 22.

Don’t forget to vote today if you live in Friendsville.  The Friendsville town elections will be held in their town hall on Chestnut street.  Here’s more information.

I beleive that things are picking up and looking better relative to COVID vaccinations and incidence.  As of yesterday, Maryland providers had administered 699,733 COVID-19 vaccines, and 84.3% of all first doses received from the federal government have been given. Further, 12.30% of the Garrett County population has been vaccinated (first doses). To-date, the County has 1,821 confirmed positives and 57 deaths.

Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) has again been awarded an ‘A’ by the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade a national distinction recognizing Garrett Regional Medical Center’s achievements in protecting patients from harm and providing safe health care. GRMC continues to “rock it” on many levels and we are all very fortunate to have them in our rural community.  Here’s more details on their latest recognition. Way to go Mark and team!

Just heard that State Farm Agent Andy Nelson has opened an office right beside Shentel opposite of the Walmart intersection in Dr. Wolfes old office. Andy is taking over a part of Rob Michael’s previous book of business since Rob has recently retired. Andy plans to work hard to fill the shoes of Rob and continue his legacy of providing excellent customer support and integrity to the community.  Feel free to call Andy at 301.859.4040. We wish Andy and his new team the best.

Join the Ruth Enlow Library today for a 30-minute lesson from the kitchen for healthy ideas on what to do with canned tomatoes with Howard County’s SNAP Ed’s educator, Razan Sahuri. The event starts at 2:00 pm with registration required.  Here’s the scoop

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on the proposed fiscal year 2022 annual work plans for the following state forests: Chesapeake/Pocomoke, Green Ridge, Potomac-Garrett, and Savage River. The comment period concludes March 5th. Annual work plans help the department identify priorities within the scope of the forests’ long-range management.

And, speaking of the DNR, they have posted the proposed 2021-2022 Migratory Game Bird Seasons for public review and comment through Feb. 26. The department’s website also features a short presentation detailing the remaining steps in the regulatory process, data updates, and the status of the Atlantic Population (migratory) Canada goose population. Citizens can provide input online, by phone at 410.260.8540.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month! Schedule your pet’s appointment for a free oral screening and assessment at the Bredel Clinic at HART on Bumble Bee Road, and receive 15% off any dental work when you schedule your appointment within 30 days after your pet’s dental assessment. Call them at 301.387.7729 for details nd to schedule. Gee, I wonder if this applies to my pet guppy, aka “JAWS?”

We had a nice weekend weather-wise, with lots of skiers in town.  The weather for today will be mostly sunny, with a high near 33 degrees. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable. We have a slight chance of snow showers after 1:00 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Don’t forget that the Kitzmiller Lions Club is currently holding a Soup Sale! Order your soup by the quart or by the gallon. Chili, Vegetable Beef, and Chicken Noodle available.  Why not combine your soup pick-up with a trip to the history-rich Kitzmiller area of Garrett County.

And, speaking of local Lions Clubs, the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club is still looking for experienced skiers to serve as sighted guides at Wisp this week and February 16 and 17th.  Contact Joey Simson at 301.616.4586 or at jsimson14@gmail.com for more information.

Garrett County will be famous! Well, it is already pretty famous, but Maryland Public Television (MPT) will be featuring a farm in Garrett County on the next Maryland Farm and Harvest show.  It is scheduled to run this Tuesday at 7:00 pm.  Tune in.

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center recently had two electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations installed by Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The stations are among the first such units the company has installed in its Maryland service area. Now, I just need a new Tesla!

The Deep Creek Lake Policy Review Board will hold its first meeting for 2021 at 4:00 pm this afternoon. Public Attendance is virtual only. Join on Google Meet: meet.google.com/ebd-cxyi-bte Or by phone: 978-484-0550 (PIN : 465087870).

Here’s a quick factoid for you folks: When Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine recently asked readers if the pandemic had taken a toll on their retirement nest egg, 84% said “no” and that they were on track, and 16% said “yes,” due to lower earnings, dialing back contributions and/or having to take a loan or withdrawal from their retirement account.

Don’t forget that MoonShadow Restaurant is offering an outdoor firepit complete with free s’mores (with the presentation of a Wisp ski pass). Call ahead because seating may be limited! 240.442.5542.

Have a wonderful Monday dear readers…

It seems as though there is “a lot of weather” that will be happening throughout the upcoming weekend:

The weather today will be a chance of snow showers and freezing rain before noon, then a chance of snow showers between noon and 5pm. Patchy fog between 11am and noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 25 by 11am. West wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Saturday snow showers are likely, mainly before 7am then partly sunny, with a high near 30 and a low of 19. West wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday will have snow and freezing rain likely before 1pm, then a slight chance of snow between 1pm and 4pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 29 and a low around 12.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of the area until 10 AM this morning. There is a slight winter storm threat late Saturday night into Sunday. If the threat materializes, it may cause travel disruptions.

Heads-up! Tryouts and in-person signups will be held on February 20 and 21 for Oakland Little League for spring 2021 youth baseball and softball teams.

Visit the Maryland DNR website for the latest update regarding Maryland’s opportunities for outdoor recreation to follow guidelines on the safe enjoyment of our natural resources.

There are two new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations in Garrett County. Recently installed by Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp, the stations are among the first such units the company has installed in its Maryland service area.

A big welcome to David Jochynek as Garrett County’s newest State Farm agent! He is taking over the book of business from the recently retired Rob Michael.

Take your guess in this month’s “Where Am I?” contest! Congratulations to January’s winner Trevor Lewis!

Try out MoonShadow restaurant’s Firepit and Free S’Mores. Call ahead because seating may be limited! (240) 442-5542.

There was a mountain of snow to remove on Turkey Neck Road this week. Thanks, Jerry Jirgl, for sending this photo to us!

The weather today will be mostly sunny with a high near 37 and a low around 31. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning. Tonight, snow could be possibly mixed with rain; new snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

We have verified the last snowstorm left 18.88″ of snow from Sunday early morning through Wednesday morning.

Here’s a photo from yesterday from Dot Sisler:

From the MD DNR “Mid-Winter” Fishing Report: “Everyone wants to know if the ice is safe on Deep Creek Lake … for ice fishing. Anglers have been venturing out on the coves of Deep Creek Lake and finding 5 inches to 7 inches of ice. Those that venture out on the ice do so at their own risk — ice less than 4 inches thick is not advisable for ice fishing, and remember that ice is never 100% safe. The ice is also covered with snow which tends to provide insulation from cold night temperatures and slow down the process of thickening. Ice-fishing anglers are catching yellow perch and walleyes with tip-ups that are baited with minnows and fished close to the bottom. Jigging with small spoons or jigs that are tipped with maggots are a great way to catch crappie and bluegills….”

There is an excellent base for cross-country skiing! Herrington Manor reported a 6-7″ base and has groomed several trails. Note: In accordance with Governor Hogan’s emergency actions … Herrington Manor State Park is not offering ski and snowshoe rentals at this time.

Garrett County Board of Education voted on February 2, 2021, to accept the Superintendent’s plan for the return to in-person learning. February 22: Employees return to buildings. March 1: PK, K, Gr 1, and identified students return full days on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays. Wednesday is an asynchronous day. March 15: Grades 2-12 return full days on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays. Wednesday is an asynchronous day. Here is the list of the “return to school expectations“.

We are in a winter wonderland for sure after the past few days of snow.  The weather for today includes a chance of snow showers before 1:00 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 24 degrees, with a west wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 13. West wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Glenda at Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) just sent us their measurements for temperature and precipitation for the month of January.  The average high temperature for the month was 35.2 and the average low was 20.1 degrees.  They measured rain for January at 1.04 inches and frozen precipitation at 7.2 inches. Thanks for sharing Glenda. I should note that we are looking for some addional measurement sources for these winter months.  More information to follow in the future as we try to provide a broader view of area  conditions.

The MD DNR Forest Service is now accepting reservations for the 2021 Backyard Buffer Program in Garrett and Allegany Counties! Landowners in these counties with a stream, drainage ditch, or other waterway on their property are eligible to receive a packet of 25 tree seedlings for planting on their property. Seedlings will be available for pickup sometime in April. More information will be sent to program applicants once pickup details are finalized. Requests to participate must be received by March 19th (or when the program reaches capacity). Sign up using the Google form here.

The winter months are the time of year that people spend the least amount of time outdoors. This mean that children whose parents or caregivers smoke are most at risk for experiencing the health effects of secondhand smoke. So, the Garrett County Health Department is promoting a campaign to “Go Out for Your Kids.” The “Go Out for Your Kids” campaign recommends that smokers never smoke in their homes or their cars, instead opting to smoke only outdoors. Another option is to quit smoking. The Garrett County Health Department provides ongoing Quit Now classes or phone support at no cost. Nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges are available, as well as Chantix or Zyban. For more information or to register for support, call the health department at 301-501-8574 or the Maryland Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or www.kickingtobacco.com.

While housing and tourism seems to be booming around the lake, I know many businesses, especially in the service sector and to varying degrees, have been seriously hurt by the pandemic. Some recently released national statistics support that.  Measured year-over-year, the economy contracted 3.5% in 2020, the largest decline since just after WWII.  The good news is that the national economy grew at a seasonably adjusted 2.5% in the fourth quarter, on top of a strong third quarter.  The bottom line is we are possibly seeing the clouds part and maybe some sunshine of late.  Let’s hope it continues.

First United Bank & Trust appears to always be on the forefront of embracing banking innovation.  Click here for some information on their latest digital banking efforts.

Well, it snowed just about all day yesterday.  I am guessing we received about 12 inches total the past few days and we are still under a winter storm warning.

Today we have a  chance of snow showers before 10:00 am, then a chance of snow showers, freezing rain, and sleet between 10:00 am and noon, then snow showers likely after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 22 degrees. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Tonight, snow showers likely, mainly before 1:00 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

The Kitzmiller Lions Club is currently holding a Soup Sale! Order your soup by the quart or by the gallon. Chili, Vegetable Beef, and Chicken Noodle available. Quarts are $9, Gallons are $36.  Orders and money due by February 12th. Soup pick up will be at the Coal Bucket Restaurant on February 16th. You can contact the Kitzmiller Club through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Kitzmiller-Lions-Club-267611003276677 or email Stephanie at schoch705@gmail.com to order.

The Garrett County Health Department will allow persons age 65 through 74 to begin scheduling appointments as soon as the vaccine is available . These are the only groups that will be eligible to schedule appointments from the Phase 1C group at this time. Links will be available on Garrett County Health Department’s website, garretthealth.org, for COVID-19 vaccine appointments whenever slots are available, and removed whenever the appointments are filled. Announcements will be made on the Health Department’s website, Facebook page, and local news media when a new link is available for registration.

The Maryland Municipal League (MML) invites all eligible Maryland 4^th graders to participate in the “If I were Mayor” essay contest. This year’s theme is Teamwork through flexibility, respect, leadership, and civility. This year, the contest prompts students to answer the following questions: If you were Mayor…1-List an issue you think is a problem in your city/town/community.  2- What would you change to help solve the problem? And 3- While everyone is virtual, how would you bring people together to help. All essay submissions are due by March 30th by midnight. However, digital entry forms must be turned in by noon on March 30 in order to receive the Dropbox link necessary to submit the student’s essays. See the link above for more information and complete contest rules.

Here’s a link to some interesting state statistics relative to the pandemic, COVID cases and vaccinations.  It seems like we are gaining momentum statewide and locally.  I keep hoping that more vaccinations become available locally so we can take care of our community, as the state and nation also recovers.

Governor Hogan’s office reports that hundreds of volunteers from the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps are supporting vaccination clinics across the state. Sign up to volunteer at a vaccination clinic. The State of Maryland has launched a grassroots public outreach and equity campaign to promote vaccine confidence. These vaccines are safe, effective, and authorized for use by our country’s leading medical experts. Join the GoVAX campaign. To receive additional updates, text ‘MdReady’ to 898-211. Marylanders are also encouraged to visit covidlink.maryland.gov to review vaccine safety and efficacy information.

Garrett Regional Medical Center’s recently opened new primary care facility on Wolf Acres Drive, located at the site of Dr. Daniel Miller’s former practice, continues to accept new patients. Garrett Family Medicine provides comprehensive primary care services for people of all ages, from infants and children through those in need of geriatric care. The clinic’s primary care provider, Brooklyn Ayersman, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), provides services that include diagnosing conditions, prescribing medication, and dictating patient care.

This is an interesting opportunity for the right entity: The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is seeking public and private nonprofit organizations to serve free, nutritious meals to children and teens this summer thorough the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program. The deadline for applications is May 31st. For more information about the SFSP, please visit www.eatsmartmaryland.org. Interested organizations should contact the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs at 410.767.0199.

Welcome to February folks!  Hopefully we will continue to build momentum for a great 2021, a year that will be much better than 2020.

The weekend was very cold, with yesterday quite snowy here on the mountain, with significant accumulations.  Today we remain under a winter storm warning, with snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain, becoming all snow after 7:00 am. High near 28 degrees and an east wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Tonight additional light snow, with a low around 20.

Here’s a great photo taken by Hanna Clodfelter Saturday morning.  Yes, that’s the moon still out in the morning.  Note the crisp, clear skies before all the fluffy stuff started coming down on Sunday.  Thanks very much for sharing Hanna.

Moon in the Morning

I have been hearing that some visitors have booked visits to Deep Creek Lake area lodgings only to find out that all of the reservation slots for skiing and tubing at Wisp have been taken by the time they arrive.  To avoid dissapointment, I urge all to plan their vacation in advance during the pandemic and to make needed bookings in advance if they plan to ski or tube. And remember, if you come and should be “locked out” of some local attractions, there are plenty of things to do around the area to keep you and your friends and family busy.

While the natural beauty and the people of the Deep Creek Lake area anchor the foundation of our community’s success, our small businesses are the life blood of the area. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Business Pulse Survey (SBPS) started asking businesses in April of last year when they expect to return to normal levels of operations, a crucial indication of how they are adapting to the pandemic, social distancing, and other public health strategies. The latest release shows 16.5% of businesses experienced little or no effect from the pandemic, while 55.3% expect long term challenges.

Don’t forget to check out the February Cover Story. I wrote it with the intent of highlighting some of the activities still available to us here on the mountain during the winter months.  I hope you enjoy and that it gives you some ideas or maybe even a gentle push to get out and about safely during the pandemic.

Here’s a nice photo taken a few days ago by Dot Sissler.  The photo really captures the crisp weather, the winter fields and also shows an interesting sky.  Thanks for sharing Dot!

Winter Fields

Here’s a reminder that the Deep Creek Lake Policy Review Board will hold its first meeting for 2021 at 4:00 pm on February 8th. The meeting was rescehduled from an earlier date due to inclement weather. Note that public Attendance is virtual only.  You can join on Google Meet by going to meet.google.com/ebd-cxyi-bte, or by phone: 978-484-0550 (PIN : 465087870)

The Garrett County Health Department reminds everyone that our county is currently only vaccinating members of Phase 1A and 1B due to the limited number of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to the county. I have heard some mixed rumors and stories about the best way to get on a list for the vaccine. The vaccine timeline released by the Health Department is available at garretthealth.org and on their Facebook Page. The timeline will be updated as the county progresses through the priority groups. The Health Department is not keeping a pre-registration list.

Additional information for Garrett County as of friday includes: A vaccination rate of 9.6% of county residents for first doses of COVID-19 vaccine; A 7-day case rate of 19.20 per 100,000 Garrett County residents;  A 7-day positivity rate of 7.10%; A total of 1,789 COVID-19 cases; A total of 57 deaths due to COVID-19 or its complications.  Things are looking better, especially with the vaccines becoming available.

Have a wonderful Monday dear readers…

The weather today will be partly sunny with a high near 22 and a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -5. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Saturday will be partly sunny with a high near 33 and a low around 20. Wind chill values as low as zero. Sunday will have snow before noon, then snow likely, possibly mixed with freezing rain and sleet. High near 28 and low of 21. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

There is a hazardous weather outlook:

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Allegheny Front
counties in western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and Highland
County Virginia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight
A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect for the higher elevations of
the Allegheny Front in eastern West Virginia and western Virginia
this morning. Wind chills may fall down to -15 degrees
Fahrenheit.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday
There is an enhanced winter storm threat for Sunday and Sunday
night, with a slight winter storm threat Monday and Monday night.
If the threat materializes, it may cause travel disruptions.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The weather today will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 23 and a low of about 10. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Wind chill values as low as -1.

We have notice from the Deep Creek Dunk that this year’s dunk has been rescheduled: “After careful thought and consideration, Special Olympics Maryland along with our partners have made the decision to postpone the 2021 Deep Creek Dunk to September 25th.”

In our opinion, September feels a bit “off” for a polar plunge but COVID-19 has had a hand in disrupting just about everything. If you’d like, there is a Virtual Plunge option until January 31. Any donations or fundraising will still benefit Special Olympics Maryland.

Unfortunately, nearby Alpine Lake Resort will be closing it’s foodservice for 2 weeks (reopening February 10) as a precaution due to potential COVID-19 exposure.

Current local COVID-19 numbers are starting to trend in a positive direction:

• A 7-day case rate of 13.79 per 100,000 Garrett County residents, compared to Maryland’s case rate of 33.57
• A 7-day positivity rate of 6.82%, compared to Maryland’s rate of 6.38%
• A total of 1,765 COVID-19 cases
• A total of 56 deaths due to COVID-19 or its complications

Savage River Lodge is selling pet bandanas for Garrett Trails. Make a $20 donation and let everyone know your pet is a Garrett Trails Paw-lunteer! The bandanas are durable fabric with a slip-on collar design so it won’t fall off in the woods! It also comes with a sticker so the human can sport affinity for Garrett Trails, too. Stop by or call 1301-689-3200 to order.

Yesterday started off icy and cold.  Here’s a photo I took to show out-of-towners what it looked like in the morning.  Ice on everything and some of the back roads were quite slippery.

After the Ice Storm

Today we will have patchy fog before 10:00 am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 30 degrees. West wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Tonight we have a  chance of snow and freezing drizzle before midnight, then a chance of snow. Patchy fog between 10 pm and 11 pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Congratulations to Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF). Garrett County Public Schools recently recognized and thanked GLAF for sponsoring several virtual learning experiences for Garrett County students during the 2020-2021 school year. Long-standing partners and supporters of Arts in Education, GLAF has worked diligently to ensure our students have access to high-quality programs that support the Garrett County Public Schools.  Way to go GLAF!

With the U.S. starting to open up more but with a full reopening only possible once we achieve widespread vaccination/immunity, the personal-finance website WalletHub yesterday released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions, as well as accompanying videos and audio files. To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 key metrics.

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA), the governing body of the Maryland Heritage Areas program, released the results of a program Impact Study conducted over the last year. Statewide, for 2019, the Maryland Heritage Areas Program, including all 13 certified Heritage Areas, had a total statewide economic impact of $2.4 billion and supported approximately 33,815 jobs. It is estimated that nearly 20.7 million tourists in the state are heritage tourists. In Garrett County, the Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area (MMGTTW) had an economic impact of more than $155 million and supported approximately 1,300 jobs since its certification in 2011. Great work.

Many of our readers are retired or approaching retirement age, and the Deep Creek Lake area is a haven for retirees, due to the peaceful natural beauty, all the great amenities and access to health care, etc. so I thought I would share this study: To help retirees find a safe, enjoyable and wallet-friendly place to call home, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 45 key metrics in a new analysis. They just released their annual report on 2021’s Best States to Retire, as well as accompanying videos. Enjoy the statistics and for the record, I think Deep Creek Lake should be number one!  🙂

And, speaking of a great place to live and visit, don’t forget to check out our new and improved Deep Creek Lake Area guide which has information on lots of great things to do, see and experience.  Here’s the link… Visit it often to get the latest information to help you and your family enjoy the area.

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce just announced that the next Business Before Hours on Tuesday, February 16th, will be the annual Economic Forecast featuring guest speaker R. Andrew Bauer, Senior Regional Economist and Deputy Regional Executive at the Baltimore Branch of the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank. The Economic Forecast program, sponsored by First United Bank & Trust and Railey Realty, will be held virtually on Zoom 8:00 am – 9:30 am. This is always an interesting and well-done presentation and worth the time. For more information, call 301.387.4386 or go to visitdeepcreek.com.

US home sales surged to their highest level in 14 years in 2020, fueled by ultralow interest rates and the pandemic, according to the Wall Street Journal.  We continue to hear that the Deep Creek Lake area real estate market is also red-hot, with limited inventory and plenty of motivated buyers. So, if you are interested in listing your lake-area home or buying a great getaway, contact one of our advertisers.  They are the leading real estate companies in the area: Railey Real Estate, Taylor-Made, and 1 Real Estate Source.

Well, we got hit with some of the frozen “stuff” yesterday and overnight as planned. While today will be warmer later in the day, please be aware that there may likely be icy conditions throughout the area, especially at higher elevations. Please be safe.

Today, rain and frozen rain is likely, mainly before 1:00 pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45 degrees and a southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Tonight there is a chance of rain before 1:00 am, then a slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

If you are interested in the history of the area and local heritage you should join the Garrett County HIstorical Society, which is dedicated to preserving the history of Garrett County, its customs and traditions. Established in 1941, it has been the center for local historical preservation and education since its formation. As the Society continues to expand and improve its publications,  programs and museums, it is looking for the help and support of new and returning members.  For just $25 per year, members receive a free subscription to the Glades Star, the Society’s quarterly publication, as well as many other benefits. For more information on the Society, check out the website:http://www.garrettcountymuseums.com/historicalsociety.html and to join visit: https://forms.gle/tvrgZBjYmsMAdxKPA

The COVID-19 Testing Clinic scheduled for today at the MEDCO Building in the McHenry Business Park has been canceled due to the forecast for inclement weather. Testing will be available by appointment only at the Oakland office of the Garrett County Health Department – call 301.334.7697 to schedule. Testing at the MEDCO Building will resume on Thursday, January 28th, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Garrett County continues to follow the COVID-19 Vaccination timeline released last week. When additional vaccine becomes available, links will be available on garretthealth.org to continue scheduling residents who are at least age 75. Additional information for Garrett County as of yesterday includes A 7-day case rate of 20.2 per 100,000 Garrett County residents, compared to Maryland’s case rate of 35.3; A 7-day positivity rate of 11.0%, compared to Maryland’s rate of 8%; A total of 1,760 COVID-19 cases; A total of 57 deaths due to COVID-19 or its complications.

This is a great program! The Deep Creek Lake Lions Club is looking for volunteers for its Blind Skier Program.  In partnership with the Wisp Resort for almost 50 years, the club has been providing visually impaired children with the opportunity to experience the fun and confidence-building of downhill skiing.  The club is seeking experienced skiers only (snowboarders are not able to volunteer due to the configuration of the equipment) to serve as Sighted Guides for the program. This year, the Program will take place during the first three weeks of February with participants skiing on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week with the exact dates of February 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17. Contact Joey Simson at jsimson14@gmail.com or by phone at 301.616.4586 for more information.

LIONS Blind Skier Program

The next County Commissioners’ meeting is slated for February 1st.  Here’s the agenda. It is also posted to Latest News. Looks like a fairly short meeting and as is usual during the pandemic, it will be live-streamed.