Thursday March 21

Yesterday was cool and overcast. Today will be a chance of light rain before noon, then showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 44 and a low around 32 Rain showers likely before 10pm, then rain and snow showers likely between 10pm and midnight, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Just in from Tri-State News Center: The Maryland General Assembly has given final approval to raising the state’s minimum wage from $10.10 to $15 an hour by the year 2025. The minimum wage would increase to $11 in January and would then rise 75-cents per year to $14 in 2024, then reach $15 the following year. The bill does give companies with less than 15 employees more time to phase in the increase.

The Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), a unit of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, has awarded 71 grants totaling $215,505 toward environmental education, community cleanup and beautification projects through the Keep Maryland Beautiful program. Garrett County recipients include Mountain Laurel Garden Club, Sky Valley Association, Inc. and Town of Oakland.  Congratulations!

Just heard that Jazzercise Oakland is having a sale. The sale is for two months of unlimited classes for $99.  The sale is available in-store only now through April 7th.  Schedule & contact information are available on their website.

Our Town Theatre in Oakland is hosting their Open mic Night this evening from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. This is the night OTT opens their stage to anyone who has something to share: Music, short stories, poetry, dance, skits, etc. and are all welcome. So come out and share you talent.

Here’s a neat video sent in to us by Robert Bona.  Thanks Robert!

 

Bill’s Marine Service is holding their Spring Open House on March 30th and 31st. Speaking of boats, boating and summer on the lake, here’s an interesting photo of some folks in silhouette on frozen Red Run Cove. The seasons are changing and in a few short months there will be boats where they are standing on the ice. Thanks to reader Russ Dijak for sharing his photo.

Bet you didn’t know that Maryland Day is March 25th, which commemorates the day in 1634 that settlers disembarked from two small sailing ships – the Ark and the Dove – onto Maryland soil.  While most all of “the action” is located down state, I thought I would mention the day, as many of our readers are Marylanders and a number also live downstate or around the DC area and may want to partake in these free and low-cost events.  Here’s a link to some activities.