Welcome Jon Bell of Railey Realty as the newest listing in The Deep Creek Blog Business Directory. Jon has a great Internet presence with his web site, www.deepcreekhotproperties.com, and blog, www.deepcreekrealestateblog.com.
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Forbes.com has an article from the AP today regarding how gas prices will affect travel in the Mid-Atlantic region this year. Mike Bell from Good Timber B&B is quoted in the article. Deep Creek Lake is a great location within an easy driving distance of many areas, such as Pittsburgh, D.C. and Baltimore. If you haven't planned a summer vacation yet due to fears of high gas prices, consider a shorter jaunt this year and check out www.visitdeepcreek.com.
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The Baltimore Sun reports on the increased level of gypsy moth spraying planned for Maryland this year. Visit the Maryland Department of Agriculture's web site for this detailed information regarding when and if spraying will occur in your area.
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Garrett County Commissioners Denny Glotfelty, Ernie Gregg and Fred Holliday proclaimed May 10 – 18th Tourism Week in Garrett County. Charlie Ross, President & CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, Members of the Chamber Board of Directors along with Chamber Staff attended the proclamation on Tuesday at the Oakland Courthouse.
“Tourism Week celebrates the economic benefit tourism brings into the county,” said Charlie Ross, President & CEO at the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “Tourism is the state’s 4th largest industry and it generates an estimated $11 billion annually for Maryland.”
The local proclamation coincides with the 25th Annual National Tourism Week which runs May 10th – 18th. The 2008 theme is "Discover Great American Traditions". The silver anniversary theme encourages travel to American locales and highlights the role that tourism plays in discovering the icons of a destination.
National Tourism Week is a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide. The goal is to enhance the country's economy, security and perception, and recognize the cultural and social benefits created by travel and tourism.
National Tourism Week was established in 1983 when the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution designating the week to be celebrated in May 1984. In a White House ceremony, President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with "the appropriate ceremonies and activities." Industry leaders and public relations professionals from the major travel and tourism trade associations were the first volunteers to manage the annual event. By January 1986 industry leaders had formed a permanent full-time office at TIA to sponsor the event and expand tourism awareness into year-round programs.
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A Pet CPR and First Aid Course will be offered at the Mary Browning Center in Oakland this month by certified Instructor Ralph Biltz. Mr. Biltz is certified to teach the classes through the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI). When starting the course in Garrett County, Dr. Paul Deal from Countryside Animal Hospital helped to add some enhancements on to the ASHI training. The first class will be held over the course of two evenings, on May 28th and May 30th from 6pm -8pm. A second, one day four hour course will be taught on Saturday May 31st for anyone not able to attend during the week. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Garrett County Humane Society.
The class is appropriate for anyone interested in learning how to administer CPR and first aid to dogs and/or cats. The cost is $28.00 per person or $50.00 for a couple. Ten percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Garrett County Humane Society. Payment is accepted on day of the class by check or cash. Call 443-848-8579 to register for the classes.
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Don't forget, "A Taste of Garrett" is this Monday evening, May 12th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Lodge at Wisp. Sample favorite recipes and products from Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County area restaurants. Proceeds support Garrett Recreational Trails. Tickets are available at The Visitors Center in McHenry, The Shoppe at Heritage Square, High Mountain Sports, Brenda's Pizzeria & Trader's Coffee House, The Book Mark'et and The Gallery in Oakland.
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Oakland Main Street is in need of volunteers for some Town projects for a spring clean up. They will be cleaning up Rotary Park of all the overgrown trees and brush Sat. May 17 as well as painting curbs poles, and other fixtures along the streets. Anyone is welcome to volunteer to help Oakland to shine. This can count as community service work for school requirements and would be appropriate for many groups such as 4H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church group and more. Contact Jack Cougle at (301) 334-5095.
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Yesterday I posted about the Military Support Group and how they work to support local military members and their families. Another activity of the group is to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Garrett County to express their appreciation to military service personnel through a letter writing campaign. At a number of county businesses, offices and churches, you will find displays titled “Letters to Military Personnel.” Stationary is provided to take a moment to send your encouragement, appreciation and thoughts you’d like to share with a service person you may not know personally, but whom you would like to lift up as they serve on our behalf. When you are finished, drop the letter into the box or container when you are done. The Military Family Support Group will pick up and mail the letters.
Locations where you may write a letter of support for a military person are as follows: Accident Garage, Alpine Lake Resort, Beachy’s Pharmacy (Grantsville), Decorator’s Nook, Dr. Bissell’s office (Grantsville), Dr. Savopoulos’ office (Oakland), Dollar Tree, Englander’s, Flowery Vale (Accident), Garrett County Health Department, Green Acres, Loch Lynn Church of God, Nola’s Salon, Oak Park Church of the Brethren, Southern Middle School, Susquehanna Bank (McHenry and Oakland branches) and Town View Village (Accident). This writing campaign with go through the month of May.
Other activities include a prayer service and they have set up a display at Englander's which includes pictures of some service personnel that are currently serving. Visit www.supportlocalmilitary.com.
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Frostburg State University will host the 2008 Savage Mountain Summer Arts Academy. The Academy offers a variety of programs for students entering grades nine through 12. This year’s programs include Creative Writing, Wind Chamber Music, Physical Acting and Stage Combat, Choir and Two-Dimensional Design institutes. Each program is a week long and offers students the option of residing on campus or commuting.
The Creative Writing Workshop will be held from June 22 until June 28 for students entering grades 10 through 12. Students will spend a week of intensive study in fiction writing, poetry writing or creative nonfiction writing. By studying literature with some of the University’s noted writers, students will get an opportunity to read texts like writers and understand what choices make a work unique and powerful.
The cost of the workshop is $400 for commuting students and $600 for students residing on campus. For more information about the Creative Writing Workshop, call 301-687-4024 or e-mail glafemina@frostburg.edu.
The Wind Chamber Music workshop is open to students entering grades nine through 12 and will be held on July 6 through July 12. The camp will consist of three chamber ensemble rehearsals a day, private instruction, a daily instrument master class, camp chorus and two additional offerings of the following to be chosen by the student: Music Theory, History of Chamber Music, Music Appreciation and Basic Music Composition. All students will perform at an end-of-camp concert on Saturday, July 12, at 2 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall.
The cost of the workshop is $480 for commuting students and $650 for students residing on campus. For more information about the Wind Chamber Music workshop call 301-687-4381 or e-mail mgallagher@frostburg.edu
The Physical Acting and Stage Combat workshop will take place from June 22 through June 28. Students will learn how to use their body as an expressive instrument, demonstrate improved emotional and physical range, access greater depth in their acting work, “act” a fight, perform safe, choreographed routines, understand the principals of safe stage fighting and understand when they need to seek the help of an expert.
The cost of the Physical Acting and Stage Combat workshop is $400 for commuting students and $650 for students residing on campus. For more information, call 301-687-4487 or e-mail dsrushton@frostburg.edu. To register online, visit the Web site at http://www.frostburg.edu/savagemtn/combat/register.htm.
The Choir camp provides high school vocal musicians with an opportunity to be challenged at their own personal level and to perform in groups of large and small ensembles. The camp offers courses in Music Theory, Conducting, Vocal Techniques, and Private Instruction.
The workshop will be held from July 13 through July 19. A student recital will be held on Thursday, July 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall in the Performing Arts Center. The cost of the workshop is $480 for commuting students and $650 for students residing on campus. For more information about the Choir Camp call 301-687-4110 or e-mail ksoderberg@frostburg.edu.
The camp for Emerging Artists: Two-Dimensional Design will be held July 6 through July 12. Students will learn to combine visual forces to activate a composition, learn strategies to expand, to refine and to communicate better through art and improve technical skills.
The cost of the camp is $530 for commuting students and $700 for students residing on campus. All supplies are included in the cost. For more information call 301-687-3209 or e-mail dfilippone@frostburg.edu.
FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301-687-4102 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1-800-735-2258.
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Saturday is the 2008 Oakland Main Street Author Fest. Some of the authors that will be present include Brad Barkley, Denise Moynahan, Theresa Helbig-Miller, Roger Skipper, Cheryl Stemple, Frank Bittinger, Catherine Donaldson, Alice Eary, Jean Grose, Herb Wolf, T.S. Pessini, Debra Wolf and Melinda Chambers
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Garrett County based Military Family Support Group is celebrating “National Military Appreciation Month” in a variety of ways to support local military personnel and their families. A recent action was the signing of a Military Support Proclamation by the Garrett County Commissioners as part of their weekly meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. This is the fourth year for the issuance of a proclamation by the Commissioners and an individually signed proclamation is presented to every active duty service person that has served during the past year or is currently serving. At the same meeting the Military Family Support Group showed a brief video presentation entitled “Remember Me” by Lizzie Palmer which provides an understanding of the mental, emotional and spiritual challenges faced by our deployed troops. The group affirms that supporting our troops is not one of whether the war is right or wrong; it’s about providing care for the men and women and their families.
The Military Family Support Group is available for all persons in the area who have a family member currently in the service, regardless of branch of service. The meetings are generally held the third Wednesday evening of every month from 6:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. The next meeting will be held May 21st at the Oak Park Church of the Brethren. There are numerous topics addressed that provide assistance in dealing with the time apart. Refreshments are provided at each meeting.
The Support Group is aware there are others in the area who have served or are currently serving. They would like to compile a list of all military personnel who have served in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters, other locations such as Europe, or in any supporting roles, including stateside. They feel it is important that the area know of each person’s service to our country. If you know of a service person that has served or is currently serving, please contact the Military Family Support Group with their name and location served, and family contact information if appropriate. To contact the Support Group with this name information or about the services this support group offers, please call 301-334-5906 (Mel and Cathy Menker) or 301-616-6712 (Sheila Shaffer). You can learn more about the group at www.supportlocalmilitary.com.
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This weekend, May 10th and 11th, will be the first "Plant It & They Will Come" weekend at Elk Ridge Nature Works, from 9am until 3pm on both days. Tour the native plant nursery and wildlife garden at Elk Ridge NatureWorks to see a variety of conservation landscaping and wildlife habitat practices you can use to enhance biodiversity around your home, school, or office. Experience the joys of conservation landscaping: a garden filled with bees, birds, butterflies and beautiful plants. Free guided tours at 10 am, noon and 2 pm. Sorry, but no pets allowed and no rest rooms available. For more information contact Liz McDowell at 301-895-3686 or info@elkridgenatureworks.com.
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The Fourth Anniversary of the Shoppe at Heritage Square will be celebrated on Saturday, May 10 from 10 am – 2 pm at the 1884 B&O Train Station in downtown Oakland. Meet area artisans, shop at the indoors sidewalk sale and Ladles Delivered will have food and drinks available for purchase. To support their trip to Europe, local Girl Scouts will also be holding a yard/bake sale by the End Of The Line Bookstore.
In May 2004, the Chamber of Commerce opened a Visitors Center in the recently refurbished Queen Anne style 1884 B&O train station in Oakland along with The Shoppe at Heritage Square. The Shoppe features a variety of products by area artisans, along with train memorabilia, farm items and Estonian products from Sister Cities.
“Since the Chamber of Commerce assumed operation of this wonderful historic building, it has been open seven days a week for people to tour the station, shop for local products and learn more about places to go and things to do in Garrett County,” said Charlie Ross, President and CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “We want our area residents, as well as our guests, to enjoy this historic treasure and enjoy products made by their friends and neighbors.”
“We want to thank all of our store vendors and local artisans who have donated their time and equipment to make this celebration special,” said Shoppe Acting Manager Wendy Friend. “Come and shop and enjoy discounts throughout the store.”
Anyone wanting to participate in the event or having questions may contact the event coordinator, Wendy Friend at 301-334-1243.
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The Maryland Office of Tourism recently published a "Bucket List", based upon the movie starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, where the two characters work to complete items on their "bucket list", that is..things that they want to do before they kick the bucket. Maryland's bucket list has a couple of obvious ones from Garrett County, but doesn't come near to hitting on all of the great things to do in the Deep Creek Lake area. So, I've decided to put together a new bucket list, enlisting the help of my great readers.
Send me your ideas of what should be on the Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County "Bucket List". Anyone who sends me an idea for the list will get their name entered into a random drawing to win a signed and matted 11"x14" "Five O' Clock Somewhere" print from local artist Robert Yonke.
Submit ideas to info@deepcreekblog.com. The contest, effective immediately, will run until Monday May 19th. Click here for full contest details.
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