The Deep Creek Blog

Christmas Market for Our Town Theatre

Visit Our Town Theatre's Christmas Market tomorrow from 9am - 5pm in St. Peter's Catholic Church Parish Social Hall.  Proceeds from the event help to fund Our Town Theatre's Backstage.  The market also helps to support local artists as well as to share information on fair trade and community supported agriculture.  Other highlights include Christmas music, Christmas Cafe chili, fair trade coffee, a bake sale, gift wrapping and more.   Products for sale will include handmade stoneware, art glass jewelry, dolls, wooden puzzles, baskets and more

Wisp Opens Saturday!!!

The Wisp Resort will open for the 2007/2008 winter season this Saturday, December 1st, one week earlier than last year.  With temperatures and conditions cold enough, Wisp Resort produced enough snow to blanket several beginner and intermediate trails including Wisp Trail, Belly Flop and Roadrunner.  Chairlift 2 or 3 will operate on Saturday from 9am until 9pm with mid-station and summit unloading skiers and snowboarders.

Early season lift ticket pricing is in effect with a 1-day Adult Lift Ticket at $32 and 1-day Junior $24.  A 1-day Sport Ski Rental is $34 and Snowboards $37.  An Adult Group Lesson is $29.  Willy Wisp & Club Wisp Children's Programs will also begin operation on Saturday.

Snow making began on Wednesday, November 7 on the front side of Wisp Mountain.  The first snowfall accumulation on Thursday, November 15 totaled two inches.  Snow making is expected to continue as weather permits. 

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FSU Department of Music Presents...

The Frostburg State University Department of Music invites you to attend the FSU Chamber Choir in concert and the Opera Theatre production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors" by Gian Carlo Menotti on Saturday, December 1st at 8:00 pm and Sunday December 2nd at 3:00 pm in the Pealer Recital Hall of the Performing Arts. 

The FSU Chamber Choir will open the concert with seasonal selections:  "Three Latvian Carols" by Andrejs Jansons, "Ave Maria" by Morton Lauridsen, "In Winter" by Paul Hindemith, "Winter" by Z. Randall Stroope and a vocal jazz arrangement of "Snowfall" by Gene Puerling.  The concert the continues with the production of Gian Carlo Menotti's opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors". 

Admission is $5.00 and children under 16 are free.

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Pictures from Sunnyside Wools Farm

Here are some pictures from the Sunnyside Wools Open House last weekend. The farm is open for tours, which can be arranged by calling 301-334-9398.  Also, they make some wonderful woolen crafts and apparel.  You can find them at most local arts and crafts shows, in some local stores and can call for an appointment as well. 

A "Dickens of a Christmas" Photos

Here are some pictures taken during the first "Dickens of a Christmas" weekend in Oakland. Hats off to Jack Cougle, aka the Town Crier, and his staff for putting together this fun event. 

For Monarch Butterfly Enthusiasts

I found this article on Yahoo yesterday regarding Mexico's plans to protect the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve.   You'll find it interesting if you've followed or participated in the tagging program at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center. 

Grand Central Station in December

I received some addition information today from Grand Central Station regarding the food drive that I posted about on Friday.  They will collect on the following Fridays from 5pm - 8pm:  November 30th, December 14th, and December 21st.  If you stop in and drop off a canned good item you will receive a cup of gourmet coffee and cookies.  Shop during this time and receive an additional 5% off all in-stock items, including furniture, gifts and accessories.  Sounds like a good way to get those extra Christmas decorations and gifts while also helping the community.

Grand Central Station is also one of the participating merchants in "Men's Night Out", so ladies be sure to make out your wish list when you stop by. 

Also, December is recliner month at the Grand Central Furniture and Gift stores.  Stop in and pick two recliners for one price, starting at $499.  You read that right, that's two recliners for $499.

Christmas in the Village

The 23rd Annual Christmas in the Village event takes place at Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville on Friday November 30th from 4:00 until 8:00 pm and on Saturday December 1st from noon until 8:00 pm.  Stroll down the quaint Village's candle lit pathway while you visit artisans in their log cabin studios.  Enjoy a live Nativity scene, Christmas music in the Village Church, cookie decorating and storytelling for the kids and complimentary refreshments.  Admission is free.  Call 301-895-3332 or visit www.spruceforest.org for more details. 

The Village is located off of I-68 on Old Rt. 40, next to Penn Alps Restaurant. 

The Perfect Gift Solution

No more leaf blowers for mom!!! The downtown Oakland merchants came up with a great idea to help with gift-giving for both the gift-giver and recipient with their new promotion, "Men's Night Out", to be held on Thursday December 20th.  The event will run from 6 to 8 pm.  Features will included refreshments, free gift-wrapping and lots of helpful suggestions. 

To take part in this promotion, women should visit participating downtown businesses to make a "Wish List" with the merchant of items that they would like for Christmas.  The business will then call these women's sweethearts and family members to invite them to "Men's Night Out", where the wish list will be used to help the man purchase the perfect gift.

Women may visit participating businesses before December 17th to create a wish list, which can be as broad or specific as they like.  Check the store window for the sign of a participating merchant. 
   
   

Discovery Center Open House

The Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers are sponsoring a Holiday Open House at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center on Saturday December 8th.   Visit between 10am and 1:00 pm for some holiday cheer.  Visit and get pictures with Santa while you enjoy coffee, hot chocolate and homemade cookies.  Kids will also have an opportunity to make some nature crafts.  For more information, call 301-387-7067. 

Excellent Article on the Gypsy Moth

The fall/winter 2007 Mountain Discoveries Magazine has a very informative article about the gypsy moth and the trouble it is causing in the area.  You can pick up a copy around the county or click here to read the article on line. 

Christmas Progressive Dinner in Oakland

Bundle up for a trip over the river and through the woods for that special dinner to make memories for a lifetime in historic Oakland.  One of the many events being held for the "Dickens of a Christmas" event is a Christmas Progressive Dinner.  Travel back in time as you are given a historic tour of the town of Oakland by way of horse drawn sleigh, moving from location to location as you enjoy your evening meal.    The dinner starts at the Garrett County Historical Society Museum, and stops include The Train Station, Oak and Apple Bed & Breakfast, Davidson's Private Historical Home, the Cornish Manor and the Court House.   Contact Jack Cougle, Main Street Manager, at (301) 334-5095 for reservations.  Act fast, as only 16 sleigh seats are available for the event.  $50 per person. 

                           

Tea at the Cornish Manor

The Cornish Manor is hosting a formal "Ladies Early Afternoon Tea" from 2:30 - 4pm on December 1, 8 and 15 as part of a "Dickens of a Christmas".  Seating is limited and reservations are appreciated.  Please call Sheila at (301) 616-7410 to make a reservation.   The cost of the events is $12 per person and includes scones, fingers sandwiches and mini muffins.   Seating is limited

How Can You Help This Holiday Season?

When you head out to do your Christmas shopping this year, please remember those less fortunate in the community.  A simple way to help is to make a donation to a local food bank.  I found this article in the Baltimore Sun reporting on shortfalls in food donations this year throughout Maryland.   There are several opportunities to do your part in Garrett County, and I thought this would be a good day to list them.

Lil's Frills will be collecting food for the Dove Center in front of their store all through the Christmas Season

Mountain Top Food Pantry will be collecting can goods and non-perishable items every Friday and Saturday on the sidewalk between Unfinished Furniture and Marvin's on Second Street.  Mountain Top Food Pantry operates out of the Crellin area and services Oakland as well as neighbors just over the WV line.  They will also have drop boxes at Grand Central Station for three consecutive Fridays in December, where you can stop in for a free gourmet cup of coffee and cookies. 

The House of Hope's Annual Food Drive will be collecting donations and food, both perishable and non-perishable from 9am to 12 noon on Saturday December 15th.

If your business or organization is holding a food drive that is not listed here, please contact me with the information at info@deepcreekblog.com and I will post it. 

Fishing Report

From the sounds of it, fishing on the lake has been pretty good lately.  Here's a blurb from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's most recent Fishing Report. 

Share your success with your Pittsburgh friends...Fishing reports can be sent to the Post-Gazette at fishingreport@post-gazette.com.  Include angler's name, age (if he or she is a child), place of residence, species, size, body of water, date of catch and phone number (not for publication).  Publish your digital photos of fishing, hunting and outdoors adventures at Post Your Catch, www.post-gazette.com/sports/huntingfishing.

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