The Deep Creek Blog

Mountain State Brewing Company Delivers on a Great Time

Last Friday night, Mountain State Brewing Company accommodated a group of close to thirty people on short notice for a family birthday party.   If you have never been there, you have to put this place on your list.  The great food and helpful staff were top-notch.  Add that to a warm relaxing environment and you are in for a fun evening.   Friends from out-of-town were impressed with the relaxing environment for both adults and kids.  The menu features a large choice of flatbread pizzas as well as salads and burritos.  My husband, a man who knows his pizza,  commented that these are not the small "boutique" pizzas that you might expect, but full-sized respectable offerings.  This is a great pick for any time of year, but especially for the upcoming season, as it is conveniently located close to the Wisp Resort on Sang Run Road. 

"Fire on the Mountain" Flatbread

"Olive Another" Flatbread...we took this photo a little late. 

"Fire on the Mountain" Flatbread and friend.

Early on in the evening

Bar in the main area

Dining Area

Bar sampling

Kids enjoying the board games provided by MSBC.

Holiday Exhibit at The Gallery Shop

The Garrett County Arts Council announces a special exhibit at The Gallery Shop located at 206 E. Alder Street in downtown Oakland.  The collection of work by Gallery Shop artists will feature a kitchen theme.  The exhibit runs in the Backroom Gallery from December 5 through mid-January.  All pieces are for sale, just in time for holiday gift giving.
 
The artists have provided work that will be appropriate for the heart of the home and the gourmet cooks in your life.   Original paintings in watercolor, oil, and acrylic and photography feature fruits and vegetables.  Kitchen gadgets such as wooden cutting boards, rolling pins and pepper mills are available.  Art pieces made from antique silverware, woven rugs, and more unique handmade items are part of the exhibit.
 
As part of Christmas on Alder Street, the arts council will host a reception and open house on Friday, Dec. 9 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Gallery Shop.  Council members and the public are invited to stop in to enjoy some holiday confections and see the special kitchen exhibit.
 
Beginning November 28, shoppers at The Gallery Shop will have the opportunity to register for a weekly door prize.  Each Friday prior to Christmas, a $20 gift certificate will be given away. This certificate can be used toward the purchase any item from one of over 150 artists at The Gallery Shop anytime between now and June 30, 2012.  No purchase is necessary to enter the drawing.
 
Garrett County Arts Council is a non-profit organization that supports numerous arts projects and organizations throughout Garrett County.  GCAC encourages you to shop local and support independent artists, designers and crafters this holiday season. For more information, visit www.garrettarts.com or call 301-334-6580.

Chamber Hosts Next Business After Hours at Dutch's at Silver Tree on December 7th

Come out and celebrate the holiday season as the Garrett County Chamber holds their next Business After Hours at Dutch’s at Silver Tree on December 7th from 6 pm – 8 pm. Enjoy delicious food and drink as you mingle with fellow Chamber members and Chamber staff at our monthly networking event.

And to celebrate the season of giving, the Chamber is supporting the local Toys for Tots Campaign to help give children in our area a special gift for the holidays. If you would like to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the local "Toys for Tots Campaign" to the December Business After Hours, we will give you a free ticket to a future Business After Hours event.

“We are happy to utilize the Chamber’s Business After Hours event to help collect toys for the Toys for Tots program,” said Nicole Christian, President & CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “These toys go directly to children in our community to help them have a happy holiday.”

One of the area’s newest restaurants, the newly renovated Dutch’s at Silver Tree offers an delectable array of seafood, steaks, soups and salads. Dutch's is well known for their restaurant in Frederick, MD and have recently renovated the former Silver Tree Inn to provide an all-new menu and atmosphere.

The cost is $6.00 for members paid in advance and $10 for non-members and members paying at the door. Please RSVP by December 2nd to katie@garrettchamber.com or call 301.387.5237.

Thanksgiving Weekend Activities at Deep Creek Lake

Here are some fun activities happening around Deep Creek Lake this Thanksgiving Weekend.  

1.    Festival of Trees

Friday and Saturday at the Garrett County Fairgrounds in McHenry
Stroll through decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces, table decor, gingerbread houses, unique arts and crafts, make your own sundaes and a silent auction.  Free activities include Kris Kringle Karaoke, pictures with Santa & Friends, decorate cookies at Santa's Bakery and more.
Proceeds benefit the Dove Center
Admission:  $5.00 adults and $3.00 children.  Special Dove Center 20th Anniversary Offer:  Pay admission on Friday and return Saturday for Free. 

2.  Snowbird Creations Glass Studio Retail Gallery
Friday 10am - 4pm
Jewelry, Christmas Ornaments, Glass Wreaths, Garden Stakes and Tableware. 

3.  Christmas on the Farm and in the Barn
Friday and Saturday, 10am - 4pm at Sunnyside Wools, 159 Sunnyside Road
Visit the animals of Sunnyside Wools.  Shop for unique items made on the farm.  Visit with Farmer Santa and enjoy light refreshments. 
301-334-9398

4.  Small Business Saturday
The 2nd Annual Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.   People are encouraged to shop at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. When we all shop small, it will be huge.

5.  5th Annual Honi Tree Lighting Ceremony   
Saturday, 7 pm, Honi-Honi Bar.
Free Hot Chocolate, Kids and Pets Photos with Santa Claus and Christmas Carols! Live band entertainment and drink specials.
 

Dancing Classrooms at Grantsville Elementary School

Dancing Classrooms Western Maryland is currently conducting the Dancing Classrooms program for all the 5th grade students at Garrett County's Grantsville Elementary School. The program is being taught by Teaching Artist and Executive Director, Jennifer Christophel. The 10 week, 20 session program will conclude with a Culminating Event will be held the first part of February and will showcase all the ballroom and latin dances, social skills, and character development the students learned throughout the session. This is the first year that Grantsville Elementary School has hosted the Dancing Classrooms program.

Firearm Deer Season Opens November 26

Maryland’s two-week deer firearm season opens Saturday, November 26, 2011. Hunters usually take nearly half of the annual deer harvest during this popular Maryland tradition.

“The two-week firearm season has long been our most popular deer hunting opportunity, with over 50,000 hunters participating each year,” said DNR’s Deer Project Leader Brian Eyler. “Many deer hunters look forward to celebrating our hunting heritage and sharing time outdoors with friends and family, while also providing food for the table. The sustainable deer harvest over this two week period is a critical part of DNR’s deer management program and will help reduce deer-related habitat damage and conflicts with humans.”

New this year, DNR has established a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Area (land code 233) in a portion of Allegany County with regulations designed to prevent the unintentional spread of the disease to other locations. For more information on CWD and the regulations pertaining to the Disease Management Area, visit dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Hunt_Trap/deer/disease/cwdinformation.asp or consult the 2011-2012 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.

DNR urges hunters to carefully inspect all tree stands before using them. Hunters should use a full-body safety harness while climbing into or out of a tree stand and while in the stand. DNR strongly recommends using a sliding knot, commonly known as a prussic knot, attached to a line that is secured above the stand. This allows the hunter to be safely tethered to the tree as soon as they leave the ground. For more safety tips and a video on tree stand safety go to dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ts.asp.

Complete bag limits, season dates and other deer hunting information can be found at dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide. The 2011-2012 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping issued with each hunting license contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.

Elf Hunt in Oakland

The Downtown Oakland Shops present the First Annual Elf Hunt today, from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm.  Visit Oakland merchants to find the "elves."  Have each store initial your visit and then meet up for a prize drawing for various gift certificates at 5:00 pm at the Oakland Transportation Museum.  For more information, call 301-334-3826. Winners need not be present to win.

Arts Council Seeks Creative Writing and Artists for "Ginseng"

The Garrett County Arts Council is seeking submissions for the 2012 edition of Ginseng, the council’s literary journal.  Writers of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction or plays who reside in the Garrett County area and members of the Arts Council are eligible for consideration.

Any written genre or combination of genres will be accepted with a maximum of eight pages or 2,500 words per author.  All entries must comply with the established guidelines and have accompanying information in order to be reviewed for publication.  Entries must be previously unpublished, original works by the submitting authors.  Details are available through the GCAC office.

In addition to the written entries, local visual artists are encouraged to submit photographs, drawings or prints for the cover and content of the book. Entries for both will be accepted from now through December 30, 2011.  

To receive a copy of submission guidelines or for more information, contact the Garrett County Arts Council at 301-334-6580 or stop into The Gallery Shop at 206 E. Alder Street, Oakland. 

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad to be Featured on "Jeopardy"

Watch "Jeopardy" on Friday November 25th to see the episode where Alex Trebek fulfills one of his "Bucket List" wishes by driving a locomotive on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg.

Ski Season Preview

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provides an overview of what to expect this season at Wisp and other area ski resorts. 

Deep Creek Lake Water Level Issues

The issue of Deep Creek Lake water levels continues to make the news.  The head of the DNR will be in attendance at a public meeting  on Tuesday at 4:00 pm in St. Peter's Catholic Hall  in Oakland.    

 

 

Wisp Resort White Sale

Wisp Resort is holding a "White Sale" with special offers for skiing and other winter activities on Saturday November 19th only.  Visit their web site for all of the details on how to take advantage of the deals in person, online or by phone. 

Savage River Watershed Association Meeting Scheduled for November 17th

The Savage River Watershed Association (SRWA) will hold their regular meeting at Route 40 Elementary School on Thursday, November 17th at 7:00 p.m. The guest speaker will be Dave Kazyak, Graduate Student, Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Mr. Kazyak will share information from his ongoing research on brook trout in the Savage River watershed in his program titled “The Savage River PIT Tagging Project”. The public is welcome to attend.

Kazyak is currently working on a large-scale collaborative project using PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags to understand the life history and population ecology of native brook trout in our area. According to Kazyak, “PIT tags are basically little microchips that give off unique radio signals when near an energized antenna, the same technology used to identify dogs and cats”.  Kazyak’s research is addressing key knowledge gaps identified by fishery managers, such as growth rates and longevity of brook trout in our area.

Dave Kazyak grew up in central Maryland and attended Frostburg State University where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries. Afterwards, he attended the University of Maine where he spent time researching the ecology of coastal populations of brook trout. He has also spent time conducting amphibian research in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.

The SRWA is a group of local landowners and other citizens dedicated to preserving and
enhancing the rural nature and natural resources of the Savage River watershed. Members assist interested landowners and public land managers with environmental stewardship efforts and educational outreach. Anyone who is concerned about the Savage River watershed is invited to join. SRWA meetings are generally held at Route 40 Elementary School on the third Thursday of odd numbered months, beginning at 7 p.m. The school is located at 17764 National Pike, a few miles west of Frostburg. For more information, persons may contact SRWA through email at SRWAdirector@gmail.com or by telephone at 301-689-7156. The SRWA is a non profitcharitable organization. Donations may be sent to:
Savage River Watershed Association, PO Box
355, Frostburg, MD 21532

DNR Announces Junior Deer Hunt Day

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites young hunters across the State to participate in the 17th Annual Maryland Junior Deer Hunt Day on Saturday, November 12. New this year, DNR is expanding the hunt day to November 13 in counties that permit Sunday deer hunting on private lands.

“The Junior Deer Hunt is a day dedicated to encouraging interest in the tradition of hunting while demonstrating safe and ethical outdoor skills,” Paul Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. “The hunt also provides an opportunity to engage the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts in an appreciation of our natural resources.”

White-tailed deer and sika deer firearms hunting will be open exclusively to hunters 16 years of age and younger when accompanied by an unarmed, licensed (or exempt from the license requirement) adult at least 21 years of age.

All hunters participating in the Junior Deer Hunt must pass a Maryland Hunter Education Course, which includes demonstrating proficiency during a practical test and a live firing exercise. The course also includes instruction in hunter responsibility and ethics, safe firearms handling, wildlife management principles and a host of other outdoor fundamentals.

Also new this year, a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Area (land code 233) has been established in a portion of Allegany County with regulations designed to prevent the unintentional spread of CWD to other locations. Hunters wanting more information should visit  dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Hunt_Trap/deer/disease/cwdinformation.asp or consult the 2011-2012 Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping.

Successful junior deer hunters are encouraged to visit one of Maryland’s junior hunter certificate agents and receive a special certificate for any deer they harvest. This certificate is available to junior hunters during any of Maryland’s deer hunting seasons. Participating certificate agents as well as complete bag limits, season dates, counties open to Sunday hunting, deer registration procedures and other deer hunting information can be found in the 2011-2012 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping issued with each hunting license or dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide.

Hunters are urged to carefully inspect all treestands before using them. A full-body safety harness should be used while climbing into or out of a treestand and while in the stand. DNR strongly recommends using a sliding knot, commonly known as a prussic knot, attached to a line that is secured above the stand that allows the hunter to be safely tethered to the tree as soon as they leave the ground. For more information and a video on treestand safety, visit dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ts.asp.

Garrett Chamber to Launch Community -Wide Social Media Campaign

Social Media Workshop Scheduled for November 18

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is launching a community-wide campaign to help promote local businesses. By utilizing social media, specifically the check-in application Foursquare, the Chamber will work with local businesses to help them attract customers.

Because local business involvement is a critical component of this campaign, the Chamber will host a workshop on November 18 to explain the campaign and provide hands-on training to businesses. The Social Media Workshop will be held in a computer lab at Garrett College from 8:30 to 11:30 am. The first stage of the campaign will launch two weeks after the workshop.

“Social media can be an extremely beneficial tool for business promotion when used correctly,” said Nicole Christian, President & CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. “That’s why we are going to provide hands-on training to our local businesses so that they can be active participants in this new campaign and reap the most benefits.”

The campaign being launched is a community-wide initiative utilizing the social media application Foursquare which is used by people to “check-in” from area locations. Individual users of Foursquare can alert friends of where they are and business users can promote their establishment and reward loyal customers. The application is free and is one of the newest and fastest growing social media tools.

“The campaign will start out on a local level using Foursquare to help encourage Garrett County residents to patronize local establishments,” said Christian. “Once local participation has taken root, it will help to fuel the use of Foursquare by visitors to Garrett County.”

The workshop will also touch on Facebook and Twitter but is not an introductory course. Those unfamiliar with basic social media skills are recommended to take a precursor social media class. The cost to attend the workshop is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members. However, businesses must be a Chamber member to participate in the community-wide campaign. Due to the limited seating in the computer lab, reservations are required. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Reservations can be made online at www.visitdeepcreek.com or by calling Charlotte at 301.387.6171.