The Deep Creek Blog

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at GLAF - Date Change

There has been a date correction for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's GLAF performance this summer.  The date has been changed to Friday July 13th, 2012 at Wisp Resort. 

Local Business Owner Runs Event for American Girl

Jennifer Christophel recently produced and directed a special event for the American Girl Company at their Tyson's Corner store in  on January 1st and 2nd, to help debut the new 2012 American Girl doll. Jennifer presented a gymnastics team from Cumberland Gymnastics and Cheer to perform as part of the event. This is Jennifer's second opportunity to debut an American Girl doll. Jennifer previously produced and directed a similar event in September, in honor of the new 2011 historical dolls, "Marie Grace and Cecil". For the September event, Jennifer brought some of her students from the Dancing Classrooms Western Maryland Youth Dance Company to demonstrate ballroom dancing. Jennifer Christophel owns the Balanced Body Studio in McHenry and Cumberland, MD and is the founder and director of Dancing Classrooms Western Maryland.

DNR Invites Wildlife Artists to Enter 16th Annual Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites artists to submit their original artwork for the 16th Annual Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest. Both Maryland residents and non-residents may enter now through Friday, March 16, 2012.

“The proceeds from the sale of the Black Bear Stamp and other related products are used to compensate farmers in Maryland who experience agricultural damage caused by black bears,” said Patricia Allen, Information & Education program manager for DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service.

All entries must be original, previously unreleased artwork. Each contestant may submit one entry for a non-refundable $10 entry fee. Contest entries will be judged on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at the Patuxent National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel, Md., in conjunction with the 23rd Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show.For complete contest rules and entry forms visit dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/StampContests/BlackBear/ContestBrochure.pdf, email Patricia Allen at pallen@dnr.state.md.us or call 410-260-8537.

 

Garrett Lakes Arts Festival 2012 Season Announced

The Garrett Lakes Arts Festival announced their 2012 Season this week.  Subscribe now and enjoy 20% off a season subscription.  If you've never been to a GLAF event, make sure to attend one this year.  They never disappoint.    


 Duquesne University Tamburitzans
 April 20 @ Garrett College

Beatlemania Now
April 28th @WISP Resort

Clipper City Brass Quintet
May 18 @ Garrett College

Cashore Marionettes
June 23 @ Garrett College
 
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
July 12 @ WISP Resort

Johnny Staats and the Delivery Boys
August 11

 

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.

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.

Garrett County Arts Council Presents "Page to Stage"

Garrett County Arts Council Presents an Evening With Local Authors

Page~to~Stage
Friday, November 4th
Our Town Theatre
121 Center Street
Oakland

Fourteen local authors will read original poetry and prose during our second annual "Page~to~Stage" event.  Authors participating include Laura Bentley, Willis Carrico, Helen Fitzwater, Rose Gordy, Ginny Grove, Paula Hudson, Sue Lisantti, Ginni Neff, Leonard Paul, Tom Pessini, Betty Rouse, Jack Spencer, Rhoda Trooboff, and Kathy Vitek.  Several of the authors have published books that will be available for sale and book signings will be done.  Doors open at 6pm. Light refreshments will be served.  Beer and wine will be available for sale with proceeds benefiting Our Town Theatre. 

Readings begin at 7pm.  The event is free.  Seating is limited and reservations may be made by calling Garrett County Arts Council at 301-334-6580.


 

Bearly a Gala!

The Bears Are Getting Ready to go to their final dens.  

The Western Garrett County State Park Volunteers, Inc. (WGCSPVI) project that fostered twenty carved and painted wooden Bears throughout the summer in Garrett County is coming to a close.   “Discover the Bears, Carve a Memory: Only in Garrett County”, was launched in May 2011 to raise funds for educational projects to study the treetops at the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park.

In addition to supporting the education projects, the original natural wood bears have benefited the community in other ways.   Many people said they discovered places in Garrett County they did not know were there if they had not been searching for the Bears!  The Bears will be auctioned off and the Trail Guide prizes drawn at the Bearly a Gala event on November 5th at Wisp Resort.   

The Gala will provide the one and only opportunity for the public to ever see all twenty Bears in one location.  The evening will include a chance to meet the artists and fostering businesses, a live auction, great food and drink, and the music of John Mackin and Bob Yonke.  

Please visit  www.discoverycenterdcl.com or  Facebook at Discovery Center/Deep Creek Lake State Park for information about the Gala and for on-line ticket sales. 

Mountain Maryland Art Sale and Tour

This weekend kicks off the 2011 Mountain Maryland Art Sale & Tour, coordinated by the Allegany Arts Council on behalf of the  artists in Western Maryland and nearby West Virginia.

The dates for the 2011 Tour are Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23 and Saturday and Sunday, October 29 and 30. On all four days of the event, all participating Tour locations will be free and open to the public from 11AM to 5PM.   Visit this dedicated web site for all of the tour details. 

Loretta Hummel Releases Album

Congratulations Loretta Hummel on the release of her new album, "Sweet Spirit Comfort Me". 

Cuts from the album's 11 tracks include, "Garrett County Memories" in which words of imagery evokes reminiscence of the local landscape and pleasant memories. "I Know Jesus Is My Savior", is one of her several songs that share the word of the gospel. This new album reveals some of Hummel's talents: A light bit of yodeling, a Christmas song, and even a soldier's song are included. A tribute to our men in service, "God Bless the Soldiers", has the voice of a soldier's personal plea for God's blessing.

The album CD is available at Mountain City Traditional Arts in Frostburg, at the Kids Corner near Grantsville, or Loretta can be contacted at 301-689-8160. Hummel's music can also be downloaded from iTunes. Hummel has been getting radio play on several stations including WFWM 91.9 in Frostburg, WMSG 1050 AM in Oakland, WVSB 104.1 FM in Romney, and WQZS 93.3 FM in Meyersdale.

Caroline Blizzard Photography Exhibit at The Gallery Shop

A special exhibit of photos of Garrett County will be featured at The Gallery Shop in downtown Oakland from September 19 through November 4.  “Chasing the Light” is the title of the one-woman show highlighting the work of Caroline Blizzard.
 
Blizzard has been a resident of Garrett County since 1993.  She has had a lifelong interest in studying nature and her professional career as a naturalist has helped her hone her skills of observation of the outdoor world.  Her passion for the outdoors allows her to see moments in everyday life and with her camera she is able to capture those moments to help other see them too.
 

“Chasing the Light” is a collection of photos that showcases the beauty of the four seasons of Garrett County.  Blizzard has been planning and capturing images for the exhibit during the past year.  Visitors to the show will be able to enjoy a 360º view as the artist guides them through the changing landscape.
 
Blizzard owns Hawks Flight Studio and is one of the resident artists of Four Storm Artists’  Studio, a unique gallery nestled in the woods near Swallow Falls.  The Garrett County Arts Council invites the public to meet and talk with the artist during a reception at The Gallery Shop, 206 E. Alder Street, in downtown Oakland on Friday, September 23, from 5-7 pm.
 
For more information, contact 301-334-6580 or visit www.garrettarts.com

Harvest Sale at Pleasant Valley Community Center

Swan Meadow School PTO’s 62nd annual fundraiser, the Harvest Sale, will be held on Friday, September 23, at the Pleasant Valley Community Center, south of Oakland, MD. This auction of farm produce, handmade items, and baked goods features items provided by families and students of Swan Meadow School, many of whom are Amish and Mennonite. 

Glazed doughnuts made on the day of the sale will be available for purchase by 5:30 p.m. Caramels, taffy, cookies, fudge, and cinnamon rolls will also go on sale at 5:30 p.m. Half and whole dozens of doughnuts and cinnamon rolls and gallons of apple cider will be sold under the white tent located by the entrance of the Pleasant Valley Community Center. This way people who come to the Harvest Sale for homemade goodies have the option of purchasing them outside of the community center, then taking them to their vehicles before going inside for dinner and the auction.

Inside the center, participants can buy taco salad, fruit salad, nachos, chili dogs, sloppy joes, hot dogs tom eat, and coffee, chocolate and regular milk, lemonade, and apple cider to drink.  Swan Meadow School students will open the evening with songs at 6:45 p.m., and the auction will follow at 7:00 p.m. One of the many highlights of the auction will be the bidding on twelve dinners to be served in an Amish cabin. The felted and leaf-printed hangings pictured with this article were made by the students with their art teacher and community helpers. The leaf prints were collected during a visit to Hickory Environmental Education Center. Swan Meadow School’s first and second graders made the felted hanging during a visit with Dave and Darlene Terlizzi of nearby Sunnyside Wools Farm. 

To reach the Pleasant Valley Community Center, travel on Route 219, and turn onto Paul Friend Road.  Then turn right onto Joni Miller Road.  Finally, continue to the Pleasant Valley Community Center on the right. 

New Germany State Park Hosting Castlebay Concert

New Germany State Park will be hosting a free concert by Castlebay, Maine’s premier Celtic folk duo, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 28 in the New Germany Lake House.

Castlebay specializes in traditional Celtic folk music and music of the Maine coast, as well as evocative original compositions from members Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee. Julia plays the Celtic harp and Fred the violin as well as four other folk instruments.

The duo specializes in the poetry and songs of Robert Burns, reciting and signing his work in the original dialect. Having a deep appreciation for the unique character of their home state of Maine, as well as the Celtic lands, Castlebay weaves history, legend and experience into their personable performance style.

Castlebay has toured the United States, Ireland, England and Scotland playing at festivals and arts centers, as well as on radio and television. The duo maintains committed to cultural education, providing folklore and music programs for schools, museums, and libraries throughout the eastern United States and the British Isles. They have released 27 recordings, including both original and traditional songs, Christmas harp recordings, and the "Tapestry" collection, a 6-part instrumental series. Their music has been featured on Turner Broadcasting’s “Portrait of America” series.

Refreshments and gifts will be available for purchase at the New Germany Snack Bar & Gift Shop. For more information, please contact 301-895-5453 or park-new germany@dnr.state.md.us.

Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Fest - September 9-11 2011

Don't miss the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival on September 9th -11th, benefiting the American Red Cross, Potomac Chapter.   The festival features work by local and regional artisans, wine tasting from over 200 Maryland and national wineries, live music, children's activities and wine pairing dinners.  For more information visit www.deepcreekwinefest.com.