The Deep Creek Blog

Cardin Visit FireFly Farms

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin visited the FireFly Farms Creamery and Market in Accident on Friday to tour the new award-winning goat cheese production facility and to congratulate them on their success.  Since 2010, FireFly Farms has increased employment by 80 percent company-wide.  Senator Cardin also met with members of the Garrett County Commission.

FireFly Farms is a privately owned company dedicated to the art of cheese making.  The business began in 2002 in Bittinger and recently opened its new facility in Accident.  Its artisanal cheeses are made according to time-honored tradition; and each piece is produced and ripened with handmade care. 

FireFly Farms Creamery cheeses have received many awards for its cheeses. Among its most recent awards are: In 2011, First Place Ribbon from the American Dairy Association for its Mountain Top Bleu (aged goat blue cheese), which was also named by Saveur magazine as one of its editor’s favorite 50 American cheeses in 2005.  Mountain Top Bleu also received a Gold Medal at the 2010 World Cheese Awards and was selected as America’s top goat’s milk blue cheese at the American Cheese Society Conference. FireFly’s Bella Vita was one of only two cheeses from the United States to receive Super Gold recognition at the 2010 World Cheese Awards. 

Winterfest Chili Cook-Off to be Held at New Germany State Park

New Germany State Park will be hosting a Winterfest Chili Cook-off on Saturday, January 14th, 2012.  In addition to the chili cook-off, the festival will feature a snowshoe race, a cross-country ski race, and family-friendly craft activities.  

A schedule of events is as follows: 
Snowshoe 50-Yard Dash:  Registration – 11:00 AM, Race – 11:30 AM
Cross-Country Ski Race:  Registration – 12:00 PM, Race – 1:00 PM
Chili Cook-Off:  Public Tasting & Judging – 2:00 PM (Pre-registration required).Awards Ceremony:  3:30 PM
Craft Activities:  11:00 AM – 4:00 PM 
Registration for all events will be free of charge and will take place at the New Germany Lake House.

Pre-registration for the Chili Cook-off is required no later than January 13th.  Electricity will be provided.  Cross-country skis and snowshoes will be available for rent at the New Germany Lake House.  A service charge of $3/ person for Maryland residents, and $4/ person for out-of-state residents will be collected at the park entrance.   For more details or to pre-register for the Chili Cook-off, please call 301-895-5453 or email park-new-germany@dnr.state.md.us.

Santa Claus At Uno's This Evening

Santa Claus will be at Uno's this evening from 5-8 pm for photos. 

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.

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.

FireFly Farms Creamery and Market Now Open to Visitors in Accident

FireFly Farms, producer of artisanal goat cheeses, celebrated the opening of the FireFly Farms Creamery & Market to visitors at 107 South Main Street in Accident on Friday October 7th. 

The Market features FireFly Farms’ award-winning goat cheeses as well as other specialty, hand-selected items from the region and around the world.

All of FireFly Farms cheeses are crafted on site in the Accident creamery using fresh goat’s milk purchased from four local family farms. Visitors can view the specially constructed production and aging facilities and cheese making process through observation windows. FireFly Farms moved their cheese production facilities to the Accident creamery from a smaller facility in Bittinger, Md., this summer.

Visitors also will enjoy unique, custom-designed art in the new location.

The entrance features hand-carved goat totems, created by local artist John "Sacco" Carter. “Chiseling wood is my favorite way to spend my time,” said Sacco. “I put my heart into my carvings and am excited to see them here in Accident for so many to see,” he added.

A wall-sized mural inside, developed by Mark Stutzman, best known for his rendition of the young Elvis Presley for a US postage stamp, tells the FireFly Farms story for visitors. “When designing it, my hope was to allow the viewer to interpret it in their own interesting way and to set a tone,” said Stutzman. The 21- by 5-foot installed mural includes elements including a milk maiden, a farmer, curious goats, and, of course, fireflies. “This was a really fun project,” he added. “This was the first time I took a true Art Nouveau approach in my work, and it’s a beautiful way of expressing imagery because it’s so decorative. And working with FireFly Farms was fantastic. I was allowed so much freedom to explore the possibilities.”

FireFly Farms Creamery & Market engaged local general contractor Lorne Brenneman of Lee’s Drywall for the design, layout, and construction of the building. “This was a fun project, even though we encountered some unique, challenging issues along the way,” said Brenneman. “And I now know more about making cheese than I ever thought I would,” Brenneman added.

“Preparing for the opening was a huge effort for the FireFly Farms team, but working with Sacco, Mark, and Lorne was simply wonderful,” said Mike Koch, FireFly Farms President. “All three of these individuals helped us realize our dream of opening this new Creamery & Market. Thanks to each of these local craftsmen and the FireFly Farms team, area residents and visitors will now have another special destination to enjoy among the many available in Garrett County.”

“Given October is National Cheese Month, our opening is very timely,” added Matt Cedro, FireFly Farms head cheese maker. “We are committed to the art of cheese making at FireFly Farms, and I look forward to sharing this time-honored tradition with visitors to our creamery.”

The FireFly Farms Creamery & Market is open seven days a week as follows:

        Monday – Thursday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
        Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
        Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The FireFly Farms team is developing a menu of visitor tours and tastings, to be available beginning this fall.

 

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. 

Customer Appreciation Day Corn Road at the Farmers Market

During regular farmers market hours on Saturday, the Mountain Fresh Farmers Market in Oakland is having their annual corn roast.  They will be cooking corn over an open fire and giving free ears out to customers.  Donations are appreciated for the event and they also need volunteers to shuck corn.  Call Max or Katharine to help at 301-334-5633. 

Today at the Fair

Today's events at The Garrett County Fair include the 4-h/FFA & Open Dairy Breeding Goat Shows, Sheep Contecst, Rabbit Showmanship, Pee Wee Swine Show, the Costume Animal Parade, Cow Patty Bingo, Travis Minnick, Doublee Play and the Super Stock Tractor and Truck Pull. 

Today at the Fair

Events at the Garrett County Fair today include a Garden Tractor Pull, pony and horse judging, a tractor square dance, Phil Dirt/Surf's Up musical entertainment and a dirt bike/4 wheeler show. 

2011 Garrett County Fair Kicks Off Today

The fairgrounds in McHenry open today for the 2011 Annual Garrett County Agricultural Fair.  Visit www.garrettcountyfair.org for a schedule of events. 

Dutch's Daughter at Silver Tree

The Frederick News Post has an article on the new restaurant at The Silver Tree. 

MD Alcohol Sales Tax Increase Effective July 1st

The Maryland sales tax increase on alcohol goes into effect tomorrow. 

More info on Taste of Garrett Including Race up The Face

The following information was provided to me today by Garrett Trails.  I posted on Garrett Trails a few days ago, but note the info below on the "Race up the Face" event as well. 

TASTE OF GARRETT COUNTY
The Taste of Garrett County is the major fundraiser for Garrett Trails. All proceeds go toward progress on our trail construction plans such as the Meadow Mountain Trail resurfacing, the Wisp to Visitor Center Trail, the continued construction of new hiking and biking trails at the Fork Run Recreation Area, and many other projects. The event is packed with restaurants from all around Garrett County, MD. Patrons pay $25 entry fee and then immerse themselves in special cooking demonstrations from some of the area’s best chefs, prizes and raffles, live entertainment and delicious new offering and classic favorites from Garrett County's most popular dining establishments!
The 2011 Taste of Garrett will be held on Monday, June 6th from 6-9 PM at the Wisp Resort.  Adults are $25 each and children (12 & under) are $15 each.

This is event is a popular and productive way to bring new people to Garrett County. The increased exposure is good for local businesses and the money raised helps to ensure the construction and maintenance of Garrett County’s amazing network of recreational trails!

For more information, visit http://www.garretttrails.org/taste-of-garrett-county.html

RACE UP THE FACE
There's still time to sign up! Do you have what it takes to try the Race Up The Face? This grueling 400m race UP a black diamond ski slope. It's been called the, "world’s hardest 400 meter run." The Race Up the Face is being held in conjunction with the Taste of Garrett County, the annual Garrett Trails fund raiser on Monday, June 6th. Both the Race Up The Face and the Taste of Garrett County start at 6PM.

This is a low key event with a $10 registration fee. Participants are encouraged to sign up sponsors. Prizes will be given at the $25, $50 and $100 levels. The participant with the most sponsors will also receive a $75 gift certificate to Savage River Lodge. All participants will receive a Race Up The Face bumper sticker. The top two male and female runners as well as the youngest and oldest participants will receive a Garrett Trails coffee mug, free admission to the Taste of Garrett and bragging rights for the rest of their life!

Visit the Race Up The Face website at http://www.garretttrails.org/race-up-the-face.html for more information and registration forms.

Taste of Garrett

The Taste of Garrett County is scheduled for Monday June 6th at Wisp Resort.  This is the major fundraiser for Garrett Trails. All proceeds go toward progress on  trail construction plans such as the Meadow Mountain Trail resurfacing, the Wisp to Visitor Center Trail, the continued construction of new hiking and biking trails at the Fork Run Recreation Area.  The event is packed with restaurants from all around Garrett County, MD. Patrons pay a $25 entry fee and then enjoy cooking demonstrations from some of the area’s best chefs, prizes and raffles, live entertainment and new offerings and classic favorites from Garrett County's most popular dining establishments.