The Deep Creek Blog

Garrett County Commisioners Reschedule Land Management Work Session

The Garrett County land use management ordinance work session originally planned for Tuesday February 7 at 11:00 AM will be rescheduled for Tuesday February 14 at 1:30 PM. The public is welcome to attend and listen to the review of the draft ordinance. Questions should be addressed to John Nelson, Director, Department of Planning and Land Development or Monty Pagenhardt, County Administrator.

Tom Wallisch Wins Gold at Winter X Games

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on  Tom Wallisch and his recent Gold at the Winter X Games.   Wallisch is a native of Pittsburgh and started out at Wisp as a kid.   If you missed it, here's a video from the event. 

 

The Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center - February Events

Saturday, February 4

11.00 a.m. Hoot of a Time Come down to the Discovery room to learn cool facts and meet one of the owls that live at the Center!

1:30 p.m. Turtle Talk Come learn about the different species of turtles found in Garrett County.  Explore the shell from the inside out and get the chance to touch these resident critters!

Sunday, February 5   

11.00 a.m. Critter Feeding!  Join the Naturalist as we feed the critters who live in the Discovery Center! Learn cool facts and find out what they eat in the wild!  

1:30 p.m. Wildlife Investigation This self guided program allows you to become a detective for the nature world.  Open your eyes and see the clues left behind by nature.  Can you tell the difference between the details and solve the puzzle? 

Saturday, February 11 11:00 a.m. Turtle Talk Come learn about the different species of turtles found in Garrett  county.  Explore the shell from the inside out and get the chance to touch these resident critters!

All Day Scavenger Hunt!   

Sunday, February 12 11.00 a.m. Critter Feeding!  Join the Naturalist as we feed the critters who live in the Discovery Center! Learn cool facts and find out what they eat in the wild!     

1:30 p.m. Wildlife Investigation This self guided program allows you to become a detective for the nature world.  Open your eyes and see the clues left behind by nature.  Can you tell the difference between the details and solve the puzzle?

Saturday, February 18 Wildlife Investigation This self guided program allows you to become a detective for the nature world.  Open your eyes and see the clues left behind by nature.  Can you tell the difference between the details and solve the puzzle?

Scavenger Hunt!   

Sunday, February 19   Aviary Encounter Come to the aviary to get up close and personal with our birds of prey. Learn some interesting facts and hear stories. Bring a camera because they will be perched for a great photo opportunity!

Scavenger Hunt! See the front desk to complete an indoor scavenger hunt and win a prize!       
Saturday, February 25 11:00 a.m. Lake Critters Lean about the animals that call Deep Creek Lake their home and discover the importance of watersheds.  Make a fish print to take home!

1:30 p.m. Critter Feeding!  Join the Naturalist as we feed the critters who live in the Discovery Center! Learn cool facts and find out what they eat in the wild

Sunday, February 26   Aviary Encounter Come to the aviary to get up close and personal with our birds of prey. Learn some interesting facts and hear stories. Bring a camera because they will be perched for a great photo opportunity!

Scavenger Hunt! See the front desk to complete an indoor scavenger hunt and win a prize!    
 
 
 
 

Chamber Hosts Next Business After Hours at Clear Mountain Bank on February 8th

Clear Mountain Bank will be hosting the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce's February Business After Hours on February 8th from 6 pm – 8 pm at their new location in Oakland.   Enjoy delicious food and drink as you mingle with  Chamber members and staff at this monthly networking event.

Locally owned and managed since 1891, Clear Mountain Bank is an independent community bank serving Monongalia and Preston counties in West Virginia, and Garrett County in Maryland.  The cost is $6.00 for members paid in advance and $10 for non-members and members paying at the door. Please RSVP by February 7th to charlotte@garrettchamber.com or call 301.387.6171.

Camp Hosts Wanted at New Germany State Park

New Germany State Park is seeking applicants for a Camp Host position for the 2012 camping season.  Camp Hosts are a valuable part of the volunteer team at the park.  Hosts provide assistance with a variety of tasks throughout the camping season, including welcoming new campers, keeping campsites clean, promoting park programs and events, and providing campers with general information about the park and surrounding area.  Camp Hosts are required to contribute at least twenty hours of volunteer work each week, for a minimum of four weeks.  In return for their efforts, Camp Hosts receive a free campsite with electric hook-ups.  Interested persons are encouraged to apply at the New Germany Ranger Station.  A background check is required. For more information, please call 301-895-5453.

Ice Fishing on Deep Creek Lake

Interested in ice fishing on Deep Creek Lake?  Here's a great article from Maryland Life Magazine. 

Northern High School JROTC Enjoy Hand-On Tour at Husky Power Dogsledding

The JROTC of Northern High School enjoyed a hands-on tour at Husky Power Dogsledding in Accident on Sunday.  Linda and Mike Herdering, owners and "mushers" of Husky Power, hosted the complementary tour for the group of  Cadets who learned to "run with the dogs."  Joining them was Senior Army Instructor, Lt.Col. Jack Riley, parent Kim Lowery, volunteer and owner of Garrett Petminders, Jay Clark and mushing intern Jessica Drain.  Plus, of course, the 20 northern-breed sleddogs who pulled hard to please the awe-struck group.  "No Snow--We Still GO" is Husky Power's motto... which is exactly what the dogs and students did.  

Everyone went mushing down the tree lined trails with twists and swerves, sharp turns, and rest stops while shouting mushing terms such as: "Gee" and "Haw" and "Ready.... Hike," (the dogsledding command to run and pull.)  Each wheeled sled hosted two Cadets, a Musher, and an 11-dog team working and pulling at least 700 pounds.  The well-trained team would exchange a few dogs as needed, while the human-team changed riders.  If the cadets had been on runnered sleds on snow that day, they would have used a much smaller team (about 7 dogs.)  The extra long 11-13 dog team on the tall wheeled-dogsled made it easier to see and appreciate the canine athletes.  Plus, the wheeled sled was stable enough for the passengers to occasionally stand up and see from a musher-eye-view. After  dogsled runs the Cadets enjoyed three hours of education about the many aspects surrounding the sport of mushing... history and racing talks; equipment briefings; presentations about commands, team positions, dangers in mushing and more.  Everyone learned what makes lead dogs have "leadership potential,"  what makes wheel dogs the strongest in the team, what the most important aspect and the most fun aspects of mushing are.  

The day's event was topped off with a visit to the working dog yard to meet each dog and learn about traits of the athletic northern "pulling breed." 

If you'd like to learn more about a tour, visit www.huskypowerdogsledding.com.  

Cadets of the JROTC (Northern High School) learn "mush" about dogsledding as Linda Herdering, owner of Husky Power Dogsledding, explains what makes the sleddogs behind her want to pull.

An 11-dog team pulls two JROTC  (Northern High School) Cadets up the hill while Musher Mike Herdering, owner of Husky Power Dogsledding, gives the command for the dogsled team to turn.  The JROTC enjoyed a tour and "runs" with Husky Power on Sunday.

Several JROTC Cadets watch as the long 11-dog team pulls their friends down the Husky Power Dogsledding trails in Accident.  Everyone yells the commands to the well-trained sleddog team

Northern High School JROTC Cadets "met and pet" the 20 sleddogs  after the same dogs pulled them on mushing tours down local trails.

The Five "Must-Sees" in Garrett County

Here are the five "must-sees" in Garrett County according to Maryland Life Magazine. 

Adventure Sports Center International Defaults

ASCI announced that it has defaulted on loan payments and change of ownership may be in the works.   The Center will reportedly remain open. 

MD to Survey Public on Elk Reintroduction

The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation (MLSF), the Maryland DNR  and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation announced plans to conduct an extensive public opinion survey to determine the viability of elk reintroduction to Western Maryland.
Elk once roamed Maryland, but have been absent since the 1700s.Social, cultural and economic questions will dominate the survey, which is scheduled to begin in February and conclude with a final report and analysis in April.

The survey will reach a sample of residents across Maryland with a focus on residents of Western Maryland. Consensus from DNR’s experts and impacted stakeholders will be necessary for the final decision.“We are pleased to announce this important step toward evaluating elk reintroduction in Western Maryland,” said MLSF Chairman David Sutherland.The MLSF signed a contract with Responsive Management, a professional survey firm that specializes in public opinion and attitude surveys on wildlife management issues. The RMEF will underwrite the survey through a MLSF grant. DNR will assist with the technical review of the survey instrument and the final report.“We recognize the need to ensure a scientific review of public opinion on this extraordinary and important question,” said David Allen, President and CEO of the RMEF. “Restoring elk requires a supportive community. We are pleased to be a key partner to that end.”

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.

Dutch's Owner in the Frederick News-Post

The Frederick News Post reports on Eileen Gideon, co-owner of Dutch's at Silver Tree and her organization, Uniting to Save Animals.  

DNR to Host Savage River Brook Trout Open House

The Maryland DNR Fisheries Service will host an open house, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on February 4, to present the results from the brook trout population study in the Savage River watershed.Field research by scientists at DNR and the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Studies (UMCES) Appalachian Lab has shown declining trends in Savage River brook trout populations.

Dr. Robert Hilderbrand of UMCES and DNR Fisheries biologists will be on-hand to share the results and discuss the current status of Savage River trout populations. Visitors will be able to ask questions and offer their thoughts.The open house will take place at Allegany Community College’s Continuing Education Building, located at 12401 Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. Visitors are encouraged to stop by at their convenience─ it should not take more than a half hour to observe and process the information. Interested citizens may also view the information and offer comments online at dnr.Maryland.gov/fisheries.

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. 

Garrett County Releases Statement on Possible Land Use Policy

The Garrett County Commissioners released a statement last week regarding a possible land use policy.