The Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports — which issued $111 million in grants to address youth mental health in 2024 —issued two grants totaling $1.31 million in Garrett County:
Garrett County Health Department received $775,000 for school-based behavioral health counseling services, after-school services, telehealth services and transportation.
Western Maryland Health Care Corp.’s Mountain Laurel Medical Center received $530,000 for behavioral health screening and assessments, substance abuse screening and assessment, support groups and family supports.
A Greensburg man died over the weekend after the side-by-side vehicle he was riding on went through the ice at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland.
Maryland Natural Resources Police public information officer Vincent Dortenzo said David T. Linsenbigler, 58, of Greensburg, was found submerged Saturday with the side-by-side vehicle. Linsenbigler was removed from the water and taken to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., where he died the next day.
The side-by-side reportedly broke through the ice at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the area of the Glendale Road bridge, Dortenzo said. The driver, a 59-year-old man, was taken to Garrett Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The driver was not identified in information provided by police.
Only legally registered snowmobiles can be used on the ice covering the lake, Dortenzo said. UTVs and ATVs are prohibited.
“We remind individuals to use extreme caution when operating on the frozen lake surface within the Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area,” he said. “Operators should carefully evaluate ice conditions, especially in the area of bridge crossings where road salt and other debris can cause fluctuations in ice thickness.”
Natural resources police were assisted by state police, volunteer firefighters and Garrett County sheriff’s deputies and emergency management. Anyone with information is asked to call authorities at 410-260-8888.
Deep Creek Lake, a 3,900 acre man-made reservoir, is about 85 miles south of Greensburg.
Taylor Made Deep Creek Sales is a proud sponsor of the Deep Creek Lake Centennial and we are going to share info about the history of DCL with you here!
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Milestone Monday – today we’ll be looking at what life was like Before the Lake, regulations that govern the area, who has owned the lake over the years and major public works projects.
Before the lake: Lake Brown
In 1892, R. T. Browning – grandson of Meshach Browning – became Fish Commissioner.
In 1893 he oversaw the construction of another dam on Deep Creek near the site of the current Glendale Bridge, forming Lake Brown, named for the current Governor
He stocked Lake Brown with a variety of fish and it was open for public fishing ‘ may be the first publicly funded fishing spot in Maryland
For more information on the Centennial or about Deep Creek Lake, visit dcl100.com
We’ll be celebrating the lake’s 100th birthday in style with events and projects throughout 2025.
I had a blast interviewing a few months ago with my good friend, client and mega-mortgage lender, Rob Ross, of Intercoastal Mortgage. Rob and I realized we lived at the same West Virginia University dorm (WVU – Arnold Hall), at the same time, in 1fall of 1997 – just on different floors. Rob is a fantastic lender with an amazing team and I consider them part of the Taylor Made family! Posting his contact info below.
🎙️ Seasoned for Success EP #4 – Join your host Rob Ross as we dive into ALL things real estate in the beautiful Deep Creek Lake area with special guest Jay Ferguson from Taylor Made Real Estate! 🏡 Jay is not only a Realtor, Broker, and Owner but also shares his top tips on being a successful real estate owner and investor. 💼
In this episode, we’ll cover: ✅ What it takes to buy a vacation rental or Airbnb in Deep Creek Lake ✅ Tips on managing your property – can you cash flow? 💸 ✅ Jay’s favorite concerts, places to eat, travel recommendations, and more! 🌍🍴
Tune in and get the insider scoop on Deep Creek Lake real estate! 🌅
Rob Ross
The Ross Group at Intercoastal Mortgage LLC
Executive Vice President | Production Manager
Email: RRoss@icmtg.com Cell: 703-568-3749 NMLS ID: #189110
Residential Lending | Construction Lending | Portfolio Lending | Bridge Loans
LICENSED in 24 States!!
VA Branch | 11325 Random Hills Rd suite 600, Fairfax, VA 22030
Interesting article with plenty of photos documented some popular areas in and around Garrett County.
Jay’s note: I have always realized the Potomac River was a vital part of the history of Garrett County and many coal towns relied upon the waterway in some capacity. I was likewise amazed that you could/can buy land for next to nothing along the Potomac River here in Garrett County & West Virginia, but as you wind down the river towards Virginia, downstate Maryland and Washington DC, it was priceless. My wife and I actually did a little Potomac town hopping ourselves a few years back, but it was close to Williamsburg and Harpers Ferry where we picked up our trail. This story hits much closer to home.
On the way home from my ride with Neil Peart, a few weeks ago, I stopped for lunch at the Penn Alps restaurant. Their gift shop had an interesting-looking book titled Ghost Towns of the Upper Potomac. I bought a copy, and almost immediately started planning a ride to visit the remaining towns mentioned in the book–and to search for any evidence of the towns that no longer remain.
Day One: Crossing and Recrossing the Potomac
The North Branch of the Potomac River separates Garrett County, MD from West Virginia. In the late 1800s and through the early 1950s, it was dotted by numerous small lumbering and coal-mining towns. My goal was to trace the Upper Potomac, and these towns, as far as I could.
It’s always good to get an early start…
I recrossed the Potomac into Maryland at the twin towns of Blaine, WV and Kitzmiller, MD. There were still a number of houses here, but generally they were newer replacements, and only a few of the older original buildings survived the disastrous flood of March 1924. A rocky and somewhat narrower Potomac was in evidence, but there was little sign of the quaint town pictured in the book. Note the rustic building on the far bank of the river, however: I believe it is the same one pictured on the left in the old photograph (Coffman’s Department Store).
When Maryland passed a ban on fracking in 2017, legislators, citizens, and nonprofit organizations let out a sigh of relief. At the time, it was the only legislative ban in the United States, making it a landmark achievement. The years-long battle also showed powerful gas and oil executives that citizens have the power to choose.
Three state Senators, including Mike McKay, who represents Garrett, Allegany, and Washington Counties, have cosponsored a bill to upend the ban and allow fracking in the state. Interestingly, none of the bill’s sponsors live in Garrett County. The Education, Energy, and Environment Committee will hear testimony on bill SB0878, “Oil and Natural Gas – Hydraulic Fracturing – Authorization,”at 1:00 PM on February 27th in Annapolis. Your opinion can greatly influence the outcome of the hearing, like it did in 2017.
The committee and the cosponsors of the bill need to know that people from Garrett County and beyond have not changed their minds about fracking. Horizontal gas drilling has been proven to cause significant environmental damage, negative health impacts, and disruption of businesses and residents. The technique uses massive amounts of water that is removed from local water sources during the drilling process.
When fracking was still a consideration, it was estimated that 438 wells would be drilled by 2025, which would require 3.5 billion gallons of water. That demand during the drought of 2024 would have been catastrophic. The process adds an undisclosed chemical cocktail to the water, turning it into toxic wastewater when it’s extracted from the well. The disposal of fracking waste is an ongoing quandary.
This is just one of many reasons to write to the committee. The button below will take you to a dedicated web page to walk you through the steps of submitting written and oral testimony, as well as submitting letters to the committee members in advance of the hearing. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert on natural gas development to know it’s not right for Garrett County. You’ll also find a list of talking points, expanded information on fracking, and a sample letter to get you started. What you think matters! Help your state’s representatives make informed decisions based on people who live in Maryland.
Thank you from your friends at Engage Mountain Maryland.
I saw this post on Facebook and wanted to learn more about the history of this legendary DCL business.
Dominik’s Pizza was located near the post office on Deep Creek Drive in McHenry. It was operated by local restauranteur Brenda McDonnell from 1988 until 1995. Turns out from reading the comments in the Facebook post, I had several friends who worked there over the years. It then morphed into Pizzazz Pizzeria in 1996 which was located in the lodge at Wisp Resort. When I was in high school, I spent plenty of time warming up in the lodge with a HUGE slice of pizza at Pizzazz. Brenda has owned and operated many different businesses here at Deep Creek Lake – Ace’s Run, Brenda’s Pizzeria, Trader’s Coffee House and most recently Firewater, a waterfront kitchen + bar. Brenda is a Garrett County ALL STAR and has contributed in so many ways to our community. She was interviewed by my colleague Terah Crawford back in 2022:
These comments are filled with fond memories and praise for Brenda and her pizzeria. Many people express how Brenda has touched their lives, highlighting her generosity, kindness, and strong work ethic. Several commenters recall personal experiences, such as working at Dominick’s, enjoying the food (especially pizza and pepperoni), and how Brenda always made people feel like family. There are mentions of the pizzeria being a gathering place for families, celebrations, and milestones. People also appreciate her contributions to the local community and the long-lasting impact she’s had on Garrett County. Overall, the comments reflect deep affection and respect for Brenda, her business, and the memories people have from the pizzeria.
Facebook post summary
I also found this snippet with a little more background from the Lakefront Magazine:
Courtesy Lakefront Magazine April 2022
Dominick’s & Pizzazz Pizzerias The yearly visitors to Deep Creek Lake might enjoy the whopping 26-inch Abbondanza pizza at Brenda’s Pizzeria overlooking the lake, but they may not know the vibrant history of that delicious pizza. The lineage of Brenda’s amazing Italian food started at Dominick’s Pizzeria in February 1988 on Deep Creek Drive in McHenry, near the post office. Up until 1995, locals could all be found enjoying all types of Italian food including the favorite that Brenda McDonnell sent over from her treasure trove of old recipes.
In 1996, Brenda moved to the Wisp Resort and opened Pizzazz Pizzeria. It is within the walls of Pizzazz that I personally first tried ranch dressing on pizza. Brenda claims that there is “nothing special” about her ranch that she serves to this day at her namesake restaurant on 219, however many locals know the truth. While the pizza was to die for at Pizzazz, the true seekers of authentic Italian fare gravitated towards the meatballs.
We would love to hear your stories or see any old photos you may have!
Do you have memories of Dominick’s? Old photos or stories? We’d love to hear them! Email: DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com
Public Hearing: County Road Name Changes The Board of County Commissioners of Garrett County, Maryland, will hold a public hearing on February 18, 2025, to consider and potentially adopt the following road name additions and changes as part of the Garrett County Road Name Index, in accordance with the Garrett County Address Ordinance.
Proposed Road Name Additions & Changes Tax Map Former Name New Road Name 67 N/A Azalea Lane 67 N/A Magnolia Way 49 N/A Enclave Lane 49 N/A Nature Run 95 N/A Bovie Bend 29 N/A Moon Ridge 200 Flat Street Polk Street 200 N North Street Polk Street The Board of County Commissioners will officially adopt these road names following the public hearing, and they will become effective on February 18, 2025.
For further information or to provide comments before the hearing, please contact the Garrett County Department of Planning & Land Management at swigfield@garrettcountymd.gov
