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Garrett College leads state in enrollment growth

The Garrett County Republican

McHENRY — Garrett College led all Maryland community colleges in enrollment growth during the spring 2020 semester, according to recently released statewide enrollment data.

The college led the state in credit hour enrollment growth, increasing the number of credit hours taken by its students by 5.85 percent in spring 2020 compared to spring 2019. Garrett finished the spring enrollment period with 6,190.75 credit hours, 342 more credit hours than in spring 2019.

Garrett was third in headcount enrollment growth, behind neighboring Allegany College of Maryland (7.6 percent) and Baltimore City Community College (6 percent.) It grew from 569 to 605 students, an increase of 6.33 percent.

“This is a very impressive enrollment performance for the college,” said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president. “It’s a testament to our faculty and staff. We consistently emphasize that enrollment is everyone’s business — and everyone deserves credit for this accomplishment.”

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Rutherford checks six local state parks off his ‘Bucket List’

The Garrett County Republican

OAKLAND — Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford was able to check six more state parks off his “State Park Bucket List” while visiting Garrett County last week.

Over Friday and Saturday, he visited Sang Run State Park, Youghiogeny Wild River Natural Environment Area, Herrington Manor State Park, Swallow Falls State Park, Deep Creek Lake State Park and Deep Creek Lake Natural Resources Management Area.

“It was great to cross a few more state parks off my #LGStateParkBucketList this weekend in Garrett County,” Rutherford posted on his Facebook page. “Western Maryland has some of the most beautiful and scenic public lands in the state, especially in the winter if you can withstand the cold! Each location has its own unique history and features, and they are all well worth a visit any time of year.”

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This -N- That Grocery set to open Feb. 28

The Garrett County Republican

OAKLAND — This -N- That Grocery is set to open on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Brodak Plaza in Oakland.

The store is a locally owned and operated discount store offering a wide variety of grocery items, including meats and dairy.

Owners Anthony Brodak and Susanna Pannell are currently engaged to be married and have two children, 4-year-old son Ivan and 1-year-old daughter Jade.

“We want to have things priced lower so people can afford to grocery shop,” Pannell said. “We are a family of four, and going to the grocery store isn’t always fun when you see the ending cost. So we just want to be affordable so people don’t have to worry about their wants opposed to what they need. They can still get what they want here at an affordable price.”

She noted that the main products will be grocery items, but other odds and ends will be available, such as paper products and some medicines.

“We’re going to have a lot of different items such as steaks, chicken — everything basically that you could want in freezer food,” she said. “We just got signed up yesterday with a dairy person, so we’re going to have cheeses, sour creams and yogurts.”

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Habitat Women Build Work Day set for March 7

The Garrett County Republican

ACCIDENT — Garrett County Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with Lowe’s, will hold its annual Women Build Work Day on Saturday, March 7, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Garrett College Career Technology Training Center at 116 Industrial Drive in Accident.

More than 40 volunteers are expected to help build affordable housing for Garrett County families in need as part of Habitat for Humanity’s National Women Build Week.

“Women Builds have been happening in Garrett County with great success for over 10 years,” said Steve Bortz, GCHFH executive director.

This year’s build will focus on walls for a new build in Grantsville. Volunteers from Habitat’s hospitality committee will supply a sit-down lunch for all the volunteers that day.

“We had a great group of volunteers out to help with Women Build last year, with over 60 ladies (and gentlemen) participating,” Bortz said. “The volunteers accomplished a tremendous amount last build season, and we know this year’s kickoff is sure to be a great success, too.”

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Mountain bike trails planned for Broadford Park

The Garrett County Republican

OAKLAND — Members of Oakland Town Council gave their blessing Monday for a group of bicyclists to raise money to develop a system of mountain bike trails at Broadford Park.

Aaron Hordubay, representing the Garrett County Composite Mountain Biking Team, presented a conceptual design of trail routes that would span the length and width of the park with paths for different difficulty levels.

The group last year suggested development of the trail system to fill a gap, as some parks provide smooth, paved trails while others have technical, “aggressive” paths.

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Record participants hike in new year Across Maryland

From The Garrett County Republican

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reports about 5,000 hikers took advantage of sunny and mild weather New Year’s Day, joining the DNR in the state’s annual First Day Hikes initiative.

Hikers logged more than 10,000 miles on trails in parks and public lands all across Maryland, according to DNR.

Park rangers, staff and volunteers guided hikers of all experience levels ringing in the new year on the trail. With 43 hikes at more than 30 locations, the Maryland Park Service registered 3,834 hikers participating in guided hikes, while 1,152 people hiked 1,516 miles on their own — a grand total of 4,986 hikers, not counting many who didn’t check in with a ranger. Even more people hiked in Maryland’s state forests, wildlife management areas and other public lands.

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Plans progressing for Leo Martin Memorial Park

The Garrett County Republican

MTN. LAKE PARK — Plans for Leo Martin Memorial Park are moving along. Mountain Lake Park officials reviewed landscape designer Daniel Lucas’ latest rendering of the project during their council meeting last Thursday.

The butterfly-shaped park is to be located near the corner of Md. 135 and G Street on the site where the Bashford Amphitheater once stood. Martin served as mayor of Mountain Lake Park for 16 years.

Officials discussed the park design, which features flower beds shrubbery, fitness areas, a splash pad, a pavilion where weddings and other activities can be held, an outdoor fireplace, swings, as well as spaces where tents can be set up for festivals and other events.

In the center of the “butterfly” will be a silo-like tower with manufactured stone veneer and a spire top.

“It’s almost like a little castle that’s going to be really visible to the highway,” Mayor Don Sincell said. “It’ll have a spiral staircase and slides for kids.”

Lucas’ current plan shows a circular elevated stage with grass-terrace seating. Sincell noted, however, this feature might be changed.

The town has received Program Open Space and Community Parks and Playgrounds Program grants from the state totaling $235,000 for the project.

Sincell provided a brief update on Mountain Chautauqua, which is slated for July in Mountain Lake Park.

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