Mark your calendars for the enchanting Small Town Christmas celebration in Oakland on December 8th, 9th, and 16th, 2023. Downtown Oakland is set to host an array of delightful, family-friendly activities that capture the essence of the holiday season.
The festivities kick off with a mesmerizing Light Up Night on Friday, December 8th, at the Oakland B&O Museum. The highlight of the evening is a charming Walking Holiday Light Parade, led by none other than Santa Claus himself, commencing from the Town Parking Lot at 5:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to join this festive stroll, culminating at the B&O Museum for the official tree lighting. This year, there’s a delightful new addition – Santa Paws! Dress up your furry companions in holiday-themed attire and let them be part of the parade. Indulge in complimentary cookies and cocoa courtesy of the Order of the Eastern Star, and treat yourself to a special surprise from Santa. The merriment extends to free sleigh rides for all attendees.
Continuing the jubilation on Saturday, December 9th, is Soup N’ Santa from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Numerous nonprofits will be serving up heartwarming soups (donations appreciated), providing an opportunity to mingle with Santa, engage in kids’ activities, enjoy live music, take sleigh rides, explore local shops with exclusive discounts, and much more. Once again, your furry friends are invited to join in the festive atmosphere and have a memorable encounter with Santa.
In tandem with Oakland’s Great Small Town Christmas Event, the House of Hope presents the Bucks for Hope Drive on Saturday, December 9th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 NN. Show your support for this noble cause by making cash donations on Second Street in downtown Oakland. While cash donations are preferred, non-perishable food items are also accepted. Originating in 1978 by Chuck Nolan, this food drive has garnered over $65,000 in donations and more than 80 pickup loads of food.
On Saturday, December 16th, immerse yourself in the sweetness of the Cocoa Crawl from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, featuring delectable treats as you wrap up your holiday shopping at select downtown businesses.
And don’t miss out on the Lucky Elf promotion, running through Monday, December 19th. With every $25 spent at participating stores in Oakland, you stand a chance to win a variety of enticing local gifts.
For a comprehensive list of Christmas activities and further details, check out the Town of Oakland, MD Facebook page or visit www.oaklandmd.com. Join us in creating lasting memories and spreading holiday cheer throughout Oakland!
The Board of County Commissioners may close a portion of this public meeting and move into Executive Session to comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicial requirement that may prevent public disclosure about a particular proceeding or matter.
Mr. Null will review a number of administrative and managerial matters under his authority and jurisdiction with the Board of County Commissioners
4:00 Call to Order of Public Session, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance
County Administrator – Additions/Deletions to Public Meeting Agenda
Approval of Public, Administrative, and Executive Meeting Minutes
4:05 Resolution – USDA – ReConnect Program Grant and Security Agreement – Rt. 135 Broadband
Project
4:10 PUBLIC HEARING – 2014 Garrett County Water and Sewer Plan Amendment
4:20 Public Commentary
ADJOURNMENT
Public issues or concerns that are to be presented to the Board of Garrett County Commissioners during any Public Meeting should be scheduled with Carol A. Riley–Alexander, Executive Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners/County Administrator.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners next scheduled Public Meeting will be Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at the Garrett County Courthouse beginning at 4:00 PM.
The Garrett County Diversity and Inclusion Committee is having a meeting on Wednesday November 29, 2023 from 3 PM until 4:30 PM at Garrett College in the Offutt STEM Building in Room 211.
Jason Paugh, of Red House, officially became the fourth Master Angler awarded under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ FishMaryland program this month. The highest award in the program recognizes the skill and determination required to catch ten trophy-size fish species in Maryland that all meet the minimum award sizes.
Paugh reached this milestone award by catching a largemouth bass (21.25 inches), smallmouth bass (20 inches), crappie (16.75 inches), northern pike (47.25 inches), chain pickerel (25.25 inches), rock bass (10.75 inches), yellow perch (14.25 inches), carp (38 inches), bluegill (11 inches), and wild brook trout (12.25 inches).
“Angler participation in the FishMaryland program has been tremendous since its launch in January 2019,” Maryland DNR Recreational Fishing Outreach Coordinator Erik Zlokovitz said. “FishMaryland showcases the array of freshwater and saltwater species available in Maryland, and we are thrilled for Mr. Paugh to be the fourth angler to receive the program’s highest award. It takes a great deal of talent, drive, and perseverance to earn Master Angler status.”
All but one of these fish were caught in Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, Maryland. Paugh caught the fish on artificial lures. The brook trout was caught in a small tributary of the Savage River system. Paugh is an avid freshwater bass angler, and in 2023, he caught 39 largemouth bass in Deep Creek Lake that met the minimum award size. He fishes primarily with jerkbaits, crankbaits, plastic worms, and small jigs that he designs to use around shoreline structures such as boat docks. The biggest and most surprising catch was the 47.25-inch northern pike, which hit a small jerk bait intended for largemouth bass.
“I am extremely surprised and excited to learn that this is only the fourth Master Angler award granted in Maryland,” Paugh said.
Paugh has coached high school competitive bass fishing for five years, including four years with his son. The team he coached this year, from Northern Garrett County High School, is one of two teams from Maryland competing in the National High School Bass Fishing Finals Tournament next summer. Paugh has worked as a master electrician for a private company the past eight years, and previously was an electrician in Western Maryland’s coal mining industry for 18 years.
More information on the award program and how to submit catches is available on the DNR FishMaryland webpage.
Sometimes you just need to get away from work. It doesn’t matter if you are a leader of industry or someone who works for such a leader. In 1914, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs discovered they got along well together and enjoyed each other’s company. They started making plans for summer vacations where they would travel around the country in cars built by Ford on tires manufactured by Firestone.
They called themselves the Vagabonds.
Over the following years, they got together to travel along the East Coast and into the Midwest. These included New England, West Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Virginia, Massachusetts and Maryland. They seemed to favor mountain setting like the Catskills and Adirondacks.
They weren’t roughing it on these trips by any stretch of the imagination.
According to The Henry Ford Foundation, “The 1919 trip involved fifty vehicles, including two designed by Ford: a kitchen camping car with a gasoline stove and built-in icebox presided over by a cook and a heavy touring car mounted on a truck chassis with compartments for tents, cots, chairs, electric lights, etc. On later trips, there was a huge, folding round table equipped with a lazy susan that seated twenty.” for full story The Vagabonds prepare for a camping trip | Local News | times-news.com
Santa’s elves are hard at work again, preparing for the return of Garrett County’s holiday kick-off event, the Festival of Trees.
The event will be held Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall along U.S.. 219 in McHenry. General admission is $5 per person.
Celebrating its 16th year, this joyful family event has become a tradition for hundreds of locals and visitors to the county. Benefitting the Dove Center, Garrett County’s domestic violence and sexual assault services program, the Festival of Trees was developed by its board and staff to serve as the organization’s major fundraiser.
Since its inception, it has raised well over $200,000, helping the agency to leverage additional state and federal grant funds by acting as a match. The community’s love for the event prompted rapid growth, and soon necessitated a change in venue from the Armory to the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, where it has been held since.
A Maryland woman shot a 643-pound black bear on the opening day of the state’s short bear hunting season, and officials at Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) say it is the heaviest hunter-harvested bear on record.
The hunter, identified only by her first name, Melissa, shot the bear on October 23 near her home in Garrett County, according to an MDNR tweet posted October 25. “This Garrett Co. male bear is the largest bear ever harvested during Maryland black bear season and is a new state record,” MDNR reported. The previous record was a 615-pound Garrett County bear tagged in 2007.
The Board of County Commissioners may close a portion of this public meeting and move into Executive Session to comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicial requirement that may prevent public disclosure about a particular proceeding or matter.
Appointment – Garrett County Soil Conservation District Board – 1 Member
Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc. – Request for Fiscal Year 2024 County Property Tax Abatement
Mr. Null will review a number of administrative and managerial matters under his authority and jurisdiction with the Board of County Commissioners
4:00 Call to Order of Public Session, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance
County Administrator – Additions/Deletions to Public Meeting Agenda
Approval of Public, Administrative, and Executive Meeting Minutes
4:05 Governor’s Appointment – Samuel Grant, Director, Garrett County Department of Emergency
Management
4:10 Garrett County Department of Financial Services – Purchasing Division
#23-1005 – Fire Prevention System Services
#23–1005W – Winter Abrasives and Road Salt
4:15 Public Commentary
ADJOURNMENT
Public issues or concerns that are to be presented to the Board of Garrett County Commissioners during any Public Meeting should be scheduled with Carol A. Riley–Alexander, Executive Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners/County Administrator.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners next scheduled Public Meeting will be Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at the Garrett County Courthouse beginning at 4:00 PM.
Fishing enthusiasts of all ages know that this sport doesn’t call a game off for rain or snow, and the recent tournament on Deep Creek Lake was no exception. The young anglers and their adult boat captains bundled up and faced the challenging weather head-on. While it was a day that would make many people prefer to stay indoors, these passionate competitors took to the waters of Garrett County to prove their skills.
The Garrett Bass Slayers, the local High School & Junior Bass Fishing Club, emerged as the 2023 High School & Junior Champions, reinforcing their dominance in the sport. Notably, the team claimed the top spot in the High School Division and secured both first and second place in the Junior Division. This marked the seventh time since 2014 that the Bass Slayers have clinched the state championship, further solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in competitive bass fishing.
The success of the first and second-place teams in the High School & Junior Division comes with a significant reward. Both teams earned coveted spots at the 2024 Bassmaster National Championship, scheduled for next summer. This achievement paves the way for these young anglers to showcase their skills on a national stage, furthering their passion and dedication to the sport.
In the High School Division, the team of Kaden Tomblin and Jakob Fullerton from the Garrett Bass Slayers claimed victory with five fish weighing a total of 12.88 lbs. Impressively, both anglers are freshmen at Northern High School, making their win in their first year on the team even more remarkable. Their boat captain was Tomblin’s dad, Keith Tomblin. The second-place team in this division featured Trey Richardson and Reid Luckett, representing the Free State Bass Club out of Davidsonville. They secured their position with five fish weighing a total of 12.12 lbs, guided by Richardson’s dad, John Richardson.
In the Junior Division, Myles and Maddox Shaffer, twins from the Garrett Bass Slayers, clinched victory with four fish, totaling 8.16 lbs. Their boat captain was their father, Bart Shaffer. The twins are in fifth grade at Broadford Elementary School. The second-place team in the Junior Division was also from the Garrett Bass Slayers, including Tucker Fratz and Rowan Rikhye. They landed two fish weighing a total of 4.55 lbs, guided by the experienced Bass Slayer volunteer Eric Swearengen. Both boys are seventh graders at Northern Middle School.
It may come as a surprise to some, but high school bass fishing is indeed a legitimate team sport. Not only does it offer young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills and passion, but it also opens doors to college scholarships, similar to more conventional high school team sports. To be part of a Bassmaster High School Program, students must meet various criteria, including maintaining a minimum GPA, participating in community service projects, engaging in conservation efforts, and attending mandatory meetings.
The Garrett Bass Slayers, for instance, have been actively involved in community service and conservation projects, working with Deep Creek Lake Management on initiatives such as making reef balls for the lake, participating in clean-up efforts around Broadford Lake and Deep Creek Lake, and contributing to the improvement of the Fish Weigh-In Station at Deep Creek State Park. Their dedication to both their sport and their community is commendable.
The Garrett Bass Slayers team was established in 2014 by Joe McClosky, his mother June McClosky, and bass fishing mentor Bret Winegardner. Joe’s desire to engage in competitive high school bass fishing led to the creation of the club, as there were no such clubs in the area at that time. In their inaugural year, the team competed in the Maryland Bass Nation State Championship on the Potomac River, where Joe McClosky and his partner Morgan Winegardner secured victory. Since then, the Bass Slayers have consistently excelled in competitions.
The success of the team is credited to the dedication of coaches and parents who have mentored young anglers. Bret Winegardner served as the head coach for several years, organizing local Bass Nation Adult Volunteers to act as team captains. These captains played a pivotal role in imparting their extensive bass fishing knowledge to the young athletes, contributing to their tournament success.
A few years ago, the coaches decided to introduce a Junior Division to provide younger children the opportunity to engage in competitive bass fishing in the area. The response from parents was overwhelming, leading to the creation of both high school and junior teams. Most of the boat captains for these teams are now parents, with a few Bass Nation Volunteers still contributing their expertise.
This exciting team sport is rapidly gaining popularity among high schools and colleges, and it is now sanctioned by many top colleges. Joe McClosky, a former member of the Garrett Bass Slayers, attended Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee on a Bass Fishing Scholarship and graduated in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business. The hope is that more young individuals from the area who are passionate about bass fishing and outdoor sports will have the opportunity to earn college scholarships and experience the sport at the collegiate level.
The winners of the Bassmaster National Championship are not only crowned champions but also receive college scholarships and other valuable sponsor prizes. As the Garrett Bass Slayers continue to shine, their journey inspires young athletes in Garrett County and beyond to pursue their passion for bass fishing and consider the numerous opportunities it presents, both competitively and academically. This remarkable team is not just catching fish; they’re catching dreams and building a legacy of success in the world of high school and junior competitive bass fishing.
