Middletown Valley Bank Opening Branch in Oakland
Posted 5/28/26
5/27/2026 – Middletown Valley Bank ("MVB" or "the Bank"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Community Heritage Financial, Inc., is proud to announce a new branch in Oakland, MD.
The branch will be located at 19509 Garrett Highway, Suite 5, in the same property where MVB has operated a business development office since 2019. The office will transition to a branch in Fall 2026 and will offer teller services, including an ATM and night drop, as well as deposit account opening, consumer lending, and cash management services. This branch will also house the mortgage and commercial lending services that have been present in the community since 2019.
"We are thrilled to expand Middletown Valley Bank’s offerings in Oakland and better serve the needs of Garrett County. This new branch reflects our continued commitment to building strong community relationships, supporting local businesses, and investing in the future of our markets," says Robert "BJ" Goetz, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer.
MVB exemplifies the enduring strength and importance of community banking. Jerry Merrick, EVP – Mortgage Market Leader, adds, "As someone who has raised a family right here in Garrett County, this new branch means a great deal to me. I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for people to have the right support when they are buying a home and building their future together. I’m proud that we have brought a relationship-focused approach to lending in this community, and I’m excited to continue helping families achieve their homeownership goals."
Jordan Rohrbaugh, Commercial Relationship Associate, says, "We are proud to continue building on the strong foundation we have established in Garrett County with the opening of our new Oakland Branch. We look forward to supporting both new and established relationships and continuing to invest in the long-term success and economic vitality of the area."
Middletown Valley Bank provides personal and business banking services, as well as residential mortgage lending services through its MVB Home Loans division. The cornerstone of the MVB brand is built on providing Absolutely Exceptional Experiences to its customers and communities, one experience at a time. Originating in Middletown, Maryland in 1908, today the Bank operates offices in the Maryland counties of Frederick, Washington, and Garrett, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.mvbbank.com
Garrett Regional Medical Center honors Summer Sines, RN, with DAISY Nurse Leader Award
Posted 5/26/26
OAKLAND, MD – WVU Medicine Garrett Regional Medical Center is proud to recognize Summer Sines, RN, house supervisor, on the medical surgical unit, as the recipient of the DAISY Nurse Leader Award in recognition of her exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to patient care and staff support.
The DAISY Nurse Leader Award is part of the international DAISY Foundation recognition program established to honor nurses and healthcare professionals who demonstrate extraordinary compassion and clinical excellence. The Nurse Leader Award specifically recognizes nurse leaders who foster an environment where compassionate, skilled care can thrive, even if they are not directly providing bedside patient care.
This prestigious recognition is awarded to nurse managers, directors, assistant managers, charge nurses, chief nursing officers, informatics nurses, and patient flow nurses who positively impact patient care through leadership, mentorship, and support of their teams.
Summer has become a strong and dependable resource for Garrett Regional Medical Center through her leadership as a house supervisor and staff nurse. Over the past year, she has consistently stepped in to support the organization, often accommodating schedule changes on short notice to ensure quality patient care and operational continuity.
Known for her calm demeanor and critical thinking skills, Summer transitions seamlessly between clinical and leadership responsibilities. She is proactive in addressing concerns, communicates effectively with staff and providers, and follows through to ensure team members feel supported and heard.
“Summer exemplifies the mission of our hospital by making sure our patients and staff care for one another like family,” her nomination stated. “She is highly respected by providers and staff and is the type of person who simply wants to do a great job without seeking recognition.”
Summer’s dedication to fostering teamwork, maintaining excellence in patient care, and supporting those around her has made a lasting impact across the organization.
For more information about Garrett Regional Medical Center and its services, visit WVUMedicine.org/Garrett.
Garrett Regional Medical Center to offer safe sitter class on June 6
Posted 5/18/26
OAKLAND, Md. – Garrett Regional Medical Center will be offering a Safe Sitter class on June 6, 2026, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. The class be held in the hospital boardroom.
The Safe Sitter course is designed to prepare those sixth grade and up to be safe when they are home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. The instructor-led class is filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Participants will get to use manikins to practice important rescue skills.
Attendees will also learn first aid and safety, childcare, and business skills.
There is a $40 class registration fee and a pre-registration deadline of May 30, 2026. To register or for more information, contact Amanda Shreve at 301-533-4371.
Garrett Regional Medical Center to offer wellness blood screenings in Oakland, Grantsville
Posted 5/18/26
OAKLAND, MD – Garrett Regional Medical Center will be offering wellness blood screenings for community members on June 5, 12, and 19 from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. at 375 Pythian Avenue in Oakland by appointment only.
An additional blood screening will be held on June 17 at Grantsville Medical Center in Grantsville from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m.
The blood screening will be $70. Accepted payments include cash or check made payable to GRMC.
The multi-phasic blood screening includes iron, glucose, bun, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, C02, uric acid, calcium, phosphorous, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, AST, ALT, alkaline, phosphatase, VLDL cholesterol, estimated GFR, TSH, WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, platelets, MPV, neutrophils, lymphocyte, monocytes, eosinophil, and basophil.
Optional testing of vitamin D ($25), PSA ($25), and HgA1C ($30) will also be available.
To schedule an appointment for the above dates, contact GRMC at 301-533-4371.
For more information on Garrett Regional Medical Center, visit WVUMedicine.org/Garrett.
Garrett County to Host Once-In-A-Generation Community Celebration
Posted 5/15/26
May 15, 2026, Oakland, MD – Garrett County will mark America's 250th birthday milestone with the Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: Celebrating America Together. The event, by donation only, is for all ages and runs on Saturday, July 18, 2026, from noon to 10:00 PM at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. Come for the afternoon, stay for the evening, or make a day of it.
The Birthday Bash is designed as a true countywide celebration. Every town in Garrett County has been invited to share its own chapter of America's 250-year story, and those chapters will come alive through exhibits, live music, family activities, a patriotic concert, veteran tributes, and a finale drone show over the Fairgrounds. The day honors not only the Revolutionary era but the full sweep of American history including the diverse people, places, and stories that have shaped the past two and a half centuries specifically in Garret County.
"This is the official community celebration of America's 250th birthday, and we want every Garrett County resident, and every visitor, to feel at home here," said Sarah Myers, Chair of the Garrett 250 Commission. "From our veterans to our kids, our musicians to our small businesses, this is a day for all of us."
Gates open at noon, when displays and exhibits begin welcoming visitors around the grounds. Throughout the afternoon and evening, guests can step into the Hometown Heroes Heritage Hall, pay tribute to local service members at Veterans Park, let children explore the Stars and Stories Kids Zone, gather with friends at the Spirit of '76 Biergarten, admire classic American automobiles at the Freedom on Wheels Car Show, and browse displays from local vendors and nonprofit organizations.
The main program kicks off at 1:00 PM featuring a march through American history. At 4:30 PM, the community will come together for A County United, a large flag unfurling that brings every corner of Garrett County into one shared moment. Music continues through the afternoon and into the evening, with a special drone show lesson at 6:00 PM, a stirring community band performance at 7:00 PM, and the spectacular drone show lighting up the sky at 9:30 PM.
The public is invited to be part of one of the most powerful moments of the Garrett 250 Birthday Bash: the Commission is looking for community volunteers to help carry and unfurl a large American field flag during a special ceremony honoring our veterans and 250 years of American history. Learn more and sign up here: https://bit.ly/a-county-united
In the event of inclement weather, the drone show (and only the drone show) will be rescheduled to Sunday, July 19 at 9:30 PM. All other Birthday Bash activities will take place as planned on Saturday, July 18.
The Commission notes that the best places to view the drone show are the fields and parking lot of the Garrett County Fairgrounds itself. Views from Deep Creek Lake and from Route 219 will be limited, and the Commission encourages spectators to come to the Fairgrounds for the full experience.
The Commission is also actively seeking crafters, artisans, food vendors, and nonprofit organizations to join the celebration.
Please reach out to Sarah Myers at 301-334-7242 or smyers@garrettcountymd.gov with questions. Full event details and updates are available at www.Garrett250.com.
Public Notice: Swallow Falls Bridge Replacement
Posted 5/14/26
Garrett County, with federal funding administered by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA), is proposing to replace Bridge No. G-0020 on Swallow Falls Road over the Youghiogheny River.
The bridge is located at the southeast corner of Swallow Falls State Park Youghiogheny Grove Natural Area and in the Youghiogheny Scenic and Wild River Corridor. The proposed bridge will include an aesthetic arch facade to provide a scenic backdrop for visitors to the Swallow Falls State Park, and the span length would allow the removal of the existing pier in the river and the abutments that constrict the riverbanks. Removing these obstructions would improve the character of the river by restoring the natural condition and enhancing recreation such as kayaking and fishing.
The net effect is intended to transform a longstanding choke point in the river into a picturesque feature worthy of the natural beauty of the area.
The existing bridge (constructed in 1960) was closed in 2013 due to severe corrosion, and the current 1-lane bridge was installed above the existing 2-lane bridge, as a temporary measure to reopen traffic quickly. The current bridge width restricts passage for some larger emergency vehicles and is not a viable permanent solution.
The abandoned bridge below continues to degrade and would need to be removed to ensure it doesn’t collapse into the river and to remove the existing foundations that constrict the river. A series of retaining walls are proposed to minimize grading impacts and reduce the existing roadway maintenance easement from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by 0.05 acres. The abandoned roadbed would be reforested to mitigate for construction-related forest impacts.
The proposed bridge would have an overall length of approximately 132 feet. It would accommodate two (2) ten-foot-wide travel lanes, approaching the bridge from either direction, and two (2) four-foot-wide shoulders. The overall width of 28 feet would accommodate future reconstruction to avoid potential future road closure and/or realignment.
The current bridge does not accommodate part-width reconstruction, so the proposed bridge would be constructed offline with the centerline shifted 36 feet north of the existing bridge. This would avoid the need to close the road during construction which would result in detours ranging from 15 to 18 miles. The goal being to reduce impacts to emergency services response, dairy farmer operations, and access for park visitors since construction would primarily occur during the summer months when park visitation peaks.
The County would appreciate any input from residents and park visitors. Any comments can be sent to swallowfalls@garrettcountymd.gov.