Garrett County Launches Pathways & Connections Initiatives
Posted 10/21/24
October 21, 2024, Oakland, MD – As the election season reaches its peak, Garrett County officials are urging all community members to maintain civility and respect in public discussions.
The current political climate has stirred strong emotions on both sides, and while robust debate is a healthy part of democracy, it is essential that we continue to respect each other’s rights, opinions, and freedoms—including freedom of speech.
"We know that people are passionate about the issues, and that’s a good thing,” said Commissioner Paul Edwards. “But it's crucial that we express these views in a way that is respectful of others' rights and property. Stealing or damaging political signs, for example, is not only disrespectful but could lead to legal repercussions.”
Garrett County encourages the community to practice patience, kindness, and consideration as we navigate these challenging times. Political signs are a lawful expression of free speech, and each citizen deserves the opportunity to display their support without interference or fear of removal. The county is hopeful that all residents will uphold these values, avoiding the need for any legal action regarding sign tampering or removal.
“We believe in the power of our community to come together, even when we don’t agree on everything,” Edwards added. “Let’s focus on what unites us and handle differences with the respect and community that Garrett County is known for.”
For more information on county regulations regarding political signs and property rights, please contact the Garrett County Sheriff's Office at 301-334-1911.
Garrett County Launches Pathways & Connections Initiatives
Posted 10/21/24
Shaping a Safer, More Accessible Future for Pedestrians and Cyclists
October 21, 2024, Oakland, MD – The Garrett County Planning Team is excited to announce the launch of the Garrett County Pathways & Connections Initiatives, which focus on two key projects: the MD 135 Pedestrian & Bicycle Pathways Concept Design and the Oakland to Herrington Manor Trail Feasibility Study.
These initiatives aim to enhance safety, accessibility, and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists throughout Garrett County.
As part of the 2024 Garrett County Pathways and Connections Initiative, the community is invited to explore the vision for these projects through an interactive Story Map. This map highlights potential routes, key areas of interest, and provides an opportunity for community members to share their feedback.
Visit garrettcountymd.gov/pathways to explore the Story Map and share your input. Your feedback will be instrumental in shaping the final designs for these vital infrastructure projects.
In the coming weeks, community members will have several opportunities to provide feedback and engage with the Garrett County Planning Team through both online and in-person sessions.
Online Public Information Session:
Date: October 24, 2024, at 12:00 PM
Join the meeting: https://bit.ly/4eRkq8u
Meeting ID: 238 430 430 919 | Passcode: WVqr2b
In-Person Public Outreach Session:
Location: Herrington Manor Lake House
222 Herrington Lane, Oakland, MD 21550
Date: October 24, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Oakland Town Work Session:
Location: Oakland Town Hall
15 South Third Street, Oakland, MD 21550
Date: November 4, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM
Loch Lynn Town Public Meeting:
Location: Loch Lynn Town Hall
211 Bonnie Blvd, Loch Lynn Heights, MD 21550
Date: November 5, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM
Garrett County Planning Commission Meeting:
Location: Garrett County Courthouse
Commissioners Meeting Room, 203 South Fourth Street, Oakland, MD 21550
Date: November 6, 2024
Time: 1:30 PM
Mountain Lake Park Town Public Meeting:
Location: Mountain Lake Park Town Hall
1007 Allegany Drive, Mountain Lake Park, MD 21550
Date: November 7, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
We encourage everyone in the community to share this initiative with friends, neighbors, and local organizations. By working together, we can create pathways and connections that foster a safer, healthier, and more vibrant future for Garrett County.
For more information, contact the Garrett County Planning Team at pathways@garrettcountymd.gov.
Ongoing Road Sign Thefts Create Public Safety Concern
Posted 10/18/24
October 17, 2024, Oakland, MD – In recent months, there has been a concerning rise in the theft of road signs across Garrett County’s secondary road system. Signs including road name markers, stop signs, directional arrows, chevrons, and hazard warnings like ‘bump’ and ‘low shoulder’ signs have been repeatedly stolen. Despite efforts to quickly replace these signs, the cycle of theft continues.
Over 105 county road signs, with a replacement cost of $1,798, were reported stolen during the months of August and September 2024.
"The disappearance of these critical road signs poses a serious safety risk to both residents and visitors alike," said Paul Harvey, Garrett County Department of Public Works Roads Division Chief. "Signs are vital for maintaining traffic safety and ensuring proper navigation, particularly on rural roads where travelers may be unfamiliar with the terrain. These ongoing thefts are not just inconvenient—they put lives at risk."
County officials, including Sheriff Bryson Meyers, have been discussing ways to address this issue and are now calling for public awareness and assistance. Local authorities are reminding residents that the theft of public roadway signage is a criminal offense, punishable by law, with ongoing enforcement efforts in place.
“We ask that anyone with information regarding these thefts come forward, and we also encourage the public to report any suspicious activity near roadway signs,” Sheriff Meyers added. “We hope that increased awareness and vigilance will help deter future thefts and protect our community.”
Residents are urged to contact the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office with any information related to these incidents at 301-334-1911 or gcso@garrettcountymd.gov.
Acrobat Power Moves: Adobe Tools Help Women Entrepreneurs Crush It
Posted 10/17/24
This Women’s Small Business Month, it’s time to spotlight the resources that help women entrepreneurs soar. Adobe Acrobat simplifies key business processes, from document management to team collaboration, freeing up time for what matters most—scaling their companies. Whether refining workflows or speeding up decision-making, these features give women business owners a competitive edge in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship.
Acrobat AI Assistant: With Acrobat AI Assistant, you can see for yourself how it empowers entrepreneurs with smart document tools designed to boost efficiency and clarity. Its ability to generate summaries instantly highlights the most critical points of any document, turning dense information into actionable insights. Plus, by answering user questions directly, it streamlines decision-making and optimizes daily workflows, helping small business owners stay focused on growth and innovation
Edit: Adobe Acrobat's Edit tool allows entrepreneurs to modify text and images directly within PDFs, ensuring quick adjustments without losing formatting. It offers a practical solution for small business owners who often need to update contracts, proposals, or marketing materials. This feature keeps document editing seamless, saving time and enhancing professionalism.
Share Feedback: Share Feedback in Adobe Acrobat fosters collaboration by allowing team members, clients, or stakeholders to provide input on documents in real time. Entrepreneurs benefit from this feature by streamlining communication and consolidating feedback from multiple sources. It’s a valuable tool for refining proposals or product documents to align with client expectations.
Request e-signatures: The Request e-signatures feature accelerates the signing process for entrepreneurs who need to finalize agreements quickly and securely. It enables business owners to send, track, and manage digital signatures, ensuring contracts are legally binding and efficient. This tool reduces the need for manual paperwork, helping entrepreneurs close deals faster and keep their businesses moving forward.
At Bon Bon Bon, founder and chocolatier Alexandra Clark and her team have leveraged the diverse suite of tools Adobe Acrobat offers to elevate their business operations and drive success.
“I feel like Adobe Acrobat was part of Bon Bon Bon's business glow up. We're using it across the entire business. Everything from accounting, HR operations, admin, all the ways to the hyper-creative flavor development, visual, social media, marketing world. We're using it everywhere."
Innovative solutions like Adobe Acrobat play a crucial role in the success of women-owned businesses. By streamlining tasks and boosting efficiency, these tools allow entrepreneurs to focus on growth and innovation. From closing deals faster to sharpening their creative strategies, Adobe Acrobat helps turn vision into reality—making it a resource worth exploring further for women looking to elevate their business.
Garrett County Awarded $360,000 for "Garrett Pathways to Safety" Project
Posted 10/16/24
October 15, 2024, Oakland, MD – Garrett County Government is proud to announce it has been awarded $360,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program for the "Garrett Pathways to Safety" project.
This funding will support the county’s efforts to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety, expand active transportation options, and integrate sustainable infrastructure across key locations and along major corridors such as MD Route 495, MD Route 135, and US Route 219.
Through this project, Garrett County will develop a comprehensive Active and Alternative Transportation Master Plan that will serve as a foundation for future transportation initiatives. This plan will be guided by data and will align with the county's vision of achieving zero fatalities on its roadways.
Additionally, a detailed safety and traffic analysis will be conducted on US Route 219 and within Oakland's local network to identify key areas for improvements. The analysis will prioritize high-risk areas and potential interventions aimed at enhancing overall safety and connectivity. The project will also implement quick-build demonstration projects along essential routes, including temporary road diets, traffic calming measures, and pedestrian and cyclist safety barriers.
In the coming months, the county will work to formalize agreements, secure necessary approvals, and engage with local stakeholders to ensure that the project meets the community's needs. By early 2025, the procurement process for consultants and contractors will begin, with the goal of having initial quick-build projects underway by mid-2025, following the development of the Master Plan.
Garrett County is committed to keeping the public informed throughout the process. Updates on the project’s progress, timelines, and opportunities for public input will be shared regularly. Robust public outreach efforts will ensure community members have the opportunity to engage and provide feedback as the project develops.
“We are thrilled to have secured this funding as part of our commitment to creating safer, more sustainable transportation infrastructure in Garrett County,” said Siera Wigfield, Senior Planner for Garrett County.
“Although we are in the early stages, this award marks a significant step forward in enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists across key areas of the county. I look forward to discussing the project during upcoming meetings and working with our community to bring these improvements to life.”
Community members should anticipate visible progress by mid-2025, following thorough planning and consultation.
For more information, please contact Siera Wigfield at swigfield@garrettcountymd.gov or 301-334-7477.
Free Live Podcast Commercial to Celebrate Economic Development Week
Posted 10/16/24
October 15, 2024, Oakland, MD – In celebration of Maryland Economic Development Week, local businesses and non-profits are invited to participate in a dynamic and engaging “LIVE” podcast recording event on Thursday, October 24. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Garrett Information Enterprise Center (GIEC), room 107a, this one-of-a-kind event offers businesses the chance to promote their services through 5–15-minute commercials, recorded live on the podcast.
Hosted by Connor Norman, this interactive event will welcome not only local businesses but also resource partners, local officials, and economic development professionals, all with the shared goal of showcasing the vibrant economic landscape of our community.
Businesses and non-profits are encouraged to bring advertising materials, samples (especially food businesses), business cards, and even prepare live demonstrations. The event promises to be fun and interactive, creating an ideal platform to raise awareness about the products and services available right here in our region.
Each participating business will be featured in a 5–15-minute podcast commercial segment and be featured in social media reels.
“This is a unique way to highlight the amazing businesses and services we have in our backyard," said Norman. “We’re thrilled to bring the community together in this fun, interactive format.”
The event is free to attend but businesses are encouraged to reserve their spot by selecting a time at the following link: https://bit.ly/3NrXWiv
For more information, please contact Connor Norman at cnorman@garrettcountymd.gov or 301-334-7281.
Morin Donation to Support Lyme Disease Clinic
Posted 10/14/24
The Garrett Regional Medical Center Foundation received a generous donation from Don and Elizabeth Morin to support the creation of a new Lyme disease clinic. Lyme disease is an infection caused by a tick bite that can lead to serious and life-threatening complications if left untreated. The rate of tick-borne diseases in Garrett and Allegany counties has greatly increased since 2010.
"Undiagnosed Lyme Disease is crippling. We are so pleased to collaborate with Garrett Regional Medical Center to create a dedicated clinic that will educate patients and diagnose and treat Lyme disease,” said Don and Elizabeth Morin.
The Morin’s generous donation will help expand the hospital’s Lyme disease resources to improve patient care.
GRMC celebrates Pink Out Day for Breast and Lung Cancer Awareness
Posted 10/7/24
Oakland, Md. – Garrett Regional Medical Center team members wore their pink and pearls for Pink Out Day to promote both Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is recognized in October, and Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed in November. The Pink and Pearl campaign's goal is to bring awareness to both breast and lung cancer, and to encourage everyone to get their recommended cancer screenings. The color pink is associated with breast cancer awareness, while white (or pearl) is a symbol of lung cancer awareness.
57th Annual Autumn Glory Grand Feature Parade Grand Marshal
Posted 10/2/24
[Oakland, MD] — Steve Smith has been selected as Grand Marshal for the 57th Annual Autumn Glory Grand Feature Parade, held on October 12, 2024, at 1pm. The Garrett Regional Medical Center is the sponsor for the 2024 Grand Marshal.
Steve's journey in music is a tapestry woven with chance encounters, resilience, and undeniable passion. From that fateful square dance at his grandfather's building, where a banjo ignited his dreams, to jamming with legends like Charlie Daniels and opening for prominent acts such as Darryl Worley, Lee Brice, David Nail, David Allen Coe, Jo Dee Messina, Twitty & Lynn, the Oak Ridge Boys and Pricilla Block, his story showcases the power of music to connect and uplift.
Learning to play the banjo by ear in his father’s car, a pivotal trade of his dirt bike for a family friend's banjo set the stage for his lifelong love of the instrument. The joy of winning a banjo contest in 2006 cemented his commitment to music.
His talent led to remarkable milestones, including joining the Wheeling Jamboree, a prestigious platform that celebrates country music. In 2015, signing with Mon Hill Records marked another high point, but a serious health battle in 2016 put his career on pause. Undeterred, Steve emerged from that experience more determined than ever.
The launch of his radio show in 2017 opened new doors, transforming into a podcast and leading him to co-host significant events. Recognition followed, with features in music publications and albums that celebrated West Virginia’s musical heritage. His pride in his roots was evident as he became the Banjo Instructor at WVU's bluegrass program.
In 2020, Steve’s commitment to community shone through as he advocated for Gold Star Families with his poignant song "The Brave." His latest album, "Who I Am" was released in 2023 and not only resonated with fans but also garnered nominations for prestigious awards, including the Josie Awards and the International Singer Songwriter Association's Album of the Year.
Steve has performed many times at the Little Yough Summer Music Festival and is the MC for the Maryland State Banjo, Fiddle, and Mandolin Championship, held at Southern Garrett High School.
Steve's journey continues to inspire, reminding us that with passion and perseverance, dreams can indeed come true.