Habitat Women Build Work Day set for March 7
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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5 Favorite Oakland Winter Fest Activities
TAYLOR-MADE DEEP CREEK VACATIONS & SALES BLOG
Oakland Winter Fest is held the Saturday of President’s Day weekend each year. It is a great way to celebrate the season with friends and family. You can stroll through the historic downtown as you enjoy delicious food and fun activities. For the second year, you can buy a $15 ticket for the Wine Walk. You can taste approximately 12 different wines, which will be available at a number of locations throughout the town.
I picked out 5 of my favorite Oakland Winter Fest activities that you absolutely don’t want to miss!
WATCH MASTER ICE CARVER BILL SANDUSKY CREATE BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURES.
Each year, Bill travels from Erie, PA to create more than 30 unique ice carvings that decorate the sidewalks. You can watch his demonstrations or check out one of the interactive sculptures.
TAKE A HORSE DRAWN SLEIGH RIDE.
Take a free sleigh ride through the streets of this picturesque small town. It is a classic winter experience that you will always remember.
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Mountain bike trails planned for Broadford Park
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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Western Maryland Health System Joins UPMC
CUMBERLAND — Western Maryland Health System officially has become UPMC Western Maryland, merging into the UPMC hospital network to ensure patient care for communities in the region.
“We are extremely pleased that our health system has joined one of the nation’s largest and most successful integrated health-care providers and insurers,” said Barry P. Ronan, WMHS president and chief executive officer. “Becoming part of UPMC will allow us to further enhance health-care services, leverage UPMC’s innovation and clinical expertise, advance quality initiatives and continue our longstanding commitment to provide superior, compassionate care to patients throughout our tri-state service region.”
UPMC Western Maryland operates the Advanced Lakeside Medical Care urgent care facility in McHenry, as well as Grantsville Lab Services.
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Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water, Chesapeake Bay
BALTIMORE — The Maryland Board of Public Works recently approved more than $4.7 million in grants to reduce pollution and improve water quality, the Maryland Department of the Environment has announced. Garrett County was awarded $40,000.
According to MDE, grants from the Bay Restoration Fund will provide funding for 18 counties to upgrade on-site sewage disposal (septic) systems and make sewer connections to “significantly” reduce the discharge of nitrogen, one of the most serious pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay.
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Oakland native's World War II flight may have inspired song
OAKLAND — An Oakland native who passed away in November at the age of 100 was once involved in a World War II flight that may have inspired the song “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer.”
J.C. O’Donnell was a 22-year-old Army lieutenant when he flew a twin-engine warplane, a B-26 Marauder, in an intense dogfight in New Guinea on May 28, 1942.
He ended up flying the plane on one engine for four hours, arriving late back to the airstrip at Port Moresby.
News accounts stated that several planes flew over the mountains in New Guinea, and the Americans ended up under attack by more than a dozen Japanese Zero fighter planes.
The battle lasted 35 minutes, and the Marauder’s right engine was destroyed in machine gun fire. The tail was also hit and the fuselage acquired large holes.
O’Donnell took a long route home and was chased by the Japanese planes for about an hour. By the time he got the plane and his crew of six back to the airstrip, it had been declared missing.
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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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