Tag: garrett county
Towns of Garrett County- Kitzmiller, Maryland
The town of Kitzmiller is located on the North Branch of the Potomac River. Back in the day, it was one of the largest producers and shippers of coal in the Garrett County/Allegany County region. Today, it has over 300 residents. It is known for its recreation activities such as fishing on the Potomac and nearby Jennings-Randolph Lake, strolling through its botanical garden, and biking on the river walk. For more information, please visit http://myweb.cebridge.net/townofkitzmiller/ or http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/pages/SouthernGarrettCounty.
Towns of Garrett County- Oakland, Maryland
Oakland, Maryland is the county seat of Garrett County. With over 2,000 residents, the town is small and charming yet offers all the amenities of a resort town. Many residents will notice that their lakefront Deep Creek Lake house address says Oakland. However, the heart of the town is 10 miles south of the Garrett County Highway 219 bridge. Designated as a “Main Street Community”, Oakland is filled with things to do. The town offers many parks, playgrounds, a 18-hole golf course, Broadford Lake (a 140 acre lake with a beach front), an outdoor farmers market, and more! When is the best time to visit Oakland? All the time! From the Autumn Glory Festival to the Little Yough Summer Music Fest to Winterfest, there is always something going on. For more information about Oakland, please visit http://www.oaklandmd.com/index.html.
Towns of Garrett County- Mountain Lake Park, Maryland
Located 8 miles south of Deep Creek Lake lies Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. Similar to other neighboring towns, Mountain Lake Park was a popular resort area from the late 1800’s to the 1940’s. A “Chautauqua” style town, Mountain Lake Park stressed the importance of education as well as recreation. Over the years, thousands of visitors have traveled through Mountain Lake Park, such as President William Howard Taft and Mark Twain.
Today, the town is filled with Victorian style homes representing the times gone by and over 2,000 residents. It is still a source of recreation, since it neighbors Broadford Lake. When is the best time to visit Mountain Lake Park? The Western Maryland Clay Court Tennis Championships in August! The town has been hosting this event for the past 94 years. For more information about Mountain Lake Park, please visit http://mtnlakepark.org/.
Towns of Garrett County- Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland
Located about 8 miles south of Deep Creek Lake is Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland. Once known for its resort industry, the town is now a family-oriented community that 550 residents call home.
From the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, The Loch Lynn Hotel brought in many travelers from the tri-state area. The luxurious hotel once boasted a huge ballroom, an indoor pool, bowling alleys, and a casino. However, the hotel burned down in 1918 and its casino closed its doors in the late 1980’s.
Today, Loch Lynn Heights offers many amenities for local families including multiple soccer and softball fields, a walking trail, and a boardwalk that runs along the wetlands. For more information, please visit http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/pages/SouthernGarrettCounty.
Towns of Garrett County- Grantsville, Maryland
Located in Northern Garrett County, is a small town by the name of Grantsville, Maryland. Grantsville is known for its rich history on the infamous National Road. The Casselman Bridge is one of the largest attractions in the small town. Built in 1813, it was the largest single span stone arch bridge at the time. Today, it is open for the public to wander around the grounds. Spruce Forest Artisan Village is located directly next to the old bridge. The village consists of old log homes, school buildings, and a church. The buildings are open to the public and filled with local artisan vendors.
Today, Grantsville is home to 800 residents. With its charming main street and local shops, it is a great place to spend a day with the family. When is the best time to visit Grantsville? The Grantsville Days celebration in June! For more information, please visit http://www.visitgrantsville.com/.
Towns of Garrett County- Friendsville, Maryland
Located about 10 miles north of Deep Creek Lake, Friendsville, Maryland is known for its rich history and adventurous outdoor sports. Home of the first settlement in Garrett County, the town now consists of 500 residents.
Friendsville residents have many sources of entertainment such as the Kendall Trail and the Friendsville Community Park. Just above the Yough Dam, the stretch of the Youghiogheny River in Friendsville is perfect for whitewater activities. When is the best time to visit Friendsville? The Friendsville Days summer celebration at the end of July! For more information, please visit http://www.friendsville-md.org/.
FUN FACT: Although the citizens of Friendsville are quite friendly, the town is actually named for John Friend Sr., one of the first settlers that bought the tract of land from Native Americans in 1765.
Towns of Garrett County- Deer Park, Maryland
Located about 5 miles south of Deep Creek Lake, Deer Park, Maryland is known for a historic resort hotel that once stood there. A small train town, Deer Park was a booming industry in the late 1800’s. The B & O Railroad dropped off many prestigious guests at the Deer Park Hotel for a fun, relaxing weekend in Mountain Maryland. In fact, President Grover Cleveland honeymooned here in 1886. The Deer Park Hotel is long gone, however, The Deer Park Inn Bed and Breakfast still offers an elegant French cuisine.
With a population just over 400 residents, Deer Park is once again ready for growth. With new sewer and water lines, the town is planning new construction projects and restoring historic buildings. For more information, please visit http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/pages/SouthernGarrettCounty.
FUN FACT: You know Deer Park Natural Spring Water? Yes, this is the same Deer Park! The popular bottled water comes from springs right here in Deer Park, Maryland.
Towns of Garrett County- Accident, Maryland
About 10 miles north of Deep Creek Lake, is Accident, Maryland. The tiny, picturesque town is home to about 330 residents. The town offers residents parks with features such as a fishing pond, pavilion, Little League field, and a walking trail. When is the best time to visit Accident? The Fourth of July Homecoming celebration! For more information, visit http://www.accidentmd.org/.
FUN FACT: Ever wonder how Accident got its name? Back in the late 1700’s, two Western Maryland settlers surveyed the land. By “accident” they chose the same piece of property, therefore the tract of land was named “Accident”.
Memorial Day Weekend: A Holiday for ALL Garrett County Visitors!
Memorial Day Weekend kicked off Deep Creek Lake’s summer tourism season! However, it was not just humans enjoying the lake.
Take a look at some of the black bear sightings from the weekend!
Click here to see a family’s new swimming buddy.
Partnerships propel Affordable Care Act in Garrett County
Columbia-based nonprofit works with hospital, health department
Elaine Blaisdell
OAKLAND — Providing information to the uninsured who are required to be insured under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, has fared better in Garrett County than it has nationally because of the way the county has been able to quickly provide information, said Donald Battista, president and CEO of Garrett County Memorial Hospital.
Healthy Howard Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Columbia, has formed local partnerships with the hospital, the county health department, Community Action Council and Mountain Laurel Medical Center to help get the word out about implementing the Affordable Care Act, according to Heather Glass, field operations manager of the agency.
“The local partners are critical to the success of the connector program. These partners know the local community, the unique qualities of the community; what may be the best approach for outreach and education; how to find the hard to reach population and understanding the challenges and unique opportunities,” said Glass.
Maryland Health Connection, a one-stop health insurance marketplace to enroll in health insurance, is working to fix glitches with the Maryland Health Exchange program by mid-November, according to Glass.
“As everyone knows, the Maryland Health Exchange is facing technical challenges and turnout was low in October throughout Maryland,” said Glass.
Resident James “Smokey” Stanton was glad to hear that Healthy Howard had formed local partnerships and stressed the importance of the commissioners working with the partners and reinforcing the importance of implementation.
“This is not health reform, it’s health insurance reform,” said Stanton. “With the way that the mass media is portraying this, combined with the glitches of the national system, that may be undermining the confidence in this particular medical social policy.”
If a person has insurance they are more likely to obtain preventive health care and early detection and without it they are likely to evolve into an unhappy health situation that cost a lot of money, affects the work force and quality of life, according to Stanton.
Battista estimates that there are 3,000 to 4,000 residents who would qualify to potentially purchase insurance. The Garrett County Community Action Committee has sent more than 1,000 letters to residents in its database who are listed as uninsured, according to Pam Nelson, vice president for community services with GCCAC.
At the hospital, 786 people have been identified as being uninsured, but of those, only three have attempted to make application for a health plan, according to Battista.
“It seems like to me a small number that have so far gone through the process to purchase insurance but it starts with information,” said Battista.
“I’m thrilled that we have probably made contact with 50 percent. I would just hope the numbers start to reflect those who are eligible to benefit from this whole effort,” said Commissioner James Raley.
Paper applications, especially for those who qualify for Medicaid, have been taken and can be taken by GCCAC, according to Nelson. GCCAC has one navigator on staff, who can help an individual select a private plan through the Maryland Health Exchange, and nine assisters on staff, who take the preliminary applications for insurance. GCMH has five assisters on staff and so does the health department. Mountain Laurel Medical Center has three assisters.
The “no wrong door approach” has been em-braced by the partners in the county, according to Glass. Staff members are trained and certified to help the uninsured obtain quality, affordable health care through the Maryland Health Connection.
“This approach recognizes that the great organizations in Garrett County are already working with the uninsured population. They know where they are and are already engaging them in various services,” said Glass.
Healthy Howard has held health fairs in the county to get information out about the Maryland Health Exchange program because they have been more successful than the forums, which have been held in other counties to get the word out, according to Glass.
The county’s Department of Social Services has been gearing up for a year to provide assistance and information on Affordable Care Act and the Maryland Health Connection, according to Linda Ashby, with the department.
For more information on Maryland Health Connection visit http://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/about-us
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
