Friendsville Newsletter

As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the residents of our wonderful community.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives, cherish time with family and friends, and appreciate the people who make our town such a special place to call home. We are thankful for the kindness, generosity, community spirit, and continued support shown by our residents throughout the year.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and are proud of the neighbors, volunteers, local businesses, and community members who help make our town stronger every day.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with love, laughter, good food, and special memories with those who matter most. From our families to yours, we wish everyone a safe, happy, and blessed Thanksgiving!

With gratitude,

The Mayor & Town Council

We are pleased to announce that the next Mayor & Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM.

The public meeting will take place at Town Hall, located at:

945 Community Drive
Friendsville, MD 21531

Your presence and participation at these meetings are important and contribute greatly to the progress and development of our community. We encourage residents to mark their calendars and plan to attend. The agenda for the meeting will be posted on the Thursday prior to the meeting on the Town’s website.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the Town Office.

Thank you for your understanding and continued involvement in our community. We look forward to seeing you as we continue working together to shape the future of Friendsville.

Friendsville Town Council & Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle

The Town of Friendsville wants residents to know that water is currently available.

We also want to acknowledge concerns regarding prolonged exposure to elevated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water. While short-term exposure is generally not the primary concern, long-term exposure over many years may be associated with potential health risks. These concerns may be particularly important for residents who could be more vulnerable, including elderly individuals, medically compromised residents, and underserved members of our community.

🚰 Gallon Drinking Water Available

Gallon drinking water is available for residents who live within the town limits to pick up at Town Hall:

Monday–Thursday
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

If you are unable to come during these hours, please call Town Hall at 301-746-5919 to arrange another pickup time.

We encourage residents to stay informed, follow any water-use advisories or recommendations issued by the Town and health authorities, and contact their healthcare provider if they have individual health concerns.

The Town of Friendsville is committed to keeping residents informed and working to protect the health and well-being of our entire community. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this issue together.

Mayor & Town Council

The Town of Friendsville is committed to maintaining Steele Cemetery as a peaceful, respectful, and well-kept final resting place for our community and the families whose loved ones are entrusted to our care.

We respectfully invite families and community members who are able to make a voluntary contribution toward the continued care and maintenance of Steele Cemetery. Your contributions help offset the costs of maintaining the cemetery grounds and preserving this special place for generations to come.

💵 Please note: Donations to Steele Cemetery can be made by cash or check only. Credit and debit card payments cannot be accepted.

If paying by check:

• Make the check payable to Town of Friendsville
• Please write “Steele Cemetery” in the memo line

Your generosity and support are sincerely appreciated. Every contribution helps the Town of Friendsville continue to preserve Steele Cemetery as a beautiful, peaceful, and dignified final resting place for our community. 🌳🕊️

If you have questions regarding a burial lot or cemetery records, please contact Friendsville Town Hall at 301-746-5919.

Any resident of the Town of Friendsville who is registered with the Garrett County Board of Elections or the Town of Friendsville Election Board, have attained the age of twenty-one (21) years by the date of the election and have resided within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Friendsville for at least six (6) months prior to the election may file a Petition for Office for one of three Town Council Members positions in the February 10, 2026, municipal election. They must submit a PETITION of OFFICE form with the Clerk/Treasurer by 12:00 noon on Monday, January 11, 2027.

Town of Friendsville residents will cast their ballots for three Council Members in the February 9, 2027, municipal election. The following members of the current Town Government are eligible to seek reelection: Council Members Chad E. Bittinger, James M. Hook, and Robert H. Sines. Their current two-year terms will expire on the first Monday of March 2027.

If additional information is required, please contact the Clerk/Treasurer at 301-746-5919.

February 9, 2027

12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friendsville Municpal Building

Town Hall Council Chambers

945 Community Drive

Friendsville, MD 21531

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The form will only take a few minutes to complete and will ensure that you are added to our mailing list. Don't miss out on all the exciting things happening in Friendsville! By subscribing to our newsletter, you'll be the first to know about town events, community news, and more. Thank you for your interest in staying connected with the Town of Friendsville!

• Thanksgiving - November 26, 2026
• Christmas - December 25, 2026
• New Year's Day 2027 - January 1, 2027

There are lots of important dates coming up! Please mark your calendars and take note of the following events and schedule changes:

⭐ November 11 – Veterans Day Program at 1:30 PM

📸 November 16 – Picture Retake Day

🦃 November 25 – Early Dismissal for Thanksgiving Break

🍁 November 26–30 – Thanksgiving Break (No School)

📚 December 3 – Early Dismissal for Staff Development

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with family, friends, and special memories! ❤️

Thank you for staying connected and helping us keep up with all the exciting things happening at our school!

Join us at Friendsville Public House on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 11:00 AM–10:00 PM for delicious food and a great cause!

10% of all sales will go directly to the Friendsville PTO to support our school community.

Bring your family, invite your friends, and let’s make it a day full of school spirit!

The October/November meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 18th, at 5:30 PM and will be held at Stillwater Haven.

We will also be holding officer elections during this meeting. We encourage everyone to attend, get involved, and have a voice in shaping the year ahead. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for our monthly GFBA Member Meeting! It’s a great opportunity to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Friendsville and the surrounding area, connect with fellow business owners, share announcements, collaborate on ideas, and have a voice in shaping our growing business community. Whether you're a current member or thinking about joining, attending helps you stay informed, involved, and supported.

Mark your calendars for next year!

261 MAPLE STREET, FRIENDSVILLE, MD

Special openings can be arranged by appointment as volunteers are available and weather permits. Contact Carol Squires at 301-501-6020.

The Board of Library Trustees meets once a month, on the second Thursday* at 4:00 pm. Meetings are open to the public, save for closed session periods. The location and time can vary – check our Calendar of Events to find out where each meeting will be held, or call 301-334-3996.

*October's meeting of the Board of Library Trustees has been rescheduled to the 3rd Thursday of October due to the Autumn Glory Festival

Play Mah-Jongg at the Friendsville Library on Tuesdays from 1:30-4:00 pm. Meet new friends and exercise your brain! If you don't know how to play, we'll teach you!

If you will be joining us to play for the first time, please contact the Friendsville Library at 301-746-5663 or email Melissa at melissa@relib.net for more information.

Maryland Food Bank's Mobile Market is visiting the Friendsville Library!

Welcome to your one-stop-shop for free healthy foods and resources with a Full-Shopping Experience. (While Food Supplies Last)

If you enjoy cooking, trying new recipes, and eating with friends...then this is the bookclub for you! It's Friendsville Library's Culinary Connections Cookbook Club!

Join us on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6pm. Each participant will choose a recipe from a selection of cookbooks to prepare at home and bring to share at the next meeting. We'll have fun trying new foods, discussing our culinary successes (or disasters), and sharing cooking techniques and tips. We'll have a different theme each month and a prize will be awarded at each meeting for the tastiest dish! Only non-alcoholic beverages, please.

Disclaimer(s)

We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy, or other allergens.

The Garrett County Health Department will be hosting a mobile health insurance clinic on the first Thursday of each month from 1:30-4:30pm at the Friendsville Library. A representative will be available for in-person assistance to apply for health insurance through Maryland Health Connection.

Occurring on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Friendsville branch, representatives from the Garrett County Department of Social Services will be in the library to serve the community through their assistance outreach program.

Customers can come see a DSS staff person at any of these locations to pick up paperwork, drop off paperwork, apply for services like SNAP, CASH Assistance and Medical Assistance, or just to ask questions about the programs and services offered by our agency. Staff can also provide referral to other community agencies if we do not have a program to address the person’s needs. ANYONE can access ANY of these locations. This schedule provides flexibility to our customers who may be working in communities away from their home, or who may be facing transportation challenges.

These locations also provide support to our customers by making DSS forms available to customers during the location’s open hours of business. Customers can look for the file box labeled “DSS FORMS” to pick up forms, information or a pre-paid envelope in which to return completed forms to our office for processing.

Please note: Please note: If Garrett County schools are canceled due to inclement weather, outreach activity is canceled for that day. For more information on the outreach program, please contact Garrett County DSS at 301-533-3000.

Maryland Food Bank's Mobile Market is visiting the Friendsville Library!

Welcome to your one-stop-shop for free healthy foods and resources with a Full-Shopping Experience. (While Food Supplies Last)

• Veteran's Day - November 11, 2026
• Thanksgiving - November 25, 2026 5:30 p.m. - November 27, 2026
• Christmas - December 24-25, 2026
• New Year's Day 2027 - January 1, 2027

Our Senior Center is here to make your Mondays and Wednesdays more enjoyable.

Are you looking for a place to connect with wonderful people, enjoy delicious food, and engage in exciting activities? Look no further! .

✨ Here's what you can expect:

🍽️ Lunch Served at 12:00 p.m.: Indulge in a tasty meal and relish great company. Our delicious lunches are the perfect midday treat.

🎂 Birthday Celebrations: Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of each month as we celebrate the birthdays of our amazing seniors. Cake, laughter, and good times are guaranteed!

🃏 Morning Card Games: Get your competitive spirit going with some card games in the morning. It's a fantastic way to exercise your mind and have fun.

🎉 Bingo After Lunch: After a scrumptious meal, try your luck at bingo. Exciting prizes await those with a winning card!

🎤 Special Speakers and Programs: On the last Wednesday of every month, we host special speakers and programs that are both informative and entertaining. It's a great opportunity to learn something new.

🩺 GCHD Blood Pressure Checks: Your health matters to us. Join us on the third Wednesday of each month for complimentary blood pressure checks by the GCHD. Stay on top of your health and well-being.

Come be a part of our vibrant and welcoming community at the Senior Center. Don't miss out on these wonderful activities and connections. See you on Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Senior Center. We can't wait to see you there!

📅 Check out our flyers below.

Let's come together to make a positive impact in our community!

Jaime Spano

Garrett County Health Department

Community Health Outreach Worker

301.334.7777

Please join us for an Open House at the Veterans Memorial on

Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.

Come see the progress of construction on the memorial and help us honor the brave men and women who have served our country. The ceremony will include official speakers and a rifle squad salute. All are welcome!

We hope you will join us as we come together as a community to honor and remember our veterans and celebrate the progress of this special memorial.

Ken Hinebaugh

Friendsville Veterans Memorial