Friendsville Newsletter
February 2026
Maryland Food Bank's Mobile Market
🌟 Welcome to your one-stop-shop for free healthy foods and resources! 🌟
Enjoy a variety of boxed dry goods and a “pick your own” produce selection—offered while supplies last. 🥦🍎
Mark you Calendar
Maryland Food Bank's Mobile Market will be visiting Friendsville!
- July 8, 2026 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- August 12, 2026 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Volunteers Needed! 🛒❤️
We're looking for caring volunteers to help our senior community members during the Mobile Market. Volunteers will assist with shopping, carrying groceries, and making the experience easier and more enjoyable for those who may need a helping hand. Even an hour of your time can make a meaningful difference. If you're interested in lending a hand and supporting our neighbors, we'd love to have you join us! Together, we can help ensure everyone has access to fresh food and a friendly face.
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by Steve Storck
On July 25th at the Friendsville Town Park, Garrett County will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Youghiogheny River as Maryland’s ONLY wild and scenic river. The “Wild Yough” is unique in the state’s 9-river Scenic and Wild Rivers system as it is the only river with the wild designation: a “free-flowing river whose shoreline and related land are undeveloped, inaccessible except by trail, or predominantly primitive in a natural state for a least 4 miles of the river length.” More than a definition in statute, today the Wild Yough is an oasis of green forest buffering one of the most iconic whitewater runs in the country. Twenty-one miles in all with two world class whitewater sections, the Top Yough at Swallow Falls and the Upper Yough from Sang Run to Friendsville. Timbering, mining, hydroelectric projects and development threatened the river’s beauty and free-flowing wildness early in the century, but with the wild designation and a hard-fought partnership between landowners, local and state government it has evolved into a special place for outdoor recreation, nature study and wildlife.
Join the community in commemorating this wild river with music, food, beer and tribute to the river from 5-10pm at the Town Park. Local volunteers, Madi Mori, Steve Storck and Jesse Whittimore have led the planning effort for this community celebration. The event will coincide with the 46th Upper Yough Race which brings up to 100 top level athletes to town to challenge the rapids with precision and speed. The race awards will be presented at the celebration from 7-8 pm. From 5-7pm we welcome Aurora Celtic to the stage for music and have food vendors on-site for an evening picnic. After the awards the music will continue with 2-time race winner Jesse Shimrock, our singing lawyer Dirk Schwenk who led the recent effort to protect the trees at Swallow Falls SP, Nick Savage will sing his river tribute song “The Secret” and a local band (TBA) will round out the evening festivities until 10pm. Any event proceeds will be donated to the Mountain Watershed Association who employs the Yough Riverkeeper, publishes the Yough River Conservation
Plan and provides support for protecting this special place. Hope to see you on July 25th for this free community event.
2026-2027 School Calendar
Garrett County Public Schools
Building Strong Partnerships: Fostering Education and Collaboration Among Garrett County Schools, Families, and Communities.
Friendsville Elementary School
We invite you to explore the school website, where you can access a wealth of information and resources designed to keep you informed about your child's education and our school community.
Friendsville Days 2026!
Friendsville Days Parade & Vendor Applications Are Still Open!
There’s still time to be part of this year’s Friendsville Days celebration!
Friendsville Days Parade
Participation in the parade is completely FREE! Whether you’re a local business, organization, sports team, community group, or just want to join in the fun, we’d love to have you join us.
Parade Application:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScbZzj-F4.../viewform
Vendor Applications
If you’re interested in showcasing your products, crafts, services, or food, there’s still time to sign up as a vendor for this year’s festival.
Vendor Application:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLScf0Tc4cAqsWd.../viewform
Prefer a paper application? Just send us a message right here on our Facebook page, and we’ll be happy to get one to you.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of Friendsville’s favorite traditions! We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone and make this year’s Friendsville Days bigger and better than ever.
FVFRD Concession Stand
The concession stand will be open
- August 13, 14 & 15, 2026
- September 19, 2026
BINGO - July 11, 2026
Doors open at 5
Early Bird starts at 6:15
WE WILL POST UPDATES IF ANYTHING CHANGES ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
GC Dept. of Social Services Assistance Program ~ 07/08/2026 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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.
T-Rex Tea Party ! ~ July 9, 2026 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Calling all dino lovers! We're having a dinosaur tea party and we've invited a T-Rex! But...will T-Rex use his best manners??? Please join us for a hilarious afternoon of imagination and creativity. We'll have fun learning a few social etiquette skills as T-Rex demonstrates what not to do!
Dress in your favorite dinosaur or tea attire, or simply come as you are! Enjoy light "tea themed" refreshments, a meet and greet with T-Rex and other fun activities!
Cave Painting & Stone Stories! ~ July 16, 2026 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m..
Clay Sculpting: Mushrooms-Food, Foklore, & Fairy Tales! ~ June 27, 2026 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Mushrooms... they're quite fascinating! We encounter them in everything from gourmet foods to folklore and fairy tales.
Join us to add a touch of mushroom whimsy to your home with this beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop. You will use air dry clay to sculpt your own decorative mushrooms. Learn how simple tools can be used to add texture and design.
You will also learn a bit of mushroom folklore as you use acrylic paints to decorate an ornament.
A sweet "mushroom themed" refreshment will be served.
Please register online or by contacting Melissa at melissa@relib.net or calling the Friendsville Library at 301-746-5663.
Rock Hounds: Geodes, Gems Fossils & Cookies?! ~ July 23, 2026 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
What do geodes, gems, and fossils have in common with cookies?? Join us for some hands-on rockhounding fun to find out!
Nature Lovers Book Club ~ July 25, 2026 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Steeped in History: Tea Bag Art! ~ July 25, 2026 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Prehistoric Gardens: A Dinosaur Terrarium Experience ~ July 30, 2026 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Culinary Connections Cookbook CLub ~08/05/2026 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
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.
Programs, events and classes may be photographed or videotaped for library promotional purposes. Your participation in programs signifies your permission for us to use any photos that we take of you. Please speak to a librarian at the event if you would prefer your photo not be taken.
