Friendsville Newsletter
September 2023
Meet Our New Council Member
Hello, Friendsville neighbors!
I am honored to serve as a member of the Friendsville Town Council. As a 10th-generation Garrett County resident, I am deeply committed to our community’s well-being and future.
My Vision For Friendsville
As a member of the Town Council, my focus remains on sustainable business growth within Friendsville’s business center while ensuring that we preserve our town’s culture and heritage. I am dedicated to attracting new businesses, welcoming new residents, enhancing community safety, and maintaining our cherished small-town charm. With a career spanning global technology companies across industries such as defense, mining, oil & gas, industrial, and construction, I bring valuable experience that I am eager to continue applying to Friendsville’s prosperity.
Working Together for Friendsville’s Future
I am excited to continue working alongside our residents to foster a strong, vibrant community where everyone feels safe and has opportunities to thrive. Your input and ideas are invaluable, and I encourage you to reach out to share your thoughts. Feel free to contact me at chadbittinger@protonmail.com.
Together, we will keep Friendsville a wonderful place to live, work, and grow.
Councilman Chad Bittinger
Ruth Enlow Library - New Friendsville Library Project!
On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Ruth Enlow Library marked a major milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new Friendsville branch in Garrett County. This event signified the start of construction on a state-of-the-art facility aimed at meeting the growing needs of the community.
Library staff, local officials, the Friendsville quilters, and community members gathered to celebrate the occasion, eager to witness the launch of this important project.
Once completed, the new Friendsville Library will offer enhanced facilities and expanded services, reinforcing the library’s dedication to fostering community engagement and addressing evolving needs.
📢 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!
- April 9, 2025 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- May 14, 2025 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- June 11, 2025 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Game On! Pickleball & Tennis Nets Are Up at Friendsville Community Park!
The pickleball and tennis nets are up at Friendsville Community Park! Bring your paddles and enjoy the courts. Whether you're a a seasoned player or just getting started, it's the perfect time to get outside and have some fun. See you there!
Update Email or Sign Up - Newsletter
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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!
Hickory's Finest for January
Mrs. Patterson’s fourth-grade class at Friendsville Elementary School was named the Hickory’s Finest for January. Pictured above, starting in the front row (from left), are Emaley Mayle, Evie Artice, Kali Miller, Jovani Diaz and Jed Savage. In the second row are Steven Whitesel, Conor Haggerty, Novalee Schmidt, Zoe Beck, Ian Lowdermilk, Bella Wolf and Alex Beccera. In the top row are Alara Hanson, Cecilia Yoder, Jocelyn Decker, Natalie Stephens, Aryan Burley and Mrs. Patterson. Not pictured: Kira Stemple.
Pre-K and K Application Notice!
Attention parents! GCPS Pre-K and Kindergarten applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open. Give your child the gift of education and apply today. Our programs build a strong foundation for academic and social skills, and our dedicated educators create a safe and engaging learning environment. Apply now and join us in building a brighter future for your child.
2024-2025 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.
Our March Raffle is here!
WIN SOME GREEN! $200 in scratch off tickets and $50 cash. Get your tickets online at this link: https://friendsville-days-committee.square.site or reach out to one of committee members. You can also pick up tickets at the Friendsville Pharmacy!
Tickets are 6 for $5.00. We appreciate your support very much!
Good luck!
County Milkweed Project
The following is information from an article by Alice A. Feather Eary which was published in the Garrett County Historical Society Glades Star in March 2007.
During World War II the school children of Garrett County also contributed to the war effort. In the fall of 1944, twenty one Maryland counties, including Garrett, participated in a “Milkweed Pod Collection” project.
Milkweed pods were needed for making life jackets for the men in service. It replaced “kapok”, a material which became unavailable when the Japanese conquered the East Indies. When the pods are cracked open it exposes a silky white thread called ‘floss’ which is water resistant. Twenty pounds of floss were needed to fill each life jacket.
William Nace arranged for the pods to be picked up and transported to a central location where they were allowed to dry before being taken to the train station to be shipped to Perosky, Michigan to be processed. When the collections were made pickers were paid 20 cents a bushel.
Members of Garrett County overseeing the Milkweed Project included: F. E. Rathbun, Chairman (Oakland), Frank Getty (Grantsville), W. J. Glenn (Friendsville), B.O. Aiken (Accident) and many other members of the Garrett County School Districts.
It was reported that Friendsville students picked 350 bushels of the total 2,373 bushels of pods collected by the many Garrett County schools. This was enough to make over a thousand life jackets.
National Library Week Bookmark Contest
Help us celebrate National Library Week 2025 "Drawn to the Library" by entering your own bookmark design!
Your design must reflect "What draws people to the library?".
Child and adult categories - Winning bookmarks will be printed and available at all branches.
Visit your local REL branch for more information and to pick up your Bookmark Contest entry form! You can also download and print your entry form via the PDF below
Gardening Classes: Perennial Food Crops & Easy Small Fruits ~ March 20, 2025
Calling all gardening enthusiasts! Join us as we learn about growing perennial food crops and easy small fruits for your garden.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Please contact the Friendsville Library to register or email Melissa Custer at melissa@relib.net for more information.
LEGO Club ~3/25/2025 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Calling all LEGO lovers! Join the LEGO Club at the Friendsville Library! We meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:00pm. Join us for some free-building fun based on an exciting theme each month or your own creative ideas! LEGO and Duplo blocks will be provided. LEGO Club is designed for children ages 4 and up.
Culinary Connections Cookbook Club ~ 04/02/2025 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 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.
STEAM KIDS! ~ 04/08/2025 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
STEAM Kids programs are happening here at the Friendsville Library! Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 4:00-5:00 p.m., as we engage in exciting hands-on activities based on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! This program is designed for ages 5 and up.
Celebrate National Library Week 2025 with a magic show!
Get ready for an unforgettable experience with Tyler Reed, The Family Magician! His high-energy, interactive show blends hilarious comedy, jaw-dropping illusions, and nonstop audience participation, making it the perfect entertainment for all ages.
GC Dept. of Social Services Assistance Program ~ 04/09/2025 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.
