Friendsville Newsletter

The Town of Friendsville is excited to welcome Friendsville Outpost to our community! We are thrilled to have a new local business joining us and look forward to seeing them become a valued part of Friendsville. Please join us in welcoming Friendsville Outpost and supporting their new venture!

🌟 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!

• September 9, 2026 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• October 14, 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.

The Town of Friendsville wants to hear from you! Your feedback will help guide future parks, recreation, and outdoor opportunities in our community.

Please take a few minutes to complete our community survey and share your ideas. Every response makes a difference!

Take the survey here: garrettcountymd.gov/FriendsvilleRec

Hard copy surveys are also available at Friendsville Town Hall for anyone who prefers to complete a paper version. Thank you for helping shape the future of our community!

The Town of Friendsville will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Friendsville Municipal Building located at 945 Community Drive, Friendsville, MD 21531

The purpose of the hearing is to provide information and receive public input regarding the Community Legacy Grant for the Friendsville Open Air Market, located at 279 Maple Street, Friendsville, MD 21531.

The proposed project is designed to foster local entrepreneurship by transforming public space into a small business incubator. The Friendsville Open Air Market will provide opportunities for local vendors, support small business growth, and encourage future downtown storefront occupancy as part of the Town's ongoing revitalization efforts.

Funding for this project is provided through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) State Revitalization Program under the Community Legacy Program.

Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and language assistance for non-English-speaking residents will be provided upon request. Requests should be made at least five (5) days prior to the hearing by contacting Wanda Guard, Town Clerk, at 301-746-5919.

The Town of Friendsville encourages all interested residents, business owners, and community members to attend and participate.

Youghiogheny River Access Steps Project

Friendsville, Maryland

The Town of Friendsville is requesting sealed bids from qualified contractors for the construction of the Youghiogheny River Access Steps Project, located across the road between 617 and 623 Water Street, Friendsville, Maryland 21531. The project is funded through a Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF) Grant.

The project consists of constructing a reinforced stairway to provide safe and durable public access to the Youghiogheny River for canoeing, kayaking, and raft users. The completed improvements will facilitate both launching (put-in) and retrieval (take-out), while minimizing stream bank erosion and improving user safety.

The Town anticipates bidding for the project in October 2026, with planning, site design, and permitting beginning in March 2027 and final engineering plans completed by June 2027, subject to permitting, weather, and other project requirements.

Pre-Bid Meeting:
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Town Hall – Council Chambers, 945 Community Dr., Friendsville, MD.

Bid packets will be distributed during the pre-bid meeting to provide interested parties with essential project information.

Bid Submission Deadline:
All bids must be securely sealed and clearly marked "Youghiogheny River Access Steps Project” on the outside of the envelope and submitted to the Town of Friendsville, 945 Community Drive, Friendsville, MD 21531 on or before, Thursday, October 1, 2026, by 12:00 noon.

Bid Open & Review Meeting:
Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Friendsville Town Hall at the Mayor and Town Council meeting

The Mayor and Town Council will open, and review all submitted bids/proposals during this meeting. Please be advised that the Mayor and Town Council reserve the right to reject any or all bids.

For questions or to request bid documents, please contact, Friendsville Town Hall, at 301-746-5919 or town@friendsvillemd.gov.

Efforts will be made to accommodate the disabled and non-English speaking residents with 10 days advance notice to Wanda Guard 301.746.5919

The Town of Friendsville is proud to participate in National POW/MIA Recognition Day on September 18, 2026, honoring the brave men and women who served our country and those who remain missing or unaccounted for. As part of this observance, the Town will feature a “Missing Man Table,” a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by our service members and their families. Each element of the table carries special meaning, representing the absence of those who are not with us and reminding us that we will never forget their service, sacrifice, and commitment to our nation. The Town of Friendsville invites residents and visitors to join us in pausing to remember and honor our POWs and MIAs on this important day.

To update your email or to sign up for the newsletter, please fill out the digital form at https://forms.gle/p5ZyiNmbPE5YPqPd8.

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!

Our Community Park is esteemed within the local community, with dedicated efforts to maintain its pristine condition. It serves as an excellent setting for hosting picnics of varying sizes, providing a relaxing environment for an hour, two hours, or an entire day.

Explore this superb outdoor rental venue for a range of events, including picnics, weddings, reunions, family gatherings, as well as club and organization events.

Access the Community Park Rental Fees.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make Friendsville Days 2026 such a wonderful weekend!

To our vendors, sponsors, parade participants, volunteers, performers, organizations, and everyone who came out to celebrate — we appreciate you more than you know! This festival wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our community. Thank you for making this year one to remember!
Mark your calendars for next year! We can’t wait to see you all again!

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.

The community park concession stand will be open

• September 19, 2026

261 MAPLE STREET, FRIENDSVILLE, MD

Open Friday from 12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m.

**Please note the museum will be open

after the parade on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Revolutionary War Soldiers were men and women who served in the Continental Army,

State Militia’s and allied forces to secure American Independence from 1775 to 1783.

Friendsville, Maryland has seven Revolutionary Soldiers buried locally.

FRIEND CEMETERY

John Friend Sr. (Founder of Friendsville)

Served in Skipton Company Militia

Gabriel Friend (son of John Sr.)

Served with the Sandy Creek Rangers

Thomas Casteel

Served in the 1st Battalion, Bedford Company, PA

Cornelius Ward (Father -In -Law of John Friend Jr.)

Served with Cresap’s Militia

SELBYSPORT CEMETERY (cemetery now gone)

William Coddington

Served with the New Jersey Militia

PRIVATE LAND

Benjamin Coddington

Served with Essex Company, New Jersey

Buried on his farm “Rich Hill” on Old Morgantown Road

Benjamin Duvall

Served with the Prince George Militia

Buried on Frazee Ridge, Selbysport, Md.

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.

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.

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 Grand Opening of our new Friendsville Library is scheduled for Friday, October 9th, 2:00 - 5:00 pm!

We hope you'll join us that day for a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by tours, refreshments, and activities for the whole family.

• System Staff Day - October 12, 2026
• Veteran's Day - November 11, 2026
• Thanksgiving - November 25, 2026 5:30 p.m. - November 27, 2026
• Christmas - December 24-25, 2026

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

IMPORTANT: Garrett County has experienced three confirmed rabies cases to date in 2026. Protect your pets and your family from the threat of this disease by bringing your dogs, cats, and ferrets to the clinic in your area. Cost per animal - $5.00.

• Grantsville - Grantsville Elementary School 9/15/2026 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• McHenry - Garrett County Fairgrounds 9/16/2026 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Oakland - Garrett County Health Department 9/18/2026 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

DOG AND CAT LICENSES CAN BE OBTAINED AT EACH CLINIC

Only pets under the control of a responsible person may be brought to the clinic. Dogs MUST be on a leash. Cats and ferrets MUST be in a cage or tightly secured box with air holes. If a cage/carrier is not available cats MUST be carried in a pillowcase or suitable cloth sack. No other animals will be vaccinated.

The Friendsville Veterans Memorial has reached another exciting milestone! The final five flagpoles have been installed, where American flags will proudly fly in honor of our veterans.

We are still selling Veterans Bricks and accepting donations to help complete this special memorial. There is still work to be done, including the construction of another concrete slab and the installation of three granite benches, which are currently on their way.

We also have the bluestone purchased in 2016, which will be installed around the monument on the new concrete slab.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Friendsville Veterans Memorial. Your contributions help us honor and remember the veterans who have served our country.

Ken Hinebaugh
Friendsville Veterans Memorial