Allegany College of Maryland's award-winning literary magazine, Expressions, has released its thirty-fourth edition. Expressions 2023 features 51 examples of original student artwork, photography, essays, fiction and poetry from 38 students of all ages and varied lived experiences.  Copies of Expressions are available locally and at the Thomas Welcome Center at the Cumberland campus. The magazine may be viewed online at www.allegany.edu/expressions.  Expressions magazine was submitted to the Eastern Division of the Community College Humanities Association (CCHA) to be judged as part of its 2023 national literary magazine competition. Expressions received the national Best Magazine award in 2022, and placed second in its division in 2017, third in 2016 and first in 2014.  Donna J. Morgan returned as student editor, assisted by Tino…

Looking for the perfect Mother's Day weekend activity with mom? Enjoy a Mother's Day Weekend tea in the C. William Gilchrist Museum of the Arts Gardens. It's the perfect gift for mom or yourself. Your ticket includes access to the garden tea, light refreshments, candle making, and souvenir bracelet & springtime flower. The craft corner will also be available. Date: Sat, May 13 from 11AM – 1PM at 104 Washington St, Cumberland. Tickets – $35 / 12 & Under – $25.

Allegany County's Local Behavioral Health Authority is offering a training course teaching about mental health and substance use issues.  “Mental Health First Aid” is an 8-hour skills-based course teaching signs and symptoms of possible behavioral health concerns, listening skills, and resource sharing.  For more information or to register for the course, visit https://www.alleganymhm.org/mhfa-form/ or call the LBHA office at 301-759-5070.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

On Thursday May 11th, 2023 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served a Criminal Summons on Natasha Groves. The Criminal Summons was issued by the District Court stemming from a theft that occurred on May 9th, 2023 at a business in the 400 block of Maryland Avenue. Throughout the officer’s investigation they collected video evidence that showed Groves enter the business and take a donation jar, conceal it, and leave the business. An application for charges was completed at District Court resulting in this Criminal Summons. Groves signed for her Criminal Summons and was released pending her trial at District…

The May meeting of the Downtown Development Commission heard some good progress news from Matt Miller of the CEDC.  Miller reported that new businesses continue to seek assistance in locating in the downtown area… He also told the committee that with the removal of the parklets and trees along Baltimore Street, the architecture of the buildings are garnering more attention…

Thursday’s Allegany County Commissioners meeting was taken up mostly by housekeeping items in preparation of approving the Fiscal Year 2024 budget at the May 25th meeting.  One area of that budget that was discussed in detail was the proposed utility budget.  Adam Patterson, Director of Public Works, went over water and sewer increases coming to county residents, somewhat based on what the county is being charged for water from Frostburg, Cumberland, Keyser, and Westernport…

While the announcement of the ClosetMaid closing coming on the heels of the Hunter Douglas shutdown will mean the loss of close to 500 total jobs in the region, Allegany County Commissioner Dave Caporale says that other major employers say they are not going anywhere.  Caporale joined the Dave Norman show on Wednesday morning and said that the county has spoken with some of the area’s other large employers and they are confident about continuing to operate here… The Commission President also said that efforts are continuing to bring or relocate new business to the area…

One of the business success stories in town is Downtown Dollar.  The store moved from center city to the West Side and owner Mike Knippenberg said business is going so well that he was able to purchase adjacent properties and add parking. Knippenberg added that it’s a busy time of year but spaces will open up for patient customers.

Frostburg State University’s 162nd Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, during two ceremonies in the Cordts Physical Education Center Main Arena.  FSU President Dr. Ronald H. Nowaczyk will confer degrees and present diplomas to the graduates of the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business and Education.  The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. and will feature student speaker, Savannah Kent. The Colleges of Business and Education ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., featuring student speakers Elias Baroudi, College of Business, and Jalon Sommers, College of Education.  Tickets are required to attend the…

 U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement on Title 42, which ends at midnight when the COVID-19 public health emergency expires.  “Our nation’s immigration and border security system is broken and must be fixed. Congress must take bipartisan action to build a modern immigration system that maintains our national security while protecting the rights and promoting the humanity of those fleeing persecution and torture, and desperate for a better…