The Backbone

The conversation with Sandy Bell from Cindy's Fund covers the organization's history, mission, impact, and fundraising events. It highlights the community support and assistance provided by Cindy's Fund, as well as the various fundraising activities and their impact on the community.6th Annual Great Strides EventDate: Sunday May 17, 2026Time: 11:00 am RegistrationLocation: Oakland Town PavilionFor more information on how to Donate visit cindysfund.org.

The conversation with Landon Todd, head coach of the Southern Garrett Lady Rams basketball team, highlights the incredible community support and success of the team. Landon shares the electric atmosphere of the championship game and the overwhelming community support that made the victory even more special. He also discusses the influence of his grandfather, the team's strengths, and the challenges of balancing academics and sports for the players.TakeawaysCommunity SupportInfluence of FamilyTeam ChemistryBalancing Academics and Sports

Linda Carr, founder of the Lakefront Magazine, shares the journey of creating and sustaining the magazine for 35 years. From its inception to the challenges of print production, community impact, and navigating through difficult times, Linda reflects on the legacy and impact of the magazine, expressing hope for its future.TakeawaysCommunity ConnectionLegacy and ImpactChapters00:00 Founding the Lakefront Magazine06:00 Challenges of Print Production11:06 Skip's Column and Community Impact18:12 Pride and Accomplishments25:00 The Future of the Lakefront

The conversation explores the world of Deep Creek Pottery, highlighting its role as a community art space and the process of pottery making. It delves into the surprising glazing process, the art creation opportunities at Deep Creek Pottery, and the introduction of the Empty Bowls Project to Garrett County.

Deep Creek Pottery offers a variety of creative experiences, from pottery painting to clay classes and handmade pottery. The studio's evolution from Laurel Ridge Pottery to Deep Creek Pottery reflects its growth and expansion. The process of creating pottery involves various techniques, including wheel throwing, glazing, and firing. The use of different kiln temperatures and glaze formulas results in unique and diverse pottery creations. The conversation covers a wide range of pottery projects and classes offered at Deep Creek Pottery, including paint-your-own pottery, crushed glass and resin sun catchers, hand-building classes, and the upcoming Empty Bowls event. The hosts also discuss their experiences with wood firing and the challenges of shipping pottery.TakeawaysPottery creation involves a range of techniques, from wheel throwing to glazing and firing.The evolution of Deep Creek Pottery reflects its growth and expansion, offering a variety of creative experiences. Diverse pottery projects and classes available for all skill levelsThe hosts' passion for creating a warm and enjoyable environment for visitorsChapters00:00 Introduction to Deep Creek Pottery and Its Offerings23:13 Exploring Pottery Projects28:40 The Make-A-Mug Experience34:29 Challenges of Pottery Ownership

Katie Cantrell, a real estate agent and board member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, discusses an upcoming Retro Prom fundraiser event to support an affordable housing initiative. The event aims to raise funds for a homeowners assistance grant to help first-time homebuyers with closing costs and down payments. The Garrett County Board of Realtors facilitates community engagement, legislation, and ethical practices in real estate. The event seeks corporate sponsors and community involvement to address the need for affordable housing in Garrett County.TakeawaysRetro Prom FundraiserAffordable Housing InitiativeChapters00:00 Introduction and Event Overview06:14 Managing the Homebuyers Fund

The episode narrates the local life article in the February Lakefront Magazine, focusing on the Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Education program at Garrett College. It highlights an immersive alpine climbing course and the support and opportunities available for students. The takeaways include the emphasis on outdoor education at Garrett College and the real-world mountain experience gained by students.TakeawaysOutdoor education at Garrett CollegeReal-world mountain experienceChapters00:00 Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Education Program at Garrett College

The conversation delves into the early development of Garrett County's tourism industry, focusing on the birth of four-season tourism and the challenges and skepticism faced during that time.TakeawaysFour-season tourismEarly development of Garrett County tourismChapters00:00 The Birth of Four-Season Tourism

Brooks Mead, an 18-year-old from Garrett County, Maryland, shares his recent mountaineering and ice climbing experience as part of an intro to mountaineering class. The conversation covers his enrollment, course components, preparation, gear, accommodations, climbing equipment, hiking experience, ice climbing, and avalanche safety, as well as his learning and takeaways from the experience.TakeawaysMountaineering and ice climbing experiencePreparation and gear for mountaineeringLearning and takeaways from the experienceChapters00:00 Introduction and Background20:20 Accommodations and Shelters25:43 Learning and Takeaways

Ashlynn Anderson shares her experience of an alpine climbing trip to Mount Washington, New Hampshire as part of the Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Education curriculum at Garrett College. The trip involved ice climbing, learning climbing techniques, and dealing with extreme weather conditions. Ashlynn shares her thrilling experience of ice climbing, rappelling, and avalanche research in the challenging terrain of Mount Washington. She also discusses the impact of the experience on her career pathway and the opportunities it has opened up for her.TakeawaysAlpine Climbing ExperienceIce Climbing Techniques Ice ClimbingAvalanche ResearchChapters00:00 Climbing Above the Tree Line20:22 Impact on Career Pathway

Sarah Walter shares her experience participating in the Highlands Fat Bike Race Series event in McHenry. She discusses the challenges of the race course, the therapeutic experience of fat biking, the supportive community, and the unpredictability of fat biking. Sarah also shares her background and how she arrived in Garrett County.TakeawaysFat biking offers a therapeutic and empowering experience.The supportive community and inclusive nature of fat biking make it accessible and enjoyable for all.Chapters00:00 Sarah's Background and Arrival in Garrett CountySee Sarah's video of her experience: facebook.com/reel/1884141329155093/?s=single_unitSee the McHenry Race album courtesy of FADFOLIO MEDIA: https://bit.ly/4b42Gbd

Exploring Garrett County with Lynn BeckmanIn this episode, we sit down with Lynn Beckman, a lifelong advocate for Garrett County and a key figure in its tourism and community development story. Lynn shares firsthand insights into how Garrett County evolved into a thriving four-season destination, the challenges of marketing a rural region, and the people whose vision helped shape its future.From the early days of the Garrett County Promotion Council to the transformative impact of WISP Resort on winter sports, Lynn reflects on the strategies, risks, and creativity that helped put Garrett County on the map. The conversation also dives into the rich history of Deep Creek Lake, outdoor recreation, and the lasting legacy of leaders like Ace Heissand marketing innovator Asa Stanton.This episode is a thoughtful look at how tourism, history, and community pride intersect—and why Garrett County continues to be a “magical place” for visitors and residents alike.Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Lynn Beckman and Garrett County04:49 – The Role of the Promotion Council09:57 – Vision for Tourism and Economic Development14:56 – The Impact of WISP and Winter Sports19:55 – The Evolution of Outdoor Recreation25:01 – The Legacy of Ace Heiss30:03 – Deep Creek Lake’s Unique History35:11 – Asa Stanton and Marketing Innovations40:11 – Conclusion and Future AspirationsGlades Star Archives: https://archive.org/details/GladesStarArticle about Deep Creek Lake dam. By Tony Lolli: https://lakefrontmagazine.com/deep-creek-lake-almost-wasnt-a-450-foot-advantage/

In this first episode of The Backbone, Sarah Myers introduces the heart behind the project and the stories it’s here to tell. She shares her own connection to Western Maryland, why she chose to stay, and how years of working in local media and community development led to creating a space for deeper, more human storytelling.This episode sets the stage for what’s coming: community conversations, narrated Lake-Front Magazine features, and reflections on what it’s really like to live and work in Deep Creek and the surrounding region. More than a show about headlines or highlights, The Backbone is about the people behind the place — and sharing what those of us who live here are doing on a random Tuesday.It’s an invitation into the stories, rhythms, and voices that shape this community — and an open call for listeners to be part of the conversation.The conversation introduces the Deep Creek Lake area and its community, emphasizing the importance of local perspectives and community storytelling. Sarah Myers, the owner of DeepCreekTimes.com (http://deepcreektimes.com/) and The Lakefront Magazine, discusses her work in connecting locals.Takeaways    •    Community storytelling    •    Rural community developmentChapters    •    00:00 Connecting Locals and Visitors Through StorytellingBuy The Service Solution Book: https://a.co/d/208PJnY