DelFest has announced its 2012 lineup and it’s a real powerhouse, which includes a number of Festival favorites--the Del McCoury Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, and the Sam Bush Band, as well as some worthy festival newcomers, like Steve Martin, (yes, that Steve Martin) performing with The Steep Canyon Rangers, and last year’s competition winner the Mon River Ramblers. Early Bird Tickets are available through January 30^th or while inventory lasts.

Mimi Hernandez, outreach coordinator of the Appalachian Center for Ethnobotanical Studies at Frostburg State University, will speak at Mountain City Traditional Arts, 25 E. Main St., Frostburg, about the traditional foods in Appalachia on Thursday, January 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Appalachian heritage is rich with a variety of foods from the wild and from beyond. During this presentation, learn the distinction between native, cultivated and exotic ingredients in our diet, as well as learn the ethnobotany and history of commonly eaten foods in the Appalachian region. Hernandez will be speaking about native foods such as ramps, pawpaw, maple syrup, berries and persimmons. She will cover topics such as how wild bitter greens support the ...

 Mountain City Traditional Arts will be reopening for the Spring Semester Thursday, January 19th. The venue is hitting the ground running with some some excellent programs planned for the upcoming months. Located at 25 East Main Street, Frostburg, the venue is dedicated to the education, sales, documentation and perpetuation of the traditional arts in the mountain region.

Thursday, January 19: John Francis and Amy Fabbri, 7-10 PM (Free Show, Donations Appreciated)

Thursday, January 26: Traditional Foods in Appalachia, with Mimi Hernandez, 6:30-8:30 PM (Free)

Thursday, February 2: Medicinal Flora of Appalachia, with Mimi Hernandez, 6:30-8:30 PM (Free)

Sunday, February 12: Duo Traditional Irish Fiddle Music & Songs, featuring Jesse Smith ...

Dozens of regional residents gathered in the theater of the student center at Allegany College of Maryland, Wednesday, January 4, for the opportunity to share their concerns and questions with Allegany County legislators as they prepare to head into the 2012 Maryland General Assembly session. While the comments presented covered a wide array of topics, including the potential use of slot machines for organizational fundraisers, the importance of continued support for public education, and medicinal marijuana, natural gas drilling (fracking) in the Marcellus Shale area, (which includes sections of Allegany and Garrett County, MD) was by far the most discussed item. And while the delegates prefaced the open commentary session with a reminder that they were not there to ...