Mitra Karimian, an undergraduate ethnobotany student at Frostburg State University, won an honorable mention for the Julia F. Morton Award for her poster “Analysis of Dulcimer Makers in Appalachia” at the International Society for Economic Botany Meeting in Xalapa, Mexico.  The contest was for students or young professionals with five years or less post-doctoral experience.  Over 60 posters were presented at the meeting.

Karimian began the project on the dulcimer, a folk instrument prevalent in Southern Appalachia, as part of the Ethnographic Field Techniques course at FSU.  She conducted ethnographic research on dulcimer makers throughout the region, documenting preferences for specific tree species based on tonal quality, as well as other factors such as ...

A recent war of words in the local media between Allegany County Liquor Board Chair Gerald Delaney and organizers of the DelFest Bluegrass Music Festival has the event organizers threatening to pull up stakes and leave Allegany County. The conflict has turned into a classic small town 'he said/he said' scandal which could leave many victims in its wake.

Delaney claims the festival, created and headlined by bluegrass music legend Del McCoury, did not follow the correct protocol in selling and distributing alcohol at the festival's Memorial Day weekend event this year and now runs the risk of not getting a license for this coming year.  DelFest organizers countered that they have followed the same protocol since the creation of the festival three years ago and have accused ...

This year marks the 50th anniversary since the libraries in Frostburg, Westernport, Washington Street in Cumberland, and Pennsylvania Avenue School in South Cumberland merged to become the Allegany County Library System on July 1, 1960.  Jill Craig, Digitization Librarian, at Western Maryland Regional Library has helped the library system commemorate the occasion by digitizing photos, articles, and other ephemera from the library’s archive, hosting the collection on Whilbr, Western Maryland’s Historical Library website: www.whilbr.org

“We are very appreciative of Jill’s efforts and for the support from Western Maryland Regional Library to create this space on the web.  Since we’re always moving forward and striving to meet the needs of the community with new ...

Dr. Elesha L. Ruminski, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Frostburg State University, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for the Allegany Conflict Resolution Center (ACRC) at the Fifth Annual Community Mediation Maryland Gala and Awards Ceremony recently.

Ruminski is a member of the board of directors of ACRC and co-chair of the ACRC Outreach Committee.  She has been an advisor for FSU Communication Studies students who have worked with the center and supported the center’s efforts to celebrate Conflict Resolution Day by spearheading an informative and entertaining event to educate the community for National Conflict Resolution Day last October.  The event targeted young people at FSU and Allegany College of Maryland and ...