Here is some information about resources available in the community surrounding the Appalachian Laboratory. 

 
 
Transportation

Walking to AL

The path through Edgewood Commons from FSU’s campus avoids walking on major roads.

The orange arrows help indicate the walking path from the FSU campus to the back of AL's campus.

Western Maryland Transportation Services

West Virginia Transportation Services

  • Aging and Family Services of Mineral County:  304-788-5467

  • Hampshire County Committee on Aging:  304-822-4030

  • LogistiCare (WV Medicaid Non-Emergency Transport Service):  844-549-8353

  • Potomac Valley Transit Authority (PVTA):  304-257-1414

  • Valley Medical Transport:  540-536-2742

  • Yellow Transportation Taxi:  304-788-3531

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

Amtrak Trains

The lab is located near the Cumberland, MD station (connects to Pittsburgh and Washington, DC) provides limited rail service.  The station is a stop on the Capital Limited between Washington DC and Chicago. There is also limited service available to BWI airport. The train traveling east departs in the morning around 9am, and the train traveling west from DC arrives after 9pm, although these schedules are often disrupted due to the heavy volume of freight train traffic in the area.  

Airports

City of Frostburg Rental Housing

Edgewood Commons

Rental Websites

Local Homeless Shelter

As with transportation, there are limited options for high-speed internet and cellular services in western Maryland.  While service exists in the Frostburg area, it may not be as fast as services used elsewhere in the more urban parts of the United States.   

Cellular Phone Service Providers

  • US Cellular

  • AT&T

  • T-Mobile/Sprint – based on maps, coverage is spotty in some parts of Allegany and Garrett counties and in neighboring parts of West Virginia 

  • Verizon – based on maps, coverage is spotty in some parts of Garrett county and in neighboring parts of West Virginia 

Internet and Cable Providers

  • Breezeline (Cumberland)

  • Comcast XFinity (Frostburg)

 

Allegany County Health Department

Urgent Care (walk-ins accepted)

Emergency Services

Local Pharmacies

USM Employee Assistance (EAP) Program

  • GuidanceResources is available to USM employees who need no-cost, confidential assistance with life’s challenges, including emotional support, legal guidance, work-life balance solutions, or general online support.  Learn more on their website.

  • Use the USM Web ID:  USMEAP

  • Available services include support from anxiety, depression, stress, grief, loss, and life adjustments and assistance finding child and elder care.

FSU’s Local Outpatient Resources

Click this link for a list of therapy offices in Allegany and Garrett County in Western Maryland, and nearby in West Virginia and Pennsylvania (last updated in 2022).

Crisis Line Resources

UC Davis Mindfulness Meditation

Virtual mindfulness meditation through UC-Davis and open to anyone.

Social Security

Banking

Car Dealerships

 

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

There are limited retail options available locally. Many residents shop online or travel to retail centers in Morgantown, WV; Altoona, PA; or Hagerstown, MD, all of which are within about an hour’s drive of Frostburg.  Retail options in Frostburg include a number of small businesses and a few regional and national chain stores.  

Downtown Frostburg Store Directory

Farmers’ markets are held in both Frostburg and Cumberland from May to October.

 

Grocery/Food Stores

 

Retail Shopping

The following retail stores are located in LaVale, MD, approximately 10 miles from the lab:

 

Thrift/Antique Stores

  • Cauldron Village (Frostburg)

  • Amelia’s Closet (LaVale; money back for clothing donations)

  • Queen City Flea Market (Cumberland; every weekend)

  • Fort Cumberland Emporium (Cumberland)

  • Allegany County Habitat for Humanity (LaVale)

  • Good as New (Keyser, WV)

  • Goodwill (Frostburg, LaVale, and Cumberland)

  • Salvation Army (Somerset, PA)

Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Directory

City of Frostburg

 

The city of Frostburg offers monthly free produce pick-ups at City Place (14 S. Water St.) on the last Thursday of the month from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  Visit the City of Frostburg’s Facebook page for more information.

Frostburg Inter-Faith Food Pantry

 

Western Maryland Food Bank

 

Cumberland Inter-Faith Community Pantry

 

  • 301-777-7882

  • 301 Cumberland St., Cumberland

Government Assistance

 

FindHelp

A curated database of food, health, care, housing, transit, legal, and education resources based on your zip code.  Visit findhelp.org for more information.

Area Resources

 

AL Resources

  • Student/Postdoc/FRA GroupMe (group messaging app; contact Nicole to be added)

 

Arts and Entertainment

 

Gyms

  • Free access to Frostburg State University facilities (fitness center, climbing wall, swimming pool for students (Cordts PE Center) – to park on FSU Campus, visit University Police and request a parking pass as an AL employee (no charge)

  • Frostburg Fitness (personal training, small groups, and specialized programs)

  • Cumberland YMCA – $27/month for those under 27 years of age, $45/month for individuals, $55/month for families and includes gym, unlimited fitness classes, pool/sauna, pickleball courts, childcare, recreational sports

 

Hiking/Trail Running/Biking

 

Recreational Activities/Sports

Veterinary Care

Frostburg Dog Park

Allegany Scrap (Cumberland; recycle scrap metal for $$)

Click for collection locations and guidelines in Allegany County.

  • Free for drop off and paid for pick-up

  • Additional location in the parking lot of Staples in LaVale (newspaper, magazines, cardboard, #1&2 plastics, aluminum cans).

There are a number of recycling stations within the building to facilitate recycling of any waste you generate while at the lab.  Please only recycle items that you have used here at the lab.  Bringing in items from home is not permitted because it will skew our recycling statistics.  Here is a summary of what can and cannot be recycled here:

Please also keep in mind that most laboratory glassware is not recyclable at all.  It is made from borosilicate glass, which melts at a higher temperature than the glass we use in our homes.  Including lab glassware with consumer-grade glass will also ruin that batch for recycling.

Terptax

Hamm and Glassbrenner

  • Knieriem Tires (Frostburg; general maintenance):  301-689-9481

  • The Oil Works (LaVale; general maintenance):  301-729-5488