Thursday, September 02, 2010
Western Maryland Could See Next Fracking Boom
Jay’s note: This is one of the scariest things on the horizon - get involved & let your voice be heard.
Date Published: Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, may be coming to Maryland’s Garrett and Allegany counties. The two counties, located in the mountainous western region of the state, set atop the gas-rich Marcellus shale.
Drilling in Marcellus shale is done via a process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Fracking, which is now used in about 90 percent of US gas and oil wells, involves injecting water, sand, and a cocktail of chemicals at high pressure into rock formations thousands of feet below the surface. Because the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempted hydraulic fracturing from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act, shale gas drillers don’t have to disclose what chemicals they use. However, it is known that fracking fluids contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. As we’ve reported extensively, fracking has caused serious water contamination problems in several states.
According to the Maryland Geological Survey, in the past couple of years, Garrett and Allegany counties have seen the arrival of “land men,” an industry term for those who come to an area in advance of the actual drilling of test wells for natural gas. These land men typically contact land owners (and mineral rights owners) to arrange to lease the land on which to drill.
In both Garrett and Allegany, some resident have signed drilling leases, and in December 2009, Samson Resources, a privately owned oil and gas company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma applied for four drilling permits. The firm is seeking to drill three wells in Garrett County and a fourth well in Allegany County. If those wells are successful, Samson Resources will drill several hundred wells on 70,000 acres in the area over the next ten years.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 09/02 at 08:33 AM
Local News •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Flying over Deep Creek Lake
A good friend and client of mine, Rick, offered to take me up in his Cirrus sr20 yesterday at the Garrett County Airport (by the way, the renovations are GREAT). Rick has a vacation rental property (Cloud 10) here at the lake that he flies up to check on & make repairs. (Shameless plug: the house is awesome: indoor pool, views of the lake & ski slopes, full arcade, more).
We spent the morning looking at other homes for sale - he insists that the market conditions are ripe for some unbelievable deals (I agree) and plans on investing in several more rental properties in the coming years.
We took off from the airport around 12:45 or so and spent a half hour cruising the skies. His plane is impressive, it even has a parachute! As you can tell from some of the photos, I got to see the Lodestone golf course from the air (looks great), the Adventure Sports Center (ASCI) & the Wisp golf course (I had two of my good buddies playing at the time - didn’t see them, though). It’s really neat how it all pieces together. Another thing that was unique is seeing just how high these hills are - there is a considerable drop off in elevation when flying over Marsh Mountain and then seeing how far the lake is below. It gave me a better feel of the terrain, as well as the ‘hidden’ things you don’t see from land. A few examples of this: a large, cleared out spot near Lodestone golf course, perhaps the cleared out spot for the future clubhouse or where they keep their sand, etc; a large pond/lake near Mosser Rd with some sort of rock wall in the middle of it (had NEVER seen that before); and lots of carved out spots in dense woods & forests for farms & crops. It’s a great perspective of the terrain we are all familiar with.
Of course, I was able to get a good view of the windmills as we flew overhead. I’m starting to get used to seeing them on the horizon now, but it was interesting to see just how high they were in the sky when flying beside them. The southern part of the lake is pretty flat, save for these few ridges and a towering ‘hill’ at Thousand Acres. I remember seeing the golf course there, as well, but due to the flight path, I couldn’t get a clear shot of it. I’m sure Bill Franklin has a photo or two…
Overall, it was a spectacular opportunity to see Deep Creek Lake from a bird’s point of view. I’m sure someone offers flights over the county, I’ll check into it and report back. Also, go up and check out the ‘new’ airport - it can accommodate private jets, which is really neat, and makes our area that much more accessible. It’s also nice to see federal tax dollars at work in Garrett County. Thanks again to Rick for the flight! Check out his vacation house - Cloud 10.
Here are some photos and a link to the full gallery on Facebook.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Garrett nears OK for Heritage Area
Chamber of Commerce will manage county’s plan
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — Garrett County took a significant step Tuesday toward to having some of its sites designated part of Maryland’s 12th — and possibly final — certified Heritage Area.
The Maryland Heritage Areas program is intended to help communities use their local culture, history and natural resources to develop a tourism trade that will strengthen their economies.
The entire county was named a recognized heritage area by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority in 2003. But the process to become a certified heritage area is extensive.
On Tuesday the county commission approved the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce as the managing entity for the county’s Heritage Area Maintenance Plan, which is the cornerstone of the process.
The plan is still in development, but will basically lay out the county’s Heritage Area goals and specific steps and strategies for reaching them.
An advisory group made up of representatives from several county agencies has been working for more than a year, with the aid of a consultant, on the early phases of the process.
In Garrett County, the Heritage Area will include not only historical sites, but also sites like Spruce Forest Artisan Village that are important culturally, according to Peggy Jamison, a member of the group.
“This is a discussion of the sites and what we could do to link them, improve them, add to them,” Jamison told the commission. “The plan is a working plan.”
Canal Place in Allegany County is one of just 11 certified heritage areas in the state.
The MHAA has awarded more than $21 million in financial assistance and leveraged approximately $73.5 million in non-state funds for heritage projects statewide since it was created in 1996, according to a news release from the agency.
Posted by
Jay on 09/01 at 03:06 PM
Community •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Wind power an election issue in Garrett County
Posted: 11:29 am Tue, August 31, 2010
By Associated Press
OAKLAND — A Garrett County commissioner is defending his support for wind power against two election-year opponents.
Republican Ernie Gregg says the two wind farms under construction in the mountainous county will generate tax revenue, but he wants to see how they fare before supporting any further development.
Gregg’s primary election opponent, Gregan Crawford, says the giant turbines will reduce property values and hurt the construction industry if people decide not to build in the area.
The only Democrat in the race, Eric Robison, is a vocal opponent of the projects.
The two wind farms under construction in Garrett County would be Maryland’s first.
Read the full article here.
Posted by
Jay on 09/01 at 03:05 PM
Local News •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Commissioner candidate questions - Deep Creek Lake POA
I was reading up on the response of the candidates for the local Garrett County commissioners race, as posed by the Deep Creek Lake property owners association. Obviously, these are issues of primary concern to District 18 (Deep Creek Lake) property owners.
There are some interesting statistics that they quote at the very bottom, regarding their meeting with the Garrett County Assessment Office.
Posted by
Jay on 08/31 at 02:24 PM
Community •
Real Estate •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Sanders candidate for Garrett Orphans Court
Cumberland Times-News
— Editor’s note: Fred Sanders submitted this announcement as a candidate for the Garrett County Judge of Orphans Court.
Fred Sanders has filed with the Board of Supervisors of Elections as a candidate for Judge of the Orphans Court for Garrett County. Fred was raised on a dairy farm and has been a lifelong resident of Garrett County.
Fred graduated from Southern High School and held numerous jobs before joining the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Garrett County where he worked at the Sheriff’s Office and then at the Board of Supervisors of Elections for 26 years. During his time at the election office, he became the office supervisor and retired as the first election director for Garrett County. He also earned a diploma from the School of Bookkeeping and Accounting in Atlanta.
He is a past member of the Maryland Association of Election Officials and received a commendation from the association upon his retirement. Fred also received a Governor’s Citation for his many years at the election board.
Fred and his wife Lois reside in Mountain Lake Park.
Posted by
Jay on 08/31 at 02:23 PM
Community •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Consumer confidence and home prices edge up
By Caroline Valetkevitch
NEW YORK Tue Aug 31, 2010 1:42pm EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence rose modestly in August and U.S. homes prices gained more than expected in June, easing some worries the economy is headed for another downturn soon.
Another report released on Tuesday showed the pace of growth in business activity in the U.S. Midwest slowed in August, but economists said the data overall did not present new worries about the path of the economy.
The data shows “the economy, while it is not going on all cylinders, is also not sliding into this double-dip recession that people are concerned about,” said Eric Kuby, chief investment officer at North Star Investment Management Corp in Chicago.
Financial markets, however, were reluctant to read too much into the numbers, particularly as investors awaited the release on Friday of the government’s closely watched monthly report on the U.S. labor market.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/31 at 02:23 PM
Real Estate •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Monday, August 30, 2010
Modern-day Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer
Modern-day Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are really brothers Dale and Keith House of Friendsville, who were spotted lazily floating down the Youghiogheny River in their hand-made raft. Much like Huck and Tom, the brothers constructed the raft from basswood logs, which they lashed together with rope. The hand-held rudder/paddle was used for steering purposes. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Pletta. Weather conditions on the Mountaintop have been ideal for this kind of activity, and after a chilly night tonight (low 40s), near 80-degree temps and lots of sun are forecast for the next several days.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/30 at 10:23 AM
Fun Things to Do •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
First United sponsors charity golf tournament
First United Bank & Trust recently sponsored the 22nd annual Charity Golf Tournament at the Oakland Golf Club. This was the 12th year that First United has organized this event. The beneficiary of this year’s tourney is United Way of Garrett County. Pictured from left above are: Steve Lantz, chairman of the tournament committee for First United; Mary Beth Pirolozzi, United Way executive director; and Robin Murray and George Evans, both of First United.
The check represented most of the proceeds; however, a silent auction and 50/50 raffle pushed the total to over $23,400. “We are extremely appreciative of the hard work and support that First United provided as a result of this year’s tournament,” said Ernie Gregg, chairman of the executive committee of United Way of Garrett County. “The donation will be of great use to the United Way charities in our community.” Since its founding, the tournament has raised over $353,000 for Garrett County charities. See sports pages for photos of the winners of this year’s tournament.
See the article/photo here.
Lodestone Golf Club celebrates grand opening
By JEFF MAURER
Monday, August 30, 2010 12:07 AM EDT
McHENRY, Md. — The new Lodestone Golf Club just celebrated its grand opening in June, and has since been living up to its lofty billing.
For those not yet familiar with the course, Lodestone is located on a huge mountain ridge above Deep Creek Lake and the well-known Wisp Resort. The stunning Hale Irwin-design is ranked No. 3 on the latest list of “Best Courses You Can Play” in Maryland by Golf Magazine.
The challenging par-72 layout sits at 2,973 feet, the highest elevation in the state, and features bent grass greens, tees and fairways. The course is truly a natural mountain golf experience that is highlighted by tree-lined fairways, numerous bunkers and dramatic rock outcroppings.
The $17 million project took three years of permitting and three years of difficult construction because of underlying rock formations that required extensive blasting.
For more information, call (301) 387-4653 or visit http://www.lodestonegolf.com/
Read the full article here.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Fire Departments Are Recipients Of DNR Grants
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
Aug. 26, 2010
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service awarded its 2010 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grants to 50 local volunteer fire departments across the state, including Garrett County’s Bloomington VFC, Friendsville VFRD, and Gorman VFD.
The projects, to be funded in 15 Maryland counties, will assist volunteer fire companies with increasing capacity for wildland fire suppression needs in rural communities.
“The volunteer fire departments in our state are critical to ensuring the safety of Maryland families,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I am heartened that we are able to support the work of these courageous volunteers and the lives, property and resources they protect.”
Projects to be funded include wildland personal protective equipment, skid units for building brush trucks, replacing small diameter fire hose, upgrading communications equipment, and the purchase of class A foam and other equipment to enhance wildfire suppression.
“The volunteer fire departments play a vital role in assisting our agency in protecting communities from wildfires,” said DNR state fire supervisor Monte Mitchell. “These grants help the volunteer fire departments increase their effectiveness and safety in combating wildland fires in Maryland.”
Grant funds provided by the USDA Forest Service funded 50 applications this year for $104,615 in match-funding to complete $259,617 in total project cost. The maximum grant award equaled 50 percent of the total project cost with a maximum of $3,000 grant per department.
Bloomington, with a total project cost of $2,800, received $1,400. Friendsville received $3,000 for a total project cost of $6,500. and Gorman received $2,960 for a total project cost of $5,920.
Read the full article here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/29 at 10:11 AM
Local News •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Triathlete Magazine Names SavageMan #1 Hardest Triathlon In The World
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
Aug. 26, 2010
by Mary Sincell McEwen
Garrett County’s own Tri-To-Win SavageMan triathlon has garnered national attention this year via the editors of Triathlete magazine, who proclaimed in the March issue that the local triple event is the “No. 1 hardest triathlon in the world.”
The magazine was rating the 100 best races on earth, and not only was the local event named in that list, but it was placed at the top of the subcategory of “most difficult.” The 4th annual SavageMan Triathlon Festival will happen this year on Sept. 18 and 19, with two swimming-biking-running races (a “30.0” and a “70.0") set for each day. The events begin and end at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
“This article, combined with broad word-of-mouth promotion, has led to higher athlete registration,” said Greg Safko, founder of the race, which is a major fundraiser for the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation. “In fact, because of the SavageMan Triathlon Festival’s tremendous international popularity, both races will most certainly be sold out.”
He said this week that there are only about 20 slots remaining in both races and may be gone by press-time.
Because of the rapid sell-out and full rosters of athletes, as well as maintaining the current mark of excellence earned by previous events, Safko stressed the need to meet the expectations for a high quality event.
“This necessitates our recruitment of a significant, qualified volunteer base,” Safko said. To address this need, the organization created a volunteer coordinator position, now held by Dick Zimmerman.
Persons who wish to volunteer for the event are encouraged to contact Zimmerman at 240-405-4700, or by e-mail at: . Individuals are needed to man relief stations, help with traffic and safety areas, and work in other support roles. Each volunteer will be given a SavageMan T-shirt, cap, and an invitation to the after-party.
Safko also reported this week that six-time IronMan World Champion Dave Scott will be attending and competing in the Tri-To-Win SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon. Scott has attended the event since 2007 as a celebrity guest, signing all first-place awards for all the divisions, and being on hand to meet other athletes and autograph items. This year, however, the world-renowned athlete will actually be taking part in the event.
“This is big news, and we’re thrilled about it,” Safko said.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/28 at 10:00 AM
Fun Things to Do •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
GC Community Action Awarded $1 Million For Weatherization Prog.
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
Aug. 26, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded two grants totaling $2.5 million to support innovative weatherization programs in Maryland. The funding will help low-income Maryland residents in two counties achieve energy efficiency in their homes, while creating weatherization jobs in local communities, according to Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin.
Locally, the Garrett County Community Action Committee was awarded $1 million to install wind, solar, or geothermal renewable energy systems for low-income residents.
In Washington County, C&O Conservation Inc. was awarded $1.5 million to replace improperly sized HVAC equipment, saving energy and extending the equipment’s life.
“This federal funding is an investment in jobs, jobs, jobs right here in Maryland,” Mikulski said. “These funds will help put dollars back into the pockets of low-income Marylanders by making homes more energy efficient and lowering their energy bills.”
The grants were distributed through the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program, which weatherizes approximately 25,000 homes per month and is partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) funding.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/28 at 09:57 AM
Community •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Rafting Boom Has Pros, Cons For Friendsville
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
Aug. 26, 2010
Outdoor enthusiasts are flocking to Friendsville to enjoy whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Youghiogheny River. The town’s mayor and council met with the Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday to discuss the positive and negative aspects of this issue.
“Friendsville is very fortunate to have the Youghiogheny River flowing through our town,” Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle told the commissioners. “And over the years it’s continued to grow, as far as the whitewater rafters who come into the county in spring, summer, and early fall.”
He said that is a “good” problem, but it is also a problem that needs to be addressed.
The mayor noted that the Maryland Department of the Environment recently allowed rafters to be on the Yough on Saturdays, in addition to Fridays and Mondays. This allowance, coupled with low water levels on other rivers and the recent growth of rafting, means that hundreds of people are now pouring to Friendsville on weekends.
Local rafting companies reported they have more than 3,700 whitewater customers per year, according to Schlosnagle. The mayor stressed however, that this figure does not include numerous other kayakers and rafters who enter the Yough and other area streams on their own.
While this should be an economic boon to the town, it receives little of the county’s 4.5 percent admissions and amusement tax that rafting companies collect from their customers. That is because the official “put-in” or access site to the Yough River is located in the Sang Run area, which is several miles up stream from Friendsville. Rafters and kayakers park in the town, ride in company or private shuttle vehicles up to the put-in site, raft/kayak down the Yough, and get out of the river anywhere they can in Friendsville, rather than traveling another 30 minutes to a take-out point at the community park.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/28 at 09:48 AM
Fun Things to Do •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
Commissioners Allocate Funds To Keep After-School Operating
Aug. 26, 2010
The Garrett County commissioners have allocated $110,000 to help keep a portion of the Local Management Board (LMB) Partners After School Program going for another year. Garrett County Health Department budget carryover funds will be used for the allocation.
The after-school program is a collaborative effort between the Garrett County Partnership for Children and Families, Health Department, Community Action, and local Board of Education.
“The commissioners’ designation of these carryover funds to support elementary- and middle-school children’s academic enrichment through the LMB’s Partners After School Program (PAS) is extremely important to families utilizing these services,” said LMB member Rodney Glotfelty, Garrett County health officer. “We are deeply appreciative of their support in providing bridge funding again this year.”
The commissioners decided to allocate the money after hearing an update report Tuesday morning from Partnership and LMB representatives.
The nonprofit group’s director, Crystal Stewart, informed the commissioners that 21st Century grant funding was not available again this year. This U.S. Department of Education initiative has been the primary funding source for PAS for numerous years. The partnership, therefore, issued a press release about two weeks ago to inform parents that after-school activities would not be available this year at PAS sites, which are located in Accident, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, Loch Lynn, and Oakland.
The Partnership and LMB have been working for more than a year to find ways to fund the program. Shortly before school started last year, Stewart learned that her FY 2010 21st Century grant request had been denied. The grant is federally funded, but the State Department of Education oversees its allocation in Maryland.
In FY 2009, the state allocated the Partnership $260,000 in 21st Century funding to support PAS in Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, and Loch Lynn, and at Southern Middle School and the Judy Overlook Center. Accident activities were funded through a Community Partnership Agreement.
To help keep the program going in FY 2010, LMB member/Community Action president Duane Yoder was able to secure an emergency $125,000 Community Development Block Grant, which the commissioners matched with another $125,000.
As a result, about 250 children were able to participate in PAS last year, according to the Partnership’s projects coordinator, Sherri Padovini.
The commissioners noted the importance of PAS in helping students achieve academic success through tutoring and homework assistance. Students also take educational and cultural field trips, and learn about nutrition and drug/alcohol abuse issues.
“There is no doubt about the value of the program,” said Commissioner Ernie Gregg.
Padovini presented the commissioners with data that shows local after-school students are “maintaining pace” with the three-year Maryland Student Assessment (MSA) averages for Garrett County in both reading and math.
Additionally, after-school students who are eligible for free and reduced meals (FARM) “did a little better” than other local FARM students on the three-year MSA average for math. Results in the reading component were about the same for both FARM groups, Padovini noted.
Ironically, the fact that PAS is so success may be the very reason why the state did not award it 21st Century funding, Health Officer Glotfelty indicated.
“I think we’re a little bit of a victim of our own success, over the last number of years, when you look at our school system and the great results that we get out of it, with our test scores and everything,” he told the commissioners.
Glotfelty explained that the state looks at “system needs” and moves money to needy areas, even though children in successful places still need funding for their services.
“That’s just the way funding is in the state of Maryland,” he said. “When you succeed, you usually have your money taken away from you. And when you’re in really bad shape, that’s where they put the money.”
Yoder agreed. He apologetically told the commissioners that when the LMB asked them for emergency after-school funding last year, he really believed that the next 21st Century grant application would be funded.
“We didn’t walk in last year thinking that wasn’t going to happen,” Yoder told the commissioners. “I don’t want you to walk out of here [today] believing that we were just playing a game a year ago.”
Padovini reported that the Partnership recently secured a $40,000 Governor’s Office grant, which will enable one after-school program site to continue, which mostly likely be the Grantsville one. Other local grants may be available to help augment the governor’s funding.
She indicated the northern site was chosen simply because more students participate in PAS there than in the southern end of the county.
Read the rest here.
Posted by
Jay on 08/28 at 09:47 AM
Local News •
(0)
Trackbacks •
Permalink
