I Love Deep Creek Blog

Friday, December 28, 2007

The Episcopal Church in Garrett County Marland

Contact the Episcopal Church in Garrett County

St. Matthew’s Parish
PO Box 303
Oakland, MD 21550

email:

Telephone: 301-334-2510
Fax: 301-334-4493

St. John’s
PO Box 414
Oakland, MD 21550

email:

Telephone: 301-334-1197
Fax: 301-334-4493

http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/

From their website:

Always an Open Door

“With what shall I come before God, and bow myself before God on high?  God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does God require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:6,8)

Sometimes an open door is all you need.  You’re not looking for a church to tell you its own version of right and wrong.  You’re not looking for a church that has all the answers.  Or a church that includes only the right kind of people.  You’re looking for a church where you can bring your doubts, your questions, your fears, and find a welcoming, open community willing to share them.  The doors to our churches are always open (literally) and within, you will find a quiet place of prayer and a nurturing community ready to help you find your voice and your vocation to the world in Christ’s name.  Reconnect your spirit without disconnecting your mind.  Come and see!

Make sure to contact the good folks at the Garrett County Episcopal Church!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Christmas Tree Recycling Prog. To Begin In January

Christmas Tree Recycling Prog. To Begin In Jan.

Dec. 27, 2007
The Garrett County Solid Waste and Recycling Division will accept Christmas trees for recycling during January and February at the county landfill and Grantsville refuse and recycling site.

Christmas tree recycling is available to residents, businesses, and municipalities free of charge. A disposal permit is not required to participate in this or any other recycling program in Garrett County.

Trees may be taken to the landfill, located at 3118 Oakland Sang Run Road, Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Grantsville refuse and recycling site, located at 13168 National Pike, will accept trees Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.; Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.; and Sundays from noon until 6 p.m.

Solid Waste and Recycling coordinator Kim Madigan noted that this year’s recycling program is being conducted in a different manner than in previous years.

“Please do not deposit trees at the Grantsville town hall, the Southern High School athletic field parking lot, or any other refuse and recycling sites at any time during the months of January or February,” she said.

Christmas trees may also be recycled at home by placing cut branches and needles under trees and shrubs as a temporary winter mulch, or by chopping them up and adding them to compost piles.

Persons with questions regarding the free recycling programs in Garrett County may contact the Solid Waste and Recycling office at 301-387-0322 or .

Full article courtesy of the Republican

Rescue Squads Do Not Sign MOU; Request For Proposals Published

Rescue Squads Do Not Sign MOU; Request For Proposals Published

Dec. 27, 2007
The Friday, Dec. 21, noon deadline has passed without either the Northern or Southern rescue squads signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Garrett County commissioners. And, as promised, the officials have opened the field up for others to provide additional emergency medical services in the county.

A request for proposals (RFP) has been published is this week’s issue of The Republican. Private companies, fire departments, and other interested parties may now all vie for EMS contracts with the county.

The commissioners recently hired seven full-time EMS personnel who were to work out of squad halls to augment volunteer rosters and improve response times. The MOU would have outlined the use of the squads’ halls, apparatus, and equipment; insurance issues; discipline matters; county/squad obligations; accounting and billing policies; and other issues.

The issue of county-paid EMS workers working beside volunteers was first proposed by the commissioners this summer, and since then, was the subject of much debate. At times, it appeared that the squads and commissioners were close to reaching a consensus and ready to sign the MOU. But that did not happen. As a result, the commissioners set a signing deadline.

About 30 squad members met with the commissioners and other county officials last Tuesday to review the MOU one last time before the Friday deadline. Volunteers had concerns about certain aspects in the document, including scheduling and insurance issues.

Squad representatives ex-pressed major concerns about how the county’s insurance policies would work in conjunction with their carriers. They noted that liability problems could arise and stressed the need for more time to review the issue.

Squad representatives indicated that the MOU was a good starting point, but there were still many issues that needed to be resolved before they would sign the document.

The commissioners did not extend the Friday deadline, and, on several occasions, have stressed the need to move forward with plans to provide more EMS coverage as soon as possible for public safety reasons.

Though they did not sign the MOU, the Northern and Southern rescue squads may still operate and/or apply for the RFP.

Under the RFP, the county-paid EMS staff will work out of the contractors’ facilities and use whatever equipment and vehicles they may have. The county will purchase and provide additional needed items.

Several local volunteer fire departments have expressed interest in applying for the RFP, according to county administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

The new county EMS staff are scheduled to report for work on Monday, Jan. 7.

Full article courtesy of the Republican

Plans Under Way For SavageMan Triathlon Festival

Plans Under Way For SavageMan Triathlon Festival

Dec. 27, 2007
The second SavageMan half triathlon will be held in western Maryland on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, race producer/director Greg Safko told the Garrett County commissioners last Tuesday.

“There is no where else in the world that has a race as tough as this,” Safko said.

Proceeds from this charity fundraiser benefit the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, which is based in Finksburg. Safko is a board member and one of the group’s founders.

The first SavageMan debuted in Garrett and Allegany counties this past September. It combined a 1.2-mile open-water swim at Deep Creek Lake, a 13.1-mile run, and a 56-mile bike race.

The run included a 550-foot climb from the lake to the top of Meadow Mountain. The bike course featured more than 5,500 feet of climbing, with the centerpiece of the race being the “Westernport Wall,” which rises 800 feet over one mile and includes a one-block pitch of more than 25 percent. Only 67 bikers made it up the “wall,” Safko noted.

More than 260 competitors from 14 states, Washington, D.C., Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Virgin Islands, and other areas participated in SavageMan. A post-race survey indicated that most of the athletes plan to compete again next year.

“They said they’ll be back one, two, three times,” Safko said.

He added that Chris McDonald of Australia, the overall winner, proclaimed that SavageMan was even more difficult than the “World’s Toughest Half Triathlon,” which takes place in Auburn, Calif. McDonald finished the local event in 4 hours, 46 minutes, and 31 seconds.

SavageMan has garnered national and international press coverage for the foundation and western Maryland, Safko said.

“We all stand to gain from this,” he said. “But we couldn’t have pulled this off without a lot of help and preplanning.”

Numerous local groups and individuals contributed to the success of the debut event, he indicated, including the county commissioners, Garrett County Board of Education, Peggy Jamison of Economic Development, the Sheriff’s Office, Health Department, Chamber of Commerce, Emergency Management, Steve Cosner and the Southern High School girls’ cross country team, Garrett College, Rock Lodge Trust, and numerous volunteers in Westernport and Lonaconing.

Safko also praised Garrett County Roads Department employees and their general superintendent, Fred Polce.

“He’s one of the unsung heroes of Garrett County,” Safko said about Polce.

Road crews put up signs, did some paving, and swept the entire 56-mile bike course for the safety of riders, Safko noted.

“Racers from around the world said they have never seen roads in that good of a shape in any other races,” he told the commissioners.

Safko plans to expand the triathlon into a festival. In 2008, the one-day celebration will include two events: a half triathlon and a shorter “international” distance competition. Following his meeting with the commissioners, Safko met with the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, and State Highway Administration to discuss next year’s event.

Safko said the 2009 SavageMan festival will be a two-day weekend event.

“I congratulate your organization’s efforts,” said Commissioner Ernie Gregg.

The JMN Foundation was established in January 2004. Its “Tri-To-Win” events, including SavageMan, support medical research leading to a cure for melanoma, opportunities to educate the pubic on prevention and the seriousness of melanoma, and the development of resources for patients and the entire melanoma community.

“Skin cancer and melanoma in the state of Maryland have increased 300 percent just within the last couple of decades,” Safko said.

The JMN Foundation works with health departments, including the one in Garrett County, and hospitals across the state to help provide residents with information about skin cancer, Safko said.

According to the foundation, melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer and accounts for 79 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Skin cancer is also the most common cancer among young adults ages 20-30, and is the primary source of cancer death for women ages 25-30 and the second most common cause of death for ages 30-35.

The JMN Foundation received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award in 2006 for its many activities, which include maintaining a scholarship for Johns Hopkins University graduate students who conduct melanoma research.

For more information about the foundation, persons can visit melanoma-resource.org.

Information about SavageMan is available at http://www.savagemantri.org.

Full article courtesy of the Republican

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display Slated In Oakland

New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display Slated In Oakland

Dec. 27, 2007
Oakland Main Street program officials are reviving an old tradition of fireworks on New Year’s Eve. With the support of town hall and the business community, a fireworks display will be set off from the Overlook beginning at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31.

“Oakland Main Street hopes to unite the community not only for the night but for the 2008 year,” said program manager Jack Cougle.

He encourages people to gather at the town parking lot to get the best view of the fireworks and to bring party favors and their favorite music with them.

Cougle is also looking for local talent who might be interested in presenting puppet shows, music, or other “street-type” of performances during the New Year’s Eve celebration. Additionally, vendors are invited to sell hot coffee and cider, baked goods, and other products to help their organizations’ fundraising efforts.

Cougle noted that the town hopes to expand the New Year’s Eve event in coming years.

“We hope next year to work with the arts, performing arts, and cultural community to actually develop a “First Night” – a substance-free, New Year’s Eve festival of the arts community,” he said.

The idea for the event began in Boston, Mass., in 1976 and is now in more than 130 cities throughout the world, according to Cougle.

“First Night,” he said, “seeks to foster the public’s appreciation of visual and performing arts through an innovative, diverse, and high quality New Year’s Eve program which provides a shared cultural experience, accessible and affordable to all.”

For more information, persons may call Cougle at 301-334-5095.

Full article courtesy of the Republican

Tenth Annual Warm The Children Breaks Records; Nearly 300 Served

Tenth Annual Warm The Children Breaks Records; Nearly 300 Served

Dec. 27, 2007
For the 10th consecutive year, the Warm the Children campaign has been a resounding success, organizers have reported. The donations totaled more than $31,000 this year, and volunteer shoppers took nearly 300 local children and teenagers shopping for new winter clothing and footwear. The contribution amount is a record.

Warm the Children is a program headed up by The Republican newspaper and the Civic Club of Oakland. Each autumn, members of the club and newspaper staff meet to launch the project, organizing the application process and placing advertisements in the paper to ask for donations.

As the money comes in, selected families go shopping at Wal-Mart, either in Oakland or LaVale, and $100 worth of new winter belongings are bought for each child.

“The people of this community and the readership of this newspaper are surely some of the most generous folks on the planet,” said Mary McEwen, director of the program and vice president of Sincell Publishing Co. “We receive donations for $5 and donations for $1,000 and every increment in between. Piles and piles of checks come in nearly every day of the donation period. It’s amazing.”

Every cent donated to Warm the Children goes toward the purchase of the clothing and footwear. The newspaper publishes the advertisements, stories, and thank-you cards that are sent to donors. Postage for the thank-you notes is purchased by the Civic Club and the newspaper company.

“The fact that every penny goes to the kids is a great thing for donors to know,” McEwen said. “They know there are no ‘administration fees,’ no overhead whatsoever. Donors like that, and rightly so.”

The other aspect of the program that involves the assistance of local individuals is the actual shopping. Betty Ellington, a Civic Club member, has headed up the process of linking volunteer shoppers with families for several years. She coordinated the shopping trips of the nearly 300 kids with the 32 volunteers who helped this year.

“People who work on the program just naturally work as a team,” Ellington said. “It just seems like it falls together that way, and people want to make it work well.”

Ellington said that shoppers often finish up a trip with a family and then ask her for more to do.

“Our shoppers find it to be an amazing experience, and once they do it, they want to do it again,” she said.

Ellington said several members of the staff at WalMart were particularly helpful this year, going into the back to find specific sizes or styles of clothing, and helping to link volunteers up with cashiers who were well-practiced in the special check-out system required for Warm the Children purchases.

“Every family is different, too,” Ellington said. “Some people prefer for the volunteer to take the lead in helping choose the items, and other families feel better when the volunteer takes less of a role,” she said. “Our volunteers are savvy enough to pick up on what the family prefers right away. And that works well for everyone.”

Lisa Broadwater, office manager at The Republican’s satellite office in Grantsville, heads up the volunteers in the northern part of the county, who generally shop at the LaVale WalMart.

Ellen Fritz took on the role of organizing the large duty of thank-you note writing. There were 345 donors this year, and each donor receives a hand-written thank-you card. Fritz obtains the ongoing list from McEwen, who takes in the donations. Then Fritz distributes the names and addresses to her team.

“Again this year, the Civic Club of Oakland basically ran Warm the Children,” McEwen said. “We would not be able to host the program without these wonderful women who all work so hard. And Warm the Children is just one of their projects. They do amazing things all year long. We are honored to work with them in this great program.”

McEwen noted that the program would also be far more difficult to operate without the help of Dora Hanlin, a volunteer who has been with the program since the very beginning.

“Dora works at the Department of Social Services, but this is not part of her job. In addition to her workload, she helps us screen applicants and offers her insight into who really needs help in this county. She takes in every application and records them, and then passes them on to Betty or Lisa. Dora is a wonderfully giving person, and we are so fortunate to have her on with us,” McEwen said.

A full-page advertisement listing all donors for the 2007 program, along with the names of volunteers and other key individuals, will be published in The Republican in January.

“Thank you, everyone who gave or volunteered,” McEwen said, “for making this 10th year our most successful effort yet

Full article courtesy of the Republican

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Garrett rescue squads balk at addition of paid paramedics

Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND - Both Garrett County rescue squads have turned down working with paid paramedics, for now, meaning officials may seek a request for proposals for emergency medical services.

“We’ve been in discussions,” Ann Smith, financial secretary and spokeswoman for Southern Garrett, said. “We’re at a point where a lot of issues are not resolved. (The memorandum of understanding) is a good start, but there are a lot of issues. You’ve given us an ultimatum. However, our facilities, our equipment, will not be made available until these things are resolved.”

Smith and Dana Green, Northern Garrett Rescue Squad president, consulted with one another just before Smith made that announcement that ended the squads’ meeting with the Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday.

During the hour-and-a-half-long meeting, Commission Chairman Denny Glotfelty suggested that the two squads attempt to work with the paid personnel for six months. He said that hopefully they could re-evaluate how the new personnel, who would be paid in a 50 percent split between the squads and the county, were operating.

Many in the squads, as well as members of the public, however, had concerns about some of the wording and expectations of the memorandum.

Dan Jonson, who is not a member of either squad, said he questioned the issues of insurance. He said that aside from malpractice insurance, he had concerns about liability while the paid personnel would be operating the squad’s ambulance.

“Hindsight is 20/20, and it can be very costly,” Jonson said.

Several in attendance had questions about the way the insurance policies would operate in conjunction with one another, many from the squads feeling there were not enough definite answers.

Brad Frantz, director of Garrett County Emergency Management, explained the county employees would have liability insurance and the squads only would need to ensure the personnel are listed on the squads’ vehicle insurance for the ambulances.

This brought up other concerns in the way of costs, with Jonson questioning how much the inclusion of the county on their insurance plans would raise the current premiums, if it would at all.

Frantz addressed a number of concerns over the scheduling of the paramedics and emergency medical technicians to be incorporated into the squads. He explained that scheduling did not have to remain on a strict 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule, and that 12-hour shifts could be moved based upon the availability of volunteers.

He did, however, point out that the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats report did cite the hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as the time when the most calls were missed or when response time was at its slowest.

While no one present would say that the response times and calls met were at 100 percent, Green said she still felt that the current statistics for response times were off, saying that Northern had an average response time of about six minutes.

“This will be new for us and will take a while to get the system to work out,” Fred Holliday, commissioner, said. “The rescue squads are doing a tremendous job of providing service. You know better than I do how hard it is to get volunteers. We’re doing this to provide coverage we need.”

But because neither squad felt enough of their problems with the memorandum were answered, they told the commissioners that if they felt it was necessary to have an RFP then they should do so.

If the memorandum is not signed as of Friday, the commissioners will place an RFP and seek additional emergency service from other agencies.

Contact Sarah Moses at .

Full article courtesy of the Cumberland Times News

Local Lawmakers Hear Constituents’ Concerns About Legislative Issues

Dec. 20, 2007
“Let lawmakers know your concerns and exercise your right to vote” was the underlining theme of a pre-legislative forum conducted by Del. Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards at Garrett College on Saturday.

Local residents voiced their ideas on Sunday alcohol sales, wind turbines, health insurance, and other issues that might arise in the General Assembly. The next session begins in Annapolis on Jan. 9.

Representing more than 30 other business owners, Greg Mortimer of the Santa Fe Grille asked the lawmakers to introduce a bill that would allow alcohol sales on Sundays in Garrett County.

“It would increase our playing field with nearby resorts that offer Sunday sales,” he said. “Fifty-two days a year, customers go to nearby areas or simply stay home.”

Mortimer said Sunday sales would help businesses during the slow seasons, increase revenue for them and the county, provide more job opportunities, and enable the businesses to contribute even more to local organizations.

“We’re just asking for support to help us in establishing a business that provides good jobs and helps everybody,” Mortimer said.

Beitzel noted that the Sunday sales issue is brought up periodically, and “the people have spoken.”

“This has always been put through a referendum,” Edwards said.

He and Beitzel said the only way they would support such a bill would be if the county commissioners approved it and residents could vote on the issue.

Edwards added that the bill needed to clearly define if the Sunday sales would pertain only to certain areas and/or types of businesses, such as restaurants.

The senator noted that he made a promise when he first ran for office in the 1980s that he would introduce a Sunday sales bill only if it were by referendum.

“I’m sticking with my commitment,” he said.

(Mortimer and other business owners met with the commissioners on Tuesday and presented the Sunday sales proposal to them. See separate story in this issue.)

Oakland area resident Bob Lewis of the Allegheny Highlands Conservancy brought up the issue of wind turbines on state land. A Pennsylvania-based company recently asked Gov. Martin O’Malley for leases in Potomac and Savage River state forests to build up to 100 turbines on mountain tops.

“I sense a lot of opposition on this,” Lewis said. “There are people taking a stand against this that have not previously taken a side on the issue (wind turbines).”

“I am opposed to building wind turbines on state property, period,” Beitzel said.

“I don’t support wind mills on every inch of property,” Edwards said. “But when you look at state land, I don’t think you should just point blank say, ‘No.’”

But he added that he was not “jumping up and down” saying that the turbines should be built on state land.

“That should be the last place to look at,” Edwards said, noting that private land should be considered first. Additionally, he indicated, federal regulations, land classifications, road access, and other factors should be considered before placing turbines on state land.

The senator added that the state should listen to people who are directly affected by various issues, including wind turbines, before making decisions.

“Local people should have a bigger voice,” Edwards said.

With that in mind, he and Beitzel encouraged residents to present their views on the turbine project during two meetings that have been scheduled by the Department of Natural Resources. The first will be held Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Grantsville Elementary School. The second is slated for Thursday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Arundel Center in Annapolis.

If possible, Beitzel said, residents should attend both meetings. A show of strong opposition would be one way of preventing the construction of turbines on state land, he indicated.

“I’ve even, at one time, looked at working with people to see what might be considered a fair number of wind mills, period, out here, until they build some in other places in the state of Maryland,” Edwards said. “We’ve got all these people down east jumping up and down saying, ‘We support wind mills; we support wind mills.’ And I’ve said it on the floor of the Senate and in committee, ‘I’m waiting for those of you down east, whenever they put one in your county, I want to see if you’re going to still stand up and say you support wind mills, you support wind mills.’”

He added that energy is one of more important issues facing this nation.

“I think we need to get off our butts and deal with it,” he said. New oil and gas wells need to be drilled, new coal technology utilized, and nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind energy explored, Edwards indicated.

He and Beitzel also addressed health insurance issues. Beitzel, who is on the Health and Government Operations Committee, noted that the House and Senate are exploring ways to help uninsured residents.

Maryland has a real problem helping people get insurance, the delegate said. Approximately 800,000 people are not covered, and the problem continues to grow as the cost of medical care increases, he said.

Beitzel said HB 1 and SB 1 introduced during the recent special session addresses the issue of people not being insured. But, he added, the legislation will require the spending of $600 million during the next four years.

The legislation includes subsidies to help small businesses provide health insurance for employees. But, Beitzel said, this incentive is only for businesses that have between two and nine employees and do not currently provide insurance.

“I think it’s a much greater issue than we can deal with on a state level,” the delegate said about helping the uninsured. “It has to be taken care of on the federal level.” Edwards agreed.

Oakland area resident Tom Yusko suggested that the Senate and House expand the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. He noted that the plan is already in place and would be good starting point in establishing ways to provide more insurance for residents.

Insurance agent Dave Insley, Mtn. Lake Park, talked about how difficult it is for people to get their medical bills paid by their insurance companies. He noted that people’s credit ratings are often negatively affected even before issues can be resolved.

Insley asked for legislation that would enable people to appeal a contested insurance claim before it is turned over to a collection agency. He also asked that companies be penalized if they are found to be at fault for a person’s credit rating decline.

At the close of the pre-legislative forum, Beitzel said he and Edwards have open-door policies in which constituents may contact them about issues and concerns.

“We’re available anytime,” Beitzel said.

He may be reached in Annapolis at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3435, or . Edwards is available at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3565, or .

Commissioner Fred Hol-liday encouraged residents to make the trip to Annapolis and testify at bill hearings to let committees know their concerns.

“They need our support,” Holliday said about Beitzel and Edwards.

The public forum was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters. League president Barbara Briggs also asked residents to vote in the upcoming primary and general elections.

“And take that privilege very seriously,” she said. “If you know someone who doesn’t come out to vote, get ‘em.”

Full article courtesy of The Republican

Weber Recycling Site Now Taking PCs, Electronics

Dec. 20, 2007
Garrett County residents and businesses now have two places to drop off their unwanted electronics and computers for recycling: the Bumble Bee Road and Weber Road Crossing refuse and recycling collection sites. There is no cost, and no refuse permit sticker is needed to participate in this program.

Recycling coordinator Kim Madigan of the county’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division said the Weber site was added because of the “overwhelming response” of an electronics pilot program that began on July 16 at the Bumble Bee site.

The following items may be brought to the Bumble Bee and Weber sites: personal computers CPU units, keyboards, monitors, mice and peripherals, hard drives, mainframe computers, modems, printed circuit boards, laptops, printers, word processors, radios, and remote controls.

Also accepted are cell phones, pagers, compact disc players, camcorders, electric typewriters, answering machines, fax machines, copiers, VCRs, TVs, scanners, calculators, stereos, transparency makers, adding machines, telephones, electronic toys, and microwave ovens.

Appliances – including those that had or currently have Freon, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers – will not be accepted.

The Weber Road refuse and recycling site is located south of Oakland at 10180 Garrett Highway. The Weber and Bumble Bee sites are open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.; on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.; and on Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.

Persons with questions regarding the electronics and computer recycling program or any Garrett County recycling program may call the Solid Waste and Recycling office at 301-387-0322 or visit online at garrettcounty.org.

Full article courtesy of The Republican

Businesses Request Expansion Of Limited Sunday Alcohol Sales Law

Dec. 20, 2007
Local residents and visitors may soon be able to purchase a glass of wine with their dinner on Sunday afternoons in McHenry, Oakland, Grantsville, and other areas of Garrett County. A group of restaurant owners asked the county commissioners on Tuesday to support legislation that would put the issue of Sunday alcohol sales on a district-by-district basis before voters.

Greg Mortimer, owner of the Santa Fe Grille in McHenry, made the request on behalf of more than 30 other business owners.

“We are asking for a referendum to expand limited Sunday sales to all districts in Garrett County,” Mortimer said. He noted that currently only two of the county’s 19 election districts, the Elbow and Avilton, may sell alcohol.

“In fact, these two districts have had limited Sunday sales since 1996 with no negative impacts,” he said.

As the local law currently stands, Sunday sales are permitted from 1 to 10 p.m., and may be made only when a restaurant patron places an order for a meal simultaneously or prior to placing an order for an alcoholic beverage.

“Simply put,” Mortimer said, “you may only serve a drink with a meal – no bars and no liquor stores – period. We do not want to change the law, just expand the law to the remaining districts.”

He told the commissioners that 52 days of the year, potential customers either decide to patronize establishments in surrounding areas that allow Sunday sales or simply stay home. This results in a reduction in take-home pay for local service workers, according to Mortimer.

He noted that more than 1,000 workers who live in Garrett County are directly affected by the current law. The majority of those workers, he said, fall into two categories: waiters and waitresses who either jointly or solely are supporting their families, and young adults who are working weekends to support their way through college.

Mortimer also pointed out that increased economic demands were creating a burden on both business owners and their employees. For example, electric bills have tripled, gas has greatly increased, and the cost of tuition, books, rent, and other college related items are rising.

“This referendum will lessen the burden on this segment of the working population,” Mortimer said. He added that it would also allow local business owners to compete on a “level playing field” with other businesses in surrounding areas and resorts.

“By passing this referendum, you give the voters the chance to improve the lives of the hard-working citizens in the service industry of our county,” Mortimer said.

He noted that many local restaurants have closed during the past few years, in part, perhaps, because of the lack of Sunday sales.

Charlie Ross, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce president/CEO, said his group supports the referendum proposal.

“We believe the referendum is a citizen’s choice,” he said. “It’s been 11 years since the last referendum, and we see everything positive in putting it before the citizens of Garrett County to make that choice once again.”

“My personal opinion is that the proper way to do this is to place this on a referendum before the public to consider district by district,” Commissioner Ernie Gregg said.

Expansion of the Sunday sales law first requires approval by the Maryland General Assembly.

“I think that we should make the request to our [local] delegation to introduce legislation to put the referendum before the residents,” Commissioner Fred Holliday said.

Gregg and Commissioner Denny Glotfelty agreed. The commissioners will now discuss the proposed legislation with Del. Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards.

Prior to his meeting with the commissioners on Tuesday, Mortimer presented the Sunday sales issue to the local lawmakers during a public forum at Garrett College on Saturday. Beitzel and Edwards told Mortimer that they would introduce a bill only if the commissioners approved it and residents were able to vote on the matter. (See separate story in this issue.)

Should the General Assembly approve the proposed legislation, Garrett County residents will have a chance to vote on the Sunday sales issue for their districts during the general election in November 2008

Full article courtesy of The Republican

MOU Between Commissioners, Rescue Squads Still Unsigned

Dec. 20, 2007
The Northern and Southern Garrett County rescue squads still have until noon tomorrow to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the county commissioners to provide additional emergency medical services for residents and visitors.

About 30 squad members and county personnel met Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to work out their differences during a meeting at the courthouse. From a citizen’s point of view, however, not much was accomplished.

“We’re here to work together, guys,” new commission chair Denny Glotfelty told the volunteers at the beginning of the meeting. “We’re talking about saving people’s lives. It doesn’t matter who said, she said. We’re here to try to solve the problem. And to try to solve the problem, you’ve got to recognize the problem.”

He asked the volunteers if they agreed there was a problem with squad response times. Several members answered, “Yes.”

The commissioner noted there was still time to work things out, until Friday. “That’s not changed,” Glotfelty said about the signing deadline.

Last week, the commissioners notified the squads that they must sign the MOU by Friday, Dec. 21, at noon. Should the document not be signed, the county will advertise a request for proposals (RFP) and open the field up for emergency service providers. Private companies, fire departments, and other interested parties, including the rescue squads, could all vie for contracts. County-paid EMS staff would work out of the contractors’ facilities and use whatever equipment and vehicles they may have. The county would purchase and provide additional needed items.

Glotfelty noted at Tuesday’s meeting that the rescue squads could still operate whether or not they sign the MOU or apply for the RFP.

Director Brad Frantz, Garrett County Department of Emergency Management, reviewed the eight-page MOU line by line with the squad members, who voiced numerous concerns about the document.

The MOU outlines the provision for use of the squads’ halls, apparatus, and equipment; how county EMS employees will be paid; insurance issues; discipline matters; county/squad obligations; accounting and billing policies; and other issues.

The county recently hired seven full-time EMS personnel who were to work out of squad halls to augment volunteer rosters and improve response times. The county EMS staff are scheduled to begin work on Jan. 7.

Under the MOU, Frantz’s office would oversee the scheduling of both the volunteers and the paid staff, who would work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the squad halls as needed. Scheduling was one of the main concerns of the squad members. They pointed out that volunteers work on six hour shifts and that their schedules would overlap with the paid staff. As a result, volunteers would be bumped from the schedule and/or too many workers may report for duty on certain shifts.

Squad members suggested that having the paid staff work in six-hour or even eight-hour shifts would be better. One member suggested that a paid person could work at one station for six hours and then report to another station for another six hours, if needed.

Frantz indicated he could work out scheduling issues, but noted that he could not ask his staff to work “piecemeal” in short three-hour shifts.

The squad members also had major concerns about insurance issues, particularly how the county’s policies would work in conjunction with their insurance carriers. They noted that liability problems could arise, and, as a result, the squads and county could be sued for millions of dollars.

County personnel could not answer some of their questions about the issue, and the squad members wanted “something in writing” that indicated that they and county would be covered.

Squad members also voiced their concerns about disciplinary policies for paid staff, the staff’s benefit packages, and the need for more time for members to review the MOU.

“We need to start somewhere to provide the [EMS] coverage to make this work,” Commissioner Fred Holliday said near the end of the meeting. He noted that it may take a year or two before many of the issues in the MOU were fully resolved.

“We need to get this ironed out for the citizens… . I’m begging you all to keep that in mind. That’s what we’re here for,” Glotfelty added.

Following the review of the MOU, Dana Green, Northern Rescue Squad president, and Ann Smith, representing Southern Rescue, discussed, outside the commissioners’ meeting room, what course of action the squads should take.

After returning to the room, Smith told the commissioners the MOU was a good start, but there were still a lot of issues yet to be resolved, and a lot more things had to happen.

She pointed out the Dec. 21 ultimatum, and said the squads were at the point where the commissioners should do what they had to do.

“We will do everything we can, to the best of our ability, to serve the public,” Smith told the commissioners, on behalf of both squads. “We will continue to do that. So whatever you chose to do, and if January 7 is your date to start your personnel, you do what you feel you have to do. However, our facilities are not available to you. Our ambulances are not available. Our equipment is not available. You’re going to have to come up with your own resources until all of this is settled. And I think there is no point in just carrying these things on. That’s the way it is.”

“Meeting adjourned, folks. Thank you all for coming,” Glotfelty said. “Have a nice Christmas.”

As of this morning, Thursday, the MOU is still unsigned, according to county administrator Monty Pagenhardt. He said the RFP is ready for publication next week, should the MOU not be signed.

“Several local volunteer fire departments have expressed interest in applying for the RFP,” he said.

Full article courtesy of The Republican

Mountain Laurel Health Center To Be Built Near Health Department

Ground breaking photo

Dec. 20, 2007
John M. Colmers, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, was in Garrett County yesterday for the groundbreaking of the Mountain Laurel Medical Center, a federally qualified health facility. The event was held at the construction site, located off Memorial Drive, Oakland, behind the Garrett County Health Department.

The Garrett County commissioners, joined by Mtn. Laurel’s chief executive officer Beth Little-Terry and her staff, welcomed numerous representatives of state and federal agencies, legislative leaders and their representatives, and other local officials to Oakland to help celebrate the event.

Mtn. Laurel Medical Center entered into a partnership with the Garrett County Community Action Committee to raise the money and build the $2.6 million facility. The contract to construct it has been awarded to general contractor Devlin Inc. of Deer Park.

Completion of the single story, 12,000 square-foot office building is scheduled for November 2008.

Mtn. Laurel Medical Center services, including primary and preventive health care, are currently being provided at 888 Memorial Drive. In addition to accepting insured patients, the center offers a discount program based on family size and income.

“This is made possible through a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration,” said a center spokesperson. “The grant is intended to improve access to health care for uninsured and low income individuals in Garrett County and the surrounding area. Mountain Laurel Medical Center’s mission is to provide quality, safe, accessible primary health care, wellness promotion, and education to all individuals in Garrett County and surrounding areas, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay.”

In addition, the center offers case management services that link patients to other health, human services, and financial programs in the community such as medication assistance, transportation, and other services that may help improve the health of patients and their families.

“The proposed facility will serve as the medical office for a multi-provider health center as well as the administrative offices of the health center,” said the spokesperson. “The location of the facility off Memorial Drive is in an expanding medical service corridor, including Garrett County Memorial Hospital and numerous other health-related office facilities, and will offer added convenience for consumers of Mtn. Laurel Medical Center’s services.”

The spokesperson also noted that the building site is located near county, state, and non-profit agencies, as well as the Health Department, which will help expand partnerships between those entities that have been developed in recent years to provide needed services to area citizens.

“The construction of a first-class community health center such as this would not have been possible without the vision and leadership of the members of the board of the Western Maryland Healthcare Corporation and the Garrett County commissioners, who donated the land and in-kind services,” said the spokesperson.

About $1.2 million for the project is being provided by DHMH’s capital bond program. Additionally, $500,000 in federal grant funds are being provided through the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and received through the town of Oakland.

The remaining cost of the building will be provided through loans and grants from the several other funding sources, according to the spokesperson

Full article courtesy of The Republican

GROUND BROKEN FOR MOUNTAIN LAUREL MEDICAL CENTER IN OAKLAND

Federal, state, and local officials participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the the 12,000-square-foot Mountain Laurel Medical Center in Oakland. The $2.6 million facility is expected to be completed in November 2008. This federally qualified health center will be located behind the Garrett County Health Department and will provide services for uninsured and low-income residents in Garrett County and the surrounding area. See story for details. Pictured, left to right, are Garrett County commissioner Ernie Gregg; health officer Rodney Glotfelty; Garrett County Health Department; Beth Little-Terry, Mtn. Laurel Medical Center CEO; Lowell Bender, chair of the GC Community Action Committee and Mtn. Laurel board member; Secretary John M. Colmers, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Don Battista, GC Memorial Hospital CEO; Commissioner Fred Holliday; Bob Stephens, director of behavioral and family health at the GC Health Department; Commissioner Denny Glotfelty; Oakland mayor Asa McCain; Brenda Frantz, field representative for Congressman Roscoe Bartlett; Robin Summerfield, field representative for Sen. Ben Cardin; and Richard Devlin, project contractor. Photo by John McEwen.

Full article courtesy of The Republican

Sunday alcohol sales in Garrett County could go up for referendum

Sarah Moses
Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND - In November, local residents could be voting whether or not they want their local restaurants to have Sunday sales of alcohol as the Garrett County commissioners have agreed to support a request for a referendum vote.

“My personal opinion is again to place a referendum before the public and reconsider it district by district,” Commissioner Ernie Gregg said.

Greg Mortimer, owner of the Sante Fe Grille in McHenry, came before the commissioners and requested a referendum to expand the limited Sunday sales to all districts of Garrett County.

Mortimer said that he felt that the law hurt local businesses as Garrett County is positioned between areas that allow Sunday sales and that potential customers go elsewhere.

The limited sales would allow alcohol to be purchased at restaurants only if a food order had also been placed. It would not allow for liquor sales at stores or bars.

“There are over 1,000 workers who live in Garrett County that are directly affected,” Mortimer said. “The majority of those workers fall into two categories: Those waiters and waitresses who either jointly or solely are supporting their families and those young adults who are working weekends to support their way through college.”

Mike Dreisbach, owner of Savage River Lodge, said that his business was in one of the districts that approved the Sunday sales in 1996 during the last district-by-district referendum vote. He asked the commissioners to support the referendum vote for the rest of the county.

Dreisbach said that while he couldn’t give definite answers and statistics, he knew his business had benefited from the Sunday sales.

“It provides good customer service,” Dreisbach said. “On a Sunday evening, we have 40 people for dinner. Take a place like Uno’s, with 200 people. It would have a tremendous impact. That’s one component that attracts people, one very important component.”

Dreisbach added that he would prefer having local state lawmakers support it as a bill, rather than putting it to a vote.

Charlie Ross, president of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, said that he supported a referendum.

With the commissioner’s support, the referendum could be put to a public vote in the general election.

Contact Sarah Moses at .

Full article courtesy of The Cumberland Times News

Buck kill increases in Garrett, Allegany

Buck kill increases in Garrett, Allegany

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND - The buck kill in Allegany and Garrett counties during the recent two-week firearms season increased by 5 percent from a year ago, according to the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service, with hunters checking in 2,897 antlered animals compared to 2,750 in 2006.

Allegany County hunters bagged 1,396 bucks and Garrett County was good for 1,501.

During the one-day season set aside for young hunters, another 73 bucks were killed in Allegany County and 141 in Garrett.

On the other hand, the antlerless kill was down in the state’s two westernmost counties, dropping from 1,887 in 2006 to 1,684 this year. Allegany’s take was 881 and Garrett’s was 964. During the one-day youth hunt, another 62 does were taken in Allegany and 99 in Garrett.

Throughout Maryland, hunt-ers checked in 44,805 deer, very similar to the 2006 harvest of 44,313, with the buck harvest being down slightly and the antlerless harvest up a slight amount.

Brian Eyler, the agency’s deer project leader, said the fact that the antlerless deer harvest continues to exceed the buck kill indicates that Maryland has a stable deer population in many parts of the state. Statewide, the bag included 16,018 bucks and 28,787 antlerless animals. Antlerless animals also include small bucks without antlers at least 3 inches in length.

“When we see the buck kill go up, like it did in Allegany and Garrett this year, we know that we have more deer running around out there. We also know that we had pretty good weather in which to hunt during those two weeks,” Eyler said. “Yes, the doe kill is down, but when you only have one day to hunt them that can happen.”

The Maryland muzzleloader season is under way and continues through Dec. 29.

Full article courtesy of The Cumberland Times News