I Love Deep Creek Blog

Friday, July 23, 2010

Trying to be Laser quick

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

...were the young captains of these Laser sailboats, who competed in the Laser Junior Regatta at Deep Creek Lake this past weekend. This competition, along with the Laser Adult Regatta and the Women’s Flying Scot Regatta, were all held by the Deep Creek Yacht Racing Association, with races being conducted on both Saturday and Sunday. Winning the junior event was Josh Bullock, followed by John Benhart, Jessica Burnham, and Nate George. Weather conditions for sailing, as well as multiple other sports on the Mountaintop, have been nearly ideal so far this summer. Although a bit warmer than usual, still comfortable compared to the conditions in many other parts of the state and East Coast.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

All Garrett County Schools Achieve Adequate Yearly Progress On MSAs

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 22, 2010

The Maryland State Department of Education recently released system level results regarding Maryland School Assessment (MSA) and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Results show that all Garrett County elementary and middle schools achieved AYP. This indicates that a significant number of students scored at the proficient and advanced levels in reading and mathematics on the MSA and Alternate MSA.

This also shows that no schools in Garrett County have been identified by the MSDE as needing improvement. As well as the overall population, in order to meet the federal guidelines of No Child Left Behind, students in specified subgroups, including racial/ethnic classifications, students eligible for free or reduced price meals, and students with special needs must also meet the AYP goals. According to the test results, all of these groups of students in Garrett County successfully met their goals.

“The [Board of Education] members and I are so proud of our students, teachers, staff, principals, and central office administrators for this outstanding performance,” said Dr. Wendell Teets, superintendent of GC schools. “Our students [lost] to snow 17 days of instruction immediately before the MSA testing, and still every school made AYP with no school in any type of improvement status.”

MSA math scores at all elementary and middle school grade levels improved in 2010 compared to 2009 results. Math at the 8th grade level had a 10.4% gain from last year, which is recorded as the biggest improvement at any level. Seventh grade tests had 90.4% of the students scoring proficient/advanced. All other grade levels scored in the 80% to 88% proficient range on the MSA math exam.

In reading, grades 4, 6, and 8 improved in 2010 compared to 2009, with grade 8 having the largest percentage gain of 13.8%. In grades 3, 5, and 7 scores dropped by less than 2 percentage points from last year. Grades 4, 5, and 6 had more than 90% of the students scoring proficient/advanced in reading.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Small Garrett County school ranks No. 1 in test scores

Crellin Elementary had a pass rate of 100 percent; Benfield in Arundel was No. 2
By Liz Bowie, The Baltimore Sun

7:55 p.m. EDT, July 22, 2010

The best elementary schools in the state come in all sizes and areas, from a small school filled with low-income students in the far reaches of Western Maryland to a midsize one in a wealthy neighborhood of Anne Arundel County.

Of the 874 elementary schools in the state, Crellin Elementary, a schoolhouse nestled in a coal mining area that has amassed a collection of prizes for leadership, environmental teaching and character education, is the school with the highest pass rate on the Maryland School Assessment.
With an average 100 percent pass rate, the 100 students at Crellin edged out Anne Arundel County’s Benfield Elementary, a school whose students live in neighborhoods along the banks of the Severn River.

The rankings were done by The Baltimore Sun after analysis of the state’s MSA data. State officials released the annual report card on reading and math Tuesday.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Jim Raley seeks Garrett County commission seat

Cumberland Times-News

— FINZEL — In announcing his candidacy for Garrett County commissioner in District 2, Jim Raley (R) stated that, “For too long, citizens’ input has been ignored and when they are willing to speak out they are often chastised and belittled for standing up for their rights as taxpayers. This must change!”

A longtime force in Garrett County, Raley has been a teacher (24 years); a member of the Garrett County Board of Education (13 years); and administrator. He has served 33 years with the Eastern Garrett County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association, of which he currently serves as president of both organizations. He also serves on the board for the park located in Finzel.

Having been involved in all aspects of budgeting and employee oversight, Raley is concerned that the Garrett County budget continues to increase and the county continues to spend taxpayers’ money on “pay as you go” projects, while cutting vital services. “While it is great the county can afford to save enough money to fund multimillion dollar projects,” Raley stated, “the current taxpayers are bearing those costs through increased assessments and higher taxes. The county boasts of having little indebtedness. However, the reason for this is simply that the money is generated from real estate taxes and they have increased over $14 million in the past four years. The time to lead is now during this economic turndown!

“Because of the pay as you go attitude, this year the county eliminated 26 positions,” Raley continued, “and those were living wages and benefits which enabled families to live and work in Garrett County. We must look towards bonds for our long-term projects and look to maintain jobs for our citizens and grow our county and economic strength.”

Raley concluded, “With the county cutting jobs to fund capital projects, our economic future is grim and our youth will not be able to live and work in Garrett County, our school enrollments will continue to decline and our economic base will continue to dwindle.”

This election will likely be determined in the primary on Sept. 14 as there is no Democratic opponent seeking the office.

Jim Raley has lived in Garrett County for 47 years in the Finzel area with his wife, Susan, where they raised their two children, Sharee and Ainsley. Raley can be contacted at 301-707-1061, at or Jim Raley’s Facebook page.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Habitat chapter seeking applicants for first local home

A GREAT program to institute anywhere. Something I learned from the article, Garrett County has been building 5 habitat homes per year for the last 25 years!!!

Shane Riggs
Cumberland Times-News

Cumberland — CUMBERLAND — The money is in the bank. Appliances are waiting to be installed. Land has been secured. Everything is in place for Allegany County to see its first Habitat for Humanity house. The only thing missing from the plans is who will live in the house once construction is complete.

“That’s our biggest thing right now is finding our first Habitat for Humanity family in Allegany County,” said Kathy Miller, president of the local chapter. “We plan to start looking at applications August 1 and have a family hopefully chosen by August 10 for our first house.”

“We just need our first family,” said treasurer Shauna McQuade. “We need to reach our target market. As much as we have spoken to community groups we still need to find our first family to get into a house.”

Since the recipient of Allegany County’s premiere Habitat for Humanity house has not been selected, applications are still being taken through Aug. 1.

Miller and McQuade said priority will be given to the family who can show a need and also is willing to participate in the Habitat program.

“The process involves 300 hours of sweat equity,” said Miller. “So the family we select will not only be helping to build their own house but also the second house in the area Habitat for Humanity builds.”

Sweat equity hours can include actual construction to volunteer work in fundraising.

The potential Habitat for Humanity homeowner must meet financial criteria under the guidelines of the program. To continue to be a candidate, the applicant must attend “homeownership courses.”

“We basically teach people how to be a homeowner and what to do, for instance, when you need to call that $65-an-hour plumber,” Miller said.

While the program has been in the developmental stages for more than four years, this will be the first time construction of the house under the nationally recognized Habitat program will start in the local area.

“We really had to get our facts together and show on the national level that we knew what we were doing,” said Miller.

Neighboring counties have had success with the program. Washington County has been a participant for nearly a decade while Garrett County has been building five Habitat homes a year for the last 25 years.

While properties are earmarked in the city for future Habitat houses, a lot in Cresaptown has been chosen as the first official site for 2010 construction.

After the application deadlines passes, the family selection committee will narrow the list to three before a final family is selected. Mary Moran is the committee chairwoman.

“We know the need is there and so we want people to get included in being the second and third families picked as well,” she said. “We know the families are out there. We just need to get the word out and reach them.”

Miller said the Habitat for Humanity committee — made up of local volunteers and civic leaders — hopes that more families begin applying for the house between now and the deadline.

“Our biggest priority is finding the right family in need,” she said. “We have a lot of families out there living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. And no one should have to live like that. Our motto is, a hand up, not a hand out.”

Miller assures the application processs is not complicated and should not be intimidating or overwhelming to those interested in applying.

A one-level, three-bedroom house will include donated and new appliances and will be move-in ready. The selected homeowner will be given the opportunity to choose color schemes for the interior and exterior.

Constructed at a cost of $65,000 to $85,000, the appraisal value of the house will be $125,000 when complete, said Miller.

“It’s not a lavish home but it’s a wonderful, comfortable, economical house that people can stay in for the rest of their lives.”

Applicants may be considered if present housing is not adequate and if conventional means of buying a home have failed. Candidates must have been a resident of Allegany County for the last two years. Maximum annual income levels range from $22,900 for a single person to $43,830 for those with a family of eight. The selected applicant will be purchasing the home from Habitat and monthly mortgage payments will be paid directly to the organization.

McQuade said the goal is to begin construction on the house in autumn and have the family moved in by the time the first snowflake falls.

“Once we get ground broken it will happen pretty quickly,” she said. “We hope to be done by late fall. It’s going to be a nice holiday present for one local family.”

For more information, call 301-468-5784 or 301-707-6356.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Olympic whitewater paddler Casey Eichfeld auction

From Steve Green @High Mountain Sports:

Olympic whitewater paddler Casey Eichfeld will be giving a private flatwater kayak lesson/tour to a few special guests on Deep Creek Lake.
All proceeds go toward supporting him as a whitewater athlete. The tour includes all neccesary equipment including: a kayak, lifevest, and paddle ...from High Mountain Sports. The 1 hour tour/lesson will start at 8:30 AM on Saturday July 31st. Traders Coffee House will provide pastries and beverages before or after the tour. If there are substantial competing bids we will consider a second chance offer to the second highest bid. The winning bidder may bring up to 5 guests.

Link to auction on eBay

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Maryland wind farm draws protests

Environmental groups have threatened to sue Constellation Energy Group Inc. for risking protected bats at a planned Western Maryland wind farm, but the company says it will honor endangered species laws.

Save Western Maryland and the Maryland Conservation Council gave Constellation notice June 23 that they plan to attempt to block its Criterion wind project on Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. They argue the project puts at risk Indiana bats and Virginia big-eared bats, both federally protected as endangered species. Federal endangered species law requires 60 days’ notice before filing such a lawsuit.

But Constellation officials said they are in the process of applying for what is called an “incidental take permit,” which allows private entities to undertake projects that could harm or kill endangered species if they work with federal fish and wildlife officials on a conservation plan. Constellation is going through that process, spokesman Aaron Koos said.

The Criterion wind project is a major one for Constellation and Maryland. The company spent $140 million in April to buy it from Clipper Windpower Inc., including wind turbines and plans that had already been crafted. That came on top of $90 million Constellation committed to spending on solar projects in 2010. The Garrett County project will put 28 wind turbines on ridges around 3,360-foot-high Backbone, the state’s highest mountain.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Illegal dump seems water pollution culprit - Friends of Deep Creek Lake

Join or Donate to Friends of Deep Creek Lake - find out more here

Deep Creek site cleaned up twice after tests showed poor quality
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News

Oakland — OAKLAND — An illegal garbage dump located on private ground in Garrett County could be the cause of ongoing water quality problems in Deep Creek, according to local officials.

The dump site is located off Mayhew Inn Road east of the intersection with Sang Run Road. Water from nearby Deep Creek flows directly into the Youghiogheny River just below Swallow Falls.

The organization Friends of Deep Creek Lake discovered water quality problems in Deep Creek through sampling and testing conducted in 2004, and repeated in April 2009. Both rounds of testing showed the creek’s water quality to be very poor. Director Barbara Beelar attributed the testing results largely to contamination from the dump site.

“Volunteers found everything from old tires, microwaves, batteries and household items to multiple animal carcasses at the site,” Beelar said. When the organization discovered the garbage dump, members reported it to county officials.

A cleanup crew removed one refrigerator, 13 tires and an additional 1,940 pounds of trash from the site this spring. That cleanup followed less than one year after a similar project at the site in summer 2009, in which an unknown amount of trash was removed.

Both cleanups were organized by county officials and the work was done by local inmates, with assistance and equipment provided by the county roads department.

This spring the county also took steps to prevent more trash from being dumped in the future, by blocking a pull-off area near the dump site with a row of large rocks.

The water sampling was conducted as part of a Maryland Department of Natural Re-sources program called Stream Waders, in which trained volunteers take water samples from streams throughout the state. The samples are analyzed in an Annapolis lab.

The water’s quality is determined by the types and numbers of tiny aquatic animals found living in it, since certain organisms can only live in healthy streams while others typically live in poor-quality water.

“This is an excellent example of collaboration among many parts of Garrett County government and the local watershed group,” Beelar said. “We will resample the water next spring and expect there will be major improvements.”

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Monday, July 12, 2010

8 Perfect Summer Lake Towns - Yahoo Travel

From Yahoo Travel
The marina at Deep Creek Lake rents everything from canoes to powerboats, plus kid-friendly toys like water trampolines.
Photo: Courtesy Garrett County Chamber of Commerce/Timothy Jacobsen

Oakland, Md.
on Deep Creek Lake

At the southern end of Deep Creek Lake, Oakland is home to Lakeside Creamery, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor dishing out 90 flavors to flocks of visitors. The peach ice cream, made from fresh local fruit and milk sourced from area dairy farms, is a perennial summer favorite. Right next door, Copper Kettle Popcorn sells the standard sweet-salty version and regional specialties like popcorn sprinkled with Old Bay, plus homemade fudge and chocolate-dipped pretzels. You can get to both by car, but it’s more fun to arrive by water and pull up to the boat slips. Deep Creek Marina rents everything from canoes to powerboats, plus kid-friendly toys like water trampolines. If it’s swimming you’re after, try the mile of shoreline at Deep Creek Lake State Park. Naturalists often lead free nature hikes and evening campfire talks centered around the area’s black bear population. Rest your head at the Lodges at Sunset Village, tucked deep in the woods about eight miles from Oakland. The cabins sleep four to 10 people and have working fireplaces, rustic knotty-pine furniture, and kitchenettes.


If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Confluence artist takes art to another dimension - Garrett County Native

Friday, July 9, 2010 10:45 PM EDT
(Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles that feature artists in the Turkeyfoot Highlands.)

By RICK KAZMER

Connie Stark is taking her art to another dimension — sort of.

She dabbles in painting, but the two-dimensional art hasn’t drawn her complete attention. Stark’s artistic passion is knit bears, and she has made them by the thousand.

“It is kind of a different way to go because it is three dimensional,” she said of the unique mole-hair creations.

The Confluence resident draws on a lifetime of artistic interest to complete each intricate cuddler. She is a native of Michigan where she went to school for graphic art. Stark and her family lived in Garrett County, Md. before moving to the Turkeyfoot Highlands in 2005. The bears have been in the making for decades.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Friday, July 09, 2010

Wind Turbine Opposition Group Pens Official Letter

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 8, 2010

Save Western Maryland, a group of persons working against the proliferation of wind turbines in Garrett County, joined the Maryland Conservation Council and several concerned citizens in penning a letter late last month to wind proponents. The letter gives “official notice” to Constellation Green Energy LLC, Clipper Windpower Inc., Criterion Power Partners LLC, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative Inc., and the Garrett County commissioners that the installation and operation of the Constellation Wind Energy project will violate the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
“Available evidence demonstrates that the Constellation wind project will almost certainly result in unauthorized ‘takes’ of Indiana bats and Virginia big-eared bats, triggering criminal and civil enforcement actions,” a spokesperson for the group said. “Upon expiration of a 60 day period, suit may be filed in federal court.”

Read the rest here.
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Commissioners Expand Scholarship Prog. To Include Occupational Training

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 8, 2010

The county commissioners announced yesterday the expansion of the Garrett County Scholarship Program to include support for students pursing noncredit occupational training offered by Garrett College’s Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development as well as continued support for students enrolling at the college in academic programs.

Established in 2006, the Garrett County Scholarship Program has been successful in encouraging more local high school graduates to pursue college study, the commissioners noted in a press release.

The aim of the expanded scholarship program is similar: to increase the number of individuals in Garrett County who are prepared for skilled jobs related to energy production, transportation, manufacturing, medical services, and other contemporary fields.

The new occupation scholarship will cover training and testing costs for an industry related certificate program. Students will have a maximum of two years to complete the program selected.

The existing academic scholarship covers Garrett College tuition up to a maximum of 64 credit hours or degree completion, whichever comes first. Other sources of financial aid must be applied before the county scholarship is utilized, which keeps the program cost-effective and leverages outside funding, the commissioners noted.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Funding Awarded To Expand Garrett Co. Trails System

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 8, 2010

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $30,000 grant to expand the trails system in Garrett County, U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin announced Tuesday.

The funds will be used to conduct a feasibility study of a looped trail system in the county. The route will connect the county’s existing trails to other public parks and regional trails, including the Great Allegheny Passage.

The study will also explore options for developing 75 miles of new trail that will maximize use of the county’s large amounts of publicly owned land.

The project will be administered by Garrett County Trails. In addition to ARC funds, Garrett Trails will provide $20,000, and the Maryland Program Open Space will provide $10,000, bringing the total project funding to $60,000.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

More on the fireworks from the Republican

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 8, 2010

In many locales, the skies above Garrett County were filled with fireworks over the July 4th holiday weekend, to the delight of thousands of residents and visitors, and pictured above is a “behind the scenes” look at what is involved in presenting such a display. Milton Proudfoot, Oakland, who has been a fireworks shooter for over 40 years, is shown preparing some of mortars that sent 597 individual shots of fireworks into the sky above Broadford Lake on Saturday. Proudfoot noted that the largest supply of fireworks in the world was destroyed in a massive explosion in Hong Kong a few years ago, causing a huge shortage at that time. But he said that today there is a surplus of fireworks because of the faltering economy and resulting cancellation of many displays. Photo courtesy of Erin White.

Read the article here.

Watch the grand finale of the Deep Creek Lake fireworks here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Horse rescue farm gets help from inmates - Garrett County horse follow up

Seems like the rescue horses are doing much better and they’re making new friends;
from the Baltimore Sun:

Even as she toiled at a Woodbine farm Thursday in the relentless heat and humidity, Paula Jordan said she and three other female inmates were grateful to the owners for allowing them “a little taste of freedom.”

Jordan, a 41-year-old Baltimore resident convicted of second-degree assault, is a member of a newly formed crew dispatched from the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women to pitch in twice a week with maintenance on the 58 acres of rolling pasture at Days End Farm Horse Rescue.

The nonprofit organization long known for giving horses second chances at life is turning a spotlight on prisoners in need of the same opportunity.

“I made wrong choices and I’m paying the consequences,” said the single mother of three who is serving a six-year sentence at the Jessup prison and is slated to be released in October 2011.

“We accept that we will be working in the fields for now, but I love animals,” Jordan said eagerly. “We met some of the horses Tuesday and learned the ways they communicate. This will be a good learning experience.”

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350
Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Site Statistics

This page has been viewed 363890 times
Page rendered in 2.6794 seconds
Total Entries: 742
Total Comments: 7844
Total Trackbacks: 843308
Most Recent Entry: 07/28/2010 07:05 am
Most Recent Comment on: 07/22/2008 09:32 pm
Total Members: 1
Total Logged in members: 0
Total guests: 17
Total anonymous users: 0
Most Recent Visitor on: 07/29/2010 08:17 am
The most visitors ever was 592 on 03/21/2008 06:15 pm

Referrers