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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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Lodestone Golf Club celebrates grand opening

By JEFF MAURER
jeffm@dailyamerican.com

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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Fire Departments Are Recipients Of DNR Grants

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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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Triathlete Magazine Names SavageMan #1 Hardest Triathlon In The World

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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: volunteers@savagemantri.org. 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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

GC Community Action Awarded $1 Million For Weatherization Prog.

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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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Rafting Boom Has Pros, Cons For Friendsville

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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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

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.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!