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Governor O’Malley Empowers “Clean Energy Communities” With An Additional $2M For Energy Improvements

December 1, 2010

Grants to be Awarded in Every County of the State and Baltimore City are Expected to Help Approx. 1,400 Marylanders

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Martin O’Malley announced today the award recipients for the FY2011 “EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities” grant program, which helps local governments and nonprofits fund energy efficiency projects specifically for low to moderate income Marylanders. The grants, overseen by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), are expected to help 1,400 Marylanders save a total of 1,800 MWH of electricity and almost 7 million cubic feet of natural gas each year, or over $5.1 million in savings over the estimates life of the measures.

“These grants are an example of exactly the type of efficiency projects we had intended for Maryland communities and families when we entered into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the nation’s first multi-state collaborative carbon cap-and-trade program,” said Governor O’Malley. “These grants are another step forward in our effort to make Maryland’s future cleaner, greener, and more sustainable for all our citizens.”

These grants, forty-one in total, will be awarded in every county across Maryland and Baltimore City. With projects ranging from home energy efficiency upgrades in Caroline County to large-scale residential weatherization in Montgomery County, local jurisdictions and non-profit organizations will use these funds to help make Maryland more energy efficient.

“The Maryland Energy Administration is thrilled to be able to help hundreds of Maryland families save money on their energy bills, while also creating jobs and stimulating the economy,” said Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. “Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley, Maryland is continuing to move forward towards achieving our EmPower Maryland goal of reducing energy consumption 15% by 2025.”

Each Maryland county and Baltimore City was provided an allocation based on the number of low-to-moderate income households residing in the respective area. A listing of grants awarded is detailed below. Funding for the program comes from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which was created from public auctions of carbon credits through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

For more information, visit the Maryland Energy Administration.

2011 EMPOWER Clean Energy Communities Project Synopsis:

Garrett County Habitat for Humanity Garrett County $15,000
Garrett County Habitat for Humanity will use their grant to enable energy efficiency upgrades for three (3) Habitat homes in Garrett County.

Prosperity Pail Ministry Works, Inc. Garrett County $6,000
This grant will enable Prosperity Pail to provide hot water tank upgrades to low-to-moderate income residents.

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!

Mortgage tax break in the crosshairs

By Tami Luhby, senior writer
December 2, 2010: 5:25 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Don’t even think of touching the mortgage interest tax deduction in the midst of a fragile housing market.

That was the immediate response of the housing industry, which has come out with guns blazing against the presidential deficit commission’s proposal to overhaul the coveted tax provision.

“We will fight this proposal,” said Joe Stanton, chief lobbyist for the National Association of Home Builders. “From everything we’ve read, it will end up being a tax hike.”

Charged with finding ways to reduce the nation’s exploding federal debt, the bipartisan debt panel recommended Wednesday a wide range of controversial spending cuts and tax changes that would slash $4 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years.

Among the proposals was a major change to the mortgage interest deduction, which costs the Treasury Department an estimated $131 billion a year.

Currently, taxpayers who itemize their deductions can deduct the interest on mortgages of up to $1 million for their principal and second residences, plus on home equity loans of up to $100,000. The provision generally benefits higher-income Americans since they are more likely to itemize.

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!

SHA Ready For Winter Operations; Will Introduce "Pro-Active" Strategy

Nov. 25, 2010

The Keyser’s Ridge garage of the Maryland State Highway Administration is ready for the snow forecast for Garrett County on Friday, according Charlie Gischlar, SHA Communications, Baltimore.

“We’re totally ready for anything Mother Nature sends us,” Gischlar said.

Western Maryland – Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties –received an average of 156 inches of snow last winter. Garrett County alone, however, received more than 260 inches.

Currently, there are 7 tons of rock and solar (sodium chloride) salt at the ready in the three SHA “salt barns” located in Garrett County. Statewide, there are 340,000 tons of the materials in 96 barns. Gischlar noted that SHA will try to restock those supplies after every storm.

Statewide, SHA also has 35,000 tons of abrasives (sand, etc.), 60 tons of calcium chloride, 675,000 gallons of salt brine, 50,000 gallons of magnesium chloride, 4,500 gallons of potassium acetate (used in automated bridge anti-icing systems), and 30,000 gallons of Geo Melt 55 at the ready for the 2010-2011 winter season.

Gischlar also reported that SHA will introduce a new “proactive” anti-icing strategy in Garrett County and elsewhere in the state this winter. Prior to or at the onset of snow, SHA crews will spray salt brine (liquid sodium chloride) on I-68, Rt. 219, and Rt. 40 in order to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement.

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!

Schedule Is Announced For 12th Annual Joy Of Christ Celebration

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Nov. 25, 2010

The 12th annual Joy of Christ Celebration is scheduled for Monday–Friday, Dec. 6–10, at the Oakland Community Center. This event is free to the general public, and each evening features multiple Christmas-themed performances by local, regional, and national artists.

“There’s no excuse for not coming,” said event organizer Paul Browning, “as admission, a meal, children’s activities, and even the performers’ albums are provided by sponsoring businesses and churches.”

The goal of the event is to provide the community with a non-denominational break from the commercialism of Christmas by focusing on the birth of Christ through free concerts, activities, and community interaction.

There will be at least three concerts each evening. (See schedule.)

Among the groups will be the Garrett Highlands Pipes & Drums. The band has been performing in concert and parade for over 30 years throughout the region.

“You are invited to attend and learn why it is believed that the shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth may have played bagpipes,” Browning said.

Frostburg State University professor Dr. Greg Latta, a multi-instrumental-ist and singer/songwriter, will also perform. He is an award-winning banjo player, a three-time winner of the Mid-Eastern U.S. hammered dulcimer champion, and two-time runner-up in the National Hammered Dulcimer Championships held at Winfield, Kansas.

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!

"Canagator" Wins Grand Prize – Republican

Nov. 25, 2010

Northern High School junior Josh Tichinel won the grand prize in Baltimore during last Friday’s state “Rethink Recycling” Sculpture Contest for his “Canagator,” an alligator made of more than 700 soda cans and other recyclable items. The contest was sponsored by the Maryland Department of the Environment, and Josh received an iPad from MDE Secretary Shari Wilson for his efforts. See story for details. Pictured above, left to right, are Bailey Umbel, Josh with his iPad, NHS student/contestant Bayley Smoot, Alec Smoot, and Dillon Russell. Photo by Kim Madigan, Garrett County Solid Waste and Recycling Division.

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!

Swooping In For A Coot Snack – Republican

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Nov. 25, 2010

Eagles in Garrett County are on the prowl this time of the year for whatever variety of migrating bird happens to be taking a break on the surface of Deep Creek Lake. Pete Versteegen watched the eagle try to grab one of these traveling American coots. Versteegen said this is the third year in a row he has watched the eagles go after this particular water fowl. He has seen the eagles catch large fish, and one time did witness the great bird flying off with a coot. This year the eagle was unsuccessful. “It tried unsuccessfully for about 45 minutes. After 15 minutes it sat in a tree along the shore, resting, and looking for about 10 minutes,” Versteegen said. “At one time it dove after a coot, but missed it, and then sat in the water like a duck for about three minutes before taking off again.” The great bird eventually gave up and moved on. Versteegen said the photo was taken from his deck with a 300mm lens. Another bird will be “enjoyed” this week by millions of Americans — the turkey, which Benjamin Franklin thought should be the country’s official bird instead of the one shown here. To all our readers we wish a very happy Thanksgiving.

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!