November 2011 – Page 3 – Jay's Real Estate Blog

Real Estate: Why home prices won't bottom out

By John Wasik

Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:30pm EST

(Reuters) – Watching the U.S. home market struggle to rebound is like listening to children in the back of a car. No, we’re not there yet.

The National Association of Realtors reported that ten real estate markets are “leading the nation toward a general recovery and stability of the housing sector,” but myriad problems are going to weigh down the housing market for months to come.

The lingering malaise in the economy has triggered a new wave of defaults and foreclosures. After five straight quarterly drops, foreclosures nationwide shot up 14 percent from the second to third quarter this year, according to data released by Realtytrac, the foreclosure information service (see link.reuters.com/kaw94s), in October.

More here.

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! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

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FireFly Farms Creamery & Market Limited Edition Gift Crate Samplers

FireFly Farms Creamery & Market (http://www.fireflyfarms.com), producer of artisanal goat cheeses from Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau, is pleased to announce the availability of their 2011 limited edition gourmet gift crate samplers—appetizing treats for your favorite holiday host, cherished friend, or appreciated business-client this winter season.

Accident, MD (PRWEB) November 16, 2011

Each elegant, slide-top, wooden gift crate features two of FireFly Farms’ award-winning handcrafted cheeses paired with a selection of specialty food items from the FireFly Farms Creamery & Market, located at 107 South Main Street in Accident, Maryland, in Garrett County.

More here.

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Winter travel safety tips offered by State Highway Administration

Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Mon Nov 14, 2011, 10:34 PM EST

LAVALE — With the official start of winter just weeks away, the Maryland State Highway urges motorists to make preparations now to deal to with hazardous travel conditions that are fast approaching.

Since 2000, Western Maryland has averaged 30 winter storms every year, compared to seven on the Eastern Shore and in Southern Maryland and eight in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area. The Oct. 29 snowstorm was the earliest metro area winter storm since 2000. The storm dumped up to 11 inches of snow in western Allegany County.

Travelers can plan ahead before hitting the pavement by logging onto the cyber highway at www.roads.maryland. gov and clicking on “CHART” — Coordinated Highway Action Response Team. The CHART website offers travel information, snow emergency plans, real-time traffic camera views, weather information, average travel speed maps and incident-related road closure reports. CHART is located at the Statewide Operations Center in Hanover where SHA personnel have access to hundreds of cameras throughout the state.

The easiest way to report any issues along SHA-maintained highways is through the Customer Care Management System by logging onto roads.maryland gov and go to “Contact Us” tab and click on “Submit a Service Request.” The online submission form is easy to fill out and will be directed to the proper department within SHA to address the issue.

In the event of snow, motorists are urged:

• Not to drive if you don’t have to.

• Don’t Crowd the Plow — never pass a snow plow or plow train (a series of plows working in tandem). If driving behind a snow plow or salt truck, provide plenty of space (at least seven to eight car lengths) behind the truck.

• Know Before You Go — Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit www.md511.org for current travel information.

• Remember that bridges, ramps and overpasses freeze first. Use caution when driving across them.

• Four-wheel drive vehicles are just as vulnerable to slipping on ice as regular two-wheel drive vehicles.

• Pack a winter driving survival kit —including a shovel, blanket, water, jumper cables, flares, snacks and a flash light.

• Clear snow from your vehicle’s headlights, roof and from other places that may obstruct vision or become a danger to other motorists.

• Make sure your vehicle is in proper working conditions. Check the battery, tire tread and pressure, belts, hoses and fluid levels.

• Travel with plenty of gas in the tank.

• When shoveling snow, do not place it in the street or roadway. Plow trucks push snow to the right. When facing your driveway, pile snow to your left, off the road. The reminder will save you additional hours of shoveling.

SHA District 6 that includes Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties maintains 582 lane miles in Allegany County, 496 lane miles in Garrett County and 750 lane miles in Washington County.

The LaVale shop that serves Allegany County includes 42 SHA trucks and equipment and 49 hired trucks and equipment and has a salt dome capacity of 21,000 tons.

In Garrett County, the Keysers Ridge shop includes 40 SHA trucks and equipment and 64 hired trucks/equipment and its salt dome capacity is 26,116 tons.

The SHA strategies for winter operations consist of application of anti-icing materials prior to or at the onset of precipitation to prevent snow and ice from bonding to pavement. The SHA is expanding its anti-icing operations in an attempt to lessen overall salt usage.

The principal winter material used by the SHA is salt, rock and solar (sodium chloride) that is effective at pavement temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit and above. The SHA also uses treated dalt, abrasives, calcium chloride, salt brine (liquid sodium chloride), magnesium chloride and GEOMELT 55 (desugared sugar beet molasses).

More here.

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Winter adventures in Maryland's mountains

14th November 2011

For a festive holiday that will take your breath away, a trip to the ‘Mountain Side of Maryland’ may be just the ticket. Rollercoaster through mountains, sledge with beautiful huskies, snowmobile across snow-capped terrain, or enjoy the stunning views from a private lakeside cabin there is something for everyone.

Maryland’s western region boasts plenty of outdoor activities, panoramic views and the historic and charming mountain towns of Cumberland, Frostburg, Grantsville, Hagerstown, Oakland and Sharpsburg. The perfect place to recharge for the New Year, Deep Creek Lake boasts stunning views and activities including ice fishing, skiing, snowtubing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing and ice skating. With a variety of lodges, cabins and chalets around the lake this is the perfect retreat for couples families and large groups.

The Mountain Coaster at Maryland’s Wisp Resort is the only one of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is a real adrenaline rush and combines breathtaking views from the top of Wisp Mountain with the thrill of a rollercoaster ride. You’ll dip, roll and twist through 350 vertical feet of stunning mountain and forest landscape, reaching speeds up of to 26mhp. A perfect alterative way to take in the views you can even slow the speed of the cart with individual braking systems.

More here.

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Md. DNR investigating possible spread of invasive aquatic plant in Deep Creek Lake

DAVID DISHNEAU Associated Press
First Posted: November 15, 2011 – 4:01 am
Last Updated: November 15, 2011 – 8:07 pm

OAKLAND, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday it is taking a closer look at an invasive aquatic plant in Deep Creek Lake that some area residents say could strangle the boating opportunities that make the mountain reservoir a tourist magnet.

Agency officials said at a public meeting that they will assess the distribution of Eurasian water milfoil across the entire lake over the next year and advise property owners on how to limit its effects.

“We realize that there’s been a lot of a lot of concern over the last year. People are complaining that it’s exploding over the lake,” said Bruce D. Michael, director of resource assessment.

The weed, called EWM for short, is a green, leafy plant with long, slender stalks. It grows in water up to 20 feet deep and forms dense mats that can entangle swimmers and hinder boats. It first arrived in Wisconsin in the 1960s and has become a nuisance nationwide.

More here.

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‘Lean’ speaker at Garrett College

Director of Maryland World Class Consortia to speak at conference
Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Mon Nov 14, 2011, 09:02 AM EST

MCHENRY — Jeff Fuchs, director of the Maryland World Class Consortia, will be the keynote speaker at the Western Maryland Lean Conference on Tuesday at Garrett College.

Garrett College is holding the conference in cooperation with the Garrett-Allegany Lean Forum and the Maryland World Class Consortia. The conference is being held because the forum, which has been in existence for a while, wanted to explain what “lean” is, according to Julie Yoder, dean of education and continuing workforce development.

“The overall goal of ‘lean’ is to be more efficient and to improve process,” said Yoder.

During the conference, Fuchs will define what “lean” is and share ways that it can be implemented in any organization. Topics include key aspects of continuous improvement; Lean in Action: a Hands-on Example; what it takes, at the leadership level, to support a continuous improvement culture; steps for developing a “lean” transformation plan; and keys to success.

Participants in the conference will first get the big picture on what “lean” is and then will learn how local businesses have implemented “lean” practices, said Yoder.

Thus far, more than 60 people have registered for the conference. Local businesses involved include ATK, First United Bank & Trust, Garrett County Health Department, Total Biz Fulfillment of Grantsville and the Western Maryland Health System.

“I think the amount of people registered shows a pretty good effort for the first conference,” said Yoder. “Businesses should attend this conference because with economic times as they are, any business can do more to become more efficient and save resources. I think it’s a goal for everyone right now.”

Participants in the conference will be surveyed on their interest in “lean” and depending on the response, a course at Garrett College may ensue, according to Yoder.

The Maryland World Class Consortia is a nonprofit organization that increases the competitive capacity of Maryland organizations through “lean” principles and methods.

Since 2006, Fuchs, of the Baltimore area, has been a key contributor to the development and deployment of the country’s first nationally recognized “lean” certification, sponsored jointly by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence and the American Society for Quality.

Numerous county government and community committee members have been appointed to the Garrett County Commissioners Lean Committee and were invited to attend the conference, which begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m.

County government committee members include Mike Bittinger, Garrett County Sheriff’s Department; Brian King, Garrett County Department of Public Utilities; Theresa Miller, Garrett County Roads Department; Nathaniel Watkins, Garrett County Department of Informational Technology; and Scott Weeks, Garrett County Department of Financial Services.

Community committee members include Steve Lantz, a retired banking executive; Gary Ruddell, Total Biz Fulfillment; Rebecca Sines, First United Bank & Trust; Joe Thomas, Phenix Technologies; and Bill Welch, Simon Pearce.

For more information on the conference, call 301-387-3069.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

More here.

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Deep Creek Lake, Md.: A spot outside the resort grid

Saturday, November 12, 2011 Last updated: Sunday November 13, 2011, 11:07 AM
BY SHANNON ROXBOROUGH
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
The Record

Fair Lawn residents Andrew and Sandy Lewinski began their search for a vacation home with one condition: That they agree to consider only places with an atmosphere of separateness, allowing them to feel sheltered from their ordinarily fast-moving lives…..

Slower pace a must

What the Lewinskis, both technology professionals closing in on their 50s, decided to do was hunt for a second home where they could leave the rapid-pace world behind and “actually breathe.”

After an exhausting, unfruitful three-year search that took the them to popular second-home spots in several Northeast states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire, a friend in Washington, D.C., suggested they try Deep Creek Lake in Maryland.

More here.

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Skiers will discover new terrain, equipment at many regional resorts

Sunday, November 13, 2011
By Lawrence Walsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Daniel Marsula/Post-Gazette illustration

New is the word for the 2011-12 snow-sports season at local and regional resorts.

A new owner at Peek’n Peak; new concessionaire at Ski Denton; new restructuring at Wisp; new terrain at Seven Springs and Hidden Valley; new lifts at Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge and Ski Sawmill; and new snow-grooming machines at Blue Knob, Snowshoe, Wisp, Holiday Valley and Kissing Bridge.

New restaurants at Snowshoe; new benefits for season passholders at Blue Knob, Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, Snowshoe, Whitetail and Wisp.

And new prices — slightly higher at most resorts and, at some places lower, such as the all-inclusive weekday packages at Hidden Valley and Wisp. You can get a lift ticket, lesson and rental equipment for $28 on Mondays and Tuesdays at Hidden Valley and $29 on Mondays at Wisp.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11317/1189041-287.stm#ixzz1e4CCHVum

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GC Commissioners Announce Lean Committee Appointments

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Nov. 10, 2011

The Garrett County commissioners announced yesterday the names of those appointed to their Lean Committee. To prepare for pending revenue shortfalls in the next three- to five-year budget cycles, the commissioners recently proposed this efficiency task force idea to find ways to save county government/taxpayers money.

“‘Lean’ seeks continuous improvement within an organization and is facilitated by a systematic approach to identify problems and achieving efficient solutions that in turn create better outcomes for employees and the constituents that they serve,” county administrator Monty Pagenhardt explained in August when the commissioners announced that a committee would be formed.

The members of the Lean Committee from Garrett County government are Mike Bittinger, Sheriff’s Office; Brian King, Public Utilities; Theresa Miller, Roads Department; Nathaniel Watkins, Department of Informational Technology; and Scott Weeks, Financial Services

The group’s community members are Bob Hoffmann, retired, United States Air Force; Steve Lantz, retired, banking executive; Gary Ruddell, Total Biz Fulfillment; Rebecca Sines, First United Bank and Trust; Joe Thomas. Phenix Technologies; and Bill Welch, Simon Pearce.

Committee members have been invited to attend the Western Maryland Lean Conference at Garrett College on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Garrett College. The keynote speaker for the daylong event is Jeff Fuchs, director of the Maryland World Class Consortia.

He will define “lean” and share ways in which it can be implemented in any organization. Topics will include “Lean in Action,” “Keys to Success,” and “Key Aspects of Continuous Improvement.”

More here.

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GC Commissioners Accepting Offers For Bloomington Elementary School

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Nov. 10, 2011

The Bloomington Elementary School building is available for purchase. The Garrett County commissioners said last week they would consider all “reasonable” offers for the 21,123-square-foot structure, which sits on 1.25 acres at the foot of Backbone Mountain.

The Garrett County Board of Education permanently closed the facility following the 2010-2011 school year because of funding issues. About 34 prekindergarten through fifth grade students attended the school last year. Bloomington area children in those grades now attend Yough Glades Elementary School.

The Garrett County Department of Purchasing recently invited the public to submit bids for the Bloomington school. Purchasing agent Brian Bowers told the county commissioners last Tuesday that the bid request fulfilled local guidelines about public notification, and the commissioners may now sell the property outright.

“There is a provision with-in the county code – that we’ve made our public notice obligation, notifying the public of the sale – if we do have an interested party after the fact, the board has the ability to negotiate with them privately,” Bowers told the commissioners.

He said three parties, including the Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department, had expressed some interest in the property during the bidding process.

The BVFD did not submit a bid, Bowers said, because of uncertainty with asbestos abatement, demolition costs, and other things of that nature.

“I believe their intended use was to tear down the school and use that [site]as a community type park/property, until they decided to build a fire station in the future,” Bowers said about the fire department.

He added that BVFD officials indicated they may still be interested in the property if a grant or some other type of financial assistance becomes available for the project.

More here.

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Month: November 2011

Real Estate: Why home prices won't bottom out

FireFly Farms Creamery & Market Limited Edition Gift Crate Samplers

Winter travel safety tips offered by State Highway Administration

Winter adventures in Maryland's mountains

Md. DNR investigating possible spread of invasive aquatic plant in Deep Creek Lake

‘Lean’ speaker at Garrett College

Deep Creek Lake, Md.: A spot outside the resort grid

Skiers will discover new terrain, equipment at many regional resorts

GC Commissioners Announce Lean Committee Appointments

GC Commissioners Accepting Offers For Bloomington Elementary School

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