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Through portrayal of Marylander, actress will revive War of 1812, its importance

Garrett County youngsters will attend performances Friday

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area in Garrett County and Garrett Lakes Arts Festival will present a Star Spangled 200-sponsored event, Maryland in the War of 1812 — A Living History Event.

The project focuses on bringing the commemoration of the War of 1812 to Garrett County middle school students and also provides opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in Maryland’s Star Spangled 200 activities. The project is made possible by the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

Award-winning actress and Smithsonian scholar Mary Ann Jung, playing Rosalie Stier Calvert, will provide an interactive presentation. The performance will  explain the importance of the War of 1812 and how that era affected the newly independent United States of America.

On Friday, performances will be held at Garrett College for fourth-, fifth- and eighth-grade Garrett County students.

Rosalie Stier married George Calvert in 1799 and became mistress of his plantation, Mount Albion. When her father died, he left his plantation in Bladensburg, Riversdale Plantation, to her — not her husband, which was the custom. Participants will learn what it meant to be in charge of two growing plantations in early 1800s Maryland.

Audience members will become the British versus the Americans to better understand the important war and relive the dramatic Battle of Bladensburg — and find out how close it came to Calvert’s beloved Riversdale. “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key, who married Calvert’s friend Polly, will be included in the performance.

Educational resources re-lating to the war will be purchased for middle school teachers, including books, videos and a traveling trunk, created by the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. The trunk focuses on life during the war for all Marylanders and contains 11 lesson plans and many hands-on objects, including flint and steel kits, period clothing and games, and books.

The Maryland in the War of 1812 — A Living History Event will be the grand finale for the project. The free celebration, scheduled for May 17-18 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, will include War of 1812 speakers and re-enactors; period music performed by musicians and singers in period garb; and displays and education information, including a U.S. Navy display covering its involvement with the War of 1812. Event hours are 5 to 8 p.m. May 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18.

More information is available online at www.visitdeepcreek.com or by calling 888-387-5237.

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Land Purchases Would Expand Md. State Forests

Posted: Apr 03, 2013 8:42 AM EDT

OAKLAND, Md. (AP)- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is considering land purchases that would add about 600 acres to state forests in Garrett County.

Land conservation specialist John Braskey said Tuesday that the three proposed purchases may come before the state Board of Public Works for final approval this summer or fall.

The Garrett County Commissioners signed off on the offers Tuesday.

The commissioners’ meeting minutes indicate that a parcel owned by Mountain Maryland Minerals LLC would add about 315 acres to the Potomac State Forest near Altamont. It’s appraised at $615,000.

Two other parcels held by individuals would add a total of 287 acres to the Savage River State Forest. They include a 181-acre parcel near Grantsville appraised at $405,000. The price of the smaller parcel is under negotiation.

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Oakland Water Meter Project To Begin On Tuesday

Mar. 28, 2013

Mayor Peggy Jamison has announced that Oakland has received a grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment that will partially fund new “radio read” or drive by” water meters. This project is expected to begin on Tuesday, April 2, and continue through July.

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“It will be a long process, but should eliminate the need to estimate water readings,” the mayor wrote in a letter to Oakland water customers.

A crew from Vanguard Utility Services Inc. will be replacing and working around Oakland water meters over the next couple of months.

“Someone from the crew may be knocking on your door to notify you of the proposed replacement,” Jamison noted in the letter. “They will be working Monday through Saturday in most cases. Feel free to ask them for identification, which will show that they are working for Vanguard to change meters.

“For those of you who still have a water meter in your basement or home, please realize that the contractor will need to be able to access your meter in order to complete the replacement, and may contact you to make an appointment to complete the work.”

Jamison said the work may take a day or two to complete, depending on where a meter is located and how difficult the replacement is to finish.

“Every effort will be made to limit the time you may be without water for the replacement to an hour or so,” the mayor said. “When the meter is replaced, you will be notified, and you may be given specific instructions, such as ‘Let your water run for a few minutes’ in order to clear out any dirt or debris which may have accumulated in the water line.”

Additional information about the project is outlined in Jamison’s letter to customers.

Persons who have questions about the work may call Oakland City Hall at 301-334-2691.

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