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ARC Awards Grant To Study Tourism At Deep Creek Lake

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Sep. 23, 2010

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $20,000 grant to Garrett County to conduct a study of tourism at Deep Creek Lake, allowing local residents, businesses, and government to better plan for future development in the area, according to U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin. In addition to ARC funds, local sources will provide $20,000.

“This federal funding will help Garrett County boost its tourism and its economy,” Mikulski said. “This funding is a federal investment in jobs today and jobs tomorrow in western Maryland. I’m so proud that Garrett County will be able to use these funds to continue to develop and grow.”

The ARC funds will be used to study lake visitors by demographic and season, analyze second home/rental property revenues, and define spending by category and season at lake-area businesses. It is anticipated that the information will provide a better understanding of the lake’s economic importance and provide a framework for future allocations to protect and preserve this environmental asset.

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!

Finished! What a Feeling!


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Sep. 23, 2010

Local athlete Elizabeth Green is pictured as she reaches the ultimate goal in the SavageMan Triathlon — crossing the finish line. Hundreds of runners, swimmers, bikers, and those who do all three came across the line, completing what Triathlete magazine has crowned the hardest triathlon in the world. The SavageMan Festival took place over the weekend, with the 30.0 race held on Saturday and the grueling 70.0 on Sunday. The competition began and concluded in Deep Creek Lake State Park. The results and multiple photographs can be viewed online at savagemantri.org. Greg Safko, director of the race and president of the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, the recipient of the race proceeds, said this year’s event was “an incredible race in a multitude of perspectives — from registration of 1,100+ athletes, many drawn to western Maryland for the first time to experience the beauty and savage challenge — to the hundreds of highly valued and praised volunteers from within the communities hosting athlete guests from throughout the country and the globe.” He said the fundraising for the melanoma foundation “far exceeded prior years.” See additional pictures in today’s issue, and at the festival site located at www.savagemantri.org Photo by C. Kellyann Green.

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!

Additional Funding Awarded To Cherry Glade Road Proj.

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Sep. 23, 2010

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded an additional $384,000 to Garrett County to complete the construction of the Cherry Glade Access Road in Oakland, Senators Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin announced Tuesday.

The new road will provide improved access to a new commercial site, ease congestion, and create new jobs, according to Mikulski.

“Transportation infrastructure is critical to future economic growth of a region,” said Cardin. “This grant will allow Garrett County to complete the Cherry Glade Access Road so that the new commercial development will be fully operational, providing jobs for area residents.”

The Maryland State Highway Administration will administer the project, and the Federal Highway Administration will serve as the basic federal agency. In addition to ARC funds, Garrett County will provide $96,000 toward the $480,000 project.

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!

Savageman Triathlon Videos from Sunday

I wanted to blog about the Savageman Triathlon from last Sunday before the week got away from me! My wife Jessica and my son, Noah, and I arrived at the top of Miller Rd (near Jennings) at about 10am to volunteer at the Killer Miller Hill aid station. Mike Kennedy & Marcia Warnick were already hard at work setting up the tent and filling water bottles with HEED (protein water) for the triathlon bikers.
The weather was perfect; sunny and warm. We had already seen some of the bikers riding down Mellinger Rd to Westernport. The bike course was something like 56 miles and the entire back-end of the race was UP Savage Mountain. I couldn’t believe how steep the hills were, but one by one the bikers started peddling by. Some took water, some took HEED, others took gel and salt tabs, but they all kept pushing past the aid station. It was really impressive to see these athletes climbing up hills ranging from 20-25% grade. Scott Lohr brought a sound system and blasted music throughout the day and it seemed to pump the bikers up. One biker even asked Scott for a beer as he rode through – and he got it 🙂 Nancy Jo Fratz did a great job coordinating the volunteers, and we had a lot more friends show up to pitch in.
We had several Railey Realty agents & friends/family participating in the race. Jimmy Railey, Russell Bounds, Steve & Kellyann Green, Audrey Kennedy and Jesse Shimrock to name a few. One of the videos below is of Audrey Kennedy coming up the hill, with her two boys & husband Mike cheering her on.
If you get a chance to volunteer next year or just watch the race, definitely participate. It’s a great way to spend a fall day in Garrett County and see some sights that you may not have seen before. The event brings lot of people and positive recognition to the area, which is great for everyone, and this race through our ‘hills and lakes’ is recognized as one of the toughest in the WORLD!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/SkXyrYu-Bew?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00

http://www.youtube.com/v/B7iBUZSjstE?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00

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!

DeepCreekHospitality.com webcam courtesy Railey Realty


I was checking on a few items early this morning on the web and I and hit the DeepCreekHospitality.com webcam for this amazing morning shot at the lake. The webcam is at the Creamery and is there courtesy of Railey Realty and Railey Mountain Lake Vacations.

Keep an eye out – the DeepCreekHospitality website is under new management and will be changing drastically over the coming weeks. It is one of the ‘Top 10’ websites at Deep Creek Lake and the web traffic is amazing. A great place to advertise your business!

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!

Youghiogheny corridor is a treasure for all

To the Editor:
Cumberland Times-News Fri Sep 24, 2010, 08:00 AM EDT

— In regard to the recent article by Times-News reporter Megan Miller titled “Whitewater Woes in Friendsville,” I would like to point out some missed points in both the original article and the response by Matt Ackerman.

First of all, I am a resident of Winchester, Va., but have a vacation home in Garrett County primarily due its proximity to whitewater recreation. This area (Western Maryland, northern West Virginia and western Pennsylvania) is known not only nationwide, but also worldwide as one of the most desirable locations to visit and live for whitewater enthusiasts. With the variety of rivers from the mild Middle Youghigheney to the technical Blackwater to the challenging Upper Youghiogheney to the powerful Cheat to the great training grounds of ASCI (Adventure Sport Center International) this area has rivers and training facilities for every type paddler and should embrace the tourism or other areas such as central West Virginia or western North Carolina will claim those dollars.

I understand the frustration of the few bad apples who cause problems in town and have personally called out several on occasion. Undressing in a small town is simply unacceptable, especially when Wilderness Voyagers allows free use of their changing rooms at the take-out. In addition, trespassing and not respecting the locals’ property is just plain stupid. Again, these actions are taken by a very small minority.

When you look at the demographics of those kayaking the Upper Yough, it becomes very clear that this is an older, more experienced crowd than you will find on many other rivers. With older paddlers comes, in most instances, higher income and the ability to have a greater positive impact on the local economy. Many of these boaters also bring their families and rent, or buy, local cabins in the Deep Creek area so the kids can play while Mom and Dad do as well.

Focusing in on the economic impact of the rafting companies, Vernon Sines states that local businesses do not see an economic impact and that outfitters do not buy from local stores. This is simply not true. Does he think that the rafting companies (Roger at Precision Rafting for instance … himself a local resident) go out of their way to buy all of their supplies from far away locations? No, they buy groceries where he buys his groceries.

I do agree, however, that Garrett County should split the $20,000 amusement tax with Friendsville at the very least. The only negative impact the boating has on Garrett County would be an increase in road use from the put-in to the take-out.

The boater put-in is entirely funded and maintained by American Whitewater and is in no way affiliated with or funded by Garrett County. Friendsville, on the other hand, has to absorb all of the cars, traffic and hassle with the only impact being their smaller amount paid — it must be pointed out — on a voluntary basis from the outfitters (rafting companies).

Therefore, the real focus for Friendsville should be on obtaining a large portion, if not all, of the Garrett County amusement tax instead of looking the gift horse of whitewater recreation in the mouth. The Yough corridor is a treasure for fishermen, boaters, hikers (the train leading up the river from Friendsville would be an awesome rails to trails project!), and hunters.

Let’s all work together to make Friendsville not only a great place to live for the full-time residents, but also a world renowned place to visit for outdoor enthusiasts.

Mark Hoyle

Oakland and

Winchester, Va.

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!

Golfing at Wisp Resort on a Sunny Fall Day

From Golfing at Wisp Resort

I’m not a good golfer – at all. But I do enjoy spending time on a golf course checking out the sights & scenery. I had an opportunity to golf yesterday at the Wisp Resort course with two of my good friends, courtesy of Team One in Oakland. Aaron Newcomb & Steve Shaffer are both salesmen at Team One, and they just combined efforts to sell my wife a newer GMC Envoy last month. If you are in the market for a vehicle, check with Aaron or Steve at Team One – they gave us a more than fair trade allowance on our old vehicle and a great deal on the new one. The service department is great, too – John always takes good care of us!
I was happy to get the invite and we hit the course at about 11am. It was a bit crowded, but we enjoyed the time outdoors & the excellent autumn weather. They’re both much better golfers than me, so I spent most of my time exploring the rough, trying to find my ball. I made it through 8 holes before I finally lost it in the water…
The new(er) holes at Fantasy Valley were a lot of fun. We were teeing off into the wind coming up the mountain from the quarry. Overall, as you can see, a beautiful golf course and a great way to spend an otherwise quiet day in the fall in Garrett County & at Deep Creek Lake!
Check out the photos:
I have to throw a shot out to Jaime, who drives the snack/beer cart. She was kind enough to drive back to DC’s Steakhouse and have them make a special turkey wrap (dried fruits & fresh veggies) for lunch – and it was INCREDIBLE!
Steve was gracious enough to pose for an action shot of his ‘Tiger Woods-like’ swing.
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!

The United Nations has designated the first Monday in October as annual World Habitat Day.

On Oct. 4, 2010, in recognition of World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity will raise awareness of the need for improved shelter and highlight Habitat’s priorities: the worldwide connection between human health and housing, and, in the United States, neighborhood revitalization. These themes echo the United Nations’ chosen theme for 2010 for events in the host city of Shanghai, China and the rest of the world: “Better City, Better Life.”

Every week, more than a million people are born in, or move to, cities in the developing world. As a result, the urban population of developing countries will double from 2 billion to 4 billion in the next 30 years. (Kissick, et al: 2006)

By the year 2030, an additional 3 billion people, about 40 percent of the world’s population, will need access to housing. This translates into a demand for 96,150 new affordable units every day and 4,000 every hour. (UN-HABITAT: 2005)

Habitat for Humanity hopes that by raising awareness and advocating for universal decent housing we can dismantle and alter the systems that allow for poverty housing and make an affordable, decent place to live a reality for all.

Antoinette Kumwenda was able to obtain a Habitat home improvement loan that provided iron sheets for her roof.

Habitat for Humanity World Habitat Day events

Around the world, many Habitat for Humanity local offices have organized World Habitat Day events. Habitat for Humanity’s 27th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is a World Habitat Day event this year. It will be held Oct. 4 – 8 in six cities in the United States. Held in a different location each year, Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing. This year, the Carters will work alongside volunteers in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. to build, rehabilitate and improve 86 homes.

Health and housing

Habitat’s World Habitat Day efforts will focus on the link between housing and health, for example, through the release of the 2011 Shelter Report, which focuses on the need for more research on the connections between healthy homes and healthy families around the world.

Neighborhood revitalization

In the United States, Habitat for Humanity will also focus on neighborhood revitalization. In a broad effort to help communities fulfill their aspirations, Habitat will expand its housing programs to include repairing more homes, rehabbing more vacant homes, and improving the energy-efficiency of homes. Habitat will work with partners to provide holistic improvements in a community.

What can you do for World Habitat Day?

Ask leaders in Washington: What will you build?

In recognition of World Habitat Day, Habitat for Humanity is collecting photos to display in a Photo Wall. Submit your photo to remind decision makers in Washington, D.C., to make housing a priority.

Getting involved is easy. All supporters need to do is:

1. Write “What will you build?” on a piece of paper.
2. Take a photo holding the message.
3. Upload the picture to Habitat’s Photo Wall.
4. Share the photo with friends and family.

To participate or learn more, click here. Questions can be sent to

worldhabitatday@habitat.org The most important thing you can do is take action! Below are three common ways that people take action in their community.

Advocate
In addition to building homes in partnership with people in need, Habitat advocates to address the causes of poverty housing. Advocacy activities always include a specific request, such as asking supporters to sign a petition, send a message to an elected official or take part in a rally.

Fundraise
World Habitat Day is a great way to raise funds for Habitat in your area. A fundraiser can help educate the public and generate publicity for nonprofit organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

Educate
Organize a public awareness event for World Habitat Day 2010 that not only highlights the need for affordable housing in your own community, but also discusses the need for improved shelter for billions of people around the world.

Housing facts

Housing improves health

The number of low-income families who lack safe and affordable housing is related to the number of children who suffer from asthma, viral infections, anemia, stunted growth and other health problems. About 21,000 children have stunted growth attributable to the lack of stable housing; 10,000 children between the ages of 4 and 9 are hospitalized for asthma attacks each year because of cockroach infestation at home; and more than 180 children die each year in house fires attributable to faulty heating and electrical equipment. (Sandel, et al: 1999)
Children younger than 5 living in Habitat for Humanity houses in Malawi showed a 44 percent reduction in malaria, respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases compared with children living in traditional houses.
Children in poor housing have increased risk of viral or bacterial infections and a greater chance of suffering mental health and behavioral problems. (Harker: 2006)
Housing deprivation leads to an average of 25 percent greater risk of disability or severe ill health across a person’s life span. Those who suffer housing deprivation as children are more likely to suffer ill health in adulthood, even if they live in non-deprived conditions later in life. (Marsh, et al.: 2000)

Housing has a positive impact on children

Children of homeowners are more likely to stay in school (by 7 to 9 percent), and daughters of homeowners are less likely to have children by age 18 (by 2 to 4 percent). (Green and White: 1996)
Owning a home leads to a higher-quality home environment, improved test scores in children (9 percent in math and 7 percent in reading), and reduced behavioral problems (by 3 percent). (Haurin, Parcel, and Haurin: 2002)
Children who live in poor housing have lower educational attainment and a greater likelihood of being impoverished and unemployed as adults. (Harker: 2006)

Housing strengthens communities

Homeowners are more likely to know their U.S. representative (by 10 percent) and school board head by name (by 9 percent), and are more likely to vote in local elections (by 15 percent) and work to solve local problems (by 6 percent). (DiPasquale and Glaeser: 1998)
Homeowners are more likely to be satisfied with their homes and neighborhoods, and are more likely to volunteer in civic and political activities. (Rohe, Van Zandt, and McCarthy: 2000)
Resident ownership is strongly related to better building security and quality, and to lower levels of crime. (Saegert and Winkel: 1998)

http://www.youtube.com/v/2UEp1ZNREzw?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00

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!

PACE to tackle highway funding needs

Cumberland Times-News Thu Sep 23, 2010, 08:00 AM EDT

— Municipal and county governments are picking up an ally in their quest to have the state restore some of the highway user revenue that has been taken away over the last couple of years.

Organizers of the annual Mountain Maryland PACE reception and legislative breakfast will use the loss of road funding as a major talking point when the event is held in Annapolis this coming January.

As the state has coped with budget shortfalls, cuts to local government funding have been common. Among the hardest hit funding sector has been highway funding.

David Moe, PACE committee co-chairman, said the No. 1 priority for elected officials and business professionals in Western Maryland should be to convince lawmakers to restore highway user revenue funds. “The cut in highway user funds has been devastating for all municipalities,” Moe said. “It just cannot continue.”

For 35 years, a PACE reception (the acronym stands for Positive Attitudes Change Everything) has been held in Maryland’s capital to draw attention to the far western part of the state and to generate ideas on how to help improve economic development and quality of life here.

The 2011 reception will be held Jan. 27 and 28 and again will be a combined effort of Allegany and Garrett county leaders. The event is sponsored by the Cumberland-Allegany County Industrial Foundation and the Garrett County Development Corp.

PACE features a number of exhibits by local businesses and organizations and is attended by numerous many General Assembly members, aides, state government officials and lobbyists each year. “The idea is to get state government to remember Western Maryland doesn’t end at Frederick,” Moe commented.

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!

Redirected highway user revenue funds focus of PACE committee

Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News Wed Sep 22, 2010, 10:04 AM EDT

9/22 — CUMBERLAND — Perhaps for the first time in a long time, organizers of the annual Mountain Maryland PACE reception and legislative breakfast in Annapolis have latched on to a talking point on which jurisdictions across Maryland can agree.

The No. 1 priority for elected officials and business professionals alike, said PACE committee co-chairman David Moe, is to convince lawmakers to restore highway user revenue funds, which have been taken by Gov. Martin O’Malley to shore up the state’s budget.

Moe said the message of the 35th annual event, scheduled for Jan. 27 and 28, will convey in part how leaders in Garrett and Allegany counties have struggled to cope with the state budget cuts to local governments.

“The cut in highway user funds has been devastating for all municipalities,” Moe said. “It just cannot continue.”

More than a dozen PACE Committee members met Sept. 15 at Penn Alps Restaurant in Grantsville to begin planning for the 2011 event.

Other talking points are likely to include ensuring that funding of teacher pensions remains a state obligation — and is not shifted to Maryland counties — as well as Garrett County’s new strategic plan that is about to be published.

At the committee’s Sept. 29 meeting at the same location, Moe said this year’s theme should be finalized.

In January 2010, the theme was “Think Green, Think Mountain Maryland.” So far, 21 possible themes are being considered for the next PACE. Options include “The Summit of Success,” “Back to the Future,” A Place to Do Business” and “Getting There From Here.” 

“It’s always a challenge to come up with something that’s unique,” Moe said. “The idea is to get state government to remember Western Maryland doesn’t end at Frederick.”

He said the theme does not necessarily have to incorporate the services and offerings of displayers, which often range from utility companies, defense contractors, tourism-related operations and higher education.

Attendance in 2010 was down by a little more than one-third, Moe said. However, the number of displayers and sponsorship dollars both were up.

PACE is a joint effort between the Cumberland-Allegany County Industrial Foundation and the Garrett Development Corp.

Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com

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!