July 2012 – Page 2 – Jay's Real Estate Blog

Lynn Grimm Named 2012 Friend Of The Arts

Jul. 19, 2012

The Garrett County Arts Council announced that Lynn Grimm is the recipient of its annual Friend of the Arts award. Odette Lueck, president of the arts council, made the award presentation during the annual membership meeting and reception held at the Gallery Shop late last month. Lueck recognized Grimm for many years of dedicated work on behalf of community arts and presented her with a plaque and floral bouquet. The award honors individuals who demonstrate exemplary support for the arts in Garrett County.

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Recipients of this award influence the lifestyles and the quality of life in Garrett County through noteworthy contributions to local cultural development. Lueck noted that Grimm “steps up to the plate and inspires others to do likewise. She is incredibly organized, dedicated, and disciplined in everything she does.” Grimm has been a full time resident of Garrett County since 2004, at which time she became involved in the arts community. She has volunteered her time as a board member for Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, serves as the accompanist for the Garrett Choral Society, and has volunteered in various roles at Our Town Theatre. She currently serves as president of Mountain Laurel Garden Club. Grimm has had a long career of teaching piano. She is the director of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s handbell choir, and sings with the church’s choir as well. She takes the handbell choir on the road to perform at nursing homes throughout the county. She also plays hammered dulcimer and organized a group called Front Porch Pickers that met at her Oakland home (which she shares with her husband Stan) on a regular basis to share their love of traditional music. The Garrett County Arts Council has recognized a Friend of the Arts honoree each year since 1995. Pictured from left are Karen Reckner, executive director of the arts council, Grimm, and Lueck.

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!

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Over $170,000 In Heritage Area Grants Awarded To Support Local Tourism

Jul. 19, 2012

The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority recently awarded Garrett County’s Heritage Area four grants in support of heritage tourism projects and activities.

The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area, managed by the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, was awarded a $100,000 Heritage Area Management Grant and a $30,000 Heritage Area Marketing Grant. The Oakland Heritage Community Foundation Inc. was awarded a $31,772.50 grant for classroom improvements at the B&O Railroad Museum, and the Garrett County Historical Society was awarded a $13,000 grant for the exterior transportation history wall murals at the Garrett County Transportation Museum.

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

These four grants were part of 63 matching grants totaling $2,713,480 awarded to Maryland non-profits, local jurisdictions, and other heritage tourism organizations – including heritage, historic preservation, natural resources and educational organizations – by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). These grant funds support heritage tourism projects and activities that expand economic development and tourism-related job creation throughout the state. MHAA oversees Maryland’s system of 12 locally administered, state-certified heritage areas.

“Heritage areas are places to experience – see, hear and even taste – the authentic heritage of Maryland in a unique way that cannot be experienced anywhere else,” said a chamber spokesperson. “Stories of the people, the land, and the waters of Maryland are told in these unique places.”

Today, 21 Maryland counties and Baltimore City have state-certified heritage areas within their boundaries. Each of Maryland’s certified heritage areas is defined by a discrete focus or themes that make that place unique.

“These distinctive places exhibit tangible evidence of the area’s heritage in historic buildings and districts, archaeological sites, museums, parks, and natural landscapes, as well as traditional ways of life as revealed in food, music, and art,” said the spokesperson. “These tangible links not only draw visitors, but also encourage residents to recognize they have a special piece of the American story to treasure and share with others.”

Tourism generates jobs and revenue in Maryland. According to the chamber of commerce, one out of every 17 jobs in Maryland is in tourism, with tourism employment providing over $4 billion in wages and salaries. Visitors to Maryland spent over $13 billion, which generated over $531 million in direct tax revenue in all 23 counties and Baltimore City.

“The Maryland Heritage Area Program’s targeted investments help preserve the best of Maryland’s historic sites and towns, unspoiled natural landscapes, and enduring traditions, and in doing so create more livable and economically sustainable communities,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I congratulate Maryland’s 12 certified heritage areas and their tourism partners on these awards that will develop and market visitor destinations, support businesses, non-profits, and local jurisdictions engaged in heritage tourism, and help keep Maryland smart, green, and growing.”

MHAA has invested over $15.5 million into 334 projects throughout Maryland’s 12 certified heritage areas under the O’Malley-Brown administration. Governor O’Malley has supported funding for this program, said the spokesperson. because knowing that heritage tourism is a proven economic engine and a tool for preserving Maryland’s natural, historic, and cultural legacy.

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

June 2012 Real Estate Market Update – Residential

33 properties sold in June 2012. That’s 8 more sales than last June, which is great! I had mentioned previously in other blog posts that this is the most active real estate market since 2008. Well, we are now on a better pace – best year-to-date since 2007. Lakefront prices are at their most affordable prices since 2004. All in all, it’s been a great year so far.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the stats:

There are 62 homes under contract right now (57 last month).

The average list vs. ORIGINAL sales price was 86.69% – (last month 84.91%).

The ADJUSTED list vs sale price was 92.58 (last month 88.33%).

The current # of active/for sale listings in MRIS (minus timeshares) is 685, up from last months 662. We have a 20.76 month supply of homes available (minus timeshares) based solely on the June sales numbers – that’s as low as i remember it for quite some time!

Random observations:

•6 ‘newer’ homes sold in June (5 years old or less)

•It appears that 20 or so of these sales were vacation homes

•18 homes sold at/under $300,000 (last month was 12)

•21 homes sold under $400,000 (last month 15)

•1 homes sold over $ 1 million (0 last month – 1931 Lake Shore Dr sold for $1.849)

•4 home(s) sold for higher than full price or at full price (last month was 2)

•One house sold for 57.58% of asking price – 8956 Oakland Sang Run Rd

•The oldest home that sold was 58 yrs old (72 Mels Rd)

•The average age of the homes that sold was 27 years (33 last month)

•4 condo/townhouse/fractional properties sold (3 last month)

Here are the statistical breakdowns:

Average Sale Price: $364,821 (last month $312,571)

Average Days on Market: 252/283 (last month 147/224) (days on market with current broker/total days on market)

—

877-563-5350 – toll free

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Garrett County school board member resigns

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Garrett County commissioners are reviewing a list of potential candidates following the resignation of Board of Education vice president Rodney Durst. The reason behind the resignation was unclear Tuesday night.

“Rodney Durst has submitted his resignation effective now,” Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator, said during a Tuesday meeting of the Board of Commissioners. “Commissioners are taking the names of people who submitted interest back when Jim (Raley) resigned.” Raley resigned his seat as a member-at-large in 2010.

Durst’s seat will be filled by a resident from District 3. Pagenhardt and Carol Riley-Alexander, executive assistant to the commissioners, will contact potential candidates today to see if they are still interested. The term expires in December 2014.

“There have also been other people that have submitted their names and we will take those into consideration also,” said Pagenhardt. Anybody else who is interested should submit a letter of interest to the commissioners for that vacancy.”

The Board of Education made a decision in April to close Kitzmiller and Dennett Road elementary schools. During an April meeting, Durst indicated his opposition to closing the schools.

“… I’m afraid if we close the schools, even if they come through with twice the money, they won’t open back up,” he said. “I will not be able to vote to close schools tonight.”

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners voted to hold a public hearing on their right to opt out of a law that requires sprinkler systems for townhouses and one- and two-family dwellings.

“Local governments can opt out until the next cycle of building codes come into play, which is in 2015,” said John Nelson, director of the Department of Planning and Land Development.

Nelson said the Department of Permits and Inspections Divisions was notified by the Maryland Codes of Administration of the modification to the residential sprinkler law. The public hearing will be held during the Aug. 21 commission meeting.

When the law had been discussed at a June commission meeting the department of planning was under the impression that all jurisdictions would have to adopt the law by Oct 1, according to Nelson.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Back on the market! $149,900 282 Greenfield Ln GA

282 GREENFIELD LN
SWANTON, MD 21561

New roof! Updated 3BR/2BA home on nearly 2 acres of land with a small stream in the back yard, overlooking pasture land. 3 garage stalls – 1 attached & 2 stalls in a detached garage offer plenty of storage. Other features: cedar siding, native stone, fireplace, 2nd living room, several heating sources, newer kitchen cabinets & flooring. 3 parcels sold together. Deep Creek Lake is around the corner

Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.

Listing # GA7572396
$149,900

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

A Very Involved Father

The male oriole is a busy sort, quite active in the life of his offspring. A male is shown above as he feeds grape jelly to his youngster. The orioles are active throughout the spring and early summer, but will soon be moving on.

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

They are attracted to brightly colored, sweet foods, such as orange slices and jelly. In early spring, they gather bits of string to make their unusual hanging nests. Their song is a distinctive alto sound, with varying lengths. These birds were photographed in an Oakland yard by Lisa Rook, an active birder and photographer.

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Redtail Hawk Hits The Courts

Jul. 12, 2012

“Tennis, anyone?” might be the question that was on the mind of this wayward redtail hawk that was perched on one of the benches at the Mountain Lake Park Tennis Club courts on Monday. The bird had apparently sustained some kind of injury to its wing and was having difficulty flying.

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

MLP town secretary Judy Paugh contacted officials from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who came to the courts, successfully corralled the bird, and have sent it to rehabilitation experts who will attempt to nurse it back to health before returning it to the wild. Photo courtesy
of Leon Cardiff.

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Panel hears testimony on septic system regulations

Written by
Brian Witte
Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS — Regulations requiring new Maryland construction to use the best technology in septic systems would help clean up the Chesapeake Bay, supporters told lawmakers Tuesday, but critics said the proposal by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration is a back-door effort to implement a plan already rejected by the Legislature.

Robert Summers, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, told members of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review that the regulations are part of an effort to reduce nitrogen released into the polluted bay by 11.6 million pounds by 2026. Summers said the septics law, combined with the regulation, will equal a reduction in nitrogen produced by about 31,000 households.

“So each year, this will reduce the equivalent of the discharge of nitrogen from the city of Cambridge,” Summers told the panel.

He noted the western half of Garrett County in western Maryland and a part of Cecil County will be exempt from the regulations.

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Inmate labor saves money, Garrett County sheriff reports

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley has reported more than $40,000 in savings to the county this year through the new Inmate Work Program that began in January.

Corley told the county commissioners at last week’s public meeting that inmates have provided 5,395 hours of labor valued at $7.50 an hour for a savings of $40,462 to the county, according to a county news release. “This is huge,” Corley said.

Commission chairman James Raley thanked Corley for putting the program together. The inmates have provided maintenance services in county communities and are assigned to 28 sites from garbage collection to water treatment facilities.

Corley said the program has provided unskilled labor without cost to 30 county properties, municipalities and nonprofit agencies. His office used St. Mary’s County Detention Center as a blueprint for Garrett County’s plan. The inmates perform their duties under supervision of one full-time sheriff’s office employee.

“There’s no question it’s a good program,” said Mountain Lake Park Mayor Leo Martin, whose town was one of the first municipalities to use the free labor. “Inmates have done a lit bit of everything, from mowing and trimming grass to building walls. The inmates we’ve had working have good attitudes with good work ethics. They like getting outdoors and we haven’t had any problems with anyone. We used to provide inmates lunch, but now the sheriff’s office even packs their lunch.”

Corley said a Mountain Lake Park employee picks up an inmate five days a week to work with town employees and that Grantsville recently picked up inmates for storm cleanup.

The inmates also have mowed and cleared debris from 1.7 miles of trails at Adventure Sports Center International and have worked at the Oakland Cemetery, Youth Little League fields at Broadford Park and the Garrett County Visitors Center in McHenry, according to the release.

“If an inmate signs up for the program and does a good job, they can earn up to five days a month off their sentence,” said Corley. The program does not include sex offenders or violent criminals and inmates have to be sentenced for a maximum of 18 months, according to Corley. The detention center currently houses 73 inmates. County purchases have included three mowers and gasoline. “Next year, I think we’ll be able to take care of all county mowing contracts, and in the winter, do snow removal,” Corley said.

Agencies interested in participating in the program may call 301-334-1917.

More here

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Deep Creek vacation home is dream of a lifetime

By Marie Marciano Gullard, Special to The Baltimore Sun

10:18 a.m. EDT, July 13, 2012
Hanging on the wall of Mike and Jean Tumbarello’s new retreat at Deep Creek Lake is an old framed greeting card with a primitive drawing of a brown log cabin nestled among trees aglow with autumn colors. The scene is rendered in crayon with a sentiment that reads, in part: “Jean, here’s our cottage in the country. I wish I were in it with you right now. …”

“The card was sent before we married — probably 1974, when we were dating in college, when you actually had to use snail mail,” Jean Tumbarello recalled.

While her husband’s artwork hasn’t improved that much over the ensuing years, he was better at his promise of a place in the country. What the couple built together — after 34 years of marriage — is a 4,000-square-foot Arts & Crafts-style bungalow with an interior that could be described as a “mini lodge.”

“We got our house as an anchor for our dream life,” said Jean Tumbarello, who, together with her husband, will move out of their rented condo in Ellicott City and embark on their new life as full-time residents of Deep Creek Lake.

More here.

—

877-563-5350 – toll free —

—

Search Homes/Lots for Sale

Month: July 2012

Lynn Grimm Named 2012 Friend Of The Arts

Over $170,000 In Heritage Area Grants Awarded To Support Local Tourism

June 2012 Real Estate Market Update – Residential

Garrett County school board member resigns

Back on the market! $149,900 282 Greenfield Ln GA

A Very Involved Father

Redtail Hawk Hits The Courts

Panel hears testimony on septic system regulations

Inmate labor saves money, Garrett County sheriff reports

Deep Creek vacation home is dream of a lifetime

My Location

Deep Creek Media

Stay Connected