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HART to take bids for site

Garrett rescue shelter phase I expected to cost $2.2M

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

MCHENRY — A Garrett County animal rescue shelter, HART for Animals, is accepting bids for phase I of construction for a state-of-the-art, 12,000-square-foot facility to be located on Bumble Bee Road.

Phase I of the Homeless Animal Rescue and Transport for Animals facility will consist of a veterinary clinic,  a boarding spa, a reception area and a small store.

The total cost of construction for phase I is an estimated $2.2 million with construction to be completed in midsummer, according to Michael Pellet, president of HART.

Phase II will consist of an adoption center and will begin once phase I is completed. The entire project is expected to be completed sometime this year, according to Pellet.

“It (the adoption center) is very important to the county. It will relieve pressure on the Garrett County Animal Shelter, which currently receives 1,200 to 1,500 (animals) a year but only has enough space for 40 animals,” said Pellet, who added that the project will create 35 jobs for the county. “HART provides education to the general public about the humane treatment of animals. Our goal is to improve the lives of domestic animals in the county.”

In 2011, HART held its groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of construction. The site has been cleared and the foundation for the veterinary clinic, reception area and boarding spa has been completed.

The veterinary clinic will provide a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for low-income individuals, and the boarding spa will contain a grooming area, according to Pellet.

The project is being done through fundraisers and grants. So far, close to $600,000 has been raised and a $1.6 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan has been received for overall construction of the project, according to Pellet. HART also received a $10,600 USDA grant and a $3,300 Economic Impact Initiative grant, according to a HART newsletter.

“One hundred percent of funds raised will go toward the building,” said Pellet.

Fundraising events include the Deep Creek Arts and Wine festival, which is the biggest fundraiser, and monthly poker tournaments and other activities, according to Pellet.

Money garnered from the operations at the facility, as well as money from continuing fundraisers, will go toward funding the adoption center. The adoption center will have the capacity to house 60 dogs, 30 puppies, 40 cats, plus multiple kittens, according to Pellet.

HART works with the Garrett County Animal Shelter to save the lives of homeless pets that would otherwise be euthanized.

To prevent the spread of disease, HART vaccinates all puppies and kittens received at the county shelter, according to the HART website.

Since its founding, HART has been transporting adoptable animals to animal shelters throughout the mid-Atlantic and on average has saved 600 animals per year from being euthanized, according to Pellet.

In November 2007, Garrett County commissioners agreed to donate the land on Bumble Bee Road, according to the HART website.

HART for Animals, which is nonprofit, was founded in 2003 by Caroline Robison and Candy DeGiovanni and in August of that year the IRS granted the organization its tax-exempt status.

Sealed bids for Phase I construction will be received by Pellet at the HART office located on 610 Foy Road until noon on March 5. Copies of contract documents for the project may be obtained at the office of Stoiber & Associates located on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C.

For more information on HART, visit www.hartforanimals.org.

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

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Jay Ferguson

Who I Am My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service! Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well. I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’. Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you. Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about! Honesty. Integrity. Results.

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