Local reps take case for 219 to governor's office
By KATIE WALKER Daily American Staff Writer
11:23 p.m. EDT, April 11, 2012
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Representatives from three counties met with Gov. Tom Corbett’s staff Wednesday to discuss the progress of completing Route 219 from Meyersdale to Somerset.
Kathleen Duffy Bruder, deputy chief of staff to Corbett, Jim Ritzman, deputy secretary for planning for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and county commissioners from Somerset, Cambria and Garrett County, Md., attended the meeting. Staff from the offices of state Sens. John Wozniak and Richard Kasunic attended as well as representatives from the North/South Appalachian Highway Coalition.
“We were making our case, as we try to do all the time to get 219 built,” Glenn Miller, an executive committee member of Continental 1, said.
The Continental 1 corridor is a proposed 1,500-mile direct route from Toronto to Miami intended to develop business growth and faster, safer travel. The organization’s current goal is to complete Route 219 from New York through Pennsylvania.
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!
SHA cleaning, painting 8 Garrett bridges
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
GRANTSVILLE — The Maryland State Highway Administration has begun a project to clean and paint eight bridges in Garrett County.
Most work will occur below the bridges; however, daytime single-lane closures could happen Mondays through Thursdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Fridays from 6 a.m. to noon. SHA will provide variable message signs, drums and arrow boards to guide motorists through the work zone. The projects should be completed by fall, weather permitting.
Titan Industries of Baltimore was awarded the $1.2 million contract to work at the following locations.
• State Route 38 over the North Branch of the Potomac River in Kitzmiller.
• Water Street over the Youghiogheny River in Friendsville.
• East and westbound spans of Interstate 68 over Water Street and the Youghiogheny River.
• Frost Road over I-68 near Grantsville.
• U.S. Route 219 over I-68 in Grantsville.
• East and westbound spans of I-68/U.S. 219 over Shade Hollow Road in Grantsville.
Maryland now features free traveler information by calling 511 or 855-GOMD511 or go to www.md511.org. Questions about the bridge projects may be directed to SHA’s District 6 Office at 301-729-8400 or 800-760-7138.
SHA recently announced road work and bridge projects in Allegany County as well with a $3.3 million contract for improvements at the U.S. Route 220/I-68 interchange. SHA will spend $879,000 for bridge paintings in the county and $850,000 to upgrade traffic barriers in both Allegany and Garrett counties.
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!
Drilling vs. Renewables - Md. Debate Over Energy Mirrors National Fight
Fracking is on hold and offshore wind legislation failed to pass.
By Ellen Stodola
April 13, 2012
ANNAPOLIS – Republicans and Democrats are at odds in the General Assembly over whether Maryland should pursue offshore wind or natural gas fracking as a way to improve the state’s energy output.
Neither option has been approved, with offshore wind failing to pass in the General Assembly for the second year in a row, and fracking on hold while a commission studies environmental and health concerns.
The debate ultimately breaks down to many Republicans pushing for the cheaper, more immediate drilling solution, while many Democrats argue for the greener, more long-term answer to the question of what Maryland’s energy future will look like.
It’s a Maryland-sized version of the national battle, between those who favor “drill baby drill,” mostly Republicans, and those who favor renewable energy sources, mostly Democrats.
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!
General Assembly 2012: Winners/Losers
Same-sex marriage finally passes; Currie punished with censure
by Gazette Staff
The Maryland General Assembly went out with a whimper Monday, capping off what observers say was one of the busiest, most unpredictable sessions in recent memory.
Lawmakers adjourned Sine Die without passing a tax plan to balance the state’s $36 billion budget.
The failure to approve a tax package, which budget leaders blessed around 8 p.m., triggers a so-called doomsday budget, which includes $512 million in cuts to education, libraries, public safety and numerous other programs across the state.
Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has said he will not call a special session without assurance that there won’t be another stalemate.
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!
Senate approves doubling of flush tax for most of state
Areas not in Chesapeake, coastal watersheds exempted from increase
by Danielle E. Gaines, Staff Writer
The Maryland Senate approved on Saturday a bill that would double the flat-rate flush tax on water and sewer bills for most state residents.
The measure is one of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s (D) legislative priorities for the year….
…In a last-minute change, the Senate approved an amendment from Sen. George C. Edwards (R-Dist. 1) of Grantsville that would exempt any properties not located in the Chesapeake or coastal watersheds from paying the increased tax.
Those areas the westernmost portion of Garrett County and possibly some areas on the shore that drain directly into the Atlantic Ocean would continue to pay the $30 annual fee.
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!
March 2012 Market Update - Residential
20 properties sold in March 2012, up 4 from last month. Last year there were 22 homes that sold in March.
Let’s take a look at the rest of the stats:
There are 44 homes under contract right now (48 last month).
The average list vs. ORIGINAL sales price was 77.80% – (last month 82.16%).
The ADJUSTED list vs sale price was 90.58 (last month 89.82%).
The current # of active/for sale listings in MRIS (minus timeshares) is 591, up from last months 575. We have a 29.55 month supply of homes available (minus timeshares) based solely on the March sales numbers.
Random observations:
•5 ‘newer’ homes sold in March (5 years old or less)
•It appears that 15 or so of these sales were vacation homes
•11 homes sold under $300,000 (last month was 8)
•15 homes sold under $400,000 (last month 12)
•0 homes sold over $ 1 million (0 last month)
•3 homes sold for higher than full price or at full price (last month was 0)
•One house sold for 48.82% of asking price – 131 Mountain Overlook Ct #9
•The oldest home that sold was 108 yrs old (34 4th St)
•The average age of the homes that sold was 24 years (27 last month)
•6 condo/townhouse/fractional properties sold (5 last month)
Here are the statistical breakdowns:
Average Sale Price: $293,150 (last month $278,250)
Average Days on Market: 272/297 (last month 199/227) (days on market with current broker/total days on market)
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!
What’s the Deal? This week’s best travel bargains around the globe.
By Carol Sottili and Andrea Sachs, Published: April 13
What’s the Deal?
Visit the Deep Creek Lake area of Western Maryland with a deal from the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. Through May 16, stay three nights for the price of two, plus receive one discounted activity. Promotion applies to nine lodging companies, including hotels, inns and vacation home rental companies. For example, a suite for two at the Waters Run Guest House & Suite bed-and-breakfast inn is now $190 for three nights (plus $15 taxes), a savings of $95. Discounted activity choices include a pass to Smiley’s Fun Zone family entertainment center for $19.95, a savings of $13. Info: 301-387-4386, www.visitdeepcreek.com.
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!
State budget debacle likely means special session
Without tax and pensions plan, spending cuts begin July 1
by Jeff Newman and Jason Babcock, Staff writers
Still reeling from the implications of an approved budget that includes $512 million in budget cuts, state Democratic lawmakers expect Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) to call for a special session in the coming weeks to finish work on proposals to raise income taxes on higher earners and shift teachers’ pension costs to local jurisdictions.
Each winter, the Maryland General Assembly convenes in Annapolis with one constitutional mandate — to pass a balanced budget — and yet every year without fail, debate over fiscal issues goes down to the wire, dependent on a ticking clock as much as negotiation between the two legislative chambers.
Lawmakers approved a budget Monday night in the waning hours of the 2012 session — just not the one they wanted.
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!
Wind power restrictions urged in Garrett
(AP) Some Western Maryland residents are urging the Garrett County Commissioners to impose restrictions on a proposed wind farm near Frostburg. The Cumberland Times-News reported that 39 people signed a petition urging the commissioners to impose setback provisions or other rules to protect families and homes near 24 turbines the Annapolis-based Synergics Group is considering building on Four Mile Ridge and neighboring Big Savage Mountain. Garrett County lacks a countywide land use ordinance enabling it to impose such restrictions. Meanwhile, both houses of the General Assembly passed a bill that would grant Garrett County the authority to impose setback and decommissioning provisions on wind farms.
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!
Nearly All Of The State Now In Drought
Monday, April 16, 2012
Steve Fermier
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WBAL’s Steve Fermier reports on the drought status currently in Maryland
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Jay Apperson of the Maryland Department of the Environment told WBAL’s Steve Fermier that part of the state is now in a “drought watch.”
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Eastern Shore as been designated as in a severe drought.
That’s not all.
The only part of the state that is not now on the drought map as dry is the extreme western portion of Garrett County.
In just three months Maryland has gone from normal rainfall to almost entirely abnormally dry or in drought.
In fact the lower Eastern Shore from Queen Anne’s County south is now in a severe drought and has been designated as such by the state Department of the Environment.
The national drought monitor lists only 2 percent of Maryland as having had normal rainfall and that’s basically the western sliver of Garrett County in far western Maryland.
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!
