>NeXT GEN Brings Home Champion's Award
>
The Southern Middle School FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Team earned first place at the recent Maryland State FLL Championship held in Baltimore last Saturday. The team members are pictured above with the Champion’s Award LEGO trophy. In the front row, from left, are Andrew Hauser, Jonah Facciolli, Devon and Brielle Jobe, and Annika Naylor. Second row: Tony Orr, Payton Dixon, Robbie Browning, and Ashton Shreve. Back row: student and adult mentors Aaron, Willie, and Levi Lantz, Jason Jobe, Ronni DiGioia, Arlene Lantz, Phil Malone, and county technology resource teacher Chuck Trautwein, and Garrett County school superintendent Dr. Wendell Teets
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>Panelists talk pros, cons of Marcellus shale drilling
>Kristin Harty Barkley
The Cumberland Times-News
Fri Mar 04, 2011, 08:01 AM EST
FROSTBURG — The conversation almost stayed civil Wednesday night.
About 150 people gathered at the Palace Theatre to hear two panelists discuss the pros and cons of drilling for natural gas in Western Maryland’s portion of the Marcellus shale.
Gas industry representative Gregory Wrightstone explained why he thinks drilling is desireable, emphasizing the potential economic benefits the region stands to gain.
Filmmaker Josh Fox, whose Oscar-nominated movie, “Gasland,” documents serious public health and environmental problems associated with the process of extracting gas from the earth, explained why he thinks drilling must stop.
For almost two hours, the exchange was strained, but respectful.
Then Wrightson, confronted by a Garrett County resident who doesn’t want to see the area spoiled by industrialization, asked a rhetorical question.
“You’re right about this — it will change Garrett County,” said Wrightstone, director of geology for Texas Keystone, Inc., of Pittsburgh. “I remember when my grandfather subdivided his farm. It was bittersweet to see a bunch of houses going up. But he benefited from that. Garrett County’s going to have to make that decision …
“Are you suggesting that we ban drilling in Garrett County?” Wrightson asked.
The audience erupted.
“Yes!” a majority shouted, applauding fervently. The moderator, struggling to restore order, reminded the crowd of its tacit promise to remain “civil” during the panel.
Then Fox, who has asked Congress for a nationwide moratorium on drilling until safety issues have been addressed, interrupted.
“I gotta say something here — there’s nothing uncivil about standing up for your rights,” Fox said. “I’m sorry, that is not uncivil. That is an expression of actual political will. It’s not against the rules to be able to say, ‘No, I don’t want this here.’”
The outbursts Wednesday night underscored the intense emotions the issue is arousing here and across the region, as gas companies approach landowners for leases permitting them to drill.
The Marcellus shale, a black shale formation that extends deep underground from Ohio and West Virginia, northeast into Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York, is believed to hold vast natural gas deposits. Using a technologically advanced process called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” gas companies have been extracting natural gas from wells in Pennsylvania and New York in recent years.
To date, no permits for drilling have been issued in Allegany County; gas companies have applied for two permits in Garrett County, state environmental officials have said.
Over the last year or so, events to educate the public here about natural gas drilling have drawn large crowds. In February, about 100 people attended a discussion at the Allegany County Fairgrounds; in January, an estimated 300 gathered at a hall in Oakland for a four-hour public hearing on the topic.
Wednesday’s panel discussion was part of the Maryland Humanities Council’s new initiative, “Practicing Democracy: Seeking Common Ground,” an effort to provide opportunities for “people with divergent opinions and perspectives to engage in respectful and effective civic dialogue.”
Facilitators showed clips from Fox’s “Gasland” and a gas industry-produced film called “Shale Gas and America’s Future” to set up opposing perspectives on drilling’s benefits and dangers.
Wrightstone, who has been involved with natural gas drilling for more than 30 years, including many wells in the region, called the Marcellus shale a “great gift” and an “incredible resource” that can boost local economies and decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil.
The total value of the natural gas in Allegany County’s Marcellus shale could be close to $15.72 billion, with the average well earning $65,000 to $524,000 yearly, University of Maryland Extension staff have said.
Though he claimed that much of Fox’s data showing ground water contamination was flawed, Wrightstone admitted that drilling can cause environmental problems.
“Anything you do on the surface can degrade the fresh water,” he said. “What’s the industry that pollutes fresh water the most in Maryland? I think we can all agree it’s farming,” said Wrightstone, who said he grew up on a farm.
“What industry has the highest mortality rate? Farming. Is anybody out there trying to get a moratorium on farming? No. We’re doing this in an environmentally safe manner, and hydrofracturing is definitely not harming ground water. … Are there going to be incidences out there sometimes? Absolutely. But it’s an incredible natural resource that we need to develop safely.”
Fox, who began investigating the gas industry after a company offered to lease some of his Pennsylvania land for a well, said there aren’t enough government regulations in place to monitor the industry. He encouraged local residents to be “detectives” and do their own investigating before deciding whether they think drilling should take place.
“What my film is calling for is an investigation before any more of this is to occur,” said Fox, who travels the country talking about the issue. “Because it is putting people at risk.”
Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com
>Senators working on Garrett cable issues
>U.S. Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD) have sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to come up with a “common sense” solution that will allow residents of Garrett County to receive “in-state” TV broadcasts Currently, Garrett County is considered part of the Pittsburgh, PA media market and receives Pennsylvania news, sports and other programming.
>NeXT GEN Earns Top Scores At FLL State Championship
>
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Mar. 3, 2011
by Arlene Lantz
The NeXT GEN Southern Middle School FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Team earned top honors at the Feb. 26 Maryland State FLL Championship held at the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus. The team is now eligible to attend the FLL World Festival in St. Louis, Mo., in April.
To earn the Champion’s Award, NeXT GEN placed in the top in all judging areas out of the 64 teams competing from across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. The group excelled at the robot missions on the table, did an excellent research presentation on concussions, convinced the judges they had a great mechanical design, and pulled it all together with their teamwork. The students from Southern Middle School have practiced weekly since September at Swan Meadow School.
At the FLL World Festival, the students will meet and work with teams from all over the world. They will be competing with the best of the best teams. The team members will continue to practice to improve their table performance and technical presentation, continue their research on their innovative “Brain Freeze” idea to detect concussions, further develop their programming skills, and build important teamwork skills.
The team extends thanks to the Garrett County Board of Education, Dr. Teets, FRC Team 1629, Dr. Buczynski, Dr. Domenick, Tammy Ashby, Eric Tribbey, Adele Naylor, Jason Jobe, Kendra Todd, Coach Don Stemple, Coach Dave McLaughlin, the Aurora Lions Club, and Swan Meadow School for their support to the team.
>Mountain Lake Park passes ordinance banning natural gas drilling in town
>Mayor says town’s duty to ‘take action’ when other levels of government are not
From Staff Reports
The Cumberland Times-News Sat Mar 05, 2011, 08:00 AM EST
MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK — Residents of this small Western Maryland town are telling natural gas drilling companies to stay away, in no uncertain terms.
Town leaders approved an ordinance Thursday night that effectively bans the creation of new gas wells, a response to the gas industry’s increased interest in developing wells in the Allegany and Garrett County portions of the Marcellus shale reserve.
The ordinance, which had a first reading in January and public hearing in February, was unanimously approved.
“Our town government is responsible for the health, safety and rights of our citizens,” Mayor Leo Martin said in a press release. “When the county, state and federal governments fail in their duties it is our duty to take action.”
Called Mountain Lake Park’s Community Protection from Natural Gas Extraction Ordinance, the law was modeled after a similar ordinance adopted by the city of Pittsburgh in November.
Martin encouraged other Maryland municipalities to take a similar stand.
“If Pittsburgh can do it, we can do it,” Martin said in a press release.
But can Garrett County?
At a January public hearing that drew an estimated 300 people, Garrett County’s attorney Gorman Getty said that legally, the county doesn’t have the authority to ban drilling because it doesn’t have a comprehensive zoning ordinance.
The Marcellus shale issue has spurred controversy across the region as residents are weighing its benefits and costs.
While tapping into the vast natural gas resource could bring economic growth to the area and wealth to private landowners, concerns have been raised about whether the processes used are safe in terms of the environment and public health.
About 150 residents gathered at the Palace Theatre in Frostburg Thursday night for a panel discussion, which pitted gas industry representative Gregory Wrightstone against filmmaker and gas industry critic Josh Fox. A majority of audience members appeared to be against drilling in Allegany and Garrett counties.
Mountain Lake Park’s ordinance includes a local Bill of Rights that asserts legal protections for the “right to water, the rights of natural communities and ecosystems, the right to local self-government, and the right of the people to enforce and protect these rights by banning corporate activities that would violate them.”
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, headquartered in Chambersburg, Pa., drafted the ordinance.
>Community Events Surrounding GC President Inauguration Slated
>
Mar. 3, 2011
Plans are well under way for the inauguration of Dr. Richard L. MacLennan as president of Garrett College, which will take place on Saturday, April 9, at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium on the McHenry campus. The theme of this installation ceremony is “Celebrating the College in the Community,” and there will be a series of events and festivities open to the community.
“In selecting the events for this inaugural celebration, the planning committee members wanted to create a program that would reflect Dr. MacLennan’s focus on the college as an integral part of the larger community it serves,” said Dr. Jeanne Neff, planning committee chair and chair of the board of directors of the Garrett College Foundation. “It was his request that the Garrett County community be central to the celebration.”
The festive three-day agenda will include the third part of the Joan Crawford Lecture Series on Wednesday, April 6; a county-wide community service day involving students, faculty, and staff, followed by a family-style picnic and a Garrett Lakes Arts Festival performance by the Iona Pan-Celtic Band on Friday, April 8; and the pageantry of procession in full academic regalia for the presidential inauguration on Saturday, April 9. The inauguration ceremony will be followed by a reception and an evening gala event hosted by the Garrett College Foundation.
Dr. MacLennan assumed leadership as the 10th president of Garrett College in July 2010 after serving for 12 years as vice president of student services at Olympic College, a three-campus college in Kitsap County, Wash. A focus of his 25-year career has been helping people access training and education.
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>Romantic Getaways - Deep Creek Lake #4!
>Romantic Getaways
Wednesday, 02 Mar 2011 04:40 PM Article Font Size
Here are the 10 best romantic getaways in the North:
1.Chicago: Adventure, romance, and the advantages of city life, it is all there for you in Chicago.
2.Amelia Island: The name alone suggests romance. Imagine being in such a heavenly resort with your mate.
3.Door Country: This destination is fit for at least a week’s stay if you don’t have more time. The seascape is beautiful and perfect for a romantic getaway.
4.Deep Creek Lake: If a romantic weekend is what you are looking for, then this is the perfect place.
5.Alexander Springs, Florida: This oasis in the forest is an outstanding camping ground as well.
6.Whidbey Island: Meadows, beaches, and historical sites, you will get it all in Whidbey.
7.Santa Barbara: This romantic getaway is worth every dollar you spend to get here.
8. Red River: If water sports are what you are looking for, this place has no competition.
9.Redwoods: Camping in this state park is one of the best experiences.
10.Austin: It may be a small town, but it offers a wide range of outdoor excitement.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Romantic Getaways
>Bartlett, Van Hollen Provide Bipartisan Push for Renewable Energy Funds
>By Steve Kilar
WASHINGTON – With only four days until disputes between Democrats and Republicans over 2011 budget cuts could force a federal government shutdown, a bipartisan duo of Maryland representatives called for increased funding in the 2012 budget for renewable and efficient energy technologies.
“We’re starting at least 20 years too late doing this — so now it’s really, really catch-up time,” said Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Frederick, to a group of legislative staff and energy interest group representatives.
In conjunction with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Reps. Bartlett and Chris Van Hollen, D-Kensington, hosted a budget analysis panel Monday to throw support behind President Obama’s $3.2 billion proposal for renewable and efficient energy programs in fiscal year 2012.
The proposal is a 44 percent increase from fiscal year 2010 appropriations, the last time Washington finalized a budget.
>Negro Mountain
>Here we go again. No sooner did we get past the attempt to change Maryland’s official state song, there is now a call to change the name of Negro Mountain, near the small Garrett County community of Grantsville.
Sunday’s edition of The (Baltimore) Sun reported that the winds of discontent are blowing in Annapolis, with calls to change not only the mountain’s name, but also history in the process.
Negro Mountain is said to have been named by 18th-century settlers in the region, but some latter-day folks don’t like that earlier choice. As one might suspect, sides have formed in this little dust-up. A few Baltimore lawmakers hold the opinion that the name, which they consider an outdated relic of the past, should be retired in favor of a more appropriate, currently acceptable one.
Legislators from Western Maryland are having none of such talk, arguing that the name honors an early African-American hero and that the Baltimore crowd should butt out of Western Maryland’s business.
“How about they take care of Baltimore’s crime and drugs, and leave the mountains to us,” opined Delegate Kevin Kelly, a Democrat from Allegany County.
>Ban on felt-soled waders in Md. streams has retailers scrambling
>RACHEL BERNSTEIN The Daily Record
First Posted: March 01, 2011 – 12:50 pm
BALTIMORE — Maryland will become the first state to ban the felt-soled fishing boots that an invasive algae uses to travel from stream to stream. But the ban will have consumers scrambling to replace gear and retailers left with boots they can no longer sell.
The state Department of Natural Resources plans to prohibit wading with felt soles starting March 21 to curb the spread of an invasive organism — called didymo — that gets trapped in damp fibers. When fishermen don’t properly clean and dry felt-soled boots, the algae spreads the next time they wade into a different body of water. So far, there are no effective or proven ways to get rid of didymo once it contaminates the water.
“When you talk about the price of a new pair of waders, what’s at cost here is really the price of clean water,” said Jonathan McKnight, associate wildlife director for the DNR and co-chair of its invasive species matrix team. McKnight said he hasn’t heard many complaints about the new regulation so far, and that even some manufacturers have stopped making felt-soled boots.
Susan Rivers, a biologist with the Maryland Fisheries Service, said she switched to rubber-soled boots before the regulation was announced.
“They are different, but the material you have to get used to, it is just like wearing a different type of boot,” Rivers said. “I know people are concerned, but
ultimately it’s something that will save our waterways.”
