>Ice sculptor keeps his cool on warm day
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Frozen figurines dot streets of Oakland
Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sun Feb 20, 2011, 07:53 AM EST
— OAKLAND — Bill Sandusky was as frustrated as an ice sculptor on a warm day.
And it’s no wonder, because that’s just what he was on Saturday in downtown Oakland.
The temperatures in the high 40s made it impossible for Sandusky to show off details on his frozen figurines such as the brim on a woman’s hat, the hair on a boy reading a book, the mane of a horse, a fishing pole held by a lad.
“It’s just too warm, especially on the sunny side of the street,” Sandusky said. “The sculptures on the shady side will last longer,” he said, pointing to his works across Second Street.
This is the fourth year in Oakland at the Winter Fest for the peripatetic wielder of chainsaws, burrs and brushes. He is an Erie, Pa., native now living near Colorado Springs, Colo. The name of his endeavor is The Frozen Assets Ice Carving Co.
And get this, his day job is as a tractor-trailer driver for Reddy Ice out of Dallas. BYOI is not a problem.
After only a few touches of a chain saw to a large block of ice, onlooker Allison Carl, 7, of York, Pa., figured it out.
“It’s a boy reading a book,” she said, realizing that the sculpture was outside of The Book Mark’et and putting two and two together.
A week ago Sandusky was doing his gelid thing in Old Colorado City. A week from now he will be in Alaska, competing in an international ice sculpturing event.
“His work is amazing,” said Roger McClung of Washington, who has a second home in Deer Park and drives westward every weekend to Garrett County. “The sculpture of the train down by the depot has great detail.”
A group of about 30 onlookers was showered often by flying ice dust as Sandusky applied his chainsaw to frozen hunks. Still-cameras clicked and video cameras whirred.
Sandusky has been turning blocks of ice into treasure chests (in front of banks), smartly dressed women (in front of a fashion shops), and steeds (near the horse and carriage stop) for two decades.
“The ideal temperature is 25, but I’ve carved in temperatures as high as 86 in Pennsylvania and as low as 42-below in Alaska,” he said.
“When it gets that cold it can be dangerous,” he said. “You have to add alcohol to the water you work with so it won’t freeze to your skin.”
Friday was even warmer in Oakland than Saturday.
“We got a late start and that backed us up,” Sandusky said.
Although he had planned to begin carving early Friday, he waited until 10 p.m. for cooler temperatures and worked well into the night.
Sunday, Sandusky will carve a final ice statue, at the gazebo in Oakland.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com
>Lawmakers want to rename Western Md. Mountains
>By: Liz Farmer 02/21/11 1:46 PM
Examiner Staff Writer
.The Maryland General Assembly is taking up a joint Senate resoution to rename two mountains in Western Maryand whose names are a litte, uh, shall we say, outdated?
The peaks in question are Polish Mountain in Allegany County and Negro Mountain in Garrett County. Yeah. We can see why maybe they’d want to change those ones to “reflect more accurately the history and culture of the region within which they are located,” as the resolution says.
Not surprisingly, the proposed solution is to establish a state commission to research and come up with new names for the mountains. Maryland is a very commission- and task force-happy state. Establishing a group to study an issue is often lawmakers’ way of delaying a vote on a bill but still moving forward with it in some sense.
In the past, the state has established a commission to study the death penalty, for example. But are these mountains really that controversial? Sure, their names are dicey now … but it’s too bad the state can’t have a little more fun with it, like holding a naming contest (a la the National Zoo and its baby pandas a few years back).
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/02/lawmakers-want-rename-western-md-mountains#ixzz1EirimKz7
>State Legislators Hope To Close Cell Phone/Driving Loopholes
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Feb. 17, 2011
by Holly Nunn
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS – Maryland legislators are looking to close gaping loopholes and ease enforcement of laws prohibiting cell phone use behind the wheel.
Bills heard Tuesday in House and Senate committees would amend laws that took effect last October, which banned hand-held cell phone use while the vehicle is in motion. Under the new rules, cell phone use would be illegal any time the car is in the travel portion of the road, including when stopped at a stop light or in traffic.
One bill, sponsored by Delegate James Malone Jr., D-Baltimore County, would make cell-phone use without a hands-free headset a primary offense, which means law enforcement could pull drivers over when they are observed using a handheld device.
As the law is now, drivers have to commit another violation, like speeding or running a stop sign, while talking on a cell phone to be given a ticket for the secondary offense.
>Beitzel's Marcellus Shale Bill To Be Heard Next Week
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Feb. 17, 2011
House Bill 411, a measure sponsored by Del. Wendell R. Beitzel (R–Dist, 1A), will be heard before the General Assembly’s House Environmental Matters Committee next Wednesday, Feb. 23, in Annapolis at 1 p.m. The measure would require the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) to submit regulations to the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee by Dec. 31.
Sen. George Edwards has submitted a companion bill, SB 422, in the Senate. The proposed legislation has been assigned to the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committed, which has scheduled a hearing for Thursday, March 3, at 1 p.m.
“This bill allows those who have the technical know-how to establish commonsense regulations regarding drilling that would ensure safeguards for the citizens of Garrett and Allegany counties,” said Beitzel.
This measure is modeled after a similar proposal approved by the House Environmental Matters Committee during the 2009 legislative session regarding coal combustion byproducts.
Beitzel noted that MDE already has many regulations in place to deal with natural gas and well drilling generally. These regulations give the department the authority to set permit conditions for each well application on a case-by-case basis.
The bill, as presented, tackles the issue on two fronts, the delegate noted. First, it gives the department the authority to promulgate regulations generally dealing with the Marcellus shale.
“Such enumerated power has been the focus of many who have expressed their concerns regarding the possibility of Marcellus shale drilling in Maryland,” Beitzel said.
Secondly, the bill specifically enumerates five aspects that the department must address in the regulations.
“MDE has broad authority in the state to regulate drilling for natural gas, both though statute and regulations found in COMAR,” Beitzel said. “However, there is no specific provision for horizontal drilling into the Marcellus shale. That is why Senator Edwards and I believed it was best to pursue legislation to require the department to move forward in a timely fashion to promulgate specific regulation for this purpose. The aspects specifically covered in the bill are also things that we have been told the department is already examining.”
Because the Beitzel/Edwards bills require regulations to be established, they same must go through a through a public comment process.
>13th Annual Deep Creek Dunk Set For Feb. 26
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Feb. 17, 2011
With chilly temperatures and snowy conditions in full effect, people form throughout Maryland are gearing up for an event synonymous with winter at Deep Creek Lake—the annual Deep Creek Dunk.
The dunk serves as a fundraiser for Special Olympics Maryland and is slated for Saturday, Feb. 26. A thousand dunkers are expected to partake in the event. Last year’s Deep Creek Dunk raised approximately $150,000.
The festivities will kick off early with the pre-dunk event Goosebumps & Grapes: An Evening of Fire & Wine. This wine-tasting event, jointly hosted by Honi-Honi, Uno’s, Long & Foster Vacation Resort Rentals, and Arrowhead Market, will feature a variety of wines courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company.
There is a $20 donation required to attend the event, which will allow individuals to taste wines around a bonfire or inside a heated tent. Dunkers will also be able to register, between 6 and 9 p.m., for the dunk and avoid the Saturday morning lines.
>A Regal Pose - The Republican News
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Posing regally in an icy-limbed forest was this American bald eagle, photographed recently in the Friendsville area by Friendsville resident Jesse Whittemore. With Presidents’ Day just around the corner, one can’t help but marvel at the resiliency of not only this national symbol but also of the United States and its people. The bald eagle was on the brink of extirpation in the lower 48 states not too long ago. But after much hard work and determination by many citizens, eagle populations recovered and stabilized – so much so that in 2007, the eagle was removed from the federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in the Lower 48 States. Americans can once again view this magnificent creature and emblem in many areas of their nation, including Garrett County.
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>It's Winter Fest Time! - The Republican News
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The streets of Oakland soon will be decorated with a variety of ice sculptures, as the fourth annual Winter Fest will get under way tomorrow, Feb. 18, and run through Sunday evening. The sculptures will be lighted, and a drive through the town in the evening can be particularly engaging for sightseers. The weather could possibly hamper the festival a little bit, as after months of bitter cold, the area is to experience a warm spell. However, Saturday’s high is to be just 37, so the sculptures should remain intact. Many will be placed and lighted Friday night, and more will be carved “live” throughout the day on Saturday by returning artist Bill Sandusky of Frozen Assets. There will be “ice bowling,” a campfire with s’mores, other food, and music. Brochures with maps and activity listings will be available. Photo by Deb Swiger.
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>America's Most Wanted - Deandre Kelly
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Felony Traffic Stop Leads To High-Speed Chase
When police in Garrett County, Md., made a felony traffic stop on Jan. 21, 2011, they didn’t realize there were multiple felons in the car.
Deandre Kelly, wanted for two outstanding narcotics warrants, sat in the back seat as he watched his friend get taken into custody. Amidst the commotion, Kelly seized an opportunity to escape. Kelly jumped into the front seat of the vehicle and took off. Police gave chase and quickly apprehended Kelly when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. He was transported to a nearby hospital until Jan. 23, when he was transported to the Garrett County Detention Center at 11:30 a.m.
Later that evening, around 8:15 p.m., authorities say Kelly managed to escape – while brandishing a handgun.
Kelly is considered extremely dangerous, and U.S. Marshals fear he will not be taken into custody without a fight. Authorities urge extreme caution when dealing with Kelly. During his escape, police say Kelly assaulted two correctional officers with a handgun. Originally, Kelly fled the D.C. metro area, but police have reason to believe he has returned. Sightings have placed him in College Park, Md., and he was also tracked to Silver Spring within the vicinity of the Seven Spring Village Apartments.
Kelly has an extensive social network ranging as far as North Carolina, but U.S. Marshals believe he is taking refuge somewhere in D.C. or Maryland. If you know anything regarding Kelly’s whereabouts, call 1-800-CRIME-TV. You can remain anonymous.
Wanted For:
First Degree Escape , Garrett County , MD ; Jan 23, 2011
(Information valid as of February 17, 2011)
Keep informed with the case here.
>Just Listed - 7 acres Backbone Ridge - GA7532842
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Lot 18, Backbone Ridge subdivision. 7.51 acres to build your vacation getaway or full time home! Be part of the community at the highest point in Maryland!
Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.
>January 2011 Real Estate Stats - Market Update
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3 ‘newer’ homes sold in January (5 years old or less)
- It appears that 12 or so of these sales were vacation homes
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8 homes sold under $300,000 (last month was 22)
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9 homes sold under $400,000
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1 house sold over $ 1million (3 last month)
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1 home sold for higher than full price (one sold for 139.56%)
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One house sold for 45.22% of asking price
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The oldest home that sold was 76 yrs old
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The average age of the homes that sold was 25 years
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3 condo’s/townhouse properties sold (4 last month)
Here are the statistical breakdowns:
Average Sale Price: $398,779 (last month $327,687)
Average Days on Market: 316/345 (last month 207/270) (days on market with current broker/total days on market)
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
