Snow squall catches drivers and roads crews off guard
Kevin G. Gilbert Staff Photographer
By DON AINES
December 10, 2010
dona@herald-mail.com
Friday morning’s snow squall caught state and county roads crews off guard, forcing them to abandon regular maintenance jobs and return to storage facilities to load salt trucks to treat the icy roads.
The unexpected storm sent cars and trucks skidding off roads and into each other and caused multi-vehicle pile-ups on Interstate 70 in eastern Washington County and western Frederick County, Maryland State Police said….
…Western Allegany County and Garrett County could see state roads pretreated this weekend with a new mixture of 85 percent salt brine and 15 percent sugar beet molasses if weather projections warrant and road conditions are suitable, Gischlar said. The beet molasses helps the pretreatment mix better adhere to the road surface, he said.
Increase in alcohol tax would save millions of dollars
Since Maryland’s tax on beer and wine has not been increased since 1972 and the tax on spirits has not been increased since 1955, Barry Rascovar was absolutely right in his column (“Tough budget cuts could make O’Malley a national player,” Nov. 26) in describing an increase in our state’s alcohol tax as “long overdue.”
According to a study by professors David Jernigan and Hugh Waters of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the dime-a-drink increase in the Maryland alcohol tax that we and a broad coalition of Marylanders are proposing as the Lorraine Sheehan legislation in the 2011 session would save many lives from alcohol abuse and hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs.
Approximately 100,000 of these new enrollees were children who have been eligible for years but were not enrolled, and we commend the O’Malley-Brown administration and, particularly, Secretary of Health John Colmers for doing all they could to make sure that as many of Maryland’s children as possible have the health care they need.
Others are parents like Crystal Moon of Garrett County, whose doctor told her she would have been killed by an illness that her new state health care card helped to prevent. You can see other stories like Ms. Moon’s of how the new health care law helped people at www.healthcareforall.com
Marcellus Shale To Be Discussed At GC Auditorium
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Dec. 9, 2010
The University of Maryland Extension of Garrett County will present a lecture titled “Geology of the Marcellus Shale in Western Maryland” tonight, Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Garrett College Auditorium. The lecture will be given by geologist Jeff Halka, director of the Maryland Geological Survey.
Over the last 70 years, the 400-million-year-old Oriskany sandstone has been the primary target of Appalachian gas exploration. Tens of thousands of conventional wells have been drilled in this rock formation. However, geologists have generally understood that the gas contained within this porous sandstone unit was likely generated in the overlying organic-rich Marcellus shale.
Recent developments in well drilling and stimulation technologies have made it possible to exploit these organic-rich layers directly and allow the capture of gas contained within the less permeable shale.
Halka’s lecture will explain the formation of the Marcellus shale and the subsequent development of natural gas within the shale.
Five things to do outdoors this weekend - outdoors girl blog
It’s supposed to get into the 40s this Saturday and Sunday. Positively balmy. Here’s five things to get you out and about this weekend that don’t involve advertising circulars or standing in checkout lines:
2) Cold, clear nights are perfect for star gazing. Learn where to look and what you’re looking at Saturday at 8 p.m. at Soldier’s Delight Natural Environment Area, 5100 Deer Park Road, Owings Mills. Members of the Westminster Astronomy will give you a look at the galaxy from inside out. The program will include a discussion of Perseus and the last meteor shower of the year. The event is free; donations appreciated. To reserve a spot, call 877-794-0606.
3) On Sunday, celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Wisp Resort at Deep Creek Lake. One-day lift tickets are $7, sports rental and group lessons are half price. Activities include a scavenger hunt, a hot cocoa and cider tasting, muscis and games. At 1 p.m., Wisp will unveil a birthday cake made by Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes and cut free pieces for everyone. The celebration will spill over to Monday. There’s more at http://www.wispresort.com.
Hospital effort could reduce readmissions
By Julie Appleby
Kaiser Health News
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
One of six patients hospitalized in Maryland in the past year ended up back in the same facility within a month, a risky situation for them and a costly one for bill payers.
To keep that from happening so often, more than a dozen hospitals in the state are considering joining an experiment: Upending the traditional way they are paid and setting in motion changes that could both boost patient care and reduce preventable admissions….
…Two rural hospitals – Garrett County Memorial in Oakland and McCready Memorial in Crisfield – have already signed such contracts for three years, and at least seven more, including Calvert, are in line to do so, said Murray.
Study: fee boost could keep Md. trout river clean
OAKLAND, Md. (AP) – A study concludes that anglers and boaters are willing to pay more to keep the North Branch of the Potomac River running clean.
The $40,000 study by Downstream Strategies of Morgantown, W.Va., was delivered Friday to state regulators by the Maryland State Water Quality Advisory Committee.
Federal, state and Garrett County agencies ordered the report to address an expected loss of government operating funds for eight machines that regularly dispense lime into the river and its tributaries to counteract acid drainage from abandoned coal mines.
Researchers found that river users are willing to pay higher trout stamp fees or donate to a restoration fund to maintain the $321,000 annual cost of the lime dosers.
(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
OAKLAND, Md. (AP) – A study concludes that anglers and boaters are willing to pay more to keep the North Branch of the Potomac River running clean.
The $40,000 study by Downstream Strategies of Morgantown, W.Va., was delivered Friday to state regulators by the Maryland State Water Quality Advisory Committee.
Federal, state and Garrett County agencies ordered the report to address an expected loss of government operating funds for eight machines that regularly dispense lime into the river and its tributaries to counteract acid drainage from abandoned coal mines.
Open House Set At Historic Station
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An open house event will be held at the historic B&O Railroad Station in Oakland on Friday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The station has been decorated for Christmas, and refreshments will be served. Raffle tickets for a “Z” gauge model railroad set that has been valued at $400 will also be available. The drawing for the train set will take place on Dec. 18 in front of Proudfoot’s Pharmacy. All proceeds from will be used by the town of Oakland to continue preparations at the station for the planned partnership with the B&O Museum of Baltimore, which will take over the operation of the station as a museum. The town will continue to own the facility in this partnership, and restoration work is still required before the arrival of B&O. The public is invited to attend, although the snow, which began yesterday, will be somewhat deeper by that time, as it is predicted to continue falling for at least the next seven days. Photo by John McEwen.
Nutrition Grant Is Awarded To Southern High
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Dec. 2, 2010
Southern High School, along with schools in eight other Maryland counties, has been awarded a USDA grant of $30,000 to develop, prepare, and test market five days of nutritional meals for school lunches.
The funds will allow students to enroll in the program ProStart and participate in special culinary curriculum. Students will create Culinary and Healthful Enhancement of Foods (CHEF) teams, which will develop the nutritional school lunches.
As the program concludes and the schools share their results, CHEF teams across Maryland will have created a total of nine weeks of student-centric menus that meet nutrition requirements, use local produce and USDA foods (when possible), and are cost effective.
ProStart is a nationwide program that teaches high school students the managerial and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
Nationwide, 83,000 students in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam are served by the two-year program.
Western Md. snowfall exceeds 18 inches
MCHENRY, Md. (AP) – Weather watchers say a storm has dropped more than 18 inches of snow in far western Maryland.
The State Highway Administration said Tuesday afternoon that 18.5 inches have fallen at its Keyer’s Ridge maintenance shop since Sunday.
The SHA and state police say the storm has caused no serious accidents.
The Wisp ski resort in McHenry reports 19 inches of snow since Sunday.
Garrett Choral Society To Present "Christmas Joy" Concert Dec. 11, 12
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Dec. 2, 2010
The Garrett Choral Society (GCS) will present its annual holiday concert, this year titled Christmas Joy, on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. The presentation will be given at St. Peter at the Lake Center in McHenry. The church is located along Mosser Road, just past Garrett College, on the right.
Under the direction of Julie Turrentine, the GCS features nearly 50 singers from all areas of Garrett County and nearby West Virginia. The group’s accompanist is Lynn Grimm, who will be joined on selected pieces by keyboard players Michael Broderick and Barb Peters. Moe Turrentine and Madonna Pool will provide percussion accompaniment.
The major work of this concert will be J.S. Bach’s Magnificat, which is the canticle of Mary from the first chapter of the Book of Luke, verses 46-55. The 12-movement piece will be the first half of the program, and will feature several soloists.
The second half of the program will consist of familiar Christmas songs, as well as some multi-layered choral pieces such as “Benedicamus Domino” by Peter Warlock and “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre.
The Con Brio Singers, an octet, will present Four Nutcracker Favorites, a light-hearted, abbreviated version of the classic work by Tchaikovsky. The men will present “Betelehemu” as well, which is a Nigerian Christmas song. It will feature soloist Royce Warnick.
