Do Not Feed the Black Bears!

I had a client call me to report their first black bear sighting at Deep Creek Lake over Memorial Day weekend. The black bears have awaken from their slumber and are roaming around looking for 'fast food'. Their main targets are trash cans and dumpsters. I can't tell you how many times I have driven by Marsh Hill Rd or Rock Lodge and saw a bear on its hind legs digging into the trash. A past employee at Garrett 8 Cinemas told me that just about every night, the bears going dumpster diving there when they forget to close the lid.

I had shown some photos of what a black bear can do to a 'bear-proof trash container in a previous post. Watch from a distance and don't get in the way. Bear attacks are very rare, but use common sense - DON'T FEED THE BEARS.

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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Calssified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Allegheny Energy merger will bring changes to customers

Maryland ratepayers will get 50-cent credit
Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Maryland customers of Greensburg, Pa.-based Allegheny Energy Inc. will see changes after the company’s pending merger with Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp., but they stand to be small ones, at least in the first few years.

The companies submitted an application Thursday to the Maryland Public Service Commission for authorization of the merger. They first announced their $4.7 billion merger agreement in February.

The combined company will be based in Akron at FirstEnergy’s current headquarters. But it will operate a regional headquarters somewhere in its Western Maryland service area, according to Allegheny Energy spokesman David Neurohr. The planned location of that headquarters hasn’t been released.

Maryland customers will receive a credit of about 50 cents per month on their energy bills over the two years following the merger. The credit will go to residential customers and will appear as a line item on each monthly statement, Neurohr said. For the company, that will add up to about $2.5 million over the two-year period.

It’s a step taken to demonstrate to the PSC that the merger will provide a concrete benefit to ratepayers, he explained.

In the application, FirstEnergy also included a guarantee that none of Allegheny Energy’s utility workers will be laid off as a result of the merger. That guarantee extends for two years after the merger is finalized.

Allegheny Energy employs about 380 people in Maryland, and about 4,400 overall.

The provision applies to the “physical work force,” Neurohr said — employees who maintain the wires and rights of way and handle other utility maintenance. It does not include office or executive staff.

FirstEnergy has committed to maintaining the same levels of community development and charitable donations as Allegheny Energy currently contributes in its service area for three years after closing the merger. After that, FirstEnergy will contribute an amount described as consistent with its donations in the company’s other service areas.

Neurohr said the PSC is required by law to provide a decision on the merger within 180 days, but has the ability to extend that period by another 45 days.

In the meantime, the merger must also be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia, states also served by Allegheny Energy. Applications have been filed in each of those states, except in Virginia, where the companies plan to submit an application in the near future.

If authorized, the merger is set to close in the first half of 2011.


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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Calssified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Happy Memorial Day 2010

Take some time today to reflect on all of the freedoms and blessings we have in our lives - and remember those who died to make sure that their sons and daughters could enjoy these liberties.


From Wikipedia:

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service.[1] First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I.

Contents [hide]

History
By 1865 the practice of decorating soldiers' graves had become widespread in the North. General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic--the society of Union Army veterans--called for all GAR posts to celebrate a "Decoration Day" on May 30, 1868. There were events in 183 cemeteries in 27 states in 1868, and 336 in 1869. The northern states quickly adopted the holiday; Michigan made "Decoration Day" an official state holiday in 1871 and by 1890 every northern state followed suit. The ceremonies were sponsored by the Women's Relief Corps, with 100,000 members.

By 1870, the remains of nearly 300,000 Union dead had been buried in 73 national cemeteries, located mostly in the South, near the battlefields. The most famous are the Gettysburg National Cemetery in Pennsylvania and the Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington.

The Memorial Day speech became an occasion for veterans, politicians and ministers to commemorate the war--and at first to rehearse the atrocities of the enemy. They mixed religion and celebratory nationalism and provided a means for the people to make sense of their history in terms of sacrifice for a better nation, one closer to God. People of all religious beliefs joined together, and the point was often made that the Germans and Irish soldiers had become true Americans in the "baptism of blood" on the battlefield. By the end of the 1870s the rancor was gone and the speeches praised the brave soldiers both Blue and Gray. By the 1950s, the theme was American exceptionalism and duty to uphold freedom in the world.


First celebrations
In Charleston, South Carolina in 1865 Freedmen (freed slaves) celebrated at the Washington Race Course (today the location of Hampton Park). The site had been used as a temporary Confederate prison camp for captured Union soldiers in 1865, as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who died there. Immediately after the cessation of hostilities, Freedmen exhumed the bodies from the mass grave and reinterred them properly with individual graves. They built a fence around the graveyard with an entry arch and declared it a Union graveyard. On May 1, 1865, a crowd of up to ten thousand, mainly black residents, including 2800 children, proceeded to the location for events that included sermons, singing, and a picnic on the grounds, thereby creating the first Decoration Day.[2]

The first known observance was in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter. The friendship between General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo, and General John A. Logan, who helped bring attention to the event nationwide, was likely a factor in the holiday's growth. On May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide.[3] It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The tombs of fallen Union soldiers were decorated in remembrance.

South
African Americans had their own separate Memorial Days, beginning with a major celebration on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. It was the nation's first Memorial Day.

Beginning in 1866 the Southern states had their own Memorial Day, ranging from April 26 to mid June. The birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, June 3, became a state holiday in 10 states by 1916.

Across the South associations were founded after the War Between the States to establish and care for permanent cemeteries for Confederate soldiers, organize commemorative ceremonies, and sponsor impressive monuments as a permanent way of remembering the Confederate tradition. Women provided the leadership in these associations, paving the way to establish themselves as capable of public leadership.

The earliest Confederate Memorial Day celebrations were simple, sober occasions for veterans and their families to honor the day and attend to local cemeteries. Around 1890, there was a shift from this consolatory emphasis on honoring specific soldiers to public commemoration of the Confederate "Lost Cause." Changes in the ceremony's hymns and speeches reflect an evolution of the ritual into a symbol of cultural renewal and conservatism in the South. By 1913, however, the theme of American nationalism shared equal time with the Lost Cause.

The ceremonies and Memorial Day address at Gettysburg National Park were nationally famous, starting in 1868. However not until 1913, was a Southerner asked to give the main address. In July 1913, veterans of the United States and Confederate armies gathered in Gettysburg to commemorate the fifty-year anniversary of the Civil War's bloodiest and most famous battle. The four-day "Blue-Gray Reunion" featured parades, reenactments, and speeches from a host of dignitaries, including President Woodrow Wilson, the first Southerner in the White House since the War. Congressman James Heflin of Alabama was given the honor of the main address. He was a famous orator; two of his best-known speeches were an endorsement of the Lincoln Memorial and his call to make Mother's Day a holiday, but his choice as Memorial Day speaker was met with criticism. He was opposed for his racism. But his speech was moderate, stressing national unity and goodwill, and the newspapers, including those who opposed his invitation to speak, praised him.

In Columbus, Mississippi at its Decoration Day on April 25, 1866, commemorated both the Union and Confederate casualties buried in its cemetery.


Flags flying at Fort Logan National Cemetery during Memorial Day, 2006Ceremonies
The large cities paid much less attention; their populations did not much remember the Civil War since they grew primarily from European immigration after 1865. Memorial Day was a observed primarily by the the towns and small cities of the North as a sacred day when the war dead are mourned, the spirit of redemptive sacrifice is extolled and pledges to American ideals are renewed.

The golden era of Memorial Day was the early 20th century, when aged veterans of the Civil War (who had been born about 1840) paraded through small towns and villages in a day of remembrance. Northern celebrations often included both black and white participants. Memorial Day and other celebratory events attended by black and white veterans frequently pointed to emancipation as a worthy result of the war.

By the 1960s the Civil War generation was gone and Memorial Day seemed to be fading, at least in liberal cities. More attention was paid to the Indianapolis auto race, which began in 1895. More people headed to the beaches and parks than to the monuments and cemeteries.

Conservatives revived the practice of honoring Memorial Day in the 1980s, under the leadership especially of President Ronald Reagan.


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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Calssified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Memorial Day is a day to remember

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The Memorial Day holiday is nearly here, and people everywhere are planning picnics, yard sales, and other activities for the three-day weekend. But more important preparations are under way in the many towns of Garrett County, as well as across the country, as citizens will take this given time to remember the sacrifices made by military personnel. A number of ceremonies, parades, and services are slated this weekend throughout the county, and residents are urged to attend and/or participate. This is the time to remember and reflect, and to consider the freedoms enjoyed now, hard-won by millions of military personnel throughout the country's history. Photo by John McEwen.

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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Calssified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

DNR Amends Alcohol Policy In State Forests

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May. 27, 2010




The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is amending its alcohol policy on public lands to provide for a limited exception for state forest campsites, effective immediately. The policy prohibiting alcohol in all Maryland state parks, including family campgrounds, remains in place.

“We are grateful to the citizens and elected officials of western Maryland who gave us the opportunity to hear their voices in person on this matter,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “They persuaded us that many of the disruptive and unacceptable behaviors which formed the basis of the alcohol policy in the family-style campgrounds found in state parks do not apply to the same degree in the more isolated individual campsites found in the remote settings in our state forests.”

DNR will continue to monitor the number and type of incidents and unacceptable behavior associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages on state forests. Additional restrictions may be imposed in the future only if incidents increase to a level which interferes with the ability of state forest visitors to enjoy a peaceful and safe camping experience, or the Department’s resource protection objectives are compromised by the irresponsible consumption of alcohol.

The Department will pursue the possibility of new partnerships with county tourism and retail liquor stores to establish a public outreach effort to educate state forest visitors about drinking responsibly and employing "Leave No Trace (LNT) Ethics," a policy DNR has been promoting in its parks.

In order to preserve the beauty and serenity of Maryland's state forests, visitors are asked to leave their campsites litter-free, refrain from nailing and cutting trees, report vandalism of recreation facilities, pack out all food waste, and be considerate of others. A public outreach effort will strive to raise the level of compliance with LNT ethics, in order to improve campsite conditions and the outdoor recreation experience in the state forests.

Read the rest here.

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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Calssified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

GC Commissioners Review Short List Of Proposed Road Projects

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May. 27, 2010

Garrett County Roads Department personnel met with the county commissioners on Tuesday and reviewed their bridge, roadwork, and paving projects scheduled for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2010 and upcoming FY 2011. Because of economic conditions, however, that "to-do" list is short.
Swallow Falls Road Bridge

General roads superintendent Jay Moyer said the bid advertisement for construction of a new Swallow Falls Road bridge has been delayed until next year. In the meantime, there is a weight restriction on the bridge, which is located near Swallow Falls State Park.

When construction does begin on the new bridge, a temporary one-lane structure with no weight restriction will be placed over the Youghiogheny River. Moyer said it was important to keep the roadway open because of the park and a nearby business that relies on tourism.

"The estimated cost of that bridge is going to be in the neighborhood of $3.5 million, of which 80 percent will be federally funded with the county share being 20 percent, or roughly $720,000," Moyer said.

Glendale Road Intersection

Moyer said the State Highway Administration (SHA) has approved the design contract for the Glendale Road Intersection Improvement Project.

"[But] SHA still has a problem with the estimated cost of that project," the superintendent said. "And we're going to be looking at ways to lessen the financial impact of that project on the county."

Moyer said the cost will be well over $1 million, with approximately $742,000 available in grants. The county's responsibility will be roughly $258,000.

He added that actual construction on the project will not begin until next year.

Exhibit Hall

If approved by the Garrett County Fair Board, improvements related to the exhibit hall will begin soon at the fairgrounds, Moyer indicated. County engineer Dwight Emory has proposed a schedule of what needs to happen, how it needs to happen, and how long it should take, the superintendent noted.

That work includes a new acceleration/decelera-tion lane, new entrance, a new roadway, two parking areas, and a stormwater system.

The estimate cost is $1 million. A $300,000 USDA grant is available, Moyer said, and the county is responsible for the remainder of the cost. He noted that as much "in house" work as possible will be done in order to get the cost down to the county's budgeted amount.

Bridge G-84

Moyer also reported that replacement of Bridge G-84, located over Mill Run on Chet Kelly Road, has been delayed. The superintendent explained that based on an inspector's report, the Roads Department was going to use a prefabricated bridge that it already has on hand to replace the current structure.

But when Moyer's staff measured the site in preparation for the replacement, they discovered that the inspector's numbers were off by two feet. As a result, a new bridge has to be purchased. The estimated project limit is $50,000 in county funds.

Savage River Road

Moyer said road repairs, including a tar and chip overlay, will be completed on Savage River Road during the 2010 construction season. Estimated at $30,000, the project will be funded by the county.

"That road is open; it's usable," Moyers said. "It just has a section that no longer has tar and chip; it's been washed out."

The superintendent noted, as temporary measures, a Grantsville garage crew has put crusher run gravel down and done work to prevent the river from coming onto the road.

ARRA Stimulus Project

Moyer said the resurfacing of Chestnut Ridge and New Germany roads is expected to proceed the first week of June.

The commissioners awarded the project to Keystone Lime, which submitted a bid of $1,068,236.60. Purchasing agent Brian Bowers noted that the bid was $248,958.75, or 18.9 percent, below the engineer's estimate.

Funding for this project is through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in the amount of $1,204,000. Driveway "tie-in" work and costs, however, will be the county's responsibility.

Keystone has 30 working days to complete the project.

In addition to the major projects list, Moyer presented the commissioners with his four-year improvement plan for various other county roadways.

"This is an ever-evolving document," Moyer stressed. "As of our staff meeting Monday morning, we've already made changes to it."

Moyer told the commissioners he would just have to update the commissioners on plan changes, based on funding availability and road conditions.

"We're going to have to be very conscientious of where we put asphalt," the superintendent said. "We're definitely going to try to do any road that we feel is likely to fail in the next year."

He asked the commissioners to once again consider "banking" half of the paving money for winter operations. Moyer said, hopefully, that money will "still be there" in the spring to use for paving projects.

The commissioners earmarked some of the county's paving money for this past winter's operations. This was very beneficial to the Roads Department, as the local area received a record amount of snow, more than 260 inches, this past season.

The commissioners' next scheduled public meeting is Tuesday, June 1, beginning at 11 a.m. at the courthouse in Oakland.

Read the article here.

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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Calssified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Annual McHenry Highland Festival Slated June 4–6

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May. 27, 2010

The 23rd annual McHenry Highland Festival will take place Friday through Sunday, June 4–6. Scheduled to kickoff the festival is a Celtic concert at Wisp Resort Friday evening. A cash bar and light fare will be available at 7 p.m., with the concert slated at 8 p.m.
The event will feature world renowned Scottish fiddler Bonnie Rideout, Celtic rock band MacTalla Mór, Celtic singer-songwriter Christina Harrison.

Tickets are $35 per person and may be purchased in advance at Gregg's Pharmacy, Oakland; the Visitors Center, McHenry; or online at www.highlandfest.info

The festival will continue Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Garrett County Fairgrounds in McHenry. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for students, and free for children 12 years of age and younger.

This year's honorary clan chieftain is Odette Lueck, who will preside over the festival.

Read the rest here

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

McHenry Highland Festival

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Music of the Scottish Moors will soon resound throughout the Deep Creek Lake area, as the 23rd annual McHenry Highland Festival is scheduled for next weekend. The festival features a Celtic concert at Wisp Resort on Friday evening, June 4, a wide variety of activities on Saturday, June 5, at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, and a Kirkin' o' the Tartans on Sunday, June 6. See story. Pictured is the Parade of Clans from a few years ago. The parade is scheduled for noon on Saturday at the fairgrounds and will feature clan representatives, military units, Celtic dogs, and, of course, pipe and drum bands. Photo by John McEwen.


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

Welcome to Summer - Memorial Day 2010

From the I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County Group on Facebook:

Its here. The un-official, offical first weekend of summer. Here is a quick hit list of whats going on:
________________________
Friday May 28 (tonight)

2010 Inaugural "All-American Whitewater Festival" (several days)
http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/event.php?eventid=3826

________________________
Saturday May 29

19th Anniversary Boathouse Show @ Boardwalk
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122801051083652&index=1

K-9, Tunes & Brews
http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/event.php?eventid=3746

Tom Wallisch Memorial Day Rail Jam (on real snow!!!)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120179218020073&index=1

Campfire - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - DCL State Park Amphitheater

________________________
Sunday May 30
Morning Hike @ Discovery Center 7am

Cookout at Jay's 4pm (just seeing you're paying attention :)

________________________
Monday May 31

Old Fashioned Memorial Day Celebration - Grantsville
http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/event.php?eventid=3836

Herrington Manor Hay Rides
http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/event.php?eventid=3717

Be safe, don't drink & drive, and have a blast this weekend! I'll see you on the lake!!


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

Honi-Honi gearing up for Memorial Day

I took a few shots of the haze melting off Tuesday morning. The Honi Honi looks quite inviting and seems to be ready for the summer crowd. I'm hoping to spend some time there in the very near future. Nothing starts the summer off quite like a cold beer on the lake with 1,000 other lake friends :)

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

Garrett commissioners OK final drafts of land ordinances

Megan Miller Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission gave its unanimous approval Tuesday to the final drafts of three amended ordinances to guide county land development.

“We’re at the end of the road here, so this is good, so far as these ordinances are concerned,” John Nelson, director of planning and land development, told the commission.

The newly adopted versions will go into effect June 1. But the long process of updating the three planning and land development ordinances — a subdivision ordinance, sensitive areas ordinance and Deep Creek watershed zoning ordinance — began more than a year ago, in April 2009.

The first versions spurred some public uproar over a provision that would affect the development of rural resource and agricultural resource land. That provision would have required at least 66 percent of subdivision land parcels in those areas to be set aside as “resource parcels,” or open land.

That requirement was removed in a later draft, after landowners objected that it infringed on private property rights and could potentially drive down property values by restricting land use. Instead, the document includes clustering as an option, and contains incentives to attempt to encourage that type of development.

A provision in the first draft of the updated Deep Creek watershed zoning ordinance also caused a stir because it would have put strict requirements on development on crests and ridge lines visible from the surface or shoreline of the lake. The proposed changes also would have required trees to be planted between structures and the lake to screen them from view.

But the strict requirements didn’t sit well with people specifically interested in those properties for the development potential and unobstructed lake views. In a later draft, the provision was changed to require only that trees be planted around the sides and rear of new structures to help them blend into the surrounding vegetation. No trees are required for the front, or lake-facing side.

The ordinance update was undertaken because state law requires the ordinances to be adjusted to remain consistent with changes to the county comprehensive plan. The current version of the plan was adopted in 2008.

Updated versions of the ordinance drafts and maps are available on the county website at www.garrettcounty.org

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

Their treat: Cops to give free desserts to kids in life jackets

From the Outdoors Girl blog:

From Deep Creek Lake to the waters around Ocean City, kids wearing life jackets while boating this summer could win a free dessert for putting safety first.

Following the worst season for boating fatalities in more than a decade, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers will be giving away coupons for Rita’s Italian Ice as part of a stepped up education and enforcement program. Also, coupons will be given out wherever the colorful “Wear-it, Maryland” truck is on display.

The coupons are good for a free Italian ice at any of Rita’s 80 Maryland shops.

Last year, Maryland had 16 fatal accidents, resulting in 17 deaths--the highest number in more than a decade. Sixteen of the 17 victims were not wearing life vests.


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

No “Sales Tax” on Home Sales in Recently Enacted Health Reform Bill

From MDRealtor.org:

Contrary to reports and newspaper articles circulating widely on the Internet, there is not a “sales tax” or “transfer tax” on the sale of a home included in the recently signed health care reform bill. The analysis underlying these reports is incorrect.

Beginning in 2013, the health bill imposes a new 3.8% Medicare tax on “net investment income” earned by taxpayers with Adjusted Gross Income of more than $200,000 for individuals or more than $250,000 for married couples. Since capital gains are included in the definition of net investment income, a tax obligation might result from the sale of real property. In the case of the sale of a principal residence, the existing $250,000/$500,000 exclusion from capital gains on the sale of a principal residence remains unchanged. Therefore, even when the AGI limits are met, the new tax would apply only to the gain realized on a home sale in excess of the $250K/$500K existing primary home exclusion that pushes the filer's AGI over the $200K/$250K adjusted gross income limit.




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

Government Affairs News - Maryland Realtor

From MDRealtor.org:

Governor Signs Short Sale Tax Prohibition Legislation
On May 20th, Governor Martin O'Malley signed hundreds of bills into law. Summaries of several real estate bills he signed are listed below, including three MAR priorities: legislation prohibiting the taxation of forgiven debt in short sales; legislation giving small businesses the ability to pay property taxes semiannually; and legislation regulating real estate teams.

HB 590/SB 657 – Taxation of Forgiven Debt in Short Sales
STATUS: PASSED – Effective May 20th, 2010.
Clarifies that recordation and transfer taxes may not be imposed on the forgiven debt in short sale transactions. Three counties (Anne Arundel, Prince George’s and Montgomery) began levying recordation taxes on the forgiven debt in short sale transactions at the end of 2009. MAR initially sought an opinion from the Attorney General regarding this practice. Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler released that opinion at MAR’s Legislative Day confirming that recordation taxes cannot be levied on the forgiven debt. HB 590/SB 657 strengthen his opinion and make clear that transfer taxes may not be imposed either.


HB 484/SB 1083 – Semiannual Payment Schedule – Small Business Property
STATUS: PASSED – Effective October 1, 2010 for tax years beginning after June 30, 2011.
Requires local governments to provide a semiannual payment schedule for small business property. Currently, local governments only provide the semiannual payment schedule for residential property. A small business property is defined as a property assigned a commercial use code by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and for which the annual property taxes do not exceed $50,000.


HB 199/SB 520 – Homestead Property Tax Credit – Federal Government Employees
STATUS: PASSED – Effective June 1, 2010 for tax years beginning after June 30, 2010
Extends the Homestead Property Tax Credit to federal employees stationed outside Maryland for a period not exceeding 6 consecutive years. Once the homeowner moves back to Maryland, the homeowner may reclaim the credit which will be calculated as if the credit had not been lost during the homeowner’s out-of-state residency.

HB 406 – Real Estate Licensees – Services Provided through Teams
STATUS: PASSED – Effective October 1, 2010
Regulates real estate teams and groups. It defines a real estate team as two or more associate brokers or licensed salespersons who work together on a regular basis to provide real estate brokerage services; who represent themselves to the public as being party of one entity; and who designate themselves a collective name such as a team or group. Each team must designate a team leader who has at least three years experience as a licensee. The team leader is responsible for supervising other team members and ensuring that the team adheres to all office rules, practices, and procedures established by the broker and or branch office manager. Advertisements for the team must include the name of the brokerage, the name of at least one licensed team member, and a telephone number of the broker or branch office manager.


HB 472 – Foreclosure Mediation
STATUS: PASSED – Effective July 1, 2010
Establishes a mediation process for homeowners facing foreclosure. Requires lenders to provide information detailing the lender’s efforts to avoid foreclosure with the homeowner. If the lender has not completed its consideration of foreclosure alternatives, the legislation provides a process for that to occur even after a foreclosure has been filed with the court. Allows a homeowner to opt for foreclosure mediation if the homeowner does not believe he/she was fairly considered for foreclosure alternatives. Provides additional funding for housing counselors to assist homeowners.

HB 711/SB 654 – Tenants in Foreclosure
STATUS: PASSED – Effective June 1, 2010
Largely conforms tenant disclosure legislation passed last year to the new federal Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (Public Law No: 111-22). While Maryland law only required lenders and foreclosure purchasers to give notice to tenants living in foreclosed property, the federal law actually extends tenant leases for at least 90 days after a foreclosure sale. HB 711/SB 654 gives tenants the same rights under Maryland law which exist in the federal law. However, unlike the federal law which terminates at the end of 2012, the state law has no automatic termination date.

HB 1399 – Required Notice of Housing Counseling Programs and Services
STATUS: PASSED – Effective January 1, 2011 contingent upon the adoption of regulations
Requires a lender to provide a borrower written notice recommending that the borrower complete homebuyer education or housing counseling and information about such programs. Lenders who must already refer borrowers to housing counseling are exempt. The law is effective January 1, 2011 contingent upon regulations being adopted before October 1, 2010 by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). If the regulation is not passed by October 1, 2010, the law does not take effect until 60 days after DHCD certifies adoption of the regulations to the Department of Legislative Services.


HB 475 – Sustainable Communities Act
STATUS: PASSED – Effective June 1, 2010
Extends for three years the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit and renames it as the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit. The bills would permit certain non-historic structures (such as transit oriented development, BRAC enterprise zones) to claim a reduced credit (10 percent of rehabilitation costs). Historic structures can still claim a credit for 20 percent of certified costs, and a 25 percent credit could be claimed for historic renovations which comply with LEED certification. Funding for the credits is capped, so not every eligible property will receive the credit.




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

Primary election taking shape in Garrett County

Commission, sheriff’s seats up for grabs

From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Several contested races have already formed for local offices in Garrett County’s Sept. 14 primary election, with the deadline to file candidate papers still months away.

Local offices open in 2010 include: all three county commission seats, state’s attorney, sheriff, clerk of courts, register of wills, judge of orphans court, three school board seats for Districts 1, 2, and 3, and the chairs of the Republican and Democratic central committees.

All three incumbent county commissioners are seeking to retain their seats, but at least two will face challengers in the primary.

Current commission chairman Ernest Gregg, R-Mountain Lake Park, will take on Gregan Crawford, R-Oakland, for the District 1 seat on the commission. Incumbent Fred Holliday, R-Grantsville, will vie with current board of education member Jim Raley, R-Frostburg, for the District 2 seat. In District 3, incumbent Denny Glotfelty, R-McHenry, is currently unopposed.

Two men have filed as Republican candidates for the office of sheriff, Robert E. Corley, Oakland, and Larry Gnegy, Oakland. The office is currently held by Gary Berkebile.

Incumbent Rita L. Watson, R-Oakland, will face Republican challengers Traci Royce, Oakland, and John K. Sines, Oakland, for register of wills. Watson was appointed register of wills after the retirement of Joseph DiSimone in June.

Five candidates have filed for three open positions as judge of the orphans court. The three candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to fill the positions.

Incumbents Clifford C. DeWitt, R-Oakland, James F. Margroff, R-Accident, and H. Wayne Wilt, R-Oakland, are seeking re-election, and face challenges from David C. Beard, R-Oakland, and Aria Knust, R-Oakland.

Incumbent Sondra R. Buckel, R-Bittinger, is running unopposed for re-election as clerk of the circuit court. It will be Buckel’s first time seeking the office in an election, as she was originally appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of David K. Martin in 2007.

In the nonpartisan board of education races, both current president Donald Forrester, Mountain Lake Park, and current vice president Thomas Carr, Accident, are, at this point, unopposed to retain their District 1 and 2 seats. No candidate has yet filed for the District 3 seat currently held by Rodney Durst, Oakland.

No candidate has yet filed for the offices of state’s attorney or either the Republican or Democratic central committee chairs.

At the state level, Sen. George Edwards, R-Grantsville, has filed to retain his seat representing District 1 in Annapolis, and Delegate Wendell Beitzel, R-Accident, has filed to retain his District 1A seat in the House of Delegates. Both are, so far, running unopposed.

The deadline for filing candidate papers is July 6.

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

Western Md. Group Aims For Deep Creek Trail Link

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) ― Some western Maryland tourism promoters says they're seeking state support for a proposed biking and hiking trail that would link Deep Creek Lake to the Great Allegheny Passage.

Savage River Lodge owner Mike Dreisbach (DRYS'-bahk) is president of Mountain Maryland Trails and vice president of Garrett Trails.

He says the proposed Continental Divide loop would connect to the Great Allegheny Passage at Meyersdale, Pa., and Confluence, Pa.

Dreisbach says the proposal is on the agenda for a western region roundtable that the Department of Natural Resources will hold June 3 at Greenbrier State Park near Boonsboro.

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

Emmaus Road Christian Store 301-387-8858

I had a spectacular time the other night at the Father-Daughter Gala at Faith Evangelical Free Church with my daughter, Kayleah. It was hosted by hosted by the Mt Top Crisis Pregnancy Center. It was MC'ed by Mike Saturday and his daughter Jessica. We had an incredible time and the food was catered by Jearbryo's (great job Bryon!). Seeing Mike reminded me of how great of a guy he is and I wanted to mention:

Mike Saturday's store, Emmaus Road Christian Store, is one of the best hidden treasures in Garrett County. They have a wealth of valuable books, learning materials, and gifts. We are truly blessed to have someone like Mike Saturday in Garrett County and I would love to see more folks supporting him and his business. Stop by and see them in the plaza across from Little Sandy's on Garrett Highway.



Emmaus Road Christian Store
(301) 387-8858
17781 Garrett Highway Ste A
Oakland, MD 21550


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

North-south corridor gets Continental 1 support

Buffalo, N.Y.-based group trying to connect roads from Canada to Florida

Kevin Spradlin Cumberland Times-News

— CUMBERLAND — The head of a local agency garnered support from a key stakeholder in the efforts to move along the expansion of U.S. routes 219 and 220.

Colleen Peterson, executive director of The Greater Cumberland Committee, traveled Friday with officials representing Somerset County, Pa., to Ridgway, about 85 miles north of Altoona. Peterson made the case for the north-south thoroughfares to Continental 1, formerly the Pennsylvania 219 Association that has lobbied for the project since the 1960s.

The trip, made with Somerset County Commission Chair John Vatavuk and Ron Aldom, executive director of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, was an apparent success.

Peterson made her presentation during Continental 1’s regular board meeting. She said forming a working relationship between the two entities — and supporting one another — simply makes sense.

“It just seemed we could help each other,” Peterson said of the transportation project, which she labeled an economic development project that could put thousands to work. “We can leverage each other’s resources.”

Peterson said Continental 1’s support for the local agency’s effort was unanimous, “which is great. I think they understand they need to do more to reaching out to organizations like ours. I think we did very well.”

Vatavuk agreed, and seconded a goal was to have Somerset and Cambria counties included in Continental 1’s transportation corridor.

“There wasn’t one objection to changing the route,” Vatavuk said. “That’s the first change they made to the route in the past 10 years. This was kind of a monumental effort.”

Vatavuk said Somerset County’s “main focus” is linking U.S. Route 219 North to Interstate 68 in Maryland.

While not entirely one-sided, the budding TGCC and its dedicated but recent effort to lobby for the 219 project is dwarfed by Continental 1. The Buffalo, N.Y.-based group has a larger “big picture” view – members envision a four-lane highway from Toronto, Canada to Miami, Fla. — and, having been around longer, have a larger pool of funds dedicated to advocate for the expansion.

Locally, The Greater Cumberland Committee already appears to have the support of the congressional delegations from Maryland and West Virginia. Pennsylvania lawmakers, however, have voted not to extend the use of toll credits to offset the required state match of 20 percent in order to access the federal government’s 80 percent share.

Toll credits include revenue from toll receipts, concession sales, right of way leases or interest and borrowed funds supported by the revenue stream. The federal transportation bill expired in 2009 but has been extended to the end of 2010. Vatavuk said the earliest lawmakers are expected to propose a new bill is spring 2011.

Clearly, Peterson said, there’s a connection between the two entities.

“I think the committee saw the synergy,” Peterson said. “I think we made a very good case statement.”

Peterson said the next steps include ensuring federal lawmakers from the surrounding states continue to support the project and instructing staff to put the expansion on each state’s consolidated transportation program, a long-term plan by each jurisdiction that identifies and prioritizes transportation projects.

That’s a key step, Peterson said, because even if the federal government identifies funding for the next phases, each state has final say on where that money is directed.

“The states still have to commit to prioritize the projects,” she said. “We have to constantly feed (lawmakers) and tell them where we are.”

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

Garrett could get ARC funding for projects

Megan Miller Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — Washington County’s loss could be Garrett’s gain, at least this year.

That’s because the Washington County Commission voted Tuesday to forfeit $400,000 in TEA-21 funding, a federal program based in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century that supports road development projects.

Washington County passed on the money because its project will not be ready to get off the ground in time to use the funds before they expire, at the end of the federal fiscal year, Sept. 30. And there’s a good chance that the $400,000 could be awarded instead to Garrett County, which has several projects already in the works.

Those include the Cherry Glade access road in Oakland to connect Third and Fourth streets on the parcel that formerly held a Garrett County Roads Department facility, as well as the second phase of development of the McHenry business park, according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

The Tri-County Council for Western Maryland administers TEA-21 funds for Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties. Assistant Director Guy Winterberg said Thursday that he was still awaiting official notification of the decision from Washington County.

Ultimately, he said, the Appalachian Regional Commission will have to approve any change in the funding distribution, since the ARC is responsible for allocating the funds. The state program manager will recommend that the funds be applied to a different project, and that county will be invited to apply for the funds.

“This late in the game, it will probably be a project that’s under way or will be under way very shortly,” Winterberg said.


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