Deep Creek Lake Real Estate Blog - Jay Ferguson

Deep Creek Lake Real Estate Blog - Jay Ferguson
EVERYTHING under the sun about Deep Creek Lake, Maryland! Deep Creek Lake Real Estate Information, Local News & Happenings in Garrett County Maryland, Current Events, Local Business Profiles, Upcoming Attractions, Vacation Rentals, Resort Realty, Community Profiles, Homes for Sale, Restaurants & Dining, Entertainment Schedules, Festivals & Gatherings, Churches & Charities, Wisp Ski & Golf Resort, Swallow Falls State Park, Youghiogheny & Casselman River, Garrett County Fair & more!

Friday, July 30, 2010

"Local" NFL Training Camps Begin - Deep Creek Lake teams




I wouldn't be a very good football fan if I didn't report that NFL teams of 'local' interest are back in training camp :) Of course, the Steelers pre-season games are always on local cable channels. The Redskins, however, aren't available on our cable network. The solution:

Black Bear Tavern. Keith always has the games on and it's a great atmoshpere to take in a game you may otherwise miss. I think the games being NEXT week.

And I guess I need to mention that the Ravens started camp, too....

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!


Hillbilly Gypsies tonight at Little Yough Music Festival

My wife and I are celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary today :) After dinner at Uno's & drinks at the Honi-Honi (courtesy of Jerry Ferguson Sr :), we're heading in to Oakland to the pavilion for some tunes by the river - the Little Yough Music Festival. Hope to see you there!

Tonight:
The Hillbilly Gypsies
When Fri Jul 30 7pm – 9pm Eastern Time
http://littleyough.com


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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Fishing is apparently still good at Deep Creek Lake

District Fishing Report - Post-Gazette
Friday, July 30, 2010
By Deborah Weisberg

Deep Creek Lake (Maryland): Dave Jenco of Brownsville and Jim Gwynn of Bentleyville won the walleye division of the annual Fish for Life Tournament to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with five walleyes totaling 7??-plus pounds. Reuben Johnson of Natrona Heights and Mike Kalafut of Uniontown caught the 3 1/3-pound lunker walleye. The bass division was won by Larry Beckman and Ben Newman, both of Oakland, Md., with four bass totaling almost 13 pounds, including a 4 1/3-pound largemouth that was the tournament lunker. John Richter and Joe Argiro, both of Connellsville, won the miscellaneous division with a 2 1/4-pound chain pickerel.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10211/1076357-358.stm#ixzz0vCDfFN2O

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

High Mountain Sports Annual Bust Largness Wakeboard Contest

I just got my invite from Steve Green at High Mountain Sports. Railey Realty is a sponsor.

Every year, HMS puts together the only wakeboard competition on Deep Creek Lake. This year, the riders really pulled out the full bag of tricks...Tons of backrolls, scarecrows, tantrums, and railey airs... Check out http://www.highmountainsports.com/

Check out the video from last year:





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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

More on fish kills in Maryland

The Maryland Department of the Environment is mandated by Environmental Article Section 4-405 (c) to oversee the investigation of fish kill incidents throughout the State.

The Fish Kill Investigation Section manages and coordinates the multi-agency, statewide fish kill response program. Staff is on call during the regular workweek and on weekends, holidays and after normal working hours to ensure that all fish kill reports are promptly addressed.

The presence of dead or distressed fish may indicate that a toxic substance has entered the waterway. For this reason, it is very important to quickly ascertain the facts, announce the findings, and institute corrective measures if practical.

Fish kills also result from a combination of natural and human induced stresses in the environment. Several elements may combine and act synergistically to overload stress tolerance levels and induce a fish kill. Typical stress factors may include population stress (crowding), spawning stress, reduced food abundance, excessive temperatures or sudden temperature change, parasite burdens, high or low pH, low oxygen levels caused by sewage or excessive algae (fueled by nutrient enrichment), salinity stress, chronic toxin levels (including metals and organics), and drought. Each incident is categorized according to the dominant stress factor detected.

More from the State website.
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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

State suspects hot weather in Deep Creek Fish kill

MCHENRY, MD. — Scientists say hot weather may be behind the deaths of about 500 fish at Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.

The state Department of the Environment said Thursday that high air temperatures this month warmed the lake's surface and created ideal conditions for an infestation of parasitic microorganisms that affect the gills of certain cold-water fish.

The agency says the fish kill is affecting mainly cold-water species such as yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike.

Environmental regulators and the state Department of Natural Resources are still collecting and analyzing water and fish samples. They say they won't know for sure what caused the kill for several weeks.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breaking/state-suspects-hot-weather-in-deep-creek-fish-kill-99555964.html#ixzz0v5oxTcnq


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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

What's Happening in Garrett County - community calendar

There's always some fun stuff happening in Garrett County:

Mountain Fresh Farmers Market - Oakland
Mountain Fresh Farmers Markets

Join us in downtown Oakland for a homegrown farmers market including fresh produce, baked goods, jams & jellies, crafts, personal care items, goat cheeses, and more!
Wednesdays & Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm

Jul 28th
Starts at 10:00 am , Lasts 3 Hours

Jul 31st
Starts at 10:00 am , Lasts 3 Hours

__________

Pocket Park Movie
Town of Oakland

07/29/2010
July 29th the movie is Secondhand Lions. Starts at 8:30. Admission is free, sponsored by Rudy's Clothing. Bring your own chair & blankets, popcorn & beverages are available for sale.

__________

Little Yough Summer Music Festival
Town of Oakland

06/18/2010
7 pm, Oakland Town Parking Lot/ Mountain Fresh Farmers Market. Bring a lawn chair and listen to the tunes!

July 30 The Hillbilly Gypsies

__________

Fred Thayer Memorial Golf Tournament
Town of Oakland

07/30/2010
Thousand Acres Lakeside Golf Club. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Fred Thayer scholarship Fund. For more info http://www.highlandfest.info/

__________

Annual Summer Luau
Honi-Honi

07/31/2010
Honi-Honi Bar, Starting at 1 pm. Enjoy the best of summer on Deep Creek Lake with a classic pig roast and a one-of-a-kind “Battle of the Bands” competition from 12-6 pm featuring Boathouse and Time Flies. http://www.honi-honi.com/, 301.387.9100.

__________

Music at Penn Alps Concert Series
Penn Alps Restaurant & Craft Shop

Ten concerts will be presented at MPA’s regular venue at Penn Alps, Grantsville, and two concerts at Windsor Hall in Cumberland. All concerts begin at 7:30 PM on Saturday evenings.

Event Website: http://www.musicatpennalps.org
Jul 31st

__________

Family LEGO SuGO Event
Tourism Events

GEARS Center in Accident, 1-4 pm.
Come design, create, and build a LEGO robot that will push your opponent off the SuGO ring.
All ages are welcome. Younger youth are welcome to come build with the LEGO WeDo's.
The G-FORCE FTC team also demonstrates their robot.
Check it out at http://sugo.gearsinc.org to pre-register for the event.

Aug 1st
__________

Barn Quilt Festival
Tourism Events

08/01/2010
Cove Run Farms Corn Maze, located along Griffith Road, Accident, 12:30 - 4:00 pm. Included in the day's events will be arts and crafts vendors displaying and selling their wares, a brown bag auction, recognition of current barn quilt owners and sponsors, live auction of barn & quilt themed items, and live music. Children’s games and a coloring contest will also take place. And the unveiling and dedication of a new barn quilt block! www.GarrettBarnQuilts.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


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

Mud, dead fish replace lake after Iowa dam break



This story struck me when I read it. This lake was 9 miles in length (Deep Creek Lake is 7 miles) and both lakes were built in the mid 1920's for hydro-electric power. Deep Creek is not fed by one main river, but many small streams. Still, the story is captivating to read:

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jul 26, 5:33 pm ET
DES MOINES, Iowa – Acres of mud strewn with dead fish greeted hundreds of eastern Iowa residents Monday after a weekend dam break left their lakefront properties overlooking little more than a small stream.

The Lake Delhi dam in Delaware County gave way under the rapidly rising Maquoketa River on Saturday, decimating the nine-mile-long lake and adjacent property values.

"The water's gone, dead fish are laying there on the bottom — it's a pretty nasty looking scene," said Irv Janey of Marion, who owns a condominium on Lake Delhi. "It was a beautiful recreation area and to see it drained, it just makes you sick."

Heavy rains last week forced the river to unprecedented levels, causing earthen portions of the dam to collapse and sending a torrent of water rushing downstream. The concrete section of the dam remained intact, but the swollen river damaged about half the 1,000 homes and cabins above it. The lake quickly emptied...

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Lunch at Black Bear Tavern with the Weavers

I just had a very enjoyable lunch at the Black Bear Tavern. I met with some past clients, Mark & Lori Weaver, and their son & daughter, Robbie & Jamieson. Great lunch (the Reuben :) and even better company. It's amazing how quickly kids grow up...it's been 7 years now that they have owned at Deep Creek Lake and they LOVE it! They have a rental home, Eagles Landing, on Stockslager Rd. It's an awesome house with a lot of privacy if you're in the market for a vacation rental...







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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Jumbo Loan Rates for Vacation Homes Significantly Lower - Railey Blog

By: Mike Kennedy
July 20th, 2010
Category: Deep Creek Lake Buyer Info, Interest Rates and Loans, Obtaining a Mortgage
The overall interest rate environment for buyers looking to finance a real estate purchase in the Deep Creek Lake second home resort market continues to improve as Jumbo Loan Rates have recently decreased as well. Current Jumbo Loan rates for loans over $417,000 are now in the the 5.25%-5.375% range. These rates are the lowest we’ve experienced since 2003 and may not last long! Last year at this time Jumbo Rates were on average about 1.00%-1.50% higher. The down payment requirement for a second home loan between $417,000-$650,000 is 20%. Loan amounts between $650,000-$1,000,000 requires 25% down and any loan amount over $1,000,000 requires 35% down.

Lower Jumbo Rates can have significant benefits for a vacation home buyer. First, the monthly payment is much lower resulting in substantial savings over the life of the loan. Secondly, it also allows a buyer to have more purchasing power allowing for other alternatives that may be more desirable to them. For example, last year at this time someone borrowing $480,000 at 6.5% for a $600,000 Deep Creek Lake home would have a monthly payment around $3,034. Right now with the lower Jumbo Rates, the payment on the same loan would be approximately $2,650 a month - or a savings of about $138,240 over the life of the loan.

In addition, if the same buyer decided to purchase something a little more expensive now - they could borrow approximately $550,000 - or $70,000 more - with the same monthly payment as last year at this time. This allows a buyer to consider other options that may be more desirable to them. In this market it could mean the difference between buying a lakefront house versus another type of setting. Or it could mean the difference between purchasing a bigger house with more features regardless of the setting.

These lower rates may not last long. This is a great opportunity to save a significant amount of money or to increase your purchasing power. If you are buying or selling Deep Creek Lake real estate contact us. We can be your trusted advisor and guide you through the entire process. Visit my 'Mortgage' page for more information on vacation or second home loans at Deep Creek 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 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Foggy morning on 4th Street in Oakland


Not too long ago, I took this amazing photo of the fog lifting with the sun starting to peek through near the hospital on 4th street...anyway, I found it today and I wanted to share.
If you have photos or stories, I'd love to share them! Check out the Facebook Group 'I Love Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County' or email me your photos/area stories 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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Lake view detached condo for sale Roman Ridge at Traders Landing


This is arguably the largest unit available in the Traders Landing & Roman Ridge community. Over 3,100 square feet with large lake views, 4 master suites and lots of living area to enjoy. AND, you can walk to Traders Coffee House for coffee & breakfast in the morning :) More from the listing:


Enjoy the comfort & privacy of a single family home with this 4BR, 4+BA, detached vacation home! Let the condo assoc. do the dirty work while you RELAX in over 3100 s/f of prime living space. Wide views of the lake from every room, 4 master suites (views!), custom rec room with billiards, eat-in kitchen, expansive deck, hot tub, reading loft and more! Leased boat slips & owner financing available.

55 JEFFREY LN #2
OAKLAND, MD 21550
$439,000
GA7267793

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Monday, July 26, 2010

June Existing Home Sales Drop 5.1%


By Tom Granahan
FOXBusiness

The economy got a rare dose of good news Thursday morning in the form of home sales that came in better than what economists were expecting.

The National Association of Realtors said existing home sales -- completed deals on single-family, townhomes, condos and co-ops -- came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.37 million June, versus the 5.2 million that was estimated. While the latest number represents a decline of 5.1% from May, and is a three-month low, it is 9.8% higher than the year-ago level of 4.89 million sales.

“June home sales still reflect a tax credit impact with some sales not closed due to delays, which will show up in the next two months,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist, referring to the government’s homebuyer tax credit that expired at the end of April . “Broadly speaking, sales closed after the home buyer tax credit will be significantly lower compared to the credit-induced spring surge. Only when jobs are created at a sufficient pace will home sales return to sustainable healthy levels.”

Analysts agree that a sustainable pick up in the housing market is largely dependent on the jobs market getting much healthier. Despite record-low rates on home mortgages, would-be buyers are either unable to afford a home because they can’t find work, or are reluctant to buy because of their uncertain job status.

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Garrett group hopes to show negative effects of consolidation

Kitzmiller councilman says keeping school top priority
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News

— KITZMILLER — While the Garrett County school board prepares to discuss closing elementary schools, a group of county residents is working to show what losing those schools could mean for their communities.

Parents, municipal officials and other concerned residents from areas like Crellin, Bloomington and Kitzmiller are organizing into a coalition called the Small Rural School Focus Group, to advocate for keeping all existing elementary schools in Garrett County.

“My biggest concern is about the communities,” said Angie Paugh, a Kitzmiller resident and mother of four with two children currently enrolled at Kitzmiller Elementary. “This is where my kids play after school. This is where they’re involved in sports. This is where we live. The whole town is really going to go if the school goes.”

The group held its first official meeting July 12, and is in the process of developing research and ways of sharing information with officials and the public on small rural schools in the educational system.

“We really, in Kitzmiller, see it a lot as a community development and revitalization issue,” said Matthew Paugh, a Kitzmiller town councilman not related to Angie Paugh. He pointed out that the town’s 2004 strategic plan called retaining the school its most important priority “by far.”

Paugh said the school is not only a place for educating children, but also a lifelong learning facility for the community. But for that to work, Garrett County’s school system must continue to maintain it.

“The town really doesn’t have the economic resources to pull that off alone, without having something else in that building,” he said.

Angie Paugh said the group’s aim is not to launch a negative campaign against the school system’s board, administrators or other employees. Instead, it will highlight what members believe is the crucial role of small rural schools, and will present the board with alternatives to consolidation.

“Research demonstrates that small neighborhood schools reduce the achievement gap, provide better education and bridge socioeconomic differences,” the group stated in a news release. “These schools serve as anchors for their communities.”

School officials have attributed the consolidation discussion partly to a budget crunch caused by major state funding reductions. The cuts include funds lost because of decreasing student enrollment and because of changes in the way the state calculates aid per pupil.

The board is expected to discuss a timeframe for considering consolidation in its August meeting. A decision on the issue was expected in December. But by law, the board would have until as late as April 2011 to vote on any school closures that would go into effect in the following academic year.

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

'Nasty storm' slams county: Flips a building with man inside at Sunset Beach

Monday, July 26, 2010 6:55 AM

(Source: The Dominion Post (Morgantown, W.Va.))By Evelyn Ryan, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

July 26--The storm front responsible for the heat advisory Friday and Saturday slammed through the Morgantown area shortly after noon Sunday, leaving temperatures in the mid-70s behind.

Winds gusting up to 20 mph felled trees, downed power lines and, at Sunset Beach, relocated a building onto a truck.

Things are i m p roving weatherwise -- at least for this week, AccuWeather Meteorologist Justin Povick said Sunday.

"For the next week, it looks like you will get a break from the intense heat and humidity," he said. "The temperatures through midweek will be closer to normal, with humidity on the low side [today] and Tuesday. Highs will range from 84-87."

Another storm system is projected to move through this area Thursday, leaving temperatures around 80 degrees for Friday and Saturday.

Sunday's storm dropped a half inch of rain in just 20-30 minutes, he said.

Brad Burns, an employee of Sunset Beach Marina, was in the wrong place at the wrong time when the storm arrived Sunday.

He was working at the marina when the high winds accompanying the storm swirled through the Cheat Lake area shortly after noon.

"I was standing on the back of a boat when it hit," he said. "It picked me up and threw me into the front of the boat. I looked up just in time to see the building flip over and land on my truck."

Marina Owner Barry Frey added, "One of my workers was in the shed. It turned over right around him. Sometimes you have to give God credit -- thankfully, no one was hurt."

Lack of the building won't keep the marina from operating, he said, but it is a loss to the business.

Emergency crews weren't needed at the lake. Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Bernie Murray said they were called out, but the call was canceled as they were starting out.

"The wind came up the lake and flipped the building," he said.

The quick-moving storm was accompanied by a tornado warning for northeastern Monongalia and Preston counties, Fayette County, Pa., and Garrett County, Md., Povick said. The warning ran from 12:30-1 p.m.

Widespread wind damage was reported from Hazelton to Friendsville, Md., with many reports of damaging winds gusting at an estimated 55-65 mph right along the Interstate 68 corridor, he said.

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

New Home Sales Jump in June, Pace Remains Slow

Published July 26, 2010
Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Sales of new homes jumped last month, but it was the second-weakest month on record. The lackluster economy has made potential buyers skittish about shopping for homes.
New home sales rose nearly 24 percent in June from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 330,000. May's number was revised downward to a rate of 267,000, the slowest pace on records dating back to 1963. Sales for April and March were also revised downward.

The housing market had boomed earlier in the year on the strength of federal tax credits. Since they have expired, the number of people looking to buy has dropped even with the lowest mortgage rates in decades.

Despite the month's increase, sales are still down 72 percent from their peak annual rate of 1.39 million in July 2005.

New homes sales made up about 7 percent of the housing market last year. That's down from about 15 percent before the bust. Weak sales mean fewer jobs in the construction industry, which normally power economic recoveries.

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Trying to be Laser quick


Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It's only $9.95/year for the online edition!

...were the young captains of these Laser sailboats, who competed in the Laser Junior Regatta at Deep Creek Lake this past weekend. This competition, along with the Laser Adult Regatta and the Women's Flying Scot Regatta, were all held by the Deep Creek Yacht Racing Association, with races being conducted on both Saturday and Sunday. Winning the junior event was Josh Bullock, followed by John Benhart, Jessica Burnham, and Nate George. Weather conditions for sailing, as well as multiple other sports on the Mountaintop, have been nearly ideal so far this summer. Although a bit warmer than usual, still comfortable compared to the conditions in many other parts of the state and East Coast.

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Board Of Education Members Question 2010 Maintenance Plan

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It's only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 22, 2010

With discussions of possible school closures on the horizon, the Garrett County Board of Education recently faced controversy over the 2010 Education Facilities Maintenance Plan that was presented by Jim Thomas at the recent board meeting. Thomas is the director of facilities and maintenance for all area schools, and the plan outlines ratings for each school to describe the quality of the facility.

At the start of the meeting, when the agenda was being discussed, it was suggested by board member Thomas Carr that it be added to the agenda a brief discussion about where things are headed with the upcoming school closure issue. Board member Jim Raley commented that it would not be fair to the public to add something "so critical" to the agenda after the original agenda was sent out.

Formal discussion has yet to take place on this issue, and plans are set for the August meeting to address the concerns. The amendment was withdrawn and the original agenda was approved unanimously by the board.

Thomas then took the floor to present the changes recently made to the maintenance master plan, with the ultimate goal being that the board approve the changes and the plan would then be submitted to the state. Thomas and eight other employees give input on the stability and conditions of the facilities currently in use by the county school system.

Raley voiced one of his conerns over the plan, noting that certain facility ratings have dropped drastically in the last year. When comparing the 2009 ratings and the 2010 ratings of Kitzmiller Elementary School, for example, a total of 15 areas dropped from fair or good condition to poor. Raley questioned whether this had something to do with the impending closing of this or other schools.

"I have trouble believing that this document will not become part of a case," said Raley.

"What you're saying about our staff is they've got some kind of hidden agenda or motive going on," said member Rodney Durst.

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

MDE Fines MLP Couple For Alleged Wetlands Violation

Support the Republiucan Newspaper! It's only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Jul. 22, 2010


The Maryland Department of the Environment has announced 25 recent major enforcement actions seeking penalties totaling $1.2 million for alleged violations of MDE requirements for water, air and radiation management, and land.

A Mountain Lake Park couple was among those cited. Michael and Dawna Ashby paid $1,500 to the Maryland Nontidal Wetlands Compensation Fund on May 7 to resolve alleged nontidal wetlands violations, including failing to obtain MDE authorization for disturbing 400 square feet of emergent wetlands and 1,800 square feet of wetlands buffer.

Corrective actions have been completed, according to an MDE press release.

"The Maryland Department of the Environment's top priority is to protect public health and our environment, and a consistent baseline of enforcement actions prevents further pollution and risks to public health," said MDE Secretary Shari T. Wilson. "The vast majority of Maryland businesses which are in compliance deserve to have environmental laws fairly applied across the board."

State law requires that prior to performing construction activity, a person obtain and implement a Soil Conservation District-approved erosion and sediment control plan for any proposed land clearing or earth disturbance greater than 5,000 square feet, which must be maintained for the life of the project.

It is unlawful for any person to introduce soil or sediment into waters of the state or to place soil or sediment in a condition or location where it is likely to be washed into waters of the state.

State law requires that property owners notify MDE before conducting any work in tidal and nontidal wetlands, their buffers, and waterways of the state. MDE assesses the impact of any work on tidal and nontidal wetlands and, if appropriate, will issue a permit authorizing the work.

For more information, persons may visit http://mde.state.md.us

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, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!