Troopers log 455 local traffic stops during holiday travel period

From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Maryland state troopers in Allegany and Garrett counties logged 455 traffic stops during the Thanksgiving holiday traffic enforcement period.

In Allegany County, troopers of the Cumberland barrack logged 243 traffic stops throughout the county during the five-day enforcement period.

Those troopers issued 128 traffic citations and 178 warnings. They also arrested two people for driving under the influence and made six criminal arrests. Troopers responded to five motor vehicle accidents, according to Lt. Todd May, commander of the Cumberland barrack.

In Garrett County, troopers of the McHenry barrack logged 212 traffic stops, issued 123 citations and 128 warnings.

Those troopers handled one traffic accident investigation, one drug arrest and one warrant arrest from Nov. 23 through 27, according to a barrack official.

Statewide, troopers issued more than 10,000 traffic citations and warnings as part of a variety of increased enforcement efforts that ranged from DUI patrols to cargo theft prevention.

Maryland State Police increased patrols throughout the holiday period and focused enforcement efforts on drunken driving, aggressive driving and speeding. Troopers issued 5,231 citations and 5,009 warnings for traffic violations from Wednesday through Sunday.

Troopers also made 156 criminal arrests during that period.

The officers worked special drunken driving saturation patrols throughout Maryland and arrested 113 suspected drunken drivers.

Troopers responded to 284 traffic crashes statewide. Maryland State Police investigated five fatal crashes in which six people were killed. Two of those crashes occurred in Frederick County and the others occurred in Washington, Harford and Queen Anne’s counties.

The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division was busy in the days leading up to the holiday. Those troopers conducted “Operation Night Owl,” an extra enforcement initiative aimed at preventing cargo theft and reducing the number of unsafe commercial vehicle operating during the period of increased travel.

From Nov. 18 through 23, enforcement division troopers conducted 1,260 commercial vehicle inspections. Troopers placed 133 commercial vehicles out of service for serious equipment violations and placed 137 commercial drivers out of service for being unqualified, exceeding drive hours or other safety regulation violations.

Working in weigh stations and using portable scales, troopers found 205 of the trucks they checked to be overweight. The enforcement division troopers issued 746 citations and 644 warnings.

Maryland State Police traffic safety efforts will be continuing through the New Year’s holiday. Initiatives will be worked in cooperation with local law enforcement, the Maryland Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Maryland lawmakers consider Marcellus shale gas tax

Posted: Monday, November 28, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 8:44 am, Mon Nov 28, 2011.

By GREG MASTERS Capital News Service | 0 comments

ANNAPOLIS Maryland lawmakers are starting to debate how much "severance tax" should be imposed on the natural gas that might be produced from the Marcellus Shale rock formation in Western Maryland.

Though it is not clear when, or even whether, Maryland will allow drilling in the Marcellus Shale using the controversial gas extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," an advisory commission created by Gov. Martin O'Malley to develop recommendations is already considering potential sources of revenue for the state from natural gas production.

Garrett County would impose a 5.5 percent county tax.

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Garrett church to again host Christmas puppet show

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Pleasant View Baptist Church will again present a Christmas Puppet Show entitled “An Unexpected Christmas’’ written by Donna VanLiere to be held over two weekends in December.

“A winter storm has left one disgruntled group of travelers stranded in a train station. Unable to do anything but stare at each other, this unlikely mix — one Christian, one doubter, one serious skeptic and one goofball — strike up a serious conversation about the Christmas story and the miracle of Jesus.’’

This light-hearted story combines a powerful message told by Jim-Henson-style puppets with special lighting and effects, multimedia, a multi-level 40-foot stage, and lots of upbeat, catchy Christmas songs to help get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

The puppet show will be held over two weekends, with 12 different performances.

The schedule is as follows: Fridays, Dec. 9 and 16 at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays Dec. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m, 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.; and Sundays Dec. 11 and 18 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

There is no cost for the presentation, but seats are limited at each showing so persons must have reservations.

“This is our gift to your whole family this Christmas season. Its not just for children,’’ said Senior Pastor Wally Weeks, Pleasant View Baptist Church.

The church is located two miles south of Oakland along U.S. Route 219. Reservations can be made online at www.pleasantviewbc.org or by calling the church office at 301-334-8515.

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Tangy cranberry holds important holiday role as fruit of the season

Matthew Bieniek Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — While the turkey likely will always hold center stage at Thanksgiving, the tangy cranberry seems destined to hold an important supporting role in the pageant of food that graces Thanksgiving tables in Western Maryland and across America.

Cranberries are part of family traditions.

“My Mom used to make the best cranberry relish. She would take the cranberries, some apples and some oranges, peel them all, and grind them up in an old handcrank table-top grinder. Then she would add sugar to flavor and let it sit a few days before Thanksgiving,” said Glenn C. Riffey of Cumberland. His mom’s tradition continues today. “My brother now makes it, when he thinks about it, and he does a pretty good job of it. But Mom’s was the best . ...”

Some other folks put cranberries on the turkey sandwiches made from leftovers on Friday.

Cranberries are native to North America and today are important to the agricultural economies of several states, especially Wisconsin and Massachusetts.

While cranberries sold in stores are cultivated in several states, wild cranberries grow in some areas of Western Maryland. The wild cranberries need cool temperatures to thrive, as they do in some area nature preserves and state lands. Cranberries can be found in the Cranesville Swamp, located in West Virginia and Garrett County, according to The Nature Conservancy, which is protecting the swamp.

“There are two types of cranberries at Cranesville. ... The large cranberry, whose shiny red berries can be up to one inch wide, is the same species grown for commercial harvest,” according to a pamphlet produced by the conservancy. The cranberries are eaten by birds, fox, raccoons and bears, the pamphlet says.

Cranberries also grow in the Finzel Swamp and the Mt. Nebo Wildlife Management area, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The bogs in which the berries grow are 18,000 years old, which rank them near the oldest peat bogs in North America, according to the DNR.

The United States Department of Agriculture predicted a 10 percent increase in the cranberry harvest in 2011, a prediction that seems to be coming to fruition. Cranberry production was expected to total more than 6 million barrels in 2011, with Wisconsin producing 4.30 million and Massachusetts 2.10 million of the total. A barrel of cranberries weighs 100 pounds.

“While most people think the majority of cranberries are consumed at Thanksgiving, about 20 percent are consumed during Thanksgiving week. The rest are consumed throughout the year in juice, as sweetened and dried products and as ingredients. The per capita consumption is a little over two pounds a year,” according to the website of The Cranberry Marketing Committee.

Like every other product, cranberries had an experience with negative publicity during the “cranberry scare” of 1959, according to the American Council of Science and Health. Just before Thanksgiving, a panic started when federal officials warned cranberries were contaminated with a weed killer that produced cancer in lab rodents. The actual fact was that the chemical would only cause problems at a level requiring consumption of 15,000 pounds of cranberries every day for years. Supermarkets stopped selling the berries and cranberry products. It took the industry a while to recover. But recover it did, as any Thanksgiving feast will show.

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com

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Maryland's Native American Tribes Struggle for State Recognition

Local Native American tribes struggle as recognition passes them by.

November 23, 2011

By Emaun Kashfipour, Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS - Every year around this time, Thanksgiving reminds many Americans of the relationship between Native Americans and Pilgrims who shared a meal hundreds of years ago.

But in Maryland, today's Native Americans are not as well-known.

There are more than 20,000 Native Americans living in Maryland, according to the most recent census, and there are eight indigenous tribes who form and operate communities just like any other group.

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Grants benefit local homeless shelters

The Family Crisis Resource Center will receive $9,020 and the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission is the recipient of $30,030.

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Programs in Allegany and Garrett counties that provide emergency shelter will benefit from grant money awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the state of Maryland.

Gov. Martin O’Malley announced the award of more than $578,000 to 48 programs across the state.

Locally, the Family Crisis Resource Center will receive $9,020 and the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission is the recipient of $30,030.

The Garrett County Community Action Committee will receive $23,000.

The grants are awarded to the county commissioners to distribute to the agencies.

Emergency solutions grants help local jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations provide emergency and transitional housing services for homeless individuals and families in 21 Maryland jurisdictions. Last year, the agencies funded by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development helped 7,389 individuals. In addition to emergency shelter, the grants help fund support services to help individuals and families find long-term affordable housing solutions — a key component of the governor’s plan to end homelessness by 2015.

“These grants support a broad range of housing and services — from street outreach and safe havens for those with serious health conditions and mental illness to transitional and permanent homes that families need to start rebuilding their lives,” said DHCD Secretary Raymond Skinner.

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Turkeys raised by Garrett farmer gobbled up

Purchasing of fresh, all-natural birds a growing national trend

Angie Brant Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — As we gather to observe the Thanksgiving holiday, many will be dining on a golden-brown roasted turkey. Meal preparations often include a trip to the grocery store to pick up a frozen turkey, but for others, shopping is done on the back roads of Garrett County.

William Lantz, senior agent at the Garrett County Cooperative Extension, said the practice of purchasing fresh turkeys is a growing trend. The number of farms raising fresh turkeys is small, but successful.

Lantz said consumers are demonstrating an increased interest in how crops are grown, and in the case of livestock and poultry, how the herd or flock is fed and raised.

The number of frozen turkeys purchased and prepared each year is far above the total of fresh turkeys sold, but one area farmer said his sales are growing with each passing year.

Sam Yoder said that nearly every one of his birds was spoken for by the beginning of November. He said many of his orders are secured through stops at his family’s produce stand. Yoder operates a century-old farm that has passed through his family for several generations. On the 170-acre farm on Pleasant Valley Road, Yoder and his family raise chickens, turkeys and draft horses.

Yoder has raised turkeys for more than 25 years. Initially, he raised a cross-breed of domesticated and wild turkeys, but changes in state policy forced him to change his flock to double-breasted white turkeys. For the past several years, he has increased the number in his flock to 300, based on demand.

Yoder prides himself in offering an all-natural turkey and said he raises nearly all the feed for his flock on the farm. He does not feed the turkeys any artifical additives or antibiotics. Yoder and other area farmers also raise turkeys for an eco-friendly market in the Virginia area. Yoder sent 50 birds to the market every month, beginning in August.

Many of Yoder’s orders are standing orders and buyers order their bird for the following year on the day they pick up their turkey for Thanksgiving. He said he even has a few customers who travel to his farm in the summer months to see how he raises the birds. 

“I have even had customers come and take pictures of the turkeys with their cell phones to show their families on Thanksgiving Day,” he said with a chuckle.

Once an order is placed, Yoder asks each customer to choose a day for pickup. Most birds are dressed just hours before pickup and Yoder never freezes the birds, he merely chills them. Fresh turkeys are sold based on weight after they have been dressed.

“The general rule of thumb is that toms will lose around nine pounds and hens lose around seven pounds after we dress them. For a large turkey, say one weighing 50 pounds, it would not be unusual for it to lose 10 pounds,” he said.

He said the majority of his sales are for whole birds and many times the birds are too large for standard-size roasters. One of his early sales was a bird weighing 46 pounds at dressed weight.

Raising turkeys is not difficult for Yoder, who said he abides by a simple adage, “Turkeys are either healthy or they are dead.”

The first step in the process, beginning at a hatchery, is the fertilization of eggs. The eggs hatch in 28 days and the young turkeys are called poults. The poults are then shipped to farms across the country, including the one owned by Yoder, within 24 hours. Yoder said the poults are at their most vulnerable when they are being shipped, through the U.S. mail, because of the temperature and shipping measures. It is imperative to keep the young poults warm. For the next five weeks, the young turkeys are carefully monitored and kept warm; this is called brooding.

According to Yoder, the size of the bird is largely dependent upon the length of the growing cycle. The typical life cycle is 16 to 18 weeks for an average-size turkey. For larger turkeys, a life cycle of 26 to 28 weeks is required.

Yoder said the difference between the taste and flavor of a fresh versus frozen turkey is subjective.

“The main thing that I hear is that customers want to know where and how they are raised and be sure that they are indeed fresh and all-natural,” he said.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving in the U.S. In 2010, more than 242 million turkeys were raised, with an average live weight per bird of 28 pounds, with nearly 6 billion pounds of turkey processed.

Contact Angie Brant at abrant @times-news.com.

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Cover story: Is now the time to buy a second home?

By Michele Lerner SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

If you long to retire within sight of the Chesapeake Bay, by the shores of Deep Creek Lake or atop the mountains at Wintergreen, you may be thinking about taking advantage of today’s low interest rates and affordable prices to buy your golden-years dream home right now.

Financial advisers and Realtors suggest that while this might be the right move for some homeowners, the decision to buy a second home should be made only after careful consideration of the impact the choice would have on finances and lifestyle.

“The first and most important consideration is to make sure that buying another home doesn’t compromise your overall financial plans,” said Ronya Corey, a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch in the District.

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Judge grants new trial for W.Va. man in Garrett deputy's 1979 slaying

By DON AINES dona@herald-mail.com

2:16 p.m. EST, November 23, 2011
HAGERSTOWN—
More than three decades after he was convicted of killing a Garrett County Sheriff’s deputy, Roberto Oskar Rezek was granted a new trial this week in Washington County Circuit Court.

Judge Daniel W. Moylan on Monday reversed Rezek’s 1980 convictions for first-degree murder, robbery and other offenses in the 1979 shooting of Deputy David Livengood during a burglary at an Army-Navy surplus store in Oakland, Md., court records said.

Moylan ruled that the instructions on the law given the jury by Judge Frederick C. Wright III should have been binding and not advisory. In his opinion Moylan cited two Maryland Court of Appeals decisions in 1980 and 1981 which the state’s highest court ruled “the court’s instructions are binding on the jury.”

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Augie's Adventures: Goodyear DuraTracs first field test

Posted: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 7:00 am

By Andy Aughenbaugh, Times Outdoors Writer | 0 comments

Back in October, I spent some time in Garrett County chasing whitetails. The recent rains had the trails on our hunting lease wet and muddy. The logging operation on a section of the property had the main access road a clayey muddy mess.

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Garrett wind project fined by MDE

CUMBERLAND — A wind project in Garrett County was among 51 recent major enforcement actions taken by the Maryland Department of the Environment for alleged violations of requirements for land, air and radiation management, water and wetlands.

White Construction, Synergics Roth Rock Energy LLC finalized a settlement agreement to resolve alleged sediment control violations that occurred during the construction of the Roth Rock Wind Farm near Red House. The agreement requires White Construction to pay a $35,000 penalty to the Clean Water Fund.

Ronald Eversole paid $1,000 to the Clean Water Fund to resolve alleged sediment control violations associated with a fill site in Cumberland.

Three Allegany County property owners were alleged to be out of compliance with lead risk reduction standards.

David Ghunaim and Jacqueline V. Ghunaim of Oldtown were issued an administrative complaint, order and penalty seeking a combined $16,500 for alleged violations at one property.

Michael G. Hughes of Cumberland was issued an administrative complaint, order and penalty seeking $22,000 for alleged violations at two properties.

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Draft Marcellus study raises concerns for county commissioners

CUMBERLAND — A great economic development opportunity for Garrett and Allegany counties, and the state of Maryland, will be at stake if a draft study is adopted by a commission examining drilling for natural gas in Marcellus shale formations, said Allegany County Commissioner Bill Valentine.

“From what I see, the state wants to make (drilling) so restrictive that they’ll never come in,” Valentine said.

The draft report includes a proposal shifting the burden of proof for civil liability in accidents and damages that could be related to Marcellus shale drilling.

Valentine is a member of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission appointed by Gov. Martin O’Malley, that met last week in Garrett County.

While the draft report is labeled “for discussion purposes only,” Valentine said in his mind it’s where the majority of the commission seems to be headed.

“If there are any problems, the presumption is the driller is guilty,” said Valentine. “I would think there would be constitutional issues,” with that approach, he said.

The language is contained on page 22 of the draft report, which is available online at the link below.

“The law could provide that, if the parties fail to agree, the permittee would be strictly liable to the resident, landowner or business for damage caused by the activity,” the draft study reads.

There are somewhat similar laws related to coal mining, although in those cases, the presumption is rebuttable, according to the draft study.

Special laws aren’t needed to address environmental concerns related to drilling.

“We’ve already got the laws on the books,” Valentine said.

Allegany County Commissioner Creade Brodie Jr. is also concerned about the situation.

“I ran on it in my campaign. We have potentially the biggest economic windfall to Allegany County in a long time. It’s happening all around us; if we wait a couple of years, it will be too late,” Brodie said. “I don’t understand this ... in these economic times,” he said.

“A lot of it has not been thoroughly discussed,” Valentine said. The first draft recommendations are due Dec. 31, and the December meeting is now planned as a conference call. That idea doesn’t sit well with Valentine. The shale commission plans to present recommendations on legislation to tax drilling and establish liability standards by the end of the year.

Recommendations on best practices for natural gas exploration and production are to be delivered by Aug. 1, 2012, and a final report including environmental impacts of drilling is to be issued by Aug. 1, 2014.

“These meetings are supposed to be open to the public. How do you make a conference call open to the public?” Valentine asked. Besides, the last meeting lasted 4 1/2 hours.

Another point of contention is that the draft report includes language advocating laws essentially telling counties how to spend the money they receive from mineral severance taxes.

The report advocates putting the revenue into a special fund to build the counties’ human and physical capital and also aid those adversely affected by gas drilling.

Valentine was also concerned that the commission voted to eliminate its goals statement on page six of the draft study, which included ensuring that “the citizens of Maryland, especially those most impacted by the industry, receive significant benefits from gas production.”

The vote on eliminating the goals was nine to six, Valentine said. This was supposed to be a study, but “most people have already made up their minds,” he said.

If the process continues to drag on, potential natural gas developers will conclude “it’s not worth it to us and move on,” Valentine said.

Marcellus shale formations throughout the eastern United States harbor large untapped natural gas resources. The total value of the natural gas in Allegany County’s Marcellus shale could be close to $15.72 billion, with the average well earning $65,000 to $524,000 yearly, University of Maryland Extension staff has said.

In order to get the gas trapped in Marcellus shale to the surface, chemicals, water and sand are pumped underground to break apart rock formations and free the gas.

To view the draft study, visit: http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Land/mining/marcellus/Pages/upcoming_meetings.aspx

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Maryland weighs risks, rewards of shale gas drilling

Posted: Monday, November 21, 2011 9:00 am | Updated: 9:54 am, Mon Nov 21, 2011.

By Sarah Meehan Capital New Service | 0 comments

WASHINGTON -- Critics have blamed hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," for environmental disturbances including landscape degradation, air pollution and groundwater contamination -- conditions which may affect the health of surrounding areas. But the jury is still out on whether these claims are valid.

"We still see it as very early days of the process here. ... At this point, we're still collecting data," said Samuel Lesko, a Northeast Regional Cancer Institute physician who is exploring fracking's health impacts on Pennsylvanians. "We're trying to be very broad about it since we don't know what types of illnesses might be attributed to these activities."

Although the effects of fracking remain undefined, its threats are gaining credence as drilling creeps closer to Garrett and Allegany Counties.

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Monday Roundup: Motivation and Land Values

Bill Dunlap is a Maryland artist who uses barns as his canvas. See his other work here. Dunlap wrote about this project: "This is a barn in progress, although I probably won't be able to finish it until we get warm weather again in the spring, and painting on lap siding is a slow process. The barn is in Garrett County, in Western Maryland. In the spring I'll be adding more elements and poetry. The poem will be something great from local Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Stephen Dunn."

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Overall, Deep Creek Lake Is Healthy, Stresses DNR Secretary John Griffin

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Nov. 17, 2011

Deep Creek Lake is healthy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin stressed during the Garrett County commissioners' public meeting on Tuesday afternoon at St. Peter's Catholic Church parish hall in Oakland. More than 100 people attended the 2½-hour event, which focused on DCL issues.

Griffin and other state officials updated local residents and property owners about the status of the lake, reviewed their plans and goals for the watershed, and listened to public comments.

"Based on our three years of monitoring data, the overall state of the lake is healthy, which is good news – good water quality, diverse plant and animal life, and moderate loads of nutrients," Griffin said. "That's not to say there aren't some areas of concern."

As stressed by DCL property owners at the meeting, those concerns include sediment build-up in certain coves, the increase of an invasive plant called Eurasian watermilfoil, and low-water levels. Individually and collectively, owners indicated, these three major factors prevent them from using and enjoying their land to its fullest extent, which includes swimming, boating, and business development.

"We realize there's been a lot of concern over the last year [about Eurasian watermilfoil]," said Director Bruce Michael, DNR resource assessment. "People are complaining that it's exploding over the lake."

He said field staff conducted an initial reconnaissance survey of the plant earlier on Tuesday to prepare for a more detailed study that will be conducted in the upcoming spring and summer. Michael said a targeted strategy would then be developed to assess the spatial distribution of the plant over the entire lake. That survey and existing data will then be used to develop a plan in 2012 to address the issue.

"We're going to work with the property owners to look at some potential intermediate steps that we can do to protect infrastructure for the upcoming year," Michael said.

He noted, however, that Eurasian watermilfoil is very difficult to tackle.

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Paying respect

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Military veterans of the United States were honored Friday, Veterans Day, across the country, and Garrett County took part in the observance. Various ceremonies were held throughout the area, including a parade and commemoration event in the county seat. A parade with veterans and the Southern Garrett Marching Band got under way in the morning, leading to the Garrett County Courthouse. While the original plan was to have the proceedings outdoors at Veterans Park, blowing snow resulted in a change of venue, and the crowds gathered inside the rotunda for the remainder of the ceremony. Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank, retired assistant Air Force surgeon general, offered the speech for the day, and members of both the American Legion Post 71 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10077 provided the welcome, invocation, special singing, the placing of the wreathes, and a 21-gun salute. Pictured is U.S. Marine Corps veteran Paul Shogren, quietly offering his salute to fallen comrades. Photo by John McEwen.

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Wisp Winter White Sale

Wisp Winter White Sale - Saturday, November 19, 2011

There have been snow flurries throughout the day here in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Mother Nature & Old Man Winter are helping prep the stage for the Wisp Winter White Sale, only two days away!

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Renewable energy in Constellation deal questioned

Posted: Nov 17, 2011 11:26 AM EST
Updated: Nov 17, 2011 11:48 AM EST
By ALEX DOMINGUEZ
Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) - Promises to build more renewable energy sites in Maryland as part of the proposed sale of Constellation Energy to Chicago's Exelon Corp. are drawing opposition in western Maryland.

The chairman of the Garrett County Board of Commissioners wrote Exelon President and CEO Christopher Crane this month saying industrial wind-power generation has been a contentious issue in the county.

The board "does not support further industrialization of ridge tops until a prudent and reasonable public policy has been created and enacted that will provide protections to those who will be adversely impacted," Chairman Gregan Crawford said in the letter.

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Despite some concerns, Deep Creek Lake relatively healthy

Elaine Blaisdell
The Cumberland Times-News Wed Nov 16, 2011, 11:30 PM EST

OAKLAND — Despite some issues, three years of data show Deep Creek Lake is healthy, John Griffin, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.

“(The lake has) good water quality, diverse plant and animal life and a moderate load of nutrients. That’s not to say there aren’t some areas of concern,” Griffin said during a public meeting in Oakland.

Those concerns include an invasive aquatic plant known as Eurasian water milfoil, the deaths of about 1,000 fish last year, deepening sediment in some coves and low water levels.

“I think we our on the verge of a new era,” Griffin said. “Generally the lake is healthy and we want to keep it that way and that means we need to develop a much more prominent relationship with everyone with the county and the town of Friendsville to keep it the way it is and solve some of these problems so they don’t become major problems.”

Nicole Christian, president and CEO of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, wants the state to help promote a positive image of the lake, noting that a negative portrayal could have an effect on tourism and real estate.

“We need you guys to help to spread the message that the lake is in good health because, right now, the only message that is out there is about sewage spills, fish kills, that the lake is in poor health or sediment is filling it in,” said Christian. “Not that there aren’t issues, but we need to handle those issues here locally working with our partners. We don’t really need that battle fought in the media.”

Sixteen sites are used to monitor lake conditions and the water is tested and sampled during all seasons, said Bruce Michael, the DNR’s director of resource assessment. The agency is establishing a water treatment program that will assess trends in data and look at potential impacts of development and land use changes.

“We want to make sure we assess the health of the lake at these potential impacts,” Michael said.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Friendsville Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle, Councilman Jess Whittemore and Charlie Walbridge of American Whitewater spoke about the importance of lake levels to the whitewater rafting businesses in Friendsville.

Griffin said recreation on the lake is important and that one of DNR’s goals is to continue to preserve the lake and maintain it as a recreational and economic asset for the county and the state.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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The 15: Alternatives To Watching The NBA

5. Getting antsy? Jump in the car and head west to check out Deep Creek Lake. It will take your breath away. And while in that part of the state, try a visit to Sharpsburg and the nearby Civil War battlefield of Antietam. One day in September 1862, more than 23,000 Americans were killed or injured -- brother against brother, father against son, the terrible war that nobody won.

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Real Estate: Why home prices won't bottom out

By John Wasik

Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:30pm EST

(Reuters) - Watching the U.S. home market struggle to rebound is like listening to children in the back of a car. No, we're not there yet.

The National Association of Realtors reported that ten real estate markets are "leading the nation toward a general recovery and stability of the housing sector," but myriad problems are going to weigh down the housing market for months to come.

The lingering malaise in the economy has triggered a new wave of defaults and foreclosures. After five straight quarterly drops, foreclosures nationwide shot up 14 percent from the second to third quarter this year, according to data released by Realtytrac, the foreclosure information service (see link.reuters.com/kaw94s), in October.

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FireFly Farms Creamery & Market Limited Edition Gift Crate Samplers

FireFly Farms Creamery & Market (http://www.fireflyfarms.com), producer of artisanal goat cheeses from Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau, is pleased to announce the availability of their 2011 limited edition gourmet gift crate samplers—appetizing treats for your favorite holiday host, cherished friend, or appreciated business-client this winter season.

Accident, MD (PRWEB) November 16, 2011

FireFly Farms Creamery & Market (http://www.fireflyfarms.com), producer of artisanal goat cheeses from Maryland’s Allegheny Plateau, is pleased to announce the availability of their 2011 limited edition gourmet gift crate samplers—appetizing treats for your favorite holiday host, cherished friend, or appreciated business-client this winter season.

Each elegant, slide-top, wooden gift crate features two of FireFly Farms’ award-winning handcrafted cheeses paired with a selection of specialty food items from the FireFly Farms Creamery & Market, located at 107 South Main Street in Accident, Maryland, in Garrett County.

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Winter travel safety tips offered by State Highway Administration

Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Mon Nov 14, 2011, 10:34 PM EST

LAVALE — With the official start of winter just weeks away, the Maryland State Highway urges motorists to make preparations now to deal to with hazardous travel conditions that are fast approaching.

Since 2000, Western Maryland has averaged 30 winter storms every year, compared to seven on the Eastern Shore and in Southern Maryland and eight in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area. The Oct. 29 snowstorm was the earliest metro area winter storm since 2000. The storm dumped up to 11 inches of snow in western Allegany County.

Travelers can plan ahead before hitting the pavement by logging onto the cyber highway at www.roads.maryland. gov and clicking on “CHART” — Coordinated Highway Action Response Team. The CHART website offers travel information, snow emergency plans, real-time traffic camera views, weather information, average travel speed maps and incident-related road closure reports. CHART is located at the Statewide Operations Center in Hanover where SHA personnel have access to hundreds of cameras throughout the state.

The easiest way to report any issues along SHA-maintained highways is through the Customer Care Management System by logging onto roads.maryland gov and go to “Contact Us” tab and click on “Submit a Service Request.” The online submission form is easy to fill out and will be directed to the proper department within SHA to address the issue.

In the event of snow, motorists are urged:

• Not to drive if you don’t have to.

• Don’t Crowd the Plow — never pass a snow plow or plow train (a series of plows working in tandem). If driving behind a snow plow or salt truck, provide plenty of space (at least seven to eight car lengths) behind the truck.

• Know Before You Go — Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit www.md511.org for current travel information.

• Remember that bridges, ramps and overpasses freeze first. Use caution when driving across them.

• Four-wheel drive vehicles are just as vulnerable to slipping on ice as regular two-wheel drive vehicles.

• Pack a winter driving survival kit —including a shovel, blanket, water, jumper cables, flares, snacks and a flash light.

• Clear snow from your vehicle’s headlights, roof and from other places that may obstruct vision or become a danger to other motorists.

• Make sure your vehicle is in proper working conditions. Check the battery, tire tread and pressure, belts, hoses and fluid levels.

• Travel with plenty of gas in the tank.

• When shoveling snow, do not place it in the street or roadway. Plow trucks push snow to the right. When facing your driveway, pile snow to your left, off the road. The reminder will save you additional hours of shoveling.

SHA District 6 that includes Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties maintains 582 lane miles in Allegany County, 496 lane miles in Garrett County and 750 lane miles in Washington County.

The LaVale shop that serves Allegany County includes 42 SHA trucks and equipment and 49 hired trucks and equipment and has a salt dome capacity of 21,000 tons.

In Garrett County, the Keysers Ridge shop includes 40 SHA trucks and equipment and 64 hired trucks/equipment and its salt dome capacity is 26,116 tons.

The SHA strategies for winter operations consist of application of anti-icing materials prior to or at the onset of precipitation to prevent snow and ice from bonding to pavement. The SHA is expanding its anti-icing operations in an attempt to lessen overall salt usage.

The principal winter material used by the SHA is salt, rock and solar (sodium chloride) that is effective at pavement temperatures of 20 degrees Fahrenheit and above. The SHA also uses treated dalt, abrasives, calcium chloride, salt brine (liquid sodium chloride), magnesium chloride and GEOMELT 55 (desugared sugar beet molasses).

More here.

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Winter adventures in Maryland's mountains

14th November 2011

For a festive holiday that will take your breath away, a trip to the ‘Mountain Side of Maryland’ may be just the ticket. Rollercoaster through mountains, sledge with beautiful huskies, snowmobile across snow-capped terrain, or enjoy the stunning views from a private lakeside cabin there is something for everyone.

Maryland’s western region boasts plenty of outdoor activities, panoramic views and the historic and charming mountain towns of Cumberland, Frostburg, Grantsville, Hagerstown, Oakland and Sharpsburg. The perfect place to recharge for the New Year, Deep Creek Lake boasts stunning views and activities including ice fishing, skiing, snowtubing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing and ice skating. With a variety of lodges, cabins and chalets around the lake this is the perfect retreat for couples families and large groups.

The Mountain Coaster at Maryland’s Wisp Resort is the only one of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is a real adrenaline rush and combines breathtaking views from the top of Wisp Mountain with the thrill of a rollercoaster ride. You’ll dip, roll and twist through 350 vertical feet of stunning mountain and forest landscape, reaching speeds up of to 26mhp. A perfect alterative way to take in the views you can even slow the speed of the cart with individual braking systems.

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Md. DNR investigating possible spread of invasive aquatic plant in Deep Creek Lake

DAVID DISHNEAU Associated Press
First Posted: November 15, 2011 - 4:01 am
Last Updated: November 15, 2011 - 8:07 pm

OAKLAND, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday it is taking a closer look at an invasive aquatic plant in Deep Creek Lake that some area residents say could strangle the boating opportunities that make the mountain reservoir a tourist magnet.

Agency officials said at a public meeting that they will assess the distribution of Eurasian water milfoil across the entire lake over the next year and advise property owners on how to limit its effects.

"We realize that there's been a lot of a lot of concern over the last year. People are complaining that it's exploding over the lake," said Bruce D. Michael, director of resource assessment.

The weed, called EWM for short, is a green, leafy plant with long, slender stalks. It grows in water up to 20 feet deep and forms dense mats that can entangle swimmers and hinder boats. It first arrived in Wisconsin in the 1960s and has become a nuisance nationwide.

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‘Lean’ speaker at Garrett College

Director of Maryland World Class Consortia to speak at conference
Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Mon Nov 14, 2011, 09:02 AM EST

MCHENRY — Jeff Fuchs, director of the Maryland World Class Consortia, will be the keynote speaker at the Western Maryland Lean Conference on Tuesday at Garrett College.

Garrett College is holding the conference in cooperation with the Garrett-Allegany Lean Forum and the Maryland World Class Consortia. The conference is being held because the forum, which has been in existence for a while, wanted to explain what “lean” is, according to Julie Yoder, dean of education and continuing workforce development.

“The overall goal of ‘lean’ is to be more efficient and to improve process,” said Yoder.

During the conference, Fuchs will define what “lean” is and share ways that it can be implemented in any organization. Topics include key aspects of continuous improvement; Lean in Action: a Hands-on Example; what it takes, at the leadership level, to support a continuous improvement culture; steps for developing a “lean” transformation plan; and keys to success.

Participants in the conference will first get the big picture on what “lean” is and then will learn how local businesses have implemented “lean” practices, said Yoder.

Thus far, more than 60 people have registered for the conference. Local businesses involved include ATK, First United Bank & Trust, Garrett County Health Department, Total Biz Fulfillment of Grantsville and the Western Maryland Health System.

“I think the amount of people registered shows a pretty good effort for the first conference,” said Yoder. “Businesses should attend this conference because with economic times as they are, any business can do more to become more efficient and save resources. I think it’s a goal for everyone right now.”

Participants in the conference will be surveyed on their interest in “lean” and depending on the response, a course at Garrett College may ensue, according to Yoder.

The Maryland World Class Consortia is a nonprofit organization that increases the competitive capacity of Maryland organizations through “lean” principles and methods.

Since 2006, Fuchs, of the Baltimore area, has been a key contributor to the development and deployment of the country’s first nationally recognized “lean” certification, sponsored jointly by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence and the American Society for Quality.

Numerous county government and community committee members have been appointed to the Garrett County Commissioners Lean Committee and were invited to attend the conference, which begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m.

County government committee members include Mike Bittinger, Garrett County Sheriff’s Department; Brian King, Garrett County Department of Public Utilities; Theresa Miller, Garrett County Roads Department; Nathaniel Watkins, Garrett County Department of Informational Technology; and Scott Weeks, Garrett County Department of Financial Services.

Community committee members include Steve Lantz, a retired banking executive; Gary Ruddell, Total Biz Fulfillment; Rebecca Sines, First United Bank & Trust; Joe Thomas, Phenix Technologies; and Bill Welch, Simon Pearce.

For more information on the conference, call 301-387-3069.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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Deep Creek Lake, Md.: A spot outside the resort grid

Saturday, November 12, 2011 Last updated: Sunday November 13, 2011, 11:07 AM
BY SHANNON ROXBOROUGH
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
The Record

Fair Lawn residents Andrew and Sandy Lewinski began their search for a vacation home with one condition: That they agree to consider only places with an atmosphere of separateness, allowing them to feel sheltered from their ordinarily fast-moving lives.....

Slower pace a must

What the Lewinskis, both technology professionals closing in on their 50s, decided to do was hunt for a second home where they could leave the rapid-pace world behind and "actually breathe."

After an exhausting, unfruitful three-year search that took the them to popular second-home spots in several Northeast states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire, a friend in Washington, D.C., suggested they try Deep Creek Lake in Maryland.

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Skiers will discover new terrain, equipment at many regional resorts

Sunday, November 13, 2011
By Lawrence Walsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Daniel Marsula/Post-Gazette illustration

New is the word for the 2011-12 snow-sports season at local and regional resorts.

A new owner at Peek'n Peak; new concessionaire at Ski Denton; new restructuring at Wisp; new terrain at Seven Springs and Hidden Valley; new lifts at Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge and Ski Sawmill; and new snow-grooming machines at Blue Knob, Snowshoe, Wisp, Holiday Valley and Kissing Bridge.

New restaurants at Snowshoe; new benefits for season passholders at Blue Knob, Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, Snowshoe, Whitetail and Wisp.

And new prices -- slightly higher at most resorts and, at some places lower, such as the all-inclusive weekday packages at Hidden Valley and Wisp. You can get a lift ticket, lesson and rental equipment for $28 on Mondays and Tuesdays at Hidden Valley and $29 on Mondays at Wisp.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11317/1189041-287.stm#ixzz1e4CCHVum

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GC Commissioners Announce Lean Committee Appointments

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Nov. 10, 2011

The Garrett County commissioners announced yesterday the names of those appointed to their Lean Committee. To prepare for pending revenue shortfalls in the next three- to five-year budget cycles, the commissioners recently proposed this efficiency task force idea to find ways to save county government/taxpayers money.

"'Lean' seeks continuous improvement within an organization and is facilitated by a systematic approach to identify problems and achieving efficient solutions that in turn create better outcomes for employees and the constituents that they serve," county administrator Monty Pagenhardt explained in August when the commissioners announced that a committee would be formed.

The members of the Lean Committee from Garrett County government are Mike Bittinger, Sheriff's Office; Brian King, Public Utilities; Theresa Miller, Roads Department; Nathaniel Watkins, Department of Informational Technology; and Scott Weeks, Financial Services

The group's community members are Bob Hoffmann, retired, United States Air Force; Steve Lantz, retired, banking executive; Gary Ruddell, Total Biz Fulfillment; Rebecca Sines, First United Bank and Trust; Joe Thomas. Phenix Technologies; and Bill Welch, Simon Pearce.

Committee members have been invited to attend the Western Maryland Lean Conference at Garrett College on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Garrett College. The keynote speaker for the daylong event is Jeff Fuchs, director of the Maryland World Class Consortia.

He will define "lean" and share ways in which it can be implemented in any organization. Topics will include "Lean in Action," "Keys to Success," and "Key Aspects of Continuous Improvement."

More here.

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GC Commissioners Accepting Offers For Bloomington Elementary School

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Nov. 10, 2011

The Bloomington Elementary School building is available for purchase. The Garrett County commissioners said last week they would consider all "reasonable" offers for the 21,123-square-foot structure, which sits on 1.25 acres at the foot of Backbone Mountain.

The Garrett County Board of Education permanently closed the facility following the 2010-2011 school year because of funding issues. About 34 prekindergarten through fifth grade students attended the school last year. Bloomington area children in those grades now attend Yough Glades Elementary School.

The Garrett County Department of Purchasing recently invited the public to submit bids for the Bloomington school. Purchasing agent Brian Bowers told the county commissioners last Tuesday that the bid request fulfilled local guidelines about public notification, and the commissioners may now sell the property outright.

"There is a provision with-in the county code – that we've made our public notice obligation, notifying the public of the sale – if we do have an interested party after the fact, the board has the ability to negotiate with them privately," Bowers told the commissioners.

He said three parties, including the Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department, had expressed some interest in the property during the bidding process.

The BVFD did not submit a bid, Bowers said, because of uncertainty with asbestos abatement, demolition costs, and other things of that nature.

"I believe their intended use was to tear down the school and use that [site]as a community type park/property, until they decided to build a fire station in the future," Bowers said about the fire department.

He added that BVFD officials indicated they may still be interested in the property if a grant or some other type of financial assistance becomes available for the project.

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Swallow Falls Road Bridge Scheduled For Opening Today

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Nov. 10, 2011

The Garrett County Roads Department expects to reopen the Swallow Falls Road bridge site to vehicular traffic today, Thursday, Nov. 10, at approximately 3 p.m., general roads superintendent Jay Moyer announced earlier this week.

"Everything's pretty much back to normal, except that traffic across the new temporary bridge will be one way and foot traffic is discouraged," he noted.

Vehicles traveling northeast on Swallow Falls Road will have the right of way across the bridge. Those traveling southwest will have to yield to oncoming traffic.

Moyer requested that pedestrians not cross the bridge, as there is no space available for them to safely do so. Swallow Falls State Park visitors are asked to drive their vehicles into the park.

The temporary bridge will once again allow combination vehicles carrying legal loads up to 80,000 pounds/40 tons to cross over the Youghiogeny River on Swallow Falls Road.

The site was closed in late September because the old bridge had deteriorated to the point where it would have failed the next inspection. There was no immediate funding available for a new bridge, so a temporary one, already owned by the county, was installed by the Roads Department.

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Corsa Provides Update on Casselman Mine

TORONTO, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Corsa Coal Corp. (TSXV: CSO) ("Corsa" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on progress at its Casselman underground mine, the extension of its US$25 million credit facility and met coal shipment schedule.

The Casselman Underground Mine

The previously announced delays due to the initial mining conditions encountered underground at the Casselman mine have been resolved. The Company expects to achieve normal production levels this month.

The Casselman mine is a long life underground metallurgical coal mine located in Garrett County, approximately two miles south of Grantsville, Maryland, USA. This project is approximately 31 miles by truck from Corsa's Wilson Creek coal preparation plant in Somerset County Pennsylvania.

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