State battles woolly pest to save evergreens

Crews inject pesticide, cultivate beetles to protect hemlocks

By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun

11:31 p.m. EDT, May 11, 2011
OAKLAND —— Survivors for more than three centuries, the towering hemlocks in Swallow Falls State Park are a remnant of the primeval forests that once blanketed much of Maryland before European settlers arrived.

But after evading loggers' saws, storms and fires through the years, these evergreens now face a new threat — the hemlock woolly adelgid. A tiny insect from Japan no bigger than a pencil point, it coats hemlock twigs with a snowy waxy substance and slowly sucks the life out of the tree.

Nature Determined to save the largest stand of virgin forest left in Maryland, a small army of state workers and volunteers fanned out Wednesday in the Garrett County park in a bid to hold at bay this exotic pest, which has devastated hemlock stands elsewhere in Maryland and throughout the East.

"Hemlock woods are just a special place," said Biff Thompson, a forest technician with the Maryland Department of Agriculture overseeing the effort. Their sheltering boughs cool the ground and water around them, he explained, and they're home to upwards of 900 different species of insects, flies and other organisms. "There's just a richness of life."

Read the full article here.

If you or someone you know is considering 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! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.

877-563-5350 Questions about ANY listed property? I can help! Call me!

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Swallow Falls State Park - Video

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

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Fun In The Falls

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These four bathers were hoping to get a few good shots of their toes, apparently, while playing in the rapids at the base of Swallow Falls this week. The fun of summer in Garrett County hardly gets better than this, with a natural water park with all the thrills there for the taking. The weather has been quite favorable for all sorts of summer activities, although the grass and plants are beginning to want for water. The only hint of rain in the forecast is not mentioned until Saturday, and that is only a 20% chance so far. The younger set might want to get outside and take advantage of all the mountaintop has to offer, as schools are to open next Wednesday (sorry to mention it, kids). Photo by Sharon Baum of Turkey Neck.

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 Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website - competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Local Resident Seriously Injured In Plummet Over Muddy Creek Falls

courtesy Republican News


Aug. 14, 2008

A local resident and her boyfriend fell approximately 50 feet while hiking in the Muddy Creek Falls area of Swallow Falls State Park on Saturday afternoon, as reported by the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP).
Elizabeth Bailey Michael, 20, Oakland, was listed in serious condition after she and Michael D. Brown, 19, Winchester, Va., fell while hiking near the top of the 63-foot Muddy Creek Falls, the state's highest free-falling waterfall. Brown lost his footing by stepping in an area of standing water and fell as he slid toward the edge of the falls. Michael reached out to prevent him from going over the edge of the falls and lost her balance, as well.

Both individuals fell approximately 50 feet over the falls shortly before 4 p.m. Michael was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., and Brown was transported to Garrett County Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injures.

According to a family spokesperson, Michael's injuries include a broken back, pelvis, ankle, ear drum, and teeth. She also sustained lacerations to her face. As of Tuesday, it did not appear that she would require any surgery.

Southern Garrett Rescue Squad, Maryland State Park Service, and Maryland State Police assisted NRP with the incident.



If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

iLoveDeepCreek.com Blog!

BIO
My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area of Maryland. I enjoy spending time with family & friends, and have two wonderful children, Kayleah & Noah. My wife Jessica and I really enjoy the outdoor activities and natural beauty of Garrett County and "Mountain Maryland".

Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry. I am very proud of my 'hometown' and am in awe of the changes through the years. So, it makes sense that I began a career selling real estate here in December 2000. It allows me to meet new & exciting people from all over the world who consider Deep Creek Lake a great vacation spot.

I recently switched to Railey Realty, who has been #1 in Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake since 1995! I'm looking forward to teaming with some great agents who I have worked with throughout my career. I started my career with Long & Foster Real Estate, and have received many terrific honors & had many memorable experiences there. I won the 'Rookie of the Year' award for sales in 2001, my first full year in the business and sold over $3 million in real estate. I have been a member of the coveted Gold Team (annual sales of $5+million) ever since, just last year earning the Hall of Fame designation. I have been fortunate enough to have sold nearly $50 million of prime Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County real estate in my career! The best part of all, is I spend my time doing what I love - telling people about Deep Creek Lake's thriving real estate market, and all the wonderful places to enjoy the outdoors with their friends & family!

I really enjoy promoting my hometown and I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as 'The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here!

The best to place to find more information about local businesses, current events & recreational opportunities is to visit my website @ http://www.ilovedeepcreek.com. My blog is updated much more frequently and I primarily use this as a portal to my other advertising sites, including Active Rain. Check it out - I think you will be impressed!

Specialty
I specialize in Deep Creek Lake vacation home sales and also primary residential and lot/land listings in Garrett County, Maryland. I've sold everything from commercial properties to large family farms and small recreational tracts of land. I really enjoy working with new clients and introducing them to the good life - owning real estate in Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake, Maryland!