Price Reduction on 1104 Alexander Ln - backs to Broadford Park

One of the best values in Oakland for a single family home in nearly mint condition:

Tastefully updated colonial on quiet cul-de-sac, backs to Broadford Lake park. Move-in ready! Fresh paint inside/out, re-carpeted, new kitchen in Oct 08: cherry cabinets & granite tops. Dining, family room, library, 1/2 bath & deck access on 1st floor. A tranquil 2nd floor master suite w/ 2 walk-in closets, en-suite bath & deck with views. Lower level boasts new media room! Perfect entertaining!

Now $299,000!!!

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/!

Great Summary of the Second-Home Market Nationally

Some interesting data & analysis that mirrors the Deep Creek Lake second home market:

July 6, 2010 by cloeffler
Check out this post originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune by Richard Bolen, REALTOR(R), McCall Realty:

(A quick “shout out” to all our friends in the Lake Tahoe area who helped NAR host the 2010 Resort and Second-Home Symposium. We couldn’t have done it without you! We have only heard wonderful comments about the successful event with 214 participants in attendance. Lake Tahoe is truly a national treasure — both in its natural beauty and the hospitality of its residents!)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — About 65 percent of South Lake Tahoe Homes are second homes or vacation properties. I often write about, or use the phrase second home buyer characteristics, which makes sense. South Lake Tahoe is very much a second home resort real estate market.

Some 65 percent of area homeowners live elsewhere. This means that about a third of South Lake Tahoe homes are primary residences.

The National Association of REALTORS did a specific study on vacation or second home buyers. I thought it would be of interest to look at the most recent findings.

Before looking at the particulars, there are a few key characteristics of the vacation and second home buyer to always have in mind. These are important, especially as it relates to style and manner when representing a buyer:

• The vacation or second home buyer lacks urgency.
• The vacation or second home buyer is overqualified financially.
• The vacation or second home buyer is looking for a family retreat.

Of these, lack of urgency is really important to understand to best represent a buyer. What I like to do is “mirror” a buyers pace if I can. If a buyer seems to want to move quickly, I quicken my pace. If the buyer moves slowly, I respond in kind.

Sometimes, though, a particular house or situation does require urgency. An underpriced house, or one that is right priced and exceptionally attractive can require immediate action to get it.

In cases such as this, I do recommend that the vacation or second home buyer move as quickly as they possibly can.

If I ever quicken my pace, it is because I don’t want a buyer to miss out on something they obviously really like. I am never in a hurry just to make a sale. Buyer comfort to me is king.

2010 Vacation Home Buyers Survey (based on 2009 buying trends)
Sales and prices:

• Some 10 percent of U.S. home sales were vacation or second home properties.
• 1 percent more vacation or second homes sold in 2009 compared to 2008.

Buyer characteristics:

• The median age of the vacation or second home buyer in 2009 was 46 years of age.
• 28 percent of vacation orsecond home buyers were older than 55.
• The median household income of 2009 vacation or second home buyers was $87,500.
• 39 percent of vacation or second home buyers had a household income that exceeded $100,000.
• 73 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers were married.
• 49 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyer households had no children younger than 8. • 86 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers were Caucasian.

Property characteristics:

• 55 percent of 2009 vacation home sales were in a small town or rural area.
• 50 percent of 2009 vacation home sales were in the South.
• 71 percent of 2009 vacation or second home sales were single-family homes.
• 74 percent of 2009 vacation or second home sales were existing properties (not new).
• The median distance away from primary residence was 348 miles.

Method of Purchase and Financing:

• 54 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers used a real estate agent or broker.
• 10 percent of 2009 vacation or second home sales were a foreclosure or trustee sale.
• 27 percent of 2009 vacation or second home sales were directly from an owner (17 percent that buyer knew, 10 percent that buyer didn’t know).
• 32 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers looked first on the internet to shop for a home.
• 12 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers contacted a real estate agent first to shop for a home.
• 26 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers found the home they purchased on the internet.
• 25 percent of 2009 vacation or second home buyers found the home they purchased with a real estate agent.
• 70 percent of 2009 vacation or second home sales used a mortgage.

Internet use:

• Nine out of ten home buyers use the Internet in their home search process.
• Is our experience that buyers contact us after internet searching first.
• More often we find the home the buyer buys, rather than what they exactly saw on the Internet.

Buyer Motivations and Expectations:

• 89 percent purchased their vacation or second home as a family retreat.
• 29 percent purchased their second home because it was a “good investment” opportunity.
• 25 percent purchased their second home to rent to others.
• 14 percent purchased their second home for tax benefits.
• 26 percent purchased their second home as a future primary residence.
• 80 percent purchased their second home because they believe now is a good time to purchase.

Original Link: http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20100704/NEWS/100709931/1054

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/!

U.S. housing market remains fragile despite low mortgage rates

It's not just Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County - it's EVERYWHERE.

By Dina ElBoghdady
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 2, 2010

After showing signs of a fledgling recovery from the worst downturn in decades, the U.S. housing market appears to be heading back toward the doldrums, as the expiration of a lucrative tax credit for buyers and increased uncertainty about the economy cause home sales to plummet.

The sudden weakness in residential real estate has struck nearly every region of the country, according to recent government and industry data, driving down sales of new and previously owned homes alike in May. On Thursday, the National Association of Realtors said an index that measures sales contracts signed on existing homes plunged 30 percent in May, more than twice what analysts had forecast, to the lowest level since the group started tracking the numbers in 2001.

Those sharp declines come despite record-low mortgage rates and historically cheap home prices. The market's renewed fragility highlights concerns about whether the U.S. economy will hurtle back into recession and illustrates the impact of the nation's high unemployment rate, now at 9.7 percent. On Friday, the government will issue jobless figures for June that could signal what is in store for housing and economic growth.

As long as people are without jobs or fear losing their livelihoods, they are unlikely to commit to buying a home and saddling themselves with 30 years of mortgage payments.

"It sounds simplistic but it bears repeating: 'No job = No house,' " Mike Larson, an analyst with Weiss Research, wrote in a note to clients Thursday. "With so many Americans unemployed or underemployed, the housing market is going to keep hurting."

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/!

Foreclosure solutions workshop planned at HRDC

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

— CUMBERLAND — Local residents facing foreclosure, worried about increased interest rates or having other concerns about their mortgage can access some free legal advice in a workshop being sponsored by state Sen. George C. Edwards.

The Foreclosure Solutions Workshop will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on July 15 at the Human Resources Development Commission at 125 Virginia Ave.

Homeowners who are facing foreclosure, worried about an increased interest rate or have other concerns about their mortgage can receive free one-on-one legal advice and housing counseling assistance at the event.

“The mortgage crisis isn’t just something we see in the news: it affects many individuals and families in our community,” said Gorman E. Getty III, president of the Bar Association of Allegany County that is coordinating the event along with Allegany Law on Greene Street. He noted that the Bar Association “has a long tradition of helping those in need and is committed to assisting with mortgage related issues.”

Marcia Conrad, executive director of Allegany Law which was founded by the Bar Association, said she is “delighted to be able to offer this service to distressed homeowners.”

“This is the first time that the Foreclosure Solutions Workshop is being offered in Western Maryland. Over 60 workshops have been successfully held throughout the state during the last two years,” said Conrad.

Allegany Law and the Bar Association of Allegany County have been working with the Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project of the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland to plan and staff the event. Homeowners should call Allegany Law at 301-722-3390 to register.

Registration guarantees a free legal consultation with a volunteer attorney to discuss an individual mortgage situation. The workshop will give participants directions on the next steps to take and where to go for help.

Workshop participants should bring the following: (1) all materials related to their current and former mortgages, including the loan application, settlement paperwork and lender statements; (2) any foreclosure notices or threats of foreclosure received; and (3) a monthly household income and expense budget.

Jennifer Larrabee, manager of the Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project and housing counselors from Garrett County Community Action Agency and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland and Delaware will be also participate in the workshop.

The Foreclosure Solutions Workshop is free and open to the public. The site is handicapped accessible. To pre-register or for more information, call Allegany Law at 722-3390.


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!

Maryland Park Quest becomes an outdoors marathon - Balt. Sun Blog

Be on the look out for Candus Thomson, the popular 'outdoors girl' blogger from the Baltimore Sun. She is embarking on Maryland Park Service's Park Quest, starting Wednesday at Swalllow Falls. (from the blog):

The premise, as sketched on a grease-infused paper plate, is fairly simple. Complete the Maryland Park Service's Park Quest—a free popular summer-long activity that has attracted 750 families this year—in one week. That's 24 parks, stretching from Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland to Assateague Island on the Atlantic Coast, in seven days.

I'll blog about it at the end of each day.

Park Quest is part-hike, part-scavenger hunt, part-geocache, with a little history and geography lesson sprinkled on top for good measure.

The theme for this year's event is, Where a Family Becomes a Team. Teams must include at least one adult and one child 16 years of age or younger, but can be as large as 10 people to include extended family. Teams must complete at least 10 Quests by Sept. 6 to be eligible for the Park Quest Finale on Sept. 11 at the Hammerman Area of Gunpowder Falls State Park, where they could win camping gear, kayaks and vacation packages.

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 www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Lawsuit threatened over Western MD wind farm

A group of Western Maryland residents and a state conservation group have filed formal notice they'll sue to stop construction of a wind farm in Garrett County, contending the massive turbines "almost certainly" will harm endangered bats in the forested, mountainous region.

Save Western Maryland, a group of local residents opposed to wind farm projects in the county, announced Saturday that it had joined with the Maryland Conservation Council and "several concerned citizens" in a June 23 letter warning of the lawsuit to Constellation Green Green Energy LLC, and other businesses that have or have had a hand in the wind farm being built on Backbone Mountain south of Oakland. Constellation Green Energy is an offshoot of Baltimore-based Constellation Energy.

The groups contend the Eagle Rock project will violate the federal Endangered Species Act because the 28 turbines, each more than 400 feet high, would "almost certainly" kill or injure rare Indiana bats or Virginia big-eared bats, both protected by law.

The notice said a lawsuit would be filed within 60 days, unless Constellation obtains an "incidental take" permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for any protected bats its turbines might harm. Getting such a permit requires the applicant to prepare a "habitat conservation plan," which lays out steps taken to avoid or minimize harm to rare species, and possibly to mitigate their loss as well.

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 www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Deep Creek Lake Fireworks July 4th, 2010

WOW. I have seen almost every display of fireworks at Deep Creek Lake & Broadford Park for the last 25 years or so - and last night's fireworks may have been the best ever. The grand finale was amazing. I shot a video of it (and lots of photos):



The setting is always amazing. McHenry Cove starts to fill up with boats at about 7pm or so. I arrived at Ski Harbor on my boat, guests of some clients whom I have worked with for years and from my time owning property there. You see all kinds of picnics, bonfires and party tents set up all along the shorelines of the lake; thousands of people enjoying the 4th of July and the festivities.

The water was really calm in the no-wake cove, and there were kids fishing off the docks and launching kayaks. We setup a picnic blanket and some lawn chairs and settled in for the show. The fireworks typically start at 9:30, so we had some time to kill and to enjoy the atmosphere.

My daughter Kayleah and her friend were fishing off the boat, Noah and his little buddy Wyatt were running around chasing ducks, throwing sticks and exploring the waterfront. We had packed a simple picnic basket with some snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (YUM!) and birthday cake (Happy Birthday Jerry!). The food and company were great and before we knew it, the cove had filled with hundreds of boats and it was showtime...

The fireworks lasted about 30 minutes or so, and the smell of sulphur was drifting through the air. One of the most impressive things for me was the way the sound echoes through the valley and reverberates through the lake. You can hear LOUD echoes on a 1-2 second delay that ring all the way to Sky Valley (a client of mine reports that her dogs are NOT firework fans).

My son, Noah, is turning 3 next month and these were his 3rd set of fireworks he has seen from the lake, but this was by far his most interactive. He spent the first 5 or 10 minutes with his hands over his ears and then seemed to adjust well. You may be able to tell from the video, he was 'helping' me adjust the camera :)

When the fireworks were finished, we waited for the boat traffic to clear up, and the kids rode home safely in the car - it is a bit scary on the return trip on a boat with all of the traffic, etc. But, as far as I know, everyone made it home safe and happy - thrilled with the most impressive fireworks display Deep Creek Lake has seen in quite a while...thanks to Hugh Umbel for the show!!

Here is a link to the photo gallery on Facebook, and I hope you enjoy the video from http://www.Youtube.com/deepcreeklake.

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/!

Fred Thayer Memorial Golf Tourney July 30 Thousand Acres Lakeside Golf Club

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Jul. 1, 2010


Local golfers are invited to don their favorite kilts and join in the first Fred Thayer Memorial Golf Tournament, slated for July 30 at the Thousand Acres Lakeside Golf Club. A kilted Pete Versteegen is pictured above as he readies a shot. Frederick A. Thayer III, retired judge for the Garrett County Circuit Court who was well known for pride in his Scottish ancestry, for his love of golf, and as an accomplished bagpipe player, died in 2006. This tourney in his memory is being sponsored by the McHenry Highland Festival. Thayer co-founded the Garrett Highlanders bagpipe and drum band in 1979 (now Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums).

A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to a scholarship fund in Thayer's name, which was established in 2007. See story on today's sports link. To register, persons should go to www.highlandfest.info/golf.html by July 25.

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/!

Arrests By NRP Include Illegal Ginseng Harvest

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Jul. 1, 2010

The Natural Resources Police (NRP) charged three people with numerous offenses that began when one of them became lost in Savage River State Forest on June 5 while harvesting ginseng.
James Lewis Alt, 72, and John Darryl Mayhew, 48, both of Piedmont, W.Va., and Gary Lee Farris, 60, Westernport, were charged with collecting ginseng without a permit, harvesting ginseng out of season, removing, damaging, and destroying plants from a state forest, and using property and resources of state wild lands for commercial gain.

Farris and Mayhew were also charged with making a false statement to a police officer.

In another incident, the NRP charged William Kenneth Curry, 56, Pittsburgh, last Friday with operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol and operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol.

Curry was stopped on 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 www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Meadow Mountain Teacher Named Best In Business

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Jul. 1, 2010

The American Correctional Association (ACA) has named Russell Metz as one of the "Best in the Business" in the United States. Metz is a science and aquaculture teacher at Meadow Mountain Youth Center, a Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) facility located in Grantsville. The facility specializes in the treatment of youth with substance abuse issues. Metz is one of only 17 correctional employees selected by the ACA from hundreds of submissions.
Since 2005, Metz has steadily transformed the classroom-oriented approach to science, math, and engineering into an environmental science program that takes a hands-on approach in the facility's environmental center. In partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service, Metz and his students study the cultivation of fish and other aquatic organisms, which is also known as "aquaculture."

"I have always enjoyed teaching, but it is very rewarding to watch the excitement and joy the students express when they partake in these new experiences," said Metz. "Some of these youth have never been out of the city, so this country, outdoor, environmental experience is all new."

Metz and his students oversee the state's only indoor recirculating system for growing hybrid sunfish. The students are responsible for the care and maintenance of the fish by conducting water tests and collecting data for food and growth charts. The fish are then taken to local ponds by the DNR and released to re-stock the fish populations.

"I already know that DJS has some of the most dedicated employees in the country, but it is great to see one of our own receive the national recognition that he rightly deserves," said Secretary Donald W. DeVore. "Russell's aquaculture program has achieved remarkable success with youth who previously have struggled to learn in a traditional classroom environment. The youth that participate in Russell's classes are not just learning about environmental science; they are learning that they can succeed."

The ACA also recognized three DJS employees as the "Best in the Business" for the state of Maryland: Dwain Johnson, director of the DJS Violence Prevention Initiative; Daniel McCoy, resident advisor supervisor at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center; and Leo Zilka, community detention officer III.

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!

Mortgage Interest Rates Hit 50 Year Low - Railey Realty Blog

From Mike Kennedy at the Railey Realty blog:

Conforming interest rates on 30 year fixed mortgage loans under $417,000 are near all time historical lows. As of today, the current interest rate is 4.50%.

Even though the federal government’s $8,000 tax credit has expired, this low interest rate is a great opportunity for a buyer to save a substantial amount of money over the life of their loan. In addition, this lower interest rate also gives a buyer more purchasing power. If you are planning on buying a house or real estate sometime this year it may benefit you in the long run to buy sooner than later by taking advantage of this extremely low rate. This is also a great opportunity to refinance your existing mortgage as well depending on your situation and future plans to buy or sell...

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 www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Have a safe 4th of July weekend!

I'll be upodating a few pieces of news later today, but for now, have a safe & happy 4th of July weekend!

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!

Grantsville Days Deemed Success; Results Released

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Jul. 1, 2010

The annual Grantsville Days celebration was again deemed a success by Gerry Beachy, event chairman.
"We had a terrific Grantsville Days this year thanks to the financial support of many of the members of the Greater Grantsville Business Association (GGBA)," Beachy said.

He reported that the Cub Scouts sold over 1,500 pounds of potatoes and the tractor pull lasted beyond midnight because there were a greater number of entries. In addition, there were more entries in the truck pull on Sunday.

"Since these events lasted longer than anticipated and the pulling sled charges by the hour, we had a shortfall," Beachy said. "A plea to the GGBA resulted in donation help coming in from Total Biz Fulfilment ($200) and Hill Top Fruit Market ($100) to help with the cost overruns. The Grantsville Lions Club thanks Total Biz and Hill Top Fruit Market and all the businesses that helped make this Grantsville Days most successful. We also thank God for the great weather."

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 www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

MSDE Allocates $2.8 Million To State Schools

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Jul. 1, 2010

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced that 207 schools across the state, including eight in Garrett County, will share $2.8 million in state funds to participate in the Maryland Meals for Achievement (MMFA) classroom breakfast program during the 2010-2011 school year. The Garrett County schools include Accident, Crellin, Dennett Road, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, and Yough Glades elementary schools, and Bloomington School.
“The importance of good nutrition has recently gained national attention. Maryland Meals for Achievement is an easy, inexpensive way to fuel students’ minds for academic success. Students who participate in the in-classroom breakfast program have fewer health issues and improved concentration, behave better in class, and score higher on standardized tests,” said state superintendent of schools Nancy S. Grasmick.

In addition to academic benefits, breakfast has health benefits as well. Eating breakfast has been shown to reduce the risk of obesity. One study found that adolescents who eat breakfast tend to have a lower body mass index than those who do not eat breakfast. Other studies found that students who eat breakfast consume more essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, dietary fiber, and protein.

With the school breakfast program, students have the opportunity to eat school breakfast in their classrooms, and breakfast is incorporated into the academic day. Students do not pay for the meal, regardless of family income. Schools with MMFA have an average daily breakfast participation of 70 percent compared to schools without the program, which serve a traditional cafeteria breakfast and have an average daily breakfast participation of 10 percent.

There are efforts under way to increase breakfast participation in all Maryland schools, according to Grasmick. The school breakfast program is one of several nutrition programs included in the Governor’s Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland. This partnership seeks to eliminate childhood hunger by 2015, a goal that is consistent with President Obama’s efforts.

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/!

Fireworks Shows Slated For July 3-July 4 Weekend

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Jul. 1, 2010

At least two major fireworks events are slated for the Independence Day weekend. Garrett County residents and visitors are invited to Broadford Park on July 3 and to Deep Creek Lake on July 4.
The annual fireworks celebration at Broadford Park is set to begin at dusk on Saturday, July 3. A rain date is slated for July 5. Fireworks will be provided by the American Fireworks Company.

The annual Fire on the Mountain fireworks display is slated for Sunday, July 4, to begin at dark, with fireworks being set off at Wisp Resort. The event is sponsored by Hugh Umbel Companies, and a rain date has also been set for July 5. Fireworks can be viewed from numerous points in the area, including by boat. The show will be preceded by the Garrett Community Band/Garrett Choral Society concert on the lawn at Garrett College, which is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.

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/!

All 3 Garrett commissioners face challengers

Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News

Oakland — OAKLAND — All three Garrett County commissioners will face challengers in the Sept. 14 primary election, with the deadline for filing candidate papers only days away.

Timothy E. Thomas, R-McHenry, filed on June 21 to run against incumbent Denny Glotfelty, R-McHenry, for the District 3 seat on the commission.

Two challengers have filed to run against current commission chairman Ernie Gregg, R-Mountain Lake Park, for the District 1 seat on the commission. Gregg will face Republican challenger Gregan Crawford, Oakland, in the primary. The winner will take on Democrat Eric Robison, Oakland, in the November general election.

Incumbent Commissioner Fred Holliday, R-Grantsville, will vie in the primary with current board of education member Jim Raley, R-Finzel, for the District 2 seat.

A Democrat has thrown his hat into the ring in the race for county sheriff. Skyler Hebden, Oakland, filed as a candidate on June 21. In the general election Hebden will take on the winner of the primary race between Republicans Robert E. Corley, Oakland, and Larry Gnegy, Oakland. The office is currently held by Gary Berkebile.

In the nonpartisan board of education races, Rodney Durst, Oakland, filed on June 28 to retain his District 3 seat, but faces a challenge from Rodney Reckart, Oakland, who filed for office on June 23. Both current president Donald Forrester, Mountain Lake Park, and current vice president Thomas Carr, Accident, are, at this point, unopposed to retain their District 1 and 2 seats.

Six candidates have filed for three open positions as judge of the orphans court. The three candidates from each party who receive the most votes in the primary will go to the general election; of those, the three who receive the most votes will be selected to fill the positions.

On the Republican side, incumbents Clifford C. DeWitt, Oakland, James F. Margroff, Accident, and H. Wayne Wilt, Oakland, are seeking re-election, and face challenges from David C. Beard, Oakland, and Aria Knust, Oakland. Only one Democrat has filed for the office, Everett B. Deberry, Deer Park.

Incumbent Rita L. Watson, R-Oakland, will face Republican challengers Traci Royce, Oakland, and John K. Sines, Oakland, for register of wills. Watson was appointed register of wills after the retirement of Joseph DiSimone in June 2009.

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

Timothy W. Miller, R-Mountain Lake Park, and Arzella Parsons, R-Oakland, will vie for Republican Central Committee chair. No candidate has yet filed for the office of Democratic Central Committee chair.

Incumbent State’s Attorney Lisa Thayer Welch, R-Oakland, filed on June 18 to retain her position. She is currently running unopposed.

At the state level, Sen. George Edwards, R-Grantsville, has filed to retain his seat representing District 1 in Annapolis, and Delegate Wendell Beitzel, R-Accident, has filed to retain his District 1A seat in the House of Delegates. Edwards is currently running unopposed, while Beitzel will face Democratic challenger James “Smokey” Stanton, Oakland, in the general election.

The deadline for filing candidate papers is Tuesday at 9 p.m.

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/!

Congress passes extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline

TO: State and Local Association Presidents, State and Local
Association Executives, State and Local Association Government Affairs Directors, State and Local Association Communications Directors
FROM: NAR Government Affairs
RE: Tax Credit Closing Date Extension/Flood Insurance Extension
DATE: 30 June 2010

After a close brush with the deadline, Congress has passed an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 that have not yet closed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension the new closing deadline for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There is will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.

NAR worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation. Extending the Tax Credit Closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation.

For additional information on the extension visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs

Additionally, the United States Senate has passed the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 5569) an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program until September 30, 2010. This will allow transactions to move forward. The bill is retroactive and covers the lapse period from June 1, 2010 to the date of enactment of the extension.

For more information on the flood insurance program visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs

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/!

Brian Homberg of Railey Realty Wins Kayaking National Champion Title

Way to go Brian!!

Brian Homberg became a National Whitewater Slalom Champion this past weekend at The Adventure Sports Center International atop Wisp Mountain. He is the winner of the over 40 age group. The National title was contested in the juniors category and senior/masters age groups on the ASCI whitewater course. Brian has been enjoying the sport of kayaking for over 30 years and is no stranger to whitewater competition - a former U.S. Team member who trained for the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, narrowly missing the team both times. Brian now coaches and teaches local kids how to kayak as part of the Junior Adventure Sports Team at ASCI. This provides them with an opportunity to experience, learn and potentially compete in whitewater sport. The program emphasis is on river awareness, safety, introduction to paddling skills and boat handling, while progressing at their own pace and comfort level. Brian is father to Adam, 11 and Heather 13 and a full time sales associate with Railey Realty.

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/!