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| The Springs Folk Festival invites you to join in the celebration of the arts, skills and labors of our forefathers. Watch the men and women baking bread and weaving, the men hewing logs and threshing grain and the children enjoying themselves on an old-time hayride. The lilting notes of blue grass groups, gospel music and children singing a capella fill the air with continuous performances in an enclosed program building. Of course, the Mountain Anthems singing close harmony is always a thrill. |  |
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 The Springs Museum on the grounds boasts thousands of artifacts of the Casselman Valley area. |
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Author: Jay Ferguson
Who I Am
My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service!
Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well.
I really enjoy promoting my hometown. 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! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’.
Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I
have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you.
Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about!
Honesty. Integrity. Results.
“Non-Essential” Government Employees Welcome at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland
Are you a “non-essential” casualty of the government shutdown? Do you have some unexpected free time on your hands and have a burning desire to get out of Washington, D.C. as fast as you can?
Use your free time to unwind in Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County, Maryland! You’ve caught us at the perfect time – our leaves are nearing our peak fall foliage, our 46th Annual Autumn Glory Festival is October 9 – 13, 2013 and our Stay 3 Nights For the Price of 2 promotion starts October 15 and runs through December 19, 2013, so even if this shutdown drags on until December, you’ll be able to find a deal in Garrett County!
There’s no better way to endure a government shutdown than viewing the stunning fall foliage Garrett County has to offer on its two Fall Foliage Driving tours or enjoying the parades, craft shows, musical competitions at our Autumn Glory Festival. In fact, the Travel Channel just listed Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County’s annual Autumn Glory Festival and our two Fall Foliage Driving Tours as one of the top ten best Fall Foliage Road Trips in America.
Garrett refuse permits available
OAKLAND — The 2014 residential refuse permits are on sale at the landfill on Oakland Sang Run Road, at the Garrett County Tax Office and online, the Garrett County Department of Solid Waste & Recycling announced.
A permit purchased online goes in the mail the next business day.
Go to www.garrettcounty.org and look for the Solid Waste and Recycling tab.
The $50 fee can be paid using cash, check or money order at the sites listed above.
Applications are available at all collection sites, online, the Grantsville Library, the tax office and the landfill.
For more information, contact the Solid Waste & Recycling office at 301-387-0322.
Fall foliage photos
I have been trying to take a camera with me everywhere I go and capture more of the Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County shots I see in my daily travels. I was showing homes to a client yesterday and got a few decent foliage shots – those leaves are really starting to turn quickly!
Autumn Glory Fall Foliage Tours Begin in Garrett County
MCHENRY, Md. – The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area, a program of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is announcing the 2013 Autumn Glory Fall Foliage Tours.
Officials say the tours include some of Garrett County’s most scenic routes. This year the chamber is offering two fall foliage tours.
Officials say the Fall Foliage Heritage Tour highlights include the Mountain Lake Park, Broadford Lake Park, Kitzmiller, Shallmar and Loch Lynn Heights, Mt. Nebo WMA. The extended tour includes New Germany State Park, Monroe Scenic Overlook, Deep Creek Lake State Park and Discovery Center and Finzel Swamp Nature Preserve.
Reduced! AWESOME value on this Wisp area home with dockslip 1910 Marsh Hill Rd GA8105507 $499,900
1910 MARSH HILL RD
MC HENRY, MD 21541
Well appointed home featuring wood plank floors, built-ins, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths (2 masters), 2 fireplaces, spacious rooms, screened porch, landscaping, and seasonal views of the lake. This property has lake access and an assigned boat slip through Waterside at Wisp. Enjoy close proximity to the ski slopes & Deep Creek Lake – year round! Shows extremely well – pride of ownership is evident.
$499,900
Listing # GA8105507
Friendsville revitalization proposed
Garrett commissioner requests $25,000 for concept drawings
Elaine Blaisdell
OAKLAND — Garrett County Commissioner Jim Raley asked for approximately $25,000 for concept drawings to revitalize the town of Friendsville during the commission meeting Tuesday.
Raley’s vision for Friendsville, which he shared in a document with the commissioners, includes an enhanced business district that boasts locally grown foods, an arts and entertainment district and an abundance of recreational activities.
“One of the things that I recognized after being elected was one of the things we need to do is, we need to grow our population,” said Raley. “Ultimately, growing the population should help to grow the economy. It comes down to how do we keep Garrett County relevant and how do we keep Garrett County viable.”
A lot of people are leaving the county — 130 school-age children left the county and 20 percent of the student population has declined in a decade, according to Raley.
“We have to do something; we can’t sit back and do nothing,” said Raley.
Raley cautioned that discussion of school closures has to be stopped in order to attract people to the area.
“I don’t know how to make that conversation stop other than we have got to do everything in our power to get the funding in place to make sure no more schools close. I can tell you right now when the media hits and we are talking about closing more schools that does not make us attractive. No one wants to come in and buy into that possibility.”
Raley has met with the town’s governing board, investors, developers, business owners, entrepreneurs, Habitat for Humanity, Community Action and other individuals who are interested in the project. The economic development office is working on a relocation kit that would attract people to stay in the area.
New jobs wouldn’t necessarily need to be developed in Friendsville because of its proximity to Hazelton or Morgantown, W.Va., for jobs, according to Raley.
“There is no doubt that we need to grow and we need to grow strategically,” said Raley. “One of the things that is attractive about Friendsville is that it’s a long standing community.”
Friendsville will celebrate its 250th birthday in 2015, according to Raley.
Commissioner Gregan Crawford asked for some time to review the document Raley provided before making a decision about the request for $25,000.
The revitalization of Friends-ville will also help to benefit the entire county, according to Raley.
“The weekend visits offer opportunities for visitors to view not only Friendsville but other areas of Garrett County,” writes Raley in the document.
Raley used Eagle, Colo., as an example of a revitalized downtown historic district.
“It is a great area that is much like Friendsville if you look at it,” said Raley.
Raley asked for everyone to embrace a strategic growth pattern and plan that will evolve and discussed setting up businesses like Strata Safety Products, LLC. Strata is the first business to move into Keysers Ridge Business Park.
During the meeting Tuesday, the commission approved the award of $1,024,000 to Beitzel Corp. of Grantsville for designand construction work on a Strata manufacturing facility. The county is working with Strata to construct a 12,000-square-foot, steel-framed building on a 5-acre parcel in the park.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Garrett County schools retain carryover funds
Elaine BlaisdellCumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve the county board of education’s request to retain $820,868 in carryover funds. The funds, which were from fiscal 2013, can be used as a one-time expense only for prioritized projects, according to commission chairman Robert Gatto.
Leaky roofs at both the former Dennett Road Elementary School and Southern High School are the No. 1 prioritized projects, according to Janet Wilson, county superintendent of schools. The board requested $315,000 for replacing a section of roof over the information technology department that the county and board share at the former school. The request also includes an $18,800 roof repair over the media center area at Southern High School where a hot asphalt treatment is needed immediately to repair it, according to Wilson. The repair will last two to three years.
“We maintain Dennett Road because we have some debt on it,” said Wilson. “That has turned out to be a huge community asset. The gym is used daily, the cafeteria is used a significant amount. One of the things we said, we will put the roof on that portion of the building because we maintain, we own it, we understand we are responsible for it.”
Dennett Road has a $140,214 construction debt that has eight years remaining.
Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools closed last year as a cost-cutting measure.
Another project high on the priority list is a $45,270 air conditioner replacement/repair at Yough Glades and Bradford elementary schools. Also high on the priority list is a $5,000 architectural study of Southern Middle School and its viability to potentially support elementary and middle school students.
During the meeting, one resident suggested looking at the salaries that make up 80 percent of the board’s budget. The board was able to save money through unemployment, insurance benefits, instructional supplies and materials, substitutes and salary savings.
“When I came aboard, I asked that all staff positions be held until I could review them,” said Wilson.
The fiscal 2013 budget planned for unemployment for about 35 staff members who were subject to reduction in force and that money wasn’t used, according to Wilson.
“I think that it’s very important that all of us are good stewards of taxpayers’ money,” said Wilson “I think it’s important that when we have extra money to let county government know.”
The board is again facing financial difficulties because of the state’s wealth formula. The commissioners met with Lillian Lowery, Maryland state superintendent of schools, in the spring and sent a letter to her asking her to look for short-term solutions. The wealth formula will be looked at in the fall of 2014 and won’t be included until 2016, and contingency plans need to be made in case it doesn’t come through, according to Wilson.
Sen. George Edwards has also sent a letter to Gov. Martin O’Malley asking for short-term and immediate solutions prior to the legislative session. Wilson worked on the letter with Edwards and included the fact that the county has lost nearly 20 percent of its state funding since 2009.
State funding is eroding because of the enrollment numbers, which have dropped, according to Raley. The school system is facing a potential $2.2 million loss in state funding, according to Wilson.
Several residents at the meeting indicated that they would leave the area or home school their children if things don’t improve with the school system. Some residents voiced concerns about overcrowding at Broadford Elementary and the commissioners agreed to visit the school in the future.
“I think it’s important that we have schools that attract people to the area,” said Charlotte Sebold, board member. “It’s very important that we all go out and tell people how great our county is.”
The letter also mentions the hurdle that the school system faces in the geography and topography of the county, 600 miles of county roads translate to 6,000 miles a day for bus services and high transportation costs.
“That’s a standard that sets Garrett County apart from most other jurisdictions,” said Wilson. “Moving down the road, if we again have to do a reduction in force and cause further building closures I can only anticipate transportation costs will increase.”
Jeff Connor of Fike, Conner & Associates CPAs urged everyone else to send a letter to O’Malley.
“We can’t keep doing this over and over. So we are going to have to go to the state level,” said Conner. “More school closings or school consolidations are just not palatable.”
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Mini-marina hearing keeps public comment period open
From Staff ReportsCumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission agreed to leave the public comment period open for two weeks — until Oct. 8 — following a public hearing Tuesday on William Meagher’s request to amend the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance to add a new category of use for boat rentals not offering any services associated with a marina.
During the standing-room-only public hearing, 10 people spoke in opposition of the proposed text amendment to the ordinance, according to Bob Hoffman, president of the Property Owner’s Association of Deep Creek Lake. Meagher and his attorney, John Coyle, spoke in favor of the proposed text amendment.
Susie Crawford, vice president of POA, who spoke in opposition to the amendment, noted that it would undermine the integrity of the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance and denigrate public health and safety. She also noted that it would create the potential for unintended consequences without further public review.
“The POA’s principal concern with the proposed text amendment is that, if passed, the new usage will become a permitted use in the zoning districts and on those parcels that meet the zoning criteria in the watershed ordinance, the primary impact of which will be in the Town Center Zoning District,” writes Hoffman in a Sept. 16 email to the commissioners. “The door would be wide open for multiple such uses without a case-by-case analysis of each application.”
In the email, Hoffman also urged the commissioners to keep the record open to, “allow sufficient time for meaningful input from the different agencies and organizations with an interest in the matter as well as from the newly appointed DCL (Deep Creek Lake) Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee to assist you in making your decision.”
Chairman Bob Gatto recused himself from the public hearing and abstained from the proceedings based on the fact that Gatto Electric, which he is the primary owner of, completed electrical work for Meagher.
In addition to the POA, the Aquatic Center Inc. as well as local marinas oppose the proposed text amendment to the ordinance.
In July, the Garrett County Planning Commission voted to recommend that county commissioners endorse Meagher’s request.
“We don’t need this kind of operation in Deep Creek Lake. It’s in an unsafe location, it’s too congested there, those watercrafts don’t even have reverse,” said Phil St. Moritz, owner and president of Bill’s Marine Service LLC, during the July meeting. “I’m more concerned with the integrity of the lake. No way is it safe. I think under no circumstances should this mini-marina be allowed to open again.”
Phil St. Moritz initiated the original legal action to close down Meagher’s mini-marina. During a hearing in June in Garrett County Circuit Court, Judge Jim Sherbin found that a previous zoning amendment that allowed Meagher to run the mini-marina was of no legal effect and ordered that the decision by the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals to issue Meagher a permit be reversed.
Checking Out The Docks
Even though black bears are common in Garrett County, seeing one going about its business is almost always a thrill. This particular bear was spotted by, and photographed by, Pete Versteegen one morning a few weeks ago. The bear climbed a wild cherry tree, Versteegen reported, and munched on the cherries for about 15 minutes, then climbed down, but kept eating the cherries by bending the branches to his (or her) mouth. The bear was sporting two tags, one in each ear, so someone from the Department of Natural Resources had already met him. Versteegen said the bear wandered along the dock awhile, as if trying to decide whether or not to go for a swim. Apparently he decided against that and went on his way. The dock is on the Versteegen property in the Lake Pointe at Wisp development. All residents are cautioned, as always, to keep a safe distance away from the wild animals when watching them outside. Black bear attacks of humans are rare but not unheard of, so all are urged to be wary.
