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Proceeds Of Benefit Golf Tourney, Other Events, Will Exceed $90,000

Jul. 4, 2013

 

by Don Sincell

Despite rain and threats of rain, the second annual William G. Weissgerber Benefit Golf Tournament held this past Friday and Saturday at the Lodestone and Oakland golf courses was a resounding success, as the tourney and various other fundraisers held in conjunction grossed an estimated $117,000 for three local non-profit programs.

According to organizers, it is anticipated that the profit from the event will exceed $90,000, to be split among Landon’s Library, the Andrew S. Woods Memorial Athletic Scholarship Fund, and Samantha’s Funding for the Arts.

Brian and Crystal Roberson-Boal, Tom and Debbie Woods, and Charlie and June McCloskey – respective parents of Landon Boal, Andrew Woods, and Samantha Gibson – spearheaded the effort; however, they were quick to state that the project would not have been nearly as successful without major support from numerous other individuals, organizations, and businesses.

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“Never in our wildest dreams would we have thought that this tournament and the other events would have raised that kind of money,” Tom Woods said. “It’s just a real testament to the kind of people who live here in our community.”

“This tournament started with Bill Weissgerber coming to me two years ago with the idea that we could go a golf tournament and raise a few thousand dollars for Landon’s Library,” said Brian Boal. “He thought it might raise $2,500, but we shattered that prediction, as it generated about 10 times that. The community support has been just tremendous.

“It was truly an incredible weekend, and it seemed very evident that three kids ‘on the other side’ were present,” said Boal, who added that some of his fellow alumni from West Virginia University traveled from as far away as Michigan and Texas to participate in the event.

According to Woods and Boal, there were many examples of what appeared to be “divine intervention” throughout the two-day fund-raiser.

“There was one thing after another that made us really believe we were getting ‘help from above,'” Woods said.

He said that on Friday morning it was “raining buckets” at the Lodestone course at the Wisp in McHenry – that is, until about 15 minutes before tee-time of the event.

“It stopped raining, and it didn’t start again until just as the final foursome was completing the last hole,” he said.

Hundreds of 50-50 raffle tickets were sold at Friday’s round, and after stirring all of the tickets in a large bucket, Woods reached deep into the pile, only to pull out his own ticket. So he simply returned his winnings to the cause.

Another 50-50 raffle was held the following day at the Oakland Golf Club course, and the winner of that one was Bill German, another local parent who lost an infant daughter and in whose memory he and his wife Brittany had started a fund to provide blankets for newborns at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. So the $525 he won will go directly into that charity.

Yet another odd occurrence was the story surrounding the winner of the helicopter golf ball drop.

More here.

Fun things to do July 4th week at Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County

There is no shortage of fun things to do in the Garrett County area this week/weekend! For more items not mentioned on this list (Broadford Fireworks, Rodeo, LEGO events, etc) check http://www.facebook.com/ILoveDeepCreekLakeGarrettCountyMaryland?fref=ts
ilovedeepcreeklake-facebook
Name: Mountain Fresh Farmers Markets in Oakland
Date: July 3, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Event Description:

Mountain Fresh Farmers Markets feature the area’s freshest fruits, vegetables, berries, and herbs as well as plants, eggs, honey, cut flowers, delicious grassfed meats, goat’s milk cheeses, home baked goods, jams & jellies, hand made crafts, and more each Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm in beautiful downtown Oakland, just a 15 minute drive south from Deep Creek Lake.

We’re a “Producer-Only” market, meaning that you are purchasing the items directly from farmers, bakers, and artisans, as we do not allow any reselling at our market.

Location:
Downtown Oakland at the corner of South First Street and Alley 3/Town Park Ln, just off Route 39 across the railroad tracks from the Oakland B&O Museum.
Date/Time Information:
Wednesdays & Saturdays, 10 am to 1 pm
Contact Information:
Call 301-334-6960 or email info@MountainFresh.org
Fees/Admission:
Free Admission
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Stage Wisp Concert #1

Name: Stage Wisp Concert #1
Date: July 3, 2013
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Event Description:

Band : The Steve Hussey Band

Band Description: From Johnny Cash to Steve Hussey originals to songs fresh out of a Nashville writing room, the Steve Hussey Band has been entertaining at venues all over West Virignia, Ohio and all over the East Coast for 10 years.
From clubs to concert series to State Fairs, the Steve Hussey Band has done it all! Thier brand of Americana is sure to make shoes tap and get people up and dancing.Event Description: Grab the family and the lawn chairs and head to Wisp Resort’s new Stage Wisp concert series location – The Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park for some great live entertainment and lots of fun! This annual summer concert series will provide nightlife and entertainment for the entire family. Our new locations will place you right in the middle of Wisp Resorts hot spots and only steps away from some great activities such as the Mountain Coaster, All NEW Spider Monkey Adventure, Segway Tours and much more. The Bar and Grill will be open for tasty treats and cold drinks! – No Coolers Permitted!

Location:
Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park (Outdoors)
Date/Time Information:
6 pm – 8:30 pm
Contact Information:
Fees/Admission:

Free

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Fire on the Mountain Fireworks Display

Name: Fire on the Mountain Fireworks Display
Date: July 4, 2013
Event Description:

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Fire on the Mountain Fireworks Display, sponsored by NLP of Maryland, LLC. Fireworks launched from the top of Bear Claw Tubing Park at Wisp Resort out toward the waters of Deep Creek Lake. Viewing spots include the scenic overlook on Rt. 219, McHenry Cove on Deep Creek Lake and businesses in McHenry.

Tune into 104.5 WKHJ, 92.3 The Train or 1050 AM WMSG radio, the official media partners for the Fire on the Mountain Fireworks Display, for inclement weather updates and patriotic music to accompany the show.

Rain date: July 5th. If there is inclement weather on July 4th, please check this page or tune your radio to  104.5 WKHJ, 92.3 The Train and 1050 AM WMSG radio for live updates on the status of the fireworks.

 

Major Sponsor: NLP of Maryland, LLC

 

Supporting Sponsor:

Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake, Inc.

 
Associate Sponsor: Wisp Resort

Media Partners: 104.5 WKHJ, 92.3 The Train & 1050 AM WMSG Radio.

Display provided by Zambelli Fireworks.

Date/Time Information:
July 4, 2013
Contact Information:
301.387.4386

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July 4th Concert

Name: July 4th Concert
Date: July 4, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Event Description:

Join your friends and bring your family and enjoy the Garrett Choral Society and the Garrett Community Concert Band in their annual Independence Day Concert at Garrett College. This year’s concert will be in the NEW gymnasium at Garrett College. After the concert, join us on the lawn of Garrett College to enjoy the magnificent fireworks displayed off WISP Mountain.

Location:
Garrett College NEW Gymnaisum
Date/Time Information:
7/4/2013 7:00 pm
Contact Information:
Fees/Admission:
FREE

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Little Yough Summer Music Festival

Name: Little Yough Summer Music Festival
Date: July 5, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Event Description:

The Little Yough Summer Concert Series will begin its 17th season! Come to downtown Oakland and join us for a night under the stars. Bring your chairs, blankets and refreshments if you would like.   They are every Friday evening from July 5-September 6, concerts begin at 7:00 pm and go until approximately 9:30 pm.  You can also come a little early and get some food from one of our many delicious food vendors. Concerts are held in the Mt. Fresh Pavilion on Town Park Lane next to the Little Yough river. Complete performers descriptions can be found at www.agreatsmalltown.com . Concerts are FREE, but donations are graciously accepted. Hope to see you there!

2013 Line-up

July 5- The Stray Birds
July 12-Dennis McClung
July 19- Mon River Big Band
July 26- Jessica Lee
August 2- Boilermakers
August 9- Scott & Michelle Dalzeil
August 16- Nora Jane Struthers
August 23- Half Time String Band
August 30-The Carper Family
September 6- The Remedy

Location:
Mt. Fresh Pavilion on Town Park Lane in downtown Oakland next to the Little Yough River.
Date/Time Information:
7/6/2013-9/06/2013 Concerts begin at 7:00 pm
Contact Information:
Michelle Ross 301-334-2691
Fees/Admission:
FREE

 

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Boat Parade on Deep Creek lake

Name: Boat Parade on Deep Creek lake
Date: July 6, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Event Description:
The Evening Lighted Boat Parade will be held on Saturday, July 6th, starting from the Boardwalk and ending at Dutch’s at Silver Tree. The flotilla of boats will get underway shortly after dusk (if there are many antique and non-lighted boats, they will leave before dusk) and proceed in single file past a number of judging stations along the route. As the Parade is taking place at night, entrants are encouraged to illuminate their boats with the best lighting show they can produce. Spectators at the judging stations will vote for their favorite boats, and prizes will be awarded in a number of categories, with a Grand Prize consisting of a custom-designed Winner’s Pennant and trophy. Entrants in the parade will need to pay a $50 registration fee at the Grand Marshal’s boat anchored off the Boardwalk, and the number of entries are limited, so be sure to pre-register to ensure your spot.
Location:
Deep Creek Lake departs from Point View area in McHenry cove, proceeds to Glendale Bridge
Date/Time Information:
July 6th, 2013. dusk
Contact Information:
Chris Nichols
Fees/Admission:
$50 entry fee for personal boats, $100 for businesses

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Summer Art Camp

Name: Summer Art Camp
Date: July 8, 2013 – July 12, 2013
Event Description:
Students  will experience fine art in the studio and outdoors during Summer Art School camps.
Each project incorporates a fine artist, art concept, or technique. Students will use various types of paint, pastels, india ink, charcoal, clay, aluminum, wire, glass, printing ink, and much more to create one of a kind projects.Each camp week will focus on a new topic. Each week will include at least two new masters and projects in both 2-D and 3-D.

At the end of the summer, campers will get to exprerience another facet of the fine arts with an art show featuring their work.

Open to children ages 5 – 14

Camps will be held at J.F.Mazur Fine Art Studio in Oakland, MD throughout the week, with the exception of Wednesdays.

On Wednesdays camp will meet in the Pocket Park for Plein Air days, weather permitting.
(Pocket Park Location: 2nd Street, Oakland MD 21550. Between the Cornish Cafe and Newman’s Funeral Home)

Location:
J.F Mazur Fine Art Studio, 12978 Garrett Hwy, Oakland, MD
Date/Time Information:
July 8- 12 (ages 5-11) 9am- noon
(ages 11-14) 1pm – 4pm
Contact Information:
register on www.jillianfaye.com or call 240-321-9212
Fees/Admission:
$145 per week

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Welcome Party Mondays

Name: Welcome Party Mondays
Date: July 8, 2013
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Event Description:
Join us every Monday starting June 17th – August 12th from 3-5pm on the lawn at UNO Chicago Grill Deep Creek for Welcome Party Mondays!  FREE Admission to the Public/Rain or Shine, Promotions and Giveaways from Area Businesses, Complimentary Finger Foods and Refreshments, Complimentary Pontoon Boat Rides from Wisp Resort and Live Band Entertainment at the Honi Honi Bar from 5-8pm.   Learn all about fun activities, happenings and events in the Deep Creek Lake and surrounding area and meet with area vendors to plan your vacation fun!
Location:
UNO Chicago Grill Deep Creek
Date/Time Information:
Every Monday (starting June 17th and ending August 12th) from 3-5pm
Contact Information:
Stacy at 301-387-4020
Fees/Admission:
FREE

Recommended Practices For Marcellus Shale Drilling Released For Comment

Jun. 27, 2013

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released on Tuesday a draft report describing best practices for drilling and production that should be required if horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas is permitted in the Marcellus shale in Maryland. The draft report, which was prepared in consultation with an advisory commission, includes recommendations to protect public health and safety, natural resources, and the environment.

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The draft report has been posted on MDE’s web site. The departments will present an overview of the draft report at a public informational meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, in the auditorium of Garrett College. A copy of the draft report will also be sent to the Ruth Enlow Library in Oakland and the Allegany County Library in Frostburg.

Comments on the draft report can be submitted by e-mail to Marcellus.Advisory@maryland.gov or by regular mail to: Brigid E. Kenney, Senior Policy Advisor, Maryland Department of the Environment, 1800 Washington Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21230.

Comments must be submitted by August 9, 2013. A final report will be released after all the comments have been considered. According to department spokespersons, when the report is final, the best practices will be incorporated into new, stringent regulations to apply to shale gas development if it is permitted in Maryland.

The report was required under Governor Martin O’Malley’s June 2011 executive order, which established the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Initiative to examine the facts and science to determine whether and how hydraulic fracturing can be done safely in Maryland. No decision has been made on whether such drilling will be permitted. The third and final report under the Initiative is due in August 2014.

The Marcellus shale is a black shale, or rock, formation that underlies New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and western Maryland. In Maryland, the only anticipated areas of potential gas production in the Marcellus are in Garrett and western Allegany counties.

Largely forested and rural, the area offers scenic byways, premier trout streams, whitewater paddling, Deep Creek Lake, hunting, skiing, hiking, and camping. It includes unique ecological communities and natural areas that protect watersheds and water quality, provide homes to threatened and endangered species, and offer a near-wilderness experience.

“These areas are irreplaceable,” said DNR Secretary Joseph Gill. “We must do all that we can to protect them or we will lose them forever.”

To protect these areas and the rural character of the community, the departments propose, among other recommendations, to require comprehensive planning for shale gas development before any drilling permits are issued.

“Maryland would be the first state to require this type of planning,” advisory commission member Harry Weiss said. “If adopted, it could further protect communities and the environment from the landscape-level effects of shale gas development.”

MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers cautioned: “In this report, the departments propose stringent standards for all aspects of drilling and production, but there is more work to be done before a decision can be made about whether hydraulic fracturing should be allowed in Maryland.”

More here.

18th Annual Rodeo Slated In McHenry

Jun. 27, 2013

 

The 18th annual Championship Rodeo will be held on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6, at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, McHenry. Musical entertainment, featuring Perry and Sean Kamp on Friday and Kenny Jones on Saturday, will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by rodeo action at 7:30.

 

Bull riding, bronco riding, roping, barrel racing, youth mutton busting, and bullfighting clowns will be featured.

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This event is sponsored by the Garrett County Livestock Association and 92.3 The  Train. Proceeds benefit the 4-H and FFA livestock activities and improvements to the areas used by youth livestock groups at the fairgrounds.

Advance tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. At the gate, tickets will cost $10  for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are available at Southern States in Oakland, Lakeview Auto Parts, Grantsville Ad Service, Glotfelty Enterprises, Little Sandy’s, and Fratz True Value. More here.

Deep Creek marina owner ordered to cease operations

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The owner of Lakeside Creamery at Deep Creek Lake has been ordered to cease operations of a mini-marina located on his property until a zoning issue is decided in Circuit Court.

During a hearing in June in Garrett County Circuit Court, Judge Jim Sherbin found that a zoning amendment that allowed Bill 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.

The court issued the cease and desist order on June 26.

St. Moritz Properties LLC, Bill’s Marine Service Inc. and Silver Tree Marine LLC filed recently filed a motion to amend the order that was issued by Sherbin in June to add the following sentence at the end, “it is further ordered that Meagher/ Lakeside shall immediately cease and desist from operating the boat rental business on the property located at 20282 Garrett Highway in that it is enjoined by this order from doing so.”

Meagher rents personal watercrafts and pontoon boats.

The order was amended to make it clear that Meagher shouldn’t be operating without a permit, according to Greg Skidmore of Skidmore, Alderson and Duncan of Oakland, who is representing local marinas. Meagher has until July 3 to respond to the order that he cease and desists operations.

Meagher has operated the mini-marina for over a year on an invalid permit and even after the decision was made in June continued to operate, according to Skidmore.

“Even after the order, Meagher/Lakeside continue to defiantly operate the boat rental business without a permit and is clear violation of the Zoning ordinance and should not be permitted to do so,” Skidmore said in legal documents

On June 5, 2012, the county commissioners voted to make amendments to the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning ordinance to allow Meagher to have a marina that doesn’t offer the services associated with it.

A boat rental permit was issued by the Board of Zoning Appeals on June 11, 2012, to Meagher. St. Moritz Properties LLC, Bill’s Marine Service Inc. and Silver Tree Marine LLC appealed the issuance of the permit. The Board of Zoning Appeals denied the appeal and upheld the issuance of the permit.

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

Garrett defers school project

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — During the Garrett County Commission meeting on Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously to defer the Southern Middle School renovation project funding of $582,400 for one year.

Commissioners also agreed to continue to work with the board of education to develop a plan for fiscal 2015 for the school project.

“I think this is a sound approach,” said Commissioner Jim Raley. “We are going to get through this. It really comes down to, in my opinion, the taxpayers and citizens of Garrett County telling us what they want their school system to look like.”

Raley said it’s up to citizens whether they want to continue to maintain community schools or to consider a larger approach.

Without cuts to the budget, the project would cause an increase in taxes, according to Raley.

“Unless we are going to start cutting money out of the budget, we are not going to afford that project without a tax increase that covers the cost of that debt service,” said Raley. “I don’t often get people coming up to me saying, ‘Please raise my taxes.’”

The debt service on the project would have to be paid back and would cost about $750,000 per year, according to Raley.

“Currently, the county has no debt, so there is no money to roll into that. In order to fund that debt service, the county has to come up with that $750,000 to make that payment. The real reason for the request of the deferal (of the project) is to see if we can get the budget more in line,” he said.

Raley said he didn’t foresee any new revenues coming to the county.

There will be a $1.7 million budget shortfall in fiscal 2015 for education.

“The $1.7 million that the board is asking for is just to remain at status quo,” said Raley. “It doesn’t do anything to enhance the system or to meet some of those needs. I continue to argue that we have a stagnant population, we have a declining student population.”

In order to recover from decline in student population, Raley believes the trend needs to be reversed.

“It needs to happen no matter what our decisions are in moving forward with Southern Middle School,” he said, adding that planning needs to take place with the future in mind. “I don’t know what our county will look like 10 years from now.”

Commissioner Gregan Crawford said he would like to see an independent group develop creative ideas for the direction of the school system.

It is estimated the county will lose $2.7 million in revenue in fiscal 2015 because of the readjustment of the assessable tax base and because, Raley said.

In addition, planning will also have to occur for the shift of teacher retirement costs to county government.

“The biggest problem I see are 2015 and 2016 are going to be critical budget years,” said Raley.

Raley, who worked in the Southern Middle School building for 14 years, said he was concerned about the erosion of the building if the project didn’t move forward.

Southern Middle School was built in 1977.

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

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813 VISTA SQUARE RD
OAKLAND, MD 21550

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Incredible deal on a 3BR home offering approx 1,900 +/- sq ft of comfort & tranquility, and is centrally located to schools, daycare, shopping & the hospital. Kick back on the porch and soak in the sun & views, or unwind in the rec room/play room. Tastefully decorated w/ soothing colors & style, you won’t want to leave! Built-ins and abundant, creative storage, lots of upgrades. Must see! More here.

 

 

 

 

Gasoline tax, tolls increase in Maryland

Change will add about 3.5 cents to price of a gallon

Brian Witte Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS — The cost of driving in Maryland is going up today.

The state’s first gas tax increase in two decades goes into effect Monday, along with the second round of toll increases in less than two years.

In another step designed to build infrastructure, the deadline for 10 of the state’s most populated jurisdictions to implement fees for property owners for stormwater remediation to fight pollution in the Chesapeake Bay also is set for Monday.

While there will be no change to Maryland’s 23.5-cents-per-gallon excise tax, which was last raised in 1992, the state will begin applying a sales tax to a gallon of gas. Starting Monday, a 1 percent sales tax will be added to gas purchases in the first of several increases scheduled over the next few years. In another change, Maryland will begin implementing an automatic increase to gas prices that will be linked to the Consumer Price Index to adjust for inflation.

The changes will add about 3.5 cents to the price of a gallon of gas, with about 3.1 cents coming from the 1 percent increase and nearly half a cent from the indexing for inflation.

The sales tax is set to rise again by another 1 percent on Jan. 1, 2015, and another 1 percent on July 1, 2015. If federal legislation allowing states to collect a sales tax on Internet sales does not pass, the sales tax is scheduled to rise another 1 percent in January 2016.

Gov. Martin O’Malley, who unsuccessfully pushed for a gas tax increase last year, tried again this legislative session and won approval with the help of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch.

Supporters of the increase noted that after years of neglect, the state was scheduled to run out of money for new transportation projects after 2017 without new revenue. They also pointed to traffic congestion in the suburbs of the nation’s capital and Baltimore and concerns that Maryland would fall behind Virginia, which also approved new transportation revenues this year, to maintain and build roads to compete for jobs.

“You’ve got to regularly invest in transportation to address those congestion challenges and, eventually what happens, people become mired in gridlock, and from a business perspective we need to be able to move people, goods and services to have a vibrant economy,” said Don Fry, president of the Greater Baltimore Committee, said.

On the day O’Malley signed the measure into law last month, the administration announced more than $1 billion in highway and transit projects. The Democratic governor also underscored the new jobs that would be created by the additional construction.

Opponents, however, decried the increases. Delegate Nic Kipke, the House minority leader, said the additional taxes will hurt businesses in a state where taxes were already high in general.

“Before all of these unnecessary tax increases to into effect, Maryland was already the fifth highest cost-of-living state in the nation, and I’m concerned these new costs just increase the hardship of lower and middle income people,” Kipke, R-Anne Arundel, said.

The toll increases taking effect Monday represent the second phase of such hikes approved by the Maryland Transportation Authority in 2011.

Drivers of two-axle vehicles will pay $2 more to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, as the toll jumps to $6 from $4. Tolls for the Fort McHenry Tunnel, Baltimore Harbor Tunnel and Francis Scott Key Bridge will rise to $4 from $3 for two-axle vehicles. The toll for the Harry W. Nice Bridge will increase to $6 from $4. The cost of going through the one-way John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway at Perryville on Interstate 95 and the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge on U.S. 40 will jump to $8 from $6.

In addition to the gas tax and toll increases, the state’s 10 most populated jurisdictions are hitting a deadline Monday to set fees for stormwater remediation. However, differences in how the jurisdictions have been addressing the requirement have been considerable. For example, in Frederick County, local officials opposing the idea have set a penny annual charge. Other jurisdictions have set higher fees. Carroll County officials decided Thursday to use county money for the initiative instead of implementing a fee.

Republican opponents, who have derided the fee by calling it “the rain tax,” say they will push to repeal it next year. Kipke said Republican lawmakers have scheduled a Monday news conference to make the announcement and criticize the tax increases. Kipke said he is concerned the initiative will hurt struggling businesses, such as a mall in his county that he says will face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees.

“There are countless stories like that where I fear this new costly fee will be the stake in the heart of employers in the state,” he said.

More here.

Adventuresports Institute at Garrett College recipient of ARC funding

$250,000 will improve educational facilities

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News

WASHINGTON — The Garrett County Board of Commissioners has received a $250,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to improve the educational facilities of The Adventuresports Institute at Garrett College. In addition to the grant, the project will be locally funded at $279,024 and with an additional $50,000 in other federal funds.

The news was announced jointly on Friday by U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, both Maryland Democrats.

“Tourism means jobs in Western Maryland and across our great state. This grant is about equipping young professionals with the important skills they need to showcase the splendor of Western Maryland’s natural resources,” said Cardin. “ARC’s federal-local partnership is investing together in Garrett County’s economy while raising the bar for new levels of responsible, environmental stewardship.”

“This federal funding is an important investment in Garrett County’s economic security and the vitality of Western Maryland,” said Mikulski.  “These funds will help build an industry that keeps Marylanders on the job and encourages people to visit our state. Tourism spurs all parts of the economy — from the adventure sites to the food stands. I will keep fighting for smart federal investments in Maryland communities.”

The Adventuresports Institute is a wholly-owned operation of Garrett College. It was founded as part of a strategy to establish Garrett County as an adventure sport tourism leader.

ASI works with public and private entities to train professionals and produce leaders in adventure sports and recreation industries who have a strong sense of environmental stewardship and community service. This grant comes at an opportune time as its beneficiaries will be instrumental in ensuring that the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championship in 2014 at Deep Creek Lake is a success.