ilovedeepcreeklakerealestate – Page 114

>Marcellus Shale Lecture Series To Continue April 7

>Mar. 31, 2011

The University of Maryland’s Extension’s lecture series on Marcellus shale education will continue at the Eastern Garrett County Fire Department, Finzel, on Thursday, April 7, at 7 p.m. The topic will be safety policies implemented by the industry since drilling began in 2007 in Pennsylvania.

Since last fall, the University of Maryland Extension has provided educational programs related to natural gas extraction from the Marcellus shale to citizens of Garrett and Allegany counties. With the potential passage of Maryland’s Safe Drilling Act, Marcellus shale drilling may be delayed until an interagency study concludes that adequate regulations are in place to minimize potential adverse environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

“University of Maryland Extension (UME) plans to continue offering educational forums throughout this regulatory development process,” noted Dr. Jennifer Bentlejewski, area extension director. “UME plans to continue to compile and share research related to drilling so that citizens of western Maryland may make informed decisions about their natural resources in an environmentally responsible manner.”

Drilling is currently taking place in neighboring West Virginia and Pennsylvania, with several Garrett County businesses being affected. These businesses include local motels and restaurants and excavating and engineering firms. Job opportunities created by this industry are increasing, according to Bentlejewski.

“In fact, we just lost our Marcellus shale program assistant Mikal Zimmerman to the industry,” noted Bentlejewski She has been a great asset to our outreach program over the last several months, and we wish her the best in her new career.” Zimmerman resigned her position at UME effective April 8 to take a public relations position in the industry.

“Our plan is to hire a qualified individual for this position as soon as possible so that programming can continue. We have already reached more than 500 residents, but the need for additional education still exists,” said Bentlejewski. “The slower pace enables us to work with Garrett County government and concerned citizens to identify specific needs then develop and implement long-term educational goals to meet those needs.”

Read 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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>WM history website still work in progress

>Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sun Apr 03, 2011, 11:10 PM EDT CUMBERLAND — A Western Maryland history website created by city resident Steve Colby continues to be a work in progress. The website www.wmdhistory.org, which was started a year and a half ago, offers a wealth of historical information on Allegany and Washington counties. “The intent for the website was to create a collaborative online database of documented information for people to do research or who are into history,” said Colby. “It was also created to promote more consciousness of history in the area.” The website includes a host of historical articles, maps, a history forum and a Google site search. Recently added to the website are Allegany and Garrett County land patent surveys from the 1740s to 1787 and a Gazetteer of Western Maryland. “History, without visual context, often lacks the sense of place that stirs the imagination. By mining information stored in books, documents, maps and photos and presenting it online, we hope to provide a spark … a spark that will stir you to see past the veil of everyday life and envision the history that has gone on before,” says the website. Colby is seeking transcribers for the surveys. Anyone wishing to transcribe can find the images of the original handwritten patents through the Maryland State Archives online at www.MDlandrec.net. Colby is still adding to the patent survey project and later years will be added as time permits. A gridded version of Veatch’s 1787 Map of Military Lots West of Cumberland has been created to help find the location of the patents. “Early land patents and deeds often have valuable references to roads, creeks, houses, mills and other landmarks” said Colby. “Ofttimes these are the only recorded information on the location of a landmark.” Colby explained that the archives can be a little cumbersome at first and that there is a learning curve. He also explained that sometimes it is hard to search the archive for Allegany County because at one time Allegany was a part of Prince George’s County, then was a part of Frederick, followed by Washington and Garrett counties. The Gazetteer features natural and manmade landmarks from the 1700s on in Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties. The initial Gazetteer includes information from the MD State Gazetteer, circa 1941, combined with a list of Maryland post offices from about 1792 to the 1970s, according to Colby. In addition to the Western Maryland History website, Colby also hosts a Cumberland Road Project website, www.cumberlandproject.com, which features history of the National Road, and a Western Maryland History Facebook page that features historical photographs. Colby travels as far as Brownsville and Clear Spring to get pictures for the Facebook page. “Additional early landmark information, including waterways, residences, mills, roads, towns and villages, cemeteries and etc. is added almost daily (to the website),” said Colby. “I welcome people’s submission. If anyone has any historical information or if anyone would like to write a historical article, I would love to see it,” said Colby. The only thing Colby asks is that people who offer historical information also provide the documentation to back it up. Anyone with historical information on Western Maryland may e-mail it to Colby at editor@cumberlandroadproject.com Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com 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!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

>Lakefront Log Home for sale at Lake Pointe – GA7565748

234 LAKE POINTE DR
MC HENRY, MD 21541

Lakefront log home in desirable Lake Pointe subdivision. This is the year-round spot to be, with Deep Creek Lake & dock slip in the front & HUGE views of Wisp Ski & Golf Resort out the back! Established & successful vacation rental property offering 4BR/3BA – very well appointed. Buy now & enjoy 2011 rental income!

Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.

Listing # GA7565748
$979,900

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>BOE Will Hold April 5 Meeting At Southern Middle

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Mar. 31, 2011

The Garrett County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 5, beginning at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place in the cafeteria at Southern Middle School.

Following the opening of the meeting at 4 p.m., the board will meet in closed session until 5:30 p.m.

After the closed session, public agenda topics will include action on the 2011-12 proposed school calendar and the date for the 2011 retirement dinner.

Information items will include the 2012 budget update and school closing recommendation.

At 7:15 p.m., the board will recognize the designer of the 2010 Christmas card.

Time will be set aside at approximately 7:45 p.m. for public comment and participation on any topic. The BOE invites the public to attend.

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>Other states look to Pennsylvania to learn from Marcellus Shale errors

>Other states are thinking twice about permitting process or even allowing wells

By Rona Kobell

Maryland natural resources officials are trying to learn everything they can about drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation before granting any permits, saying they hope to avoid the environmental problems that Pennsylvania has endured.

About a year ago, two companies applied to drill for natural gas in Garrett County, in Maryland’s far western corner. That county is one of two in the state that overlay the Marcellus Shale, a gas-rich rock formation about the size of Greece that also stretches across Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. Already, several companies have leased 100,000 acres of land in Garrett and Allegany counties.

Maryland Department of the Environment Acting Secretary Robert Summers said the department has both the authority and the flexibility to regulate drilling effectively. But as he follows reports of water contamination and wastewater problems in Pennsylvania, he said, he can’t help but worry about what would happen should Maryland approve the permits before it had looked at every issue. As a result, Summers said, he supports a bill winding through the General Assembly that calls for a two-year study before drilling begins.

“All of us, not just the regulatory agencies but the companies as well, have learned from the mistakes made in Pennsylvania,” Summers said. “We’re making sure we don’t repeat the mistakes they’ve made.”

John Griffin, Maryland’s Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, agrees that the state is not yet ready. He said the department still has to inventory its extensive land holdings in Garrett County and determine where it has mineral rights. Among his concerns is the preservation of the Savage River, its adjacent state forest, and the Youghiogheny River, which remains the state’s only scenic and wild river.

“There are a lot of great natural resources in Garrett County,” Griffin said. “We’re concerned about the overall cumulative impacts on landscapes, forest fragmentation and habitat destruction. The question is where, to what extent and how we can go forward in a more measured way than in the Wild-Wild-West way, which is what is happening in Pennsylvania.”

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>Maryland's Primary Care Providers are Adopting Electronic Health Records

>By Mandira Srivastava, TMCnet Contributor

In order to boost shares of around $20 billion in federal incentives received through the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services, doctors, nurse practitioners and other primary care providers from Ocean City to Garrett County in Maryland are starting the transition from paper to electronic health records, or EHRs.

According to a press release, CRISP is offering subsidized technical assistance to 1,000 primary care providers transitioning to EHRs by 2014. It is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to offer safer, timelier, efficient, effective, equitable, patient-centered health care to all Marylanders through health information technology.

“Governor O’Malley and I have made implementing electronic health records one of our 15 strategic goals because health IT will help reduce costs while improving care for Marylanders,” said Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, co-chair of Maryland’s Health Care Reform Coordinating Council.

He added, “Right now, Maryland health care providers have a valuable opportunity to take advantage of federal dollars to transition to electronic health records, but they must act quickly as these programs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and slots are filling up.”

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>Committee Rejects Bill To Rename Negro Mountain

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Mar. 31, 2011

The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee yesterday rejected Senate Joint Resolution 3, a measure that would have established a commission to change the names of Negro and Polish mountains, Del. Wendell Beitzel (R– Dist. 1A) announced.
“This measure has been overwhelmingly opposed by the District 1 Delegation,” he noted.

All of the members of the delegation testified in opposition during the Senate hearing. Beitzel and Kevin Kelly (D–Dist. 1B) also recently testified before the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee in opposition to the House version of the bill, House Joint Resolution 8.

“It is rewarding to know that the effort of a few to rename our mountains has been rejected by the Senate committee,” Beitzel said. “I am grateful to Chairman Conway and the members of the Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee for hearing the voices of many from western Maryland on this issue.”

The measure, sponsored by Baltimore City Senator Lisa Gladden (D– Dist. 41), would have required the governor to establish a commission that would have submitted its findings to the General Assembly on or before Dec. 31. Gladden was joined by eight co-sponsors, all of whom are from Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, or Baltimore City.

“It is my hope that this will put this matter to rest so that we can move forward with the pressing issues of the state,” concluded Beitzel.

Read full article here.

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>Pillow Palooza paying off

>Donated items going to Rescue Mission, YMCA
Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Fri Apr 01, 2011, 08:00 AM EDT

CUMBERLAND — Many churches, businesses and residents are showing their love for the homeless by giving pillows, sheets, toiletries and cribs to the Union Rescue Mission and YMCA-Housing as part of a Pillow Palooza project started by Donna Stivala, a pastor’s wife.

Stivala’s effort is quickly gaining momentum, with 98 pillows, 42 blankets, 18 sheets, four bags of toiletries, five bath towels, two washcloths and a hand towel already donated. Seven cribs have also been donated thanks to the efforts of Coldwell Banker Professional Real Estate Services, Century 21 Potomac West, the Department of Social Services, a couple from the Harvest Baptist Church, First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union and Deborah Grimm, a Realtor at Long & Foster.

The needs of the Union Rescue Mission and the YMCA-Housing remind Stivala of a scene in the 2009 movie “The Blind Side” where actress Sandra Bullock shows Michael Oher to his room and he says, “I’ve never had one of those before.”

“What, a room?” asks Bullock. “No, a bed,” said Oher.

“I am so glad that God put this idea in my heart and I thank God for allowing me to bring happiness to people,” said Stivala.

The Western Maryland Health System Ladies of Charity, the Women’s Civic Club and 20 churches have gotten involved in the effort and Chick-Fil-A and Rita’s Italian Ice are offering donors coupons.

The Rev. Dan Taylor, director of the Union Rescue Mission, is excited about the idea, is thankful for Stivala’s hard work and plans on sharing. If Taylor receives a surplus of items, he plans on giving the extras to the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, which shelters women and children; the Magdalene House, which shelters homeless people during the week and inmates’ families during the weekend; and Family Crisis Resource Center.

“Donna has done a fantastic job. She has talked to everyone in the county and even found cribs,” said Taylor. “She is excited about the project and did the work on her own. She is a work horse. We have 60 beds and we always need linens, towels and pillows. We usually let people take stuff with them and replace it because they need it where they are going. We have a lot of needs and this project is going to save us money.”

The idea for the project came to Stivala when her husband, Ron Stivala, a pastor at Harvest Baptist Church in Garrett County, paid for a homeless couple with one child and one on the way to stay in a hotel. It was then that Stivala learned that there are no homeless shelters in Garrett County and that homeless people are being referred to Allegany County. Lorena Fazenbaker of the Garrett County Department of Social Services confirmed that Garrett County has no homeless shelters and refers people to Allegany County.

Stivala also learned the Union Rescue Mission expenses are astronomical with a $1,600 monthly electric bill, $1,300 water bill and $13,000-a-year insurance that they are required to carry.

“I wanted to provide them with the things they needed so they could have money for other expenditures,” said Stivala.

Stivala is doing all she can to make sure that the word gets out about the project, including radio and TV interviews.

“We had to do the interview outside and it was freezing. It made me think of all those homeless people who don’t have a warm car or a warm home to go to and warm up in,” said Stivala of her TV recent interview with WJAC-TV from Johnstown, Pa.

Stivala explained that even though many donations have already come in, many more are needed — including specially sized sheets for hospital beds that are larger than an average twin-size bed. Donations are being accepted through Sunday.

Items may be dropped off at Highland Harley-Davidson and Energy Health and Fitness, LaVale, and Long & Foster and Rusco Home Improvements, Cumberland, during business hours. Checks may be sent to Harvest Baptist Church, 751 Jennings Road, Grantsville, MD 21536. Write Pillow Palooza in the memo line.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

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>Garrett County is Against Fracking

>Thanks to Crede Calhoun for sharing this letter with me. It was published in the Baltimore Sun. I couldn’t agree more – the fracking method with which ‘they’ intend to release the gas is HORRIBLE for the enviroment & Garrett County as a whole. Why not stick with the proven gas extraction methods that are safer for the environment? Oh…it’s more expensive and takes longer….

————–

I am the owner of Garrett County’s oldest land and water adventure company. Our eco tourism business will be a joke if everywhere we turn are trucks, smells, bad water, gas wells, compressor stations, and gas pipelines crisscrossing our forested mountains. My wife and I own a home in Garrett County and have lived in this home on the banks of the Youghiogheny River Wild and Scenic River Corridor for almost 20 years. One of the first fracking wells is scheduled to begin just outside of our small town and the first horizontal gas fracking shaft is coming within 500 feet of my front door and just across our beautiful wild and scenic river. Contrary to what seems to be the message conveyed by some who claim to represent us there is massive opposition on the local level to unbridled industrialized gas drilling.

Obviously our valuable fresh water resources, the quality of life in our area for residents, and our tourism and real estate values are in serious danger with this non-conventional and risky drilling practice. Everywhere gas fracking has happened land and real estate values have plummeted. Tourism does NOT and CANNOT exist in gas fracking areas and our entire county is a tourism area. Our area is a jewel of clean natural resources whose value will only increase as nearby states destroy their claims to natural beauty, peace and quiet by allowing destructive gas fracking.

People come to our area because of the environment and potentially unsafe and unsightly large scale industrial gas extraction is obviously not compatible with the health of our vibrant tourism economy. People and families come to our area to escape these intrusions not be subjected to them. Visitors will surely be disenchanted in making Garrett County their vacation destination or in choosing Garrett County for a real estate investment or personal retreat.

These very deep wells under enormous pressure must stay intact FOREVER and this I believe is beyond the knowledge, technical abilities and guarantees of the extraction companies at this time. Look what happened in the gulf oil disaster. The massive increase in truck traffic to haul the fracking water and toxic radioactive fracking overflow fluids will be dangerous to transport and dispose of. In nearby Pennsylvania serious environmental problems from gas fracking seem to happen daily. Once our area becomes known for methane smells, industrial compressor stations, loud noise, well flare offs, bad roads, deteriorating poisonous water quality and massive truck traffic the word will get out and Garrett County and its lakes, rivers and mountains will no longer be the wonderful ‘natural’ vacation destination or quality of life it is today. It will be Gas Land.

The Deep Creek Lake property values and the home and rural land values of our entire county are at serious risk. My town is important for river recreation. We enjoy decent land values in all corners of Garrett County and non of it is expendable including the health of its families. We cannot afford to murder the goose (our environment) that lays our golden eggs. The gas is not going anywhere and there is no hurry to get it started before all the EPA and MDE studies are complete and we have every safeguard measure and numerous inspectors in place. Further more recent revelations by LNG Gas Company that much of this shale gas is to be exported shoots down the spin that this is an issue of national energy security or to lessen coal burning for power production.

In addition we need massive region wide baseline water quality testing done to insure that if the gas companies destroy these resources we can hold them responsible immediately and stop further drilling as well as be compensated for these potentially irreversible damages without question. Supporters of gas fracking want us to believe that this is an emergency and want to begin drilling now. They want to scare local folks into believing that we have to act fast or lose the opportunity. This of course is false because the gas will only get more valuable as time progresses.

Without good water what good is a few thousand dollars a year? Is setting off giant subterranean bombs thousands of feet down and below our water table the sensible thing to do? I urge all Maryland residents to stand for a greener Maryland and not a browner one. Our children are counting on us.

Sincerely,

Crede Haskins Calhoun II
All Earth Eco Tours
Friendsville, MD 21531

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>Garrett County Habitat for Humanity

> VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!!! Come help us with the Garrett County Habitat for Humanity winter build project. I will be there chipping in and taking some photos for the blog. ALL HELP IS WELCOME! Details (from Barb Butler GCBR): “We have been invited to participate once again in the Habitat Winter Build project which will be held on Saturday, April 2nd beginning at 8:00 am at the Oakland Armory. Lunch will be provided and served at noon to all workers by a local church ladies group. Remember ~ this is another great way to show other community members that Realtors® also volunteer their time with housing needs and not just sales in Garrett County. If you have a child that needs community service hours and you want to bring them with you, I will be happy to sign for their work time.” 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!

Visit the ‘I Love Deep Creek & Garrett County group’ on Facebook! News, events, photos, real estate, community, info, more! 1,750+ members & growing!

Author: ilovedeepcreeklakerealestate

>Marcellus Shale Lecture Series To Continue April 7

>WM history website still work in progress

>Lakefront Log Home for sale at Lake Pointe – GA7565748

>BOE Will Hold April 5 Meeting At Southern Middle

>Other states look to Pennsylvania to learn from Marcellus Shale errors

>Maryland's Primary Care Providers are Adopting Electronic Health Records

>Committee Rejects Bill To Rename Negro Mountain

>Pillow Palooza paying off

>Garrett County is Against Fracking

>Garrett County Habitat for Humanity

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