ilovedeepcreeklakerealestate – Page 120

>February 2011 Real Estate Market Update

February 2011 was a sub par month for real estate sales – just like last year. Last February, there were a whopping 6 sales….all month long. Part of this was the wicked winter weather we experienced. It’s tough to get into a house that is blanketed with 6 feet of snow, let alone purchase it. Part of it is that February is a ‘between seasons’ month in our 4 season vacation market. Most folks who want to be here for the winter buy in November/December and close in January. The spring market historically gets cranked up in March for buyers who want to be on the lake late spring/summer. The biggest part, of course, was the lousy real estate market overall.

Good news! Sales are up 50% this February! An incredible jump to….(bad news coming)… 9 total sales. Again, a lousy February. No use spinning these numbers, February was just a bad month for real estate sales. The GREAT news is that Deep Creek Dunk broke records all over the place & raised a ton of money for Maryland Special Olympics – $162,825!! But, I digress…back to the real estate update.

Let’s take a look at the stats:

There are 37 homes under contract (32 last month).

The average list vs. ORIGINAL sales price was 78.11%, down from last month (80.18%).

The ADJUSTED list vs sale price was 88.03%, also down from last month (90.83%).

The current # of active/for sale listings in MRIS (minus timeshares) is 572, up from last months 560. (Continue to) Brace yourselves for a much higher number of homes on the market next month. I have at least 3 homes coming back on the market, and a few other owners thinking about it. I’ve listed or re-listed 2 houses in the last week alone. There will be (many) more homes…soon. We have a 63 month supply of homes available (minus timeshares) based solely on the February sales numbers. This a little ridiculous, but it’s the truth – there were only 9 sales in February, so this number just more than doubled from last month (31).

Random observations:

1 ‘newer’ homes sold in February (5 years old or less)
It appears that 5 or so of these sales were vacation homes
7 homes sold under $300,000 (last month was 8)
7 (same) homes sold under $400,000
1 house sold over $ 1million (1 last month)
0 homes sold for higher than full price (last month was 1)
One house sold for 70% of asking price
The oldest home that sold was 111 yrs old
The average age of the homes that sold was 36 years (25 last month)
1 condo/townhouse properties sold (3 last month)

Here are the statistical breakdowns:

Average Sale Price: $309,667 (last month $398,779)

Average Days on Market: 301/407 (last month 316/345) (days on market with current broker/total days on market)

We’re already at 7 closed sales through today, so March should shape up to be better than February! Enjoy the sunshine 🙂

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!

>New listing! – 531 Third St – GA7549030

>New listing in Oakland – definitely worth a look, this house has a TON of character & many great features. You can walk to just about anywhere in downtown Oakland & still have the luxury of living on a full acre of land (HUGE backyard) & away from the ‘bustling city’ and ‘traffic’ 🙂

Imagine walking to/from the Autumn Glory festival & Fireman’s parade, or strolling down to the farmer’s market for fresh produce or the Little Yough Music Fest – this location is 3-4 blocks from either. Breakfast at Englander’s? No problem!

The little Yough River is just down the street & you can enjoy the towering courthouse building from the sidewalk in front. The house is still part of the town of Oakland, which means snowplowing, road maintenance, town water & sewer, as well as trash pickup. 5 bedrooms (large closets), brick fireplace, bright sunroom, beautiful living room & full family room in basement. The high efficiency boiler & hot water baseboard system AND a tankless hot water heater cuts down on costly energy bills. Call your favorite Realtor (or me!) and take a look at this home!

531 THIRD ST S
OAKLAND, MD 21550

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

Listing # GA7549030
$269,900

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

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

>"We Are The Champions!"

Three members of the Southern High School wrestling team returned to Garrett County this past weekend with individual state high school wrestling championships under their belts. The center podium was a familiar spot for both Jakob “Bubba” Scheffel, above left, and Lex Ozias, above right, as these were the third consecutive titles earned by each of them in their careers as Southern Rams. Gaining what could be the first of multiple state championships was Ram freshman Coy Ozias, brother of Lex, who is pictured below (click on the photos above to make photo visible) just after winning his title bout. Scheffel and Lex Ozias also now have the distinction of holding the #1 and #2 spots, respectively, for the total number of career wins by any public school wrestler in the history of Maryland.

Read the rest here.

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

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

>Win or lose, it was icing on the cake for Northern

>Mike Mathews
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Mon Mar 14, 2011, 08:01 AM EDT

— They knew what was coming but this time couldn’t stop it.

It was a pretty helpless feeling Saturday night for the Northern Huskies, whose history-making season ended in an 80-62 loss to Dunbar in the Class 1A girls basketball state championship game.

All year long the tough, talented but vertically-challenged Huskies found a way to make up for the only item lacking on their resume.

But Dunbar, with 5-foot-9 junior Michelle Wright and 6-foot-3 senior Oma-ah Tayong, was too tall an order.

The size of Wright (40 points, 21 rebounds) and Tayong (19 points, 15 rebounds) was one thing. Their strength and athleticism made the Poets (20-4) too much to handle, not just for Northern (23-5) but for just about everyone on their schedule. In the two state tournament games they combined for 100 points and 59 rebounds.

Wright’s 40-point game was the fifth-highest total in state tournament history, and eight points shy of the championship game record set by Loch Raven’s Janet Flora 35 years ago.

“Michelle Wright … she’s a stud, and plays so hard. We had no answer for her,’’ admitted Northern coach Steve Fratz. “And they throw in a 6-3 girl in there, too … it made it pretty difficult.”

The Poets took advantage of the mismatch all night, often lobbing passes over the Huskies defense for easy shots at the low post.

“We knew their high-low game was their bread and butter,’’ Fratz said. “Wright is so active and moves well without the ball. She’s very strong and a very good leaper.”

The Huskies pretty much matched the Poets in scoring (Dunbar, 21-18) and rebounding (Dunbar, 8-6) in the first quarter, but the Poets out-rebounded the Huskies 13-3 in the second quarter, and the numbers didn’t get any better in the second half.

“The big people we’ve played this year were not as athletic as the ones Dunbar had,’’ said Northern forward Morgan Brosnihan. “And they had more big people than we’re used to seeing.”

Still, the Huskies were well within striking distance at halftime, down by 42-33.

“We thought we could come back by playing hard, pushing and pressuring the ball, and boxing out’’ said guard Terra McKenzie. “That was the attitude at halftime.”

But it wasn’t to be. Dunbar ended up with a 50-21 edge in rebounds, and had 24 offensive rebounds to only five for Northern.

“We played a complete game … two halves of basketball,’’ said Dunbar coach Wardell Selby. “We had been playing only one half. We knew we wanted to get the ball inside and we kept pounding and pounding it inside. With the height we had, we thought we could wear them down.”

It comes so abruptly, the end of a season does, that it doesn’t seem fair. Only one of the 50 Class 1A teams wins its final game, and this year it was Dunbar.

Northern needed a perfect game Saturday, and nothing less. It didn’t happen.

The Huskies went the first 4:55 of the second half without a field goal, and two starters picked up their fourth fouls.

For the Huskies, one Fratz on the sideline is good. Two, not so good. But that was the case when Kaitlynn picked up her fifth foul with 7:12 to go. It was the first time she had fouled out all season.

“They play a high pressure defense, and our shots weren’t falling. Even our foul shots weren’t,” said Kaitlynn Fratz, whose 2,103 career points is a school and Garrett County record.

Northern, one of the top foul shooting teams in the area, shot 10-for-19 from the line over the first three quarters, and finished 18-for-31.

Fratz, McKenzie and Brosnihan, Northern’s seniors, helped lift the program to new heights during their careers.

“Since the sixth grade we’ve accomplished an awful lot,’’ said McKenzie. “From youth league championships to the AMAC … it’s been a great ride.”

It was more than just the Huskies that made the state tournament. Their vocal throng of fans didn’t disappoint, either.

“We beat Allegany, we beat Smithsburg, we beat tough teams and there is nothing much more you can ask for,” Kaitlynn Fratz said. “It’s been great. Our fans were great, even when we were getting beat by 20 they never stopped.”

“Our home games … You kind of got a taste of it by the crowd we had here. Our home games are crazy, and they were great experiences. It was an awesome trip and we had a great time. We fell a little short, but we are the second team in Northern history to do this so it feels pretty great.”

“When these girls were sixth graders we came here to see our county rival (Southern) win the state championship (in 2004). Ever since then, that’s been our goal,” Coach Fratz said of a championship.

The 23 wins were the most of any Northern basketball team, boys or girls. Kaitlynn Fratz finished No. 1 in career scoring, McKenzie is No. 2 in career three-point goals and Brosnihan No. 3 in career foul shooting.

“This is a record-setting squad and I could go on and on and on,’’ coach Fratz said. “To get here was icing on the cake, win or lose.”

Mike Mathews is a Cumberland Times-News sportswriter. Write to him at mmathews@times-news.com

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

>Trust foundation a ‘hidden gem’

>Matthew Bieniek
The Cumberland Times-News Mon Mar 14, 2011, 07:51 AM EDT

— CUMBERLAND — The Community Trust Foundation is a little-known organization making a big difference in the lives of people in Allegany, Garrett and Mineral counties. The foundation is part of a national movement of community foundations around the country.

“Often they are well-kept secrets and I consider CTF to be a hidden gem,” said Dr. Peter Halmos, a member of the foundation’s board who made a presentation to the Allegany County Commissioners Thursday during their work session. The foundation is growing rapidly and spreading the wealth in local communities.

“From the original endowment of $96,000 in 2006, CTF assets have increased to $6.1 million held in 19 different funds. Last year, CTF made grants in excess of $1.6 million to support education, culture, public health and safety throughout the region,” Halmos said. Commissioner Michael McKay said the foundation is “having quite an impact” on the area.

The need for the foundation is great; “current economic conditions are creating an unprecedented level of need throughout the region,” Halmos said. The grants help out a large number of organizations and students in the area. More than $490,000 in scholarships were funded at Garrett College, Frostburg State University, Davis and Elkins College, and local high schools. A large part of the $1 million granted to cultural organizations was used to fund the new Garrett County Transportation Museum in Oakland, Halmos said.

Over the years, grants have gone to Backbone Mountain Review, to the Family Crisis Resource Center and for support for the homeless, Halmos said. The advantage of community foundations is their simplicity.

Community foundations are 501(c) tax-exempt organizations. The foundation uses donor money to create funds targeted to specific community needs. One key virtue for donors is the simplicity of the process, with a two-page agreement, a philanthropic fund can be created, said Halmos. The funds can be set up in a day or two and because the funds are part of a public charity, they offer the greatest tax benefits to donors, he said.

In 2006, the late Robert Ebert founded the local foundation with the help of business and civic leaders who “shared his interest in advancing the region by building philanthropic resources,” Halmos said. Shane Grady is the current president of the board of directors. Initially, the organizations received support from the Tri-County Council of Western Maryland. When the council’s funding was reduced, the foundation was in a position to go out on its own, according to a pamphlet published by the foundation.

The foundation can be reached at 301-876-9172 or at info@ctfinc.org . The organization’s website is www.ctfinc.org

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com

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

>Forum Explores Teaching Profession

>
Radhika Plakkot (standing), 2008 Calvert County Teacher of the Year and the 2010 Maryland Science Teacher of the Year, gives a lesson during the teacher forum at St. Mary’s College of Maryland that brought educators together from all over Southern Maryland. (Submitted photo)

Posted on March 13, 2011

Great Teachers are Always Learning

ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. (March 13, 2011) — What makes an excellent teacher? This year’s annual “Teach for Excellence! Teach for Change!” forum March 5 brought together area educators to learn tips from Southern Maryland’s Teachers of the Year. Each year, the Department of Educational Studies and the Student Education Association (SEA) of St Mary’s College of Maryland host the forum to explore the profession of teaching and the world of schools.

Guest workshop leaders included the 2010 Maryland Teacher of the Year, Dr. Jennifer Rankin of Garrett County, and keynote speaker Kenneth Bernstein, the 2010 Washington Post Agnes Meyer Teacher of the Year from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Prince George’s County. Each speaker presented a lesson for the first 30 minutes, using workshop attendees as the class. They then described the strategies they use to make lessons so successful with students year after year. Those attending included faculty from public schools and the college’s Educational Studies Department, and undergraduate and graduate students from St. Mary’s.

The keynote speaker, Ken Bernstein, talked of the importance of connecting and building relationships with students. He challenged a quote by Microsoft’s Bill Gates that teachers reach a plateau of growth after the third year in the profession. Bernstein outlined the opportunities he himself has taken for continued professional growth. They included National Endowment for the Humanities summer sessions, graduate work, and leadership in his department and school. Great teachers, he believes, own the continuous need for reflection: How well did today’s lesson go, what changes will help?

Read the full article 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

>Five indicted in jail escape

>Grand jurors also report on Garrett lockup
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sun Mar 13, 2011, 08:00 AM EDT

— OAKLAND — Five people who allegedly aided in the escape of Deandre Kelly from the Garrett County Jail in January were indicted by a Garrett County grand jury, according to State’s Attorney Lisa Thayer Welch.

Chiquita Annette Richardson, 27, Alexandria, Va.; Eric Mandrell Nibbins, 26, Alexandria, Va.; Richard Demoan Hall, Jr., 26, Frederick; Dionte Pierre Coley, 29, Cumberland; and Robert Leslie Marshall 27, College Park, were each charged with conspiracy to commit escape, escape, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony/crime of violence.

The five appeared before Judge Jim Sherbin for arraignment. Each entered pleas of not guilty and bond was set at $500,000 for each defendant.

Two additional related indictments were served with summonses, as those defendants had already posted bond when they were originally arrested on warrants issued by a district court commissioner. Amanda Sue Lambert, 23, Cumberland and Jamal Antonie Kelly, 25, College Park are charged with the same seven counts.

Warrants and indictments remain outstanding for two additional people in connection with the escape, with one of those being Kelly, Welch said.

Also indicted was Timothy Daniel Wilt, 46, Kitzmiller. Wilt had previously been charged with arson and arson/fraud following an investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal into the fire at Wilt’s residence in May 2010.

Welch said the state has determined that Wilt should be prosecuted for an insurance fraud violation. He was arraigned by Sherbin, who set his bond at $10,000.

Grand jurors also considered other issues relating to county government operations, including:

Jail

The jurors found some dangers at the county jail, which was housing 55 inmates at the time of the report.

The two full-time and one part-time cooks are put in danger because of the location of the small kitchen.

Sheriff Rob Corley explained that the hallway deputies use to escort inmates to and from their cells passes the open entrance to the kitchen.

The jurors also pointed out what they believed to be extreme danger to sheriff’s staff as well as health care professionals who come to the facility.

“… there are areas with no cameras inside or outside,” they wrote.

“Grand jury members have great concerns about the facility, particularly as it affects the safety of the staff. The grand jury recommends that the county commissioners prioritize a new jail project through state funding sources and/or through county budget,” it was stated in the report.

Maximum inmate capacity is 65 males and 12 females. The most inmates at any one time was 93, requiring use of the juvenile holding area.

Corley said Thursday that Deandre Kelly, who escaped from the jail in January after being arrested on drug, weapons and traffic charges, remains at large.

Seven of nine of Kelly’s associates taken into custody at that time are still jailed, including one in the Allegany County Detention Center, according to Corley.

The jail staff consists of 21 full-time and three part-time employees.

Emergency Management

Jurors learned that calls from land lines and some cell phones that are made to the 911 center are displayed on a screen and that the ability exists to track cell phones that are on the move.

A new software program on the way, called WAGON, will allow dispatchers to hook emergency calls to other stations and mobile communication devices in the state’s three western counties.

This summer, dispatching in the sheriff’s office and the 911 center will be consolidated.

The county’s emergency management agency employs eight dispatchers, seven emergency medical service providers and one emergency planner.

Sheriff’s Office

Corley informed the jurors that his office will soon have four K-9 units.

Recently, a K-9 handler from Preston County, W.Va., was hired. Another deputy is scheduled to receive handler training this spring. Funds to replace an ill 13-year-old police dog will come from money seized from drug violators.

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

>Garrett sheriff hopes to rekindle relationship with state police

>OAKLAND — Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley said Thursday he is hopeful that an official relationship between his investigators and those of the Maryland State Police can be rejuvenated, but cautioned that talks are informal and in an early stage.

The Garrett Bureau of Investigation continues to exist, Corley said, but is solely a function of his office. GBI formerly included investigators from both agencies, but that relationship dissolved in late 2007.

“We’ll have to look at other counties down state that have these kinds of arrangements and see how well things are going for them,” Corley said.

Read the full article 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

>Huskies Going To States

In a dramatic come-from-behind win at Frederick Community College on Saturday, the Northern High School girls’ basketball team defeated Smithsburg, 52-47, to claim the West Region Championship. The team, seen here in jubilation just seconds after the final buzzer, celebrated by cutting down the net. The win places the Huskies among the final four teams in the state. The Northern squad begins State Tournament play tomorrow at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. Photo by Bob Carney.

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

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

>BOE Hears From School Advisory Committees

‘Like’ on Facebook!

Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!

Mar. 10, 2011

The Garrett County Board of Education met Tuesday in the Southern Middle School cafeteria. The venue was selected to house the crowd that attended to witness two 45-minute reports presented to the BOE by the advisory committees of Kitzmiller and Bloomington elementary schools.

The committees rehashed recent arguments for keeping the two elementary schools open. The arguments included: the detrimental effects of increasing class sizes and commute times, the loss in community center and identity, the strains that would be placed on parents and students who wish to participate in extracurricular activity, the loss in the unique and quality educational opportunities offered to students by Kitzmiller and Bloomington elementaries, that the cost of running the two schools accounted for a small portion of the overall education budget, and others.

A few members of the community chose to address the board at the time set aside for public comment and made emotional pleas to keep the schools active. The board thanked all these individuals and the committees for their thoughts and presentations.

Later this month, the BOE plans to hold public hearings to further address the issue of school closure. The first of the two hearings will be held on Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium of Bloomington Elementary School. The second will be held at Kitzmiller Elementary School on Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m. in the school’s multi-purpose room.

Read the original article 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

Author: ilovedeepcreeklakerealestate

>February 2011 Real Estate Market Update

>New listing! – 531 Third St – GA7549030

>"We Are The Champions!"

>Win or lose, it was icing on the cake for Northern

>Trust foundation a ‘hidden gem’

>Forum Explores Teaching Profession

>Five indicted in jail escape

>Garrett sheriff hopes to rekindle relationship with state police

>Huskies Going To States

>BOE Hears From School Advisory Committees

My Location

Deep Creek Media

Stay Connected