The Deep Creek Lake Management Plan Steering Committee will be holding its first meeting on September 11, 2013 at the Garrett County Health Department Conference Room (RM 107) located at 1025 Memorial Drive, Oakland, MD 21550. The public is invited to attend. Please click on the following link for more information: Steering Committee Meeting
As summer comes to a close and fall weather ushers in the changing of leaves, this year’s most vibrant display of foliage will occur across the mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, surrounding regions may be hindered by flooding rain and unseasonable temperatures.
“Most important is really what happens at the end of September and beginning of October into the middle of October. That’s really the crucial period,” according to Dr. Marc Abrams, professor of Forest Ecology and Physiology at Penn State University.
Abrams began observing how weather conditions affect fall foliage more than 25 years ago.
The AccuWeather.com 2013 Fall Forecast predicts near-normal temperatures and precipitation for the mid-Atlantic region, allowing bright, colorful leaves.
For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — The Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake Inc. elected officers and board members during the general membership meeting Saturday.
Robert Hoffmann was elected president, Karen Smith secretary and Tom Myers was re-elected treasurer. Susie Crawford was elected first vice president and Ed Neff was elected vice president for communications. Chris Nichols was re-elected vice president for membership and assistant treasurer.
Newly elected board members include Anthony M. Lombardi, Barbara Hafer and Lauren O’Brien. Robert Hoffmann, Susie Crawford, John Quilty and Katheryn Gemberling were re-elected to three-year terms. Three past presidents — Roger Titus, Scott Johnson and Lou Battistella — were awarded emeritus status, joining two other past presidents as members of the emeritus board.
Lombardi is the CEO of Monongahela (Pa.) Valley Hospital and has owned a home on the lake since 1991. Now retired and a former treasurer of Pennsylvania, Hafer has owned her lake home since 1986. O’Brien is the manager of Silver Tree Marina and was raised in her family’s home at the lake.
During the general membership meeting, state and county leaders were given an opportunity to comment on issues that affect the membership. Topics covered included the watershed management plan, Thayerville water line project and related traffic issues, the recent sewage spill at the northwestern end of Marsh Run Cove and the proposed western conveyance line.
Board members presented reports on the upgrading of the POA website, an update on the mini-marina zoning issue, the safe drilling issue related to Marcellus shale and the mapping of the lake and members’ dock locations. Outgoing president Troy Ellington reported on the work of the various committees of the board and moderated a question-and-answer session.
The POA was formed in the early 1940s and was incorporated in 1949. It continues to represent its members in front of the various boards, commissions and governmental organizations that have control of the lake and the watershed around it.
The mission of the POA is to bring together the property owners of the Deep Creek Lake area to promote, preserve and protect the quality of life, environment, recreational opportunities, historic sites and historic areas in, on and around Deep Creek Lake.
For more information, visit http://www.deepcreeklakepoa.com.
287 HAZELHURST RD SWANTON MD
65′ lakefront lot at Hazelhurst with usage of common dock slip. Surrounded by towering pine trees and partially fenced, this building lot offers a huge waterfront area with wide views of the lake. Original cottage was torn down and had a 2BR septic and well. Original building setbacks possible with special zoning exception. House next door (#277) also available, call for details.
Citing the benefits to Maryland families, small businesses, and tourism overall, Maryland comptroller Peter Franchot released this week an economic impact report completed by the Bureau of Revenue Estimates regarding a post Labor Day start date for all Maryland public schools.
Alongside Ocean City mayor Richard Meehan, Senator James N. Mathias Jr., and numerous members of the local business community, Franchot announced that a delayed school start in Maryland would result in an additional $74.3 million in direct economic activity, including $3.7 million in new wages, and a separate $7.7 million in state and local revenue.
“The chance for families to spend precious time together and to build lifelong memories during that final, end-of-summer vacation has been lost by the decision to begin school a week, or even 10 days, before Labor Day,” said Franchot. “Not only does this cut into the opportunity for Marylanders to spend more time together as a family, but it also has a negative impact on small businesses. In these tough economic times, we need to do all that we can to support small businesses and promote economic activity, not cause unnecessary harm to them for no apparent reason.”
With Maryland having nationally renowned vacation destinations like Ocean City, Deep Creek Lake, and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, tourism is the fourth largest industry in the state. With Maryland welcoming over 32 million domestic travelers annually in recent years, the tourism sector employs more than 340,000 Marylanders.
While Labor Day weekend in Maryland is most commonly associated with family trips to resort destinations, it also coincides with other major events occurring throughout the state, including the Maryland State Fair in Timonium, the Grand Prix of Baltimore, and four weeknight home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Instead of reducing the 180-day school year, Franchot says he is confident that the state’s school systems would be able to adjust their calendars throughout the academic year without losing time for instruction in the classroom. The flexibility of adjusting winter and spring breaks or eliminating some of the school closure dates scattered throughout the school calendar would be left to each of Maryland’s 24 school systems, he said.
“This isn’t just necessary because of the $7.7 million in state and local tax revenue it would create for the priorities we care about, or the $74.3 million in direct economic activity it would generate in the midst of a sluggish recovery,” said Franchot. “Beyond the money or economic impact, it’s about Maryland families who save up a little each paycheck in order to spend one week each year in Ocean City or Deep Creek Lake, or catch an Orioles game, or visit the Maryland State Fair before the children return to school.”
Currently, all Maryland school districts begin the school year earlier than Labor Day.While the majority of Maryland’s twenty-four school districts begin one week prior to Labor Day,some begin even earlier. After weighing the number of additional school days by affected households, Maryland school districts would average an additional 8.7 days of summer vacation if the next school year began on September 3,the day after Labor Day…
…Under Maryland law,schools are required to be open for at least 180 actual school days and a minimum of 1,080 school hours.In order to adhere to the statute, this report assumes additional summer vacation days added to an individual school district would be accounted for during each school district’s current school year calendar.Thus, the school calendar change would allow for an expansion in the number of summer vacation days, as opposed to a shift from one part of the summer to another.
Michael A. SawyersCumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — A 20-year-old Fallston man was tracked down and charged Wednesday morning after a wrecked and abandoned motorboat was discovered aground on the dam at Deep Creek Lake.
“Employees of the Brookfield Power Company were making their morning rounds when they saw the boat and called,” said Maryland Natural Resources Police Cpl. Walt May.
Using the registration number on the 20-foot Bayliner, police identified Michael Shawn Shannon as the owner. “Officer (A.) Felsecker found Shannon at his parents’ home (near the lake) about 9:30 a.m. He was charged with operating while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation and underage possession of alcohol,” May said. Officer Glenn Broadwater worked the accident scene.
May said Shannon, who was accompanied in the boat by a friend, apparently operated the boat at full throttle in a very dark area of the lake. There were no injuries.
“We believe the accident took place about midnight,” May said. The boat was fully out of the water and had significant damage including a cracked fuel tank.
May estimated the boat was traveling 20 to 40 mph.
Director John Frank said he was the first responder at 8 a.m. after an alert that originated with the Maryland Department of the Environment downstate was transfered to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and then to Garrett County.
“Some fuel spilled into the lake, but was dissipated by wind and wave action. Floating absorbant booms were placed as well.”
Hazardous incident response teams from Garrett and Allegany counties arrived and drained the remaining 20 gallons of fuel from the boat’s tank.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners held a public meeting on Tuesday and received several updates from county agencies and affiliates. The agenda included further discussion on Wisp Mountain Road, updates at the airport and the Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI), the announcing of members of the Deep Creek Wastershed Management Plan Steering Committee, and information from the Garrett County Board of Elections.
Wisp Mountain Road
At a July 16 public hearing concerning the Wisp Mountain Road, it was announced that public record would be kept open until Aug. 9, and a decision would be announced at the Aug. 13 meeting. However, the decision was deferred, and will be presented at a later date.
ASCI
Michael Logsdon, ASCI executive director, reported that advances in marketing have been made at the facility, and they are working on getting the word out about activities available there. Signs with new logos that better depict events at ASCI have been erected, and the information technology department has improved the web site and the method for guests to order photographs.
Modifications are being made to the stream bed for upcoming events, and requests for bids have been sent out for modification of the amphitheater. The clean-up also continues on the Fork Run Trail that was heavily impacted by the snow-hurricane storm in October 2012.
Garrett County Airport
Edward Kelley, Garrett County Airport manager, reported that there has been a large influx of jets to the airport since the extension of the runway. The yearly inspection of the airport occurred on Aug. 7, and it was found to be in excellent condition, he reported.
DCL Watershed
Management Plan
Steering Committee
A steering committee was selected for the Deep Creek Watershed Management Plan. A total of 22 individuals submitted their names to volunteer on the committee, and nine were selected.
Those selected are David Myerber, chair, Morgantown, W.Va., resident representative; Robert Hoffman, Oakland, resident representative; Peter Versteegen, McHenry, resident representative; Lulu Gonella, Swanton, resident representative; John Forman, Oakland, forestry representative; Steve Green, McHenry, recreation represtative; Bob Browning, McHenry, business representative; Willie Lantz, Mtn. Lake Park, agricultural representative; and Mike Sabad, Clarion, Pa., operations manager and power plant representative.
Board of Elections
Steve Fratz gave a report on the Garrett County Board of Elections. He said the beginning of the election season has been slow, with filing lagging. The deadline to file is Feb. 25, and information about filing can be found on the web site.
The process is under way for preparing polling places for the June 24 primary election. Coordination will begin immediately after Labor Day. Some polling places may be consolidated because of issues with parking and accessibility. They include Ryan’s Glade with Red House and West Oakland with East Oakland.
This will be the last year for the current voting system, which is 14 years old. The search for a new system will begin shortly.
A spill of sewage into Deep Creek Lake was reported to the Garrett County Commissioners on Tuesday by Jeff Broadwater, assistant director of the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Rodney Glotfelty, Garrett County health officer, was also on hand to answer questions about the situation that had resulted in water use restrictions at several areas of the lake. These restrictions have since been lifted.
Broadwater reported that DPU personnel discovered on Aug. 9 that the valve allowing flow into the McHenry sewage holding tank had been inadvertently left open and the emergency overflow alarm had failed to function properly. This allowed approximately 36,000 gallons of domestic wastewater to flow into a nearby stream, which in turn flows into Deep Creek Lake at the northwestern end of Marsh Run Cove.
Immediately upon discovery, the valve was shut to prevent further overflow, Broadwater said. DPU informed the Garrett County Health Department, Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of the Environment of the situation. Approximately 35 warning signs were posted throughout the affected area of the lake, and water samples were collected and taken to the laboratory for immediate testing.
An update was issued yesterday stating that sampling and testing of the water affected by the overflow indicated that bacteria levels had returned to normal. All results were reported to be below the level considered acceptable for “bathing beach water” by the Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, the restriction on swimming and fishing in the affected area has been lifted.
The emergency holding tank alarm has been fixed, tested, and is working properly. In addition, DPU personnel have been assigned to inspect the holding tank on a routine basis to eliminate the potential of future overflows.
The valve was opened approximately a week before the spill because of a line breakage elsewhere, Broadwater explained. It was located in an area that is not normally used, and an alarm failed to go off because of a loose connection.
The dock in the area of the spill is covered with goose waste, he noted, so it was difficult to differentiate between that and the sewage spill in the samplings.
In the restriction-lifting press release yesterday, the health department personnel advised that universal precautions should always be taken when coming in contact with any recreational water. Every effort should be made not to swallow any water, and bathing or showering after swimming is recommended.
Persons who would like more information or who have questions about the event may call the DPU at 301-334-6983.
The Board of County Commissioners and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked collaboratively to select the following members to the Deep Creek Lake Watershed Management Plan Steering Committee.
David Myerberg – Resident Representative
Robert Hoffman – Resident Representative
Peter Versteegen – Resident Representative
Lulu Gonella – Resident Representative
John Forman – Forestry Representative
Steve Green – Recreation Representative
Robert Browning – Business Representative
Willie Lantz – Agricultural Representative
Mike Sabad – Power Plant Representative
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