Category:garrett county

Fracking splits Garrett County

With natural gas drilling on the horizon in Western Maryland, dairy farmer Billy Bishoff welcomes the chance to supplement his income by collecting lease or royalty payments on the natural gas that lies beneath his family’s 330 acres a few miles northwest of Deep Creek Lake. The gas, locked far beneath the surface, is a “tremendous resource,” he said, that could bring jobs and prosperity to Garrett County, which many residents now leave to find work.

Not far away, Elliott Perfetti worries that drilling for gas could foul the region’s air and water, crippling the tourism and outdoor recreation industries, which have become linchpins of the local economy. “I think it could quickly erode the reasons that people come to Garrett County,” said Perfetti, operations manager at Blue Moon Rising, an eco-friendly resort overlooking the lake.

Bishoff and Perfetti symbolize a broader debate in this mountainous county over the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing — or “fracking” as the drilling technique is commonly known. Now that Maryland has proposed sweeping new rules for oil and gas exploration and production, residents are debating how — or whether — fracking can be done safely.

Petition says start school after Labor Day

Annapolis, MD — Comptroller Peter Franchot, joined by Governor-elect Larry Hogan, Ocean City Mayor Richard W. Meehan, state Senator James N. Mathias Jr., and other elected officials, as well as small business owners, educators and tourism officials, today enthusiastically thanked Marylanders for their overwhelming support of his petition drive to start public schools after Labor Day. More than 13,240

Marylanders from every corner of the state signed the “Let Summer Be Summer,” petition, far exceeding the 10,000 signature goal. The campaign kicked-off last August on the Ocean City Boardwalk and Deep Creek Lake, and today the list of supporters will be presented to members of the Maryland General Assembly.

“This is a grassroots, citizen-driven effort that has gathered tremendous support from all across our great state,” said Comptroller Franchot. “13,244 Marylanders have sent a clear message that starting school after Labor Day will give families, students, teachers and small businesses the break they need – and deserve. It gives students time to learn life lessons beyond the classroom, teachers time to recharge their batteries and small businesses much needed help during tough economic times. I am confident we can make this meaningful adjustment and continue to end the school year in early to mid-June.”

Hogan supports effort to start school after Labor Day

……….Proponents say a later start would give families an additional week of summer to spend at the beach or Deep Creek Lake, attend the Maryland State Fair or simply spend money at Maryland businesses — and produce additional tax revenue. The Bureau of Revenue Estimates projects a post-Labor Day start would boost economic activity by $74.3 million and contribute $7.7 million in revenue to state and local coffers.

Hogan became the 13,244th signer of the petition. He joins Gov. Martin O’Malley, who added his name at a Board of Public Works meeting last year.

December Stats

Falling temperatures

Nearby ski resorts have been open since just after Thanksgiving, but a lot of the excitement tends to start after the first significant snowfall of the winter, according to Lori Epp, director of marketing with Wisp Resort in McHenry.

In the Deep Creek Lake area, Epp said, they tend to see an average of 120 inches of snow each winter, whereas the Washington and Baltimore areas see about 20. Once the snow falls in these areas to the east, the crowds come out.

“If it’s not snowing and cold in your backyard, you may not think that four hours away, it’s different weather,” she said. “The natural snow is what gets everybody really excited.”

Price Improvement!

County Commissioners Announce Overarching Goals and Vision

The Board of County Commissioners presented their Overarching Goals and Vision for their term of office at their Public Meeting on Monday, January 5, 2015.

These well thought out philosophies are based on cooperative sound judgment and mutual agreement between each county commissioner.

Please click on the link below to view the goals:

GOOD MORNING SNOW!

Governor-Elect Larry Hogan Visits Western Maryland

CUMBERLAND, Md. – Maryland’s Governor-elect Larry Hogan greeted Western Maryland voters throughout the weekend in Garrett, Allegany and Washington Counties. Hogan came out to give thanks and hear concerns that people had.

After Saturday’s visit in Garrett County, Hogan was in Cumberland Sunday morning at the Allegany Museum before heading to Williamsport later in the evening.

With just about two weeks before the inauguration, Hogan said he is looking forward to the challenge.

Recreation Upgrades Set for Local Parks throughout Maryland

……In Garrett County, the town of Mountain Lake Park will receive $150,000 to acquire 100 acres to protect the Little Youghiogheny River watershed and its critical Brook Trout habitat from development. The town is contributing $52,000 toward the purchase, and intends to use the property for passive recreation, including adding trails to connect to the existing system in Loch Lynn Heights.

The project is a partnership between Program Open Space (local and state-side) and the town. The funding is comprised of $10,000 in POS local and $140,000 in POS state-side funds. In exchange, the town is granting DNR a perpetual conservation easement that requires buffers on about 7,000 linear feet of streams that feed into the Youghiogheny River.

Garrett County will also receive $13,140 to install fencing for a dog park at the 32-acre McHenry Park.

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