Category:garrett county
HART to take bids for site
Garrett rescue shelter phase I expected to cost $2.2M
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
MCHENRY — A Garrett County animal rescue shelter, HART for Animals, is accepting bids for phase I of construction for a state-of-the-art, 12,000-square-foot facility to be located on Bumble Bee Road.
Phase I of the Homeless Animal Rescue and Transport for Animals facility will consist of a veterinary clinic, a boarding spa, a reception area and a small store.
The total cost of construction for phase I is an estimated $2.2 million with construction to be completed in midsummer, according to Michael Pellet, president of HART.
Phase II will consist of an adoption center and will begin once phase I is completed. The entire project is expected to be completed sometime this year, according to Pellet.
“It (the adoption center) is very important to the county. It will relieve pressure on the Garrett County Animal Shelter, which currently receives 1,200 to 1,500 (animals) a year but only has enough space for 40 animals,” said Pellet, who added that the project will create 35 jobs for the county. “HART provides education to the general public about the humane treatment of animals. Our goal is to improve the lives of domestic animals in the county.”
In 2011, HART held its groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of construction. The site has been cleared and the foundation for the veterinary clinic, reception area and boarding spa has been completed.
The veterinary clinic will provide a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for low-income individuals, and the boarding spa will contain a grooming area, according to Pellet.
The project is being done through fundraisers and grants. So far, close to $600,000 has been raised and a $1.6 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan has been received for overall construction of the project, according to Pellet. HART also received a $10,600 USDA grant and a $3,300 Economic Impact Initiative grant, according to a HART newsletter.
“One hundred percent of funds raised will go toward the building,” said Pellet.
Fundraising events include the Deep Creek Arts and Wine festival, which is the biggest fundraiser, and monthly poker tournaments and other activities, according to Pellet.
Money garnered from the operations at the facility, as well as money from continuing fundraisers, will go toward funding the adoption center. The adoption center will have the capacity to house 60 dogs, 30 puppies, 40 cats, plus multiple kittens, according to Pellet.
HART works with the Garrett County Animal Shelter to save the lives of homeless pets that would otherwise be euthanized.
To prevent the spread of disease, HART vaccinates all puppies and kittens received at the county shelter, according to the HART website.
Since its founding, HART has been transporting adoptable animals to animal shelters throughout the mid-Atlantic and on average has saved 600 animals per year from being euthanized, according to Pellet.
In November 2007, Garrett County commissioners agreed to donate the land on Bumble Bee Road, according to the HART website.
HART for Animals, which is nonprofit, was founded in 2003 by Caroline Robison and Candy DeGiovanni and in August of that year the IRS granted the organization its tax-exempt status.
Sealed bids for Phase I construction will be received by Pellet at the HART office located on 610 Foy Road until noon on March 5. Copies of contract documents for the project may be obtained at the office of Stoiber & Associates located on Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C.
For more information on HART, visit www.hartforanimals.org.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
Garrett seeks ‘Most Beautiful Person’
For the Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — The 2012 Garrett County’s Most Beautiful Person contest is accepting nominations until Aug.24.
The Most Beautiful Person contest is for those who have enriched the lives of county citizens by their acts of kindness and concern.
Each year, county leaders conduct a search for unsung heroes who selflessly assist those around them. They are volunteers of any age whose acts of goodwill have previously gone unnoticed. These “Beautiful People” make a difference in Garrett County by donating their time and talent to help those in need.
This is the 26th year of program, which hosted each year by the Board of Garrett County Commissioners.
Those who know of someone who continuously contributes their time and talent to enhance the quality of life and community spirit in Garrett County can send in a nomination form so they can be honored at the annual Garrett County’s Most Beautiful Person awards presentation.
Nomination forms are available on the web at www.garrettcounty.org or by calling Carol A. Riley-Alexander at 301-334-8970. Those nominating a candidate are reminded the award is based on volunteer service only.
More here.
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Marylander taxpayers head for the hills -- and the shore
July 5, 2012
Examiner Editorial
The Washington Examiner
While overburdened taxpayers flee Maryland for more hospitable states, Marylanders themselves are leaving the most populous jurisdictions with the highest local taxes and relocating to smaller Eastern Shore and western counties. Out-of-state migration reduced state revenue $1.7 billion between 2007 and 2010. Meanwhile, intrastate migration has helped Maryland’s smallest counties increase their tax bases while their larger counterparts are losing ground.
An analysis of Internal Revenue Service data by Change Maryland, a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to restore the state’s economic competitiveness, shows that Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Talbot and Worcester counties are doing better than Montgomery and Prince George’s in keeping and attracting taxpayers.
The most recent IRS data show that between 2009 and 2010, the number of individual income tax filers increased 2.07 percent in easternmost Worcester County, the highest percentage in the state, while westernmost Garrett County enjoyed a more modest .93 percent growth. However, despite their significant geographical advantages, both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties experienced a net outflow of taxpayers.
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"Beltway UFO" has DC Talking
Reports: It’s a drone headed to NAS Patuxent
By Thomas Tobin and Carissa DiMargo
| Thursday, Jun 14, 2012 | Updated 9:27 AM EDT
…On Wednesday night, Facebook and Twitter users went wild over sightings of a saucer-shaped vessel being towed on local highways. The buzz called to mind the frenzy in 1947 Roswell, albeit in a much more modern way….
But we can take the “unidentified” out of “unidentified flying object.” (And yes, we realize that it wasn’t actually flying, either.) The military has confirmed to News4 that the 82-foot-long craft is an unmanned military aircraft, known as an X-47B drone.
Maryland State Police towed it on a flatbed trailer from Garrett County, Md., to Naval Air Station Patuxent River — but even they didn’t know what it was at the time, police said….
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Nominate Candidates for Garrett County's 2012 Most Beautiful Person
This year marks the 26th year of Maryland’s You Are Beautiful program. Each county establishes how they wish to celebrate volunteer efforts in their county. The mission of the program is to promote local community—living, working, and playing together for a better tomorrow.
Celebrating 26 years honoring volunteers in Maryland, The Maryland You are Beautiful Program, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism, and Maryland Life, is now accepting nominations for the 26th Annual “Maryland’s Most Beautiful People” Volunteer Awards. The deadline for nominations is August 24, 2012.
Each year the pubic is invited to nominate individuals or groups that have made significant contributions to communities through their unpaid volunteer efforts. A local committee then chooses GC’s Most Beautiful Person.
All nominees for Garrett County will be recognized by the Board of County Commissioners at a local award ceremony. One nominee will represent the County at a statewide ceremony and dinner in Baltimore later in the year.
More here.
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‘Doomsday’ would eliminate crucial public safety grants, officials say
…“I just don’t think it’s that big a deal for us,” said Garrett County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt. Overall, Garrett was anticipating a $2.7 million decrease in funding, one that had already prompted the closing of two undercapacity elementary schools, one with about 300 students, one with about 50, Pagenhardt said.
“The board of education did the prudent thing [by closing the schools],” Pagenhardt said. A special session to raise revenues and restore some funding might be nice, but officials weren’t depending on it, he said.
A reduction in public safety funding was about equal to two full-time patrol positions, and the county had asked workers in its roads department to decline a scheduled raise agreed-to in collective bargaining to help compensate for the cuts, Pagenhardt said.
“We’re used to having money taken away by the state,” he said.
More here.
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Garrett County graduates One Maryland program
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News — OAKLAND — Garrett County has been advised by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development that it has graduated from the state’s One Maryland Plan, effective April 1, according to Jim Hinebaugh, county director of economic development. The county’s business growth over the past nine years led to the accomplishment. “While graduation from the One Maryland program represents progress, it also reflects hard work, financial investment and commitment to the local area by local businesses,” said county commission Chairman Jim Raley in a news release. The One Maryland program was developed and implemented during Cas Taylor’s tenure as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Hinebaugh said. “The intent of the program was to help the economically displaced counties develop and grow their economy,” said Hinebaugh during Tuesday’s commission meeting. Under the program, economically distressed jurisdictions are defined as having a two-year unemployment average greater than 150 percent of the statewide rate and an average per capita income of less than 66 percent of the two-year state average, according to the news release. Graduation from the program means the county’s businesses are no longer eligible for tax credits and other incentives provided by the program. “It’s one of those good news, bad news stories,” said Hinebaugh. “The good news is we graduated. The bad news is we can’t use the program anymore. We are very proud of the fact that we have come a long way.” To qualify for those incentives, eligible businesses had to create a minimum of 25 new jobs, make a capital investment of at least $500,000 and be located in a state-approved priority funding area. Several county-based businesses used the program to help facilitate business expansions over a 10-year period. The expansions resulted in the creation of more than 300 new jobs and a capital investment of more than $20 million, according to Hinebaugh. The county technically graduated April 1, 2011, but through the efforts of state Sen. George Edwards and Delegate Wendell Beitzel, last year’s legislative session grandfathered the county for another year, said Hinebaugh. In 1997, the county’s average unemployment was 13.7 percent, Hinebaugh said. “We went five straight years at 5.1 percent or less. We were always at the bottom,” said Hinebaugh, noting that in February 10 other jurisdictions had higher unemployment rates than the county did. “Graduation from this One Maryland program is an indication that we are making progress. That’s not to say that we don’t have a lot of challenges to do. There are still a lot of people that need work …” The county is experiencing growth. Jim Henry, program director in the office of finance programs for the state, will be spending the next few days with the economic development department and will meet with two businesses that are considering expansion, Hinebaugh said. “We are going to talk about a new start-up business. I think it’s good news,” said Hinebaugh. “It’s an indication that even though things are tough and kind of slow, we are still working hard. We are still prospering.” In other commission news, county officials will hear an update on broadband on May 1, Hinebaugh said. Hinebaugh stressed the importance of broadband to the county, stating, “It’s one way of leveling the playing field. I’m excited about being able to improve access. Our goal is to get where 90 percent of the residents of the county have broadband access.” The commissioners also announced that Bloomington Volunteer Fire Department was interested in the purchase of the former Bloomington Elementary School for $50,000, with the condition that the county raze the building. More here. 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!
Nearly All Of The State Now In Drought
Monday, April 16, 2012
Steve Fermier
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WBAL’s Steve Fermier reports on the drought status currently in Maryland
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Jay Apperson of the Maryland Department of the Environment told WBAL’s Steve Fermier that part of the state is now in a “drought watch.”
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Eastern Shore as been designated as in a severe drought.
That’s not all.
The only part of the state that is not now on the drought map as dry is the extreme western portion of Garrett County.
In just three months Maryland has gone from normal rainfall to almost entirely abnormally dry or in drought.
In fact the lower Eastern Shore from Queen Anne’s County south is now in a severe drought and has been designated as such by the state Department of the Environment.
The national drought monitor lists only 2 percent of Maryland as having had normal rainfall and that’s basically the western sliver of Garrett County in far western Maryland.
More here.
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Reports Track Child Care Costs and Availability, County-by-County
March 20, 2012
BALTIMORE – Maryland families putting together child-care budgets can get a good idea how much it will cost, thanks to new research from the Maryland Family Network.
The prices vary widely around the state. Care for two children, an infant and a preschooler, would cost a family about $9600 a year in Garrett County – and $25,000 a year in Montgomery County.
More here.
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Natural gas drilling in Garrett County could affect recreation there, officials say
By JULIE E. GREENE julieg@herald-mail.com
9:08 a.m. EST, February 28, 2012
HAGERSTOWN —
While the portion of the Marcellus Shale in Washington County probably isn’t developable for natural gas, drilling in Garrett County, Md., might affect recreation in Garrett County, including fishing, hunting, hiking and snowmobiling, Maryland environmental officials said Monday.
Drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale could affect wildlife and aquatic life, forest habitats and important streams because most of the areas in Garrett County leased for future drilling contain at least one priority natural resource area, according to an environmental presentation Monday to a state advisory commission at Hagerstown Community College.
The Marcellus Shale, extending from New York to West Virginia, is considered the largest onshore natural gas reserve in the nation, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment’s website, www.mde.state.md.us.
More here.
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!
