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Wandering Sandhill Crane Becomes Maryland Zoo’s Newest Addition

BALTIMORE (WJZ)–In Japanese culture, cranes are good luck.

Here in Baltimore, the Maryland Zoo just got some good luck in a new addition.

Gigi Barnett explains why his name is Garrett.

You could say the new Sandhill Crane at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is a little out of his element.

Taylor Zoghby,  animal keeper at the zoo says, “they’re typically around Tennessee, West Virginia and west of there, through North America.”

But based on his appetite, he seems right at home.

Garrett is the zoo’s newest addition.

Read More Here: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/12/18/wandering-sandhill-crane-becomes-maryland-zoos-newest-addition/

These 20 Jaw Dropping Places in Maryland Will Blow You Away

Maryland isn’t the biggest of states but it has everything including mountains, beaches, cliffs, historic battlefields, and more. The scenery is endless. There are always places to explore and views that will make you gasp. These 20 jaw dropping places in Maryland will have you wanting to hop in the car for a scenic road trip ASAP.

 

See the list here:  http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/maryland/amazing-places-in-md/

2015’s Most and Least Charitable States

America is a selfless nation. In fact, it ranked second overall in 2015’s World Giving Index and in the top 10 for two of the three charitable-giving behaviors that are tracked by the index.

Just how altruistic are Americans? 95.4 percent of households donate to charities, each contributing an annual average of $2,974. According to the National Philanthropic Trust, in 2014 alone, Americans gave more than $338 billion, 72 percent of which came directly from individuals.

Of course “charitable” behavior isn’t limited to donating money to the needy. Giving one’s time is a form of generosity as well — a contribution made by nearly 63 million people who volunteered with an organization at least once between September 2013 and September 2014. But whether to pitch in money, time or both — and the magnitude of its impact — largely depends on a donor’s particular circumstances, according to WalletHub’s Charity Calculator.

Read More Here:  https://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-charitable-states/8555/

The Folded Rocks of Sideling Hill Road Cut

The Sideling Hill is a long, steep, narrow mountain ridge that runs north to south across western Maryland in Washington County, in the United States. For many centuries, this mountain had blocked the path of many travelers who wished to go from Maryland to northeast West Virginia and vice versa. Travelers had to decide whether they wanted to go around it or over it, but both routes being treacherous, resulted in many mishaps.

The first tunnel was blasted through the rocks of Sideling Hill in 1873–74 for the East Broad Top Railroad. This was followed by at least a couple more. The original railroad tunnel ceased operation in 1956, and the one opened in 1940 is now abandoned. A few decades later, when the Maryland State Highway Administration was laying down Interstate 68 across the state of Maryland, they decided that another tunnel through Sideling Hill would be too expensive. Instead, they decided to cut a deep notch across the hill and lay the road through it. After excavating 10 million tons of rock, engineers discovered they had exposed an unusual geologic structure — a syncline of tightly folded rock strata dating back more than 350 million years.

Read More Here:  http://www.amusingplanet.com/2015/08/the-folded-rocks-of-sideling-hill-road.html?m=1

Joanne Throwe Named Department of Natural Resources Deputy Secretary

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary (DNR) Mark Belton today announced the appointment of Joanne Throwe as deputy secretary. In this role, Throwe will manage the day-to-day operations and execute the direction and vision of DNR.

“Joanne’s level of energy, experience and expertise made her an obvious choice for this role,” Belton said. “Her past experience in financing various environmental initiatives will be a huge asset for DNR as we work to implement and achieve the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, and other critical departmental initiatives.”

Throwe brings 25 years of environment and natural resource experience at the state and federal level. Most recently, she served as the director of the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center, where she provided technical assistance on financing issues related to environmental protection activities to help communities better manage their limited resources.

Read More Here:  http://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2015/10/15/joanne-throwe-named-department-of-natural-resources-deputy-secretary/

New laws take effect in Maryland on Thursday

WASHINGTON — Many of the laws taking effect in Maryland this Thursday have to do with driving.

  • The speed limit on highways can be raised from 65 to 70 on a case-by-case basis. That’s happening first on I-68 in western Maryland. The State Highway Administration says it will study whether the speed limit can be safely raised in other locations.
  • You can leave your car unattended and running for up to five minutes if it has a remote ignition system or if it’s on private property and locked.
  • Any driver accused in a deadly crash and found to have a blood alcohol content above the legal limit will have their license suspended for at least six months. It used to be 45 days.

Read More Here:  http://wtop.com/maryland/2015/09/new-laws-take-effect-in-maryland-on-thursday/