Category:Uncategorized
Board Of Education Members Question 2010 Maintenance Plan
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Jul. 22, 2010
With discussions of possible school closures on the horizon, the Garrett County Board of Education recently faced controversy over the 2010 Education Facilities Maintenance Plan that was presented by Jim Thomas at the recent board meeting. Thomas is the director of facilities and maintenance for all area schools, and the plan outlines ratings for each school to describe the quality of the facility.
At the start of the meeting, when the agenda was being discussed, it was suggested by board member Thomas Carr that it be added to the agenda a brief discussion about where things are headed with the upcoming school closure issue. Board member Jim Raley commented that it would not be fair to the public to add something “so critical” to the agenda after the original agenda was sent out.
Formal discussion has yet to take place on this issue, and plans are set for the August meeting to address the concerns. The amendment was withdrawn and the original agenda was approved unanimously by the board.
Thomas then took the floor to present the changes recently made to the maintenance master plan, with the ultimate goal being that the board approve the changes and the plan would then be submitted to the state. Thomas and eight other employees give input on the stability and conditions of the facilities currently in use by the county school system.
Raley voiced one of his conerns over the plan, noting that certain facility ratings have dropped drastically in the last year. When comparing the 2009 ratings and the 2010 ratings of Kitzmiller Elementary School, for example, a total of 15 areas dropped from fair or good condition to poor. Raley questioned whether this had something to do with the impending closing of this or other schools.
“I have trouble believing that this document will not become part of a case,” said Raley.
“What you’re saying about our staff is they’ve got some kind of hidden agenda or motive going on,” said member Rodney Durst.
Read the rest 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
Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Lakefront Price Reduction - 914 Stockslager Rd
An incredibly well built home in a quiet setting near the Deep Creek Dam. The sellers have reduced the price to $1,149,000 (a $50k reduction) and are offering to pay buyers closing costs with a firm contract by 9-15-10. Take a look at the photo gallery here.
GA7294960 – 914 Stockslager Rd – $1,149,000 – 4BR, 3BA, built 1992, remodeled, 2,800+/- sq ft
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 Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Meadow Mountain Teacher Named Best In Business
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Jul. 1, 2010
The American Correctional Association (ACA) has named Russell Metz as one of the “Best in the Business” in the United States. Metz is a science and aquaculture teacher at Meadow Mountain Youth Center, a Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) facility located in Grantsville. The facility specializes in the treatment of youth with substance abuse issues. Metz is one of only 17 correctional employees selected by the ACA from hundreds of submissions.
Since 2005, Metz has steadily transformed the classroom-oriented approach to science, math, and engineering into an environmental science program that takes a hands-on approach in the facility’s environmental center. In partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service, Metz and his students study the cultivation of fish and other aquatic organisms, which is also known as “aquaculture.”
“I have always enjoyed teaching, but it is very rewarding to watch the excitement and joy the students express when they partake in these new experiences,” said Metz. “Some of these youth have never been out of the city, so this country, outdoor, environmental experience is all new.”
Metz and his students oversee the state’s only indoor recirculating system for growing hybrid sunfish. The students are responsible for the care and maintenance of the fish by conducting water tests and collecting data for food and growth charts. The fish are then taken to local ponds by the DNR and released to re-stock the fish populations.
“I already know that DJS has some of the most dedicated employees in the country, but it is great to see one of our own receive the national recognition that he rightly deserves,” said Secretary Donald W. DeVore. “Russell’s aquaculture program has achieved remarkable success with youth who previously have struggled to learn in a traditional classroom environment. The youth that participate in Russell’s classes are not just learning about environmental science; they are learning that they can succeed.”
The ACA also recognized three DJS employees as the “Best in the Business” for the state of Maryland: Dwain Johnson, director of the DJS Violence Prevention Initiative; Daniel McCoy, resident advisor supervisor at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center; and Leo Zilka, community detention officer III.
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 Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!
Fireworks Shows Slated For July 3-July 4 Weekend
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Jul. 1, 2010
At least two major fireworks events are slated for the Independence Day weekend. Garrett County residents and visitors are invited to Broadford Park on July 3 and to Deep Creek Lake on July 4.
The annual fireworks celebration at Broadford Park is set to begin at dusk on Saturday, July 3. A rain date is slated for July 5. Fireworks will be provided by the American Fireworks Company.
The annual Fire on the Mountain fireworks display is slated for Sunday, July 4, to begin at dark, with fireworks being set off at Wisp Resort. The event is sponsored by Hugh Umbel Companies, and a rain date has also been set for July 5. Fireworks can be viewed from numerous points in the area, including by boat. The show will be preceded by the Garrett Community Band/Garrett Choral Society concert on the lawn at Garrett College, which is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
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 Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Welcome to summer 2010 - Deep Creek Lake state park
85 degrees and sunny at the DCL state park. To celebrate the first day of summer, my family and I took a boat ride, went swimming in Mchenry Cove and by the state park bridge. We stopped by the Discovery Center to see the exhibits and then hit the beach for some sun and sand! Next up, Arrowhead by boat for dinner 🙂
Many more pictures to follow later on 🙂
Enjoy your summer!!!
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
Dairy Queen opens for business
After dinner last night, I took my family to the grand opening of DQ in Oakland. Greg Mortimer did a great job in building it, and the ice cream was great!!
Sent from my U.S. Cellular BlackBerry® smartphone
Deep Creek Lake Maryland Real Estate Sales, Homes For Sale, Water Front, Ski-in / Ski-Out – Jay Ferguson - Railey Realty – Garrett County
EASIEST real estate search engine to use, and the best listings in Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake, courtesy of Railey Realty:
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
New home sales in March rocket past expectations - Washington Post
New homes sales in March shot up 27 percent from their record lows in the previous month, as home buyers rushed to take advantage of the government’s purchase credit before it expires at the end of this month.
Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 411,000, the biggest monthly jump in 47 years and the strongest month since July, the Commerce Department said this morning.
The sales figure blew past forecasters’ estimates, which expected an annual sales rate of 330,000.
The other good news is that the median sales price of a new home rose slightly compared with last year, up 4 percent to $214,000.
The downside to this good news is that the housing market remains in distortion, thanks to the continued government incentives. We won’t get a clean number on home sales until June, because May will be the first month when homes are sold without any sort of government incentives (assuming that Congress does not extend the credit again).
Read the rest here:
Economy Watch – New home sales in March rocket past expectations
Technorati Tags: homes sales
Dennis Hannibal - Western Maryland Appraisals - Deep Creek Lake
I wanted to profile my good friend Dennis Hannibal, who is a local appraiser here in Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake. We had a great conversation about the real estate market the other day at my Railey Realty office. He is a wealth of information and I highly recommend him for all of your appraisal needs!
Dennis Hannibal
Western Maryland Appraisal Services
Mc Henry, Maryland (md)
301-387-7446
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
More Garrett County seniors eligible for property tax break
Commissioners extend 50 percent credit
Megan Miller Cumberland Times-News
Cumberland — OAKLAND — A recent act by the Garrett County Commission could give more residents a tax credit on their county tax bills, starting this tax year.
Currently, county residents who qualify for the state Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit program, are 65 or older, and have lived in Garrett for at least 10 years, can also receive an additional credit of 25 percent of the state credit amount to apply to their county tax bill.
But the income threshold and tax bill guidelines to qualify for the state program left out a portion of Garrett’s low-income seniors who “probably suffer more than anyone else in trying to pay their taxes,” according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.
Now residents who don’t meet the requirements for the state program can qualify for a county credit if they are 65 or older, have lived in Garrett for at least 10 years and have a combined gross household income of $25,000 or less. That extends a county credit to people whose incomes are low, but whose tax bills aren’t high enough to meet the state program guidelines.
“This goes over and above the state’s guidelines,” Pagenhardt said. “It’s not that much money for the county, about $8,300 in lost revenue, but the commissioners felt they wanted to do something to benefit that segment of county residents.”
Those seniors who qualify for the expanded county program will receive a 50 percent credit on their county real estate and landfill taxes, but their state taxes will not be affected.
Pagenhardt said the three commissioners agreed unanimously on the action, which makes about 32 more households eligible for county tax relief.
Wendy Yoder, director of financial services, said residents must still fill out the state application to be eligible for either the county and state credits or the new county credit program.
Applications are due by Sept. 1 for the tax bills that will come out in the summer, she said. The application forms are available online at www.dat.state.md.us, at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation office in the Garrett County Courthouse, or by calling that office at (301) 334-1950 and requesting a form by mail.
For more information contact the county staff at (301) 334-8970.
Contact Megan Miller at mmiller@times-news.com.
