Fourmile Ridge wind project approved, moves forward
Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News
— FROSTBURG — The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the Fourmile Ridge wind project in eastern Garrett County and site preparation started April 7, according to Frank Maisano, a wind industry spokesman. The current notice listed on the FAA website for the project is for a small change in turbine location.
The project was hinging on the decommissioning of the Grantsville VOR/DME system, which drew opposition from Ed Kelley, manager of the Garrett County Airport, and the Maryland Aviation Administration. The Grants-ville VOR/DME system will be decommissioned, according to Maisano.
VOR/DME refers to a combined radio navigation station for aircraft consisting of two beacons placed together.
“The decommission of the Grantsville VOR would leave Garrett County and Cumberland airports without a ground-based approach and would eliminate numerous instrument procedures, including six instrumental approach procedures, nine standard arrival routes, four victor airways and one remote communication outlet,” Kelly previously said in a letter to Melinda George of the FAA. “The loss of procedures and services could severely impact the safety of general, commercial, emergency and military aviation within the now served VOR/DME.”
The Fourmile Ridge project started out as a Synergics project with 24 wind turbines and was revised to an Exelon project with 16 wind turbines in the Frostburg Road area.
The Maryland Public Service Commission approved the Fourmile wind project last year.
Construction on the project is slated for completion by early November with testing and plans to begin commercial operations by mid-December 2014, according to Maisano.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
State Approves Recreation Enhancements in Garrett, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties
by kking
Maryland families will continue to benefit from Maryland’s signature Program Open Space with this week’s Board of Public Works’ approval of funding for recreational upgrades in Garrett, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
“From playgrounds and ball fields to trail access and community gardens, Program Opens Space allows us to create and improve upon opportunities for children and families to enjoy the outdoors safely and close to home,” said Governor O’Malley. “In fact, we enjoy the remarkable distinction of having facilities funded by the program within 15 minutes of every Maryland community.”
In Garrett County, Friendsville will receive $40,000 to develop a new parking area for recreational hikers, bikers and boaters. The project will allow easy access to the Youghiogheny River and nearby trails, and alleviate parking issues along Maryland Route 742. Grantsville will receive $12,568 to improve the existing restrooms at the 14-acre Grantsville Town Park. Oakland will receive $3,000 to install an outdoor bocce court adjacent to the Oakland Armory/Community Center; this facility is currently used extensively by groups, individuals, organizations and Garrett College students for basketball practice, soccer games and other activities.
Change is good
It is with some sadness – and some excitement – that I am announcing that I am no longer an agent with Railey Realty. I have been blessed to work with many amazing people and I have enjoyed my time there. However, I am taking a huge step in a different direction as of today. There are some legalities to work out and some paperwork that has to be filed, but stay tuned, a BIG announcement will be forthcoming, God-willing.
For the time being, I am now proudly licensed with Offlake Realty in Oakland – and the broker is my very good friend Bob Orr. Office number is 301-387-8060. If you need to reach me, all of my contact info is still the same – deepcreeklaker@gmail.com and cell is 301-501-0420. Call me anytime to chat…or ask any questions you may have.
Please bear with me as I slowly and methodically update my advertising.
#1 in Sales in Garrett County & Railey Realty 1st Quarter 2014 - Jay Ferguson!
Update 9-29-14: It was brought to my attention that I was the #1 agent for Railey Realty for the 1st quarter of 2014…after 2 of the owners, whose stats were not compiled as part of the equation originally. They don’t count ‘owners’ as part of the sales volume equation, just ‘agents’. So, all in all, I was really #3 in the Railey Realty office overall, which still isn’t too bad! I’m still proud of the achievement – its no small feat!
I received some exciting news this week –
I am the Railey Realty office Top Producer thus far in 2014 as of Q1. That also translates into being the top producing real estate salesperson in all of Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake for the 1st quarter, too. I’m very blessed to have received this honor…and very lucky. Last year was a slow start, this year has been one of my best. THANK YOU to all my clients, customers and fellow agents for your support! God is Great!
The real estate market is picking up steam and prices are finally on the rise! If you are in the market to buy or sell real estate, give me a call!
The Sap Says It's Spring!
The Steyer Brothers maple syrup company is abuzz with activity this week, as the sap is running in the maples, and that can only mean that winter is truly on its way out. Jessica Steyer, daughter of company owners Randall and Kay Steyer, knows exactly what she’s doing in the photo above, as her family has operated the farm for many years, and she grew up witnessing the process – and helping with it – every spring. She is on the staff now, along with her sister, Andrea Uphold. The family also operates Ryan’s Glade Dairy Farm. Staff from Maryland Public Television were on the property this week, Kay said, filming the sap-to-syrup process and interviewing the family. The TV station is doing a story about the Steyers for its Maryland Farm & Harvest program, which is to air sometime between November of this year and February 2015. The farm is located along Rt. 560. Photo courtesy of Kay Steyer.
Complete List of Maryland Wildlands
| Western Region | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savage Mountain | 2691 acres | Savage River State Forest | Type 1 | Garrett |
| Bear Pen | 1517 acres | Savage River State Forest | Type 1 | Garrett |
| Middle Fork | 1916 acres | Savage River State Forest | Type 1 | Garrett |
| High Rock | 650 acres | Savage River State Forest | Type 1 | Garrett |
| Savage Ravines | 2427 acres | Savage River State Forest | Type 1 | Garrett |
| South Savage | 1934 acres | Savage River State Forest | Type 2 | Garrett |
| Deep Run | 1260 acres | Green Ridge State Forest | Type 2 | Allegany |
| Maple Run | 2760 acres | Green Ridge State Forest | Type 1 | Allegany |
| Potomac Bends | 2034 acres | Green Ridge State Forest | Type 2 | Allegany |
| Rocky Gap | 943 acres | Rocky Gap State Park | Type 2 | Allegany |
| Sideling Hill | 922 acres | Sideling Hill WMA | Type 2 | Washington |
| Cunningham Falls State Park | 3452 acres | Cunningham Falls State Park | Type 1 | Frederick |
| Islands of the Potomac | 194 acres | Islands of the Potomac WMA | Type 2 | Frederick |
| 22700 acres |
|
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DNR Urges Western Marylanders to Be Mindful of Bears
Bears are beginning to leave their winter dens and search for food now that their long winter slumber has come to an end. Since natural foods are scarce in the early spring, they often seek out human-provided sources. Those living in, or visiting bear country can help keep Maryland’s black bears wild by being proactive and exercising good judgment.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources urges residents to clean or remove anything outdoors that may smell like food. This includes:
- locking garbage in a bear-proof trash container, or keep it inside a building until the day of pick-up;
- rinsing trash containers with ammonia to eliminate food odors;
- storing cooking grills inside or keep them clean of food residue; and
- removing birdfeeders from April through November ─ there are many wild food sources for birds during this time period.
For more information on living and camping around bears click here or call the Western Region DNR Service Center at 301-777-2136.
Keep up to date with DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service on Facebook and Twitter @MDDNRWildlife.
Hands-Only CPR Equipment Donated to Garrett County
Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake Donates Life Saving Training Equipment to Garrett County
According to statistics from the Garrett County Board of Health, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) accounted for 25% of the deaths in the County in 2011. Studies have shown that very few bystanders stop to offer assistance to victims of SCA. Many people say they are afraid they may do something wrong and cause harm or be sued. Others are concerned about doing the mouth to mouth breathing that is associated with traditional Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation or CPR. The Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake (POA) has donated equipment that will enable anyone to learn, in just 15 minutes, the skills needed to perform Hand-Only CPR— compressions without breaths —and to use an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). Even if an AED is not available, Hands-Only CPR can keep blood flowing to the heart and brain of a victim of SCA until Emergency Medical Responders arrive, thus greatly increasing his/her chance of survival.
Hands-Only CPR, a program that is growing by leaps and bounds nationally, can be taught by anyone without the need of a certified instructor. The idea and effort of bringing this type of training to Garrett County was a cooperative effort of the Board of Health, Board of Education, Garrett County Department of Emergency Management, Garrett County Memorial hospital, Garrett College, Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake, and Ms Beth Philipson, a summer lake resident from Baltimore, POA Member, registered nurse, American heart Association Certified CPR/AED Instructor, and a member of of the Cardiac Arrest Steering Committee at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Service System (MIEMSS). Ms Philipson spearheaded the proposal, offering to volunteer her time to get Hands-Only CPR to the entire Garrett County Community. Ms Philipson reached out to the POA to consider funding this worthwhile endeavor.
Studies have also shown that if CPR training is taken to people, instead of having people come to the training, the chances of introducing the life saving technique is vastly increased. Ms Philipson plans to make Hands- Only CPR available in group settings such as the up and coming Garrett County Health Fair, Garrett County Public Safety Day, after church in church parking lots, at organizational assemblies, golf courses or to anyone who asks, just to name a few. Garrett County Emergency Medical Services Associate Brad Frantz has committed to introducing Hands-Only CPR to the GC Senior High School Emergency Services Clubs and utilize the program as an Emergency Services Club project in pushing the technique out into the community. This equipment will also be used to teach HANDS ONLY CPR skills to all senior high students. At this time, the general assembly in Annapolis is considering a bill that would make learning Hands-Only CPR at requirement for high school graduation. Such laws already exist in 11 States in the U.S.
HANDS-ONLY CPR however is not a replacement for full CPR training which is required for Emergency First Responders and all medical services. It is also not effective for victims of drowning or victims of drug overdoses where these cases the cardiac arrest is usually a result of respiratory arrest.
The equipment that is being donated by the Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake to the County consists of 50 training manikins and 12 Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training devices. The equipment will be housed at Garrett College in the Continuing Education Department and will be made available to anyone who wants to conduct group training sessions.
This is yet another example of how the POA supports the entire community!
Committee asks public for ideas on energy development
Angie Brant
OAKLAND — The Mountain Maryland Energy Advisory Committee is soliciting ideas from the public.
“Great ideas fuel our future,” said committee chairman Mike Koch at Tuesday’s Garrett County Commission meeting. Koch also serves as the county’s executive director of Community Planning & Development. “Energy development is an important part of our economic future, but we need to chart our course thoughtfully and responsibly. Public participation diversifies ideas and deepens this dialogue.”
The committee was created in November to advise the Garrett and Allegany County commissioners on local and state policy, regulation, programs and legislation issues. Representing a diversity of perspectives, the 12 committee members are private citizens, and business owners and leaders in economic development (Garrett and Allegany County representatives), health, education and recreation.
Members are interested in all types of energy production, opportunity and projects in the area, with a key focus on identifying and mitigating any risks, said Jeff Simcoe, committee consultant.
The committee has explored a range of energy topics and generated numerous ideas on energy production. The 12 committee members will be broken down into four groups of three and each group will focus on either commercial biomass generation, solar or energy efficiency, according to Simcoe. While the three initiatives are slated for more focused review, the group seeks additional fresh ideas from the general public.
New ideas generated by the committee and local citizens will be explored during monthly committee meetings, all of which are open to the public. The committee will review viable solutions and forward recommendations by majority vote to the county commissioners. The ideas will be numbered so they can be tracked throughout the process and the committee will prioritize the ideas, according to Simcoe.
