MSA test scores: Reading goes down, math goes up
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — Allegany County middle school students scored slightly lower in reading on this year’s Maryland School Assessments, but math scores for the same students were up, according to statistics released this week by the Maryland State Department of Education.
Elementary schools here met all the targets recently established as part of Maryland’s new “School Progress” plan — which is less rigid than the former “Adequate Yearly Progress” of the federal No Child Left Behind law.
Almost without exception, Allegany County elementary school students increased scores in reading and math over last year, the report shows. And middle school students have shown “steady improvement” on both fronts over the past several years, school officials said.
“I am very proud of the fact that our students’ performance has continued to increase since 2009,” said Superintendent David Cox. “This is due in large part to the hard work and dedication of our teachers, principals, and central office staff.”
In Garrett County, school officials report that a “significant number” of elementary and middle school students achieved scores at the proficient and advanced levels in reading and math.
Students in grades four, six and eight, for example, improved reading scores, and students in grades six and eight improved math scores, compared to 2011, statistics show.
But reading scores for students in grades three and five dipped slightly compared to last year, and math scores for students in grades three, four, five, and seven dropped by 2 to 3 percentage points.
Overall, 90.6 percent of elementary school students in Garrett County scored proficient/advanced in reading, while 87.7 percent of middle school students achieved that level, according to a press release from the Garrett County Board of Education.
“We are proud of our students, teachers and administrative staff for the work they do every day to ensure that our students perform well in all aspects of their schooling, including this state assessment,” said Superintendent Janet Wilson.
“We look forward to learning more about the new assessments as we are transitioning to the new Maryland State Common Core Framework.”
Under the state’s new “School Progress” plan, each school is measured against its own targets and must work to strengthen achievement across all subgroups. This year’s data starts a new baseline for school test results over the next six years. By 2017, schools and systems will endeavor to cut in half the percentage of students not scoring at proficient levels on the assessments.
In Allegany County, 88.9 percent of students met the targets for achievement under the new “School Progress” plan.
“I am pleased that Maryland has been granted a waiver from the NCLB Adequate Yearly Progress requirements that were unrealistic,” Cox said. “Our commitment is to continuously improve what we do each and every day for all children.”
For more information about the MSAs, go to the Maryland Report Card site at www.mdreportcard.org.
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Deep Creek vacation home is dream of a lifetime
By Marie Marciano Gullard, Special to The Baltimore Sun
10:18 a.m. EDT, July 13, 2012
Hanging on the wall of Mike and Jean Tumbarello’s new retreat at Deep Creek Lake is an old framed greeting card with a primitive drawing of a brown log cabin nestled among trees aglow with autumn colors. The scene is rendered in crayon with a sentiment that reads, in part: “Jean, here’s our cottage in the country. I wish I were in it with you right now. …”
“The card was sent before we married — probably 1974, when we were dating in college, when you actually had to use snail mail,” Jean Tumbarello recalled.
While her husband’s artwork hasn’t improved that much over the ensuing years, he was better at his promise of a place in the country. What the couple built together — after 34 years of marriage — is a 4,000-square-foot Arts & Crafts-style bungalow with an interior that could be described as a “mini lodge.”
“We got our house as an anchor for our dream life,” said Jean Tumbarello, who, together with her husband, will move out of their rented condo in Ellicott City and embark on their new life as full-time residents of Deep Creek Lake.
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Inmate labor saves money, Garrett County sheriff reports
For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — Garrett County Sheriff Rob Corley has reported more than $40,000 in savings to the county this year through the new Inmate Work Program that began in January.
Corley told the county commissioners at last week’s public meeting that inmates have provided 5,395 hours of labor valued at $7.50 an hour for a savings of $40,462 to the county, according to a county news release. “This is huge,” Corley said.
Commission chairman James Raley thanked Corley for putting the program together. The inmates have provided maintenance services in county communities and are assigned to 28 sites from garbage collection to water treatment facilities.
Corley said the program has provided unskilled labor without cost to 30 county properties, municipalities and nonprofit agencies. His office used St. Mary’s County Detention Center as a blueprint for Garrett County’s plan. The inmates perform their duties under supervision of one full-time sheriff’s office employee.
“There’s no question it’s a good program,” said Mountain Lake Park Mayor Leo Martin, whose town was one of the first municipalities to use the free labor. “Inmates have done a lit bit of everything, from mowing and trimming grass to building walls. The inmates we’ve had working have good attitudes with good work ethics. They like getting outdoors and we haven’t had any problems with anyone. We used to provide inmates lunch, but now the sheriff’s office even packs their lunch.”
Corley said a Mountain Lake Park employee picks up an inmate five days a week to work with town employees and that Grantsville recently picked up inmates for storm cleanup.
The inmates also have mowed and cleared debris from 1.7 miles of trails at Adventure Sports Center International and have worked at the Oakland Cemetery, Youth Little League fields at Broadford Park and the Garrett County Visitors Center in McHenry, according to the release.
“If an inmate signs up for the program and does a good job, they can earn up to five days a month off their sentence,” said Corley. The program does not include sex offenders or violent criminals and inmates have to be sentenced for a maximum of 18 months, according to Corley. The detention center currently houses 73 inmates. County purchases have included three mowers and gasoline. “Next year, I think we’ll be able to take care of all county mowing contracts, and in the winter, do snow removal,” Corley said.
Agencies interested in participating in the program may call 301-334-1917.
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Panel hears testimony on septic system regulations
Written by
Brian Witte
Associated Press
ANNAPOLIS — Regulations requiring new Maryland construction to use the best technology in septic systems would help clean up the Chesapeake Bay, supporters told lawmakers Tuesday, but critics said the proposal by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration is a back-door effort to implement a plan already rejected by the Legislature.
Robert Summers, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, told members of the Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review that the regulations are part of an effort to reduce nitrogen released into the polluted bay by 11.6 million pounds by 2026. Summers said the septics law, combined with the regulation, will equal a reduction in nitrogen produced by about 31,000 households.
“So each year, this will reduce the equivalent of the discharge of nitrogen from the city of Cambridge,” Summers told the panel.
He noted the western half of Garrett County in western Maryland and a part of Cecil County will be exempt from the regulations.
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Redtail Hawk Hits The Courts
Jul. 12, 2012
“Tennis, anyone?” might be the question that was on the mind of this wayward redtail hawk that was perched on one of the benches at the Mountain Lake Park Tennis Club courts on Monday. The bird had apparently sustained some kind of injury to its wing and was having difficulty flying.
MLP town secretary Judy Paugh contacted officials from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, who came to the courts, successfully corralled the bird, and have sent it to rehabilitation experts who will attempt to nurse it back to health before returning it to the wild. Photo courtesy
of Leon Cardiff.
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A Very Involved Father
The male oriole is a busy sort, quite active in the life of his offspring. A male is shown above as he feeds grape jelly to his youngster. The orioles are active throughout the spring and early summer, but will soon be moving on.
They are attracted to brightly colored, sweet foods, such as orange slices and jelly. In early spring, they gather bits of string to make their unusual hanging nests. Their song is a distinctive alto sound, with varying lengths. These birds were photographed in an Oakland yard by Lisa Rook, an active birder and photographer.
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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!
Back on the market! $149,900 282 Greenfield Ln GA
282 GREENFIELD LN
SWANTON, MD 21561
New roof! Updated 3BR/2BA home on nearly 2 acres of land with a small stream in the back yard, overlooking pasture land. 3 garage stalls – 1 attached & 2 stalls in a detached garage offer plenty of storage. Other features: cedar siding, native stone, fireplace, 2nd living room, several heating sources, newer kitchen cabinets & flooring. 3 parcels sold together. Deep Creek Lake is around the corner
Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.
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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!
Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fee To Increase On July 1
Jul. 5, 2012
The Garrett County commissioners are reminding local property owners and visitors about two issues: the increase in the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fee (“flush tax”) and the new security system at the courthouse.
A change in the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fee has taken place for the tax year beginning on July 1. Legislation was passed this year in the Maryland General Assembly, doubling the fee from $30 to $60 annually for properties whose on site sewage disposal systems (septic system) are located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and for properties that are connected to either a public water and/or sewer system and whose wastewater is treated by a facility that discharges in the watershed.
For properties that have a septic system and a private water supply, the fee will be reflected on the owners’ annual property tax bills.
For those properties located within the watershed that are connected to either a public water and/or sewer system, this fee change equates to an increase from $2.50 to $5 per month, or $7.50 per to $15 per quarter. The Bay Restoration Fee will be reflected on the quarterly water/sewer bill for properties connected to a public water and/or sewer system.
“The county has made every possible attempt to accurately assess the correct fees for every Garrett County property tax account,” county administrator Monty Pagenhardt. “If you believe the Bay Restoration Fee that you are billed is in error, please contact the Garrett County Department of Financial Services at 301-334-8985 or by e-mail at bayrestorationfee@garrettcounty.org.
Residents and visitors are also reminded that they must use the Alder Street entrance when conducting business at the county courthouse in Oakland.
A new security system has been installed in the courthouse building, and individuals must pass through security upon entering the building. Handicapped individuals may use the entrance located off the alley between St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and the courthouse.
More here.
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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!
All Hail the USA
Jul. 5, 2012
All hail let loose last evening just as festivities for the July 4th holiday were getting under way. An intense and damaging storm hit the Deep Creek Lake area at about 7:15 p.m., bringing high winds, torrential rain, and marble-sized hail. (And that’s shooter marbles, not the little ones.)
The storm went on for more than 30 minutes, absolutely inundating the food tables at the Deep Creek Marina, which was offering a customer appreciation event. The food, catered by Wisp, was suddenly mostly soup, as shown, as the severe weather descended.
The annual Independence Day celebration at Garrett College by the Garrett Community Concert Band and the Garrett Choral Society was both abbreviated and relocated because of the storm. The performers and audience went into the college gymnasium, which is conveniently a storm protection area, and the program commenced inside. There is surely damage today in gardens and yards, as the hail was severe and the wind quite strong. Photo by Fabian Green.
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Garrett County Public Safety Director Reports On June 29 Storm, Aftermath
Jul. 5, 2012
Garrett County suffered “some of the most extensive damage we’ve seen from a storm event,” reported Brad Frantz, director of Garrett County Public Safety and Emergency Management, during a special briefing for the county commissioners on Tuesday morning.
A derecho – a rare string of powerful storms with intense lightening, rain, and hurricane-force winds – swept through the Midwest and mid-Atlantic region Friday (June 29) evening. According to some accounts, at least 22 people were killed, 5 million were left without power, and billions of dollars worth of damages occurred.
“We were quite fortunate that there were not more structures that had impact,” Frantz said. “We had one reported on Savage River Road that was significant damage.”
Three trees fell on a home, one of which landed in a bedroom. The house was insured, according to Frantz.
The director said 1,114 county electric power customers remained without service as of Tuesday at 7 a.m., but he anticipated that power would be restored to most of these customers by the end of the day.
As of Thursday morning, Potomac Edison reports that 140 Garrett County residences are still without power. Those without electricity in surrounding counties are as follows: Allegany, 1,225; Preston 2,421; Tucker 185; Grant 117; Mineral, 117; and Somerset, 7.
Utility companies have been working around the clock, since the storm hit Garrett County at 8:20 p.m. on June 29, Frantz said. Potomac Edison reported 147,000 of its area customers had lost power from the storm.
Frantz noted that nearly every fire department in the county spent the weekend clearing roads of trees and debris, and as of Monday, all roads in the county were open.
Cooling centers/shelters were established Saturday morning and remain available this week to residents at the Friendsville Volunteer Fire Department, the Deer Park Community Volunteer Fire Department, and the Southern Garrett Rescue Squad hall, according to Frantz.
At the impact of the sudden storm – with winds exceeding 65 miles per hour in some areas, according to Potomac Edison – Frantz said telephone calls into 9-1-1 were 300-400 percent above normal call volume.
“On a normal day, we might see 75 calls,” he said.
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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!
