Outdoorswomen: Wild ramps and rainbow trout
By Susan Guynn
News-Post Staff
SATURDAY WAS THE 11th annual Ramp Cook Off at Deep Creek Lake State Park in Garrett County. It’s a competition where participants prepare their tastiest dish using ramps — fried, grilled, saut?ed or raw.
I’ve never been to this event, but I do have a fondness for ramps. They grow wild in the eastern U.S., in the woodlands from the Carolinas to Canada. On a good weekend, dinner at the Guynn house could be wild ramps with morels and rainbow trout. Didn’t happen this year, but we have enjoyed some fresh rainbows and ramps fried with potatoes, and fresh ramps chopped into a salad on a couple of occasions.
Ramps have a flavor that’s a combination of onion and garlic. The plants begin to emerge in March, and April is the big month for harvesting. By May, the leaves start to yellow and die back. Over the next few months the plants will flower and develop seeds, hopefully producing more ramps next year. But, according to ramp expert and author Glen Facemire Jr., ramp seed germination is 5 percent or less. The West Virginia native has a ramp farm and sells ramps via the Internet (rampfarm.com).
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Forest Fire Breaks Out Before Storm Hits
Prior to the snow storm on Monday, conditions in local fields and forests were reaching a danger level in terms of dryness, as is evidenced by a woods fire that broke out Friday near the railroad crossing in Swanton. Volunteers from several local fire departments were summoned to the scene and contained the blaze after over 20 acres were scorched.
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition! This photo of Bittinger firefighters Jesse Warnick and Scott Cannan was taken and submitted by their deputy chief, Justin Orendorf.
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Group searching for city’s oldest building
History buffs have list narrowed to seven
Angie Brant Cumberland Times-News
— CUMBERLAND — More than 500 current and former residents have launched an investigation to determine where the oldest structure in Cumberland is located. They are using social media to help solve the mystery.
The Western Maryland History Group was formed on Facebook more than a year ago by local historian Steve Colby. The group became part of an extension for the research Colby was conducting on the National Road and Braddock’s Road.
“I established forums for the Cumberland Road Project and the Western Maryland History websites, but they saw little action. I wanted to create a place where people interested in local history could discuss a myriad of topics and share pictures and histories. Adding photos to the forum format can be difficult, Facebook simplfies the process,” Colby said.
Anyone with an interest in local history is invited to join the group and maybe help solve this mystery or begin an investigation on another topic.
Colby said the group is dedicated to “all things Western Maryland history from General Braddock to the Donohoe’s Hamburger Stand in LaVale. We’re looking for photos, documents and your recollections of bygone people and places in Cumberland, Frostburg, Hagerstown, Frederick, Oakland, Grantsville, Allegany County, Garrett County, Washington County and Frederick County.”
Soon, individuals from Cumberland and throughout the country started joining the group, sharing memories and posing questions about the history of the “Queen City.”
According to member Dave Williams, “Things got lively when I, local historian Bob Bantz, attorney Dan Press, local heritage expert Dave Dorsey and local resident Bill Feeney started kicking pictures and stories around about the people.
“When famous, familiar houses on Washington Street and Columbia Street came into discussion with a good picture, these guys started chiming with the amazing amount of human, social and economic history they knew,” Williams said. “All of a sudden the dry history came alive and people began to connect family names and their own personal experiences with the historic homes and buildings.”
Then, a question was raised that seemed to really pique everyone’s interest, “What is the oldest house still standing in Cumberland?”
“The group went crazy with enthusiasm, suggesting houses daily,” Williams said.
When it became clear that there was no definitive answer, Williams organized a search that would involve members from across the country.
The “principal investigators,” Press, a deed search attorney; Colby, an expert in old land patents; Dorsey, a former employee of the Maryland Historical Trust; and Feeney, a local history enthusiast; sifted through countless historical documents, relying on tips they received from their fellow Western Maryland History Group members. After six months, the “investigation” yielded what the group is calling its finalists.
The seven structures they have determined to be among the oldest still standing in Cumberland include: Hoye House, Washington Street, 1796; Simpkins House, Mechanic Street, 1809; Shriver Farmstead, Third Street, 1790-1810; Laing Farm House, South End, 1812; and Pigman’s End, Fayette Street, 1855.
Additional information is being sought on the Brinker House on Oldtown Road and 128 Greene St. Williams said evidence suggests both structures are early 19th century but a more accurate date has not been determined.
Rick Witt, a former Cumberland resident, recently joined the ranks of the group’s more than 500 members.
Now living in San Diego, Witt said the site has provided him an outlet to share his memories and love of the area, while learning something new about his hometown.
“I am now on the other coast and I am so terribly proud of the history of my hometown,” he said.
Calling the group a “a spectacular collection of minds and hearts who love this area and its history,” Witt said he enjoys the discussions and is pleased when he is able to contribute a bit of information to the online chats.
“I could probably write pages about the Western Maryland History Group and all the things I’ve learned. It is an amazing resource of information and insight into Western Maryland history from many who are working to preserve the rich heritage that we all are so passionate about,” Witt said.
“There are so many in the group who are profoundly interested and concerned about Western Maryland, its past, present and future. Through the posts, pictures and , the Western Maryland History group makes me walk down Fayette Street, through the alleys of West Side, up and down Baltimore Street; it is a virtual memory organizer for the sights and sounds of my hometown. I’ve walked Braddock’s Road on Haystack Mountain, sat on the edge of the Narrows and looked down on Nemacolin’s village at Wills Creek; for those who understand and appreciate the history of the area, the Facebook group offers us the opportunity to connect with like-minded people to share thoughts, pictures, news and so much more.
“I’m only saddened by the fact that I can’t jump in the car or take a walk and reinforce the memories that the group has helped refresh and restore,” Witt said.
Colby has also created several other faces Facebook pages: Architecture of Cumberland; Architecture of Western Maryland and the Alleghenies; and Cemeteries and Other Favorite Haunts.
Contact Angie Brant at abrant @times-news.com.
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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!
Group battles Garrett closures
State board of ed has 20 days to respond to appeal
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — A group called Parents for Garrett County Education is working on filing an appeal with the Maryland Board of Education to stop the closures of Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools, according to Diane Donham, the group’s spokeswoman.
The group has until May 24 to file the appeal and hopes to have it filed by the end of the week.
The state board must hear from the Garrett County Board of Education before they respond to the group’s appeal, according to Donham.
“I hope the state board of education responds in time so more teachers don’t lose their jobs,” said Donham.
The group is also circulating numerous petitions to keep the schools open, some of which will be provided to the state board with the appeal.
The state will respond 20 days after a copy of the appeal has been sent, according to Maryland Office of the Secretary of the State.
“Last year, people were given raises instead of keeping the schools open,” said Donham in an interview with the Times-News.
In October 2011, county commissioners provided the BOE with a preliminary appropriation of $24,859,000 to allow for budget planning for fiscal year 2013, according to a news release provided by the commissioners.
Last year, the commissioners provided the BOE with $700,000 to keep Bloomington Elementary School open, according to a previous Times-News article. Then, in April 2011, the BOE voted to close the school.
Prior to the decision to close the schools on April 24, the commissioners provided the BOE with $500,000 for fiscal year 2013 and suggested the schools remain open.
During the April BOE meeting, interim Superintendent Sue Waggoner recommended that the money provided by the commissioners be used to “reduce the number of instructional employee reductions.”
Before the money was provided by the commissioners, 40 teacher positions would have been cut. Now that number would be reduced to 28 positions, according to BOE President Charlotte Sebold.
“I will not be able to vote to close schools tonight,” said BOE Vice President Rodney Durst during the April meeting.
The commissioners cannot obligate or commit to additional funds above $25,359,000 for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, the commissioners said in a news release.
“Regardless of whether we close schools or not, we are going to have to lay off teachers … but if we decide to go that route and the state does come through with the money, we can hire those teachers back,” said Durst during the April meeting, noting that the BOE is restricted by the union as to who must be laid off.
“But I’m afraid if we close the schools, even if they come through with twice the money, they won’t open back up.”
Funding for education will be determined by a special session of the General Assembly that will likely be held May 14.
“My hope is that with the ‘doomsday’ budget they (the General Assembly) will decline the 12 percent decrease during the special session,” said Donham. “So the teachers can get their jobs back.”
Sebold echoed Durst’s sentiments and suggested that the schools remain open, and instead of cutting teachers’ positions, using the money provided by the commissioners to save some of those positions.
Teachers’ salaries account for 80 percent of the budget, according to Sebold.
“Our problem this evening is the fact that we don’t know what is going to happen in the legislative session,” said Waggoner, during the April meeting. “As a result, until we have the dollars in hand, I have to recommend a balanced budget. That’s the reason we are going to be talking about school closures.”
During a special meeting on April 24, the BOE voted 3-2 to close Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools at the end of the school year.
Students who attend Dennett Road will be redistricted to Yough Glades, Broadford and Crellin elementary schools. Yough Glades will be designated as the special education school.
Students who attend Kitzmiller will be redistricted to Broadford elementary school.
The Parents for Garrett County Education group, whose goal is to to preserve the future quality of education for children in the county, is also currently looking into the possibility of a homeschool co-op, according to Donham.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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More information needed before decision can be made
To the Editor: Cumberland Times-News
— I must agree that the prospect of raising taxes in Garrett County is of major concern to many citizens (“No more property tax hikes in Garrett County,” April 25 Times-News).
Furthermore, I agree that the proposed closure of Dennett Road and Kitzmiller schools is of particular concern to those whose children are affected by those closures. What I must disagree with is that wind turbines in Garrett County will pave the road to prosperity.
It seems obvious to me that Robert Spangler would have you believe that he is greatly concerned about the aforementioned issues as well as those citizens who are opposed to the wind turbines.
What he fails to tell you is that he does not live near those locations where wind turbines are proposed to be placed.
Therefore, he will not have to contend with the environmental impact issues involving wildlife, reduced homeowner property values, or personal intrusions such as vista, flicker or noise.
Moreover he fails to say that he owns a large chunk of land along Four Mile Ridge where many wind turbines are proposed to be placed.
He stresses the positive monetary impact such turbines will have on the county and its citizens through increased tax revenue and jobs. What he fails to tell you is the positive monetary impact these turbines will have on him through the leasing of “his” land to Synergics.
He criticizes the Garrett County commissioners for being “brain washed by few (sic) nay-sayers” since they are “proposing unreasonable setbacks and height restrictions for the wind mills.”
It seems to me that the commissioners are getting it right by proceeding with caution so that they can get it right the first time around.
The primary purpose of this letter is to get the whole story out on the table so that everyone can make an informed decision without being influenced by what appears to be a smoke screen.
Richard Wiggin
Frostburg
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Broadband study finds Garrett well-connected
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — A study on broadband communications infrastructure found Garrett County was well served compared to other rural communities because it has more infrastructure than many parts of the rural United States, said Joanne Hovis, president of CTC Technology and Energy.
The six-month broadband study was conducted by CTC and was based on a survey of more than 1,600 residents, businesses and farms, according to a news release.
Hovis said county broadband is not on par with the metro areas.
“We are pleased to know that our broadband efforts so far have been successful and are excited about the new strategies we have for bringing even more broadband to our residents,” said Chairman Jim Raley.
The study found that an estimated 78 percent of residents, farms and businesses currently pay for Internet services, according to Hovis. Of those 78 percent that use Internet 64 percent use broadband (DSL, cable, fiber). The adoption of broadband is somewhat lower in the agricultural community.
“There is a pretty real gap between 78 percent and 64 percent, who are still using dial up,” said Hovis. “The numbers show a high level of interest for broadband.”
Some of the challenges the county faces with broadband is large unserved remote areas, relatively little competition in population centers and high pricing that prevents consumers from fully benefiting from existing networks, according to a news release.
The study also found that local entrepreneurs and wireless carriers have led recent expansion of broadband options in the county.
The study follows the county’s 2011 Economic Development Strategic plan and determines the most productive methods for the county to leverage its portion of the $115 million federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act broadband grant that the state was awarded in 2010, according to the news release. The grant will fund approximately 50 miles of fiber backbone to connect major institutions such as schools, Garrett College and government agencies. The Strategic Plan’s goal is to increase non-satellite broadband Internet availability to at least 90 percent of the residents by 2014.
“This study is an important tool for the county,” said Frank Shap, assistant director of the Department of Economic Development in the news release. “It gives us a roadmap for expanding broadband infrastructure and use, which we have long recognized as essential for economic development.”
Hovis recommended that the county consider investing in the last mile of the wireless broadband network to enable service to approximately 2,900 unserved residences. The cost of the investment would be $1.2 million, with 30 percent of subscribers utilizing the service, according to Hovis.
Hovis also recommended that middle-mile infrastructure be expanded, wire line carrier expansion for the last mile be encouraged and cost-effective commodity bandwidth be facilitated for competitive providers.
Commodity bandwidth refers to the actual bandwidth used to transverse the Internet, according to Hovis. Other recommendations in-clude creating governance structures to manage county strategies, educate county residents about broadband and pursue funding opportunities such as Appalachian Regional Commission.
CTC Technology and Energy is a public sector engineering and business consulting firm.
To view the broadband study in its entirety, visit www.garrettcounty.org.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com
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Do like citizens do and live within your means
— Would we be better, not to read the newspaper each morning, would the storm pass?
Seems like every time you pickup the newspaper, the headlines read: “ Taxes to be raised on income, or property taxes to increase, or, gas taxes to increase, and on and on it goes.”
Will there never be no end to madness from our elected officials? They’ve reached the bottom of the well, and all they are going to find is dust. People all over are taxed out.
Sure politicians and millionaires can go for additional taxes, but what about the little people. People retired on fixed income. We have to eat and live too. Every time I go to the market, the prices have gone up from last week, and the week before. I say enough is enough! It’s time our elected officials learn to live within their means as we little people have to do.
Stop wasteful spending, and supporting programs that don’t feed the people. Today’s headlines for Garrett County was property taxes to be increased $70 on the property owners now paying $1,000 per year.
The county commissioners find themselves a little short to meet budget. Well, so do I from year to year, as my income keeps shrinking. Put it back on the shelf if you don’t have the means to pay for it. That’s how most Americans live, within their income.
That new Whitewater Sports Complex that was just purchased put a big dent in their proposed budget for the year. We don’t need more toys to play with. We need jobs for the residents to be able to pay bills, and put food on the table, not to mention to pay for health care for the elderly.
Bringing industry in the area, and creating new jobs will raise enough taxes to meet state budget. Also a flat tax across the board will produce enough tax money for all government to operate in the black. Why should the middle class bear all the burden to pay the bills? The working man has a hard time keeping money in his pocket with paying such high gasoline prices to commute to work each day.
Come on, politicians, give the people a break and do the job you were elected to do, on the promises you made when running for office. Bring our country back under control.
Stop wasteful spending and raising taxes all the time, and look for ways to build the economy elsewhere beside out of our pockets.
Bring industry back to the people, where they can earn a comfortable living, and the revenue in taxes paid would generate enough for funding projects needed in the state and the federal government.
It’s time for the politicians to start working together, and stop the feuding in government. Look out for the “Doomsday Budget,” special session called to set a budget for Maryland. Another storm is on the horizon. Hopefully not the “Perfect Storm.”
I’m sure we all have our own ideas as to how to make this a better state to live in, but who’s listening? Buckle up, citizens of Maryland, and America, the ride is going to get rougher!
Norm Fitzgerald
Bloomington
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Garrett County budget to be posted
OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of County Commissioners has announced that the fiscal year 2013 operating budget will be online at www.garrettcounty.org by the end of business hours on Friday.
Projected revenue and requested expenditures will be available for review. The board, county administrator and Department of Financial Services will present an informational budget overview to the public on May 15 at 7 p.m. at Garrett College auditorium.
Questions on the draft budget may be addressed to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator, or Wendy Yoder, director of Department of Financial Services.
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Garrett County leaders agree on formula for wind turbine location
Alternative energy production units reportedly are getting taller
Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News
— OAKLAND — On Tuesday, the Board of Garrett County Commissioners came to the consensus of a formula for the setbacks of industrial wind turbines to use in the draft Land Use Management Ordinance.
The setbacks for wind turbines from a occupied dwelling would be five times the height measuring from base to the hub of the wind turbine and from a property line it would be three times the height. The same formula was proposed for domestic wind turbines.
“What we are trying to do (with this draft ordinance) is determine what footprint we want here in the county and what we want this county to look like for our kids, their kids and the future generations beyond that,” said Chairman Jim Raley. “That is what we are really after here.”
Commissioner Robert Gat-to indicated that he wanted discussion on the draft document to continue. Once the changes are made in the draft document, it will be made public and residents will have until June 15 to comment on it. Raley suggested that the public’s be published along with the document.
“Most of you in this room have said you believe there should be some regulatory framework in regard to setbacks and those things,” said Raley during Tuesday’s meeting. “The question comes down to how do you do it without some form of zoning or some form of regulatory framework? I think that is the discussion that will be more far-reaching.”
The current formula in the draft ordinance rids the document of the 375-foot height restriction that was previously proposed, according to John Nelson, director of the Department of Planning and Land Development. During the meeting, Kevin Brokish, a project manager for the Fair Wind project, said industrial wind turbines were getting higher and that the Criterion Wind Project wouldn’t have been viable with the height restrictions that were previously proposed.
“My company and I are for reasonable wind setbacks. We think it’s inappropriate for a turbine to be a mere 500 feet from a home that is not signed with the project,” said Brokish, who noted that Clipper Windpower Development, LLC voluntarily places units 1,000 feet from residences. “More recently we have increased that distance to 1,200 feet.”
Commissioner Gregan Crawford questioned why wind turbines are getting taller. He also asked if it had an effect on noise reduction and if wind industries test for sound.
Brokish said there are tests and that in Maryland there is a 55-decibel limit, which translates into a 50-foot setback for wind turbines.
“There are two ways turbines get bigger. One way is with taller towers. I think that would help sound a little bit,” said Brokish. “As you get higher up wind speeds increase.”
After the public comment period, the ordinance will go through additional readings and a public hearing, should the commissioners decide to move forward with the document.
“It also give us time to continue to do research,” said Raley. “I can tell you the people who are worried about living in their homes would like the number to be as high as it possibly could be. Because they want to be guaranteed some type of protection. As I continue to say, I am concerned about roads and infrastructure, as the face of Garrett County is changing.”
Some research was done as to what setbacks other counties have, all of which vary. In neighboring Allegany County, the setbacks are 2,000 feet from a residence, 1,000 feet from any other structure and 5,000 feet from schools or National Register of Historic Places sites, according to data sheet provided by the commissioners. In Somerset and Cambria counties in Pennsylvania the setbacks are five times the height to the hub and is subject to a non-disturbance easement.
At a March meeting to discuss the draft ordinance, the commissioners also discussed the underground disposal of hydraulic fracturing water associated with Marcellus shale drilling. However, during the meeting on Tuesday the discussion centered more on the industrial wind setbacks.
“Everything has centered around a discussion pretty much about the wind industry. There has been little to no discussion about the gas industry,” said Raley. He said the gas industry “will bring something different. It will bring intensity of use to roadways, to trucks meeting legal re-quirements of weight restrictions. What happens when you have roads that weren’t designed for large intensity of use?”
It was stressed Tuesday that nothing in the draft ordinance is set in stone and it still has to go through the public hearing process before the commissioners can vote on it.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.
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Shorten the summer break from school
Comptroller Peter Franchot’s call to push the start of the school year in Maryland past Labor Day has two things going for it.
It would pack more family vacation time into the warm beaches at Ocean City, and it would do the same at the cool mountains around Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland.
The businesses that have invested at these two corners of the state live and die by tourism, and they have a relatively short season. The trend throughout the state is for an earlier start to the school year — the first day of classes for most St. Mary’s students will be Aug. 22. This cuts into the summer season.
From the economic point of view of these merchants, the push to reclaim every hot, sunny day before Labor Day for family fun makes sense.
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