2 best ways to boost home's energy efficiency
Why replacing windows is not one of them
By Arrol Gellner
Inman News®
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Even in these days of belt tightening, installing replacement windows remains a virtual mania among homeowners. Take a walk through any suburb built before 1980, and you may find that half the houses no longer have their original windows. Alas, the usual replacements — extruded PVC or “vinyl” windows — are dismayingly easy to spot, what with their wavy, cellophane-like glass and glaring white plastic frames.
Considering the impact window replacement can have on your home’s appearance, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. To wit: The last big window-replacement fad happened during the 1960s, when that era’s perceived “modern” upgrade — sliding aluminum windows — were retrofitted to countless traditional homes, from Victorians to bungalows. The aesthetic fallout from this campaign is still painfully obvious in many old neighborhoods.
In retrospect, of course, aluminum sliders installed in a traditional home are rightly seen as a glaring anachronism, and frequently bring a penalty in resale value over homes with their original windows.
More here.
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!
GC Liquor Control Board Asks For Legislative Bills
Dec. 29, 2011
The Garrett County Board of License Commissioners/Liquor Control Board submitted legislative requests to Del. Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards last week during their annual prelegislative meeting with the Garrett County commissioners.
Debbe Owston, board administrator, requested four changes on behalf of the board to Article 2B, Laws and Regulations of the State of Maryland Relating to Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Tax.
The board requested a new Class B Beer On-Sale license for restaurants as defined in Garrett County. Currently, this class of license is not available and would be a viable option for a few licensed restaurants or a potential new restaurant wanting to sell only beer, Owston noted.
A request to amend Article 2B 10-103(b) would allow the board to receive updates from the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository on criminal history record checks of licensees after the initial check was conducted during the application process.
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!
Garrett Jobless Rate At 6.2% In November
Dec. 29, 2011
The unemployment rate for Garrett County, which several years ago was typically among the highest among Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City, is now among the lowest, with the rate for November dropping to 6.2%, which is slightly below the state’s percentage (6.4) and two full points below the national average of 8.2%.
The November 2010 jobless rate for Garrett County was 7.5%, and the year-to-date average percentage is 7.3%. Maryland’s year-to-date average is 7.0%, and the national unemployment rate year-to-date for 2011 is 9.0%.
Thirteen Maryland counties and Baltimore City had rates higher than Garrett County’s for November, including neighboring Allegany County with a rate of 7.5%. Washington County’s rate was 8.2%. Harford County also had a rate of 6.2%, while Worcester County led the state with a jobless rate of 13.7%.
More here.
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
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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!
Mtn. Md. PACE Slated Jan. 26–27; Tickets Available
Dec. 29, 2011
The Garrett County Development Corporation and Cumberland/Allegany County Industrial Foundation Inc. will host the 2012 Mountain Maryland PACE (positive attitudes change everything) events at the Loews Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis next month. Tickets are now available.
The reception is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., with the breakfast slated for Friday, Jan. 27, from 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Overall, the reception and breakfast are business/social in style and atmosphere. The reception features classic hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. The breakfast has country-style buffet offerings and features a keynote speaker.
The theme for this year’s events is “Come to Play – Plan to Stay.”
PACE 2012 is not by invitation only. The general public is invited to attend, and anyone may purchase tickets. There is one all-inclusive ticket to attend both the reception and breakfast. Two-tiered pricing is in effect: $130 per person if payment is received on or before Wednesday, Jan. 4, and $150 per person if payment is received on or after Thursday, Jan. 5. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Ticket sales end on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Checks should be made payable to “Annapolis Reception Committee” and mailed to Mountain Maryland PACE, P.O. Box 3273, LaVale, MD 21504-3273.
PACE questions may be directed to Keli Mason, Allegany County Department of Economic Development, at 301-777-5967, 800-555-4080, or kmason@allconet.org.
More here.
Support the Republican Newspaper! It’s only $9.95/year for the online edition!
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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!
New Germany Ski Report - 1-3-12
New Germany State Park
Snow Report
Base Snow
0”
Snow Conditions
1/3/12
Last Snowfall # of Trails Groomed
Time
New Snow
8-12”
Today
0
Fresh Powder (light, fluffy snow)
Temperature (ºF)
Low
4°
High
16°
Weather Forecast
Today:
Winter Storm Warning in effect until 4PM today.
Snow showers and areas of blowing snow, with new snow
accumulation of 2-4 inches possible. Wind chill values as low as -4.
Northwest wind at 18 to 22 mph, with gusts up to 38 mph.
Tomorrow:
Slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy,
with a high near 30. Wind chill values as low as -8. West wind
between 9 and 15 mph.
SKI & SNOWSHOE RENTALS:
Cross-country skis & snowshoes are available for rent
7 DAYS A WEEK at the NEW GERMANY LAKE HOUSE!*
Rental Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
*On weekdays, ski rentals are available at the Ranger Station. Service is
snow-dependent; please call to confirm snow conditions before your visit.
All equipment must be returned by 5:00 PM.
SKI LESSONS:
Ski lessons are provided by Appalachia Mountain Guides by appointment.
Please contact Appalachia Mountain Guides directly at 304-777-7675.
info@appalachiamountainguides.com
www.appalachiamountainguides.com
For More Information, Please Call
New Germany State Park
New Germany State Park, 349 Headquarters Lane, Grantsville, Maryland 21536
301-895-5453
Telephone: (301) 895-5453, TTY via Maryland Relay
Toll Free in MD#: 1-877-620-8DNR, www.dnr.maryland.gov
PARK HOURS: 8:00AM – SUNSET
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!
Happy New Year; Go Take a Hike
Maryland State Park rangers have guided hikes slated for the first day of the new year at 17 sites around the state. Here are some locations nearby.
By Mitchelle Stephenson
December 31, 2011
The Department of Natural Resources has a family-friendly suggestion for Jan. 1—go take a hike. And to motivate, they’re sponsoring 17 ranger- or volunteer-guided hikes in state parks on the first day of the new year.
The full list of the 17 hikes is available at the DNR website. This post will give you the closest hikes to Edgewater and Davidsonville (less than an hour drive). The other hikes are everywhere from Assateague Island in Worcester County on the Eastern Shore to the westernmost parts of Garrett County, so if you have more time and don’t mind the drive, check out the full list.
Each of the day hikes listed here is designed as easy to moderate. Rangers recommend you bring water, binoculars and cameras. Wear weather-appropriate clothes and comfortable shoes.
More here.
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!
Gas leasing in Western Maryland spurs calls for reform
Landowners, Realtors seek more disclosure, protections
By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun
4:29 p.m. EST, December 31, 2011
OAKLAND —
— The first natural gas well has yet to be drilled into the Marcellus shale deposits underlying Western Maryland, but ripples already are being felt here from an industry that has brought wealth — and controversy — in neighboring states where drilling has proceeded apace.
Complaints from landowners about misleading pressure tactics by drilling company agents and concern that widespread leasing for mineral rights could hurt home sales are prompting calls for legislation to change the state’s laws on leasing of land for gas and possibly other energy development.
“Basically, these leases should be protecting both the landowners and the community, and they’re just not,” said Natalie Atherton, acting director of CitizenShale, a group recently formed to see that the residents in this economically depressed mountain region are not short-changed if gas is found, and in any case aren’t left with contaminated streams and wells and other harm.
Years ago, amid geologists’ predictions that they were sitting atop a vast, untapped wealth of natural gas, hundreds of landowners in Garrett and Allegany counties eagerly signed leases to allow wells to be drilled on their land and to receive royalties on any gas found there. But some who were among the last to sign say they felt pressured to do so and misled about the risks of the hydraulic fracturing technique that would be used to extract gas from rock formations thousands of feet below their homes.
More here.
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!
HAPPY JANUARY - WISP
2012 is already looking colder & snowier allowing Wisp to open more terrain soon!
$29 DEAL DAY MONDAYS
Beginning Janaury 2 the $29 Deal Day Mondays include Lift Ticket, Ski or Snowboard Rental & 1-hr Clinic. View details here.
HERO’S DAY
Wisp is honoring our nation’s heros with a complimentary 1-day lift ticket. Find all the details here.
SUBARU MASTER THE MOUNTAIN
Hang with Team Subaru & sign up for beginner lessons, great prizes & more. Discover more, go here.
WINTER TRAILS DAY
Wisp Outdoors Nordic Center is offering complimentary rentals, lessons & information on cross country skiing and snowshoeing, based on availability. More info here.
FRIDAY NIGHT RAIL JAM #1
Open style rail jam under the lights in the Pro Park at the base of Face. Best trick wins the show. Open to skiers & boarders.
NSAA NATIONAL SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
This week is dedicated to teaching and practicing safe winter sport habits! Learn the Skier / Boarder Responsibility Code here.
MIDWEEK MADNESS LODGING PKG STARTING AT $59*
Enjoy 1-night’s lodging at the slopeside Wisp Resort Hotel & a 1-day lift ticket. Find more lodging packages here.
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!
2011 was a very (insert adjective) year
By Michael A. Sawyers, Cumberland Times-News, Md.
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
Dec. 31–As January started, grumbling could be heard on both sides of the North Branch of the Potomac River.
The deer harvest was down dramatically and hunters didn’t like it. For example, the kill during West Virginia’s 2010 firearms season decreased 31 percent from the previous year.
On the Almost Maryland side of the big river, officers and members of the Allegany-Garrett Sportsmen’s Association fumed, insisting upon a minimum antler point rule, drastically reduced bag limits and other restrictions they believe are needed in Region A.
Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service biologists, halfway through a two-year regulation cycle, made no changes for the 2011 hunts.
Head deer guy, Brian Eyler, said there was no need to fix something that was not broken. The firearms season buck kill in Region A rose by 12 percent later in 2011.
The Maryland General Assembly got under way in January. Hunters missed the boat by not strongly supporting a bill that would give the Department of Natural Resources control over the regulation of Sunday deer hunting. If that bill is introduced in 2012, hunters need to buy their boat tickets early and let the politicians in Annapolis know this is something we want.
It was announced in February that chronic wasting disease was confirmed in a deer killed on the Green Ridge State Forest. That was the first, and so far the only, CWD deer found in the state. Special regulations were established for hunting deer in that locale. Hunters didn’t seem all that concerned about the matter.
Additional land added to the Warrior Mountain Wildlife Management Area pushed that public parcel to almost 5,000 acres.
In March it became official. The Maryland Fisheries Service made it illegal to wear felt-soled waders in water anywhere in the state. The ban is intended to inhibit or stop the movement of rock snot, a yucky algae, from the Gunpowder and Savage rivers to other waters. It was the second-worst sham ever pulled off on Maryland anglers by the state agency.
A Hagerstown man charged with hunting bears over bait in eastern Allegany County was not found guilty after his attorney argued successfully that the Maryland Natural Resources Police had no right to go onto the private property.
Blu, the Labrador retriever handled by Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer Curt Dieterle, was trained to sniff and find trout and immediately began doing so when the trout season opened. Some of those trout were illegally caught.
In April, Maryland’s spring gobbler season began. It would have a couple firsts. In Allegany and Garrett counties, hunting was allowed on one Sunday and on all lands, both public and private. The 2012 season will have two Sundays available in those counties. Also, afternoon hunting was allowed for a portion of the five-week season.
On April 14, Kenneth Files III of Falling Waters, W.Va., (right) caught a Maryland record muskie from the Potomac River. It was 45 inches and weighed 31.75 pounds.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced that bow season would open on the first Saturday in October, adding time in tree stands for archers. Byron Chambers, Romney, was one of the natural resources commissioners who helped make that additional opportunity available.
May came and went without a regulations hearing being conducted by the Maryland Fisheries Service. It would be discovered later that no meeting was held because no regulation changes were proposed. In 2007, the agency made it illegal to use bait or keep brook trout in 111 miles of the Savage River drainage, saying at the time that the regulation would be revisited after five years to determine if it should be maintained. Instead, the regulation was allowed to move into its sixth year of existence. I have no information that would lead me to believe anything other than we were told an untruth. This regulation, by the way, is the greatest sham perpetrated upon the state’s anglers, especially those living in far Western Maryland.
Also in May, the Maryland Fisheries Service announced that trout it had purchased from a private supplier that were stocked in the North Branch of the Potomac River, Jennings Run, Wills Creek and Sideling Hill Creek were infected with whirling disease.
Gobbler hunters killed 339 spring birds in Garrett County, 287 in Allegany and 2,847 throughout the state.
In June, the Maryland B.A.S.S. Federation completed a permanent weighing station for tournaments conducted at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
The Maryland Wildlife Service announced that a new access road from U.S. Route 220 will be built onto the Dan’s Mountain Wildlife Management Area. That work will begin early in 2012.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation announced in August that it is footing the bill for a year-long look at the possibility of reintroducing elk into Allegany and Garrett counties. Since then, there has been zero information released about the effort. The Times-News heard that the Garrett County commissioners opposed the plan and Chairman Gregan Crawford confirmed that an official letter had been written by the elected officials rejecting elk for that county. Bill Miles of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation said, though, that the investigation will continue.
A bear population survey for Maryland’s three western counties took place. Laboratory results of the DNA analysis of bear hair is expected to provide a new bear population number in the next month or so. The last survey was six years ago.
My old Beer/Deer Fridge died. I replaced it with The Beer/Deer Fridge II, which has worked wonderfully in chilling a bow buck in September and a gun doe in December as well as Busch Lite and that goofy beer stuff my sons stick in it during the holidays.
Maryland Fisheries Service decides to suspend licenses of recreational anglers guilty of violations. Four suspensions were for violations in Almost Maryland.
The Maryland bear season lasted four days in October during which 65 bears were killed. The greatest harvest was 68 in 2009.
Pennsylvania hunters killed 53 elk in that state.
Highly placed wildlife officials in West Virginia and Maryland confirm that representatives of the automobile insurance industry have never contacted their agencies concerning deer hunting regulations, including bag limits.
As of mid-December, 75 bears had died on Maryland roadways during 2011, according to an unofficial tablulation by the Cumberland Times-News. That’s a record.
Outdoor Editor’s note: In recent weeks, three people have told me they don’t believe that a record deer kill took place in Allegany County. I asked each of them, “Where did you see that a record deer kill took place?”
They said they read it in the Cumberland Times-News.
“No, you didn’t,” I replied.
I have given this much thought and believe that some people who read articles about the buck kill being up on the opening weekend of firearms season compared to one year ago and then up for the entire firearms season somehow think that means a record was set.
For the record, the record in Allegany County for bucks killed during firearms season was 2,615 that were dropped in 2001.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Contact Outdoor Editor Mike Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com or 301-784-2523.
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!
Happy New Year!
Wishing you & yours a safe & happy new year in 2012!!! Hopefully you find yourself at Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County often!
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!
