>Local Winged Wildlife Tallied During CBC
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Feb. 3, 2011
The 111th Audubon Christmas Bird Count, an effort that utilizes volunteers throughout the Americas to collect bird data, took place recently. It was the 40th such bird count conducted in Garrett County, which has participated in the event since 1950.
Unlike last year’s CBC, which was hampered by blizzard conditions, this year’s bird watching was considered by the Audubon Society to be a success. Thanks to temperatures that ranged between 15 and 26 degrees Fahrenheit, minimal winds, and snow that measured between two to eight inches deep throughout the area, many birds were sited.
During the specified count day, the bird watchers found 58 species of birds. Four other species were seen during the count period. The Garrett County average of species noted for the CBC is 58.
Thirteen field observers logged in 321 miles by car and 12 miles on foot, as they searched their assigned territories for birds. In the field, the group spent 19.5 hours on foot and 35 hours by car for a total of 54.5 hours in the field. The participants included Caroline and Neal Blizzard, Kevin Dodge, Courtney Englar, Aaron Holochwost, Alan and Kyle Klotz, Mikey and Jo Anna Lutmerding, Bill and Fran Pope, Connie Skipper, and Becky Wilson.
Three stationary watchers, Barbara Skipper, Mike Speranzella, and Ashley Rodeheaver, spent seven hours counting birds at their bird feeders.
With Deep Creek Lake 99 per cent frozen, the waterfowl species count suffered, as the frozen waters prompt the birds to migrate. The waterfowl that were found were spotted in moving water such as the Youghiogheny River and a few unfrozen inlets of Deep Creek Lake. Twelve species of waterfowl (20% of all species found in the area) were counted.
>Change in Mountain Names Meets Strong Criticism
>A proposal by several downstate lawmakers to change the names of Negro Mountain in Garrett County and Polish Mountain in Allegany County has been subject to strong criticism by local officials and historians alike.
The bill was introduced by several senators representing Baltimore. Champ Zumbrun, a retired forester who managed Green Ridge State Forest for many years, has researched local history and is working on a book on Maryland frontiersman Thomas Cresap. He has researched the background of both mountains and says he believes those downstate
lawmakers clearly must not be aware of the historical background.
>"Crellin Crayola Kids" Donate To Animal Shelter
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After receiving Crayola crayon makers for Christmas, Crellin area residents Destiny and Kaden Gank, ages 9 and 6, got a bright idea: make crayons and sell them for extra money. Their fledgling business did so well, the young entrepreneurs decided to donate the money to homeless animals. In addition, the siblings started asking friends and family for donations. Each person who made a donation received a gift bag filled with homemade crayons and art work made by the Gank children. All the art work centered around helping homeless animals and spaying/neutering pets.
“The kids came up with this idea all on their own,” said their mom, Stormy Gank. Last Friday, the Ganks and two other children presented more than $69 to Garrett County Animal Shelter personnel. “They are in need of medication, and that’s what the money is going for,” Stormy said. “While we were at the shelter, Kaden found a beautiful Lab puppy to adopt. As we were walking out of the door, Destiny said, ‘Mom, I feel good inside now.” The “Crellin Crayola Kids” are looking forward to finding ways to raise more money for the animals, Stormy noted. Left to right are Destiny; Natasha Helbig, age 9; Kaden; Emily Lucas, age 10; and officer Tammy Pessini, Garrett County Animal Control. In the front is Mocha, the full-time shelter dog. Photo by Stormy Gank.
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>Garrett County Glaze - The Republican
>From last week, but still a great picture:
Many an icy morning have greeted Garrett Countians lately, with freezing rain coming down several times this week. The uncommon weather term “frozen fog” has been used a great deal, and is possibly shown in this photo, taken in Grantsville yesterday morning. The ice, which was the heaviest on Tuesday morning, caused school closings, delays, and a number of fender-bender accidents across the county. The forecast shows more of the same late Friday night and into Saturday. Icy rain is predicted, following by, yes… more snow next week. One promising thing: the whistle pig in Punxsutawney reportedly did not see his shadow on Feb. 2. You go, Phil! Photo by Lisa Broadwater.
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>Price reduced-375 Sandy Shores-GA7344944
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LOG CHALET ON 2.78 ACRES WITH BREATH-TAKING VIEWS OF DEEP CREEK LAKE AND THE MOUNTAINS. LARGE, OPEN KITCHEN/LIVING/DINING AREA WITH CATHEDRAL CEILINGS AND ACCESS TO SPACIOUS SOUTH-FACING DECK. EXTRA LARGE RECREATION ROOM, HALF BATH AND TANDEM GARAGE ON LOWER LEVEL. MAIN LEVEL BEDROOM. SPACIOUS LOFT W/ MASTER BDR, BATH AND SITTING AREA. PRIVACY PLUS VIEWS!
>Maryland county caught up in fight over energy extraction method
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Todd Owen of Sandusky, Mich., maintains a natural gas drilling rig for Range Resources in 2008 on farmland in Amwell, Pa., just southwest of Pittsburgh. Heavy industry has invaded the countryside because of drilling opportunities for the Marcellus Shale to extract natural gas. (Jahi Chikwendiu)
By Darryl Fears
Monday, February 7, 2011
In their sliver of western Maryland, Garrett County residents like to boast of night skies so clear that you can see satellites lumber across the heavens, a picturesque deep creek that is the state’s largest inland body of water, and adventure tourism that Indiana Jones types love.
But land speculators who showed up in the county in 2008 with offers to lease farm acres had other interests. Their eyes were set on a valuable resource deep underground: natural gas deposits buried in thick layers of Marcellus Shale, a black, organic-rich shale found under the Appalachian region.
And just like that, Garrett County, population 29,000, became fully engaged in the nation’s debate over hydraulic drilling for natural gas and its risk of contaminating drinking water, joining another Washington-area local government, Rockingham County, Va.
The American Petroleum Institute maintains that hydraulic drilling is safe, “a tried-and-true technology that promises thousands of new jobs and vast and indispensable supplies of clean-burning energy,” said Carlton Carroll, a spokesman.
>Bill Would Change Mountain Names
>It has all the trappings of a case of “political correctness gone awry”- however there is a serious effort underway on the part of several downstate lawmakers to work toward changing the names of Negro Mountain in Garrett County and Polish Mountain in Allegany County.
The bill, sponsored by senators Gladden, Conway, Forehand, Frosh, Jones–Rodwell, Madaleno, McFadden, Muse, and Pugh, calls for the governor to appoint a committee for the purpose of re-naming the two western Maryland mountains to reflect more “ accurately the history and culture of the region within which they are located”. The committee would be expected to submit the new names to the governor by the end of this year. State Senator George Edwards, who represents Garrett and Allegany counties, said he was surprised to see the bill come across his desk- having not first been previously notified of the proposal. Had they first contacted his office, he could have informed them of a similar, unsuccessful effort back in 1994…
More information available here.
>Humane Society Participating In Spay Day USA
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Feb. 3, 2011
The Garrett County Humane Society will take part in the 17th annual Humane Society of the United States Spay Day USA, set for Tuesday, Feb. 22. Though only one day has been designated as Spay Day, activities will take place during the entire month of February at numerous locations across the United States.
“This event is to inspire people to save animals’ lives by spaying and neutering pets and feral cats,” said GC Humane Society president Lisa Baker. “To see what events are happening locally, go to www.humane-society.org/spaydayfind.”
In conjunction with Spay Day, the GCHS will distribute spay/neuter discount vouchers to local residents later in the month. These vouchers are only valid at the three area veterinary hospitals in Garrett County and cannot be used at HART’s low income spay/neuter clinic in McHenry.
“If your pet is not ‘fixed’ yet, please get a voucher and have it done,” Baker said. “The procedure not only prevents unwanted litters from being born, but also helps with various health and behavioral issues your pet may have.”
She noted that a “fun addition” to Spay Day is the HSUS Online Pet Photo Contest, which is in progress now.
“This event is a way to showcase your pet and raise money for your chosen organization,” Baker said. “Tell all your friends to go online and vote for your or their favorite pet, which costs only $1 a vote. You can locate a photo by the pet’s name or the benefiting organization’s name.”
She added that there are already hundreds of entries, and viewers can spend hours looking at the photos and reading the stories, which range from funny to heartbreaking
Baker will be entering a colorful, cheerful photo of a local miniature donkey wearing a sombrero. Interested persons may go online to www.humanesociety.org/photocontest to enter another photo or to vote for Baker’s.
>Wisp Has $29 Monday Special That's Great For Valentine's Day
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Feb 7, 2011 Roger Leo, Eastern Seaboard Editor
Wisp offers a $29 package Mondays.
Where: Wisp Resort, 296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, MD, 21541
Cost: $29, obviously
Info: More Information
Wisp Resort in McHenry, Md., has a Monday Special that includes an all-day lift good 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ski or snowboard rental equipment, and a 60-minute clinic.
The Mondays $29 Deal Day special costs – obviously — $29.
“It’s a perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day,” said Wisp’s Lori Epp. “You can’t beat the price, and the clinics are geared for skiers of every ability, from never-evers to experts.”
The clinics include learning to ski or snowboard, maneuvering through the bumps, carving elegant turns on skis or board, and navigating terrain parks, she said. There are more.
The Mondays $29 Deal Day special is not valid during Presidents Week vacation.
Wisp has received bountiful snowfall this winter. The total now stands at 128 inches, more than the area’s traditional seasonal average of 100 inches, or its newly devised average of 120 inches.
