Home buyers still calling shots on price:Trulia
By Lynn Adler
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Sellers cut prices on nearly one quarter of U.S. homes listed in June, an increase from May, showing buyers still call the shots in the U.S. housing market, real estate website Trulia.com said on Wednesday.
Sellers lowered asking prices at least once on 24 percent of homes listed as of July 1 compared with 22 percent the prior month, Trulia said in a report provided to Reuters before official release.
More job creation and employment security are needed for a sustained rebound, San Francisco-based Trulia said. Swelling inventory, under the weight of record foreclosures and typical summer selling, remains a formidable obstacle.
“We’re seeing more and more sellers reduce their home listing prices to attract potential buyers, who definitely have the upper hand in negotiations this season,” said Trulia Chief Executive Pete Flint.
Home buying demand came to a screeching halt after the April 30 deadline to sign contracts for up to $8,000 in tax credits.
Applications to purchase houses sank to 13-year lows, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, as the spring race for tax credits stole from summer sales.
“The slow start to the summer season is creating major concern that we are heading toward a double-dip in the second half of this year” in the housing market, Flint said in a statement.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350
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Garrett Memorial Hospital discharges satisfied customers
Kristin Harty Barkley
Cumberland Times-News
— CUMBERLAND — Garrett County Memorial Hospital outperformed most hospitals in Maryland last year, including the two former branches of Western Maryland Regional Medical Center — at least according to patients.
In a survey of discharged patients, 74 percent said they would recommend Garrett Memorial to family and friends, compared to 60 percent for Cumberland Memorial and 67 percent for Braddock.
Statewide, about 64 percent of pa-tients surveyed said they would recommend a Maryland hospital.
The Hospital Guide data, published last week by the Maryland Health Care Commission, includes information on how each Maryland hospital performed in 14 areas of care, including treatment of patients with heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. It also rates how well hospitals manage surgical care, including prevention of infections and blood clots.
Collected during calendar year 2009, the surveys were completed by about 41,000 patients discharged from Maryland’s 46 acute care hospitals.
Western Maryland Health System opened its new hospital in mid-November 2009, closing the Memorial and Braddock campuses.
On the surveys, patients were asked 27 questions about their recent hospital stay, including questions about how clean and quiet the hospital was and how well doctors, nurses, and staff communicated with them.
At Garrett, 76 percent of patients said the hospital was clean, compared to 70 percent at Memorial and 66 percent at Braddock. Statewide, 63 percent of respondents gave a favorable response for cleanliness.
In communication, too, Garrett ranked well above the state averages — and above scores for Johns Hopkins University Hospital, which was the No. 1 most recommended hospital.
For example, 87 percent of patients at Garrett said doctors communicated well with them, compared to 79 percent at Memorial and 78 percent at Braddock. At Johns Hopkins, 81 percent of patients gave doctors a favorable communication score, and statewide, it was 78 percent.
Braddock and Memorial both scored at or above the state average in most categories, though their overall favorable ratings of 60 and 56 percent were below the state average of 61 percent. Garrett’s overall rating was 73 percent.
Maryland was one of three states to participate in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey, a standardized national survey of patients’ perspectives of hospital care.
The data, available at http://mhcc.maryland.gov/consumerinfo/hospitalguide/index.htms, is a tool for the public to compare quality measures at the state’s hospitals, said Marilyn Moon, chair of the Maryland Health Care Commission.
“Publicly reporting timely and important information about quality will assist consumers in making informed choices about their health care and provide hospitals with performance benchmarks that can assist in their quality improvement activities,” Moon said.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!
Forever changed - Backbone Mountain ridge at Eagle Rock
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Jul. 15, 2010
The Backbone Mountain ridge at Eagle Rock in southeastern Garrett County has been vastly altered, with 28 massive wind turbines now being erected. They can be seen for many miles. After years of debate, a long permitting process, and a variety of violations of water, air, and land regulations resulting in fines, Constellation Energy was successful in bringing the project to fruition, opening the door to more wind industry development in the county. This aerial shot was taken by Bob Browning, McHenry. The blades for the towers have been arriving over the past week or so, one of them resulting in a power outage yesterday when the delivery vehicle accidently tore down power lines near Mason School Road.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Events Schedule For Friendsville Days Announced
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Jul. 15, 2010
The annual Friendsville Days will be held on Friday, Aug. 6, through Saturday Aug. 7, at the Community Park in Friendsville. Numerous activities are being planned in celebration of the 30th year.
The car, truck, and motorcycle show will be held on Aug. 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Anyone interested in more information about the show should contact Pat Reip-Dice at 301-746-4280.
The Ms. Friendsville Days contest will be held for girls entering 11th or 12th grade this fall. Prizes will be awarded. Interested persons should contact Pat Bowser at 301-616-5576 for more information.
Parade invitations have been sent to last year’s participants, but anyone who did not receive an invitation may contact Sheryl Mac-Lane at 301-616-6644 to participate. Vendor spaces are still available by contacting Lucretia Sines at 301-746-5933.
A three-on-three basketball tournament for all ages is being held on Aug. 7. Persons should contact Phil Smith at 301-746-5172 for more information. A volleyball tournament is also scheduled for Aug. 7. Interested participants should call Dianne DeWitt at 301-746-5087.
The horseshoe pitching contest is sponsored by S & S Market. Anyone wanting more information should contact Vernon Sines at 301 746-5656, or Don VanDivner at 301-746-4440.
Persons interested in obtaining more general information about the event should call Town Hall at 301-746-5919, or Mayor Schlosnagle at 301-746-5864. More information as well as schedule of events will be posted at a later date.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!
Fiddle, Banjo Competition Set In Friendsville
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Jul. 15, 2010
The 46th annual Fiddle & Banjo Contest, sponsored by the Friendsville Lions Club, will be held this Saturday, July 17, at Friendsville Community Park.
Pre-show entertainment will begin at 5 p.m., consisting of performances by N2 Pick’n from Moorefield, W.Va., and square dancing by Pete Bray’s Starthurs from Cumberland. The fiddle and banjo competition will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.
Those planning to attend are advised to bring lawn-chairs, sunscreen, and possibly umbrellas. There will be food and refreshments available for purchase on the grounds. There is also a playground, basketball court, tennis courts, volleyball court, and a walking path, all available for free use.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Inaugural Barn Quilt Festival Set For Aug. 1
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Jul. 15, 2010
The Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County Inc. will host the first Barn Quilt Festival on Sunday, Aug. 1. The festival is to be a celebration of Garrett County’s Barn Quilt Trail, the first of its kind in the state of Maryland.
Barn quilts are painted quilting designs displayed on the sides of barns. The Barn Quilt Trail can be viewed in a self-guided driving tour across the area.
“The project focuses on the agriculture, heritage, and natural beauty of the area while giving folks an activity to enjoy with the entire family,” a spokesperson said.
This year, the Barn Quilt Festival will be held on the grounds of Cove Run Farms Corn Maze, located along Griffith Road, Accident. The event will take place from 12:30 to 4 p.m. and include the unveiling and dedication of a new barn quilt block which will become part of the tour. Admission to the festival is free.
Included in the day’s events will be arts and crafts vendors displaying and selling their wares, a brown bag auction, recognition of current barn quilt owners and sponsors, carriage rides, and live music. Children’s games and a coloring contest will also take place.
The tour of the corn maze will be available at a reduced cost on the day of the event. The local band Sugar Foot Stompers will provide the musical entertainment throughout the day. Food venders will be on the grounds.
A live auction will take place at approximately 2 p.m. Donors have provided a wide variety of items to be sold, with the proceeds ben-efitting the Barn Quilt Association. Persons will be able to bid on golf packages, overnight stays at local bed and breakfasts, a stained glass hanging, an Amish-made replica of an old barn, wood-burned barn quilt plaques, a watercolor painting of a local farm scene, restaurant gift certificates, and many other items.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Maryland's Only Ski Resort Opens Canopy Tour
First Tracks – Online Ski Magazine
Deep Creek Lake, MD – Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland’s only ski area, has expanded its summer activities with the opening of the new Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour, located above the Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park.
This new participatory guided tour is a combination of a challenge course and zip line. Phoenix Experiential Designs of Linville, N.C., was contracted to engineer and construct the guided canopy tour. Construction began on April 26, and after two months of construction, testing and training, the tour opened at the end of June.
Wisp Resort’s General Manager, Tim Prather, was among the first to try the newly constructed guided tour.
“I thought it was going to be fairly tame but, oh man, it is not! I felt like an eagle landing on a postage stamp,” said Prather.
The Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour begins with gear preparation at the Wisp Outdoors Adventure Building. Two Wisp Outdoors Adventure Guides outfit up to eight guests per tour each with a climbing harness, two safety tethers, a micro-trolley, safety helmet and gloves. The Adventure Guides then escort participants up the Bear Claw Conveyor Carpet to the practice area where guests learn how to brake, steer and zip along the cables.
The canopy tour starts with a scurry up the cargo net feature to the first platform. Once secured onto the 12 foot-high platform, a 160-foot zip transports guests to the next challenge – a Burma Bridge – where participants navigate the three-point rope bridge carefully to the next platform and prepare for the second zip over 150 feet of cable. A Plank Bridge, with a few strategically missing planks, must be crossed carefully to set up for the third zip of 180 feet to the “Eagle’s Nest” platform, at over 40 feet the highest point of the canopy tour with a view of McHenry Cove on Deep Creek Lake. Guests then face the tour’s longest zip of 400 feet across the Bear Claw Tubing Hill onto the seventh platform, known as “Mallard’s Landing,” before a final zip of 400 feet back across the tubing hill to the “Leap of Faith” platform where the only place to go is down from 30 feet back to the ground.
The new guided canopy tour costs $39 per person and reservations are recommended. The Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour is open daily during summer season from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!
New listing - 3/4BR log home Mountainside - $399,900
1800 Mountainview Ct
Incredible value on a custom log home in Mountainside. Nearly 3,000 sq ft, wired ‘smart house’ w/ thermostat controls, corian countertops, hickory kitchen cabinets, wired networking in all rooms, in-wall speakers (living room), wired for surround sound (basement), whirlpool tub in master bath, 8″ logs. Enjoys Mountainside community amenities of lake access, sports courts, community building.
Contact Jay Ferguson @ 301-501-0420 or DeepCreekLaker@Gmail.com for more information or to setup a private showing for this property.
Listing # GA7386737
$399,900
Subdivision: MOUNTAINSIDE
Bedroom(s): 4
Bathroom(s): 3 Full, 1 Half
Year Built: 2007
Levels: 3
Approx Finished Sq Ft: 2,880
Heating: Bottled Gas/Prop, 90% Forced Air
Cooling: Electric, Ceiling Fan(s)
Water: Well
Sewer: Sept<# of BR If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
Spies on acid - Obscure CIA & Deep Creek Lake reference
Beginning after World War II and escalating through the early 1950s, the U.S. government launched a multimillion-dollar series of experiments in mind control and behavior modification.
It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that Americans learned of such programs, which went by the names of Bluebird, ARTICHOKE and, most notably, MK/ULTRA. That’s when a commission led by then Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and a subsequent Senate investigation revealed what our government had been up to…..
…”Almost everything that I wrote about,” he responds, but the words are specifically a quote from Olson. “He came home from the Deep Creek Lake meeting where he was dosed with LSD nine days before his murder, and his wife knew something was wrong, and the only thing he would say to her was that he had made a terrible mistake and he said he’d speak to her later about it… The event at Deep Creek Lake was really his interrogation using drugs and probably LSD to find out with why he was talking about Pont-St.-Esprit and other experiments. He had decided to leave the CIA and the Army and re-school himself as a dentist, but Olson was an arrogant, outspoken sort of guy, and the last two or three months before his departure he started talking about what he had done over the past three years under contract with the CIA, and that was just a no-no.”
Read the full article here.
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!
Hiring freeze will affect Garrett Roads
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News
Oakland — OAKLAND — Garrett County’s hiring freeze means the county roads department will be down 16 roads workers through at least spring 2011.
The department lost 16 employees through retirements, and those employees cannot be replaced because of the freeze. On top of that, two other employees will be absent because of military leave, bringing the total to 18.
“The optimum thing would be to hire employees, but understanding that we have the hiring freeze … we’re going to work something out here to do the best we can,” department Superintendent Jay Moyer told the county commission Tuesday.
Moyer outlined a plan to shuffle workers from the Oakland garage to the Grantsville garage to try to cover staffing gaps at Grantsville, which had the highest number of retirements with eight.
Two operators and one foreman will move from the Oakland garage to Grantsville. The Oakland garage will also take over road service for Pine Hill Road to the top of Spring Lick Road, an area normally serviced by the Grantsville garage.
Commissioner Fred Holliday, whose district is the Grantsville area, expressed concerns that fewer roads workers means roads will go unplowed for long periods during the winter.
“With losing a minimum of four drivers — four plows — that’s four routes that aren’t going to get done,” Holliday said.
But Moyer said that won’t be the case.
“You’re saying a route won’t get done. It will,” he said. “But this is going to take some public cooperation and understanding that it won’t be exactly like it was in the past in a major snow event.”
“The best we can do is hope for a mild winter this year,” Moyer added.
Moyer said summer maintenance work, such as mowing and cleaning ditches and shoulders, might actually be harder to accomplish with fewer employees.
“The public needs to understand that we will continue to operate as we have in the past, but with a shortage of manpower it may be difficult to do the same schedule that we did in the past,” he said. “But we will work at getting things done as quickly as we can.”
If you are thinking of 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! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!
