Sunday, January 31, 2010

No Problem Getting A Table At Deep Creek Lake Restaurants


According to a report released by the Comptroller of MD and reported on the Restaurant Association of Maryland Blog, Restaurant sales were down statewide .31% January-October versus the same time period one year earlier. Not bad all things considered. Hardest hit of all counties... Garrett. Sales in our county are down $5,183,000 or -15.44%. As a former Chef that hurts, as a former server that is over $750,000 in tips using the horrible %15 equation so many people consider the norm. That is a hardship in what is a hard business. I know I left that trade to take up Real Estate....... I guess me being able to make great food at home does not help. SO I am offering FREE Real Estate Services  to anyone in the food service profession.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

5th Quarter 2009 MRIS Report

WARNING: NOT The Most Animated Guy

 

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Deep Creek Dunk for Special Olympics

Do the Dunk at the 11th annual Deep Creek Dunk on Saturday, February 27!
Come on out and “Do the Dunk” alongside the rare breed of thousands of Maryland Dunkers who dare to bare it all each year for the 10,000 athletes of Special Olympics Maryland! For just $50 in pledges, Dunk participants take a quick dip in Deep Creek Lake behind Uno’s Bar and Grill to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest year round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The event is free to spectators, and Dunkers receive the commemorative sweatshirt, group color photo, and the great feeling of freezing your “fur” off for a truly worthy cause! Registration is at noon and the Dunk is at 2 pm, so bring your friends and family and dunk for the Maryland Special Olympics athletes. Long & Foster is proud to be the Official Lodging Sponsor of the Dunk. To register online, please visit www.plunge@somd.org.



The Maryland Special Olympics Winter Games begin on February 28 and run through the March 2 at Wisp Resort. Athletes from counties all over the state eight years of age and older with mental retardation and closely related developmental disabilities participate in events such as snow shoeing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and more.


The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for citizens with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Caution Bridge Out

Drivers Beware
 I heard it from a friend and then read about it in the Cumberland Times Article


The deluge of rain and snow melt run-off combined to remove the Muddy Creek Bridge in Youghiogheny Mountain Resort. I know of one couple that was separated by the washout. At present the temporary bridge is in place. I must be getting old, remember it is never a good idea to drive on water covered roadways. If you are interested in YMR property check out Selling Deep Creek


Monday, January 25, 2010

Go With The Flow: It's A PADDLE Day


     I can't fight the rain and mid-forties temperatures.My pond is beyond full. The snowboard gear in a pile looks like the last thing I want to wear. It feels like a the first good day to hit the rivers. The secret is out that Garrett County is a premiere Whitewater destination. Deep Creek Lake is discharged into the Youghiogheny, picking up the water levels in the dry times. Deep Creek Hydro will let you know the release schedule. On days like this Garrett County Whitewater Rivers are all open. My favorite site to check on levels and find new areas to explore is the American Whitewater site. It is a true wonder of nature that what looks like a trickle most of the year turns into a white knuckle run on days like today. Of course who could forget that Garrett County is also home to ASCI  'The Worlds ONLY Mountaintop Whitewater Course'  Below is some footage of the Savage River and Swallow Falls. Please check out my Real Estate website if you are interested in whitewater properties.


Saturday, January 23, 2010

COAL ?? Knowledge is Power


This was the view from the original Coal House on my Great Grandfathers Farm where I now live. I love Appalachia, everything about it, heck I hiked the entire mountain range. Coal is a big part of it. I was discussing a property with a client the other day and mentioned the almost 3000 acre coal mine planned in the Casselman Valley. The client had not heard anything about it. The more I asked the more I realized most people are not aware. So... Click the link below or copy and paste
http://www.mdconservation.org/


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Taste Of Garrett 2010 Benefits Garrett Trails






Of all the great things about volunteering with Garrett Trails, one of the best is getting the scoop. So far as I know this is the first place to publish this years date. May 17, 2010 at the WISP resort. Mark the calendar early this event ROCKS. Of all the great organizations Garrett Trails is working hard to establish and maintain viable trails throughout Garrett County. We could also use your help; go to the website Garrett Trails and learn more about what we do.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Garrett County Power Outage

     Personally I have been lucky this season. Whether a seasoned Garrett County native or uninitiated visitor here for a Deep Creek vacation, nothing can spoil your day (s) like a power outage. Realizing how lucky I have been this far and taking advantage of the great weather I planned a blackout. As a hiker who frequently uses Garrett Trails my backpack is always ready to go for a week. You may not have this luxury so here are some tips to prepare for the unexpected.


     Have in place a 'Black Pack' and know where it is. Some helpful items to have on hand include: Flashlight with extra batteries, candles and matches, water, food, can opener, and TP. 

It might be nice to also have a portable radio, deck of cards and good book


     Use natures refrigeration, snow can be used to pack coolers or Bear Bag perishables.  Remember NEVER EAT SNOW as a way to stay hydrated. NEVER EAT YELLOW SNOW PERIOD.

     All in all the evening was peaceful and relaxing, NPR, candles, and a good book complete with warm fire. The lesson learned was pre-planning for these events can eliminate most of the stress associated with the unexpected. Another option is to own a home equipped with a generator. Check out this www.sellingdeepcreek.com to learn more.



Friday, January 15, 2010

Details Deep Creek Lake MD NEW Episode



NEW Episode Uploaded 1-15-10 Get the VIDEO latest on all things Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County

Resentment Racing Starts 2010 Season


I know, I know, It has nothing to do with Deep Creek Lake but it is easier than sending emails. So this is the car for the 2010 stock car season at The Rock Speedway  It is wide open for sponsorship if you are interested.... There will be a web page on BlogDeepCreek in the future. Have a great Martin Luther King Weekend

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Garrett County Spring Fever

I don't put a lot of faith in the weather forecast but the talk is of temps in the 40's. My mind wanders.... This picture was from January 2 years ago. I am pretty sure we had been to the pool and not the river. None the less it might be nice to get this gear ready for when all the white stuff melts.

Deep Creek Lake Cabin Living Sleeping with Mother Nature

As a native of Garrett County and one who tends to enjoy a more rustic lifestyle Deep Creek winters can get a little chilly. I love listening to the wind howl through my ancient, single pane, plate glass windows. Winter means the breaking out of my favorite quilt, made by my great grandmother. A bale of fleece blankets and flannel sheets and my bed becomes a true dreamers paradise. However, as I begin to get a little long in the tooth those first few minutes in the hay can do more to wake me up than put me out. I share with you some of my sleep aids. The hairdryer and iron. In my old school days I was a fan of using the dryer for sheets and blankets. Alas, much heat is lost and effort required to prepare the bed. A good ironing of the sheets and pillows prior to bed gets things rolling. Once in a quick blast from the dryer, especially aimed at the feet and welcome sandman.



Pleasant Dreams

Monday, January 11, 2010

Wisp.. Starting Ground For X-Games Competitor


FROM ESPN

Please meet Tom Wallisch, the latest "it" kid on the slopestyle scene. A late bloomer from the East Coast, Wallisch, already a ripened 22, had a breakout year in 2009 when he finished first overall on the AFP rankings, making him one of the most dominant slopestyle competitors on the planet in 2009. Not bad for the Pittsburg native who grew up skiing at Wisp Mountain—vertical drop of 700 feet—in Garrett County, Md. A weekend warrior with no formal skiing background, Wallisch's freeskiing career didn't even begin to blossom until he moved cross-country to attend the University of Utah. While most of his competitors launched their careers via the comp circuit, Wallisch took a more grassroots approach through the Internet—he gained recognition and a small core following for his video segments on the website 4bi9media.com.
While a good all-around jumper, Wallisch stands out from his peers because of his rail skills. "Growing up on the East Coast, all I knew was rails," says Wallisch.
Wallisch earned his first invite to Winter X in 2010 based on his 2009 results. He also started the 2009/10 campaign hot; he captured second in Slopestyle at the season-opening Winter Dew Tour Breckenridge stop in December.
But excelling at Winter X won't be easy. Historically, rookies have had a tough time at Winter X; nerves tend to get the best of athletes on action sports' biggest stage. No WX rookie has ever won Slopestyle.

Revisions to Garrett County Land Ordinances Review and Meeting

The commissioners are at it again. Please make yourself aware of the changes and plan to attend the meeting. 

The Planning Commission public hearing for the Revised Draft Ordinances is scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Auditorium of Garrett College 

December 2009 Revised Preliminary Draft Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Map

December 2009 Preliminary Draft Sensitive Areas Map #1

December 2009 Preliminary Draft Sensitive Areas Map #2

Sunday, January 10, 2010

FIREWOOD... DON'T GET BURNED




Sitting at my desk overlooking Deep Creek Lake and the people ice fishing, I think about a bonfire. Probably not the safest thing on Deep Creek but I love fire. Whether in a fireplace, wood-stove or in the great outdoors, the common element is wood. Not everyone finds great joy in cutting their own, so here are some tips on buying firewood. Most wood is sold by the cord or fraction of. A cord measures 4 feet wide × 4 feet high × 8 feet long. Any other arrangement of linear measurements that yields a volume of 128 cubic feet is acceptable. 128 Cubic feet is 128 cubic feet no matter how it is stacked. I am not about to break out a geometry book to figure out the volume of a pile. WARNING Do not be fooled by a pickup load being a cord. Measure what the wood was delivered in. Do the math and pay accordingly on the established cord price. Get 'SEASONED WOOD" wood that has been cut 6-12 months prior and allowed to air dry. This reduces odors, burns better, and delivers that satisfying crackle and snap. Know what type of wood you want, not all wood is the same. Locust, Oak, Hickory and Hard Maple are great. A stick of Apple gives a beautiful flame and aroma,  A chunk of pine will add sparks. If burning indoors measure your destination and order lengths that fit. Overall remember roasting hot dogs or making S'mores works great indoors.

Friday, January 8, 2010

NEW EPISODE DETAILS DEEP CREEK LAKE


NEW Episode 1-8-10 Click Banner To Watch

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Beat The Crowds... Try Snow Shoes



If you can walk - you can snowshoe, and this holds true for even the youngest members of the family. Think of snowshoeing as hiking or going for a walk. You are outside enjoying the fresh air and getting some exercise. But the trail you are hiking is a fantastic winter wonderland. A blanket of clean white snow muffles noises so you only hear the trail crunching underfoot. Snowshoeing is a natural family activity. There really is nothing to learn, and once you have walked 50 feet in snowshoes you are an expert. Snowshoeing is an active sport, and most beginners end up over dressing and getting hot. Boots should be, above all else, comfortable but they should also be fairly waterproof. Light synthetic socks inside wool socks are an excellent choice. Water and wind resistant pants are a good idea. Layering a fleece jacket with a water and wind resistant shell lets you ventilate and cool down as you go. But don't get hung up on equipment. Snowshoeing is by nature simple, which is one reason it so enjoyable. Don't forget plenty of water and snacks. For a greater commitment check out this stove. I carried one the whole way on my Appalacian Trail Hike. It is the coolest thing for fresh hot chocolate or soup. It also is great to have around if the power goes out.  Just strap on your snowshoes, walk off into the woods and enjoy yourself. Use Caution on Deep Creek Lake

Sunday, January 3, 2010

ICE CREAM, IN WINTER?
     If you cant beat 'em join 'em.  With temperatures below zero and the winds howling staying close to the fire and inside was what was on my mind. Then it hit. I want ice cream, I realized it was a little crazy to hop in the car and bust drifts to run to the store for some. 

     I remembered being stuck in a blizzard in Connecticut while attending Culinary School. The solution is pretty simple. You will need 1 large bowl and a spoon.

     Combine 1 Can (14oz) Condensed Sweetened Milk and 1 Heavy Teaspoon Vanilla. Stir in about 8 Cups of snow and Viola'. This is a great base to add chocolate chunks, peanut butter, dried fruits or nuts or any thing you might be craving. Better still drop a scoop in warm cider with honey for a winter apple pie treat.