The Deep Creek Blog

Southern Home Living and Deep Creek Lake

A friend just sent me a copy of the January 2007 issue of Southern Home Living as it has a nice article on Deep Creek Lake.  Nothing new in here for locals and regulars to the area, but this is a nice start for someone looking to make a first visit. 

Should You Claim Residency In Maryland?

Deciding where to claim residency is an important consideration when you own two homes.  Many people ,especially retirees or individuals nearing retirement, should carefully check this out before choosing a state for residency.

Some states, like Pennsylvania, have more favorable tax rates than Maryland.  The Retirement Living Information Center provides a state-by-state guide to taxes. 

Keep in mind, if an individual is receiving earned income, this can be taxable in the state where the income is received, even if the individual lives in another state. Differing tax rates between states can have a significant impact on your bottom line "after tax" income when picking where to claim residency.

Fairground News

It looks like the entrance to the Garrett County Fairgrounds may eventually change due to all of the new development taking place in McHenry. Sarah Moses reports this and more from the commissioners meeting in the Times-News.

Promoting your Vacation Rental Property

And speaking of web tools...Amy Gunderson writes in the New York Times' Great Homes section today about different ways that homeowners are using the internet to market their vacation rental properties.  Also mentioned in a useful site - Lay My Hat - where homeowners can share information and find solutions to problems that they run into when they renting out vacation homes.

Rate your Realtor

I just love the power of the internet.  Check out Homethinking - a website where you can rate your real estate agent.  This is a fairly new website, and most of the realtors don't have any ratings yet.  None of the agents that came up when I searched McHenry, MD have been reviewed yet.  As this web site gets more exposure, like it did recently in the  Wall Street Journal's  Real Estate Journal, it will become a useful tool. 

Great Deal at Wisp This Weekend

Wisp is running a great Ski and Stay Deal this weekend. 

Wisp in USA Today

Wisp had a nice mention in the USA Today on January 13th.

The resort's capabilities made a difference for Dr. Robert Bridwell and his family, who visited Wisp from Charles Town, W.Va., last week. Bridwell said they weren't expecting to see snow because their usual destination, Ski Liberty in Carroll Valley, Pa., was closed. But they found a handful of Wisp's trails skiable when they arrived, and more open the next day after overnight temperatures dropped low enough for snowmaking. Seven inches of natural snow atop 12 inches of manmade snow was a bonus.

Is there an eel in my future?

I'm not much of a biologist, so I don't know if I'm being rash....but is it possible that one of these things could end up in Deep Creek Lake?

What's all the fuss about Robert Burns?

If you read The Republican last week you may have asked yourself "Who is Robert Burns and why is the Highland Fest board having a supper for him"?  As The Republican notes, Burns was a well-known Scottish poet.  He has taken on somewhat of a cult following.  A quick search on the internet provides a link to The Supper, information on how to throw a customary Burns supper. 

Burns was indeed an interesting and talented fellow.  He is also referred to as Burns, The Bard, The Ploughman Poet.  Considered the National Poet of Scotland, he was a pioneer of the Romantic movement, an active Freemason.  He also wrote that song we all sing on New Years Eve - Auld Lang Syne. 

Burns Supper attendees are typically encouraged to come prepared to contribute a song, story or prose.  Appropriately, Garrett County's first Burns Supper is being hosted by the McHenry Highland Festival Board of Directors along with The Garrett College Pipes and Drums and Rob Michael State Farm Insurance.   

 

Wisp's Snow Making Capabilities

The AP ran this story yesterday regarding Wisp's exceptional snow making system.  Ski buffs may find this of interest. 

Garrett County Looking Good

The Times-News reports that Garrett County is looking good according to Rodeheaver & Associates who presented the county's audit this past Tuesday at the county commission meeting. 

Wind Energy Information Meeting

The public is invited to a meeting regarding wind and solar energy use in Western MD.  The event is being put on by Frostburg State University in conjunction with the Maryland Energy Administration(MEA).  FSU recently secured money to develop a wind and solar energy project from the state.  National Wind Watch reports,

The purpose of the project: to develop interdisciplinary curriculum and educational outreach programs that will explore the possibilities of harvesting wind and solar energy in Western Maryland. Additionally, FSU will also administer the Maryland State Anemometer Loan Program, which supplies anemometers ( wind meters ) to residents interested in installing them on their properties. The program will also enable Frostburg to develop first-hand experience with technical, economic, and environmental and administrative issues residents might face through the construction and operation of wind power systems.

I'm guessing this meeting will support  wind farms in Garrett County, but it could be a good source for some education -  regardless of your position.

Snow!

There are signs of snow making on every Wisp Cam today.   According to Accuweather, there may be another blip of warm weather in a couple of days, but then winter will really set in. 

Attention Deep Creek Lake Runners

Runners and walkers still have time to enter the Snowflake Chase 2007 coming up this Saturday at the Deep Creek Lake State Park.    Sponsored by Uno's Chicago Grill, the Chase benefits Cindy's Fund for Cancer Research. 

Frommer's Outlook on Vacation Rentals

If you use your Deep Creek Lake home for rental income, you'll be happy to read Arthur Frommer's prediction for 2007 travel trends. 

Vacation home rentals will soar in popularity. In places such as Phoenix and Orlando, Fla., gated communities are springing up with homes and condos occupied by tourists who at last have learned that such accommodations can be cheaper and more comfortable than hotels. With homes and apartments increasingly being used for vacation purposes, sites like Vacation Rentals by Owner, http://www.vrbo.com , are becoming more useful