I have three children in my home who attend Dennett Road Elementary School. One is a son in fourth grade who has done amazing there and received a wonderful education.
He is very involved in extra sports and they use the gym for practice often. He has excelled in math and science and loves the special evening workshops. I would love him to finish his last year in this school.
I also have a granddaughter in first grade, who spends most of her day in a special education classroom. She isn’t vocal and has cerebral palsy for which she uses a walker.
I have a disability advocate who has given me advice. I know I could request her to receive services at our home school (Crellin) and the board of education would have to provide it.
After her coming to Dennett Road, I believe the BOE has a great setup there for her and decided this was best for her education.
Dennett Road has two separate special education rooms, huge bathrooms, separate changing area, sensory room and all therapy in one place. To change something so well structured is a terrible injustice to kids who need structure the most.
My third child, a granddaughter, is in kindergarten. She isn’t vocal and has cerebral palsy. She is in special education only for one hour for speech and sign language. The rest of her day is regular classrooms.
She has done wonderful and deserves to be in the regular class, where she best fits in. Next year the BOE predictions say 30 kids in each first grade class at Yough Glades. I toured the school and desks for 30 kids would make it so tight she would be tripping over things, not handicap accessible at all.
Bathrooms are a big concern. As with most children with CP they are longer to toilet train. One tiny bathroom in the old Head Start class with no private area to change and clean them would be very embarrassing to them. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
I am against closing Dennett Road School. I hope you will find a different solution and help not just the special need children but all the children in Garrett County. May God guide you in your decision.
Shari Ashby
Oakland

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CUMBERLAND — Several pieces of local legislation are set for committee hearings this week at the General Assembly in Annapolis. Senate Bills 333, 470, 586 and 587 are scheduled for hearings over the next few days. House Bill 512 is scheduled for a hearing before the House Environmental Matters Committee today.
House Bill 512 allows the Garrett County Sanitary District to charge a late fee for unpaid water and sewer bills.
Currently, no late fee may be assessed, Delegate Wendell Beitzel said. The only option for late bills has been to turn off the water. In Garrett County, though, many homes are on public sewer but not public water.
While a lien can be placed against the property, it is usually a lengthy process to get a payment. It also would allow the district to require payment of those fees before reconnecting water service. The rate of the late fees would be set by Garrett County commissioners, Beitzel said.
Senate Bill 333, set for hearing today before the Budget and Taxation Committee, would give Garrett County commissioners flexibility on setting the county’s hotel tax rate. It was filed by Sen. George Edwards. House Bill 224 is a companion bill filed by Beitzel. If the bill passes, commissioners could raise the maximum hotel rental tax rate to 6 percent, up from the current 5 percent maximum.
In fiscal 2009, those taxes raised $1,426,900 for the county. Garrett County commissioners asked Beitzel to introduce the bill. Those funds are used for tourist promotions and other county projects, Beitzel said. The bill does not raise the tax, but would give commissioners that option, Beitzel said.
Senate Bill 470, filed by Edwards, would change the way pensions are calculated for Allegany County Orphan’s Court Judges. It will be heard by the Budget and Taxation Committee.
The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on Friday will consider Senate Bill 587, which Edwards has filed. Beitzel has filed companion House Bill 222 in the House.
The bills would give the Garrett County Board of License Commissioners discretion in handling offenses relating to nudity or sexual displays that occur at a licensed establishment.
Board members, who asked Beitzel and Edwards to file the bills, are the authority for issuing or suspending liquor licences in the county.
Current law requires the revocation of the license without regard to the circumstances.
If the bill passes, the board could decide on less severe penalties than revocation if it believes the circumstances warrant a lesser penalty. Beitzel said the issue is rare in Garrett County.
Senate Bill 586 is scheduled today at 1 p.m. in front of the Budget and Taxation Committee. A full story about the bill appeared in Tuesday’s Times-News. The bill is designed to cap K-12 education cuts by more than 5 percent in Maryland counties. It is sponsored by Edwards.
Typically, after a committee hearing, the bill is referred to a subcommittee to develop a recommendation to the full committee. The process can take several weeks depending on the complexity of the bill.
Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.

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Matthew Bieniek Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — A committee hearing is scheduled Wednesday on a bill sponsored by Sen. George Edwards to cap K-12 education cuts by more than 5 percent in Maryland counties.

The hearing is scheduled at 1 p.m. in front of the Budget and Taxation Committee. Edwards is a member of the committee and the sponsor of Senate Bill 586.

Allegany County Commissioner Bill Valentine is scheduled to testify in favor of the bill, staff at Edward’s office said. The bill is also filed as House Bill 660 and is sponsored by Delegates Wendell Beitzel, LeRoy Myers Jr. and Kevin Kelly.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal 2013 budget includes a 5.5 percent cut in funding for Allegany County and an 11.8 percent cut in funding for Garrett County. This is on top of a 6 percent cut these two jurisdictions took in funding during the fiscal 2012 budget.

The bill would effectively limit the cuts per year to 5 percent through 2015. The cuts are the largest faced by any of the school systems in the state. Allegany County is the poorest county in the state, with a median income of around $37,747.

“The state really needs to look at how the wealth formula is computed. This bill would be a benefit to Garrett and Allegany counties and potentially others if we can get it passed. It would also give the state time to study how we compute wealth for K-12 education and look at appropriate various changes to the formula,” said Edwards.

The wealth formula uses a calculation based on a number of financial factors some legislators believe results in a skewed appraisal of the financial condition of some counties and their ability to fund local schools.

The calculation is used to determine how much state aid goes to county school systems in Maryland.

“The futures of the children of Garrett and Allegany counties are being jeopardized due to massive losses in state funding for education,” said Beitzel in a news release.

Edwards and Beitzel had to fight the same battle last year. The two managed to convince their colleagues to add in extra funding for the two counties in the 2011 session.

Because of the budget cuts, the Garrett County Board of Education is examining the possible closure of up to three elementary schools.

“The citizens from these areas have made it clear that these schools are at the heart of the community and closing them would cause irreparable harm for the students and their families,” Beitzel said.

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.

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No disrespect to Mac Faraday, Archie Monday, David O’Callaghan, Travis Turner or any of the multitude of good, bad and ugly characters populating Lauren Carr’s “It’s Murder, My Son” (CreateSpace, 286 pages, $14.99) but to me the most interesting character in the book is a lovable, mischievous, sneaky German shepherd named Gnarly.

Even people who are allergic to dogs and cats will get a jolt out of this Army veteran of a dog, originally imported to Spencer and Deep Creek Lake — Maryland’s largest lake — to guard local beauty Katrina Singleton. Gnarly is unsuccessful in his task and is brutally beaten in his attempt to save the wealthy Katrina from her murderer. Gnarly is rescued by Spencer Police Officer David O’Callaghan, who grew up with Katrina and has a history with her.

Gnarly ends up with former District of Columbia homicide detective Mac Faraday, who inherits a $270 million fortune from his birth mother, “America’s Queen of Mystery” novelist Robin Spencer. The inheritance couldn’t come at a better time: Faraday’s wife of 20 years, Christine, has left him for a D.C. lawyer named Stephen Maguire, and Mac loses everything in the divorce, including a house in the pricey Georgetown district of D.C. (How a cop can afford a house in Georgetown escapes me, but I think his affluent wife paid for it).

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By Kathleen Bridges http://www.washingtonian.com
Published Friday, February 17, 2012

….Although prices in many popular resort areas are still falling, agents and lenders say the market is showing signs of recovery. In Virginia’s Rappahannock County, the number of homes sold climbed by almost 15 percent from 2010 to 2011. Homes in some areas are also selling faster—in Maryland’s Garrett County, they sat on the market an average of 208 days this past November, a drop of 26 percent from the same month in 2010.

Bill McGuire, a lender for First Home Mortgage in Easton, says that historically low interest rates and low prices have finally begun to lure buyers: “A lot of our clients had been looking casually for several years but were too afraid to jump in. They’re realizing that now may be the time to buy.”

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But the warmth returned soon after, and today is a rainy February day. The temps are to remain in the 40s until Sunday, when more snow is predicted. Winter Fest is set in Oakland this weekend, and usually is in the midst of cold and snow. This year might be a little warmer, but the celebration is set to go on anyway, and all are invited to come out and have some wintertime fun. Photo by Lisa Broadwater.

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Hearings have been scheduled in Annapolis for several bills introduced by Del. Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards.

The House Environmental Matters Committee will review Beitzel’s HB 732 and HB 744 on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. Both bills deal with natural gas and oil issues. HB 731 would require that the leases contain certain uniform language. It would also provide for the recordation of those leases.

HB 744 would require leasing agents, known as “landmen,” be registered with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation in order to do business in the state of Maryland.

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Edwards’ version of HB 744, SB 770, will be heard by the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, March 6, at 1 p.m. Edwards’ SB 471 – Natural Gas and Oil Leases Recordation Requirement will be heard by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday, March 14, at 1 p.m.

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will hold a hearing for Edwards’ SB 333 – Garrett County – Hotel Rental Tax Rate on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m. This proposed legislation would give the Garrett County commissioners authority to set the hotel rental tax rate limit at 6 percent. According to current state codes, the county may not set a hotel rental tax rate that exceeds 5 percent. The current rate is 5 percent.

The Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing for Edwards’ SB 472 – Environment – Dormant Mineral Interests – Termination by Court Order Requirements, and SB 588 – Bow Hunting – Possession of Handguns for Protection on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m.

SB 472 would require a court order that terminates a dormant mineral interest to identify specified information and would require the court clerk that issued the order to record it in the land records.

SB 588 would prohibit the Department of Natural Resources from restricting licensed bow hunters who are at least 21 years old from carrying a handgun for personal protection.

Edwards’ SB 772 – Vehicle Laws – Registration Plates for Motorcycles – Individuals with Disabilities will be reviewed by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m. This bill would allow someone to possess a specified number of special registration plates for individuals with disabilities for specified motorcycles, in addition to the special registration plate and parking placards authorized under provisions of law.

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will review Edwards’ SB 469 – Family Security Trust Fund – Interest Earnings on Wednesday, March 7, at 1 p.m. This proposed legislation, in part, would prohibit the transfer of interest from the Family Security Trust Fund to the state’s general fund.

The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will review Edwards’ SB 466 – Allegany and Garrett Counties – Slot Machines for Nonprofit Organizations, and SB 467 – Income Tax Credit – Teachers at Maryland School for the Blind and the Maryland School for the Deaf at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13.

SB 466 would add Allegany and Garrett to the list of counties in which specified nonprofit fraternal, religious, and war veterans’ organizations may own and operate not more than five slot machines under specified circumstances.

SB 467 would, in part, alter a credit against the state income tax for up to $1,500 of tuition costs of specified teachers to include teachers at the Maryland School for the Blind and the Maryland School for the Deaf.

Edwards’ SB 468 – Real Property – Acquisition by State Highway Administration – Unpaid Assessments will be reviewed by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Wednesday, March 14, at 1 p.m. This bill would expand the application of specified provisions of law relating to the acquisition by the State Highway Administration of real property that is subject to an unpaid assessment.

Anyone who would like to know more about these bills can access the information and the hearing schedule on the Maryland General Assembly’s web site at http://mlis.state.md.us.

Persons may also contact Beitzel’s office at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3435, or Edwards’ office at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3565.

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3:09 p.m. EST, February 21, 2012

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, or DHCD, will provide $80,000 for a project in Hagerstown to renovate a building in the Arts & Entertainment District for use as an artists loft and gallery….

…A total of $290,000 was awarded to the five projects in Western Maryland, including two in Allegany County and two in Garrett County. Those projects include facade improvements and the installation of historical signage, Skinner said.

The Community Legacy Program aids essential revitalization projects that expand neighborhood business and job development, homeownership investment, commercial revitalization and other activities that support Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Smart Green & Growing initiative, Skinner said.

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I am disappointed that no mention has ever been made of the special education population at Dennett Road Elementary School.

I do not know if everyone knows that Dennett Road is the special education center for the entire southern end of Garrett County.

At Dennett Road, there are two large classrooms, a kitchen area to teach life skills, safe Time Out area, a private changing area for children who require this type of assistance, sensory room, handicapped equipped playgrounds, and ample handicapped equipped bathroom stalls and facilities separated into “Girls’” and “Boys’” bathrooms to serve the large number of students taught at this school.

The consolidation plan calls for these students to be shoved into two cramped classrooms at Yough Glades with NO private changing area, NO sensory room, NO safe time out area, NO kitchen skills and safety teaching area, NO handicapped equipped playground, and ONE toilet and sink (NOT Handicapped Equipped) to be shared by BOTH boys and girls.

I am sure that the staff of Yough Glades have good intentions and are highly qualified teachers, but their school is poorly designed, and will not allow for the inclusion of these students in the regular education setting, as they are included at Dennett Road.

This large special education population deserves better than to be shoved into a corner of leftover space in a building that doesn’t provide enough room for a walker to fit in a bathroom or in classrooms.

I recall one mother saying, at the Garrett County Board of Education meeting at Southern High School, “Just because my daughter is non-verbal, does not mean that she will not feel humiliated being changed in front of other students/adults. It does not mean that she will not feel hurt because she is not able to be included in activities because her walker doesn’t fit into the areas that the other students can access.”

I have dealt with similar situations during my wife’s life-ending illness. She was in a wheelchair for approximately ten years. Not having access to stores, restrooms, parks, etc. that non-handicapped people could access was humiliating and depressing.

Is this the message we really want to send to the special education students and their families? I think not. Send the right message. Make the only right decision. Keep Dennett Road Elementary School open.

Darrell DeWitt

Oakland

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Del. Wendell R. Beitzel (R–Dist. 1A) last week filed House Bill 1052, a measure that will give the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the increased ability to provide harsher penalties for those individuals who illegally poach wildlife.

“As an avid hunter, I am very troubled to hear stories of individuals who have failed to hunt game responsibly,” Beitzel said. “Everyone has heard of stories of hunters who poach at night, hunt out of season, ignore game bag limits, or who illegally trespass on another person’s land in search of game.”

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Over the last several years, Beitzel has joined with Del.Barbara Frush (D–Anne Arundel / Prince George’s counties) on the measure that would give the DNR greater authority in regard to enforcement against poaching.

This year, Beitzel has taken the lead in sponsoring the bill. The bill would allow for an administrative hearing process in which the DNR could hold a hearing to decide whether the hunter’s license should be revoked for a period of time. Current law only provides for a judicial process.

“Currently, the same judges that deal with domestic issues and DUIs must also address these hunting violations,” Beitzel said. “As a result, lenient penalties are often given to egregious offenders. This bill would give the DNR authority to revoke hunting privileges after a conviction on charges for game violations.”

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