Yesterday was another really nice day. Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 74 and a low of 62. I am enjoying it while I can and I hope you are too.
The 2018 Garrett County College Expo will be held at Garrett College this morning from 9:30 – Noon. Local high school juniors and seniors will be bused in and all in the county are welcome to join-in to meet the over 50 colleges, trade schools and military exhibitors and hear from others, including motivational speaker Rick Rando.
The Ruth Enlow Library is hosting two programs this morning for children, one at the Kitzmiller branch and the other in Oakland and both at 10:30 am.
Fire Prevention Week began yesterday, coinciding with the beginning of the fall wildfire season in Maryland. Even with a rainy summer fall conditions of drying brush and wind can make for excellent wildfire conditions. Homeowners can learn more about how to prevent wildfires at the department’s Firewise Maryland page.
Here’s a link to Rural Matters Fall 2018 issue which I thought our readers might be interested in reading. It is a fairly new publication with a sustainability theme.
Dr. Jane Wildesen and, Deep Creek Times co-owner, Sarah Myers have been named co-chairs of the 2018 United Way of Garrett County campaign. United Way of Garrett County raises funds and supports initiatives that improve education, income and/or health in our local community.
Well, here’s some good news on taxes! Some counties deliver a greater return on residents’ property taxes than others. According to a recent study by financial technology company SmartAsset comparing US counties, measuring local crime rates and school quality relative to effective property tax rates, Garrett County ranked among the best in Maryland for value compared to taxes paid. For a look at how top counties compared, check out the table below:
| Rank | County | Property Tax Rate | School Rating | Crimes Per 100k People | Overall Value Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll, MD | 1.02% | 10.00 | 1603 | 49.81 |
| 2 | Harford, MD | 1.09% | 9.00 | 1898 | 42.19 |
| 3 | Queen Annes, MD | 0.85% | 8.00 | 1977 | 39.40 |
| 4 | Calvert, MD | 0.96% | 8.00 | 1933 | 39.29 |
| 5 | Garrett, MD | 0.82% | 5.00 | 2348 | 38.12 |
| 6 | Talbot, MD | 0.64% | 6.00 | 1950 | 36.16 |
| 7 | Frederick, MD | 1.16% | 9.00 | 1964 | 36.09 |
| 8 | Montgomery, MD | 0.93% | 8.00 | 1772 | 31.52 |
| 9 | Saint Marys, MD | 0.92% | 7.00 | 2503 | 31.15 |
| 10 | Worcester, MD | 0.83% | 10.00 | 4528 | 28.13 |
The full study results, methodology, and interactive map can be found here: https://smartasset.com/taxes/maryland-property-tax-calculator#map
Construction is complete at the newest Believe in Tomorrow respite property at Deep Creek Lake! Once the house is fully stocked the Believe In Tomorrow families can visit and benefit from a respite stay during their child’s critical illness. Be a part of the opening of our new house, please visit the Amazon wish list at http://a.co/dwt5Ru7 to see how you can help.
