Betsy Spiker

The Spiker Team at Long and Foster are long time supporters of the Garrett County Humane Society. Our most recent poster dog is "Pokey". Pokey is owned by local surgeon, Margie Fridkin. He is a 12 year old bassett hound from Ohio Bassett Rescue. He was used for breeding for 10 years with his partner, Julie. They were discarded at a shelter when they were too old to breed. They spent a year in rescue being housed at a kennel because there was no home that would take both of them. Margie adopted them a year and a half ago. He is Margie's best friend and is extremely happy with his new forever home (with Julie too, of course). Now he is supporting the Garrett County Humane Society for Spay Day. All dollars donated go to GCHS for spay and neuter certificates. So any animal lover out there - here is a great cause to help the animals we love "long term". Each dollar donated goes to support the Garrett County Humane Society for Spay Day and brings Pokey a little closer to winning this coveted honor by being the biggest contributor to the cause. Please click on this link. Each dollar is a vote for Pokey. Pokey currently has 870 votes and is leading in Garrett County. http://photocontest.humanesociety.org/contest.html?page=viewIndex&contestId=1

As many of you know my favorite restaurant in Garrett County is Deer Park Inn. Pascal Fontaine was recently asked to assist with duties at the inauguration festivities of President Obama. We are so lucky to have a chef of this caliper at Deep Creek Lake. I've talked with Pascal and his wife Sandy (who was also on board) and both thoroughly enjoyed the experience. One they will never forget!

Deer Park Inn now has its own blog - see it at http://countrychef.blogspot.com/

Do the Dunk at the 11th annual Deep Creek Dunk on Saturday, February 28!
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 March 1 and run through the 3rd 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.

Hi,

Check out my website at www.deepcreeklakeproperty.com

I wanted to share some information with you from Lori Epp at Wisp Resort. She included this in her article in the Winter 08/09 edition of the Deep Creek Magazine.

Wisp Resort Ski Season Information

• Elevation: 2,415 feet at the base; 3,115 feet at the summit.
  
  
• Snowfall: More than 100 inches annually.
  
  
• Trail System: 32 slopes and trails total 10.5 miles on 132 acres of skiable terrain with Pro Park and Terrain Gardens.
  
  
• Slope Difficulty: Beginner: 41% Intermediate: 28% Expert: 31% (Including Devil's Drop).
  
  
• Lift System: Two quad chairlifts, five triple chair lifts, two ski carpets and two surface tows.
  
  
• Snowmaking: With a new state-of-the-art control center and pumphouse, Wisp can keep its slopes covered with snow throughout the winter. The $3 million system is one of the world's largest and most energy-efficient.
  
  
• Snow Tubing Park: The Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park features 10 lanes, a ski carpet and a tow rope. The 5,000 square foot "Sprung" structure, opened in 2007, houses all tubing services, including ticket sales, food and beverage.
  
  
• Nordic Center: Fifty kilometers of trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, plus guided snowmobile tours and Mini-Mobiles for children weighing less then 90 pounds.
  
  
• Lodge: At the base of Wisp Resort is the main lodge that houses all ski services (ticket sales, ski and board rentals, adult and children snow sports schools, lockers, etc.) and two restaurants and lounges - DC's Bar and Restaurant and Wispers Mountainside Bar. The Pumphouse Café is located on the mountaintop.
  
  
• Lodging: The Wisp Resort Hotel and Conference Center features 168 guest rooms, including six new luxury king suites added in 2007, as well as 17,000 square feet of meeting and conference room space. The Health Club features a heated indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, Wi-Fi and e-center.

Wisp Resort extended day lift tickets (good any time day, night, or both) range from $32 to $65 depending on the season, and afternoon ski tickets start as low as $22.00. Click on the following link to view the Wisp website and current ticket prices: http://www.wispresort.com/wisp/info/w.lift-tickets.aspx

Reading is truly my sanity and occasionally I find a book that is worth passing on to family and friends (and it makes me feel like Oprah - just a little). I would like to recommend "THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE" by Audrey Niffenegger. I found that I could just not put it down. Hope you enjoy reading it and I would appreciate any comments.