When I had a few minutes to spare yesterday, I took advantage of the opportunity to check my ActiveRain statistics.  To check yours, just click on "Statistics" in the bottom section of the left navigation bar on your Home page, as shown on the right.

Of my 435 posts to date, about 300 have been written since last September, and I thought it would be interesting to take a quick informal survey to determine which posts were most popular with readers over the past year.  If nothing else, this information might suggest a focus for my next year on ActiveRain.

Without a doubt, How to Blog for Leads on ActiveRain had the most comments (140), views (5083) and clicks (3626).  Another ActiveRain-themed post fared very well, too - The Second Commandment of Blogging (Learned the Hard Way), with lots of comments (116), views (4171) and clicks (3129).  Both of these posts were quite popular and generated many comments even before they were featured, but that gold star certainly contributed to the high numbers.

Beyond those, however, most of the posts which generated a lot of views and clicks were LOCALISM posts:

• Maryland Homestead Tax Credit Is No Longer Automatic
• Waterfront Homes for Sale in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
• Fort Meade - What to Expect When You Arrive
• Anne Arundel County MD Real Estate Trends - ABSORPTION RATE
• STOP, You Need a License to do That in Maryland
• Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Do you find that as surprising as I do?   All of these LOCALISM posts combine for a total of only 75 comments, yet they each had at least 1500 clicks - more than most of my other ActiveRain posts.  Food for thought, isn't it?

If that doesn't validate the concept of posts on local content, I don't know what does!   Several buyers have said they read my blogs, and now my statistics are saying that, too.  I'm gonna have to check those statistics more often!

Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

When you live in Anne Arundel County, you can play a round of golf in Crofton, go crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, and then attend a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington or ballgame at Camden Yards in Baltimore - all in the same day.  What an amazing lifestyle we enjoy!

As a newcomer to the Baltimore-Washington area and Anne Arundel County, you'll want to carry a camera with you at all times.  Even though I'm a native Washingtonian, you can still catch me taking photos of our Nation's monuments as we drive past en route to Northern Virginia... stopping to watch the ships in the Baltimore Harbor... taking a deep breath as I close my eyes and imagine being on one of those majestic sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay.  

Commuters to D.C., Northern Virginia, and Baltimore call Anne Arundel County home, as well as people who work right here in our county for the many small business and major employers such as Fort Meade, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Naval Academy, BWI Airport, and State and local government.  Residents are attracted by the superior school system, low property taxes, county services, recreational opportunities and relatively affordable prices - summed up well in the phrase "QUALITY OF LIFE." 

When you're ready to look for a home in Annapolis, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, Fort Meade, Odenton or anywhere in Anne Arundel County, I'd like to help.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this brief video introduction.

Photos:  MWoda and istockphoto.com
Welcome to Anne Arundel County Maryland
Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Terps football has a new look this year, and I'm not talking about their uniforms, stadium, players or coaches.  (Although a huge addition to Tyser Tower is under construction.) During the three decades we have been season ticket holders for Maryland Football, I don't remember ever seeing so many BIG plays in a single game as we saw yesterday.  Not even the three years they (and we) went to bowl games.  This new look is almost enough to make me a football fan, and not just a fan of the college football experience.  LOL. 

Don't tell anyone, but I'm usually more into the band, tailgating and general excitement of being at a game on a nice day.  But yesterday we saw a 57-yard kickoff return, two interceptions, key passes, a blocked punt...   pretty exciting football, ending in a 51-24 win.

Neither Larry nor I attended Maryland, and only one of our three children did, yet we're all definitely fans.  Anyone relocating to Maryland will quickly discover that Terps fans are everywhere you turn and, unless you graduated from another ACC school, chances are good you too will quickly jump on the Terps bandwagon for football, basketball, and who knows what else. 

Here are some photos I took yesterday, just to help get you in the spirit!

The pre-game show always includes a dramatic roll-out of the Maryland flag.

(Those empty stands in the background are the Visitor's section)

We can see the whole field from our seats in Section 21 at Byrd Stadium, and we have a great view of goal line action, at least at our end.  There are big video screens at both ends of the stadium, so we can see plays at the other end on the screen.

A Terps tradition, after the game:  Players and coaches run over to the student section and high-five as many fans as they can reach before singing the school song together at game's end.

The Mighty Sound of Maryland - we stopped en route to the post-game tailgate to watch the Maryland Band parade out of the stadium.  We snapped this, hoping to catch a shot of my nephew, but (of course) his head was behind someone else at the moment of this photo.

My brother Mike and his awesome wife Jenny bring food, drinks, and chairs for about 30 people before and after every home game. 

Tailgating is alive and well in Terps territory, and you're invited!

Relocating to a new area always comes with some uncertainties, but you can count on this:  It's fun to be a Terps fan!  If you're stationed at Fort Meade or Andrews AFB, or if you live in the Bowie-Crofton area, you'll be about a half hour from Byrd Stadium and Comcast Center (for basketball).  See you there!

PHOTOS:  MWoda
A New Look for Maryland Terps
Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All Rights Reserved.

As I listen to yet another political speech about changing Washington, I'm starting to feel a little defensive.  And I'm not even a government employee! 

As a REALTOR in the Maryland suburbs of D.C., many of my clients ARE government employees, however, and they are hard-working dedicated people who chose public service over a more lucrative career.  And that includes the government contractors and consultants who also put in long hours and bring incredible creativity and commitment to their work - many of them with advanced degrees, and many of them current or former military.  ALL of them qualified for better-paying jobs in the private sector.

Let's be honest... it's politicians coming here from all over the country to "change" Washington who control policies such as those which failed in recent weeks.  The thousands of dedicated Washingtonians and suburbanites who keep our government running on a day-to-day basis do not have the power to change anything.

It may be an understatement to say that Washingtonians don't agree on all issues all the time, but I believe most people traveling the highways and rails to work in our nation's capitol every day are good patriotic people who don't need changing.  Their goal is clear, whatever their political position:  working for the public good.  It's their job to implement policies created by people who come here from all over the country to "change Washington," even though they ay not agree with those policies.

It would be nice to hear a major candidate or career politician from outside D.C. give credit to Washingtonians for their public service - now THAT would be a change! 

I, for one, am PROUD to be a native Washingtonian and have the opportunity to live in the proverbial shadow of our Nation's monuments.  I know my clients and neighbors are doing everything they can every day, within the confines of policies set by politicians, to keep us both solvent and safe.

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

This is not your mother's hairdresser or nail salon! 

Robert Andrew Salon & Spa is a 22,000 sq. ft. "Tuscan-themed" day spa located in Gambrills (about 15 minutes from Fort Meade) offering a wide range of hair and nail services, massages, skin treatment, and retail products.  

I could recite the history of Robert Andrew Salon & Spa or provide a detailed list of all the services they offer, but you can find those at RobertAndrew.com.  I could rave about Jennifer, my manicurist, and Lorie, who does my hair.  But their beautiful facility and variety of services are not the only things that set apart Robert Andrew from other salons - in fact, from other businesses in the area.  They're a GREAT neighbor!

Each month, when I walk through their doors, evidence of their community service or health awareness promotion for the month is evident.  For example, one month they may select Go Red For Women to promote women's heart health.  Another month, Breast Cancer Awareness may be their theme.  In September, they're promoting Operation Support the Troops, with retail space set aside to display appropriate items for care packages or Christmas stockings to send deployed soldiers or recuperating veterans at nearby medical facilities, and many staff members are wearing camouflage tee shirts with the Robert Andrew logo emblazoned in silver glitter.  ('Makes me chuckle just to think about them!)  

But that's not all - They treat wounded female soldiers and wives of recuperating military personnel to services at the Robert Andrew Salon & Spa.  And they invited some of our nation's heroes and their families to the company's annual picnic.  This is clearly an effort from the heart and not just a marketing strategy.  I have to applaud owner Bob Zupko for his leadership in these efforts.

Wait, there's more... A Tuscan fountain, which is the centerpiece of the retail area at Robert Andrew, is surrounded by tables and chairs where customers wait for their appointment.  But it's more than a decorating feature - coins tossed into this fountain year round are donated to the Make a Wish Foundation.

If you're new to Fort Meade, Gambrills, Odenton or Crofton and haven't yet found the right place to get your hair and nails done, check out the Robert Andrew Salon & Spa at the Village of Waugh Chapel in Gambrills.  At least go in and pick up one of their brochures and price lists.  And while you're there, toss a coin in the fountain.  It's a great cause!

Thank you Robert Andrew Salon & Spa for being such a good neighbor, and congratulations on repeatedly being named one of the Top 200 salons in North America by Salon Today Magazine.

P.S. - Hey guys... the next time you need a birthday or anniversary present for a lady in your life, stop in to pick up a gift card.  She'll love it.  And who knows... you might get lucky by coinciding your visit with the Washington Redskins or Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders, since Robert Andrew is the "official" salon for both teams.

 PHOTO:  MWoda
Robert Andrew Salon & Spa - Gambrills, Maryland
Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

If you're a golfer, chances are good that living near a golf course is a priority for you.  I know because that describes my family!

There's no shortage of golf courses in the D.C. - Baltimore area, that's for sure!  In Anne Arundel County alone there are thirteen, including three on military installations (Fort Meade and the U.S. Naval Academy).  But which are located in a "golf course community" where you and your family could walk or bike to the golf course?

To answer that question for you, I compiled this list of Anne Arundel County golf courses along with addresses and links to their websites.  A brief description of each golf course is based on data from golfable.com and information about housing was compiled from listings in the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS), our regional MLS.  Courses I consider to be located in "golf course communities" are marked with an asterisk (*).

ANNAPOLIS AREA -

1.  * Bay Hills Golf Club - 545 Bay Hills Dr, Arnold, MD 21012 

This Par-70 course was built on rolling hills that wind throughout the Bay Hills community. Greens are bent grass and the fairways are zoysia.  Memberships available but not required.

Neighboring Homes in the Bay Hills subdivision line the fairways of Bay Hills Golf Club.   Homes range from about $315,000 to $550,000, including detached homes and townhomes.   Chances are good that your children can walk or bike to Bay Hills Golf Club from home.

2.  Eisenhower Golf Course- 1576 Generals Hwy., Crownsville, MD 21032

This Par-71 hilly course has a seven-acre pond, along with a variety of creeks which come into play on a number of holes. Greens and fairways are bent grass.  Public Access.

3.  * Heritage Harbour Golf Club - 875 Harry S Truman Pkwy., Annapolis, MD 21401

This is a nine hole par 3 course (par 27 total) with generous and hilly Bermuda-grass fairways and bent-grass greens that are are fast and undulating. Yardage for the men's tees ranges between 80 and 172 yards. The ladies' yardage ranges between 67 and 123 yards.  Membership required.

Neighboring Homes in this "over-55" community are priced from about $265,000 to $525,000 including detached homes, townhomes, duplexes and high-rise condos.  

4.  U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club- 64 Greenbury Point Rd., Annapolis, MD 21402

This Par 71 course has sand bunkers scattered throughout the design and a water hazard that comes into play on hole #7. The Bermuda-grass fairways are narrow with most being tree lined. This terrain is very hilly, so you can expect a few uneven lies. The Bermuda-grass greens are small, undulating, sloped, and generally fast.  Access limited to authorized personnel.  

CROFTON -

5.  * Crofton Country Club - 1691 Crofton Pkwy., Crofton, MD 21114

Bring your long game to this 7211-yard Par 72 course.  Bent grass greens are larger than they look and fairways (also bent grass) are lined with homes.  It's a beautiful course, with two creeks and two ponds that come into play on several holes.  Membership required.

Neighboring homes include detached homes, townhomes and apartments in "Old" Crofton, Crofton Commons, Crofton Park, Crofton Town, and Lake Louise.  Most homes range from the mid $200,000's to mid $600,000's.

6.  * Walden Golf Club- 1500 Riedel Rd., Crofton, MD 21114

This Par-71 course has sloped bent-grass greens and winter-rye fairways that are lined with homes. Water hazards come into play on fifteen holes.  Semi-private.

Neighboring homes in Chapman Farms, Walden and Crofton Meadows (Townhomes, condos and detached homes) are priced from the $200,000's to $800,000's.

PASADENA -

7.  Compass Pointe - 9010 Fort Smallwood Road, Pasadena, MD 21122 (Public)

This is Anne Arundel County's newest and only 36-hole public golf course.  The "four nines" - North, South, East and West - cover more than 800 acres of diverse woodland and provide a wide variety of golf terrains and challenges for golfers of all skill levels. Bent grass greens and fairways.  Public access.

SEVERNA PARK -

8.  * Chartwell Golf & Country Club - 1 Chartwell Dr., Severna Park, MD 21146

Large bent-grass greens, so three-putting is a common occurrence. Located in a heavily wooded area, featuring several moderate elevation changes.  This is a Par-72 course with bent-grass fairways often lined by homes.  Membership required.

Neighboring homes are located in a mature community of detached homes that line the fairways of Chartwell Country Club.  Price range from the mid $500,000's to mid-$700,000's. 

FORT MEADE

9.  Fort Meade, Applewood Course - 6800 Taylor Ave., Fort Meade, MD 20755

A very-tight course with small and fast bent-grass greens, Bermuda-grass fairways, and water hazards on four holes.  Access limited to authorized personnel.

10. Fort Meade, Parkwood Course - 6800 Taylor Ave., Fort Meade, MD 20755

Par-72 course with a wide-open front nine, large open bent-grass greens, and Bermuda-grass fairways. Access limited to authorized personnel.

SOUTH COUNTY  

11. * Old South Country Club- 699 Marlboro Rd., Lothian, MD 20711

Bring your best putting to these quick bent-grass sloped greens. The Bermuda-grass fairways have moderate speed, and out-of-bounds markers come into play on two holes of this Par-72 course. The signature hole is #18, a 480-yard, par 5, providing some of the most breathtaking scenery the course has to offer. Membership required.

Neighboring homes in the Old South Country Club community are few, and their prices are usually over a million dollars.  There are six on the market at this time ranging from $987,500 to $1,395,000. 

12.  Renditions- 1364 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD 21035

Renditions is a collection of golf holes inspired by famous courses around the world.  This Par-72 course re-claimed land that had been a sand-mining operation, and was re-developed under the watchful eye of the Maryland Departent of the Environment.  Public access.  (No information on golfable.com)

13.  * South River Golf Links- 3451 Soloman's Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037

More than 165 acres with eight lakes and fourteen environmentally protected areas scattered throughout the course. The course is cut through a hardwood forest with fourteen bridges over the water and valleys. Wildlife is abundant on the course, with bald eagles flying overhead from time to time.  Public access for this Par-72 course with bent grass greens and fairways.  

Neighboring homes in South River Colony tend to be in the $800,000's, although some are priced at nearly double that.  Other homes in South River Colony that are not as close to the golf course include townhomes starting in the $300,000's. 

RELATED POSTS:

SOURCES:  www.golfable.com
PHOTOS: MWoda
Metropolitan Regional Information Symptoms, Inc. (MRIS)

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY GOLF COURSE COMMUNITIES
Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.

In response to several requests over the past few months, I plan to update my January post, Army PCS Relocation - Real Estate Directory in October.   If you'd like to be included, please submit the requested information in the comment section of this post by September 30.  At that time, comments will be turned off, and I'll begin collecting information to update the Air Force Directory (October 1-15); Navy Directory will follow (October 16-30).

If you're already listed in the Army PCS Relocation - Real Estate Directory, please note the expanded criteria, because you may need to update your profile page or targeted posts:

1)  You must be a member of the Military Relocations Group.

2)  You must have at least 10,000 ActiveRain Points.  (When there is more than one person who wants to be listed for a single Army post, the number of ActiveRain points will be one of the factors I consider in selecting someone for that slot.)

3)  Your profile page must prominently name a specific U.S. Army post within 30 milies of your home/office.  (This directory will include only posts within the continental U.S.)

4)  You must have at least three localism posts about relocating to or living in the area of this specific Army post, including one posted since August 1, 2008. 

NOTE:  "Military Relocation" must be in the tags for each post AND name of the specific Army post or military installation must be in the title, content and tags for each of your three qualifying posts AND each post must be included in the Military Relocations Group.

5) You must provide the following information in the comment section of this post:

A)  Name of specific Army post, city, and state 
B)  Links to three qualifying posts

NOTE:  I would really appreciate it if you please don't email this information to me or ask for exceptions.  If I can streamline the process this time around, I'll be inclined to update the directories more often.

The blurb about you in this directory will be the description on your ActiveRain profile page.  If you want your blurb to say something different, please edit the description on your profile page. 

As you can probably see, I'm taking a hard line this time in an effort to avoid the time-consuming barrage of emails, special exceptions, complaints and mis-directed requests that I experienced last year.   Let's work together to provide this service for military and civilian personnel relocating to the military installations near us, and make their relocation as smooth as possible. 

In the end, since it's my blog post, I reserve all editorial rights including the format of my post and selection or exclusion of agents for each military installation.  YES, loan officers are welcome to submit a request.

Okay gang, let's get started!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UPDATE SCHEDULE:

Guidelines will be the same for each directory, so you can get a head-start on your targeted posts for updates to the following directories:

October 1-15:  Air Force PCS Relocation - Real Estate Directory

October 16-30:  Navy PCS Relocation - Real Estate Directory

Cynthia Tilghman (Marine Directory) and James Downing (USCG Directory) will announce in the Military Relocations Group if/when they plan to update their directories.  

Mark your calendar for tomorrow, September 15.

That's the date when you can go online to Operation Give and participate in Operation Christmas Stocking by purchasing a pre-filled Christmas stocking or gift bag of goodies for deployed American trrops.

That's the "no-excuse" way of participating in this effort, co-sponsored by Operation Give and Target.  Their goal: Put one of these Christmas stockings, bags or gifts into the hands of all 100,000+ deployed soldiers.  Last year, they shipped 50,000 tons of them overseas!

If you prefer to buy or make your own stocking or gift bag, you can take advantage of Operation Christmas Stocking's partnership with Fed Ex to ship yours to their base of operations in Salt Lake City (contact operationgive@comcast.net for shipping instructions). Here are a few suggestions from Operation Christmas Stocking for things to put in your Christmas stocking or gift bag:

If your organization, office or family is looking for a fall project, why not this one?  Just think of all the fun you'll have building your stockings, and the satisfaction of putting a smile on the face of deployed soldiers this Christmas.  Just remember, they have to be in the Salt Lake City Warehouse before November 1, when they'll be shipped overseas.

BUT - if you don't have time to do this for our troops, go online to Operation Christmas Stocking to buy one after September 15.

MARC Rail Stations at BWI and Odenton

Included in Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland - Home of Fort George G. Meade, NSA, Northrop Grumman, BWI, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Commuting from Anne Arundel County to Washington, D.C. or Baltimore is not limited to driving your car or taking METRO.  In fact, MARC Rail is the commuting method of choice for many Anne Arundel County residents who live near BWI or in the greater Odenton area including Crofton, Gambrills, Fort Meade and other nearby communities.

The history of Odenton as a railroad town dates back to 1840 when the Annapolis & Elkridge Railroad was built across this sparsely populated area of Anne Arundel County.  Then, when the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad was constructed in 1868 to connect Baltimore and Washington, a train station was built in Anne Arundel County and named in honor of Oden Bowie - a former governor of Maryland and the railroad's president.  A telegraph office, church, school, post office and two stores followed and tomato canning became the first industry in the area, several decades before the Federal Government acquired land to build Fort George G. Meade nearby.  From a population of about 100 people in those early days, Odenton has grown to well over 20,000 residents today - and most of those who aren't employed at neighboring Fort Meade or NSA are commuters.

That same Odenton rail station is now a busy stop on the Penn Line of the "Maryland Area Regional Commuter Train Service" (MARC), operating on weekdays and a few holidays to transport those commuters to Washington's Union Station or Baltimore's Penn Station.  Other stops on the MARC Line that runs through Odenton include New Carrollton, Seabrook, Bowie State University, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (also in Anne Arundel County), Halethorpe, West Baltimore, Martin Airport, Edgewood, Aberdeen and Perryville. 

Commuters who board at the BWI or Odenton MARC Rail stations in Anne Arundel County can transfer to METRO's Orange Line at New Carrollton or they can transfer to the Red Line at Washington's Union Station; the Red Line then intercepts with Metro's Green/Yellow Lines at Gallery Place and the Orange/Blue Lines at Metro Center.  In Baltimore, Anne Arundel County MARC riders can transfer to Amtrak at Penn Station and continue on to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

MARC reports that "The Penn line is the most traveled of all three MARC Lines, boasting an average daily ridership of approximately 20,000 commuters (Oct 2007)."  I'm guessing that has something to do with the fact it's the only MARC line which runs throughout the day, whereas the Brunswick and Camden Lines operate only during morning and evening commuting hours.  (For a map of all three MARC lines, you can click on this link.) 

PARKING:  Free parking is one of the benefits enjoyed by Odenton MARC train commuters.  I often drive through the parking lot with clients to show them this commuting option, and we've always found empty parking spaces.   In fact, this photo was taken in that parking lot during the middle of a business day.

The BWI MARC Rail station could be more convenient for some Anne Arundel County commuters, who also enjoy free parking if they participate in the Ticket By Mail Program.  For more information, visit www.commuterdirect.com.

COST:  For a complete chart of MARC fares on the Penn Line, check their fare schedule online.  As of today, 9/7/08, the one-way fare from the Odenton MARC Station to either Union Station in Washington or Penn Station in Baltimore is $5.00.  When you consider today's cost of gasoline (and parking once you arrive downtown) or the cost of Metro AND parking, it's easy to see why so many Anne Arundel County residents choose the MARC train for their commuting option.