January 28th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

If this were a normal year, hundreds of Western Marylanders would be hitting the road today, heading to Annapolis to lobby for local projects and participate in the largest social event of the General Assembly session.  Unfortunately, the annual Mountain Maryland PACE reception, held on the final Thursday of January each year, is yet another event lost as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.  PACE is an acronym for Positive Attitudes Change Everything. The event began in 1977 as an opportunity to present legislative initiatives and funding needs for Allegany and Garrett counties to state leaders. As a result of the cancellation, Allegany County conducted virtual meetings with state representatives earlier this month. Paul Kahl, Allegany County’s head of Public Works, said that while those talks were productive, it just isn’t the same as having in person meetings with key state personnel…