By Steven Green, Publisher/ Editor
Originally published July 30, 2010

Ocean City is about to shutter a million dollar industry. That’s a fact if the figures reported by the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) are true. The OCPD says its research has found that about 30,000 green laser pointers have been sold this summer in the resort area. It was said the laser pointers sell for anywhere between $30 and $50. Using an average price of $40 per item, this year’s summer novelty item has generated about $1.2 million in local sales for merchants.

Although this entire laser pointer debate seems like nonsense on the surface, it has become a public safety issue, particularly on the Boardwalk. Clearly, these laser pointers are inappropriately used by many consumers, most of who are youngsters and are not being warned of the consequences of misuse. A handful of incidents have been reported where people, including a couple Boardwalk merchants, were hit in the eyes with a beam and blurred vision was a result. The Mayor and Council is acting appropriately with its emergency legislation, which makes it illegal for minors to buy or possess a laser pointer and expands the current usage law to not only include people but also all vehicles. Check out the Boardwalk around dusk this weekend if you don’t believe it’s a safety issue. These annoyances are everywhere, and you might want to wear a pair of shades to protect your eyes if you are going to see for yourself.

The latest issue of “ForteanTimes,” an English magazine that covers the “world’s weirdest news stories,” contains a local bit of news. Peter Hassall writes for the magazine and has an ongoing series that deals with mysterious falls from the sky. Back in December, a local cab driver found what he believed to be a meteorite on the beach. He could not touch the object because it was too hot and subsequently buried it and marked it with a stick so he could return the next day to further examine it. The incident was reported in this paper and picked up by the magazine.

It seems Hassall, an expert on this sort of thing, takes issue with the cabbie’s story. He flat out doesn’t believe the object recovered came from the sky. Hassall wrote, “The most suspicious part of Miller’s story is his description of the small meteorite as being too hot to handle and still warm many hours later. This is incredibly unlikely, as the general consensus among astronomers is that small, stony meteorites would be cold or barely warm to touch immediate after impact. Genuine meteorites do not have pitted surface [as was maintained during discovery]. The most likely explanation would seem to be [he] was inspired by the Geminid meteor shower to tell a tall tale after he found an odd rock when walking home.”

The Ocean City Mayor and Council could soon have a hot potato on their hands. Word is a private citizen wants the resort to consider making smoking illegal on the beach as well as the Boardwalk. The resident has reportedly done quite a bit of research and is serious about this request. He has privately approached at least one council member, who was not opposed to banning smoking in those public places but had enforcement concerns. Plans are to get the full council to weigh in on the matter in the near future.

As of July 5, there are currently 100 cities that do not permit smoking on the beach. Additionally, the state of Maine prohibits smoking on all beaches. There are reportedly many other cities that restrict smoking to certain areas of beach that are not included on that list.

This is going to be interesting to see how the elected officials handle this one. It’s not a new issue, but it’s believed to be the first time it’s been broached since smoking in most public places was outlawed in Maryland. Enforcement will be an issue, of course, but it’s ultimately no different than the alcohol on the beach policy. People drink alcohol on the beach still, despite the current law prohibiting it. Smoking will still happen on the beach if it’s outlawed, but it might raise awareness and courtesy levels.

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