June 8, 2007

Thursday, June 14 - Ocean City Tourney To Feature Miss USA

OCEAN CITY - Nine Miss USA pageant contestants including Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith will be in the resort area next week to host the 'Birdies on the Beach' charitable golf tournament and actually caddy for some lucky teams. The 'Birdies by the Beach' charity golf challenge, benefiting the Best Buddies Maryland program, is coming to the Ocean City Golf Club next week and will feature at least nine Miss USA pageant representatives on hand to serve as caddies during the event, including Smith, who...READ MORE

Wednesday, June 13 - Students Take Shot At Honoring Dads

OCEAN CITY - Much is typically made of Mother's Day, as it should be, but fathers rarely get the same attention when their special day rolls around each year. However, Mrs. Kirsten Danisavich's fourth-grade class at Ocean City Elementary took the time this year to honor their dads with special Father's Day poems. The following is a sampling of the poems penned by the students about their fathers this year: My Dad My dad likes to take me fishing, But then the phone goes,' Ring, ring!' He's very,...READ MORE

Tuesday, June 12 - Berlin Man Pleads Guilty

BERLIN- A Berlin man pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. federal court to sexually exploiting a minor to produce child pornography after a complaint filed in Australia about the content of the Internet images led a multi-national effort to track him to Berlin, Md. According to the plea agreement, on November 8, 2006, Australian Federal Police received a complaint from ANYwebcam.com, alleging a male child was being sexually assaulted on a webcam by an adult male, later identified as Roderick Gene...READ MORE

Monday, June 11 - Two Teens in Hospital for Separate Alcohol Incidents

OCEAN CITY- Two 17-year-old boys are in local hospitals after two separate incidents involving underage drinking over the weekend. Around 11:30 p.m. Friday night, OCPD officers responded to the 75th Street Medical Center to investigate a fall from a balcony.  A 17-year-old boy was fighting with paramedics, who had to sedate the youth to transport him to Peninsula Regional Medical Center. The investigation revealed the boy jumped from a third floor balcony to a second floor balcony at a...READ MORE

"Doing It for La Familia"

If things didn't end badly, they probably wouldn't end. You could say this about a number of different subjects: young love, this country's tumultuous love affair with carbohydrates, the band Guns-n-Roses, and every Chicago Cubs baseball season since 1908. Sometimes, the best way to let something go is if it ends in a fiery train-wreck that is more gruesome than the Cubs' relief pitching (and/or clutch hitting), or even Axl Rose himself (post-•€˜Appetite for Destruction'). Other times, the...READ MORE

11th Mako Mania Underway

OCEAN CITY- The 11th Annual Mako Mania shark tournament got underway this morning with dozens of boats and teams of anglers participating in the first significant offshore tournament in the summer-long series of events. With warm water starting to show up in the canyons off the coast of Ocean City, the early offshore fishing season is starting to heat up just in time for the annual Mako Mania tournament. Sharks of all shapes and sizes are typically the first game fish to arrive in the waters off...READ MORE

Beach Lacrosse Festival Hits Resort

OCEAN CITY- Over 100 girls' youth lacrosse teams from all over the country have descended on Ocean City for the 2007 Girls' Beach Lax Festival, which gets underway with first round games today at Northside Park. Hosted by the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department in conjunction with the local Beach Lacrosse program, the annual festival has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and this year will welcome over 100 of the top girls' youth lacrosse programs from all over the east coast and...READ MORE

Ferro, Favazza Earn Bayside Honors

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity baseball team was honored this week for an outstanding 2007 season with a Bayside South Conference Pitcher of the Year award for Dominick Favazza and a Bayside South Conference Manager of the Year award for first-year manager Rick Ferro. Favazza was dominating all year, compiling a 7-2-2 record and a gaudy .680 ERA while striking out 55 in 50 innings of work. He was also a force at the plate, batting .350 on the season including five home runs. When Favazza...READ MORE

Beach Lax Teams Win Titles at Lax Splash

BERLIN- Teams from the local Beach Lacrosse program continued their recent run of success at the annual Lax Splash tournament in Baltimore last weekend, collecting two more championships. Lax Splash, played at several different venues in lacrosse tradition-rich Baltimore last weekend, featured over 300 teams and over 6,000 players from some of the top youth programs throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The local Beach Lacrosse program was well represented with 13 girls' and boys' teams playing in...READ MORE

Live Racing Set to Return to Ocean Downs

BERLIN- Live racing returns to Ocean Downs next weekend for the 58th year with the first two days of what will be a 40-day live meet at the historic harness racing track near Berlin set for next Saturday and Sunday, June 16-17. The 40-day summer live meet at Ocean Downs will feature 10 races nightly with the first post-time each night at 7:35 p.m. Live racing will be held each Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer and the meet will end a little late this year on August...READ MORE

West O.C - Berlin - Ocean Pines

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Daily 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker WEST OCEAN CITY 9401 Whitetail Ct. Deer Point Sat 10-1 4BR/2.5BA Home Linda Moran Long & Foster 443-614-2261 BERLIN 331 WILLIAM ST.  Sat 11-1 4BR/2BA Victorian Laura King Sheppard Realty 410-213-1265 WEST OCEAN CITY Spy Glass Cove Unit 201 Sat 11 - 3 3BR/2BA Dick Pairo Champion Realty 410-723-0020 FENWICK ISLAND, DE Bayside Open Daily Condos, Townhomes & Single Family...READ MORE

Ocean City

OCEAN CITY Seaside Retreat Daily 10-4 3BR, 2.5BA Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 OCEAN CITY Somerset at Second Daily 10 - 3 3BR Boardwalk Condos Eric Cropper ReMax Premier Properties 443-373-9409 OCEAN CITY The Quay Saturday 2 & 3BR Condos Mary McCracken Long & Foster 410-430-7302 OCEAN CITY Pelican Perch Weekends 11-3 4BR, 4.5BA, & Loft Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 OCEAN CITY Bahia Vista Daily 12-4 3 & 4 BR Bayfront Condos Della & Joe Wilson ReMax Premier...READ MORE

Things I Like

Little dogs with attitudes An uncomfortable-looking chair that's comfortable Leaving work after a deadline The quarters with the states on them Lunch at Panera in Salisbury Grilling out in the afternoon High school graduations Playing horseshoes at a cookout Dogs who are crazy about the water Reading what other people like The movie, 'March of the Penguins'  ...READ MORE

Things We Like

A rainy day High tides The smell of fresh-cut grass Eastern Shore tomatoes Sitting in a beach chair at the ocean's edge Watching people sing at a karaoke bar Reading the Things I Like section The haunted house on the Boardwalk Sleeping on sheets that were dried on the clothesline By Brenda Cowley  ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A recent spate of confusion regarding decision-making begins to clear up. But caution is still advised. Continue to check details. An old friend has important news. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): You're anxious to see your ideas move from concept to development. But trying to force the issue right now could backfire. Wait for movement to resume on the 11th. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Keep your thoughts focused on the positive as you deal with an unexpected turn of...READ MORE

Live Bands and DJs

Assateague Island Oasis: 410-629-1492, Rt. 611; Every Friday & Saturday: Patrick McAllorum; Every Wednesday & Sunday: Jon Pheasant; Every Thursday: Kattie Bragg. Bahama Mamas: 410-289-0291, Call for entertainment. Blue Ox & Babe's Lounge: 410-250-6440, 127th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Call for entertainment. Buxy's Salty Dog: 410-289-0973, 28th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Friday, June 8: DJ Wood; Saturday, June 9: Crowded Outhouse; Every Sunday: DJ BK; Tuesday, June 12: Pirate Radio;...READ MORE

Powerboat Race Distances Raise Concern

OCEAN CITY - Fans and enthusiasts of the power boat races will cheer on another exciting race this year, after the annual OPA Offshore Power Boat Races were approved at the City Council Meeting on Monday night after a discussion about the distance of the races from the shore. Phil Houck, coordinator of the boat races, came before the Council Monday night to request a special events permit for this year's power boat race. This year, the boat races will be held on Sunday, June 17. According to...READ MORE

Crime Analyst Issue Dies with Split Vote

OCEAN CITY - The debate over budgeting a position for a crime analyst continued at the City Council meeting on Monday after the decision was put on hold last Tuesday, but the request this week was derailed by a split 3-3 vote. Last week, the council went back and forth on the issue after hearing presentations from Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and three crime analysts from Salisbury, Frederick County, and Baltimore County.  The council ultimately decided to postpone the final decision for...READ MORE

County Debates Billboard Removal

SNOW HILL - Fears that language in the Route 50 and Route 113 corridor plans would obligate the county to pay for billboard removals prompted county elected officials to make changes to give property owners a choice between billboards and other signs. Previous language in the plans made billboard removal mandatory during development or redevelopment, but county attorney Ed Hammond felt that this provision, under federal law, could bind the county to pay for billboard demolition and lost future...READ MORE

Accused West Ocean City Murderer Pleads Guilty

SNOW HILL- Accused West Ocean City murderer Gregory W. Stokes, 31, pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree assault and aggravated cruelty to animal and now faces a maximum of 33 years combined for the two convictions. A Worcester County grand jury in January charged Stokes in the shooting death of Pamela Jean Balk in her parents' West Ocean City home on January 11. After a bizarre sequence of events identified Stokes as the prime suspect in the case, he was arrested in Baltimore less than 24...READ MORE

O.C. Drive-By Shooter Pleads Guilty

SNOW HILL- A Millsboro, Del. man in Circuit Court on Wednesday facing attempted murder charges for a drive-by shooting in Ocean City in May 2006 pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and now faces a maximum of 20 years in jail pending the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation. Kyle Combs, 21, of Millsboro, was in Circuit Court on Wednesday facing attempted murder charges for shooting a man in the face at a red traffic signal on Baltimore Ave. in Ocean City in May 2006. The shooting was...READ MORE

Pines Community Center Rejected

OCEAN PINES - The Ocean Pines community center naysayers have won a decisive victory, casting nearly 1,000 votes more than community center supporters, in the second referendum on the project. 'It looks like it's over,' said project opponent Marty Clarke. 'The Ocean Pines membership, for the second time in six years, I think they sent a clear message. They don't want to build a $5 million building.' Ocean Piners will have to continue to make do with the original community hall for their meeting...READ MORE

OCVFC Issues Rebuttal to City Manager Comments on Fire Issues

OCEAN CITY- Last week, in an exclusive interview with The Dispatch, City Manager Dennis Dare was generally civil but often blunt while addressing some of the confusion and misconceptions swirling about the future of emergency services in the resort, and more specifically its 102-year-old volunteer fire company, and this week the leadership of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC) responded in kind. The apparent wedge between the city manager and the resort's volunteer fire company grew...READ MORE

Fifth DUI Results in Injuries to Children

OCEAN CITY- A Parsonsburg man whose vehicle collided with another vehicle containing two small children on Coastal Highway near 62nd Street last Saturday night was found to be intoxicated and was arrested for driving while impaired, his fifth such arrest since 1990. Around 9:00 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police responded to a vehicle accident on Coastal Highway near 62nd Street involving injuries to the passengers in one of the vehicles including two small children. Ocean City EMS crews were...READ MORE

Wounded Soldiers Visit Resort

OCEAN CITY- Wounded U.S. soldiers from the deserts of the Middle East got to put their feet in more friendly sand this week when they were treated to a three-day stay in Ocean City courtesy of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) and their Ladies' Auxilliary. Fifty-one wounded veterans from the Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, along with their families, were in Ocean City this week to enjoy a brief reprieve in the sun. About 120 visitors, including some nurses from the hospital, enjoyed...READ MORE

Big Tuna Grille Enjoying New Life In Historic Building

OCEAN CITY - For the past five years, 128th street has been home to a prime rib and seafood buffet known as Higgins Wharf. 128th street may no longer be home to Higgins Wharf Restaurant, but it is the home to the Higgins newest restaurant, Big Tuna Grill. According to the manager George Madden, the transformation took place earlier this year as owner Bob Higgins decided to take out the buffet and replace it with a vintage bar that had been hiding in storage for the past five years. They...READ MORE

Reviews Good On Restaurant Week

OCEAN CITY - Locals and visitors alike got their first taste of the delicious prix fix meals that restaurants participating in the Ocean City Restaurant Week had to offer this week. Ocean City's premier Restaurant Week began June 2, marking the beginning of a week-long opportunity for diners to enjoy prix fix meals at any of the participating restaurants. This is the first year that Ocean City will be participating; however Restaurant Week is a popular event all across the country, reflecting...READ MORE

Transit Priorities

SNOW HILL - Before the next phase of the dualization of Route 113 is launched, the county needs to see the plans, said Worcester County Commissioner Virgil Shockley this week. The commissioner spoke during a discussion at Tuesday's County Commissioner meeting on transportation priorities.  The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has asked the county to list its transit priorities before this fall's annual MDOT Tour visit, to be led by Transportation Secretary John...READ MORE

Friday, June 8 - Local Man Robbed at Knifepoint After Accepting A Ride

OCEAN CITY- A local man was robbed at knifepoint last weekend after accepting a ride home from an acquaintance after leaving a downtown bar. Early last Saturday morning, resort police responded to a reported armed robbery at a downtown bar on Somerset Street. The investigation revealed the victim had left the Harbor Inn shortly after midnight, and while he was walking through a nearby parking lot, he was offered a ride home by a woman he knew as an employee of the bar. The victim and his...READ MORE

O.C. Council Adopts $120M Budget

OCEAN CITY - Resort officials took another crack at the budget this week with a second reading of the fiscal year 2008 budget. After reviewing past and current discussion of issues surrounding the budget, a formal adoption of the budget was made. The mayor and council on Monday unanimously passed the fiscal year 2008 budget on second reading, marking the formal adoption of the roughly $120 million budget. The first reading of the budget was passed on May 21, and focused greatly on the property...READ MORE

Worcester County Budget

SNOW HILL - While the Worcester County Commissioners just passed the fiscal year 2008 (FY 2008) budget Tuesday, the looming state deficit may throw a wrench into the carefully balanced plan for the county's finances. The state of Maryland reportedly faces a $1.4 billion shortfall, with Governor Martin O'Malley directing that an initial cut of $200 million be made. The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) fears that those cuts will devolve onto Maryland's 23 counties, said Worcester County...READ MORE

Major Showell Project on Hold For Now

SNOW HILL - In another twist to the ongoing saga of the ADC Builders development in Showell, the developer has asked the county to put the process on hold. ADC attorney Mark Cropper hand-delivered a letter to Worcester County staff on Tuesday morning, just a few hours before the County Commissioners would have considered ADC's request to set a public hearing to amend the county water and sewer plan. The letter basically asks the county not to take any action for now. The amendment is a necessary...READ MORE

Downtown Height Regulations Approved

OCEAN CITY - The recent changes in downtown height limitations resulting from concern for preserving the downtown area were amended further this week at the City Council meeting Monday evening. Last month the City Council began discussion over the concern for rising heights in the downtown area. In an effort to preserve the historic charm of the downtown area, the council decided to approve height restrictions on new development of the oldest sections of downtown Ocean City. The downtown area...READ MORE

Former County Commissioner Candidate Terry Saxon Fondly Remembered

BERLIN- Former County Commissioner candidate and long-time local political activist Terry Saxon died last weekend after a lengthy illness at the age of 60. Saxon, who challenged Judy Boggs in for the newly-formed District 5 County Commissioner seat in the 2002 General Election, passed away last Sunday at the Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. Saxon co-founded the Worcester County Democratic Club and remained active in local politics almost until the time of his death. He was remembered...READ MORE

Fundraiser to Benefit Couple Displaced in House Explosion

OCEAN CITY - Once again Ocean City is proving that a little generosity and a little bit money received from many people can go a long way. In the resort tradition of banding together and helping community members in need, a fundraiser will be held next week for Richard and Marion Manning. The 'A Day for Friends' benefit for Ocean City locals Richard and Marion Manning will be from open to close at the original Greene Turtle and BJs on the Water on Wednesday, June 13. The benefit aims to raise...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Pasted

David Allan Kretschmar BERLIN - David Allan Kretschmar of Ocean Pines, formerly of West Chester, Pa., died on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at Atlantic General Hospital. Born on Aug. 11, 1940 in Springfield, Mass. he was the son of the late Herbert H. and Dorothy Coe Kretschmar. Kretschmar is survived by his wife of 45 years, Gail Dorman Kretschmar; his daughter and son in-law, Donna L. And Steven F. Trandahl of West Chester, Pa.; his son and daughter in-law, Paul D. And Mary C. Kretschmar of...READ MORE

A Week In Business

GRI Awarded BERLIN - Sheppard Realty's Janel T. Warren was recently awarded the Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) designation. Warren earned the GRI designation by attending a specific, intensive series of a minimum of 90 hours of classroom instruction, covering a variety of subjects including contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance and risk deduction. In addition, they have learned the fundamentals of brokerage and other areas of real estate specialization. With this...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Insider is considering busting out of retirement and entering the job market, part-time albeit. For years, the old guy has admired one particular job. It's got to be the most satisfying. That's the job of the guy who delivers the flowers to patients in the hospitals and nursing homes and the bouquets of love to our sweethearts at home or the office. That guy gets the true reward of sending flowers. He gets the happy smiles and sees the tears of joy. All we do is play for the event and all we...READ MORE

What To Know When Buying A Home Away From Home

BERLIN - Vacation homes in the top 30 markets have risen in price by 120 percent in the past five years, nearly twice the increase for primary residences, according to Fiserv Lending Solutions. But more recently those markets have been cooling along with the national slowdown in residential sales, which may make this a good time to think about purchasing the second home you've always wanted. Buying a vacation home is a significant financial commitment and can be complicated; that's why it's...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Parades are not what they used to be. In general, their popularity amongst attendees and those who participate in them is waning both locally and elsewhere. In Ocean City, two parades have gone by the wayside in recent years - the annual White Marlin Festival, which took place along the Boardwalk, and the American Legion parade, which the city learned last week would not be returning this summer. One summer parade that does not appear to be suffering from lack of interest is the Ravens parade,...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

A Moving Event Deserving Attention Editor: This past Memorial Day I was privileged and honored to have been able to attend the most moving and beautiful event held at the Veterans Memorial at the south entrance to Ocean Pines. The folks who labored to put this program together and those who volunteered to perform deserve a great deal of credit for a job well done. The entire program was so inspiring that it brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat. I came away from that ceremony feeling...READ MORE

How Others See It

Editor: The alarming situation at Trimper's on Ocean City's famous boardwalk is an example of primal pontification at its finest. In all the posturing, finger pointing and the wringing of tax collector hands, no workable solution has been proposed or put on any table by anyone. What the town of Ocean City and Worcester County Commissioners may need is parked right across the street from the County Courthouse. His name is Jerry Redden. In his official capacity as the Director of Worcester...READ MORE

Ocean City Elementary School

First grade students at Ocean City Elementary School along with student volunteers from Stephen Decatur High School enjoy the hippity-hop relay, which was one of the many different relays the students from grades pre-kindergarten through grade 4 participated in on Friday, June 1 for the school's annual field day.   ...READ MORE

Stephen Decatur High School

The Stephen Decatur High School Annual Mentoring Luncheon was held last month in the school cafeteria. Students and their mentors attended and enjoyed pizza, friendship, and prizes. Above, front from left, are mentors Jack Roub and Catherine Bocci and student Gabrielle Murray, and, back, students Jay Johnson and Delonte Bobbit. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Marion Chambers, right, representative of the Colonial Dames, has announced that Worcester Prep students Alex Lewis (second from left), Ocean City and Jackie Wangel, Berlin, will receive a week-long, all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to study the government first hand. With Chambers and the winners is Dr. Barry Tull, Headmaster. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Lower School

Worcester Prep Alumna Leigh Remy, '03, a senior at Vanderbilt University with a double major in Voice and English, treated Worcester Prep Lower School students to a performance of show tunes and operatic selections. The young students had a great time talking with Remy about her studies in music.  The program was sponsored by Nancy and Mitchell Parker who purchased the performance as a gift for the students at the Art of Giving Auction and Sale. With Remy are Emilee Dorey, Millville; Jenna...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Worcester Prep Grade 5 teacher Erika Phillips, Ocean City, was awarded a grant from Exxon-Mobil to support her unit on flight and rocketry. Here the students show some of their designs for paper planes and kites they've made so far in the unit.  Pictured, first row from left, are Daniel Rosa, Lewes; Alex Scott, Lewes; Hannah Esham, Dagsboro; Chloe Maykrantz, Berlin; Oriana Pando, Lewes; Emma Richardson, Rehoboth Beach; Thomas Buas, Ocean City; second row, Nicky Moses, Bishopville; Claire...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Worcester Prep third grade student Neva Richardson recently earned first place on every event at the 2007 Level 4 Maryland State Championships in St. Mary's, Md. to become State Champion on all five events. Her all-around score of 38.675 is the highest all-around ever scored in any compulsory gymnastic meet in Maryland and earned her the number one place on the Level 4 Maryland State Team. In addition, she earned three new high score records at Twister Gymnastics where she trains by achieving a...READ MORE

Boulanger, Ruppert Win Coveted Del. Bragging Rights

BERLIN - More than 100 surfers from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida met at the Delaware Seashore Tower Road State Park to compete for state titles and $1,500 in prizes from Quiet Storm Surf Shops at the 2007 Quiet Storm Delaware State Surfing Championships. ESA All-Star Vince Boulanger of Ocean City over-powered the small surf and took home the title of Delaware State Surfing Champion along with a $200 Quiet Storm Surf Shop gift certificate. Boulanger, as a first-time Men's division...READ MORE