December 12, 2008

Decatur Boys Drop Pair to Start Season

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity basketball team dropped its first two games of the 2008-2009 season this week, but already the team has shown signs of heading in the right direction. Two years removed from a one-win season and just one year after winning only four games, the Seahawks on the surface appear to be up to the old tricks just two games into this season, but there is reason for optimism. Despite dropping its first two games of the 2008-2009 campaign this week, Decatur was competitive...READ MORE

Mallards Fall to Eagles, 43-31

BERLIN- Despite a couple of rallies to cut their deficit on Tuesday, Worcester Prep's girls' varsity basketball team fell to Seaford Christian, 43-31, to drop their fifth straight game to start the season. The Mallards hung with the Eagles for the most part on Tuesday, matching them point for point during several stretches of the game, but a couple of prolonged scoring droughts proved the be their undoing. So far this season, Worcester has shown the ability to score in transition when the...READ MORE

Mallards Rebound from Tough Loss

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity basketball team rebounded from one of its most lopsided losses in recent memory this week with a 41-24 win over visiting Seaford Christian on Tuesday. The see-saw early season continued this week for the young Mallards, whose record now stands at 2-3 after the first week. Worcester got by a scrappy Seaford Christian team, 41-24, at home on Tuesday to somewhat erase the lingering bad feelings from last Friday's 61-19 pasting at the hands of old rival...READ MORE

Seahawk Swimmers Excel in 1st Meet

BERLIN- In its first ever meet as an officially sanctioned program, the Stephen Decatur High School varsity swim team had mixed results this week with the girls' team defeating Easton, 54-40, and the boys' team falling to the Warriors, 57-28. Decatur began the program last year on a trial basis as a club team after students at the school expressed an interest in competing as a swim team. The Seahawks competed in a handful of dual meets last winter with other schools on the Eastern Shore and in...READ MORE

Seahawks Finish 7th at War on Shore

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity wrestling team enjoyed another great weekend hosting the 7th Annual War on the Shore Tournament last week, finishing seventh as a team out of the field of 25 of some of best high school programs in the mid-Atlantic region and placing several individual wrestlers in their respective weight classes. The Seahawks finished seventh as a team in the 2008 edition of the War on the Shore, held at Decatur last Friday and Saturday. Baltimore powerhouse Mount Saint Joseph...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where and When Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 12: Nothin' But Trouble Saturday, Dec. 13: Crowded Outhouse Every Tuesday: Open Mic Hosted By Tungsten Groove Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 12: Customer Appreciation Christmas Party with Crowded Outhouse Saturday, Dec. 13: TBA Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th Street Friday, Dec. 12: DJ Rupe, 7-10 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 ,...READ MORE

OC Reverts Course, Awards Web Work To Own Ad Agency

OCEAN CITY - Though some might be upset with the process, the result ended up being the same as originally proposed: MGH Advertising will design Ocean City's new website for approximately $178,000. After a surprising motion proposed at Tuesday's work session by Councilman Doug Cymek that was quickly seconded by Councilwoman Mary Knight to go ahead with MGH's proposal to redesign the currently outdated www.ococean.com site, the council passed it in a 4-3 vote with members Joe Hall, Jim Hall, and...READ MORE

Stolen Wedding Ring Recovered

Stolen Wedding Ring Recovered OCEAN PINES - A Millsboro man is in custody this week after Ocean Pines Police connected him with the theft of a wedding ring from a residence in the community in August. Ocean Pines Police this week arrested Marvin Lee Simpson, 53, after connecting him to the alleged theft of a $12,500 wedding ring from a home in the community in August. Simpson was employed in a home improvement capacity at the residence in August when the ring was stolen, and Pines Police were...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Mary Grace Griffin BERLIN - Mary Grace Griffin, 86, formerly of Ocean Pines, died on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, at the home of her daughter. She was the wife of Carroll 'Griff ' Griffin, who died in February and with whom she celebrated 61 years of marriage. Born in Stamford, Conn., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Leona Castellano Maffei. Her marriage to Griff was a World War II romance. She corresponded with him during the war, married him when he was discharged from the Army and then...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Regarding this week's website decision by Ocean City, what's interesting to me is how the council may or may not have looked over a key part of its code in approving the $178,000 expenditure for the new website to MGH Advertising. Not wanting to make the proverbial mountain out of a molehill here, I called City Solicitor Guy Ayres this week to question him on whether the council acted properly when it decided not to seek bids on such a large ticket item. First, a little background, according to...READ MORE

OC Website Process Left No Other Choice

OC Website Process Left No Other Choice In a surprising turn of events, the Ocean City Mayor and Council voted 4-3 on Tuesday to award the redesign of the town's website to its own advertising firm, MGH Advertising, rather than seek price quotes and design ideas from other agencies. About a month ago, members of the council questioned the $178,000-plus cost estimate on a new site by MGH, deciding instead to select a state-of-the-art tourism site and seek bids on what it would take to build a...READ MORE

Voices From the Readers

Schools Must Pinch Like Rest Of Us Editor: In reading the various articles this week regarding our Board of Education and how they cannot decrease their budget by 3 percent, I have this question, "Has the Board of Education ever turned a light switch off in any of the schools?" If they did, we would save not only money but reduce energy costs. Heating can also be turned down during the day. The majority of children in our schools keep their coats on or with...READ MORE

Friday, December 12--Berlin Electric Customers Likely To See Rate Increase

BERLIN - A 2-percent increase in the electric power base rate could show up in Berlin power bills as early as January, if the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) signs off on the change. The higher rate would be instituted to recover over $400,000 in under-collected power cost fees. The PSC will issue a written response in a few weeks to the town's proposal, which also seeks to reduce the impact of the unrecovered funds by absorbing half, and spreading the recovery effort out over two...READ MORE

Friday, December 12-Council Supports $5M In Upgrades To Powell Center

OCEAN CITY - Although the Roland E. Powell Convention Center won't be getting an exterior expansion any time soon, it's going to get a few much needed upgrades inside. Though the Mayor and City Council did not deem plans for the $60 million to $75 million expansion of the center feasible at Tuesday's work session, they did support the first phase of upgrades to the existing building costing at least $5 million. City Engineer Terry McGean and Tourism Director Mike Noah brought forward a...READ MORE

Friday, December 12--OC Air Show Books Thunderbirds

OCEAN CITY - The second annual Ocean City Air Show added a nice feather to its cap this week when the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds announced they would be participating in the event in the resort in mid-June. Last year's inaugural Ocean City Air Show was deemed a success with thousands of spectators cramming into the downtown area for the event in the middle of the week in June. This year, the event has been moved back a week later to June 13-14 and will be held on a weekend instead of mid-week...READ MORE

Friday, December 12--Town To Elect New Councilman On Tuesday

BERLIN - District 1 voters are being asked to cast their vote for a new councilman at Buckingham Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Vying to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Gee Williams are Phil Cropper, Rex Hailey and Troy Purnell. The trio squared off last week in a candidates forum hosted by the Assateague Coastal Trust. In the part two of our council preview, the following is a review of some other topics raised during that forum. Wind, Alternate Energy Hailey: 'I...READ MORE

Berlin Signs Off On Parking Limits

BERLIN - The suggested two-hour Berlin downtown parking limit is now mandatory, after the Berlin Mayor and Council voted unanimously to restrict on-street parking on and near downtown Main Street. Vehicles on Main Street between Donoway Furniture and Town Center Antiques, and on roughly the first block of Jefferson, Pitt and Commerce streets, may only remain parked for two hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Merchants asked for the limitations in November, hoping to stimulate lagging sales by...READ MORE

Council Backs Boardwalk Tram Service Cuts

OCEAN CITY - Pedestrians will only have to look over their shoulder for the lurching Boardwalk tram during the summer months after Tuesday's City Council work session. The Boardwalk tram is breaking down more often and costing the town more money than ever, so when the service went under Public Works Director Hal Adkins' 'cost cutting' microscope, he found a change was needed. 'Currently, we start the service Good Friday and operate every weekend thereafter including Fridays. On these weekends,...READ MORE

Judge Irked By Delays In CO Lawsuit

OCEAN CITY - The U.S. District Court judge presiding over the $30 million wrongful death lawsuit filed earlier this year by the family of two Pennsylvania tourists who perished from carbon monoxide poisoning in a Boardwalk motel room in June 2006 admonished attorneys on both sides yesterday in letter expressing her disappointment in the slow progress of the case, which forced her to cancel a mediation session scheduled for Monday. U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan K. Gauvey sent a memorandum to the...READ MORE

Ocean City Seniors Could See ADA Bus Fare Hike

OCEAN CITY - Some seniors have been vocal about the town extending their Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) bus service 'off the island,' but now, they might be vocal about a new proposal raising the costs to use those buses 'on the island.' The 'low hanging fruit' may have been trimmed from the Ocean City budget, but it now appears that cuts have moved to the areas that will no doubt ruffle some proverbial feathers, namely, the ADA para-transit bus service for senior citizens. A public...READ MORE

Resort Planning To Bid Out Ad Agency Work In '09

OCEAN CITY - MGH Advertising got the gig to design the town's website, but now it may have to fight to keep their job as the town's advertising agency. No sooner had the dust settled from the controversial 4-3 decision granting MGH the $178,000 job to redesign the www.ococean.com site was it proposed by Councilman Joe Hall to start the process to bid out the job for Ocean City's advertising agency, which council agreed in a 6-1 vote with Councilwoman Mary Knight opposing. 'MGH's contract expires...READ MORE

Berlin Mayor Says No Need For Uniform Budget Cuts

BERLIN - Budget cuts are coming to the town of Berlin, but the Mayor is reluctant to impose a uniform, across-the-board reduction, as the town is not in budget trouble. 'The interesting thing is we don't have a budget crisis of any sort,' said Berlin Mayor Gee Williams in a phone interview this week. 'We're basically underbudget in expenditures to date.' A fiscal year-to-date budget report, covering July through November, shows Berlin has used about 30 percent of its budget so far this fiscal...READ MORE

Board Says Paying Judgment Could Close Schools

BERLIN - Worcester County public schools officials last week were successful, albeit briefly, in avoiding paying a $1.1 million award lost to a private contractor in a civil suit over a dispute about work done at the new Ocean City Elementary School after convincing the state's Court of Special Appeals making the payments while the case is in appeal could cause 'irreparable harm' to the school system and might cease operations and instruction. Two weeks ago, a visiting Worcester County Circuit...READ MORE

Decrease In Golf Rounds Sparks Talks With Agency

OCEAN CITY - Though the City Council was apprehensive to jump back into bed with new ownership of a golf package company that famously had owed the city quite a bit of money, they gave the green light to at least giving them a call. Based on slumping golf package deals at the town-owned Eagle's Landing golf course, Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster asked the council Tuesday to reconsider its 2007 decision to terminate the relationship. A partnership between the town and the now bankrupt...READ MORE

Local Charged With ’07 Juvenile Rape

BERLIN - An Ocean City man is behind bars facing rape and assault charges this week after admitting to police late last month he had sexual relations with a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions last year. On Nov. 30, 2007, Ocean City Police arrested Christopher Michael Shockley, 19, for outstanding warrants related to a malicious destruction of property case dating back to July. While being interviewed, Shockley allegedly made statements to OCPD officers regarding sexual conduct with a...READ MORE

Malice Argued In OC Pedestrian Fatality Case

SNOW HILL - The family of a Pennsylvania man struck and killed while crossing Coastal Highway in June 2007 have renewed efforts to seek $1 million in punitive damages against the driver of the vehicle, raising an interesting debate about the existence or absence of malice in the case. Attorneys for the family of Tyler Adams, of Easton, Pa., struck and killed by a vehicle on Coastal Highway in June 2007 late last month, filed an amended complaint seeking $1 million in punitive damages against the...READ MORE

Man Gets 7-Year Sentence For Cocaine

SNOW HILL - A Berlin man, one of 10 people arrested during a major brawl at the parking lot of a mid-town nightclub involving hundreds of people, pleaded guilty this week to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to seven years in jail. All in all, 10 people were arrested, four Ocean City Police officers were injured and three suspects were transported to an area hospital during a fight involving several hundred people in the early morning hours of May 4. One of those...READ MORE

Resort Rescue Gear Upgrade Approved

OCEAN CITY - The City Council unanimously approved the purchase of new safety equipment for the fire department water rescue team, stemming from the heroic late September rescue of three intoxicated swimmers in dreadful conditions. OC Fire Department Chief Chris Larmore came before the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday asking for a number of improvements to the equipment used by the surf rescue team including night-vision goggles, high-visibility wetsuits and strobe buoys. After Del Baker and...READ MORE

Restitution Plan Okayed In Resort Robbery Appeal

SNOW HILL - A former Ocean City hotel night auditor convicted of staging a phony armed robbery of the facility with the help of her then-boyfriend in the summer of 2007 successfully appealed her case in Circuit Court this week, having her conviction and sentence placed on the stet, or inactive docket, in exchange for an accelerated plan to repay nearly $50,000 in restitution. Brady Ashley Greer, now 22, of Columbia, Md., was found guilty last February of felony theft, felony theft conspiracy and...READ MORE

Berlin Planning Needed Street Repairs

BERLIN - The Berlin Mayor and Council considered a variety of street- and water-related items at the Dec. 8 Berlin Mayor and Council meeting. They are summarized below. -- Berlin will pursue promised street repairs on Vine and Grice streets and Graham Avenue this year with work planned for spring 2009. 'We definitely did budget money to upgrade these streets this year,' said Mayor Gee Williams. Plans call for staff and engineering consultants to visit those streets and begin making plans for...READ MORE

See Who Was Helping Those Throughout the Community

A look at locals who are helping their neighbors in the community. ...READ MORE

Spotlight on Who Was Where and When

A look at the regional restaurant and bar scene ...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

I can't get through a football game anymore without a nap. I have always loved Saturday and Sunday afternoon football games, but they have taken on a bit of a new meaning of late. It's become more of a time for me to nap with my little boy than to actually root on any particular team. Last Sunday, my wife, son and I went to a few holiday gatherings in the early afternoon before returning home in time for the 4:15 p.m. game between the Steelers and Cowboys. Beckett was in Daddy Day Care, while...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Insider's got the nubs. No, it's not a disease. His entire body is covered with hundreds of tiny green cotton balls from a recently purchased bath towel. He just returned from the shower and a glance in the mirror to enjoy his good looks revealed several fuzzy green dots decorating his eyebrows, hair and body. A couple of days ago, the nubs were burgundy from the other new towel he bought. Thursday the old guy was in his executive mode, sitting in his plus office making believe he was really...READ MORE

A Week In Business

AGH Adds Neurologist BERLIN - Atlantic General Hospital recently announced the addition of neurologist Preeti Yonker, M.D., to the Atlantic General Hospital/Health System Medical Staff. The hospital recruited Yonker to the Atlantic General Health System network of providers as part of its mission to further improve access to specialized care in Worcester County. Yonker earned her medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine before going on to a neurology residency at Henry...READ MORE

Answers For Year-End Questions

BERLIN - There's lot of reasonable questions as we approach the end of the year and here are some smart year-end moves and a sensible long-term strategy could minimize your bill. Will I pay the AMT? The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, signed into law in October, applies another one-year "patch" to the alternative minimum tax, but that probably won't help if your income is from $200,000 to $1 million. Falling in that income range, exercising incentive stock options or taking large...READ MORE

OC Elementary 2nd graders show-off landform maps

Ocean City Elementary School students in Linda Brown's second grade class proudly display their Maryland landform maps. After studying maps and geography, they created the maps using different colors of clay to show the mountains, hills and plains found in our state. Students shown are, back, Reed Welton, Tyler Bernal, Dylan Bossalina; middle, Sivan Cohen, Skylar Moore, Sarah Hancock, Gianni Carlotta; and, front, Jude Alhamad. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Sixth Grade Dolphins Team Wraps Up Statistics Unit

Students on the sixth grade Dolphins Team wrapped up their statistics unit by taking "Barbie" on a bungee jumping trip. The students gathered data pertaining to the distance Barbie traveled each time two rubber bands were added to the bungee. Measurements were then analyzed for mean, median, mode and range. Above, Berkeley King, Ana Garcia, and Wyatt Bishop look on as Alan Nyugen measures the distance ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep SGA President Speaks at Thanksgiving Service

Worcester Prep SGA President Peter Buas talked to students at the school's Thanksgiving Service. His message was to encourage everyone to give generously of funds and food so that many baskets for needy families would be ready for distribution during the holiday season. With Buas are Upper School Dean Nancy Decker and seniors Sarah Ann Showell and Meegan Jayne Smith. ...READ MORE

First Graders Plant Space Exposed Seeds

Windy Phillips' first grade class at Ocean City Elementary School recently planted space-exposed cinnamon basil seeds that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-118. Students are comparing the growth of the space-exposed seeds to seeds that have remained in climate-controlled conditions. Pictured, from left, are Kaela Gilligan, Cali Peters and Summer Vorsteg. ...READ MORE

County Commissioner Boggs visits OC Elementary Class

County Commissioner Judy Boggs visited Liz Glover's third grade class at Ocean City Elementary during American Education Week. Boggs is pictured with student Hannah Stolba and Glover. ...READ MORE

SDHS Participates in 25th Annual Math Competition

Stephen Decatur High School recently took part in the 25th Annual Eastern Shore High School Math Competition. Seniors Kara Brower and Yunmin Ni and Junior Bonnie Eisenman represented the school. Ni placed second in the individual competition. Above, Eisenman, Ni and Brower work on math problems. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep 7th Graders visit Historic Sites

Worcester Prep's seventh grade students visited Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. One of their tours was of the Godspeed, a replica of one of the three ships that sailed from England to America in 1607. Among the 50-plus students who attended were, front from left, Ben Clark, Chase Schmehling, Hannah Showell, Kyle Zarif, Meg Lingo, Libby Truitt, Kristen Shriver, Sarah Arrington, Lily DiNardo, Maddie Stearns; back, Robbie Rogers, Lucas Baier, Jack Pedigo, Thomas Buas, Madison Hubbard, Alison...READ MORE

Star Charities Plan 2009 Events

Star Charities met at the Ocean Pines Library last week to go over plans for the 2009 events. Pictured, seated, are Anna Foultz, President and founder of Star Charities with volunteer Imgard Heineke;, standing, from left, volunteers Stacy Schaefer, Susan Curtis, Susan Palamara, Robin Boyle and Ginny Reister. Details were reviewed and finalized for the first event of 2009, the Annual Beef and Beer Fundraiser to benefit Women Supporting Women on Saturday Jan. 10 at the American Legion Post...READ MORE

Methodist Bible Study Visits Temple Bat Yam

Temple Bat Yam President Dr. Lawrence Michnick and Rabbi Susan Warshaw welcomed the Stevenson United Methodist Church bible study group to Shabbat services. Pictured are Catherine Whaley, Mary O'Neal, Sandra Foreman, Michnick, Carolie Patton, Nikki Grant, Warshaw, Suzanne Auwarter, Karen Smith, Diane Graham, Lou Magsamen, Pamella Russell, Melody Johnson, and Gladys Gaynor. ...READ MORE

Three New Members Added to Worcester Prep Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of Worcester Preparatory School has announced that three new members were elected to membership on the board. They are, from left, Michael Truitt, Bishopville; Cathy Davies-Harmon, Rehoboth Beach; and Greg Langeler, Salisbury. The new members are Worcester Prep parents who serve on the Board Development Committee. ...READ MORE

Twisters Gymnasts Train with Olympic Coaches and Athletes

Members of the Twisters gymnastics team traveled to Stroudsburg, Pa. to the International Gymnastics Camp and one of the Olympic Training centers to be trained by past Olympians and Olympic coaches over the Thanksgiving break including Blaine Wilson, a three-time Olympian and silver medallist. Pictured above with Wilson are Mackenzi Wagner, Hailey Brown, Mikayla Amey, Cade Solito, Ross Dickerson, Justin Maniatty and team coach Fran Fennell. ...READ MORE

Worcester County Health Department hosts 2nd Annual Family Day

The Worcester County Health Department and the Local Management Board partnered to host the 2nd Annual Family Day Celebration last month. All events were encouraged to be done together as a family. Raffle winners were, above from left, Tina Warrick, Jolisa Jackson, Shaquia Jackson, Jordan Pitts and Tokysha Townsend. ...READ MORE

Things I Like

A good parallel parking job Going to the Berlin Christmas Parade each year A big umbrella that can handle a little wind That my son is cool with wearing hats Weekends with no plans A coffee with a little Irish in it Coupons for baby formula A fake Christmas tree that looks real Getting holiday cards in the mail Crawling into bed after a long day Parade floats will little kids ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Careful, Lamb. Don't let your generous nature lead to some serious overspending as you contemplate your holiday gift-giving. Your social life kicks off into high gear by week's end. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A positive attitude helps you weather annoying but unavoidable changes in holiday plans. Aspects favor new friendships and reinforcement of existing relationships. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Demands on your energy level could be much higher than usual as you...READ MORE