April 17, 2009

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, April 17: TBA Saturday, April 18: TBA Every Wednesday: Open Mic Hosted By Tungsten Groove Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, April 17: TBA Saturday, April 18: Electric Company Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Friday, April 17: DJ Rupe Castaway's 64th St. On The Bay , 410-524-9090 Friday, April 17: DJ Mike C Saturday, April 18: Faded...READ MORE

Armed Robber At Large

BERLIN - Local law enforcement agencies this week are looking for the suspect who robbed a man at gunpoint at a car wash on Old Ocean City Blvd. in Berlin last Sunday. Around 3 p.m. last Sunday, Berlin Police responded to the Union Station Car Wash on Old Ocean City Blvd. for a reported armed robbery. The victim told police the suspect held a handgun under his sweatshirt and threatened to shoot the man if he didn't turn over his wallet and money. The victim complied and lost his wallet and an...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Here's some thoughts on this year's General Assembly session, which wrapped this week. •€¦ For the second year in a row, a seemingly innocuous bill okaying a limited number of slot machines at fraternal organizations around Worcester failed to be approved by the legislature. It was a mild surprise the legislation did not pass last year, considering it was essentially a matter of local courtesy with the County Commissioners and the Ocean City Mayor and Council backing it. It's a shocker it...READ MORE

A Chance For Change

Ocean City has begun a search to replace current Tourism Department and Roland E. Convention Center Director Mike Noah, who is 'moving on' after 13 years with the town. We see this opening as a chance for the town to take these key departments in a new direction and at least consider and debate some major changes to its structure. Area tourism folks welcome this change at the top and are excited to see whom the town hires, hoping the new director will bring a new background, expertise and...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Former Students Welcome Editor: On April 24, the Town of Ocean City Beautification Committee and Ocean City Elementary School will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of their collaboration for Arbor Day. For all that time, the third grade and then the second grade students of the school have celebrated the beauty and of benefits of trees for the Town of Ocean City with skits, poems and songs. Since this will be a very special milestone of this partnership, we would like to invite all former...READ MORE

Some Wins, Losses For Local Bills Of Significance

ANNAPOLIS - The 426th Maryland General Assembly session expired late Monday with thousands of bills passed by state lawmakers and thousands more left on the table, but by and large, the local delegation was successful in pushing through several pieces of legislation important to the area. Some battles were won and others were lost during a session Delegate James Mathias characterized this week as 'good with a small •€˜g'.' It wasn't great by any means, as harrowing statewide economic and...READ MORE

Friday, April 17--Berlin Enviro Park Plans Scrapped

BERLIN - Hopes for a new environmental park in north Berlin were dashed recently when the town concluded that funding to purchase the 7.85 acres of land would not be available for at least two years. Mayor Gee Williams announced the end of the brief pursuit of the property at Monday night's Berlin Mayor and Council meeting. 'The environmental park is not going to happen at the Nally property,' Williams said. The town had hoped to use Maryland Program Open Space (POS) or other state funding to...READ MORE

Friday, April 17--High Court Finds School Bd. Must Pay Defense Fees

BERLIN - The highest court in Maryland this week rejected an appeal by the Worcester County Board of Education, forcing the school board to reimburse a private insurance company for the defense of a Pocomoke High vice principal sued in 2004 for allegedly assaulting a student by brandishing a knife in his office. The Maryland Court of Appeals this week decided Worcester County's Board of Education was responsible for paying for the defense of Pocomoke High Vice Principal James Covington in a case...READ MORE

Friday, April 17--Judge Gives Rapist Life After Jury Returns Verdict

SNOW HILL - It took a Worcester County jury a little over one hour last week to find a Pittsville man guilty of raping a Russian girl in a remote area off Holly Grove Rd. last September, and Judge Theodore Eschenberg needed even less time to sentence the serial rapist to life in prison. Darrell Wayne McDaniel, 48, of Pittsville, appeared in Worcester County Circuit Court last Thursday to face several serious charges including first- and second-degree rape, kidnapping and false imprisonment after...READ MORE

Friday, April 17--New Plaintiffs File Suit In CO Incident

OCEAN CITY - Less than one week after the settlement of a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit filed last year by the family of two Pennsylvania tourists who died of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in a Boardwalk motel room in 2006, five separate plaintiffs inflicted with CO poisoning in adjacent rooms during the same incident filed suit in U.S. District Court. On March 27, the case filed in U.S. District Court by the family of two victims who died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Days Inn...READ MORE

City Still Hammering Out Boardwalk Display Rules

OCEAN CITY - The ongoing discussion to try to establish a fair set of outdoor display guidelines for Boardwalk merchants stretched far into the second hour on Tuesday before it was revealed that the Boardwalk Development Association (BDA) and the city's Zoning Administrator were not on the same page with the recommendation. Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith has come before Mayor and Council on numerous occasions in the past few months proposing and petitioning changes and alterations to the new...READ MORE

County Homestead Tax May Jump

SNOW HILL - Local homeowners could see an increased property tax bill in the 2010 calendar year after county staff suggested increasing the homestead tax credit later this year. No changes would be made to the current tax bills due this summer. Property tax revenue will plunge $6 million in fiscal year 2010, which begins in July 2009. Assessed property values in Ocean City decreased in the recent round of reassessment, and 40 percent of Worcester County's property tax revenue is generated by...READ MORE

Mathias Disturbed By Slots Bill Demise

ANNAPOLIS - Perhaps the most disappointing outcome of this year's General Assembly session was the death of a bill that would have added Worcester County to the list of shore counties that permit slot machines in non-profit veterans organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations. House Bill 65, introduced by local Delegates James Mathias and Norm Conway, would have allowed limited slot machine gambling in service clubs and fraternal organizations in Worcester County in the interests of...READ MORE

OC Take-Home Vehicles On Chopping Block

OCEAN CITY - City Council members will determine what they consider a 'perk' and what is an absolute necessity in reference to city employees' take-home vehicles, and that decision might change the way some town employees get to and from work. A $2.5 million trimming of the Ocean City budget over the past few months has led to a proposed reduction of the town's take-home vehicle fleet, according to City Manager Dennis Dare, but if the council gets its way, more vehicles may be cut than what Dare...READ MORE

SHA Briefs City On Route 50 Bridge Work

OCEAN CITY - State Highway Administration officials told the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday that the Route 50 Bridge project is on schedule, even though repaving has just commenced, and the target date for completion is the second week of June. District Engineer Donnie Drewer of the SHA came before the council on Tuesday to give a report on not only the Route 50 bridge project, but also gave updates on a number of other minor ones within the city limits and outlined plans for work on the...READ MORE

Annual Road Race Returns Saturday

OCEAN CITY - Despite a sluggish economy that has made finding sponsors difficult and the obstacle the ongoing work on the Route 50 Bridge creates, the 2009 Ocean City Half-Marathon is shaping up to be a huge success with twice as many runners registered for the race compared to last year's event. For three years, OC Tri-Running Sports, formerly Extreme Dream Events, produced an annual marathon in Ocean City each April, attracting hundreds of racers from all over the country for a full marathon,...READ MORE

Berlin Commits To Improving Sidewalks

BERLIN - Sidewalks are a perennial Berlin discussion item, but this week town staff indicated some progress in repairing the often-crumbling town walkways. The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has recently completed repairs on sidewalks along Bay St., and moved on to working on the handicapped ramps on Main St, said Public Works Director Mike Gibbons at Monday night's Berlin Mayor and Council meeting. Gibbons hopes that the additional money in that contract will be directed to more...READ MORE

Berlin Hires Utility Manager

BERLIN - A new chapter in the ongoing saga of Berlin's electric utility opened recently with the hire of a new manager. Dave Thomas, Berlin's new electric utilities director, started this week. Thomas, an engineer with an MBA, was selected from a dozen candidates for the position. "What we were looking for was a background in engineering and running a power plant," said Berlin town administrator Tony Carson. Thomas' additional business education "is just a plus for us," said...READ MORE

City, Chamber Merge Tourism Guides

OCEAN CITY - The Town of Ocean City and the Chamber of Commerce came to an agreement this week to merge each entity's tourism publication into one joint book that will not only create a single message, but will also save the town a substantial amount of money. By merging the 'Sea for Yourself' guide and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce 'Ocean City Maryland Vacation' guide, Ocean City will save upwards of $95,000 and ease expenses on the business community, which, in the past, has purchased...READ MORE

County Departments Scramble To Meet 5% Cuts In Spending

SNOW HILL - Several county agencies that presented budget requests to the County Commissioners Wednesday all managed to cut their requests by at least 5 percent, as requested, and one by as much as 29 percent. Cuts mean less services in some cases, including a reduction in health services from the Worcester County Health Department, a state agency funded in large part by the county. One notable casualty of the health budget cuts is the Caroline St. summer health clinic in Ocean City. County...READ MORE

Ex-Chamber Director Lawsuit Heads To Court

SNOW HILL - Civil proceedings pitting a former Ocean City Chamber of Commerce leader against his former employer over disputed financial arrangements dating back several years began in earnest in Worcester County Circuit Court this week. Last April, former Ocean City Chamber Executive Director Daniel Barufaldi filed suit against the local chamber, alleging breach of contract, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing in a contract, negligent misrepresentation and other charges related to his...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - In the brief this week, the City Council was reassured the state had not made a final decision on the new Route 50 bridge plan, the turbine issue got yet another tweaking before second reading and the town outlined a stringent plan for retiree health insurance. SHA Says New Bridge Still In Planning Phase State Highway Administration (SHA) District Engineer Donnie Drewer reassured the Mayor and Council that even though the bridge planning committee within the SHA has made a decision...READ MORE

Ocean City-Based Film Eyes Release

OCEAN CITY - 'The Graduates' are coming back to Ocean City, but it's not the 'junebugs' that flock to town each year, it's the movie that was shot in Ocean City about the 'junebugs.' Ryan and Matt Gielen, formerly of Columbia, Md., had called Ocean City their vacation home their entire lives, and found inspiration in the town's annual 'senior week' migration and made it the backdrop for their first feature length film, 'The Graduates', which they shot in Ocean City in the fall of 2007. After a...READ MORE

Statewide Matters Could Have Impact On County

ANNAPOLIS - State lawmakers considered countless pieces of proposed legislation during the 90-day General Assembly session that concluded on Monday from the gravely serious to the somewhat inane. Weighty issues from the struggling economy to the housing the foreclosure crisis and from the environment to public safety were debated during the session, as were several controversial social issues from a repeal of the death penalty to illegal aliens. The following represents a few of the highlight...READ MORE

Survey Reveals Berlin Citizen Views

BERLIN - Twenty-three percent of Berlin households weighed in on the future of the town during a survey on the comprehensive plan, demographics and what the town has to offer residents. 'For a municipality, that's a very good response rate,' said Planning and Zoning Director Chuck Ward. 'You'd normally expect to see in the 10 to 15 percent range.' 'To my knowledge it's the first time the town has done anything like this,' Mayor Gee Williams said. Half the questions were meant to illuminate...READ MORE

People in Society

Check out What Some of Your Neighbors are Doing Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

See Who Was Where and When

A spotlight on the local and regional bar and restaurant scene ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Insurance Management Group, Inc of Ocean City recently donated a full library of publications written specifically for Condominium Boards and Managers. The library of pamphlets and books are comprised of a number of Community Associations, Inc. publications as well as a complete set of CAI's 27 Guides for the Association Practitioner. Pictured, from left, are Worcester County Library's Assistant Manager Joe Colantuoni, Branch Manager Andrea Schlottman and Reese Cropper, III of Insurance...READ MORE

A Week In Business

The agents at Prudential Carruthers, West Ocean City, recently participated in a March Madness Basketball Slam Dunk Contest, created by Office Administrative Assistant Bertha Purnell. Whenever an agent got a ratified contract they would get a small paper basketball, but when they had a settlement they would get a large paper basketball. The winner was Erik Windrow, who won a $50 gift card to Seacrets, and second place went to Linda Moran & The Moran Team, receiving a hanging basket for their...READ MORE

A Week in Business

New Employee Hired SELBYVILLE, Del. - KitesTailsToys.com is putting some teeth into its 2009 marketing and promotion plans with the hiring of Tom Lloyd as the Selbyville, Del. firm's new creative director. Lloyd, the former publisher and owner of both Oceana and Cablechannels Magazines in Ocean City, has extensive experience in print and electronic advertising. According to KitesTailsToys.com's top dog, Stu Eisenman, Lloyd's bulldog-like tenacity will enable him to take on a variety of roles for...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

My son loves a bath, so long as he gets to do whatever he wants, when he wants and how he wants. The honor of giving Beckett a bath usually falls to me each evening. It's our nightly father-son bonding time, and it's usually an interesting adventure. Plus, it gives his mother a much needed break from chasing him around all day. Aside from the handful of tantrums he has thrown, as a result of his dislike for having his face washed and the fact I don't let him stand up during his bath, it's mostly...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You're doing better on the flexibility issue, but you still need to loosen up a bit to show you can be less judgmental and more understanding about certain sensitive matters. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Your personal aspect continues to dominate this week. But try to make time to deal with important career-linked matters as well. A change of plans might occur by the weekend. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Excuses are not really needed for much of the confusion...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to worry. Insider would never put himself in the category of people that stresses about the little things, but when it comes to eating it's a different story. The old guy has gotten to the point in his life by eating whatever he wants whenever he wants. If he wants to crack into a gallon of Breyers and finish it one seating, he does and he's not one to worry about what it does to his waistline, let alone his blood sugar, cholesterol or calories. Now the hip thing to...READ MORE

Third and Fourth Grade Students Submit Essays for Americanism Awards

Students in grades 3 and 4 in the Berlin area submitted their essays to the Women's Auxiliary of the Boggs Disharoon Post of the American Legion in Berlin for the annual Americanism awards. Pictured, front from left, are James Truitt, Berlin Intermediate School, third place; Regan Lingo, Worcester Prep, second place; Lindsay Pierson, Berlin Intermediate School, first place; and, back, Joyce Dennis, Americanism Co-Chairman; Diana Eckenrode, Americanism Co-Chairman; and Francis Whitelock, SES...READ MORE

OC Elementary First Graders Create Magic Tree House Adventures

Windy Phillips' first grade class at OC Elementary created scenes from their favorite Magic Tree House Adventure Story. Students used the author's vivid description to make the setting come alive. Displaying their creations were Zachary Koch, Michelangelo Collins, Robbie Pinzhoffer, and Tony Galeaz. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Students Enjoy Books with Afternoon Tea

Worcester Prep students in Yetive Delaney's Advanced Reading fifth grade class enjoyed books describing the pleasure of Afternoon Tea. To learn more about Afternoon Tea and good manners, they visited Tea by the Sea in Berlin to enjoy the tea experience. Having fun, front from left, are Lauren Dykes, Lauren Jett, Grace Tunis, Regan Shanahan, Victoria Middleton and Laura Issel; back, Zachary Oltman, Wyatt Richins and Jordan Osias. ...READ MORE

Many Factors Decide How To Grow Wealth

OCEAN CITY - There is no simple solution for growing wealth. Your financial goals, timeline, and risk profile will determine how you should allocate your assets among the major investment classes of stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents. For example, young parents who are starting a college education fund for their newborn have a long time horizon and typically can, in the earlier years, tolerate the fluctuations of an aggressive growth strategy that invests primarily in stocks. In contrast,...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who We Have Lost

Paul Bancroft Clifford OCEAN CITY - Paul Bancroft Clifford, age 78, died Thursday, April 9, 2009 at his home in Ocean City. Born in Boston, Mass., he was the son of the late Dr. Stewart H. Clifford and Ellinor Burnett Clifford. He had been an insurance executive with Monumental Life Insurance Company in Baltimore, which his late grandfather had founded. He received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He was a Navy veteran having served during the Korean Conflict earned the rank of Lieutenant....READ MORE

SDHS Teacher Receives Appreciation Letter From OC/Berlin Optimist Club

Stephen Decatur High School teacher Mary Candeloro receives a letter of appreciation and a Fager's Island gift card from Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Youth Foundation Lottery Coordinator George Balunis. Candelero, a former youth foundation scholarship winner and a 2002 graduate of Deactur, assisted the foundation in picking the winning $100,000 ticket for the Optimist Youth Foundation Scholarship Lottery at the Seaside Boat Show. She has recently returned to the community from North Dakota with...READ MORE

Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center Awarded Community Needs Grant

The Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center at Salisbury University has been awarded a $5,842 Community Needs Program grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) to help support the center's Mobile Science Museum. Pictured accepting the grant are Dr. Ed Robeck, Salisbury University faculty member, left, and Karen Goldman-Karten, Center Director, center, from Spicer Bell, CFES President. ...READ MORE

Lions Club Gives Students Free Vision Screenings

The Lions Clubs of Multiple District 22 provide free vision screening for all public school pre-kindergarteners and newly enrolled kindergarteners. Among the 60 Snow Hill Elementary School students screened were, from left, Austin Hicks, Emme Goddard and Tymere Shockley. Representing the Lions Club are, from left, Claude Hall, Bill Dennis, Donnie Shockley, Bill Kahler Chuck Bowie and Jay...READ MORE

Things I Like

A cluster of daffodils along a road All the kids' colorful Easter outfits at church Planning to never use Twitter The new Crabs To Go building Watching my son stand on his own The last day of the Masters A US flag hanging in front of a house An old beat up jeep Led Zeppelin\'s early albums A heated pool Sound of an acoustic guitar ...READ MORE

Open Houses in West Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Berlin

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Sat-Sun 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 WEST OCEAN CITY New Construction West Harbor Village Daily 10-5 11 Townhouses 3BR/2.5BA/Garage Prudential Carruthers 410-524-7000 WEST OCEAN CITY 9800 Mooring View West Harbor Village Sat&Sun 11-5 3BR/3.5BA/2200SF 3-Story Townhome Bryant Hungerford Prudential Carruthers 410-430-0370 OCEAN PINES 7 Dog Leg Court Sat 10-2 Well-Cared For 4BR/2BA Home $2K towards...READ MORE

Open Houses in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY The Meridian Daily 10-4 Oceanfront Residences New Construction Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-520-0072 OCEAN CITY Bella Vista Open Daily 10-4 3BR Bayside Condos 45th Street Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Belmont Towers Boardwalk & Talbot Street Mon-Thurs 11-4 Fri-Sun 10-5 Kevin Decker Remax Premier Properties 443-235-6552 OCEAN CITY Bahia Vista 10th St. Bayside Daily 10-4 3&4BR Condos Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Bel Mare Somerset...READ MORE

Open Houses in Surrounding Areas of Ocean City

OCEAN VIEW 16 Foxwood Ct Foxwoods 4BR/3.5BA Home Sat & Sun 12-4 Rob Arlett & Keith Hartung ResortQuest 302-462-5746 LEWES 31558 Rachel Ave Bayfront at Rehoboth Fri-Sun 10-5 5BR/4.5BA Home Rob Arlett & Charlie Gilroy ResortQuest 302-462-5746 DAGSBORO Chapel Crossing Phoenix Ave & Beach Air Landing 3&4BR Townhomes Fri-Sun 11-5 Pat Eggers ResortQuest 302-249-0195 SELBYVILLE 37892 Fenwick Circle Sat 11-4 4BR/2.5BA Single Family Home 4 miles to Beaches Prudential...READ MORE