August 14, 2009

Thursday, Aug. 20-New Ad Campaign Stresses August Value

OCEAN CITY - Mayor Rick Meehan has a secret. At least that's what he's telling radio listeners in a new advertisement for the town of Ocean City. In efforts to boost numbers in the historically lagging final two weeks in August prior to Labor Day, the Tourism Commission instructed MGH Advertising, the firm contracted by the town to run its marketing program, to use some of the remaining advertising budget to run a new spin on the town's current 'value'' message. Tourism Director Deb Travers said...READ MORE

Wednesday, Aug. 19-OC Pipe Bomber Gets 30 Months

OCEAN CITY - An Ocean City man arrested on several felony charges related to the construction and use of explosives at and near his resort residence last fall, followed by a threat of retaliation against a witness who assisted in the investigation, was convicted in U.S. District Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to 30 months in jail followed by three years of supervised probation. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Norman Arnold, 21, of Ocean City to 30 months in...READ MORE

Tuesday, Aug. 18-OC Hotel Fined $10K For Violating Law

OCEAN CITY - The resort hotel that had to be evacuated last week as a result of a carbon monoxide leak was fined by the Town of Ocean City $10,000 for not having detectors on site as mandated by city law. The Americana Hotel was closed to the public last Tuesday after visitors in 91 of the 94 oceanfront hotel rooms had to be evacuated after a carbon monoxide leak was found. Some people in the hotel had to be physically escorted and showed obvious signs of carbon monoxide exposure, according to...READ MORE

Monday, Aug. 17-Photo Contest To Celebrate Sunfest History

OCEAN CITY - As Sunfest, one of Ocean City's most popular festivals, gets ready to celebrate its 35th anniversary Sept. 24-27 at the Inlet Lot and beach, the Town of Ocean City is looking for photos that have been taken over the years to be displayed during the event. 'We want to observe the 35th anniversary of Sunfest in a special way,' said John Sullivan, Town Special Events Director. 'We welcome everyone to send in their favorite Sunfest photos so that we can share all the great memories that...READ MORE

Attempted Bank Robbery

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City police this week are looking for a man who attempted to rob a bank in the 94th Street area on Monday morning before apparently getting cold feet and fleeing the scene. Shortly after 9:30 a.m. on Monday, a white male in his mid- to early-40s entered the Susquehanna Bank on 94th Street and Coastal Highway in Ocean City and slipped a note to a teller demanding money. The suspect, a white male in his 40s, must have had a change of heart because he ran from the building just a...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

If I had to choose only one word to describe Ocean City this past week, it would be 'hot!' Up until now, we have been lucky enough to have had cooler than normal temperatures, but that surly was not the case this week. The air conditioners were cranking around OC, and people were heading to the water to keep cool. Fortunately for us, the air is not the only thing that has been smoldering; the fishing has been pretty darn hot as well. This past week concluded another White Marlin Open' and the...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

William Russell Matthews BERLIN - William Russell Matthews, "Bill", age 74, died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Born in Salisbury, he was the son of the late Russell Edmund Matthews and Mary Hargis Scott Matthews. He is survived by his wife, Katie Belle Gaskins Matthews. He was an electrical design engineer having worked for Hurst & Associates and Ox Pond Industries. He was a member and trustee at Buckingham Presbyterian Church, an avid...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

16th OC Lacrosse Classic Underway

OCEAN CITY- The rapidly growing sport of lacrosse takes center stage in and around Ocean City this weekend when some of the top men's and women's teams in the country descend on the resort area for the 16th Annual Ocean City Lacrosse Classic. The annual tournament got underway yesterday with opening round games in the Masters and Grand Masters divisions at the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex in Berlin. Northside Park in Ocean City continues to be tournament headquarters and most of the...READ MORE

2009 WMO One for the Record Books

OCEAN CITY- When White Marlin Open organizers chose the ubiquitous 'Come See Big Fish' phrase for their promotional materials for the 2009 tournament, they likely didn't realize just how prophetic the words would be as the largest white marlin caught in the tournament in 29 years took the event's top prize and a 1,000-pound plus blue marlin toppled a state record that had stood for 20 years. The tournament got off to a relatively slow start last Monday with just one qualifier on the board in the...READ MORE

Crew of Drillin and Billin takes Second Place Tuna

Angler Darrell Drenner and the crew on the 'Drillin & Billin' were the first to the scales last Friday, the White Marlin Open's last day, and weighed this 234-pound tuna to jump into second place in the division and secure nearly $67,000 in prize money. Photo courtesy sportfishermen.com ...READ MORE

Mid-Atlantic 500 Returns Next Week

OCEAN CITY- The resort area's collective hangover from last week's White Marlin Open has just about worn off in time for the next big event on the summer sportfishing calendar- the Mid-Atlantic $500,000, a Cape May, N.J.-based tournament that will again have a strong presence in Ocean City again this year. Now in its 17th year, the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 continues to be one of the top sport fishing events in the region with over $2 million in prize money expected to be doled out again this year....READ MORE

Evacuated Hotel Lacked Required CO Detectors

OCEAN CITY - For the second time this summer, a carbon monoxide (CO) leak caused an evacuation in Ocean City, and for the second time, it was revealed that there were no working CO detectors. Three people were treated (two of them briefly hospitalized) for exposure to CO after a leak in the upper tier of the seven-floor, oceanfront Americana Hotel caused local authorities to evacuate an estimated 150 people on Tuesday morning and shut down the hotel, leaving a horde of guests essentially...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Bank robberies are no laughing matter, but this week's botched attempt at the Susquehanna Bank branch on 94th Street is at least worth a chuckle. According to police, a suspect entered the bank branch and slipped a note of unknown contents to a teller. An obvious assumption is it had something to do with hand over the money. It seems the suspect fled the scene immediately after handing the letter to the teller in an apparent case of the cold feet. Perhaps it was just the nerves, but this sounds...READ MORE

Slap Hefty Fines On CO Law Violators

The deadline for Ocean City dwelling units to have carbon monoxide detectors in place was February, two years after the new law was enacted. It has become obvious this summer that deadline has come and gone without everyone complying. Consequently, we think it's time for Ocean City to hold random pop inspections to ensure the town's carbon monoxide detector law is being followed as it's intended. Clearly, there are violators out there, and they need to be subjected to that $1,000-a-day fine...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Medical Care Deserves Credit Around Here Editor: Thirty years ago, Ed's parents considered buying a retirement home in Ocean City, but did not follow through because they feared that the area lacked adequate health care. Ironically, soon after his father died at home, unable to get to a nearby hospital. Five years ago, we retired to Ocean City. Two years later, we brought Ed's mother to Gull Creek Senior Living Community. By that time, we were already impressed by the quality of the area's...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Angler Restaurant 410-289-7424 , Talbot St. & The Bay Saturday, Aug.15 & Sunday, Aug. 16: TBA Every Sunday: Dock Party with DJ Mike C Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Every Friday: DJ Wood Saturday, Aug. 15: Under The Outhouse Every Sunday: Locals' Party with DJ BK Thursday, Aug. 20: Electric Company CaribBean bar & grill 410-289-0837 , Just off the Boards on 2nd St. Friday, Aug. 14: Dave Sherman, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie Duo, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug....READ MORE

Friday, August 14--Berlin To Borrow $1.7M To Repair Three Bad Roads

BERLIN - The Berlin Mayor and Council introduced an ordinance Monday night to sell a $1.7 million bond to repair and improve three roads, although one elected official expressed concern over the amount of the bond to be issued. The funding is meant to refurbish and improve Harrison Avenue and Grice and Vine streets. The council will hold a public hearing on the bond issuance at its Aug. 24 meeting before approving the ordinance. The town plans to begin construction on the road improvements in...READ MORE

Friday, August 14--OC Files Motion To Dismiss CO Suit Against Paramedics

OCEAN CITY - Ironically, on the same day another resort hotel was evacuated because of the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, town attorneys filed a motion to dismiss a $20 million civil suit filed by the family of two Pennsylvania tourists who died of CO poisoning in June 2006 against Ocean City paramedics who allegedly failed to respond to their pleas for help in the confusion of the tragic morning. In June, Yvonne and Morgan Boughter, surviving family members of the pair of tourists who...READ MORE

Friday, August 14--Pharmacist Guilty Of Conspiracy

OCEAN CITY •€' One half of an Ocean City couple arrested in February on a nine-count federal indictment after an eight-year pattern of utilizing credit accounts of deceased relatives to purchase vacations, luxury goods and services and furnishings for their two resort homes totaling thousands of dollars pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and now faces as much as 30 years in jail and a $1 million fine. U.S. District Attorney for Maryland Rod Rosenstein yesterday...READ MORE

Friday, August 14--Vessel Runs Aground Off Island

ASSATEAGUE - Coast Guard crews and a private contractor this week continued to off-load thousands of gallons of diesel fuel off a commercial vessel that remained grounded off the coast of Assateague as of mid-week. The Coast Guard last week responded to a vessel in trouble off the coast of Assateague and assisted three crewmembers before assessing the potential environmental impact. Around 3 a.m. last Monday, the crew of the 'Frieda Marie' informed the Coast Guard the vessel had run aground and...READ MORE

Annual Firemen's Convention Makes Plea For Help

OCEAN CITY - Some may have taken it as a threat to leave, but town officials say it was a cry for help. Firefighters are usually the ones lending a hand rather than asking for one, and that fact could make the Maryland State Firemen's Association's (MSFA) request for help all the more alarming for local leaders. At last week's tourism commission meeting, representatives from the MSFA had a sit down with the commission to express their desire for a bit more help on the city's end so that they...READ MORE

Captain Terry Layton Having Summer To Remember

OCEAN CITY - Continuing a white hot streak that started back in May with the first mako shark caught in the waters off the coast of Ocean City and also included the first white marlin of the season and a new state record mako in the Ocean City Shark Tournament, Captain Terry Layton and the familiar crew on the 'Nontypical' last week snagged a nice share of the White Marlin Open prize money, adding to the growing folklore of the memorable summer of 2009. For Layton and the 'Nontypical' crew, with...READ MORE

Landowners Propose New Service Road Design

SNOW HILL - Property owners along the path of the planned Route 50 service road between Holly Grove and Seahawk roads are asking the county to consider a different alignment that, they say, would not detrimentally affect their ability to develop their commercial sites. Land use attorney Mark Cropper, representing 10 property owners whose land would be traversed by the service road, spoke before the Worcester County Planning Commission last Thursday. Cropper went before the Worcester County...READ MORE

New Wal-Mart Super Center Site Plan Approved

SNOW HILL - The Wal-Mart Super Center slated for construction behind the existing Berlin Wal-Mart received site plan approval last week. The Worcester County Planning Commission required several changes in the site plan before approving the project. The new, 193,000-square-foot Super Wal-Mart, including a grocery store and drive-up pharmacy, will replace the roughly 100,000-square-foot existing store. The redevelopment will also add three out lots or pad sites. The current store will remain open...READ MORE

Questions Surround Ocean City Demoflush Estimates

OCEAN CITY - Undoubtedly, there are few in the town of Ocean City that would claim that Demoflush statistics are 100 percent spot on, but there are some people who say that its finally time to flush the entire system down the proverbial drain. Discussion about the credibility of Demoflush statistics, or to perhaps what those numbers actually gauge, got a bit heated in recent months after the town of Ocean City went on a public relations blitz, citing record Demoflush numbers in the month of...READ MORE

Armed Robbery Results In 8-Year Prison Sentence

SNOW HILL - A Delaware man arrested in Berlin in April after holding up another man at gunpoint before fleeing pleaded guilty this week in Worcester County Circuit Court to an amended armed robbery charge and was sentenced to eight years in jail. Around 3 p.m. on April 12, Berlin police responded to the Union Station Car Wash on Old Ocean City Blvd. for a reported armed robbery that had just occurred. The victim told police the unidentified suspect held a handgun under his sweatshirt and...READ MORE

Citizen Alleges Defamation For Police Report Blunder

SNOW HILL - County attorneys last week filed a motion to dismiss a $125,000 civil suit filed in June by an Ocean Pines man against the County Commissioners, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office and its public information officer over an erroneous press release issued to local media outlets identifying the plaintiff as a suspect, not the victim, in a vehicle break-in last July. On July 2, 2008, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office issued a press release detailing a vehicle break-in at the...READ MORE

Concerns Over Drug Dealing Delay Tax Decision

BERLIN - Concern over drug dealing activity at the Bay Terrace apartments on Bay St. prompted the Berlin elected officials to hold off on granting a tax abatement to that complex. For the first time this week, the Berlin Mayor and Council considered tax abatements for local non-profits, which have been granted administratively in the past. Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd and local law enforcement agencies officially partnered this spring to get rid of open-air drug dealing in Berlin,...READ MORE

Man Gets 7 Years For Partying In Vacant Home

SNOW HILL - A Berlin man arrested last December on burglary and theft charges after police connected him to a week-long spree at a vacant house for sale, including wild parties, several pay-per-view adult movie rentals and hundreds of dollars worth of calls to phone dating services, all on the homeowner's dime, pleaded guilty this week to one count of felony theft and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The bizarre story began to unfold on Dec. 23, 2008 when Berlin police responded to a...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - In the brief this week, the quest for a new convention center manager is starting to reach the final stages, a councilman cracked a smile thanks to a top-catch and the Inlet parking lot will get some experimental signage starting this weekend. 72 Applicants Vying For Building Director City Manager Dennis Dare told the City Council this week that he, acting Convention Center Director Wayne Pryor and Human Resources Director Roger Weiseman will be weeding through the 72 applications...READ MORE

Pair Rescued In Bizarre Water Incident

OCEAN CITY - Two New York men had to be rescued from the waters around the resort area last weekend after one was injured in a jet ski accident and another later toppled into the water while responding to help the first victim, his brother-in-law, at the commercial harbor in West Ocean City. The bizarre sequence of events started last Sunday evening around 5 p.m. when Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) responded to an area of the Sinepuxent Bay about two miles south of Ocean City for a...READ MORE

Resort's Ad Agency Touts Current Campaign's Success

OCEAN CITY - MGH Advertising President Andy Malis boldly proclaimed that the town's current campaign is the 'most successful in its history,' and although that claim could be considered laughable to some, Malis is confident that Ocean City will have the last laugh in future summers. Malis addressed the tourism commission last week outlining the staggering results of the Rodney the Lifeguard advertising campaign and the new www.ococean.com website, and in a not-so-subtle way, tried to make a...READ MORE

Talented Skaters Perform Nightly Show For Free

OCEAN CITY - As a group of sun-soaked and sand-covered visitors stood in the atrium overlooking the Carousel Resort Hotel's one-of-a-kind ice rink on Tuesday, watching two of the Next Ice Age's female skaters pirouette on an invisible pin like a ballerina atop a music box, they simply said, 'I can't believe this is free.' The Next Ice Age, the complimentary to the public half-hour figure skating extravaganza, has carved its way onto the map of high quality things to do while you are in Ocean...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

The louder the noise the better for my kid. I have no way to compare, but I do have family and friends with multiple kids and they tell me most children are scared easily by loud, unexpected noises. At 15 months, that's not the case with Beckett, but I'm not sure whether it's a good thing. Looking back, there were signs early on that loud sounds were not a concern to him. On a visit to Frontier Town when he was a few months old, my wife and I worried that the shooting may cause a meltdown for...READ MORE

A Week In Business

OC Bureau Honored OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Convention and Visitors Bureau has received the 2009 Facilities & Destinations Top Destination Award. The Top Destinations Awards are voted on by the Facilities & Destinations' readership of more than 51,000 association and corporate meeting planners. The Ocean City Convention and Visitors Bureau is included in the list of award winners published in the 2009 Facilities & Destinations SuperBook. The Ocean City Convention and Visitors...READ MORE

Volunteers Complete Project For Life Crisis Center

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore's Community Connection Program recently partnered with Camp Odyssey and volunteers from Best Buy's Women's Leadership Forum to complete a landscaping service project for Life Crisis Center, which provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, crisis intervention, shelter and counseling for victims of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. The volunteers built a flowerbed, which will be used as therapeutic tool for victims of violence, spruced up a relaxation...READ MORE

Scarlet Ladies By The Sea Meet at OP Yacht Club

Scarlet Ladies by the Sea met at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club on Aug. 5 for a summer gathering. Pictured, front, Queen Becky Lawson; second row, Joan Haffer, Jackie Nutwell, Gail Payne, Phyllis Rivet and Pat Collins; third row, Amy Rossiter, Fay Eberly, Ginger Collins and Shirley Ballantyne; and, fourth row, Dottie Smith, Barbara Stawecki and Betty Becker. ...READ MORE

C-Span Bus Visits OC/Berlin Rotary Club

The C-SPAN Civics Bus visited the Ocean City/Berlin Rotary Club last month at the Carousel Resort Hotel. Pictured above are Ocean City/Berlin Rotary Club President Margo Jones, center, and her grandniece and nephew Elizabeth and Michael Parent. At left are past president Dan Harris and Jamie Welch, son of member Ed Welch. ...READ MORE

Kiwanis Club of OP/OC hosts BBQ Fundraiser

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City hosted its Carolina Pork BBQ fundraiser last week at White Horse Park. Pictured, from left, are Kiwanians Phil Lassiter, chairman of the event, Mark Page, Bud Breidenstein, Elmer Muth and Cliff Andersen. ...READ MORE

Lower Shore Chapter Called to Help Distribute Emergency Water

The Lower Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross was called to assist with emergency distribution of fresh water to the community of Rhodes Point on Smith Island.  The chapter was contacted last Wednesday afternoon and, thanks to dedicated volunteers and the officials at Somerset County, 160 cases of water were distributed to residents in Rhodes Point. Above, volunteers Tom and Nancy Mace load water on to a boat to be taken to Smith Island. ...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 Seaside Escape 79th Street 2...READ MORE

Open Houses in West Ocean City and Berlin

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Daily 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 WEST OCEAN CITY New Construction 9800 Mooring View West Harbor Village Daily 11-5 11 Townhouses 3BR/2.5BA/Garage Bryant Hungerford Prudential Carruthers 410-430-0370 BERLIN Purnell Crossing Mon 12-6 Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat & Sun 11-6 3BR/2.5BA Villas New Construction Ryan Homes 410-641-2730 ...READ MORE

Open Houses in Surrounding Areas of Ocean City

NEWARK, MD Arcadia Village Affordable New Homes Models Open Sat & Sun 11-2 Prudential Carruthers 410-430-5333 MILLVILLE, DE Millville by the Sea Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 11-5 New Beach Community Single Family & Townhomes Off Rt 26 877-285-2888 SALISBURY 846 Johnson Rd Summersgate Daily 12-5 2-5BR Custom Homes For Active Adults Lynn Brocato Senior Realty 410-543-8750 MILLSBORO, DE Whartons Bluff Mon 12-6 Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat & Sun 11-6 3BR Single Family Homes New Construction Ryan...READ MORE

People in Society

Have a Look a Your Neighbors Lending a Hand Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

Things I Like

Falling asleep on the beach The first quarter of preseason games Christening a fire pit A big bag full of weeds Seeing OC on •€˜Ace of Cakes' Hearing my son's voice in the office A soft, faded T-shirt Cobblestone streets Big groups that don't ask for separate checks Crawling in bed after a long day An exhausted dog passed out on the floor ...READ MORE

Financial Reminders For Retirees Planning To Marry

BERLIN - Baby boomers who get married for the first time, or for an additional time, later in life can face numerous financial issues that are different from those of young newlyweds. To ensure these issues are properly addressed in advance of their marriage, retirees and boomers should have a conversation with a financial advisor, in addition to speaking with their attorney and tax advisor. During the conversation, discuss assets, liabilities, budgets and sources of income. Deciding the...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Despite your Aries penchant for wanting to tackle a problem head-on, you might want to take a little more time to see how a current situation develops. It could surprise you. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Taking on the role of peacemaker in a disruptive environment is a challenge. But you can do it. Just continue to have the same faith in yourself that so many others have in you. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Although your work schedule keeps you busy, you should make...READ MORE