December 4, 2009

Berlin Subdivision Working Through Permit Process

BERLIN - Forty new houses undergoing the permitting process could be one small sign of economic recovery in Berlin, officials commented this week. The developer of a subdivision on Tripoli St. was awarded wastewater service last week, as he continues to move forward with 40 new homes. The development also got a preliminary go-ahead from the Berlin Planning Commission in late November. Dave Dombert of Main Street Homes introduced the project before the Berlin Planning Commission in October and...READ MORE

Board Rejects Historic Building Appeal

BERLIN - An appeal to the Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) seeking to save a historic telescope building, known as the Elizabeth White house, was rejected by the BZA this week because the appellants could not articulate grounds for the appeal. BZA Vice Chair Woody Bunting repeatedly asked attorney King Burnett, representing appellants Sherrie Beckstead and Susan Moore, to enumerate the grounds for appeal, but Burnett could not satisfy the question. Earlier this fall, the Historic District...READ MORE

County Opposed To Lifting Marsh Tax Cap

SNOW HILL - The Worcester County Commissioners discussed a financial award and the marsh land tax cap briefly at their first December meeting The Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday said they opposed the removal of the tax cap on Maryland marsh land, in response to a survey sent around to all Maryland jurisdictions by the Maryland Association of Counties. The cap restricts marshland to an assessed value of $37.50 per acre. Dorchester County wants to remove the cap, according to county...READ MORE

County Will Have To Mull 'Lean And Mean' Options

SNOW HILL - Just five months into the fiscal year, county staff is projecting that the Worcester County budget is already short and next fiscal year will see more reductions in county revenue, which is projected to drop by as much as $9 million. 'I've never seen us miss on a projected versus an actual budget. We're short about $1.5 million,' said Worcester County Treasurer Harold Higgins. The current county budget includes $123.7 million in property tax revenue, but the actual property tax...READ MORE

Man Cleared In Alleged Attack

SNOW HILL - A West Ocean City man arrested in July on assault and other serious charges after allegedly threatening family members with a baseball bat had the charges against him dropped this week in Circuit Court because the witnesses in the case have since moved to Florida and were not available to testify. Shortly before 10 p.m. on July 23, Maryland State Police and Worcester County Sheriff's deputies responded to a residence on Old Bridge Rd. in West Ocean City for a reported assault with a...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, several governmental entities are taking a step up in the technology department, while a local grassroots organization gets a tri-fecta of awards in Annapolis. OCDC Gets Three Awards For Downtown Projects The Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) and the town of Ocean City picked up three awards, including two first place nods, at the 2nd Annual Maryland Downtown Development Association (MDDA) 'Pride in Place' Awards in Annapolis on Wednesday,...READ MORE

Opening Weekend Of Firearm Season Records 20% Increase

BERLIN •€' Maryland deer hunters reported 19,054 deer for the opening weekend of the 2009 firearm season, a 20-percent increase over last year's opening weekend harvest of 15,880 deer. The total included 8,072 antlered deer and 10,982 antlerless deer. Sika deer comprised 218 of the antlered and 221 of the antlerless deer totals. 'Windy conditions on Saturday may have slowed the harvest slightly, but hunters took advantage of better conditions on Sunday and posted a strong overall harvest...READ MORE

Pilot Transit Program About To Begin In OC

OCEAN CITY •€' The pilot program that 90-year-old Bob Melvin fought so hard to happen is ready to launch. On Tuesday, Public Works Director Hal Adkins informed the Mayor and City Council that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the town of Ocean City and Shore Transit in regards to the door-to-door service provided to elderly and disabled residents of Ocean City who are eligible to use the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) bus service has been completed, signed and asked...READ MORE

Supreme Court Hears Beach Replenishment Debate

OCEAN CITY - While local, state and federal officials scramble to find millions of dollars of funding for a major beach replenishment effort in the resort in the wake of a devastating mid-November storm, the U.S. Supreme Court this week heard testimony in a case involving a similar effort in Florida and its alleged 'taking' of private property that could have implications in coastal communities all over the country including Ocean City. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in...READ MORE

Three Local Families Growing Through Adoption

SNOW HILL - Three adoptive families welcomed seven new members this week in Worcester County, including one Snow Hill family who adopted their fourth child in 10 years. One family took four siblings into their home, while another adopted two siblings. The Tinker family of Worcester County adopted one child, bringing their total of adopted children to four and their total children to seven. Alison and Terry Tinker, longtime foster parents, adopted 3-year old Zoe this week, making her the...READ MORE

Plenty of Stripers Show Up for Black Friday Tournament

OCEAN CITY- Despite gusty winds and rough conditions that altered the format somewhat, the 3rd Annual Black Friday 550 Rockfish Tournament held last weekend was a huge success with dozens of anglers earning thousands of dollars in prize money. Promoted as an alternative to avoid holiday shopping and large crowds, the third annual Black Friday 550 Rockfish Tournament was held out of the Ocean City Fishing Center last weekend. The event was scheduled for last Friday and Saturday, but with strong...READ MORE

Coastal Lax Club Seeking Players

BERLIN- Registration for the Coastal Lacrosse Club's 2010 spring outdoor season is well underway, but in the interest of maintaining low player to coach ratios, the organization is limiting the number of players per team in a first come, first served basis. Last year, the Coastal Lacrosse Club enjoyed a very exciting and successful inaugural season, fielding teams at every age level for both boys and girls. In addition to playing a full schedule of Sunday games, the club's boys and girls teams...READ MORE

Berlin Dolphins Fall in Title Game

BERLIN- For three quarters, the Berlin Junior Dolphins battled Wicomico to a 6-6 tie in the Salvation Army 'Red Shield' Junior Youth Football League championship last week before falling 25-6 to the unbeaten Vikings in the title game. In most close football games, a handful of big plays decide the outcome as was the case last week when the Berlin Dolphins fell to the Wicomico Vikings in the Salvation Army League championship game. The Dolphins played to Vikings, who came into the contest with a...READ MORE

Mallards Open Season with Road Win

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity basketball team got off its 2009-2010 campaign off to a good start this week, edging host Greenwood Mennonite, 37-35, in the season opener. With a handful of returning players and a big group of talented newcomers on the roster, the Mallards are confident heading into the new season. For Worcester, it all starts with senior Justin Butler along with senior captains Jason Pappas and Alex Maccari, who will be counted on to provide veteran leadership to the...READ MORE

War on Shore Underway in OC

OCEAN CITY- Stephen Decatur's 8th Annual War on the Shore wrestling tournament gets underway this afternoon at the Ocean City Convention Center for the first time with some of the top high school programs in the mid-Atlantic area converging on the resort for the two-day event. The War on the Shore tournament, which features some of the best high school wrestling programs from Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia, has been moved to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City...READ MORE

WPS Girls Not Deep but Talented

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's girls' varsity basketball team dropped its season opener this week, falling to Greenwood Mennonite, 41-24, on Tuesday, but the season and the future look good for the program. Mallards' Coach Sharon Repass has just eight players on the varsity roster this year, but what the team lacks in depth should be more than accounted for in talent and desire. Four of the eight players on the roster are seniors, including co-captains Theresa Ciletti, who led the team last year, and...READ MORE

SDHS Winter Sports Start This Weekend

Stephen Decatur's winter sports seasons get rolling this weekend with the boys' varsity basketball team opening on the road against Colonel Richardson tonight while the girls' varsity basketball team hosts the Colonels. Pictured above, Decatur's Andrew Brickey soars high for a rebound during the Seahawks' scrimmage against Indian River on Tuesday. ...READ MORE

Council Moves Ahead With Inlet Parking Hike

OCEAN CITY •€' Motorists hoping to park at Ocean City's Inlet lot will have to dig a little deeper next year, as City Council unanimously approved a rate increase on Tuesday. Although it's been debated and talked about in recent months, leading many to believe that a rate increase at the Inlet parking lot was perhaps inevitable, the council finally put the speculation to bed this week, approving one of City Manager Dennis Dare's three possible recommendations considering fee increases at...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

A little goof-off time at least once a day does a body good. More than likely, you will never hear that from a doctor because there's no scientific proof to confirm. Nonetheless, all I know is I relish using my 18-month-old as a daily excuse to get in touch with that big kid inside me. An unintended consequence of these playful periods with my boy has come a refined ability to keep all things in their proper perspective when life gets a little hairy. Let's face it: these are difficult and...READ MORE

High Beams Lead To Gun Charge

OCEAN CITY - A Virginia woman was arrested on a gun possession charge this week after the vehicle in which she was riding as a passenger was pulled over for having its high beams on and speeding. Shortly after 2 a.m. on Monday, an Ocean City police officer on routine patrol observed a white Jeep heading southbound on Coastal Highway around 140th Street with its high beams on. According to the police report, the officer noticed the Jeep's headlights were bright and could have affected the vehicle...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 4--Bud Church Takes Over Presidency Of County Board

SNOW HILL - A new face sits in the center seat at Worcester County Commissioners meetings after seven-year Commissioner Bud Church was voted in as president during their regular meeting Tuesday. Church replaces Commissioner Louise Gulyas in the president's slot, who spent a year with the presidential gavel in hand. The vote was 6 to 1 to elect Church to the rotating position, customarily selected at the first December meeting every year. Previous presidents have held the position for multiple...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 3--Pair Charged In WOC Trooper Assault Incident

WEST OCEAN CITY - A Berlin man was arrested on first-degree assault and other charges last weekend after allegedly running into a Maryland State Police trooper attempting to arrest another suspect, a local juvenile who was also charged later this week in the incident. Around 8:15 p.m. last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to Route 611 in West Ocean City for a reported loud party at a residence in the area. Upon arrival, troopers observed a number of individuals fleeing the...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 4--Parents Say Further School Funding Cuts Will Hurt Kids

NEWARK - Parents are asking to keep what the schools already have and for more technology, the first school budget meeting for the next school year revealed. Work began this week on next year's budget for Worcester County public schools with a parents input session on Tuesday evening at the Board of Education building. Each School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) was given a chance to speak, with most SIAC representatives asking that funding be maintained at current levels and that staff...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 4--Three Arrested In Club Fight

OCEAN CITY - Three local area residents were arrested last week during a large fight involving hundreds at a midtown Ocean City nightclub during a special event hosted by a Washington, D.C.-based clothing company. Around 1:15 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City police responded to Castaway's Bar and Restaurant on 64th Street for a reported fight in progress. Arriving officers encountered a crowd estimated at 350 to 400 individuals with several small fights occurring inside the establishment. Due to the...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

You know money is getting super tight when governments start talking about turning streets lights off and reducing the number of paid holidays for employees. That happened at City Hall in Ocean City this week as the Mayor and Council heard a sweeping proposal from City Manager Dennis Dare to cut costs and bring in more money. This was similar to what happened last year, but these cuts will likely hit home even more than last year's moves. I enjoyed this week's presentation because it shows that...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Healthcare For All Is A Fundamental Right Editor: Those who proclaim that government has no business getting involved in our healthcare are either ignorant of the founding principles of our nation or are intentionally ignoring or misrepresenting them. Our Declaration of Independence states two basic propositions: (1) that we are all created equal with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and (2) that we create governments, with our consent, to protect those rights....READ MORE

Inlet Lot Hikes Do Not Go Far Enough

The Ocean City Mayor and Council should take another look at the plan to raise hourly parking fees at the Inlet next summer. It's the obvious call to raise rates across the board at the oceanfront lot, but the in-season increase does not go far enough. Even with the significant increase approved conceptually this week, it's still a bargain to park at this lot when we consider the convenience to the beach, Boardwalk and other attractions. No matter how far they raise the fees, the town's elected...READ MORE

Council Grants Limited Beach Cabanas

OCEAN CITY •€' You are likely to see a few cabanas as part of the usual panoramic beach view in Ocean City next summer, as City Council voted to allow beach stand operators to spice up their inventory in providing ways of renting shade to beachgoers. As a result, umbrellas will not be the only things on the beach creating shade next summer, as the council voted unanimously to grant a request from a beach stand owner to offer beach cabanas to visitors next summer. 'People's habits are...READ MORE

Council Rejects More Beach Booze Sales To Up Revenue

OCEAN CITY •€' The Inlet parking lot fee increase may have been the big item on the most recent list of cost cutting/revenue enhancement ideas laid out by City Manager Dennis Dare this week, but he says that list is more than likely to keep growing over the next few months. In addition to the new flat rate of $1.50 per hour (off-season) and $2.50 per hour (in-season) parking rates at the Inlet lot, Dare proposed a number of other ideas on Tuesday to the Mayor and City Council. Some were...READ MORE

North-End Property Values On Decline

BERLIN - When the latest reassessment notices for the north end of Worcester County hit mailboxes later this month, most residents will not be surprised to learn their property values have declined, but they be surprised to see how far they have dropped, likely by as much as 20 percent or more. Over the last 12 months, assessors with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) have been re-evaluating residential and commercial properties in the northern third of Worcester County,...READ MORE

Ocean City To Assume Liability For Kayak Venture At Old Dump

OCEAN CITY •€' In the end, the Ocean City Council thought that an added amenity for the county was much more important than any added liability to the town. After several back and forths between the Ocean City Council and the Worcester County Commissioners, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program received the green light it had been looking for from the Ocean City Council, who voted unanimously to assume the liability insurance needed to construct a kayak launch at Ayres Creek on the grounds...READ MORE

Sibony Plans Major Changes For Village's Future

OCEAN CITY •€' A rare public appearance by 45th Street Village property owner Avi Sibony could lead to some major changes to his proposed future plans to the site. Sibony, who also owns the area's many Sunsations stores, hired Keith Iott of Iott Architecture and Engineering in Salisbury to design a major overhaul to the mid-town shopping plaza including a 12- and 17-story hotel and condominium complex in the back of the plaza, as well as a total renovation to the existing retail...READ MORE

Several Worcester Prep Students Score Perfect In College Board Exams

Worcester Preparatory School students who have achieved perfect 800 scores in College Board testing this year are, from left, Thomas Barranger, Betsy Desmarais, Brad Harris and Michael Dowling. The students were honored by Headmaster Dr. Barry W. Tull for their excellent scores in college testing ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Students of the Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the November Students of the Month on Tuesday, Nov. 24 with a special luncheon sponsored by the Berlin/Ocean City Optimists. Students received a special T-shirt and had the opportunity to tell why they were chosen for the honor. Pictured, front from left, are first grade winners Morgan Davis, Brandon Hannon, Steven Hoffman, Victoria Mueller, Aidan Morrison, Maddox Bunting and Gavin Conner; second row, second graders Emmaline Beachley, Jesus Navarrete, Katie...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary Students of the Month

Students were honored at Buckingham Elementary's Student of the Month Luncheon for demonstrating the trait of responsibility throughout the month. Above, second grade honorees were Billy King, Elaina Parsons, Brian Rodriguez and Jason Jackson. Recognized but not pictured were first graders Evan Truitt, Je'Kai Farmer, Amelia Jacobs, Brayam Ramon and Carson Shanholtz; third graders Alexandra Richwalski, Kayla Parker, Akira Mumford, Daysia Briddell and Reakwon Baines; and fourth graders Trace...READ MORE

Lessons in Data Collection For 3rd Grade Showell Students

Mr. Johnson's third grade class at Showell Elementary learned how to make and record observations on a data collection chart. Then they learned how to make a Venn Diagram to illustrate their findings. Above, from left, Eunice Huesca, Jackson Bradford, Rachel Haskell, Ian Albert and Wynter Frost use observation techniques to note the characteristics of various fruits and vegetables during science class. ...READ MORE

BIS Students Speak About Historic Figures

During the week of Nov. 16-20, fifth grade students at Berlin Intermediate School researched and wrote a speech about the life of an important person in history as part of the Reading language Arts autobiography genre study. Pictured are Nicholas Thompson as Brett Favre, Simyeon Mumford as Steve Largent, Brody Shockley as Andrew Jackson, Noah Shockley as Cal Ripken and Chris Leitgeb as Christiano Ronaldo ...READ MORE

Cultural Lessons Learned at Showell Elementary

Third grade students at Showell Elementary learned about a new culture after reading a story about adinkra cloths, which are from Ghana and have symbols that represent different words and ideas. The students made adinkra cloths and used symbols that would reflect their own lives. Then they wrote paragraphs to describe their cloths. Displaying their wares are Travis Adams, Skylar Crowley and Caroline Cardamone. ...READ MORE

Thanksgiving Activities at OC Elementary

Students in Barbara Porter's first grade class at Ocean City Elementary School completed many Thanksgiving activities. Pictured are Steven Hoffman, Brittyn Lyra Leonard, Maddy Kiesewetter, Christine Lizas, Eliana Yeager, Davion Waters, Malik Waters and Christopher McConnell. ...READ MORE

Arts in the Area

Scenes From the Local Art World ...READ MORE

People in Society

Snapshots of People Helping Causes in the Community ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

New Branch Manager Named BERLIN - Edward M. Thomas, President and CEO of The Bank of Delmarva, recently announced that Howard Bunting has joined the bank as branch manager and loan officer for the Ocean City location. Bunting joins the bank with over 20 years of banking experience. He is a native of Selbyville, a member of the Selbyville Volunteer Fire Department, Ocean City and Bethany/Fenwick Chambers and a member of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association. Excellence...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

Open Houses in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY Atlantis 1305 10300 Coastal Hwy Direct Oceanfront Sat 10-4 2BR/2BA Condo With Views Wicker Furniture Prudential Carruthers 410-524-7000 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 Daily 11-4 Closed Thanksgiving Kevin Decker The Fritschle Group/ Condominium...READ MORE

Open Houses in West Ocean City and Berlin

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Fri-Sun 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/3.5BA/Garage Prudential Carruthers 410-520-2600 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 410-520-2600 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 ...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

William Daniel Sweeney BERLIN - William "Bill" Daniel Sweeney, age 80, died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 at his home in Mystic Harbor. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he was the son of the late Edna Pauline and William Patrick Sweeney. In 1946, at the age of 17, he joined the United States Navy and actively served for 22 years, a career for which he was most proud. After retiring, he began his next career as Director of Safety and Security for Sears, Roebuck and Co. Prior to moving to the Eastern...READ MORE

"The Kitchen Witches" On Tap For this Weekend in Ocean Pines

If you missed last weekend's shows, a weekend of performances by the Ocean Pines Players is on tap starting tonight. All ticket sales for 'The Kitchen Witches' benefits the scholarship fund. Tickets are just $10 at the door of Most Blessed Sacrament School on Route 589 just north of Ocean Pines on Friday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6. Above are Sammy Barnes with the "Witches" Cindy Krempel and Ann Fairfield. ...READ MORE

AGH Wound Care Center Receives Distinction Award

Atlantic General Hospital's Wound Care Center recently received the Center of Distinction Award from Diversified Clinical Services. The center exceeds national benchmarks in healing outcomes, patient satisfaction, days to heal and a number of other measures. Pictured, from left, are Yvonne Bass, Wound Care Center patient services representative; Jeff Harker, senior vice president of Diversified; Geri Rosol, Wound Care Center program manager; Chuck Gizara, director of clinical operations at...READ MORE

Book and Bake Sale at Berlin Church

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Berlin will hold a book and bake sale to coincide with the release of its new cookbook on Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. Pictured are Diane St. Clair, Rev, Michael Moyer and Janice Keys. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary 4th Graders Complete Diakonia Service Project

Fourth graders at Ocean City Elementary completed a service learning project for Diakonia, an emergency and transitional housing in Worcester County. Students donated stockings for adults at Diakonia. In the back are Ismael Bonola Navarette, Lizeth Vera Flores, Deja Kellam, Caroline Engle, Michael Mareno and Eric Rimel. Front row are Jessica Blancas Chavez, Karla Maldonado, Krystal Hitchens and Hannah Stolba ...READ MORE

1st Graders Prepare For Worcester County Science Fair

Windy Phillips' first grade class is currently investigating sharks for Worcester County's upcoming science fair. Above, Captain Mark Sampson and Anthony Rozaieski investigate the head of a hammerhead shark. ...READ MORE

A New-Found Strength In Financials

OCEAN CITY - As the U.S. continues its slow but steady economic recovery, one sector showing strong improvement is the financial industry. In fact, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research recently recommended that investors overweight financials as one way to invest in the recovery and take advantage of what appears to be a broadly undervalued market. In a video segment available at totalmerrill.com, Guy Moszkowski, Capital Markets and Money Center Banks Analyst,...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Make your holiday preparations one step at a time in order to avoid being overwhelmed and leaving things undone. That confusing family situation continues to work itself out. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Ease this year's holiday money pressures by letting your thrifty side guide you as you look for those perfect gifts that typically reflect your good taste and love of beauty. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): You'll have a good handle on potential holiday problems if you...READ MORE

Things I Like

A personalized autograph in a book A fountain drink with crushed ice The first day after being sick Listening to my son's strange noises Words of advice memorable years later Night football games An exhausted kid Michael Oher's story A juicy clementine That Route 90 is back open Bleu cheese on top of steak ...READ MORE