Articles

City Health Insurance Increase Reduced To 14%

OCEAN CITY •€' Even though the town of Ocean City negotiated rising health care costs to half of what it could have been, the bottom line is that the town will pay almost $1 million more to provide health insurance for its workforce in fiscal year 2011. One of the most cumbersome statistics that was a proverbial thorn in the side of City Manager Dennis Dare and Budget Manager Jennie Knapp as they prepared the budget was the proposed 30-percent increase in the town's health care premiums...READ MORE

OC Could Follow Familiar Route With New Herbal Blend

OCEAN CITY •€' After banning the psychoactive plant Salvia Divinorum from the resort via emergency ordinance last summer, a newly alleged hallucinogenic herbal smoking blend has popped up in Boardwalk stores in the early weeks of the summer season, according to Ocean City police this week. Although officials say that it is too early to tell what action the city will take if in fact these new products allegedly being sold in some resort retail stores are found to be similar to salvia, Ocean...READ MORE

OC Officials Shoot From Hip During Unemployment Debate

OCEAN CITY •€' Creating a simple list of things that the Ocean City Council wants the Maryland Municipal League (MML) to address in Annapolis during the next session quickly turned into a rather spirited debate about the controversial topic of unemployment insurance on Tuesday. It's no secret that unemployment costs have gone up tremendously for businesses all over the country but as quickly as one city councilman let out his own little secret in the matter, the debate just as quickly...READ MORE

Preliminary Ideas Surface For Downs' Racing Exception

BERLIN - In a week during what would have typically included the blustering last minute preparations for the opening night of live racing at Ocean Downs, the track remained eerily quiet this week as race officials continue to wrestle with meeting their live-racing obligation for the zoning of the property. For the last 60-plus years, the middle of June has marked the return of live racing at the historic track near Ocean Pines, but the former grandstand remains a shell of its former self this...READ MORE

Study Finds Coastal Bays Grasses Recovering Well

OCEAN CITY - According to a joint study released this week by state and local conservation groups, seagrasses in the coastal bays in and around the resort area made considerable gains last year, but the good news was tempered somewhat by the work that still needs to be done to restore the important plants to levels not seen since 2005. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, the National Park Service and the Virginia Institute of Marine Scientists...READ MORE

Building Code Changes Spark Sprinkler System Questions

SNOW HILL - A new statewide building standard means Worcester County has to make some decisions about local exceptions, including a much debated requirement for sprinkler systems in all new residences. The Worcester County Commissioners will seek further input on the sprinkler question during a public hearing this fall. The state of Maryland has been attempting to establish a uniform building code for a long time. 'This has been batted back and forth for years. It's been voted up and down for...READ MORE

County Alters Stormwater Fees To Meet Md. Law

SNOW HILL - Recent changes to the Maryland stormwater regulations law now call for new fees as well as multiple reviews for new construction, changes the Worcester County Commissioners heard more about this week. The commissioners signed off on the fee changes Tuesday morning. In the past, stormwater management was the last consideration in the development process, said Development Review and Permitting Director Ed Tudor. Under the new state law, stormwater must be considered at the beginning of...READ MORE

County Votes 6-1 To Approve Lean Budget

SNOW HILL - Even as they passed the fiscal year 2011 budget this week, elected officials predicted that fiscal year 2012 would pose continuing financial problems. The County Commissioners balanced the budget for the next fiscal year in part with strict cuts to departmental budgets. 'What they [department heads cutting their budgets] did this year, they're not going to be able to do next year,' said Commissioner Virgil Shockley. 'They can't sustain it.' There is nothing else to cut, he said....READ MORE

Familiar Name Plans Another Run At Todd's Seat

BERLIN - Setting up a rematch of perhaps the closest election in Worcester County history, former state's attorney candidate Beau Oglesby, who came within 14 votes of unseating incumbent Joel Todd in 2006, has officially filed to run for the office again this fall. Oglesby, an Ocean Pines resident who is currently a deputy state's attorney in Caroline County, officially filed for Worcester County State's Attorney last week. The formal filing last Tuesday ostensibly sets up Todd-Oglesby III after...READ MORE

Hundreds Celebrate Memorial Day In Grand Fashion

Kylie Joson Staff Writer OCEAN CITY - This year's Memorial Day was a hot one, but the heat didn't stop the heavy crowd of local residents and visitors that gathered for a day of patriotism and remembrance.  Monday, May 31 marked the sixth annual observance of Memorial Day at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial in Ocean Pines, and Steven Rakow U.S. Marine Corps (ret) was the keynote speaker at this year's annual ceremony. Some Americans view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of...READ MORE

Magee Farms Offers 'You Pick-We Pick' Option

Kylie Joson Staff Writer FENWICK ISLAND - If you need a break from the beach scene or simply just want some fresh strawberries, look no further, Magee Farms has the perfect summer pickings. Strawberry season is coming to an end so do not miss your chance to go to Magee Farms, which is located just north Ocean City and west of Fenwick Island on Route 54 (Lighthouse Rd). Just five miles down the road, you will see Magee Farms on your right and you better be ready for a treat. Magee Farms has...READ MORE

OC Car, Truck Show On Tap This Weekend

OCEAN CITY - The organizers of the OC Car Shows will be hosting this weekend's return of the OC Car and Truck Show, one of the area's largest custom automotive and lifestyle events, at the Ocean City Convention Center. This year's event is expected to surpass previous vehicle attendance records and has already landed the most mainstream companies in the industry. The producing company, Spark Productions, LLC, is excited about the support it's receiving and says it is the milestone in creating...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, Ocean City is deemed 'storm ready', the domesticated animal ordinance continues to get more laughable, the mayor scoffs at a downtown 'eyesore', and the Ocean City Municipal Airport is given the nod to conduct a study that will pave the way for a newly paved runway. Ocean City Granted Storm Recognition Ocean City was officially granted Storm Ready Community Recognition by the National Weather Service (NWS) on Tuesday, which ironically, also marked the...READ MORE

SCRAM Device Usage On Rise On Shore

BERLIN - Individuals charged with or convicted of alcohol-related crimes in Worcester County are increasingly finding themselves fitted with a fairly new, if somewhat unattractive piece of jewelry as the court system moves toward a 21st Century technological advance to monitor alcohol intake and whereabouts. The Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) system, essentially an ankle bracelet attached to an individual charged with or convicted of an alcohol-related offense, has been...READ MORE

Selzer Marks 10 Years In Financial Management

T.K. Dickerson Staff Writer OCEAN CITY - In the year 2000, wealth advisor Christine Selzer was just starting out in the business and could have never foreseen how volatile the market would be in the coming years. After all of the obstacles thrown her way by the stock market, Selzer is happily celebrating 10 years in the wealth advising business. Though she is currently employed at Merrill Lynch, Selzer originally went to work at the Edward Jones firm, some time after receiving her master's...READ MORE

Third Candidate Plans Run At Open Sheriff's Post

BERLIN - A third challenger for the Worcester County Sheriff's position, patrol Sergeant Bobby Brittingham, would like to bring his 25 years on the street to bear against Worcester County crime. Brittingham, a native of Pocomoke and a Marine Corps veteran, announced his candidacy this week, joining what is becoming a crowded race for retiring Sheriff Chuck Martin's position, alongside Reggie Mason and Carroll Overholt. Community policing and a renewed focus on crime fighting dominate...READ MORE

Worcester County Notebook

SNOW HILL - The Worcester County Commissioners briefly discussed land preservation funding, fees for tall grass nuisance abatement, public water and sewer at Showell Elementary School, and the proposed closure of the U. S. Postal Service Easton mail sorting site at their first June meeting. --------- Some of Worcester County's lost state farmland protection funding will be replaced by a federal farmland program grant, staff reported Tuesday morning. The $1.15 million in federal funds will be...READ MORE

Thoughts From the Publisher's Desk

It's still early, but it appears there's a strong likelihood Michael James could run unopposed in the Republican primary for the local State Senate seat. According to a little research and some communication with well-known Republicans in the area this week, James seems to have a shot at being unopposed and that would give his election campaign a huge boost heading into the likely November showdown with Jim Mathias, who officially announced last week he would be giving up his delegate seat for a...READ MORE