February 25, 2011

Superintendent Makes Bennett Middle Pitch

SALISBURY -- Just days after Wicomico officials expressed doubt about the availability of funding for a new James M. Bennett Middle School in the current year’s budget, the county’s Superintendent of Schools outlined several reasons why the money should be found for the new facility. Last Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council voted to keep a new Bennett Middle School on the county’s 2012 capital improvement “wish list,” but expressed deep reservations about finding...READ MORE

Mathias Delivers Historic Speech

ANNAPOLIS -- Senator Jim Mathias (D-38) was called on this week to deliver the ceremonial Presidents’ Day address in the historic Old Senate Chamber where George Washington officially resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief in 1783 and called on his colleague’s to embrace the first president’s notion of civility. Every year on Presidents’ Day, the State Senate holds a special celebration of Washington’s birthday in the chamber where he resigned as...READ MORE

Local Man Indicted In U.S. District Court

OCEAN CITY -- A West Ocean City man remains behind bars this week after being indicted in U.S. District Court on federal possession of child pornography charges. Lawrence King III, 41, of West Ocean City, was arrested last October and charged with 13 counts of possession of child pornography after members of the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit served a warrant on his Golf Course Rd. home after receiving information from authorities in Anne Arundel County. The investigation into King's...READ MORE

Pediatric Dental Center to Open

BERLIN -- Worcester County Health Department officials this week announced its pediatric dental center will soon open in Berlin. The Worcester County Dental Center, located on William Street in Berlin, will accept patients ages 18 and under who are uninsured, low income or participants in the Maryland Healthy Smiles program. The goal of the Worcester County Dental Center is to ensure all children in the county receive access to quality dental care. Full service dentistry including cleanings,...READ MORE

Ocean City Eyes Increase In Seasonal Cops

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council gave their authorization for the resort’s police chief to increase the number of seasonal officers hired. Councilman Joe Hall pointed out that in the past the council voted to decrease the cap of seasonal police officers hired to 100, which the law states is the minimum number of positions allowed. “In the past, we have offered upwards of 150 [seasonal officer positions],” he said. Hall explained that because the town’s budget...READ MORE

OC Again Seeks Dismissal Of Former Cop’s Discrimination Suit

OCEAN CITY -- The town of Ocean City this week filed a motion to dismiss a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer against his employer. Former OCPD officer David Catrino in 2009 filed suit in U.S. District Court against the department and the town of Ocean City seeking injunctive relief and an undisclosed award of compensatory and punitive damages against the defendants for wrongly denying him a reasonable accommodation to which he believes he was...READ MORE

Bills Introduced To Alter Liquor Control Structure

BERLIN -- With the introduction of a pair of bills in the House and Senate this week, the abolition of the county’s beleaguered Liquor Control Board (LCB) now appears to be on the fast track. Delegates Mike McDermott and Norm Conway this week introduced House Bill 1237, which calls for the abolition of the LCB and the creation of a similarly operated Worcester County Department of Liquor Control, essentially turning over the distribution of liquor to the county. Senator Jim Mathias...READ MORE

Stroke Center Earns Gold Seal

SALISBURY -- Following a recent rigorous and extensive on-site evaluation, and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care, the Primary Stroke Center at Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval for certification as a Primary Stroke Center. PRMC is one of 17 hospitals in the state of Maryland and the only hospital on the Eastern Shore to achieve and maintain this designation since 2006. The service received a...READ MORE

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Whatever decisions you're faced with this week, rely on your strong Aries instincts, and base them on your honest feelings, not necessarily on what others might expect you to do. TAURUS (April 30 to May 20): Your sensitive Taurean spirit is pained by what you feel is an unwarranted attack by a miffed colleague. But your sensible self should see it as proof that you must be doing something right. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): More fine-tuning might be in order before...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Kristi Foster BERLIN -- Kristi Foster, 41, of Taneytown, formerly of Newark, passed away Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 at the Dove House in Westminster following a brief illness.   Born Sept. 20, 1969 in Wetminster, she was the daughter of Guy and Judy Miller of Westminster. She lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for over 20 years.  She worked in hotel management in Ocean City, MD for most of that time at the Quality Inn Beachfront on 33rd St.  She loved the beach,...READ MORE

What To Do After Tuition Paid

OCEAN CITY -- Writing that final check for your children's college tuition should be enormously satisfying on several fronts. First and foremost, it means your youngest child is about to reach one of life's important milestones. And with tuition alone running nearly $30,000 a year on average for a private college, it also means bidding farewell to a hefty expense. "You've achieved a major financial goal," says Chuck Toth, Director of Personal Retirement Product Management for Bank of...READ MORE

Things I Like

Early buds on a tree Daytona 500 hoopla When friends win the boat show lottery That my kids are not picky eaters How Coach Joe Paterno talks Coming back from a trip with a tan When numbers make me smile A cigar with friends Captivating speakers All the kids’ stuff at Pemberton Pharmacy A crab cake sandwich with tartar ...READ MORE

Penguin Swim Donation

Michael Franklin, center, president and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital, and Patricia Ilczuk-Lavanceau, Chair of the AGH Penguin Swim, accept a check for $20,052.47 from Phil Houck, owner of Bull on the Beach. Over the past 17 years, Bull on the Beach has contributed a total of over $290,000 towards the Atlantic General Hospital Penguin Swim. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

SDHS Gives More Field House Thanks

Stephen Decatur High School Alumni Association Building Chair Ryan Bergey, left, presents a plaque to Sandpiper Plumbing co-owners Tom Kolarik, center, and Gill Simpson in appreciation of the firm’s donation of discounts for providing plumbing installation and related services for the building of the athletic field house at Stephen Decatur High School’s Seahawk Stadium. The field house is now under construction and is a project of the SDHS Alumni Association. For more information and...READ MORE

Dispatch Goes To Salisbury

The Dispatch began circulating newspapers in Wicomico County last Friday, in addition to starting news coverage of the county as well. The expansion means the regional paper is now circulated in Worcester, Sussex and Wicomico counties. Above, Green is pictured last Friday morning with Dana and Craig Schury, owners of Pemberton Pharmacy, one of the more than 30 distribution stops in Wicomico County. ...READ MORE

United Way Campaign

United Way Board Member and Worcester County Chair John Gaddis of the Worcester County Board of Education shows his support of the 2010 United Way Campaign, which is currently at 82% of its goal of $1.6 million. E. ...READ MORE

AGH's Major Gifts

Emergency Services Associates, the physician group that provides emergency medical care for Atlantic General Hospital, recently made the final $5,000 pledge payment for the $25,000 pledged to the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation Major Gifts Campaign. Above, Michael Franklin, left, CEO of Atlantic General Hospital, is pictured with Michael Dillard, Administrator for Emergency Services Associates, PA. ...READ MORE

"Jeans For Teens"

Berlin Intermediate School students are participating in the 4th Annual Aeropostale "Jeans for Teens" charity campaign. Students bring in old jeans and receive a 25% coupon towards a new pair of jeans. Students contributed 339 pairs of jeans that were delivered to Diakonia. Top Donator was Akira Smith, who donated 31 pairs. Bill Noah's class donated 63 pairs of jeans and earned themselves an ice cream/cupcake party. Above, top donors were Sara Bradley, 21 pairs; Emily Taylor, 22 pairs;...READ MORE

"Damn Yankees" At WPS

Practicing dancing for Worcester Prep’s Broadway musical Damn Yankees to be presented Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25 and 26 are, above from left, Elise Harmon, Katie Lawrence, Caroline Klug, dance instructor Paulette Derosa-Matrona, Megan Kuczma, Mattie Pilchard and, in front, Katherine Pavlos. Below, from left, are Tim Lewis, Zach Ettz, Lorenzo DeJesus, Thomas Thornett, Stephen Nichols and Christopher Potvin. ...READ MORE

Art Immersion Program

As part of Most Blessed Sacrament's Art Immersion Program, students were introduced to the art of puppetry. Pictured are Caroline Gardner, left, and Morgan Cullen. ...READ MORE

MSA Bucks At OCES

Gianni Carlotta, Meghan Cummings, Sarah Proctor, Cheyenne Franklin, and Faith Engh are wondering how they will spend their MSA Bucks. They earned these bucks for using their learning strategies independently in Melanie Biscoe's fourth grade class at Ocean City Elementary School. ...READ MORE

Two Generations Of Class Rings

Their parents received their class rings at Worcester Preparatory School in February 1982 and graduated in May 1983. The girls received their class rings in February 2011 and will graduate in May 2012. They are, from left, Susan Winkleman Beauchamp and Hannah Beauchamp and Lauren Esham and William E. Esham, III. ...READ MORE

100th Day At OCES

Students in Jennifer Fohner's pre-kindergarten class at Ocean City Elementary School brought in snack items to make 100th Day Trail Mix. Yocelin Spence, Kenza Farih and Shamus Engh work their way around the table counting out 10 pieces of each of the 10 snack items to count all the way to 100. ...READ MORE

Where To Eat Around Town

West Ocean City- Berlin Ocean Pines Breakfast Cafe Of Ocean City 12736 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City 410-213-1804 Open seven days a week between Sun-sations & Starbucks, across from Outback, come join us at the “Breakfast Cafe” (formerly Rambler Coffee Shop) we are a family-friendly restaurant that’s been family owned for 30 years passed from mother to son in 2001. We believe that fair pricing, putting out quality food as fresh as we can make it and a nice atmosphere makes...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where And When

Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Feb. 25: TBA Saturday, Feb. 26: Pompous Pie Charlie’s Bayside Restaurant 302-539-3526 Rte. 1 & Maryland Ave., Fenwick Island   Friday, Feb. 25: Chris Button & Joe Mama, 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26: 18th Anniversary Party with King’s Ransom Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.   Ocean Club: Friday, Feb. 25 & Saturday, Feb. 26: Power Play Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 9636...READ MORE

Booze Thieves Sought

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City police this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who broke into a Boardwalk business on Feb. 2 and stole hundreds of dollars worth of alcoholic beverages. Around 1 p.m., Ocean City police responded to Kelly’s Restaurant on the Boardwalk near 13th Street for a reported burglary. The investigation revealed the suspect or suspects forced entry into the business and stole over $1,000 in alcohol. OCPD officials are asking anyone with possible information about...READ MORE

Adventures In Fatherhood

Driving around with the kids can be quite entertaining these days, due largely to the element of surprising that’s always looming. What’s great is most of the time the kids are laughing at each other and that’s never a bad thing to see in the rearview mirror. What’s interesting is discovering what’s causing it. There’s nothing quite like the sound of your kids laughing together, and that seems to happen most often in the vehicle on our way somewhere. Whether...READ MORE

Things To Do Around Town

Ongoing: OP Players Auditions For Female Verision Of The Odd Couple The Ocean Pines Players will stage Neil Simon’s Odd Couple at Carousel Hotel & Oceanfront resort on June 10-12 and 17-19. The cast needs 6 women and 2 men who can speak with a Spanish accent, age 30-55. Experienced actor, backstage help needed. To schedule an audition, 410-208-0747, 410-250-0544 or 410-641-8173. Feb. 25: Widows & Widowers Golf Outing 1 p.m., carpool meeting at the library; 1:30 p.m.; Miniature...READ MORE

Salisbury Mayor Vows To ‘Not Change Course’

SALISBURY – Mayor James Ireton, Jr. stuck to a theme that the city is “turning a corner” as he reviewed accomplishments from the past year and looked towards what can be done for Salisbury in the future during his State of the City Address on Monday night. According to the 2010 Census, Salisbury is home to 330,343 people, a 28-percent increase from the year 2000 and the largest increase in population of any city in the state of Maryland. “Our city has turned a corner...READ MORE

Wicomico Council Opts Against Fee Hike

SALISBURY -- Amid fears of hampering an already dreary construction climate in the county, Wicomico officials last week voted down a proposed hike in fees for development review and permitting. At the request of County Executive Richard Pollitt, Jr., the Wicomico County Council considered the across-the-board increase in fees and other costs associated with development reviews by the county’s public works department. The fees have not been altered since 2004 and the proposed change was...READ MORE

OC Job Fair Returns March 12

OCEAN CITY -- The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce in partnership with The Town of Ocean City, Comcast Spotlight and Md. Workforce Development will present the 26th Annual Ocean City Job Fair on Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the convention center. Nearly 100 employers will be present to hire for many of the nearly 12,000 positions that are available in Ocean City each year in addition to jobs available through year-round businesses in the area and the surrounding area as...READ MORE

12-Year Sentence In West OC Arson

SNOW HILL -- A Snow Hill man who pleaded guilty in December to first-degree arson for setting a residential house fire in West Ocean City last April was sentenced to 12 years in jail last week in Worcester County Circuit Court. Around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, 2010, Ocean City firefighters responded to a reported fire at a residence on Keyser Point Rd. A neighbor reported the fire. First-arriving units reported heavy fire showing from the rear of the single-story dwelling, which was...READ MORE

Mobile Home Sprinklers OK’d For Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – The town’s building codes were tweaked this week now that sprinkler system requirements will include mobile homes. In December, the Mayor and City Council approved the adoption of the 2009 International Building Code and the International Energy Conservation Code, which replaced the 2006 building codes that the town previously had in place. A portion of the new code is the requirement to sprinkle newly built single-family homes. This requirement does not apply to...READ MORE

Resort Run Part Of Spring Fitness Weekend Planned

OCEAN CITY – Special events proposed this week hit a soft spot as the Mayor and City Council may change protocol for supporting events. The council was presented with a hand full of special event requests this week that were awaiting approval. Two of the events, Ocean City 5 Mile Run and Seaside 10 Mile Run, were presented by OC Tri-Running’s Chris Klebe. Klebe explained that the 5 Mile Boardwalk Run is a kickoff to a fitness challenge weekend. “We do a bike ride in Berlin, and...READ MORE

Salisbury Primary Next Tuesday

SALISBURY -- Eight candidates will face off in the Salisbury City Council primary election next Tuesday with the top six vote getters advancing to the General Election in April. Salisbury’s City Council will get a dramatic makeover after the General Election in April, but the first step in that process occurs next Tuesday when primary elections are held for the town’s three available seats. A total of eight candidates will be narrowed to six after Tuesday’s primary in the...READ MORE

WPS's Farr

Worcester Prep’s Zander Farr grabs a rebound during the second half of Monday’s 43-40 loss to Gunston. Farr made a three-pointer at the buzzer that appeared to tie the game, but the clock had expired and the shot was waved off. Photo by Shawn Soper ...READ MORE

23rd St. Pat’s Soccer Tourney Underway

OCEAN CITY- The 23nd Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s annual St. Patrick’s Soccer Tournament returns this weekend with 150 teams and hundreds of players from all over the mid-Atlantic region expected to converge on the resort for the four-weekend event. From modest beginnings 23 years ago, the annual St. Patrick’s Tournament has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and is now one of the largest events of its kind. The 2011 tournament will host over 150 teams...READ MORE

Future Seahawks Shine at State Meet

BERLIN- While Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team was winning its eighth straight Bayside Conference championship last weekend, the program’s future stars were collecting more than their fair share of championship hardware in the Maryland State Wrestling Association’s East Region Novice Tournament in Baltimore. Dozens of Junior Seahawks competed in the state tournament at Loyola-Blakefield High School in Baltimore last Sunday and the future Decatur wrestling stars...READ MORE

Decatur Swimmers Dominate at States

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity swimming teams turned in strong performances at the state Class 3A-2A-1A South Region meet last week, with the boys finishing first and the girls coming in third. The Seahawks boys were dominating at the state region meet, finishing with 349 total team points to claim the title. Easton was second with 254 points, while La Plata was third with 246.5. All in all, the Seahawk boys won eight individual events and placed high in several others. The girls’...READ MORE

Decatur Wrestlers Claim 8th Straight Bayside Title

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team captured its eighth straight Bayside Conference tournament championship last weekend, topping runner up Parkside while collecting two individual meet titles. The Seahawks finished the Bayside Tournament championship with 181 total team points to finish first. Parkside was second with 172 team points, while Easton finished third with 142.5 team points. For Decatur, last weekend’s conference tournament title was the eighth straight for...READ MORE

Seahawk Wrestlers

Five Junior Seahawks claimed state championships in the Maryland State Wrestling Association’s East Region Novice Tournament at Loyola High School in Baltimore last Sunday and several others placed in their respective divisions. Pictured above, Jagger Clapsadle of West Ocean City won the state title in the Intermediate Division’s 55-pound class. Submitted photo ...READ MORE

Seahawk Cagers Prep for Post Season

BERLIN- Despite often uneven, up and down seasons, Stephen Decatur’s varsity basketball teams got decent draws when the state Class 3A-East region state playoff brackets were released this week. The Decatur boys earned a number-four seed in the Class 3A-East region and a first-round bye. The Seahawks will face fifth-seeded Bennett in the second round. The Clippers swept the Seahawks in two regular season meetings, winning 71-59 way back on December 9 and 61-52 on January 18. Decatur heads...READ MORE

Mallards Fall to Herons, 43-40

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity basketball team lost a tough one to visiting Gunston, 43-30, on Monday when a potential game-tying three-point shot swished through the net just after the final buzzer. The Mallards trailed 13-10 in second quarter before a three-pointer by Zander Farr tied the game at 13-13 and Andrew Ternahan made it 15-13 second later with a fast-break lay-up. Gunston retook the lead with a three-point play including a lay-up and a converted free throw....READ MORE

Between The Lines

It’s been four months since Ocean City’s municipal election, and it’s not been made official because of two votes. This is not a huge deal because it will not impact the outcome, but it’s been an unresolved issue at City Hall for some time. According to City Clerk Kathy Mathias, the delay in making the election results official has become a complicated matter, stemming from city voter figures not matching up to electronic voter books maintained by the state and...READ MORE

Is That Zero Tolerance?

Editor:
After reading the article on the 7-Eleven at 139th Street in Ocean City selling alcohol to an underage OCPD cadet, I think it was unfair to terminate Alok Adhikari. According to records, this is the fourth incident in several years. The employees responsible for the previous incidents were not terminated for selling to a minor, in fact one of those employees continues to work for Ms. Pohucki. I guess her form of punishment doesn't apply to all employees equally. 
As for Ms....READ MORE

Proposed Septic System Ban Comes At Bad Time

As expected, Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed ban on septic system went over like the proverbial lead balloon for many Marylanders earlier this month, particularly those of us on the rural Eastern Shore. In his State of the State address, the governor announced his intention to seek a ban on septic system use in new developments. Within a couple weeks, legislation was floating through the House and Senate in Annapolis to prohibit local governments from approving new projects that...READ MORE

Slots In Clubs Looks Promising, Legislators Say

OCEAN CITY -- Companion bills that would allow limited slot machine gambling in non-profit service clubs, fraternal organizations and veteran’s groups in Worcester had preliminary hearings in their respective House and Senate committees last week, and local lawmakers appear confident the legislation will pass. For each of the last three years, a bill that would have added Worcester to the list of eight Eastern Shore counties that allow a limited number of slot machines in service clubs and...READ MORE

Convicted Murderer Trying Again For New Trial

OCEAN CITY --Convicted killer Benjamin Sifrit, who along with his wife Erika, brutally murdered and dismembered a Virginia couple vacationing in Ocean City nine years ago, made a renewed bid for a new trial this week after introducing an initial salvo in his most current appeal in U.S. District Court. Benjamin Sifrit this week introduced a personally prepared informal brief in U.S. Court of Appeals outlining why he should be granted a new trial after his appeal for a writ of habeas corpus was...READ MORE

Dolphin Found In Bethany Beach

BETHANY BEACH – Officials are seeking an outside opinion on the exact cause behind the death of a white sided dolphin that washed ashore on the beach this week. On Tuesday, a white sided dolphin washed ashore onto the beaches of Bethany Beach, Del. Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute (MERR) Executive Director Suzanne Thurman reported that the dolphin was a young adult female and approximately seven and half feet long and weighed around 300 pounds. “And that is a...READ MORE

A Memorable Week For Berlin Family

OCEAN CITY – Berlin residents Dave and Sara Hambury have had an eventful week -- winning $75,000 on Sunday and welcoming the birth of their second child on Tuesday. “We’re almost overloaded with excitement,” said Dave Hambury yesterday. Last Sunday, Feb. 20, the Hamburys received the news that they had won the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club’s $75,000 grand prize out of the Scholarship Lotto. “The only thing I had to do was buy a $100 raffle ticket, which I...READ MORE

School Board Clarifies Bus Standards

SNOW HILL -- Even with the Worcester County Board of Education in a perpetual budget crunch, members decided to impose strict standards upon themselves when it comes to replacing school buses. Prior to last week’s Board of Education meeting, the official policy was that all replacement buses purchased by the county would have to be “generally new.” However, Board members chose to make the language more concrete, defining a “generally new” bus as one with “no...READ MORE

Bloxom, Cummins Named To State Commission

BERLIN -- A pair of familiar names and faces were among Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s list of “green bag” nominations submitted to the state senate last week for appointment or reappointment to various state boards and commissions. Former Worcester County Commission President and current county attorney John “Sonny” Bloxom and former County Planning Commission chairperson and Maryland Coastal Bays Program advocate Carolyn Cummins last week were nominated...READ MORE