Articles

A Decade Later, AgriRecycle Plant Serving Key Role On Shore

BERLIN -- The Perdue AgriRecycle facility in Seaford, Del. is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month. The facility, which was the first of its kind in the country, is still the largest converter of chicken litter to organic fertilizer for American farmers, including those in Worcester County. “It has served as an alternative for poultry growers on the Eastern Shore,” said Steve Schwalb, Perdue’s Vice President of Environmental Sustainability. He explained that some...READ MORE

Berlin Landmark ‘Locally Owned, Loved And Operated’

BERLIN -- The Globe in Berlin turns 5-years-old this weekend, and like a child reaching the same age, it is all at once confident, creative and expressive while still growing and evolving into its full potential. Five years is a fairly long time for a restaurant and many have come and gone since owner and operator Jennifer Dawicki David and her partners took over the historic establishment in 2006. Since then, it has grown up before the community’s eyes. Like any small child, The Globe...READ MORE

Resort Mayor Urged Not To Veto Benefit Changes

OCEAN CITY – The question of whether Mayor Rick Meehan will veto ordinances involving newly hired town employee retiree benefits lurks overhead today. In January, the mayor vetoed a series of ordinances involving newly hired town employees’ pay and benefits. The two ordinances that have been in the spotlight most recently involve retiree pension and health plans. The majority of the council has formed a new retiree pension plan ordinance, stating that the plan for new hires will be a...READ MORE

Relay For Life Special For Ocean City Survivor

OCEAN CITY – The Relay For Life of North Worcester is right around the corner and for one of Ocean City’s own the event hits home. City Clerk Kathy Mathias was diagnosed in 1997 with breast cancer. She found her first breast tumor when she was only 19 and had three benign surgeries before her diagnosis. During that time, Mathias was working full-time, raising a family and attending college to earn a degree. “No one is prepared to hear those words from a doctor,” Mathias...READ MORE

OC Expects $695K In Slots Money

OCEAN CITY –During this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting Mayor Rick Meehan presented the council with the plan on how to process the new casino at Ocean Downs revenue that Ocean City will receive. Meehan was appointed chair of the Local Development Council (LDC) for the Ocean Downs Video Lottery Facility during the LDC’s first meeting on March 7. During that meeting, the LDC decided to request the county and municipalities involved submit a multi-year plan for the...READ MORE

Women Leaders Honorees Announced

OCEAN CITY -- Forty-five leading Eastern Shore women were chosen this week as honorees for the “Women Leaders” campaign, the second installment in The Dispatch’s Shore Stars awards program. Immediately after the program’s first campaign, “Charitable Souls”, in March, advertising commenced seeking “Women Leaders” nominations. The ad read, “Do you know of a leading woman in Wicomico, Worcester or Sussex counties who distinguishes herself in...READ MORE

OC Council Okays Malt Drinks At Bikefest

OCEAN CITY -- The Mayor and City Council received updates this week on two of the resort’s newest events, Bikefest and the Susan G. Komen race for the Cure. In February, Cliff Sutherland was approved by the council to create “OC Bikefest” in the Inlet Lot. He returned to the council this week seeking approval to apply for a license to sell beer, wine and malt liquor during the event as well as permission to rent a billboard advertising sponsors and vendors. “We are...READ MORE

Blue Crab Dredge Survey Promising

BERLIN -- Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley this week announced the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is at its second highest level since 1997 and well above the target for the third year in a row, setting the stage for a bay-wide recovery. The results of the 2011 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey indicate that management measures put into place in 2008 are continuing to pay dividends for the crab population, the industry, recreational crabbers and those who just plain enjoy the...READ MORE

Sweet Adeline Convention Eyes OC

OCEAN CITY – Harmonious music will be flowing from the Convention Center Thursday, April 28 to Sunday, May 1, as the ladies of Sweet Adeline International Region 19 come into town for their annual convention. Sweet Adeline’s International is a worldwide organization of women singers committed to advancing the musical art form of barbershop harmony through education and performance. There are 33 regions who participate in Sweet Adeline International. The organizations motto is to...READ MORE

Salisbury Council Starts New Chapter

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury City Council looks like a much different entity after Monday’s reorganization meeting. Former President Louise Smith and former Vice-President Gary Comegys both called this term their last and were replaced by Tim Spies and Laura Mitchell. Second term member Terry Cohen was unanimously elected as president, while fellow second-termer Deborah Campbell narrowly edged out newcomer Mitchell for the vice presidency. “Ladies and gentleman, this is a great night...READ MORE

Running Team Formed With Eye On Bringing Families To OC

OCEAN CITY – A group of courageous locals are “Running to Get Kids to the Beach”. An OC Half Marathon team of 15 will be running, walking, or crawling 13.1 miles from the Ocean City Inlet to Assateague Island. The team hopes to raise $13,100, which is $1,000 a mile, to benefit the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House by the Sea. Meeting their goal will mean they provided the support for 13 families to vacation in Ocean City. The vacation will allow a family to escape home...READ MORE

City, Police Union Reach Deal, Avoid Binding Arbitration

OCEAN CITY – The City Council and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) were able to avoid arbitration this week, coming to a settlement and inking a two-year collective bargaining agreement. “We are very proud to tell you the Mayor and City Council has come to an agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement,” Council President Jim Hall said Monday. According to City Solicitor Guy Ayres, under the town charter, sworn Ocean City police...READ MORE

Fire In OC Condo Contained

OCEAN CITY -- A fire at a north-end condominium Wednesday afternoon was quickly contained to the kitchen of the unit where it originated and no injuries were reported save for a cut on the hand of the resident who broke a glass fire alarm to report it. Shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) responded to a fire alarm activation at the Sea Watch Condominiums on 115th Street. First arriving units reported smoke showing from a unit on the first floor of living units...READ MORE

License Board Issues Warnings For Underage Violations

SNOW HILL -- Two first-time offenders were let off with warnings by the Board of License Commissioners (BLC) on Wednesday, though reports of the incidents were stored in case of future violations. Ponzetti’s Pizza and 94th St. Beer, Wine, and Liquor in Ocean City came before the BLC Wednesday for violations of the county’s alcohol code, specifically, the sale of alcohol to a minor. “I was very, very disappointed,” said John Trader, owner of 94th St. Beer, Wine and Liquor...READ MORE

Governor Opts For Septic Task Force

BERLIN -- Less than a week after the Maryland General Assembly session ended, Gov. Martin O’Malley this week announced the formation of a task force to study the impact of septic system pollution on the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays. During the 2011, O’Malley introduced legislation that would ban the use of on-site septic systems in new development in critical areas around the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays watershed. The legislation drew the ire of lawmakers from rural areas all over the...READ MORE

School Board Needs To Cut 15 Positions

NEWARK -- Despite an increase in state aid, the Worcester County Board of Education has learned that it will have to phase out three additional positions in the school system beyond what was originally anticipated due to rising state costs. “It is more and more challenging each and every year to make sure we maintain small class sizes,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jon Andes after learning of the necessity of additional cuts. When the fiscal year 2012 budget was first drafted,...READ MORE

Schaefer Leaves Behind Fond Memories With Shore Officials

OCEAN CITY -- His infamous remark about the Eastern Shore being an “outhouse” notwithstanding, former Maryland Governor and Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer, who passed away this week at the age of 89, was a strong advocate for the shore in general and Ocean City specifically, local elected officials said this week. Schaefer, whose strong, often irascible personality largely dominated Maryland politics for half a century, first as the outspoken four-term mayor of Baltimore and...READ MORE

School Bomb Threat Suspect Extradited

BERLIN -- A Mardela Springs man, arrested in connection with a bomb threat made at Showell Elementary this month, was extradited to Worcester County from Delaware last week and remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond. Patrick Earl McCready, 23, has been charged with making a false statement of a destructive device, arson threat and disturbing the operation of school activities following his arrest in Delaware after the April 7 incident. McCready was arrested in Delaware after investigators were...READ MORE

Wicomico Residents Could See 5-Cent Tax Hike

SALISBURY -- Faced with declining revenues and a growing list of budget obligations, Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt this week painfully called for a five-cent increase on the property tax rate to help balance his proposed $111.4 million fiscal year 2012 budget. Pollitt pitched the proposed property tax hike to the County Council during his budget presentation on Tuesday. He acknowledged the tax increase would be tough sell to the property owners in Wicomico, but asked for the citizens to...READ MORE

WOC Man Killed In Deer Collision

BISHOPVILLE -- A local man was killed in a motorcycle accident yesterday morning after colliding with a deer on a rural road in northern Worcester County. Around 2:43 a.m. yesterday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported motor vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on Bishopville Rd. between Route 113 and Jarvis Ave. The investigation revealed a 2003 Honda motorcycle, operated by William Louis Engle, 39, of West Ocean City, was traveling east on Route 367, or Old Stage Rd.,...READ MORE

Worcester Now Has Natural Gas Accord With Two Companies

SNOW HILL -- Worcester County entered into a non-exclusive service agreement with Chesapeake Utilities for natural gas Tuesday. Chesapeake joins Eastern Shore Gas (ESG) as the two franchises so far that have taken advantage of a general intention to bring natural gas to Worcester by next year. “Natural gas will benefit Worcester County,” said Steve Thompson, Senior Vice-President of Chesapeake Utilities and President of its subsidiary, Eastern Shore Natural Gas (ESNG). Thompson gave...READ MORE

City Manager’s Budget Retains Same Tax Rate In OC

OCEAN CITY – As the Mayor and City Council and staff officially enter into fiscal year 2012 talks, City Manager Dennis Dare explained that Ocean City is above other surrounding jurisdictions in keeping its cool during this tough economic time. “A great deal has been accomplished to ‘right size’ our operations since the recession began in 2008,” Dare said during Monday night’s Mayor and Council meeting. Ocean City has implemented a hiring freeze, offered...READ MORE

Berlin Sewer Upgrades Get Fed Boost

BERLIN -- The ongoing expansion and rehabilitation of Berlin’s aging sewer treatment facilities got a much needed fiscal shot in the arm this week with the announcement of over $3 million in federal loans and grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program. U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin on Wednesday announced a roughly $2.5 million loan and a $1 million-plus grant from the federal Rural Development Program that will help the town of...READ MORE

Council Seeks Middle Ground With Street Performers

OCEAN CITY -- The City Council is trying to find a compromise regarding the ongoing debate over street performers and their presence on the Boardwalk this summer. Council President Jim Hall said that some “loop holes” have been found concerning the ordinance that needs to be addressed by the city’s attorney. The Boardwalk performer licenses were scheduled to expire on Monday at midnight, but Jim Hall suggested the council to extend the present system another 30 days so issues...READ MORE

Ocean Pines Polling Site Change Looks Likely

SNOW HILL -- After discussing a possible move with the Worcester County Commissioners, the Board of Elections is still leaning toward finding a new location for primary polling in Ocean Pines. Though Board of Elections Supervisor Patti Jackson stated that no final decision has been made, she did confirm that her organization is putting serious thought into moving from the Ocean Pines fire station to another nearby site, possibly the Community Church. “This is not an argument that we can...READ MORE

Route 50 Getting New Traffic Signal Near Big Box Stores

BERLIN -- A new traffic signal is going up this week on Route 50 between Route 589 and the existing signal at the entrance to the Wal-Mart and Home Depot, as part of a larger, long-range plan to rectify the traffic situation along the busy corridor. For the last few weeks, road crews have been busy making a new cut across the median just west of the existing intersection in front of the large retail centers on Route 50 and just east of Route 589. Orange barrels and lane closure signs have been...READ MORE

School Board Seat Open After Mumford Steps Down

SNOW HILL -- At a Worcester County Board of Education (BoE) meeting Tuesday, members took a moment to honor Garry Mumford, who is stepping down from the board in order to take on the position of warden at the county jail. “Garry is leaving a legacy of advocating for all students who need a strong and steady voice,” said Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes. “He has been instrumental in promoting services and programs, such as our after school academies, which address unique...READ MORE

Eunice Sorin’s Generosity Is Her Local Legacy

OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City legend, known best for extreme generosity in the community she loved so much, Eunice Q. Sorin, passed away last Saturday, April 16 at her home in Berlin at the age of 87. Sorin, whose name adorns the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Building and Atlantic General Hospital’s Women’s Diagnostic Center, began her career modestly as a teenager working in the summer tourist industry in the resort and soon embarked on a career in cosmetology that saw her...READ MORE