September 23, 2011

Ayres Granted Negotiating Power By Judge

OCEAN CITY -- If the town of Ocean City reaches a settlement next week in a civil suit filed last September alleging age bias and discrimination in its hiring practices, City Solicitor Guy Ayres will be able to negotiate the pending agreement with members of the City Council present, a federal judge ruled this week. Last September, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit in U.S. District Court against the Mayor and Council for allegedly violating the Age Discrimination...READ MORE

No Soap At Worcester Middle School Questioned

BERLIN -- After removing soap dispensers from student bathrooms, a local school found itself the target of a small storm of parental outrage. “You can’t take soap and water away from 800 kids,” said Judy Schumate, whose daughter attends Stephen Decatur Middle School (SDMS). In response to issues with student-caused messes last year, SDMS hasn’t had soap dispensers in any of the student bathrooms since doors opened to students at the end of August. “They started...READ MORE

Worcester County Passes New Ethics Code

SNOW HILL -- A new ethics code was passed by the Worcester County Commissioners as an emergency bill Tuesday, though the code’s authority stops a little short of what one commissioner hoped. A state-wide policy is forcing all counties to bring their ethics regulations in-line with the Maryland minimum or higher. When the changes were first announced last month, county attorney Sonny Bloxom informed the commission the updates will be relatively minor and mostly concern extending the detail...READ MORE

Salisbury Firehouse Contract Weighed

SALISBURY -- With talks dragging on since last December, the Salisbury City Council is finally set to vote next Monday on whether a contract for renovations to the downtown firehouse is still acceptable or if new bids for the property will need to be filed. Last December, Salisbury accepted a $100,000 bid for the firehouse from Coastal Venture Properties, who plan on using the building as a restaurant, with a special focus on education. The plan for the site is to use it to train University of...READ MORE

Busker’s Arrest In Baltimore Raises OC Issues

OCEAN CITY -- A little more than a week after winning a preliminary injunction allowing him to practice his art in most areas on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, street performer Mark Chase tested the limits of the court’s ruling at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and soon found himself behind bars. On Sept. 9, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of street performer Mark Chase on certain aspects of his civil suit filed against the town of Ocean City in June, issuing preliminary...READ MORE

Open Houses Of The Week

WEST OCEAN CITY 37 Mystic Harbour Blvd Sat 2-4 3BR/2BA Attached Garage Lauren Bunting Bunting Realty, Inc 410-422-9899 BERLIN 10024 Friendship Rd Sun  1-3 3BR/1BA on 1 acre Detached Garage And Workshop Lauren Bunting Bunting Realty, Inc 410-422-9899 WEST OCEAN CITY Bay Point Plantation Rt589/Gum Point Rd Daily 10-5 Waterfront Estate Lots in 142 Acre Preserve Kevin Decker The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 443-235-6552 WEST OCEAN CITY Golf Course Road Captains Hill Sat 11-1 Auction...READ MORE

New Bay Bridge Toll Set At $4

BERLIN -- State transportation officials clearly got the message about Marylanders’ dissatisfaction with a proposal to increase the tolls at the Bay Bridge in two phases over the next two years, agreeing yesterday to lower the proposed hikes in a compromise of sorts. Last spring, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced a plan to first double tolls at the Bay Bridge, from the current $2.50 one way to $5 this fall and more than triple the toll to $8 by July 2013. The proposed...READ MORE

‘Extreme Makeover’ Eyes Wicomico

SALISBURY – Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is returning to Delmarva, or more specifically Wicomico County, and the family to benefit will be announced this week. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and communities. The show's producers work with county officials and resources as well as a local construction contractor to build the home. The renovation includes interior, exterior and landscaping, which is to be...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Power, Agenda Key Editor: It was Ocean City Councilman Joe Hall who recently said, if I read it correctly, “We have been very clear since we took power that we have an agenda….” And there it is. Power and agenda. Words that presidents and world leaders often think, but shudder to utter publicly. And only the clueless would cobble them in the same short, telling sentence. The world, according to the City Council, may be a scary place to live. In the matter of the firing of...READ MORE

Resort Citizens Effort A Worthy Initiative

Now that the Ocean City Council’s leadership group has made its reasons known for ousting former City Manager Dennis Dare, some sort of meeting of the minds to move ahead must take place. Sure, there are many who are still appalled by the council majority’s actions and the process it underwent to force Dare out, and many more are even increasingly outraged at the reasons they expressed. Instead of the previous calls of “cowards” from the audience heard earlier this month,...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

After this week’s decision to fill the vacant post from within, all indications are the next city manager of Ocean City will be Hal Adkins, who has served as the town’s first and only public works director since 1989. Once the City Council majority voted down a motion by Councilwoman Mary Knight to do a national search, indicating a will to promote a current department head instead, the fate of the city manager’s vacant post was essentially all but sealed. It’s...READ MORE

Ground Broken On Major County Sewer Plant Projects

WEST OCEAN CITY -- Major steps in improving sewer treatment in Worcester were launched this week with groundbreaking ceremonies for two significant wastewater treatment plants in opposite ends of the county. On Tuesday morning, federal, state and local officials broke ground on a new state-of-the-art $14.6 million wastewater treatment plant for the town of Snow Hill. A couple hours later, the same contingent put shovels in the earth during a groundbreaking ceremony for a $12.5 million...READ MORE

Resort Sticking With Rodney Marketing Campaign

OCEAN CITY – The “proof was in the pudding” that the town should continue with its familiar ad campaign, Rodney Saves, and this year’s new commercials were presented. “Rodney the Lifeguard” commercials have surfaced over the last couple of years saving people from their everyday lives to bring them on vacation in Ocean City. In past discussions, City Council members have questioned whether Rodney Saves has served its purpose and whether it’s time to move...READ MORE

Adventures Of Fatherhood

Checking in on my kids before calling it a day is a nightly ritual for me. In my opinion, a kid is never more beautiful than when he or she is asleep because that’s when they are completely at peace. That’s why I think I love them the most when they are asleep in their beds for the night. Of course, my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek here, but there’s much to admire when my boys are in a deep slumber, rather than wreaking havoc on the house and themselves. What’s...READ MORE

Bat Attacker Sentenced

SNOW HILL – A Snow Hill man, arrested on armed robbery and assault charges last December after beating another man with a baseball bat on a side road off of Route 113, was sentenced last week to 10 years in jail with all but 18 months suspended and was also ordered to pay over $65,000 in restitution to the victim. Kenneth Lee Wharton III, 19, pleaded guilty in July to first-degree assault and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Back in court last Friday, Wharton was sentenced to 10...READ MORE

Mayor’s Post Left Out Of Fire Marshal Process

OCEAN CITY – The City Council passed a handful of ordinances on second reading by an unanimous vote except for one concerning the involvement of the mayor in the hiring process of the new fire marshal. The ordinance on the table amended the current code, which allows for the Fire Prevention Commission to submit recommended names for the fire marshal position to the mayor for appointment and is voted on by the council. It excludes the city fire chief, the city manager and the normal...READ MORE

Shelter Service Cost Schools Nearly $50K

SNOW HILL -- The Worcester County Board of Education is facing almost $50,000 of unexpected expenses after having several schools serve as emergency shelters during Hurricane Irene last month. Whether any or all of those expenses will be reimbursed is still up in the air. County schools spent $22,381 during the weekend of Irene and an additional $22,500 was spent on in-kind services, such as extended electric costs, gas and employee costs. “There was a lot of people cost involved,”...READ MORE

Lack Of Trust Cited As Major Tourism Marketing Problem

OCEAN CITY – A marketing consultant may have come down on city officials too hard this week but was simply stating the truth in what he found by examining the town’s tourism and marketing. OCG President and founder Joe Lathrop was hired by the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) as a marketing consultant. He has worked with at least 120 destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and this week he presented the board and town officials with his findings on Ocean City. “There is a...READ MORE

Sunfest Kite Festival Returns For 34th Year In Resort

OCEAN CITY -- See the skyline of Ocean City explode with color at this weekend’s Sunfest Kite Festival, Sept. 22-25 on the famous downtown Boardwalk. Celebrating its 34th year, this world-class event is recognized as one of the top 100 most popular venues on the planet. All are welcome to witness and participate in general kite flying, kite flying games, relays, “candy drops”, kite competitions, or just plain kite spectating, and it’s free. In September of 1977, kite...READ MORE

Film Festival Tickets Now On Sale

BERLIN -- Join the Assateague Coastkeeper® and the Assateague Coastal Trust when they host the Wild and Scenic Film Festival On Tour at Seacrets in Ocean City on Oct. 13. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a collection of films from the annual festival held the third week of January in Nevada City, Calif. Now in its ninth year, Wild & Scenic focuses on films that speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet. “Films featured at Wild & Scenic give...READ MORE

Blackouts In Berlin Continue To Frustrate

BERLIN -- With frequent power outages causing headaches among Berlin citizens, town officials are urging patience though some are calling for more scrutiny over how Berlin handles its utility. “It [a power outage] is a major inconvenience,” admitted Mayor Gee Williams. Last Saturday marked the most recent in a string of blackouts that have been leaving Berlin in the dark since earlier this summer. There have already been a couple weather driven incidents in September, though severe...READ MORE

Bike Events Still Pleased Despite Lower Attendance

OCEAN CITY – A tornado followed by a weekend of rain introduced OC BikeFest to town but the event, but event organizers as well as Delmarva Bike Week representatives reported the weather didn’t hold them down. When The Dispatch last spoke with OC BikeFest’s organizer Cliff Sutherland, he said, “I’m hoping God’s good with the weather. We’ve got the rest handled.” This week Sutherland said although the weather didn’t cooperate the new event...READ MORE

Berlin Man Shot By OCPD Gets 12 Years

SNOW HILL -- A Berlin man, shot by Ocean City police last December during a stabbing attack on his estranged wife, was sentenced last week in Worcester County Circuit Court to 25 years in jail, about half of which was then suspended. Marvin Jefferson Mitchell, 28, in July entered an Alford plea to attempted first-degree murder and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not plead guilty, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute the case....READ MORE

Awards, Respect Follow Hughes To Restaurant 213

FRUITLAND -- Nationally-recognized and locally-respected Restaurant 213 has been offering fine dining in a small-town setting for nearly a decade. When owner and Executive Chef Jim Hughes decided to open Restaurant 213 in Fruitland more than eight years ago, his location wasn’t in the best of shape. “The building needed some attention,” he said. Today, the site is small but comfortable, with an inviting entryway and an herb and vegetable garden bordering one side wall. Hughes...READ MORE

Eastern Shore Postal Facility Faces Closure

BERLIN -- Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin this week called for transparency and increased public input as the U.S. Postal Service again begins to study the possibility of closing the Easton Area Mail Processing Center, the hub for mail generated all over the Eastern Shore including Worcester and Wicomico Counties. In a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, Mikulski and Cardin urged the U.S. Postal Service to keep the public fully involved in the decision. The Postal Service...READ MORE

Drugs, Knives Seized In Boardwalk Raid

OCEAN CITY -- Two days after an employee of the Maytalk store on the Boardwalk sold the now-illegal synthetic narcotic K-2 to undercover police detectives and taught them how to use it, OCPD officers last Thursday afternoon raided the establishment and found more than they bargained for. Earlier last week, OCPD Mounted Patrol officers received a tip from a citizen regarding the sale of K-2 at Maytalk, a Boardwalk store at 2nd Street. Three weeks ago, the Ocean City Mayor and Council passed an...READ MORE

Thief Escapes After Snatching Jewelry

OCEAN CITY -- Resort police this week are still looking for the suspect who robbed a Gold Coast Mall jewelry store late last Thursday, snatching roughly $50,000 worth of jewelry from the clerk who was showing it to the suspect. Around 3:40 p.m. last Thursday, Ocean City police responded to the Liljenquist and Beckstead jewelry store in the Gold Coast Mall for a reported theft that had just occurred. About 10 minutes earlier, an unidentified black male had entered the store and a sales associate...READ MORE

Announcements

Robert Lee Chandler and Pamela Leigh Holloway, both of Ocean City, have announced their engagement. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Ronald Holloway of Georgetown, Del. and the late Marie E. Holloway. The groom is the son of Bishop James and First Lady Mary Johnson of Selbyville, Del. The bride-to-be is a 2009 graduate of Wor-Wic Community College with an associate’s degree in nursing and is employed as a pediatric Registered Nurse with Three Lower Counties Community Services in...READ MORE

Berlin Dolphin Seasons Underway

BERLIN- After one team went undefeated last year and the other lost just once, the Berlin Dolphins’ Salvation Army Football League teams got off to a shaky start this year with the Cadets falling to 0-2 and the Juniors splitting their first two games. The Junior Dolphins, which lost only once last year, lost their season opener last weekend, 26-0, before rebounding with an impressive win over the Salisbury Bulldogs on Monday. Against the Bulldogs, the Dolphins got on the board first with a...READ MORE

Decatur Volleyball Remains Unbeaten

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity volleyball team remained unbeaten this week, sweeping Pocomoke in three games on Monday to improve to 5-0 on the season. The Seahawks beat the Warriors, 25-16, 25-6 and 25-6, to remain unbeaten on the season. Hallee Carr had 18 service points, including four aces, and 15 assists. Casey Ortiz had 13 service points, including four aces, and four kills, while Amy Casey had 10 service points, three aces and three kills. The Seahawks face Bayside South rival...READ MORE

DePaul Records Nine Saves in 1-1 Tie

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity soccer team played Kent Island to a 1-1 draw on Monday after a second half goal tied the score and keeper Ashley DePaul kept the Buccaneers right where they were. Kent Island scored an early goal in the first half to jump out to a 1-0 lead, but that was as close to the Decatur net as the Buccaneers would get the rest of the day. Decatur scored on a goal by Tori Whigham off an assist by Paige Torpey in the second half to tie the game at 1-1....READ MORE

Seahawks Fall to Buccaneers, 28-14

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team spotted visiting Kent Island 21 points in the first half last week before getting its own offense on track and fell to the Buccaneers, 28-14. After a scoreless first quarter, Kent Island scored early in the second for a 7-0 lead. With just over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Buccaneers scored again on a two-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 14-0. After Decatur turned the ball over, Kent Island added its second...READ MORE

Rough Seas Move Challenge Cup

OCEAN CITY- Heavy seas offshore caused by the remnants of Hurricane Katia last weekend forced the Ocean City Marlin Club to reschedule the 33rd Annual Challenge Cup for this weekend. The Ocean City Marlin Club is hoping to pull even with its friendly rivals from Cape May this when the two clubs vie this weekend for the Challenge Cup for the 33rd time. The Challenge Cup, which pits teams of boats from the Ocean City Marlin Club against teams from the Cape May Marlin and Tuna Club, officially...READ MORE

Mallards Dump Delmarva Christian, 4-1

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity soccer team beat visiting Delmarva Christian, 4-1, on Monday to improve to 4-1. For the Mallards, the numbers 4-1 have held special meaning thus far this season. In each of Worcester’s four wins, the final score of the game has been 4-1. Worcester has now beaten Delmarva Christian twice by the score of 4-1 to go along with 4-1 wins over Salisbury Christian and Greenwood Mennonite. Their only loss of the season came last Saturday at home to...READ MORE

Worcester Prep's Field Hockey Rolled Past Delmarva Christian

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Tough Guy Of The Week

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Mallards Improve To 4-1

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Things To Do Around Town

Sept. 23: KC Bingo Doors open 5 p.m.; games begin, 6:30 p.m.; 9901 Coastal Hwy., O.C. Refreshments will be on sale. For more information, 410-524-7994. Sept. 23-25: Fiddlers Convention Friday: 7-10 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and will conclude Sunday at 11 a.m. Three days of free live, bluegrass music on the streets of Berlin. For more information, 410-641-4775 or visit www.BerlinChamber.org. Sept. 24: Giant Yard Sale To benefit Operation Shooting Star. Sale is 4 miles east of Selbyville,...READ MORE

Who's Playing When And Where

Burger’s Surf’s Up Cafe 410-723-2007 5401 Coastal Hwy. Friday, Sept. 23: Landers & Heinz Trio, 5-8 p.m. Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Sept. 23: Electric Co. Charlie’s Bayside Restaurant 302-539-3526 Rte. 1 & Maryland Ave., Fenwick Island   Saturday, Sept. 24: John LaMere, 8 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.   Ocean Club: Friday, Sept. 23 & Saturday, Sept. 24:Power Play De Lazy...READ MORE

Best Eats On The Beach

West Ocean City- Berlin Ocean Pines-Fruitland Assateague crab house & Carryout Rte. 611, Assateague Island • 410-641-4330 On the way to visit the ponies of Assateague, stop by this rustic crab house. Enjoy Maryland crabs by the dozen or try the all-you-can-eat specials including snow crab legs. Their extensive menu features various appetizers, fresh fish, seafood, steaks, chicken and ribs. The kids can enjoy their own menu along with the great game room. Great for casual dining or...READ MORE

No Tuition, Now What?

OCEAN CITY -- You’ve looked forward to this day for as long as you can remember. Your child (or the youngest of your children) is graduating from college. Your next financial steps can make a real difference in your retirement. Now it’s time to focus on your next major financial goal: retirement. If you’re fortunate enough to have a time horizon of 10 to 20 years, the steps you take today can make a significant difference in the size of your nest egg and create a sense of...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Jacqueline Lois Cavanaugh Barrall LEWES, Del. -- Jacqueline Lois Cavanaugh Barrall, of Angola Beach, Lewes, Del, formerly of Wilmington, Del, died Sept. 11, 2011 at the age of 76. Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt is now a Heavenly angel. Jackie passed peacefully into Heaven to join her husband, Richard, who passed away in 2000, and daughter Maria, who passed away in 1965. Jackie retired from DuPont in Wilmington after 15 years of service. She also worked for the Wilmington Country...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Sales Associates Join Firm OCEAN CITY – Dottie Wells, manager of Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc.’s Ocean City office, has announced the affiliation of Stephen and Suzanah Cain as sales associates. “We are extremely pleased that Stephen and Suzanah have decided to return home to Long and Foster to continue their successful career in the industry,” said Wells. The Cains, who originally began their career in real estate with Long and Foster, have consistently been...READ MORE

CraZy Ladyz! Boutique Host Bon Voyage Party

CraZy Ladyz!  boutique in West Ocean City  hosted a bon voyage party on Sept. 13 for all of the “crazy cruisers” headed out on an exciting Eastern Caribbean cruise to help raise funds for Women Supporting Women. Owners Louise Reardon, left, and Jan Patterson-Hohman, right, are joined by Lorraine Murphy and Mary Price on the cruise. ...READ MORE

OC/Berlin Rotary Club Past President Welcomes New Member

Ocean City/Berlin Rotary Club Past President Daniel Harris welcomes perspective new member Carrie Dupule, financial advisor with Edward Jones, during the weekly Ocean City/Berlin Rotary Club meeting held Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m. in the Captain’s Table Restaurant in the Courtyard by Marriott. ...READ MORE

Macky's Bar And Grill Donate $7,500 To OC Lions

Pam and Macky Stansell, owners of Macky’s Bar and Grill, have donated $7,500 to the Ocean City Lions’ 6th Annual “Wounded Warriors” Golf Tournament, which is happening on Oct. 5 at the Ocean City Golf Club. The Stansells have financially supported the tournament from its inception. ...READ MORE

Ocean City Firehouse Station 5 Dedicated

Pulling apart the ceremonial hoses at the Station 5 Ocean City firehouse dedication in West Ocean City this month are the volunteer fire chiefs, who were joined by elected and appointed officials and local residents at the event. Photo by David Coleman ...READ MORE

Brownie Troop 1206 Donate $500

Brownie Troop 1206 recently donated $500, two-thirds of its 2011 cookie proceeds, to the Red Cross to be used for Japan and Haiti relief. Madeleine  Kiesewetter first mentioned the idea to her mother and troop leader when they were watching some of the footage of the Japan disaster. The Troop leader was worried that a lot of the girls would be disappointed because the prior year, the troop used the money to travel to an indoor water park, which they all loved. It turns out all the troop...READ MORE

Things I Like

A hustle play in sports Rainy football Sundays When my kids are in listening moods Unique business cards Reading outside Quiet dinners A house with a dart board Checking the surf report daily Cool mornings, warm afternoons Fall television An early-morning run ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Cosmic changes create a potential for disruptions in your travel plans. In the meantime, you might want to consider shifting your focus to another area of your life that needs attention. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): It's a good time for beauty-loving Bovines to enjoy something special for the senses. It will restore your spirit and return you to the workaday world ready for the next challenge. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): With your planetary ruler, Mercury, going...READ MORE