Articles

New West OC Hotel Plans OK’d

SNOW HILL -- Though there’s no timeline for construction in place yet, the approval process for a new hotel in West Ocean City has all of the t’s crossed and i’s dotted. In authorizing the hotel, questions were raised amongst the Worcester County Commissioners about the current 45-foot height limitation for buildings in the area’s zoning. The new hotel, which has not been identified, is designed to have 81 rooms and will be located off Route 50 west of the Alamo. Because...READ MORE

Convention Center Director Headed Back To Fla.

OCEAN CITY -- Just days after approving the $14 million second phase of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center expansion, Ocean City officials learned late last week the facility’s leader is leaving the resort for a similar position in Florida. Convention Center Director Rick Hamilton told resort officials last week he has accepted an offer to become Tampa, Fla.’s convention center and tourism director. The announcement came three days after the Ocean City Mayor and Council approved...READ MORE

Wicomico Council Fills Vacancy

SALISBURY -- Wicomico officials this week appointed local businessman John Hall to the seven-member County Council, filling a vacancy in District 4 created by the passing of Councilman Bob Caldwell in October after a long bout with cancer. The six sitting members of the Wicomico County Council chose Hall, a life-long county resident who owns and operates Hall’s Tidewater Travel, on Tuesday after conducting extensive closed session interviews with each of the four candidates nominated by...READ MORE

Wicomico Consultant Paints Dire Financial Picture

SALISBURY -- Wicomico officials got a grim picture of the county’s fiscal health this week with a presentation on Tuesday that was long on problems and short on solutions. Wicomico, like most other jurisdictions, has been battling shrinking revenues, a declining tax base and a vanishing workforce while the cost of providing essential services continues to increase. On Tuesday, county consultant Wayne Strausberg presented a rather dire presentation of the state of Wicomico’s fiscal...READ MORE

New Development Guidelines For Most Of Resort Move Ahead

OCEAN CITY – There were no objections expressed this week during a public hearing to discuss proposed design guidelines for upper Ocean City. Planning and Community Development Director Jesse Houston explained that there are design standards in place in downtown Ocean City from the Inlet to 17th Street currently. “Those are much more specific because they have an architectural style and design that they are trying to encourage and to make sure that the new building complies with that...READ MORE

Berlin To Hear Possible Flooding Fixes Next Year

BERLIN -- Now that residents in all four districts in Berlin have had a chance to present their individual complaints, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Environmental Finance Center will spend the next few months brainstorming ways to solve stormwater issues in the town. Center Director Joanne Throwe called the four district meetings a “great opportunity to determine key problems” with stormwater management in Berlin. “Berlin is at a point where it’s a great...READ MORE

Salisbury OKs Loan To Improve Downtown Building

SALISBURY -- The City Council decided to move forward with two resolutions concerning Comcast rates and a loan approval for a new business downtown. A public hearing was held on the matter of the city approving the calculation of maximum permitted rates for limited basic service and regulated equipment rates and installation charges as set forth in Comcast’s rate filing in September. There were no public comments made, and the council will move forward with the matter in the next scheduled...READ MORE

City Resolves Remaining Employee Benefit Issues

OCEAN CITY – A big difference from almost a year ago, the Mayor and City Counted unanimously voted to approve ordinances concerning town employees’ benefits. Human Resource Director Wayne Evans presented the history of town employees’ benefits regarding vacation time. In 2002, the town decreased holiday days from 14 to 12, eliminating Good Friday and New Year’s Eve, which were converted to personal days employees could choose use at any time. If those days were not used,...READ MORE

Route 113 Project Again In Funding Limbo

SNOW HILL -- Funds for highway improvement projects are low or non-existent, according to Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials, who added that fees and taxes may need to be raised if Worcester County wants to see long-term projects completed. Proposed by the Maryland Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding, some of the possible revenue boosters being considered include raising the fuel tax, increasing vehicle registration fees or hiking the titling tax, among other...READ MORE

Legislators Talk Taxes In OC

OCEAN CITY -- A proposed increase in Maryland’s gasoline tax, other proposed hikes in taxes and fees, unemployment insurance and the general condition of the state’s economy were among the topics of discussion as Ocean City business people met with their state representatives this week. The resort’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) this week hosted its annual legislative meeting in advance of the upcoming 2012 General Assembly session. While the back-and-forth session was...READ MORE

Man Guilty Of Animal Cruelty, Awaiting Child Porn Trial

SNOW HILL -- A Berlin man, awaiting trial next week on dozens of counts of possession of child pornography, was found guilty last week on all seven counts of animal cruelty stemming from an incident in August in Berlin. Sentencing is Dec. 6. On Aug. 24, Berlin Police received a tip that Kirt Greenberg, 45, was in possession of animals in compromised health conditions in direct violation of his probation for an animal cruelty conviction in Salisbury in August 2010. Officers found a total of seven...READ MORE

West OC Crosswalks Sought

SNOW HILL -- Pedestrian safety, public transportation, and Worcester County’s freight and rail system were all issues discussed by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) during its visit with the County Commissioners Tuesday. With funding scarce in general, the commissioners made it clear that those are three services they don’t want to see slip through the cracks. Pedestrian safety especially is something that MDOT is promising to concentrate on. “The move is for...READ MORE

Northern Worcester Schools Eye Re-Accreditation

BERLIN -- After a successful visit from a Middle States Association for Colleges and Schools (MSACS) review board, public schools in northern Worcester County are being recommended for re-accreditation. “Our 18-person validation team has unanimously agreed to recommend full re-accreditation for the northern Worcester County public schools,” announced Validation Team Chairperson Michael Kuchar, who also serves as Superintendent for the Bergenfield, N.J. school district. The road to...READ MORE

Assateague Drowning Victim Identified

ASSATEAGUE -- More details emerged this week in the fatal boating accident just off the coast of Assateague Island last Wednesday, including the identification of the drowning victim. Shortly after noon last Wednesday, Coast Guard Station Ocean City responded to a reported capsizing of a small commercial boat in the surf just off the coast of Assateague with victims in the water. The Coast Guard launched a rescue boat and responded to the scene and found one of the victims had made his way to...READ MORE

Veterans Day Ceremony Highlights Vietnam Vets

OCEAN PINES -- Hundreds gathered last Friday to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces during Worcester County’s 8th Annual Veterans Day Tribute in Ocean Pines. While all veterans were honored at the event, those who served during one conflict in particular were the special focus of this year’s tribute. “This year we are recognizing veterans from the Vietnam War,” announced Ocean Pines Association President Tom Terry. Richard Tanner, a former member of...READ MORE

Feds Support Berlin Hike, Bike Initiative

BERLIN -- The National Park Service this week announced an award of technical planning assistance to the Lower Shore Land Trust for its Walkable-Bikeable Berlin initiative through its Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. The project will identify opportunities to create and enhance pedestrian and bike-friendly options that link Berlin parks, residential areas, schools and retail amenities. The project supports efforts on the local, state and federal level to promote healthy...READ MORE

COPD Awareness Month Underway

SALISBURY – Imagine running around the block while breathing through a straw. This is what a patient diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) feels like after a simple walk to the mailbox. During COPD Awareness Month this November, Peninsula Home Care is educating and encouraging patients and caregivers to recognize the signs and symptoms of COPD. More than 12 million people have been diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million likely have the disease and...READ MORE

New Worcester Economic Development Director Named

SNOW HILL -- Worcester officials this week announced Bill Badger, Jr. has been hired as the new director of economic development for the county. Badger comes to Worcester with years of economic development experience. He worked with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development for 15 years from 1979 to 1994, where he served as a senior business development representative. He then went on to serve as the president and chief executive officer for the Anne Arundel Economic...READ MORE

Petition Effort Will Gear Up After Holidays

OCEAN CITY – Although signatures are currently being obtained, the recall petition effort in Ocean City is expected to be kicked into another gear after the first of the year. Last Thursday The Dispatch spoke with Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Secretary Vance Row and received an update on the petition to amend the city charter to allow Ocean City voters to recall elected officials. “This purpose of adding recall language to the Town of OC Charter will give the voters of Ocean City...READ MORE

Limited Table Games In Resort Discussed

OCEAN CITY -- While the jury is still out on the state’s nascent slots program with just two of the five potential sites open, state lawmakers will certainly debate the issue of adding table games during the General Assembly session early next year, and for the first time this week, at least publicly, the issue of opening up Ocean City to gaming facilities was broached. During the Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting this week, local legislators briefed resort business leaders on a...READ MORE

Ocean City Again Decides To Retain Separate Elections

OCEAN CITY – Once again, city officials reviewed the pros and cons of merging the city elections and national elections to the same day and again it was decided in a 6-1 vote to keep the elections separate. Interim City Clerk Wayne Pryor said that moving Ocean City’s municipal election day in October to the national Election Day has been brought up a few times in the past, especially when discussions were being had on cutting city costs and recent inquires have brought the matter...READ MORE

Salisbury Council Works Out Black Friday Police Work

OCEAN CITY – After a public debate, the City Council moved forward this week to authorize Mayor Jim Ireton to sign an agreement with Wal-Mart, allowing Salisbury police officers to provide security on Black Friday. Last week, Wal-Mart sent a request to the Salisbury Police Department (SPD) asking to contract off-duty officers for security at its Salisbury location during Black Friday. The council became hesitant due to concerns over liability and whether the local management at Wal-Mart...READ MORE

Berlin Looking To Ease Event Alcohol Restrictions

BERLIN -- After the success of last month’s Octoberfest, the Berlin Mayor and Council are considering changing the rules regarding alcoholic beverages on public property during specially sanctioned events. Last month, Berlin hosted its first-ever Octoberfest, which included a beer garden located downtown. Though some residents and members of the council initially hesitated to allow the Chamber of Commerce to sell alcohol on public property, the event came and passed without incident and...READ MORE

Salisbury Petition Goal Called ‘Within Reach’

SALISBURY -- With her 40-day deadline coming tomorrow, Salisbury Councilwoman Laura Mitchell believes her petition to have a charter amendment stalled and placed on next year’s ballot for public scrutiny has a good chance of collecting enough signatures to pass. “We’re within reach,” she said Wednesday, reporting the petition was nearing 2,000 signatures out of the 2,539 needed. “I have 1,600 in hand,” said Mitchell. Though short of the goal, Mitchell pointed...READ MORE

‘Spokesdog’ Contest Winner Announced

OCEAN CITY – Last Thursday the winner of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) “Spokesdog” contest was announced as dogs and owners, as well as pups from Paws and Claws pet store, gathered to “celebrate the beginning of a countywide effort to battle against poopetraitors”. The “Spokesdog” contest is the initial launch of an outreach program to engage responsible dog owners in getting the message across that dog waste has an impact on the environment...READ MORE

The Shark’s Focus On Organic, Fresh Foods

OCEAN CITY – A unique spot, The Shark on the Harbor, has become even more distinct this month by adding rare specials to their off-season menu. It all began for The Shark, owned by Travis and Jody Wright, on 45th Street in Ocean City in May of 2000 but as the area become re-developed into condos they re-located to 46th Street where the restaurant operated for one year before moving to its current location in West Ocean City on the commercial fishing harbor. Entering into their fourth year...READ MORE