Articles

Berlin Survey Help Requested

BERLIN -- As part of their effort to join the Sustainable Maryland Certified (SMC) initiative, Berlin officials are asking town residents to speak up and take part in a survey that will be used to assess a variety of community conditions. The survey will seek data on everything from stormwater management complaints and natural resources, to input on recycling and personal health and wellness. Officials plan on using information learned via the survey to help develop a list of community...READ MORE

Winterfest Attendance Sets Record For Holiday Weekend

OCEAN CITY – Winterfest of Lights broke a record this past Thanksgiving weekend holding the largest attendance in the past decade. Who could have resisted the unusually warm November evenings and holiday light displays ranging from sharks to dinosaurs, as well as the 12 Days of Christmas? Not many, according to city officials, which is why parking was slim to none and lines were as far as one could see last weekend. The 19th annual Winterfest of Lights had more than 21,000 visitors ride...READ MORE

Business Requests Council Step Up Downtown Efforts

SALISBURY – A member of the downtown business community approached the Salisbury City Council this week to express her frustration with the violence and her perception that there is a lack of effort in the area. WMDT 47 News General Manager Kathleen McLain is disappointed with the brawl that broke out in the Plaza Gateway Building downtown and how the behavior is relating to the failing revival of the area. On Nov. 20 around 12:30 a.m. a large fight erupted in front of the 18-and-under...READ MORE

More Tourism Funds For Worcester

SNOW HILL -- Worcester County Tourism (WCT) is set to receive a healthy boost in state funding in the next fiscal year. The Maryland Office of Tourism has awarded Worcester County nearly $50,000 more in advertising and marketing grant money than the prior year. This brings the total for state grant funding to WCT from 60,722 in FY11 to $109,836 in FY12. This is an exciting development for WCT, according to Tourism Director Lisa Challenger, particularly in light of the decrease in grant funding...READ MORE

Local Extreme Makeover Show Airs Dec. 9

SALISBURY -- The long-awaited airing of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition episode featuring a local family is set for next Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. on ABC. This fall, the cast of ABC’s hit show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition knocked on the door of the Johnson-Goslee family in Mardela and advised the family it had been chosen as the latest recipients of a new home. The family of four had suffered a tragedy last Christmas Eve when 16-year-old Wyzir Johnson-Goslee got his arm caught in the...READ MORE

Federal Jury Sides With City In ADA Lawsuit

OCEAN CITY -- A federal jury yesterday found in favor of the town and the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) in an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) suit, ruling a former OCPD officer had not proven his diabetes was at the heart of his alleged wrongful termination. In 2009, former OCPD officer David Catrino filed suit in U.S. District Court against the department and the town of Ocean City seeking injunctive relief and an undisclosed amount of compensatory and punitive damages against the...READ MORE

Discovery Center To Host Winter Watermen’s Fest

POCOMOKE -- The Delmarva Discovery Center (DDC) in Pocomoke is getting ready to end 2011 with a special celebration and bring in the New Year with three diverse events. On Saturday, Dec. 10, the DDC’s will be celebrating local heritage with the second annual Winter Watermen’s Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local watermen will share their stories from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., musician Ron Cole will play Eastern Shore favorites. Enjoy free tempting samples of seafood...READ MORE

Berlin Festivities Seek Growth To Side Streets

BERLIN -- The goal of growing crowds to town events have business owners in Berlin asking for more side streets to be included in the festivities. “What we’re really looking to do is benefit all of the merchants in town,” said Chamber of Commerce President Elaine Brady. According to Brady, more businesses are hoping to get involved with town sponsored festivals and celebrations because Berlin has had a strong turnout for events over the last 12 months. The trend began with the...READ MORE

20 Years For Salisbury Armed Robberies

SALISBURY -- A Salisbury man was sentenced to 20 years in prison this week for conspiracy to commit armed robbery this week after pleading guilty to his role in a pair of armed robberies in 2010. U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Blake this week sentenced Christopher Foster, 32, of Salisbury, also known as “Capone,” to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and brandishing a gun in the furtherance of a crime of...READ MORE

Police: Citizens Be Aware Of False Holiday Charity Scams

BERLIN -- The arrival of the holiday season signals a time for more charitable giving and donations to those less fortunate, but local law enforcement officials this week are warning residents and visitors the season also signals a time for the area’s criminal element to prey on the collective good nature in the community. More than at any other time of the year, the holiday season presents an abundance of opportunities for those with more to share with those with less. While most...READ MORE

Salisbury Eyes Tax Differential Once Again

SALISBURY – The City of Salisbury is seeking the opportunity to sit down with Wicomico County to prove it deserves a tax differential. If the city is not successful, officials will have to explore other avenues. According to Acting Internal Services Director Gerri Moore, under Maryland State Law municipalities have the opportunity to ask the county within which they are located for a tax setoff or a tax differential.  A tax differential is a way for counties in Maryland to compensate...READ MORE

OC’s Downtown Looks To Brighten Up For Holidays

OCEAN CITY – The holiday spirit is being revived downtown through the initiatives of Light Up Downtown Ocean City 2011. The Downtown Association, Ocean City Development Association (OCDC) and the Boardwalk Development Association (BDA) have announced that Light Up Downtown Ocean City is underway. The associations have begun asking downtown residents and business owners to display holiday lights during this year’s holiday season. Tiffany Lowry of the Downtown Association and...READ MORE

Council Appoints New City Clerk

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Mayor and Council has decided to promote from within to fill the City Clerk vacancy left by the passing of Kathy Mathias last August. Kelly Allmond, a five-year veteran of the town, learned Tuesday that the council has decided to offer her the position of City Clerk, instead of conducting a national search for a pool of applicants. “There was much discussion and much consideration about posting that job nationally,” said Allmond. However, the council...READ MORE

Residents Eye Berlin Dog Park

BERLIN -- A growing group of locals have begun the process of trying to open a dog park in the Berlin area. “It wouldn’t need to be too big,” said Cate Carrick Nellans, who hopes to use a portion of the fields located near the Worcester Preparatory School. Nellans, along with resident Chrissy Ehrhart-Knight, is spearheading the drive to open a free dog park in the community. “We like to get together, and we like to bring our dogs,” said Ehrhart-Knight. Nellans...READ MORE

Council Hears Details Of Public Safety Retiree Option

OCEAN CITY – With budget discussions looming, city officials reviewed a retirement option for the town’s bargaining units. According to Financial Administrator Martha Lucey, Ocean City’s Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) is an arrangement in which a sworn police officer, who would otherwise be eligible to retire and receive a pension under the town’s Maryland Public Safety Employees Pension Plan, decides to continue to work up to a maximum of three years. By doing...READ MORE

Authorities Remind Shoppers About Holiday Safety Measures

BERLIN -- Hundreds of local residents joined the throngs of Black Friday, and Cyber Monday for that matter, as the holiday shopping season hits full stride, prompting local law enforcement officials this week to issue a few common sense reminders to ensure they, and their packages, make it home safely. Thousands of shoppers are flocking to area shopping centers, malls and outlet centers for the first big push of the holiday shopping season. Joining them, unfortunately, is an in-kind criminal...READ MORE

Berlin Hears No Dissenters To Alcohol Plan

BERLIN -- The town’s decision to expand the area where people can sell and drink alcohol during town events met with no opposition Monday. “The purpose is to make this much more practical in its enforcement,” said Mayor Gee Williams of the change to existing town code. A public hearing to discuss the amendment brought no criticism, only questions. Local business owner Gail Lewis of M.R. Ducks and the Water’s Edge Gallery asked for clarification on who would be able to...READ MORE

‘No Excuse’ Policy Debated In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council debated this week adopting a “No-Excuse” policy regarding absentee and emergency ballots. City Clerk Kelly Allmond explained that while researching ways in simplifying the absentee ballot process she came across the “No-Excuse” Absentee Voting Policy. “The State of Maryland … in 2007 they adopted a no excuse policy for regular absentee ballots meaning they [voters] don’t have to provide that excuse,”...READ MORE

Council Rejects Mitchell’s Plea For Referendum

SALISBURY – With standing room only in City Chambers on Monday evening, Councilwoman Laura Mitchell put forward one more attempt to stop a charter amendment from moving forward but was shut down as her proposal was considered not of emergency nature. Before the Salisbury City Council could adopt the legislative agenda on Monday, Mitchell got right down to business. “I would like to make a motion … a resolution that the City of Salisbury place a non-binding referendum question...READ MORE

Citizen Forum Date Set

SALISBURY -- Wicomico County Councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes will hold the next in a series of District One Citizen’s Forum meetings next Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the new Delmar Municipal Building located at 100 S. Pennsylvania Avenue. Sample-Hughes said she will be joined by County Executive Rick Pollitt, a representative from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and Newell Quinton who will speak about the Nanticoke Community Alliance/Drug Free Communities program that...READ MORE

Paid Parking Expansion Pitched To Help Fund OC’s Street Work

OCEAN CITY – Multiple suggestions were made this week as to funding an Annual Street Improvement Program, including the increase and expansion of paid parking around town. This week the discussion concerning an Annual Street Improvement Program and its funding options returned to the Mayor and City Council following numerous meetings in order to come up with proposals. “The longer we ignore it [street improvements] they will not stay static and it will continue to degrade,”...READ MORE

PRMC Employees Contribute $151K To United Way

SALISBURY -- Peninsula Regional Medical Center recently presented United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore with a check totaling $151,000, representing employee contributions toward United Way’s Annual Community Campaign.   The hospital is currently ranked #2 in United Way’s prestigious “Top 25” local business campaigns on the Lower Shore.  United Way Board Vice President for Wicomico County, Ginny Reid-Matern, commends the employees for their efforts this year by...READ MORE

National Guard Puts On A Show At Airport

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Airport was visited Wednesday by the Maryland Air National Guard for a tour and demonstration of maneuvers by the C-27J Spartan aircraft. The tour brought out several government officials, including Salisbury Councilmembers Laura Mitchell and Tim Spies, as well as Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt. “It was an experience,” said Spies after touring the aircraft. While sharing a similar role to the C-130 Hercules class aircraft, the...READ MORE