Articles

Man Sentenced To Time Served For WOC Standoff

SNOW HILL -- A West Ocean City man arrested in March on numerous charges after a two-hour standoff resulted in one of the largest mobilizations of local law enforcement in recent memory was sentenced earlier this month in Circuit Court to three years in jail, all of which was suspended but the time he served awaiting trial. Jasun Weistling, 38, of Ocean City pleaded guilty in September to a single second-degree assault charge and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Back in Circuit Court...READ MORE

Worcester GOLD Campaign Marks 15 Years

SNOW HILL -- Worcester GOLD (Giving Other Lives Dignity) is in the midst of its 15th season of “Helping Hands for the Holidays” and is looking to provide gifts to roughly 1,000 people. Concentrating mostly on providing gifts to children, Helping Hands also covers what Worcester GOLD Executive Director Darlene Onley referred to as “vulnerable adults” including many elderly. During the Christmas season, GOLD compiles a wish list of gifts desired by clients. While it takes a...READ MORE

Worcester Not Interested In Rural Coalition

BERLIN -- Four Western Maryland counties have formed a coalition in the hopes of presenting a unified voice in Annapolis and are seeking to expand the organization to the Eastern Shore, but at least one Lower Shore county appears to have little interest in joining the party. Elected officials in Carroll, Frederick, Alleghany and Washington counties last week announced the formation of the Maryland Rural Counties Coalition, a union of sorts formed in the hopes of giving rural Maryland a stronger...READ MORE

Award-Winning Shore Winery Looking To Grow

BERLIN -- Great Shoals Winery, a private company started last year by former Worcester Prep teacher Matt Cimino, is looking to expand with more retailers and events in Worcester County. “We will be doing special events in Berlin,” said Shoals’ Marketing and Sales Coordinator Deborah Everett. Cimino added that Shoals was also hoping to branch out into Snow Hill as well. The move into Worcester County isn’t the only place the winery is headed. Though based in Mount Vernon...READ MORE

Poultry Industry Importance Stressed At Annual Summit

SALISBURY -- Industry leaders, business owners, and elected officials came together Wednesday at Salisbury University for the annual Delmarva Poultry Summit. While there, they discussed the effects of government regulation on the poultry industry, how it ties into and supports other business in the area and its future on the peninsula. “Never in my 26 years in Annapolis have I seen an industry more on the outside than the chicken industry,” said Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot,...READ MORE

Berlin Residential Electric Rates Drop

BERLIN -- Residents frustrated with higher-than-average electric rates and persistent blackouts last summer are in for some good news. Over the course of the fall, residential electric rates have dropped about 12 percent, according to figures provided by the town. “We changed the way we went about soliciting a purchase power contract,” said Mayor Gee Williams. Berlin’s previous power contract, a three-year commitment, expired last winter. The council then began an extensive...READ MORE

Hurricane Irene Burglar Arrested

OCEAN CITY -- A Church Hill, Md. man was arrested last week on first-degree burglary and theft charges last week after detectives were able to connect him to break-ins at multiple units occupied by foreign student workers evacuated due to Hurricane Irene. On Aug. 28, an Ocean City police detective was dispatched to an apartment complex on Trimper Ave. in reference to the burglary of two units. A total of five victims, all foreign student workers living in Ocean City for the summer, were...READ MORE

Salisbury Moratorium Extended

SALISBURY – An extension of a moratorium was approved to provide city administration time to finalize procedures concerning non-conforming residences. The Salisbury City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution to extend a moratorium for 90 days that was established for certain enforcement actions in connection with multi-family residences in R-5, R-8, and R-10 zoning districts that are suspected of being used in an illegal non-conforming manner. The resolution states that the...READ MORE

Boardwalk Tram Roof Ads Proposed

OCEAN CITY – The resort’s public transportation will be getting a makeover before next summer in order to generate alternative revenues. Ocean City Public Works Director Hal Adkins explained that as the department prepares for next year’s budget it has come up with a few alternative revenue sources as the summer season approaches. “The reason I am bringing this to you today is because many of the buys will be done in the near future as we head into the summer season, and...READ MORE

Salisbury Historic District Appointment Questioned

SALISBURY – A Historic District Commission member’s past resulted in her reappointment being questioned this week.The resolution on the table was to reappoint Barbara Loreman to the Salisbury Historic District Commission.Councilwoman Eugenie Shields said she usually does not object re-appointments but this time around she felt concerned over Loreman returning to the commission.“I believe when you are appointed to a commission you need to be objective … and be fair to all...READ MORE

Coke, Pepsi Vying For OC Beverage Franchise

OCEAN CITY – As the Mayor and City Council prepare for the holidays, they worked their way through a lengthy agenda on Tuesday afternoon. The following items were scheduled to be discussed: Once again, Pepsi and Coke-a-Cola are in competition to fulfill Ocean City’s beverage franchise, as they were the only two bids received. The bids are being reviewed by city staff. In October, Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster said that Ocean City’s current beverage franchise...READ MORE

Traffic Light Might Not Fix Intersection Concerns, State Says

SNOW HILL -- Prompted by a fatality at the intersection of Route 12 and US 113 earlier this month, the Worcester County Commission is officially asking state delegates to advocate installing a traffic light at the spot. “We implore you to contact the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)-State Highway Administration (SHA) to request signalization of this intersection before any further accidents or fatalities occur,” read a letter signed by all of the commissioners to the...READ MORE

OC Police Captain Off To Iowa

OCEAN CITY -- Continuing an experience drain at the top levels of the Ocean City Police Department, longtime Captain Robert Bokinsky has accepted the position of police chief for the city of Pella, Iowa. Bokinsky is a 32-year law enforcement veteran with extensive experience in criminal investigation, patrol and administration. Prior to accepting the position in Pella, Bokinsky had been a captain with the OCPD and served as a division commander for the last 11 years. The city of Pella hired...READ MORE

Electric Rate Hike Eyed

BERLIN -- Delmarva Power last week asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to authorize an adjustment in electric delivery rates to bolster the company’s ongoing efforts to maintain safe and reliable service, provide enhanced customer service technology and support the additional resources that were needed to restore service to customers after Hurricane Irene in August. 
If approved, the proposed $25.2 million request would result in a 5.6 percent increase on a typical Maryland...READ MORE

Shelter Grants Increased

SALISBURY -- Salisbury officials this week announced the city has accepted nearly $38,000 in grants from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the Emergency Solutions Grant Program. Four organizations in Salisbury will be the beneficiaries of the grants totaling $37,875. Diakonia, Inc., Village of Hope and Samaritan Ministries, Inc. will each receive $10,250 each from the grant program. The funding will be utilized to assist with the operations costs for the four...READ MORE

New Fire Trucks In OC

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Fire Department this week took delivery to two new fire trucks, replacing two pieces of apparatus that had each been in service for over 20 years. The Ocean City Fire Department this week took delivery of two KME Predator Engines including a 550-gallon water tanker, and a 50-gallon foam tank with a 2,000 gallons per minute fire pump. The new engines are equipped with rear and side view safety cameras for backing up and parking and the interior crew cabs have two...READ MORE

Bloody Mary Contest This Weekend Benefits Worcester Youth

BERLIN -- It’s unusual when the words “bloody” and “charity” appear in the same sentence, but that’s the case with the Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) 2nd Annual Bloody Mary Contest at the Sunset Grille. “Area bars and restaurants are competing for the title of best ‘bloody’ bar in Ocean City,” said WYFCS Director of Development and Donor Relations Stefanie Gordy. Last year, the event brought in about $1,500, a...READ MORE

OC Eyes Summer Entertainment Series

OCEAN CITY – A new entertainment schedule for Ocean City is in the works to bring headline talent to the resort with the hope it will result in extended stays from visitors. The Mayor and City Council unanimously agreed to approve a proposal brought forward by the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) to enter into an agreement with Bob Rothermel and Jack Hennen of Special Event TEAM Productions for a multi‐faceted entertainment series for the 2012 season. According to TAB, Rothermel and...READ MORE

NOEL Community Seeks Christmas Dinner Donations

OCEAN CITY – The tradition of a free Christmas dinner will continue next weekend, but organizers are not just collecting and preparing for the big day but meals to come throughout the year. The Nothing Other than Eating and Loving (NOEL) Community got the idea 14 years ago when a community-wide event was held at St. Pauls by-the Sea Episcopal Church on 3rd Street. It is a group that is made up of 100 percent of volunteers and run off of 100 percent donations. “The NOEL Community is...READ MORE

Berlin Tweaks New Year’s Ball Drop Event

BERLIN -- The paperwork is all done and Berlin is ready to drop the ball for its 2nd Annual New Year’s Eve Party, which has been expanded to accommodate what officials expect will be a larger crowd. “We were obviously very surprised by the large turnout last year,” said Mayor Gee Williams. Despite what was just a two-week notification, according to Williams, last year’s ball drop still brought in over 1,000 guests to downtown Berlin. Space was at a premium even then, and...READ MORE

Boardwalk Safety Concerns Discussed

OCEAN CITY – The city along with the private sector is targeting safety concerns on the Boardwalk and looking to address issues by the beginning of the year. Boardwalk property owner Jerry Greenspan briefed City Council members on safety concerns on the Boardwalk. On Oct. 24, a meeting was held where a number of Boardwalk property owners gathered to discuss Boardwalk safety and came up with a few suggestions to be presented to the city. “After all, the Boardwalk is the crown jewel of...READ MORE

Salisbury-Orlando Air Service Announced

SALISBURY -- Allegiant Airlines this week announced it will soon offer new, nonstop jet service between Salisbury and Orlando, Fla., beginning in February with one-way fares at just under $60. Allegiant officials on Wednesday announced the addition of a new service between the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport and Orlando-Sanford International Airport beginning Feb. 16. The company, known for its exceptional travel deals, will introduce the new service with one-way fares as low as...READ MORE

Poker Tourney To Honor Kenny Polk

BERLIN -- Three months after a tragic accident took the life of local resident Kenny Polk, his friends and family are sponsoring a charity poker tournament in remembrance and are inviting the community to celebrate his life while helping raise money for a scholarship in his name. A 2007 Stephen Decatur High School and 2011 McDaniel College graduate, Polk was planning on continuing his education in New York with the goal of eventually becoming a doctor but was killed in a car accident last...READ MORE

Authorities Report Significant Pot Busts

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) narcotics investigators and allied local law enforcement agencies had a busy, but productive week with three significant marijuana trafficking busts, including four arrests and the seizure of nearly five pounds of weed with an estimated street value of $43,000. The marijuana trafficking arrest spree began last Wednesday with a traffic stop in Worcester County and concluded with fourth bust last Friday. On Dec. 7, OCPD detectives, in cooperation...READ MORE

West OC Harbor Dredging Project Gets Underway

WEST OCEAN CITY -- The federal Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging of the commercial harbor in West Ocean City continued in earnest this week with truckloads of mucky silt being transported to a retired surface mine site in the central part of Worcester County. The project includes dredging the commercial harbor in West Ocean City to a depth of 10 feet, plus an additional two feet of allowable over-depth, for the roughly 150-foot wide harbor basin, which silts in over time with tidal changes...READ MORE

Learning The Gift Of Giving

BERLIN -- The notion that Christmas “tis the season to give from the heart” may be clichéd on some fronts, but not last Saturday when a group of about 40 volunteers provided a special holiday memory for 35 local kids. Around 6:30 last Saturday morning, the children arrived in a bus at the Wal-Mart in Berlin after being dropped off by their parents at the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce building. Some of them were aware of what the morning held for them and some were not. Upon...READ MORE

LaHa In Pines Celebrates Opening

LaHacienda Southwest Bar and Grill owner Bill Herbst held a grand opening ceremony on Monday at his new Ocean Pines location, featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, above. Among the elected officials joining Herbst and supporters were State Comptroller Peter Franchot, State Senator Jim Mathias, Worcester County Commissioners Judy Boggs and Jim Bunting and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan and Councilwoman Mary Knight. In his remarks, Franchot said, “I have...READ MORE