Articles

Air-Land Operation Installs New Inlet Jetty Beacon

OCEAN CITY -- The familiar beacon at the end of the north jetty at the Ocean City Inlet is back in place this week after a new tower was flown by helicopter from the Ocean City Municipal Airport last Friday and carefully lowered to a crew on the rocks below. The 20-foot tall tower, which for years alerted boat traffic to the presence of the rock jetty and the entrance to the Inlet, along with its somber alarm signal that could be heard from miles around on the clearest of nights, was swept away...READ MORE

Worcester Economic Director Feels ‘Urgency’

OCEAN CITY -- Business leaders this week got a formal introduction to Worcester Economic Development Director Bill Badger, Jr. and it appears the new department head already has an understanding of the dynamics in the county and the resort. Badger was hired by Worcester County in November to replace former Economic Development Director Gerald Redding. On Monday, he was formally introduced to the Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC). “I’m excited to be here,” he said....READ MORE

Council Supports Beach Horseback Rides

OCEAN CITY – The proposal to allow horseback riding on the beach is moving forward, as the Mayor and City Council voted to allow it beginning in November. The concept of allowing horseback riding on the beach was originally brought up by Councilman Brent Ashley back in October as a revenue booster in the off season. Since then, the idea has been brought back to the council on several occasions but this week officials sat down to make a decision. Examples of ordinances were taking from...READ MORE

North OC Business Alliance To Form

OCEAN CITY -- While many of the town’s special events and promotions are naturally centered in the downtown area including the Inlet and the Boardwalk, a new private sector alliance is hoping to ensure the north end gets a fair shake in terms of marketing and promotion. Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) President Michael James, managing partner of the Carousel Resort, told EDC members this week progress is being made on a new North Ocean City Business Alliance, a...READ MORE

Activities Depot Proposed Off Berlin’s Route 346

BERLIN -- Unwilling to give an unconditional blessing to a design presented Wednesday, the Berlin Planning Commission did grant preliminary approval to a new building that would contain a gym, laser tag and indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. Labeled the “Berlin Activities Depot,” the 30,000-square-foot building would be located off Route 346, or Old Ocean City Boulevard, at a site formerly used for parking at the Tyson chicken plant. Carmella Solito, who owns Twisters Gymnastics...READ MORE

Resort’s Taxi Industry Oversight Could Shift

OCEAN CITY – A few suggestions on cleaning up the city’s code regarding rental and business licenses this week resulted in further investigations of re-organizing the oversight of the taxi cab industry and the code regarding scooters. License Inspector Michael Sherman explained to the Mayor and City Council that while reviewing rental housing inspections and the issuance of the rental license after inspections a few issues came up within the code. “This is to make it more...READ MORE

Area Burglaries Lead To Stiff Prison Sentence

SNOW HILL -- A Pittsville man, connected to several Ocean City burglaries last fall after resort police were able to track his whereabouts using a signal transmitted from an I-Pad stolen from his most recent break-in, was found guilty this week on several charges and was sentenced to a combined 25 years in prison. During the month of August, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) investigated several reported burglaries that had occurred on the ocean side of the mid-town area. In the course of...READ MORE

Community Prays For Ava

OCEAN CITY – Ava Delricco is showing positive signs on her road to recovery as the community stands strong to ensure support and justice in the DelRicco’s time of need. Last Saturday night a candlelight vigil was held for the 18-month-old girl who was seriously injured in a car accident on Dec. 16 and recovering at John Hopkins in Baltimore. As of yesterday, Ava was progressing and impressing her family with her improvements. She was to have surgery yesterday afternoon to replace the...READ MORE

Ravens’ Oher Planning Salisbury Visit Feb. 10

SALISBURY -- Students and staff at Prince Street Elementary School (PSES) were blindsided Monday by the announcement that Baltimore Ravens’ offensive tackle Michael Oher will be visiting their school on Feb. 10. “It’s a secret we’ve had quite a few months,” said Assistant Principal Jason Miller. PSES staff and Wicomico Board of Education (BoE) members dropped several hints during the morning assembly. When it became clear that Oher would be the special guest, the...READ MORE

Report Shows Ocean City’s Rec Programs Booming

OCEAN CITY – The number of participants in Recreation and Parks programs and tournaments are up this year, but one city officials was quick to remind the department of the current lean times. The Recreation and Parks Department gave an update to the Mayor and Council on 2011’s activities and a glimpse of what lies ahead. “We are really happy to report that our numbers are bigger than they have been in a number of years at Northside Park,” Recreation Superintendent Kate...READ MORE

Woman Admits To Stealing Money From Golf Course

SNOW HILL -- In an apparent case of the apple not falling far from the tree, a Salisbury woman, who previously worked for a Berlin property manager convicted last year of theft and theft scheme, was charged this week with the same crimes for allegedly bilking a local golf course out of thousands of dollars. In October, a Maryland State Police trooper investigated an initial theft report filed by Ed Colbert, owner and president of the Deer Run Golf Club in Berlin. The investigation focused on the...READ MORE

Indian River Bridge To Open

INDIAN RIVER -- After years of construction, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDot) officials announced this week the Indian River Bridge will finally open to traffic next week. DelDot officials announced this week southbound Route 1 traffic will be routed onto the new Indian River Inlet Bridge next Friday, Jan. 20. This will be the first stage of moving traffic from the existing Indian River Inlet Bridge to the newly constructed bridge.
Shortly thereafter, Route 1 northbound...READ MORE

Local Airport Breaks Flyer Record

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport set a new record for the number of passengers flowing through the facility in 2011, topping the airport’s 13-year-old record. Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt on Wednesday announced the Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport established two new records in 2011, the most significant of which is the new record for the number of airline passengers during the year. Wicomico-based Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of...READ MORE

Some Wicomico Citizens Back Tax Hike For School

SALISBURY -- A new James M. Bennett Middle School (BMS) and lack of community involvement in schools were the major talking points during last week’s budget public input session. “Tonight, we’re here to listen,” said Board of Education President Ron Willey. He made it clear from the beginning that schools would be in a tough spot in 2012. “We’re looking at additional cuts in our budget this year,” he told the audience. Superintendent of Schools Dr. John...READ MORE

OC BikeFest Seeks Harley Participation

OCEAN CITY – Event details and financial particulars were ironed for the 2nd Annual OC BikeFest during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting. OC BikeFest organizer Cliff Sutherland came before the Mayor and City Council with a couple of requests. Before he could get the first request out, there was already a motion on the floor by Councilman Joe Hall to allow the event to be sponsored by the Casino at Ocean Downs. “Whether we like it or not, the casino is now part of our...READ MORE

Art League Relocates

OCEAN CITY -- It will be business as usual as the Art League of Ocean City moves into its new temporary digs at the former Susquehanna Bank building on 94th Street. The Art League of Ocean City is moving from its long time location on 94th Street to a temporary location just up the street in the old Susquehanna bank building. It’s the building with the blue roof near the entrance to the Super Fresh parking lot. The league will be there until construction is complete on the new arts center....READ MORE

OC Dentist Joins Smile Program

OCEAN CITY -- More than five million individuals are affected by domestic violence each year in the United States, and local dentist Dr. William Allen is helping heal the effects by participating in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s (AACDCF) Give Back A Smile (GBAS) program. Allen is one of a few volunteer dentists in the country involved with GBAS, which is available to restore the damaged smiles of eligible adult survivors of intimate partner...READ MORE

Downtown Detour In OC Slated

OCEAN CITY -- The sewer main replacement project that has affected much of the downtown area over the last few months will include a road closure along Philadelphia Ave. starting next week. Motorists traveling southbound on Philadelphia Ave. will be detoured around St. Louis Ave. starting next Monday, Jan. 16, to facilitate the extension of a new sewer force main across the roadway. Southbound traffic will be directed to St. Louis Ave. via 17th Street and then re-directed back to Philadelphia...READ MORE

Wicomico To Host Softball World Series

SALISBURY -- World Series Softball is coming to Wicomico County in 2012 and, according to officials, it will be the largest sporting event it has ever hosted. “This event dwarfs everything we’ve done,” said Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt. Pollitt revealed on Tuesday the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) will bring its 16U A and B and 18U Open and C Eastern World Series to Wicomico in July. Though Wicomico has hosted softball tournaments before,...READ MORE

OC Looks To Market Bus System’s ‘Best Deal’

OCEAN CITY – The Park & Ride’s fare will be increased to match the Coastal Highway bus system’s fare increase that went into effect almost a year ago. Last February, the ride-all-day pass for municipal buses in Ocean City increased from $2 to $3, along with an option for one-time boarding cost of $1. On Tuesday, Public Works Director Hal Adkins said as the department wraps up upcoming budget submissions for the forthcoming fiscal year, fiscal year 2013, officials took a...READ MORE

Mayor Eyes Hoppes For Salisbury Fire Chief

SALISBURY -- For the second time in about a year, Salisbury will be getting a new fire chief, and Mayor Jim Ireton already has a candidate in mind -- current Deputy Chief Rick Hoppes. “Someone has left,” said Ireton. “Someone who is qualified can take over.” Former Fire Chief Jeff Simpson resigned earlier this week to pursue what Ireton referred to as “personal and professional” interests. Simpson served in his position for just over a year and dealt with some...READ MORE

Safety Starts With Smoke Alarms

OCEAN CITY -- Just recently in Stamford, Conn. a raging fire took the lives of three children and two grandparents. As a Town of Ocean City Firefighter/Medic, I am part of a department that focuses on community safety and when we hear of such news we immediately began to review our local community outreach efforts and what we can do to prevent such a tragedy on a local level. It seems that when folks hear “Fire Safety Messages”, they feel as if they know it already and don’t...READ MORE