Archives

Chief Defends Police Open Container Approach

OCEAN CITY - Some town officials have expressed their concerns regarding how the Ocean City Police Department handles situations when people are found in public with an open alcohol container, an offense that brings with it a citation, or even handcuffs, depending on the situation. Some say there are too many arrests for such a simple violation, causing for wasted time and resources on paperwork, court trials and other matters, while others believe this type of preemptive enforcement...READ MORE

Charity Golf Challenge Will Feature Miss USA Contestants

OCEAN CITY - Around this time last year, two events going on simultaneously brought national exposure to the resort area including a CBS golf reality show and a visit to Ocean City by many of the Miss USA pageant contestants, and while those events did not return this year, there is an upcoming event planned that will combine the best attributes of the two. The 'Birdies by the Beach' charity golf challenge, benefiting the Best Buddies Maryland program, is coming to the Ocean City...READ MORE

Debate Surfaces Over Request For More School Cops

SNOW HILL - The County Commissioners went back and forth over funding three school resource officers requested in the Sheriff's Department budget during a work session Tuesday. Worcester County Sheriff Chuck Martin requested three new deputies specifically to patrol and work with the schools on security and safety, an outgrowth of community policing. Threats do not simply come from disruptive students, he said, but also from parents, teachers and visitors. However, Martin cautioned he...READ MORE

John Staley Recognized As Resort's Citizen Of Year

BERLIN - Long-time local resident and community activist John Staley this week joined distinguished company when he was named the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year for 2007. Staley moved to the resort area in 1982 and has been active in municipal government, many civic organizations and church groups ever since. In addition to receiving the Citizen of the Year award on Wednesday before a packed house at the Clarion, Staley was also honored with a proclamation from...READ MORE

County School Buses Set For Camera Upgrade

NEWARK - With school safety as pertinent an issue recently as it has ever been, school board members this week signed off on a proposal to purchase greatly enhanced digital surveillance camera systems for all of the school buses in the county's fleet. The Board of Education on Tuesday approved a bid to provide digital surveillance cameras and associated equipment on public school buses throughout the county. Security cameras were first placed on county school buses back in 1998 but the...READ MORE

Property Owner Rejects Adult Business At WOC Site

WEST OCEAN CITY - Rumors that an adult bookstore had leased a high-profile property on Route 50 in West Ocean City stirred up unrest this week among residents and officials. The rumor making the rounds in recent weeks had it that an adult bookstore was negotiating to lease the former Harley-Davidson shop at the intersection of Route 50 and Keyser Point Rd., most recently home to gourmet food shop Avalon Market, which recently closed its doors after negotiations over rent were...READ MORE

Surfriders Update City On Beach Campaign Initiatives

OCEAN CITY - It has been over a year since the Ocean City chapter of the Surfrider Foundation began their five-year campaign to improve the beaches of Ocean City with their 'Leave Only You Footprints' program. Coming before the Mayor and City Council last Monday night, Terry Steimer of the Surfrider Foundation updated city officials on how well year one did and presented their initiatives for year two. 'Last year we came here on behalf of the Surfrider Foundation because we noticed two...READ MORE

Resort Staff Scrambling As Summer Season Approaches

OCEAN CITY - With weather reaching highs in the 70's this past week, many locals have probably noticed town employees scattered throughout the resort working on various tasks. As the weeks before the summer season dwindle away, every aspect of the town is looking to finish up preparations for what everyone hopes to be another successful year. Just because some have just begun to take notice of the hard-working employees taking advantage of the optimal weather conditions does not mean...READ MORE

Wallops Island Launches Second Rocket In Four Months

BERLIN - Against the backdrop of a crystal clear, starry night, the second rocket launch in four months from NASA's Wallops Island Spaceport climbed through the sky and into orbit Tuesday, providing hundreds of local residents, visitors to the area and curiosity seekers with an early morning light show. The latest launch from Wallops Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) went off without a hitch shortly before 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning after two postponements. The launch was originally...READ MORE

Berlin In Process Of Locating New Power Agreement

BERLIN - While instructing staff to seek a long-term power agreement, expected to reduce ratepayers' electric bills, the Berlin Mayor and Council faced a large bill of their own for electric sale legal fees this week. The council approved payment of $152,000 in fees from utility sale law firm Thompson Coburn. 'This is only through February,' said town administrator Linda Bambary. The bill for the remainder of the deferred legal fees, incurred in March and the first half of April, has...READ MORE

Berlin Tables Mandatory Snow Removal Proposal

BERLIN - A new ordinance specifically tasking Berliners to remove snow from sidewalks was tabled this week after the Mayor and Council brought up questions about the new requirements that could not immediately be answered. The Mayor and Council heard the second reading of the bill at Monday's meeting. This is not a new requirement, said Berlin Administrative Director Linda Bambary. The new ordinance simply specifies the rules for snow removal, as opposed to sidewalk obstructions in...READ MORE

Community Will Get Chance To Talk Sidewalks

BERLIN - While the Flower St. sidewalk engineering report is not yet completed, the Mayor and Council decided Monday night to hold a community meeting to discuss the design, once it is available. The meeting, the date of which is dependent on the delivery of the engineering report and design, will be held at the Flower St. Multi-purpose Building and will be open to the entire community. Mayor Tom Cardinale told the Berlin Council at this week's council meeting that consultant Ed White...READ MORE

Hydraulic Dredging Ban Signed Into Law

BERLIN - Nearly one year to the day from the untimely passing of the Delegate Bennett Bozman, Governor Martin O'Malley officially signed the bill prohibiting hydraulic dredging for clams and oysters in the coastal bays into law. O'Malley, along with Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown, Senate President Thomas V. 'Mike' Miller and Speaker of the House Michael Busch, on Tuesday officially signed House Bill 964, which prohibits the practice of dredging for clams and oysters in the fragile...READ MORE

Proposed Permit Process May Cost County $500K

SNOW HILL - Simplifying the building permit process for small projects could cost the county big bucks, staff told the Worcester County Commissioners at Tuesday's budget work session. Talk of adding an online application process for building permits of all stripes, and adding mapping functions online, would require a lot of work and staff, said Ed Tudor, director of Development Review and Permitting. 'I'm projecting half a million dollars there if we go that route,' Tudor said. Tudor...READ MORE

Berlin School To Get New Parking Lot On Main Street

NEWARK - In an effort to alleviate the congestion-prone parking situation at Buckingham Elementary, county school officials this week approved a $200,000-plus project to add a 40-space staff parking lot in front of the school on Main Street in Berlin. County Board of Education members on Tuesday approved the low bid for the proposed parking lot expansion at Buckingham Elementary that could go a long way to improving the traffic and parking situation at the school which has confounded...READ MORE

Businesses Make Hires, Routine Improvements This Time Of Year

OCEAN CITY - Stretching their legs after a relatively calm winter, businesses in the area have begun to come to life once again with the passing of the Easter holiday and the return of Springfest next week. Business will hit full stride for the season for at least another month or so and establishments are using this time to finish up final preparations as the summer approaches. According to Susan Jones, executive director of the Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, most places begin...READ MORE

Tax Freedom Day Arrives For Most Next Week

BERLIN- Many local residents, like their brethren all over the country, got their state and federal tax returns filed by last week's deadline, but most still have some earning to do to meet their tax burden for 2007. Tax Freedom Day, the point in the year when typical Americans stop working for Uncle Sam and start working for themselves, arrives next week, April 30, which is four days later than last year but still much earlier than in years gone by. Calculated annually by the...READ MORE

Emergency Dune Restoration Project Completed On Assateague

ASSATEAGUE - The ongoing emergency repair effort by the state and private contractors to restore the network of dunes along Assateague Island battered by a series of winter storms neared it conclusion this week with the finishing touches put on the replenishment project. The convoy of trucks carrying tons and tons of sand day in and day out down Route 611 in West Ocean City to Assateague Island have neared the end of their mission as the effort to restore the barrier island's...READ MORE

The Dispatch Launches New Site

  BERLIN - A new day has begun for The Dispatch as it recently joined forces with a leading web development and marketing company to reconstruct and revamp its existing website. Publisher/Editor Steve Green announced this week the completion of the company's new website, which represents a total transformation from the newspaper's previous website. The site can be found at www.mdcoastdispatch.com, the same domain the company has owned since 2001. The redesigned site features nearly all...READ MORE

OC Police, Beach Patrol Ready For Seasonal Gear Up

  OCEAN CITY - Recent warm weather in the region has tempted many locals and visitors alike from their winter hiding spots to take to the streets of Ocean City to begin preparations for the coming season. However, not everyone had the chance to recess during the cold weather as the Ocean City Police Department and Beach Patrol have been preparing for the coming summer since the end of last season.  According to Barry Neeb, community services coordinator for the OCPD, the police...READ MORE

Confusion Surfaces Over Boat Slip Assessments

  OCEAN CITY - Some of the confusion over who should receive separate property tax assessments on boat slips in Ocean City was cleared up this week when the director of the state assessment office for Worcester County laid out the reasoning for the seemingly random process. Several boat slip owners in the resort have raised questions in recent weeks about why they have received assessment notices on their slips while their neighbors, often on the same canal or waterway, have not....READ MORE

School System Makes Case For County Budget Funding

  SNOW HILL - Teachers, salaries and technology dominated the Board of Education's budget presentation at Wednesday's county budget work session. Dr. Jon Andes and staff spent two and a half hours going over the schools budget and answering questions from the County Commissioners. The Board of Education is requesting $70.7 million, which is 36 percent of the total requested budget of $197.6 million. The county anticipates revenues significantly lower than requests, with projections...READ MORE