August 28, 2009

Thursday, Sept. 3-Resort CO Plan Focuses On Education

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City's strategy for enforcement of the carbon monoxide (CO) law seems to be one of defense through diplomacy instead of offense via all-out inspections. Town officials are keen on spreading the word about their carbon monoxide detector law, since only 17 percent of properties are in compliance, according to Fire Marshal Sam Villani on Tuesday. Villani said that the best way to deal with non-compliance of the city's carbon monoxide detector law is through education, and though...READ MORE

Tuesday, Sept. 1-What Lies Ahead In OC Area

OCEAN CITY - The fall season in Ocean City is one marked by popular weekend events. Here's a look at what's on tap in the weeks and months ahead. -- Sept.  17-20: Delmarva Bike Week: Motorcycle related activities with rides, entertainment, vendors, celebrities, manufacturers & more. Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy four days of fun. -- Sept.  18-2-: Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show, Convention Center, 40th St. & Bay: Sterling jewelry, pearls, beads, loose stones,...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

I love a good fish story, especially those of the factual variety, and this summer may go down as one of the most memorable summers of fish stories ever. It's largely due to the fact local anglers have been in our headlines all summer and scored big bucks in the popular fishing tourneys based in the area. Check out page 8A for the latest fish story of the summer involving a local restaurateur's unlikely prize-winning white marlin, which won more than $650,000 in the Mid-Atlantic $500,000. It...READ MORE

Compromise Best Hopes In Land Dispute?

Despite the Ocean City Mayor and Council formalizing plans to condemn and seize his property, local businessman Rick Laws is proceeding with his intention to develop the land into a bayfront hotel. Laws came before the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission last week to seek approval of his site plans for a five-story, 104-unit hotel, featuring 72 hotel rooms and 32 suites on 64th Street behind the shopping center he owns along Coastal Highway. The plans seemed to be cheered for the most part...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Competition May Ease Health Insurance Costs Editor: I\'m writing this letter because my health insurance premium increased 12 1/2 percent last week.  My husband and I have been responsible citizens for the last 50 years. We raised and educated our children; we didn\'t expect the government to take care of us. We did it ourselves. I have voted both parties during my lifetime because I don\'t think one party is right all the time. Having said that, I would like to see some competition for...READ MORE

Assault On Girlfriend

OCEAN CITY - A Pottstown, Pa. man was arrested on assault charges last weekend after allegedly attacking his girlfriend and fracturing one of the vertebrae in her neck. Around 4:30 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City police responded to the Seascape Motel on 15th Street for an unknown disturbance. The investigation revealed a couple staying at the motel had been involved in a domestic argument prior to the arrival of the police. Officers learned earlier in the evening the victim and her male...READ MORE

OC Surfer Saves Trio Caught In Rip

OCEAN CITY - A local surfer quickly was given the title of local hero after saving three young children from a rip current that was rapidly pulling them out to sea last Sunday night in uptown Ocean City. Twenty-six-year-old Nick Wilson merely wanted to catch a few waves left over from Hurricane Bill as he had surfed all weekend on the summer's biggest waves and traveled to 122nd Street in Ocean City Sunday evening for one final session. Instead, Wilson says that he quickly realized that the...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Angler Restaurant 410-289-7424 , Talbot St. & The Bay Sunday, Aug. 30: Last Social Party with DJ Mike C Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Every Friday: DJ Wood Saturday, Aug. 29: Steeler Tailgate Party Every Sunday: Locals' Party with DJ BK CaribBean bar & grill 410-289-0837 , Just off the Boards on 2nd St. Friday, Aug. 28: Dave Sherman, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie Duo, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29: The Moodswingers, 1-5 p.m.; Wes Davis Band, 7:30-11:30...READ MORE

2009 Live Meet Concludes at Downs

BERLIN- The 62nd annual summer-long live racing meet at historic Ocean Downs concluded with a bang last Sunday with champions named in several categories including Horse of the Year, Driver of the Year and Trainer of the Year among others. The 2009 live meet, which began back in late June and concluded last Sunday, was highly successful again this year, attracting thousands of visitors and locals alike to the storied harness track near Ocean Pines not far from Ocean City. Ocean Downs attracted...READ MORE

Varsity Golf Teams Square Off in First Ever Battle of Berlin

The Stephen Decatur and Worcester Prep varsity golf teams, pictured above, last week squared off for the Inaugural 'Battle of Berlin Challenge Cup.'  Using a modified Ryder Cup format, the two teams battled it out at the Ocean City Golf Club and Eagle's Landing Golf Course. According to the coaches, the three-day friendly competition between the two local schools was an awesome way to kick off the season and will become a yearly event. Submitted photo ...READ MORE

Marlin Club's Labor Day Tourney on Tap

OCEAN CITY- While it may lack the glamour and high payouts of the White Marlin Open, the Ocean City Marlin Clubs 51st Annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament, which gets underway next weekend, trumps all other in terms of history and prestige. Called the 'granddaddy' of the resort area fishing tournaments, the annual Labor Day White Marlin tournament is the oldest among the tournaments held in and around Ocean City each summer. The first was held in 1958 and the annual event has endured for...READ MORE

Dramatic End to Mid-Atlantic 500

OCEAN CITY- In what has become a three-year trend in the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 tournament, an Ocean City-base boat swept in on the last day with a big white marlin to steal the thunder, and a large chunk of change, from their New Jersey brethren. With Hurricane Bill churning toward the mid-Atlantic coast late last week, just about all of the boats participating in the MA500 used their last fishing day on Thursday and appeared to settle most of the issues once and for all in the high-dollar...READ MORE

Rec Department Claims 3rd Title

OCEAN CITY- For the third straight year, the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department won the town's employee softball league title, downing the Ocean City Beach Patrol 2 team, 16-6, in the championship game. Each summer, employees from the various town departments compete in a summer-long softball league with the winner owning bragging rights for the entire year. Meanwhile, men's fall softball league is now underway with a handful of teams emerging as early leaders. In the Atlantic Division,...READ MORE

Fri, August 28--Council Airs Concerns Over Proposed Senior Housing Project

BERLIN - A proposed senior living development on Broad St. provoked some skepticism over requested tax abatements and the low-income requirements during the Monday Berlin Mayor and Council meeting, when the developer outlined his proposal. The council did not vote on a resolution of support for lack of a quorum. There must be three town council members for a quorum. Council members Elroy Brittingham and Dean Burrell were absent, and Councilman Troy Purnell, as an owner of the company that owns...READ MORE

Friday, August 28--Del. Man Jailed After Stabbing

OCEAN CITY - A Middletown, Del. man was arrested on attempted murder and other serious charges after allegedly stabbing in estranged wife and injuring two children and the victim's new boyfriend during an altercation at an Ocean City condominium on Monday evening. Around 5:10 p.m. on Monday, Ocean City police responded to the Siesta Villas condominiums in the area of 51st Street for a reported domestic assault in progress. Upon arrival, OCPD officers observed a woman, later identified as the...READ MORE

Friday, August 28--Meetings Set On Assateague Island's Future

ASSATEAGUE - With an eye on the future, Assateague National Seashore officials are embarking on a process to develop a general management plan for the barrier island for the next 20 years and are soliciting the help of those who use the park the most to participate in the process. Assateague Island National Seashore Superintendent Trish Kicklighter this week announced the beginning of a process to develop a General Management Plan (GMP) for the barrier island for the next 20 years. All national...READ MORE

Friday, August 28--White Boards Latest In Classroom Tech Advancements

NEWARK - Students in three area elementary schools will enjoy the fruit of federal stimulus funds this year in the form of interactive 'white boards' that are meant to allow teachers and students to approach learning in a more engaged way. 'The technology will allow teachers in a very inviting way to teach to more styles, to get students more involved,' said Title I coordinator Stephanie Zanich. The white boards will appeal to students and make a huge difference in student engagement, Zanich...READ MORE

Businesses Adjusting To Summer Employee Exodus

OCEAN CITY •€' As the annual exodus of seasonal workers hits its full stride in Ocean City, business owners are left trying to mind the gaps on their staff lists while keeping service top notch. Most veteran business owners or managers try to pass off the juggling act that must be done each year to compensate for losing almost a third or even half their workforce over a two week period every August, by saying things like 'we knew it was coming' and 'this isn't our first rodeo.' However, it...READ MORE

County Public, Private Schools Eye New Year

OCEAN CITY •€' As area youths get their pencils sharpened and place their classroom supplies into their brand new backpacks, both public and local private schools are getting ready for students' arrival and for the first bell ringing in the 2009 school year. Worcester County public schools rode a wave of recognition and achievements throughout the summer as they ranked first in the state for both reading and math scores for grades 3, 6, and 8, while being recognized as one of only 10 school...READ MORE

Patrol Captain Wants Non-Guard Swimming Illegal

OCEAN CITY •€' Ocean City Beach Patrol Captain Butch Arbin says he'd like his lifeguards to have more authority on Ocean City beaches, but Mayor Rick Meehan believes the patrol already has all the power it needs. After Sunday's heroic rescue of three young swimmers by 26-year-old surfer Nick Wilson, the issue of night swimming, which became a hot topic for the Mayor and City Council last fall and was later tabled until after the summer season, has resurfaced. The council planned to...READ MORE

Some Servers Report Solid July, August After Slow June

OCEAN CITY •€' The summertime dealings are almost done for the seasonal workers in Ocean City, but as they are counting their money, some are finding that they are leaving the proverbial table with less saved than usual. Much has been said about the resort's business community and how it has been faring through this 'better-than-some-but-certainly-had-better' summer seasons, but little has been mentioned about how the workers in the restaurant industry have done from a financial standpoint,...READ MORE

State Budget Woes Lead To Worcester Losing $2.6M

BERLIN - The other shoe dropped this week when Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced the latest round of state budget cuts totaling $450 million, highlighted by $210 million in cuts to local aid to the counties including nearly $2.6 million for Worcester. In July, O'Malley announced $280 million in state budget cuts across the board in Maryland with the promise of more to come as the state continues to wrestle with its growing deficit. That promise was fulfilled on Tuesday when the...READ MORE

Berlin Council News In Brief

BERLIN - The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed several items briefly at their last August meeting on Monday night. The following is a look at some of the topics discussed. -- The council voted to commission a re-evaluation of wastewater rates to more accurately reflect future costs. The study will re-evaluate existing wastewater rates and special connection fees in light of the construction of improvements and expanded capacity at the Berlin wastewater plant, said Water and Wastewater...READ MORE

Consumers Can Track Carbon Footprint On Website

BERLIN - With so much written and said about energy consumption and one's personal impact on the environment, Delmarva Power this week launched an online 'carbon calculator' to help power purchasers and consumers track their usage in a variety of factors and determine how they stack up against their neighbors in terms of energy use. Delmarva Power officials this week announced a new initiative to allow their customers to track their energy use and lifestyle habits to determine just how much they...READ MORE

Island Phragmites Battle Renewed

ASSATEAGUE - Several areas of Assateague National Seashore were closed temporarily this week as federal officials renewed their aggressive aerial assault on invasive phragmites on the barrier island. Assateague officials this week began the latest phase in the ongoing effort to eradicate, or at least contain, the spread of noxious phragmites. The prolific, non-native and highly invasive plants, or weeds, take over salt marshes and other coastal areas by stunting the growth of indigenous...READ MORE

Local Defies Odds, Hooks Top Prize On Final Day

OCEAN CITY - Long-time Ocean City businessman, high school coach and angler Scott 'Spunky' Lathroum, after years of laboring behind the scenes of the world's largest offshore fishing tournament, earned his moment in the sun last week, catching a 95-pound white marlin on the last day of the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 to stun the big crowd at Sunset Marina and take the event's top prize. With Hurricane Bill threatening, most observers thought the Cape May, N.J.-based 2009 MA500 was a done deal when...READ MORE

Low Bid Brings Berlin Road Work Below Estimate

BERLIN - Road work will cost Berlin hundreds of thousands less than originally projected, staff reported this week during Monday night's Berlin Mayor and Council meeting, after the lowest construction bid came in significantly under town cost estimates. The $861,000 bid price, from A.C. Croll and Sons, came in at $400,000 less than the engineer's estimate. Engineers projected that the surface work on Grice and Vine streets and Graham Avenue would cost $1.3 million. 'In several recent bids, costs...READ MORE

No Solution Picked For Long-Term Sand Source

OCEAN CITY - The federal Army Corps of Engineers has determined the source of sand for the latest installment of the ongoing beach replenishment project in Ocean City in 2010, but no decision has been made on sources for the long-term life of the project. This time last year, the Army Corps of Engineers released the final recommendations for long-term offshore sand sources for the life of the ongoing Ocean City beach replenishment project, identifying three shoals off the coast of the resort as...READ MORE

Opinion On Open Meetings Complaint Expected In Fall

BERLIN - A decision on whether the Worcester County Commissioners violated the state of Maryland's closed meetings law when deciding to consolidate three county departments into one has been delayed by sheer volume of Open Meetings complaints, according to state staff. A decision on the complaint filed by Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) was due last week, but so many complaints have come in that staff reported they could not keep up. William Varga, an Assistant Attorney General and Counsel for...READ MORE

Settlement Reached In Case Involving WCDC, Ex-Employee

SNOW HILL - A federal civil suit filed earlier this year by a former Worcester County Developmental Center (WCDC) employee against the agency and a handful of its management staff, citing an alleged long pattern of intimidation and discrimination that ended with her wrongful termination in September 2008 was dismissed late last week although the terms of the settlement remain confidential. Former WCDC employee Jometta Johnson, through her attorneys, in February filed suit against the agency and...READ MORE

Spike In CO Detector Sales Reported

OCEAN CITY - Many local hardware stores have seen a substantial spike in sales of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in the last two weeks, and a few of them are reportedly having trouble keeping them on the shelves. One could deduce a few things from reports from local hardware stores who say they've noticed an increase in their CO detector sales since the recent leak that forced the evacuation of the Americana hotel on 10th Street two weeks ago. On one hand, town officials look to the report as...READ MORE

Faces in Places

A spotlight on the local and regional bar and restaurant scene ...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

There is something special about being out on the beach at night, especially in the middle of the summer. The heat of the day fades into the coolness of the night and the beauty of the starlit sky coupled with the sound of the crashing waves washes away the worries of the previous day. I do a lot of fishing from my boat, but every now and then it is refreshing to get out on the beach at night. It's a place where there are no worries about charters, no noisy outboard motors, no competitive...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Margaret Anne Croswell 'Peggy' Williams SALISBURY - Margaret Anne Croswell 'Peggy' Williams, 92, of Salisbury, died Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Williams was born July 4, 1917 in Princess Anne, to the late Omar and Margaret (Cline) Croswell. She was a former member of Greenhill Yacht and Country Club, a volunteer at the Salisbury Zoo and a volunteer for the Junior Board of Peninsula Regional Medical Center. She was an avid duplicate bridge player,...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

It's not the same, but it's not all that different either. Yes, that's not exactly the most profound sentence ever written, actually it's quite embarrassing to see it in print, but it's what I think when I compare dogs and kids. It's often said bringing a puppy into your life is good training for raising a child. I think I agree with that, in general, but there are so many obvious differences that make it seem silly to say having a dog prepares one for having a kid. Nonetheless, in my case, I...READ MORE

Scenes From An American Legion Luncheon

American Legion Post #166 volunteers pictured at a recent luncheon for volunteers are, from left, Eileen Salafia, Auxiliary House Committee member; Rosie Garlitz, Auxiliary 1st Vice President; Teddy Rozziano, Auxiliary Chaplain; Sarge Garlitz, Past Post Commander of Post #166; Anna Foultz, Auxiliary President; and Bonnie Hansen, Auxiliary 2nd Vice President. American Legion Post #166 is located on 23rd Street in Ocean City. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Star Charities Donates To Humane Society

Star Charities recently donated a $1,000 check to the Worcester County Humane Society at the Ocean Pines Library. The money was raised at a Western Night gala at the Ocean Downs Racetrack in Berlin. Shown presenting the check are, from left, Barbara Mazzei, Star Charities Treasurer; Irmgard Heinecke, contest winner for best costume at the racetrack; Nancy Wein, Worcester County Humane Society volunteer; and Stacy Schaffer, Taylor Bank product specialist. ...READ MORE

Church Members work at God's Soup Kitchen Mission in Salisbury

Ocean Pines Community Church attendees Jessa Hoover, Mollie Compher and Remy Trader helped serve lunch at God's Soup Kitchen Mission in Salisbury last Saturday. Gods Kitchen is an outreach hosted by Grace Methodist Church ...READ MORE

Summer Interns Survey Fish Population in Bishopville

Maryland Coastal Bays Program summer interns worked in Bishopville last week surveying the fish population of Bunting Branch stream. Pictured, from left, are Salisbury University senior Robert Causey of Delmar; Kenney Olukoga of Nigeria, a junior at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Peter Andes of Berlin, a freshman at University of Maryland Baltimore County; and Renee Laffite of Honduras, a junior at Loyola University. ...READ MORE

Big Bag Sale Planned at Area Thrift Store

Used to be Mine, Diakonia's Thrift Store, is preparing for a blow out Bag Sale on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patrons can have as much apparel and toys that they can stuff into a large brown paper grocery bag for only $3. Above are manager Mary Ferry and fellow volunteer Carol Martin. ...READ MORE

Identifying Best-Of-Breed Investments

OCEAN CITY - In the 1990s, when Michael Hartnett, Co-Head of International Investment Strategy at Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch Research, used the phrase 'best of breed,' he was referring to Japanese companies that escaped the decade-long bear market in the world's second-largest economy. 'Japan was facing something similar to what is going on in the U.S. today •€' a credit-fed boom followed by a deflationary bust,' says Hartnett. Yet, in sharp contrast to the plight of most...READ MORE

A Week In Business

OC Eyes New Website OCEAN CITY - The Town of Ocean City's new website, www.OceanCityMD.gov, will be going live on Monday, Aug. 31. The new site will house all town departments. Anyone going online to old domain names, such as www.town.ocean-city.md.us, will be forwarded to the new site once it is launched. The newly designed web site will provide one location for citizens to more easily find information on anything involving the Town of Ocean City. New features will include a search tool, a main...READ MORE

Things I Like

The early evening hours on the beach Chips and salsa (and queso) 'The Legacy' restaurant off Route 113 A quick phone conversation Being sore the day after a workout The streets of Berlin early in the morning A turkey sausage sandwich Looking ahead to a vacation A rainy morning followed by a sunny afternoon Watching my son walk on the beach A good surfer working a big wave ...READ MORE

People in Society

Neighbors Lending a Helping Hand Throughout the Community ...READ MORE