January 29, 2010

Half Marathon Kick-Off Event on Tap

WEST OCEAN CITY- The Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) team and the Ocean City Half Marathon are teaming up for a kick-off event for the popular April race at the Greene Turtle in West Ocean City next Tuesday. Founded by Chris Klebe and Charlie McClure of OC Tri-Running, the annual half marathon and 5K is slated for April 24 with the former beginning at the Ocean City Inlet and winding its way through West Ocean City before reaching its finish line at Assateague. The 5K race...READ MORE

Decatur Wrestlers Sweep Pair

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity wrestling team rebounded from a tough first loss of the season last week by sweeping a pair of matches in a combined meet with Rising Sun and Queen Anne's last Saturday. The Seahawks had been steamrolling opponents all season in regular matches and several tournaments including an impressive win in the Bob Rowe Delmarva Classic two weeks ago before running into a buzz saw against Sussex Central last Wednesday. Decatur dropped 11 of 14 matches to Sussex Central...READ MORE

Mallards Prep for Grueling Stretch Run

BERLIN- After a long winter break, the Worcester Prep boys' and girls' varsity basketball teams get back in action in earnest, each with three games next week and five in a span of 10 days. The Worcester Prep boys last played on January 15 when they beat Gunston, 63-34. The Mallards' record now stands at 7-5 with a very telling segment of the schedule coming up after a two-week layoff. The Worcester boys play Delmar on Monday in the first of four straight road games to start the stretch...READ MORE

OC Basketball Action Continues

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's winter boys' basketball league continued this week with a full slate of games at Northside Park. The following is a quick look at some of this week's league action: (bullet) Phillips Crab House 43- Outback 20: Justin Meekins scored 19 points and Matthew Lecompte added 14 as Phillips cruised past Outback. Travis Carpenter scored 13 points for Outback in the losing cause. (bullet) Ocean City Lions Club 32- Lighthouse Sound 18: Joshua...READ MORE

Seahawk Girls Cruise Past Eagles, 46-36

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity basketball team found its stride on Tuesday, building an early lead and withstanding a couple of runs by visiting Snow Hill to coast to the 46-36 win over their Worcester County rival. Decatur came into the game struggling, having lost six of their last seven contests after starting the season 3-3. However, the Seahawks put it all together against county rival Snow Hill on Tuesday with a staunch defense a balanced, timely offense to get back in the win...READ MORE

Snow Hill Outlasts Decatur, 56-52

SNOW HILL- Stephen Decatur's men's varsity basketball team lost a tough one this week, falling to county rival Snow Hill, 56-52, on Tuesday on the road to relinquish its share of the lead in the Bayside South. The two conference heavyweights squared off on Tuesday in Snow Hill with the Eagles hanging on late to defeat the Seahawks after maintaining a double-digit lead for much of the contest. The two teams entered the game tied atop the Bayside South standings with identical 12-2 overall records...READ MORE

Super Bowl Scramble Slated

BERLIN- With the teams now set for big game, it's not too early to make plans to participate in the annual Super Bowl Scramble at Eagle's Landing in West Ocean City on February 7. The creative tournament has become a fixture on the winter sports schedule in recent year and this year should be no different. The tournament features a traditional four-player scramble format with a coach (the team's A player), a quarterback, a wide receiver and a running back. The scoring format is unique, however,...READ MORE

Cab Operators Rail Against Medallion System

OCEAN CITY •€' As expected, sparks flew, tempers flared and a proverbial line was drawn in the sand for the fight over what it should cost to operate a cab in Ocean City. At day's end on Tuesday, the cost to acquire a so-called 'medallion' will be $1,500 per car, with only 160 medallions to be offered. When the Mayor and City Council met at City Hall to debate the proposed taxicab medallion ordinance, several dozen members of the taxi industry showed up to express their disdain for the...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

June has long been a month many in the hospitality industry refer to as 'pre-season.' It's a time when staff is being trained, businesses are ironing out operations and sales slowly build as the month approaches its end and gives way to the boom of July. It's no secret June is not a busy time for most hotels, restaurants and watering holes, and many prefer the shoulder seasons of September and October because of the special event weekends. However, demoflush and room and food tax figures confirm...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Perplexing Comments Editor: Joe Kroart, what's with the rabid dog act? Your criticism of the motivation behind Michael James' letter was downright nasty. Why would you be so surprised that James's opinions agree with a number of elected official's opinions regarding child sex offenders? The similar views that James and these others expressed are shared by many in this region and James's letter was a well-written expression of these widely held sentiments. And yet you react like Michael James...READ MORE

Honors System Makes Sense For County Students

The Worcester County Board of Education will likely next month alter the way it distinguishes students, and the change is a good thing for local students. Currently, each county high school recognizes a Valedictorian and a Salutatorian. These are the students with the highest cumulative grade point averages (GPA). Many other students are honored at graduations around the county, but those are for other extracurricular activities and not typically a result of classroom studies. Under a revised...READ MORE

Robbery, Beating Suspect Nabbed

BERLIN - Worcester County Bureau of Investigation detectives last week made an arrest of a suspect responsible for the beating and robbery of a Berlin convenience store owner as he locked up his business in December. Around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 6, an unknown suspect assaulted and robbed the owner of the Uncle Willie's convenience store in Berlin as the victim was closing and leaving the store for the night. While the storeowner was closing up shop, an unknown suspect, described as an...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Hilarious is the only way to describe how my Saturday mornings have been of late. Three weeks ago, my oldest son, Beckett, began his first organized 'sporting' activity, Little Kickers, and it's been quite enjoyable for the entire family. By its name, the obvious deduction is it's a soccer program. However, as those parents whose kids have participated already know well, it has little to do with soccer. Actually, what I have found is the soccer balls are simply there for the parents to kick...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You need to be certain that all the right conditions are in place before you take that first step. It can't hurt to listen to good advice from those who have your best interests at heart. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Be careful not to get involved in other people's disputes unless you know the facts behind the disagreements. That's the best way to be assured of making wise and honest decisions. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): You still need to be careful about how...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Closed Reopen Thursday, Feb. 11 Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Every Friday: DJ Rupe, 7-9 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Ocean Club: Friday, Jan 29 & Saturday, Jan. 30: New Censation Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 , 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West Ocean City Friday, Jan. 29: Blake Haley Fager's Island 410-524-5500 60th St. in the Bay Deck: Friday, Jan....READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Geoffrey H. Robbins, II BERLIN - Geoffrey H. Robbins, II, 28, died Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Florida. Born in Salisbury, he is the son of Dr. Geoffrey Robbins of Ocean City and Linda Chornyei Pohuski of Annapolis and step-mother Michelle Robbins and step-father Michael Pohuski. He is also survived by his sister, Jacqueline Robbins of Kona, Hawaii; step-sister, Megan McBride of Ocean City; and a step-brother, Andrew McBride of Washington DC. Also...READ MORE

Friday, Jan 29--Bay Island Could Get Boost From Channel Dredging Work

OCEAN CITY - In what could be a win-win situation for all involved, a plan is in place to dredge a navigational channel at the entrance to a West Ocean City marina and deposit the sand on nearby Skimmer Island, just north of the Route 50 bridge, in an effort to restore critical nesting habitat for a handful of threatened bird species. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently seeking public comment on various aspects of the proposal to dredge the entry channel to Homer's...READ MORE

Friday, Jan 29--Commissioners Unified Against Pay Raises

SNOW HILL - No one working for the Worcester County government is likely to get a raise in salary this year, with the Worcester County Commissioners recently taking the decisive step of freezing their own compensation at current levels. Worcester's elected officials recently passed a resolution holding their salary and expense compensation at the same level through 2014 as established for their current term in office. The commissioners unanimously voted to forego their expected raise, leaving...READ MORE

Friday, Jan 29--Resort Area Drug, Burglary Ring Busted

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City police last week arrested nine suspects allegedly involved in an extensive narcotics distribution and burglary ring involving nearly 30 residences in the area including Ocean City, West Ocean City and Berlin. The investigation began in November, focusing on the illegal distribution of oxycodone, but Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) detectives soon began to unravel a vast burglary ring involving the same suspects. In early January, an undercover OCPD detective was able...READ MORE

Friday, Jan 29--Teachers Group Favors Bargaining Panel

NEWARK - While the county school board opposes legislation proposing an independent panel to handle employment contract negotiating disputes, the Worcester County Teachers Association (WCTA) is all for it. 'I think it's a good idea,' said WCTA President Terry Springle. 'The teachers are the only organization in the state that does not have a third party to resolve disputes between the bargaining agents.' Currently, when an employee organization and the Worcester County Board of Education...READ MORE

People in Society

Snapshots of Those Supporting Causes Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

County Concerns Jeopardize Bishopville Pond Project

BERLIN - Supporters of the Bishopville Pond project continue to seek ways to move the project forward, with new plans calling for an application for federal stimulus money, but county staff's recent reservations on the project could derail the long-awaited work. 'I feel like we can make this project happen,' said Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) Director Dave Wilson. The bays program is coordinating the project, which is working with funding and assistance from several different sources,...READ MORE

Legislators, Governor Introduce Sex Offender Bills

BERLIN - As promised, a renewed effort to strengthen Maryland's sexual predator laws, borne out of the late December tragedy that claimed the life of an 11-year-old girl in Wicomico County, is gaining momentum in the General Assembly with dozens of bills introduced including one by the governor and another by Worcester County's delegation in the House. When Sarah Haley Foxwell's body was found near Delmar on Christmas Day, the victim of an apparent abduction and murder by a repeat sex offender...READ MORE

Local Banks Embrace Growing Grassroots Effort

BERLIN - With public sentiment growing against the so-called 'mega-bank' financial institutions across the country, a growing movement calling for a return to the traditional values community banks offer is gaining momentum. Large corporate banks, often chastised for their impersonal service and perceived attitude of indifference to their customers, have taken a hit as the current recession drags on, creating a groundswell of support for a return to traditional Main Street banking values. Last...READ MORE

Slots Group Suggests Move To Table Games Needed Now

BERLIN - Long before the first slots handle is pulled in Maryland, a movement is already afoot to expand gambling in the state to include table games after the commission charged with approving the locations of the venues recommended last week at least exploring the opportunity. The Maryland Video Lottery Location Commission met last Friday, and based on a recommendation by commission member D. Bruce Poole, has decided to forward a proposal to Governor Martin O'Malley and House and Senate...READ MORE

Winterfest Ticket Prices Could Be Increased

OCEAN CITY •€' As revenue goes down, oftentimes the price must come up, and that could be the case for admission to the Winterfest of Lights next year. One pre-holiday snowstorm may have kept the Winterfest of Lights from meeting last year's numbers, but on Tuesday, the Recreation and Parks Committee heard a proposal that called for a one dollar raise for access to the entire Winterfest experience: the tent, hot cocoa, Santa Claus and a ride through hundreds of thousands twinkling lights on...READ MORE

Coastal Bays' Citizen Group Revived

BERLIN - A revived coastal bays Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) met this week to work out a new vision for the group, which was formed years ago to work on policy decisions for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP). The CAC was formed a decade ago to oversee the creation of the MCBP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), an extensive document listing actions necessary to improving and maintaining the health of the coastal bays. The original CAC included a diverse...READ MORE

Cops Drinking With Guns Worries Council

OCEAN CITY •€' The City Council took umbrage with one topic included in a housekeeping measure that would have updated the police department's General Orders. All but one of the nine General Orders proposed to the Mayor and Council passed through the council level, but one issue involving off-duty police officers, firearms and alcohol was table for more discussion. Section 200-B2 of the police's General Order addressed several instances and guidelines for off-duty police officers including...READ MORE

MDE Gathers Samples From Chicken Farm

BERLIN - After threatening to get a search warrant to take samples of potentially polluting material on the Hudson Farm chicken operation, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was allowed onto the land and took samples on Tuesday. An MDE spokesperson confirmed that agency inspectors have visited the Hudson Farm and removed materials for testing, weeks after initially attempting to take that material. The Hudsons had refused to allow MDE to take samples on four previous occasions. The...READ MORE

New System Could Help Smaller, New Companies

OCEAN CITY •€' What was said would put the 'little guy' out of business, could actually help the 'little guy' start his own. While some in the taxi industry argued that putting a medallion system into effect would put smaller cab companies out of business, the new system might be favorable to some independent cabbies, who might be looking to venture out on their own. Kenny Ethridge, who has been driving a cab in Ocean City (mostly for Niteclub Taxi) for four years, thinks that the new...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, the town continued with steps to update infrastructure, add some new amenities and tie up some proverbial loose ends. New Boardwalk Sign Approved The City Council awarded GableSigns Inc, a bid for $21,245 to construct and install two new Variable Message Signs on the Boardwalk on Tuesday, enabling the town to streamline updates to Boardwalk visitors on any alerts or information that needs to be disseminated. Mayor Rick Meehan, who brought the idea last...READ MORE

Retiree Incentive Proposed To Reduce OC Payroll Costs

OCEAN CITY •€' A one-time offer to 84 town employees could see many of them opting for retirement as early as late April in some cases, and in turn, helping the town save almost $1 million in payroll this year. At the end of a City Council work session on Tuesday, City Manager Dennis Dare outlined his proposal of a retirement incentive plan for 84 of the town's 600-plus employees, which if done, would be another step in 'right-sizing' the town's workforce and be another feather in the cap...READ MORE

Sides Exchange Legal Blows Over Black Sea Bass

OCEAN CITY - Mixed signals continue to come out in the ongoing battle over the abrupt closure of the black sea bass fishery last fall with the defendants in a multi-party lawsuit against the federal agency responsible for the closure filing a formal answer to dismiss the case this week, and the agency responsible for providing the data that precipitated the change openly admitting the numbers could be wrong. Based on estimated catch data that showed black sea bass anglers up and down the east...READ MORE

Faces in Places

A Spotlight on the Local and Regional Bar and Restaurant Scene ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Hospital Meets Standards BERLIN - By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, Atlantic General Hospital and Health System has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval•„¢. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation's health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission's on-site survey of Atlantic General Hospital and Health System...READ MORE

Scenes From Knights Of Columbus Banquet

The Knights of Columbus Ocean City Council last week hosted its annual social banquet, which featured numerous awards being presented throughout the night. One of the highlights of the event was a check presentation to June Walker of the Worcester County Development Center for $15,617 raised during the organization's tootsie roll drive where tootsie rolls were sold to church goers on Sundays in the summer. Among the awards presented, above, was the Firefighter of the Year Award to Mike Hastings....READ MORE

Optimist Club Members Planning For Annual Boat Show

Optimists recently took a few minutes from planning for the Seaside Boat Show and Scholarship Lotto for a photo. Pictured, front from left, are Bob Russell, President; Lew Frey, Vice President; and Charlie Dorman, Boat Show Chairman; and, back from left, Ralph Green, Vice President; and Rich Dalton, Lotto Chairman ...READ MORE

OC Lions Club Gives a "Thank You" Check

Ocean City Lions Club member Wayne Cannon presents a 'thank you' check from the club to Ocean City-Berlin Leo Club President Lindsey Bankert. The check will be used for the Leo Club's many community projects. The Leo Club is the Lions' youth-based group headquartered at Stephen Decatur High School. ...READ MORE

Snow Hill Warden Speaks at Democratic Women's Club Meeting

The Democratic Women's Club was honored to have Warden Ira Shockley and Assistant Warden Rita Lawson give interesting insights into life at the Snow Hill jail at the club's January meeting at the Ocean Pines Community Center. Club meetings are held the third Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Pictured, from left, are Diana Gross, club president; Shockley; Lawson and Marge Sebour, club vice president. ...READ MORE

SDHS Talent Show Hosted By Drama Department

The Stephen Decatur High School drama department hosted its annual talent show last week. From singers and musical performers to dancers to comedians, the overall night was an entertainment success. Singer and acoustic guitar player Kenny Pearson, above, took the grand prize of $100 and bragging rights for a year. Pearson dedicated the evening to his brother, who passed away unexpectedly this month ...READ MORE

Drum Set Donated to OC Elementary

Cassidy VanVonno plays the drum set that her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tim VanVonno, recently donated to Rick Chapman's music class at Ocean City Elementary School. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Third Graders Research Red-Eyed Tree Frogs

Jacqueline Knowlton's third grade class at Ocean City Elementary School researched Red-Eyed Tree Frogs for their Non-Experimental Science Fair Project. Pictured are Micheal Rutka, Reed Welton, and Sivan Cohen creating a model frog. ...READ MORE

SDHS Receives Grant From Exxon Mobile Eductation Alliance

Stephen Decatur High School recently received a $750 grant from the Exxon Mobile Educational Alliance program and the Ocean Petroleum Company. Ocean Petroleum representative Trish Connell presented a check to the school that was spent on science equipment. Above, Senior Andrew Murrell uses a spectroscope, purchased with the grant money, to examine noble gases in Fran Brittingham's Advanced Placement chemistry class. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep To Perform Hello! Dolly

Some of the Worcester Prep students who will be performing in Hello! Dolly Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. are, from left, Chelsea Thaler (Irene Molloy), Ocean City; Austin Cook (Cornelius Hackl), Berlin; Paige Spangler (Minnie Fay), Berlin; and Hunter Harmon (Barnaby Tucker), Rehoboth Beach. ...READ MORE

Scenes From Showell Elementary Kindergarten's Reading Groups

One of Mrs. Mears' kindergarten reading groups at Showell Elementary studied quotation marks and performed the book, "Grandpa's Cookies" for their classmates. Pictured, from left, are Abby Yeager (grandpa), Ethan Hansford (frog), Katie Brunkhorst (squirrel), Georgia Oglesby (narrator and owl), Caleb Danner (bear), and Grace Windon (Lisa). ...READ MORE

Will It Be A Watershed Year?

OCEAN CITY - In the first quarter of 2009, many investors thought the economy couldn't get much worse. But then came the rest of the year •€' in which the economy saw marked improvement, including a dramatic stock market surge and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's announcement in September that 'the recession is very likely over.' Still, worries about jobs, housing, consumer confidence and spending linger as 2010 begins. While acknowledging that there may be bumps and fitful progress...READ MORE

Things I Like

A daily dose of caffeine Randy Quaid Leaving the dentist My son's love of crackers Traveling in January That the Pro Bowl is before the Super Bowl this year Rescue stories from Haiti Aubrey Bodine's photos Staying off the computer all weekend New shoes that don't need to be broken in A baby announcement in the mail ...READ MORE