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NEW FOR THURSDAY: Worcester Blames State Legislature For 7-Cent Tax Increase

SNOW HILL -- The official vote is in -- property taxes in Worcester County will increase 7 cents per $100 of assessed value next year for the first time in eight years while county employees will receive a 2 percent raise for the first time in three years. The total fiscal year budget came in at $165,904,256. Though the budget was able to pass relatively unscathed in a 5-2 vote, none of the County Commissioners claimed to be entirely satisfied with the end product and most of them laid the...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Pedestrian Fatality Reported In OC

OCEAN CITY -- For the second time in just eight days, another pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross Coastal Highway in Ocean City on Tuesday evening and again the victim was not using a marked crosswalk. Around 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Ocean City Police and paramedics responded to a reported vehicle accident involving a pedestrian in the area of 21st Street and Coastal Highway. The preliminary investigation revealed a group of friends were attempting to cross the highway in...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Motions Hearing Provides New Details In Baby Ava Case

SNOW HILL -- Stunning new details emerged this afternoon during a motions hearing for the Ocean Pines man allegedly high on PCP when he crashed into a vehicle on Coastal Highway in December, seriously injuring a mother and her then-18-month-old daughter. Today’s testimony featured an admission that the suspect had smoked the drug while crossing the Route 90 bridge into the resort minutes before the collision and that he vaguely remembers making a left turn at the foot of the bridge and...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Boardwalk Businesses Face 10-Day License Suspension

OCEAN CITY – Two Boardwalk businesses are facing a 10-day suspension, effective Friday, following the arrest of the owner and employees due to an undercover operation revealing the sale of illegal synthetic drugs and drug paraphernalia. Last month’s raids were conducted on OC Cool Topics Inc., which is the holder of the three business licenses that were subject to a license suspension hearing held last Friday, June 1. OC Cool Topic Inc. operates two stores on the Boardwalk -- Cool...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: OC Air Show To Mark 5th Anniversary With Double Jet Teams

OCEAN CITY – An incredible line-up of the nation’s top military and civilian acts is getting reading to hit the beach in Ocean City for the 5th anniversary of the OC Air Show. The latest news is the addition of another impressive military aircraft - the A-10 Thunderbolt II (aka: Warthog) has been added to the lineup. Known in the Air Force as the Warthog, the “flying gun” and the Tankbuster, the A-10 Thunderbolt has been used extensively in Operation Desert Storm,...READ MORE

Salisbury Council Irons Out Budget; Mayor Vows Veto

SALISBURY – The City Council’s changes to the mayor’s proposed budget has slammed the brakes on a proposed tax rate hike, but a mayoral veto looms ahead. The budget reflected an increase in a number of revenues combined with a recent discount in workers compensation insurance in the amount of $426,000, which allowed the council to keep the property tax rate the same. The budget sets property tax at 81.9 cents per $100 of assessed value of all real property versus the 83.4 cent...READ MORE

Four Arrested After Boardwalk Raid Finds Synthetic Drugs

OCEAN CITY -- Four men were arrested for allegedly selling synthetic marijuana after two Boardwalk stores were raided last weekend. Around 7:30 p.m. last Friday, Ocean City Police narcotics officers, OCPD patrol officers, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Criminal Enforcement Team and investigators for the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office served search and seizure warrants on two Boardwalk businesses -- Cool Topics and New York, New York. The stores were raided after...READ MORE

OC Council Approves Event Permits

OCEAN CITY – A number of private event permits were approved last week by the Mayor and City Council, including a couple of new additions. The town approved the Delaware Volleyball Academy’s (DVA) request to hold a tournament on the beach from 20th to 23rd streets this summer, with 100 estimated participants and 150 spectators. The Delaware Volleyball BeachFest is a new element added to a two-day event, July 6-7, starting with an outdoor skills clinic followed by the beach tournament...READ MORE

Weekend Ocean Rescues Nearly Set Record

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Beach Patrol wasted no time getting its feet wet last weekend after a variety of factors conspired to force a near-record number of rescues on the first few days on the stands. With a tremendous crowd in the resort for the Memorial Day weekend, coupled with picture-perfect weather and unseasonably warm water temperatures, the atmosphere on the beach was more reminiscent of a mid-July weekend then a late May weekend. As a result, the OCBP, which officially started...READ MORE

Berlin Makes Avenue A No-Parking Zone

BERLIN -- Booming crowds have prompted the Berlin Mayor and Council to outlaw parking on the often congested Powellton Ave. “It’s just not a street, that small, that was designed for parking,” said Mayor Gee Williams. According to Williams, Powellton has a history of becoming troublesome when people begin parking along the curb. It’s an issue that Williams admitted the town has turned a blind eye to in the past, but one he feels can no longer be ignored. “A...READ MORE

Calls For Service, Arrests Spike For Holiday Weekend

OCEAN CITY -- The big Memorial Day weekend crowds kept the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) on its toes with the number of calls for service and the number of arrests toppling last year’s marks. According to OCPD spokesman Mike Levy, the department made 157 arrests over the four-day period from Friday to Monday last weekend, compared to 115 arrests over the same frame in 2011. In addition, the OCPD responded to over 2,500 calls for service over the four-day period last weekend, compared...READ MORE

Ravens Beach Bash Invades Ocean City

OCEAN CITY -- The resort will become ground zero for Baltimore Ravens fans this weekend with players, coaches, cheerleaders, mascots and, of course, the fans, converging for the inaugural Ravens Ocean City Beach Bash. For decades, the Council of Colts Corrals met in Ocean City each June for an annual convention culminating with a parade down Baltimore Ave. When the NFL returned to Baltimore with the Ravens in 1996, the old Colts Corrals became the new Ravens Roosts and the traditions continued...READ MORE

Alleged Drunk Driver Kills Pedestrian, Flees Scene

OCEAN CITY -- An otherwise blockbuster holiday weekend in the resort was marred by tragedy when a pedestrian was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver early Monday morning. Around 1:20 a.m. on Monday, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 54th Street and Coastal Highway for a reported hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. The investigation revealed the pedestrian, later identified as Matthew Jude Cheswick was attempting to cross Coastal Highway from east to west when he was...READ MORE

New Chick-fil-A To Open Thursday

WEST OCEAN CITY -- Before the new Chick-fil-A restaurant officially opens for business in West Ocean City next Thursday, hundreds of local residents and visitors will likely line up for a chance at a year’s worth of the chain’s famous offerings. Chick-fil-A opened its first restaurant in an Atlanta mall in 1967 and in 2011 celebrated the opening of its 1,000th facility. Ninety-two more are expected to open in 2012, including the latest in the Sea Side Village Shopping Center along...READ MORE

Snow Hill High School Funding In Budget

SNOW HILL -- With the Worcester County Commissioners preparing to vote next week on the budget, it seems that the highly anticipated Snow Hill High School (SHHS) renovation could receive some preliminary support if the budget remains intact, though one commissioner warned that people shouldn’t expect to see shovels in the dirt until at least late 2013. “The best case scenario … at the earliest it would be the fall [2013],” said Commissioner Virgil Shockley. Included in...READ MORE

Local Robot Community Growing

BERLIN -- Gears are turning and the power is running for the Worcester County Robotics Academy. On the heels of a strong first year, the program is getting ready for the summer and the next school year, which will mean more members and more competitions. When the academy was first introduced as a concept last May as a way to spice up the county’s afterschool programs, the original pool of students involved was minimal. “It grew from a very small nucleus of interested kids,”...READ MORE

OC Police Offers Drug Drop Box

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City this week joined an innovative effort to collect and dispose of unused prescription medications that are often abused with the installation of a 24-hour drug drop box at the Public Safety Building donated by the Ocean City Elks Lodge. Ocean City on Wednesday became the first location in Worcester County to offer an around-the-clock, seven days a week, drug drop box, providing local residents and visitors with an outlet for disposing of unused, unwanted or outdated...READ MORE

Non-Berlin Contractors Could See Higher Fees

BERLIN -- The fate of out-of-town contractors’ wallets is still undecided after the Berlin Mayor and Council last month chose to delay a vote on whether to develop new fees specifically for that group. Hoping to generate a registry of non-Berlin contractors as well as even the playing field for town businesses that do have to buy a license every year, the council debated the benefits of levying an out-of-town contractor fee. Councilwoman Paula Lynch spoke out against the idea on the...READ MORE

Berlin Businesses Team Up For Bridal Stroll

BERLIN -- Participants in June’s 2nd Friday Art Stroll in Berlin might find themselves strolling down the aisle in the future if the event’s wedding theme has any effect. More than 25 Berlin businesses will be taking part in the June 8 “Bridal Stroll,” which will feature a wedding basket giveaway valued at over $1,300 as well as the grand opening of “Bustle,” the town’s only bridal boutique. All 25 shops involved will be donating something wedding themed...READ MORE

North Ocean City Burglaries Probed

OCEAN CITY – Residents in the north end of town have been on alert this past week as a series of burglaries have taken place in the area. Since last October in north Ocean City, there have been approximately 50 burglaries, both attempted and actual burglaries. The incidents have occurred mainly in the two large residential communities -- Montego Bay and Caine Woods. The method used to break into homes has all been forced entry, mainly windows in doors in nonvisible areas. Over the last...READ MORE

Pines Tones Chorus Plans Spring Concert

OCEAN PINES -- On Sunday, June 3 at 3 p.m., the Pine Tones Chorus will present its Spring Concert at the Community Church of Ocean Pines.  Tickets are $8, available from members of the chorus or at the door. Light refreshments will be served after the concert. This concert is a special tribute to Leslie Munro, who sings bass in the Pine Tones Chorus and is reaching age 100 in June. The concert title, The Rhythm of Life, is taken from the opening selection, a rollicking, spirited melody....READ MORE

Berlin Budget Passed With Tax Rate Decrease

BERLIN -- The Berlin Mayor and Council passed the fiscal year 2013 budget Tuesday night after a public hearing that yielded zero comments. For the fourth consecutive year, the council has reduced the town’s spending. “The budget we’ve proposed is 2 percent less than last year,” said Mayor Gee Williams. Arguably the most important aspect of this year’s budget is the 5-cent decrease to the property tax rate, dropping the rate from 73 cents per $100 of assessed value...READ MORE

Salisbury Decides Against $5K In Fireworks Funding

SALISBURY – The City Council voted to deny funds to the first fireworks display in Salisbury in the last six years, saying there other places for the money to go. On Tuesday evening, the Salisbury City Council voted 4-1 not to participate in helping fund Red, White, and Boom, which proposes to return 4th of July Fireworks to Salisbury after having none for the past six years. The fireworks will be held at the Salisbury University Athletic Complex beginning at dark and it is a $20,000...READ MORE

High School Graduates Reminded To Play It Safe

OCEAN CITY – With high school graduates converging on Ocean City, local officials are offering their congratulations while also suggesting tips on how to stay safe and out of trouble while here. “Please pay attention to the high school seniors that are out there and we encourage everyone to remember crime prevention tips, wear your seat belt, click-it-or-ticket, walk at the crosswalks, don’t drink and drive, take a cab, take a bus, find a designated driver,” Ocean City...READ MORE

Md. Now Requires Public Schools To Carry EpiPens

OCEAN CITY – Parents of children with known allergies, as well as unknown allergies, have had a weight lifted off of their shoulders now that schools in Maryland are required to have the proper medication and training on hand in case of an allergic reaction. Last Tuesday, Gov. Martin O’Malley enacted a new law requiring schools to keep an emergency supply of epinephrine on hand for students who may be having a life-threatening allergic reaction. According to the Asthma and Allergy...READ MORE

Downtown Carriage Rides OK’d For OC

OCEAN CITY – Horse and carriage rides will add to downtown Ocean City’s ambiance during the off-season this year. Randy Davis of R & B Ranch operates horse and carriage rides in the town of Berlin and other locations. On Tuesday, he approached the Ocean City Mayor and City Council requesting to conduct horse and carriage rides in downtown Ocean City. Davis believes the operation will add entertainment for tourists and locals during the off season. “I have been doing this...READ MORE

Council Nixes Scooter Operator’s Exception Request

OCEAN CITY – Following through on enforcing the newly established rules and regulations for the scooter rental industry, the City Council told a rental operator this week he must find the appropriate training space by today or close for business. At Tuesday’s Mayor and Council meeting, Yehuda Peretz of Island Cycles, located on Somerset Street downtown, requested the council approve the temporary use of a portion of Dorchester Street for scooter training. The requirement that scooter...READ MORE

Ravens Beach Bash Set For Ocean City

OCEAN CITY -- This weekend is Ocean City’s first-ever Ravens Beach Bash, featuring beach bonfires, a beer and bacon bunch, the annual parade, live entertainment and much more. The Ravens Roost Convention has been holding its annual summer gathering in Ocean City for years, but this year there has been a renewed emphasis on the annual gathering of Ravens fans, including a variety of new events (see below). FRIDAY, JUNE 1 6-10 a.m.: 98 Rock's Morning Show's Bacon & Beer at the Greene...READ MORE

Vehicle Unveiling Added To Car Show Lineup

OCEAN CITY -- The OC Car Shows announced this week Scion will be unveiling for the first time in the United States the highly talked about Scion FR-S at the June 9-10 event. Scion is quickly becoming one of the most popular automotive brands on the road today and this new super car is the perfect fit for what has become one of the east coast's largest automotive and culture events.  In addition to Scion, many major brands like Sony, Pioneer, Rockford Fostgate, Kicker, Focal, Road Magnet and...READ MORE

Local Students Hear Unique Anti-Smoking Message

BERLIN -- In a presentation that became emotional at several points, Patrick Reynolds, anti-smoking advocate and grandson of a tobacco company founder, spoke to youth at Worcester Prepatory School about the dangers of the product that made his family a fortune. “I am angry about what the tobacco industry is doing … it is outrageous what they are getting away with doing,” he told a room of students. When his grandfather first began the Reynolds Company, which produces the Camel,...READ MORE

New Weekly Laser, Fireworks Series Now Underway

OCEAN CITY – A series of events premiered in Ocean City last weekend that will continue throughout the summer and is expected to draw larger crowds as the season progresses. “The Summer of Thanks program is off and running,” Bob Rothermel of T.E.A.M Productions told the Mayor and Council on Tuesday. It started off with the OC Beach Lights show on Sunday night. Beach Lights will be held every Sunday through Labor Day weekend. Each show is eight minutes long and there will be...READ MORE

Season’s First White Marlin Sets New OC Record

OCEAN CITY -- The first white marlin of the year was caught and released off the coast of Ocean City last Sunday morning, marking the earliest date ever for the annual milestone, which beat last year’s previous record by two days. Last Sunday, the Clubb family on the Chain Reaction II out of Sunset Marina in West Ocean City was fishing for tuna in about 65 fathoms, or about 400 feet of water, in an area between the Poor Man’s and Baltimore canyons, when an unexpected visitor made its...READ MORE