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NEW FOR THURSDAY: Gallant Effort Made To Save Stranded Dolphin

ASSATEAGUE -- A dolphin that beached itself on Assateague last Sunday did not survive the trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore for potential rehabilitation, despite a massive public-private effort to save the creature. When local resident Adam Carson and his family and friends headed down to the Wedge at Assateague last Sunday on his pontoon boat for a little recreational boating, they didn’t anticipate finding themselves in the middle of a Herculean effort to save a dolphin that had...READ MORE

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Costs To Oust Former City Manager Top $252K

OCEAN CITY -- Removing former City Manager Dennis Dare from office last fall has resulted in town government having to spend in excess of $252,000 to compensate him and land his replacement, according to city records. On July 9, after much debate among City Council members and the media, The Dispatch filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to determine the exact expenses associated with last year’s decision to remove Dare as city manager. Dare was with the city for 29 years, 21...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: SHA Defends Route 50 Paving Project’s Timing

BERLIN -- Questions arose this week over the timing of the ongoing Route 50 repaving project during the height of the summer season, but State Highway Administration (SHA) officials said today there were fiscal reasons for the start of the project and the work should be completed by the middle of next week. Throughout much of the summer thus far, SHA crews have been working on an extensive repaving project along a seven-mile stretch of eastbound Route 50 from just west of Berlin to the Herring...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Union Referendum Okayed For November Ballot

OCEAN CITY – The general employees of Ocean City have earned a spot on this fall’s ballot as voters will decide their right to collective bargaining in the next general election in November. According to City Clerk Kelly Allmond, on June 28 Gregory DeMarco of the Ocean City Employee Coalition served the City Clerk’s Office with a petition entitled “Petition for Town of Ocean City Charter Amendment for Fair and Equal Representation Rights For The General Employees of the...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: County To Allocate $100K For Movie If Resort Commits As Well

SNOW HILL -- Ocean City got one step closer to returning to the silver screen Tuesday when the Worcester County Commission voted to contribute $100,000 toward funding the movie, “Ping Pong Summer”, on the condition that Ocean City is willing to pay an equal amount. County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger pitched the funding opportunity to the commissioners this week. She reminded them of the powerful and positive impact Hollywood has had on the area in the past. “We’re...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: After Last Week’s Backlash, Ocean City Revises Body Board Policy

OCEAN CITY – City Council chambers resembled a day on the beach this week as surfers, parents and kids crowded the room awaiting the Mayor and City Council’s decision regarding “boogie boards.” Last week, after receiving numerous complaints about the increased use of large body boards, those 42 inches or longer, and their perceived threat on the safety of the general public in the ocean, the Ocean City Beach Patrol began enforcing a ban on the product. The use of...READ MORE

Outcry Leads To Ocean City Lifting Specific Body Board Ban


OCEAN CITY -- A major flap over the proliferation of an increasingly popular, larger version of the traditional boogie board was at least temporarily resolved late yesterday when Ocean City officials lifted the ban on the “beaters” until the issue could be discussed next week. After receiving numerous complaints about the increased use of the larger body boards, those 42 inches or longer, and their perceived threat on the safety of the general public in the ocean, the Ocean City...READ MORE

Federal Offshore Drilling Plan Will Not Impact Area

OCEAN CITY -- The federal government last week announced it was moving forward with an aggressive five-year plan to expand offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, but a vast, three million acre track of ocean off the mid-Atlantic Coast is not part of the short-term plan. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) last week announced it had completed its analysis of a five-year plan from 2012 to 2017 to begin exploring and ultimately tapping into the...READ MORE

Report Outlines Scooter, Outdoor Display Actions

OCEAN CITY – Enforcement of zoning laws regarding scooter regulations and outdoor display policies is in full swing this season. In February, the Mayor and City Council became concerned over the proliferation of scooter rental businesses in town and the safety concerns that have surfaced, such as a rapid increase in the number of scooter-related accidents. The Planning and Zoning Commission was tasked to focus on the industry and come forth with recommendations. The first ordinance...READ MORE

Council Moves Ahead With One-Way Street Project

SALISBURY – Bateman Street is officially becoming a one-way road after promises were made the project will be re-visited if fears come true. An ordinance, unanimously approved this week, changes Bateman Street from two-way to one-way westbound between S. Division Street and Wayne Street (eastern leg), prohibiting left-hand turns by vehicles from S. Division Street onto Bateman Street, erecting a traffic signal and pedestrian indications at the intersection of Onley Road and South Division...READ MORE

Hotel Group Seeks Dismissal In OC Legionnaire’s Lawsuit

SNOW HILL -- Just weeks after a multi-million dollar civil suit was filed against a Boardwalk hotel by several plaintiffs alleging they fell ill to Legionnaire’s Disease while staying there last summer and early fall, the defendants filed a formal answer last week seeking a dismissal of the case. Last October, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Worcester County Health Department confirmed the presence of legionellosis, more commonly known as Legionnaire’s...READ MORE

Salisbury Resolution Aims To Clarify Majority’s Position

SALISBURY – Before the City Council could get down to business this week, Councilman Tim Spies unexpectedly introduced a rather untraditional piece of legislation, a resolution to clarify statements made by the media and Mayor Jim Ireton. The proposed resolution is in attempts to address certain statements made by the media and by the mayor regarding the position of a majority of council members on a downtown plan advanced by the mayor. The resolution had been drafted by Council President...READ MORE

Manslaughter Conviction In West OC Bar Owner’s Death

SNOW HILL -- An Ocean City man was found guilty this week of manslaughter and assault in the death of a West Ocean City bar owner last October with a Worcester County Circuit Court judge agreeing the internal injuries he sustained during a physical altercation outside the establishment caused his death. Cyle Morgan Walker, who celebrated his 26th birthday on the night of the tragic incident, was found guilty Wednesday in Circuit Court of manslaughter, second-degree assault and disorderly conduct...READ MORE

Process Outlines Extra Duty Work For Police Officers

SALISBURY – A process has been outlined in authorizing Salisbury police officers to provide security to private businesses. The resolution on the table was to approving a secondary and extra duty employment for the Salisbury Police Department (SPD) personnel and authorizing the police chief to enter into contracts which allow police officers to provide either uniform or non-uniform law enforcement services to private businesses and to also allow officers and civilian personnel to work...READ MORE

Berlin Eyes Summer Program Growth

BERLIN -- The Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) Berlin summer camp, while not pulling in the number of participants yet that organizers would like to see, is on the right track to growing into the kind of program Berlin needs, according to town officials. “The bones are there,” said Councilwoman Lisa Hall. “We just need to tweak them.” Hall brought up the status of the WYFCS summer program at Monday’s Mayor and Council meeting. Having a...READ MORE

Mobile Blood Drives Next Week

BERLIN -- With the summer vacation plans of regular donors playing havoc with donation schedules, the Blood Bank of Delmarva is looking for a little extra help to fill next week’s mobile blood drives in Ocean Pines and Snow Hill. “We anticipate that more than 20,000 people on Delmarva will need blood this year – and it takes an average of 350 donors per day to meet the need,” said Michael Waite, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Blood Bank of Delmarva. Two...READ MORE

Berlin K-9 Retires

BERLIN -- After serving with the town for nearly a decade, Berlin Police Department (BPD) K-9 Titus has officially and his replacement, Luke, is now on the streets. At 9 years old, Titus, has spent his entire career with Berlin. He began training at only a few months old with future handler BPD Senior Officer Chris Bireley. While he’s made the transition to handling Luke, Bireley admitted that Titus was unique for him. “He was my first dog,” he said. Bireley and Titus trained...READ MORE

Worcester County Test Scores Continue To Exceed Md. Average

SNOW HILL -- Though some aspects were measured differently than in years past, Worcester County’s Maryland State Assessment (MSA) scores for 2012 remain among the best in the state. Split into reading and math, the MSA is the state’s traditional benchmark for judging student progress in Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions. For the past several years, Worcester has been among the top finishers in nearly every category. This year was no different. A total of 94.4 percent of students in...READ MORE

Tickets Now On Sale For Annual Benefit Bays Day

BERLIN – Do you need a budget-friendly alternative to the beach that will keep the kids happy and the entire family entertained?  How about if you could benefit a local nonprofit that works to keep our coastal waters swimmable and fishable?  Too good to be true? Not if you join Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) and the Assateague Coastkeeper at this year’s annual “Benefit the Bays Day” at Jolly Roger to be held Sunday, July 29, at Jolly Roger Amusement Park on...READ MORE

County Seeks Attorney General Opinion On Liquor Department

SNOW HILL -- Just over a year after the abolishment of the old Liquor Control Board (LCB) in Worcester and the creation of the new county-run Department of Liquor Control (DLC), county officials are still seeking answers on a key definition for its agency. In 2011, the Maryland General Assembly abolished the Worcester County LCB after a series of problems with the old agency. In the same legislation, state lawmakers created the new DLC operated by the county to perform the same basic functions...READ MORE

OC Officials Studying Central Booking System

OCEAN CITY – The proposal to add a central reservation system to the town’s website has quietly settled down but officials assured the City Council this week it has not been forgotten. At this week’s work session, Tourism Director Donna Abbott presented an update on the town’s accommodations webpage on Ocean City’s website, OCocean.com. “I wanted to give a heads up that the issue had not been forgotten or gone away. We are still trying to move forward with at...READ MORE

Council, Tourism Board Ink Operation Agreement

OCEAN CITY – The final draft of a Memorandum of Understanding was passed this week between the town and the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), adding that promoters will now have to provide detailed invoices for event spending. In April a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was presented to the Mayor and City Council by TAB, and it returned this week for its final approval with a few minor changes. “I think we finally got it here,” TAB Chair Melanie Pursel said. Pursel said there were...READ MORE

Berlin Restaurants Eye Summer Openings

BERLIN -- With three new restaurants slated to open in Berlin this summer, town officials are optimistic that the traditionally early-afternoon hours of most shops might stretch a little later. “I think it’s a great thing and I think we’ll see some changes in our hours,” said Economic Development Director Mike Day. Starting next Wednesday, Siculi, a rustic kitchen style Italian restaurant, is set to open its doors. The establishment, which is owned by Ernest Gerardi, will...READ MORE

Berlin Studio Looks To Spread Aerial Yoga Awareness

BERLIN -- It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane, it’s aerial yoga. And instructors at Berlin’s month-old Zenna Wellness Studio promise that the workout, which takes participants off the ground, is not only fun and safe, but accessible for all skill levels. “It’s great for beginners. Anyone can do it as long as they leave their ego at the door,” said instructor Cameron Janighan. Janighan explained that in aerial yoga, each participant uses an “aerial...READ MORE

Church Custodian Arrested In Murder Case

WHALEYVILLE -- A Dagsboro, Del. man has been arrested and charged with the murder of a woman found dead in a ditch along a rural road in northern Worcester County last month. Maryland State Police homicide detectives have charged Matthew Burton, 28, of Dagsboro, with murder after connecting the suspect to the death of Nicole Bennett, 35, of Millsboro, whose body was found on a roadside embankment in Whaleyville on the morning of June 15. Burton, a registered Tier I sex offender in Delaware,...READ MORE

Song Of Summer Voting Begins

OCEAN CITY — The Town of Ocean City announced Tuesday it has opened voting to the public to choose the official Song of the Summer for 2012. After receiving more than 50 original entries, contest administrators chose the top three songs and are now asking the public to vote for the winner. Listening and voting can take place either at www.facebook.com/OceanCity or www.ococean.com/SongofSummer.   The top three Song of Summer finalists selected are Michael Butler’s Ocean City,...READ MORE

Resort’s Population Estimates Questioned Again

OCEAN CITY – The method the town uses to estimate the number of visitors in Ocean City at a given time has been questioned for years, and town officials have now been tasked to generate a better way. At this week’s Mayor and Council meeting, Councilman Joe Hall brought up his reoccurring concern over basing the estimation of population in town on a given day, or weekend, on demoflush figures. “Demoflush has always been an issue for me,” Joe Hall said. Demoflush figures...READ MORE

Officials Argue Dare’s Possible Run Led To Election Move

OCEAN CITY – With the Mayor and City Council having voted to move Ocean City’s Election Day to November, the majority block of the council alleged this week it was done to assist former City Manager Dennis Dare’s potential aspirations for elected office. It all started on June 18 when the council voted 4-3, Council members Joe Hall, Doug Cymek, Mary Knight, and Lloyd Martin in favor and Brent Ashley, Jim Hall and Margaret Pillas opposed, to have City Solicitor Guy Ayres draft a...READ MORE

Worcester Summer Academy Teaches Flight

SNOW HILL -- Though their feet remained firmly on the ground, students in Snow Hill Middle School’s (SHMS) Summer Academy got a taste of what it would be like to take to the skies with a four-week program based around flight. “They’re learning all about flight,” said SHMS Extended School Administrator Mary Ann Cooper. During the program, students in grades 4-8 learned about plane design, aviation history, famous pilots and the physics of flight. Students in fourth and...READ MORE

Local Earns Spot In CrossFit Games In California

OCEAN CITY – A local man will be put to the test this weekend as he is in California competing to be named the fittest of the fit. Erick Bruder is in Los Angeles this weekend, July 13-15, competing in the 2012 CrossFit Games in the Master’s age group of 50-54. Bruder ranked sixth in the world in his age group during the CrossFit Open, which is a five-week process that kicked off on Feb. 22. There were 667 men who competed in the Master’s age bracket, 45 and up. The Dispatch...READ MORE

Drunk Driving Spree Injures Pedestrians, Knocks Out Power

OCEAN CITY -- A Greenwood, Del. man was arrested on 67 different citations Monday night after an alleged drunk-driving ride through the downtown area during which he nearly struck several pedestrians on the sidewalk at different times, caused at least two accidents including one with injuries, struck several trees and signs and hit a power box and transformer knocking out power. Around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to Robin Drive to...READ MORE