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NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Berlin Mayor Re-Elected

BERLIN -- Of the three available positions on the Berlin Mayor and Council, only one is being challenged in the upcoming election. Consequently, Berlin Mayor Gee Williams has been re-elected as has long-time Berlin Councilman Elroy Brittingham. Councilwoman Lisa Hall, who represents District II, will have to defend her seat on the council come Oct. 9. Hall is being challenged by 24-year-old Ronald Marney, a Washington Street resident who was the only non-incumbent candidate to file for the...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: OC Employee Contends Union Effort All About Losing Trust In Council

OCEAN CITY -- In an exclusive interview on Saturday, Greg DeMarco, an Ocean City property owner since 2001 and a seven-year town employee in the parks department, said the public needs to know the reasons the city’s general employees want to unionize. Earlier this year, the town’s general employees -- essentially all those not linked to public safety -- expressed to the Mayor and Council their desires to organize. Rather than vote outright on the matter, the council advised the...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: Tickets Still Available For Discovery Center Fundraiser On Saturday

SNOW HILL -- In the works for months, the Delmarva Discovery Center’s (DDC) “Stars, Soul, and Rock and Roll” fundraising event is set to kickoff this Saturday, Sept. 15. Built around a tropical theme, the event will take place at the Nassawango Country Club in Snow Hill on the banks of the Pocomoke River and will feature music from the 1960’s through the 80’s. DDC Executive Director Brian Garrett explained the event is a bit out of the norm as far as his...READ MORE

Chefs For Habitat To Keep Wicomico Chapter Building

SALISBURY -- Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County will hold its third annual signature fund raising event, Chefs for Habitat, at Dove Pointe on Mt. Hermon Road in Salisbury on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 6-10 p.m. Eight of the shore’s most talented chefs will prepare samplings of their signature dishes. Black Diamond will complement the servings with a carving station and appetizers. Chefs include Joseph Bellia of Vinny’s La Roma; Tom Cooper of Fager’s Island; Juan Flores of...READ MORE

County Gives Final Nod to Ocean Downs Service Area

SNOW HILL -- The Worcester County Commission this week gave final approval to an application from Ocean Downs to establish the Ocean Downs Sanitary Services Area and bringing the casino onto the Ocean Pines Water and Sewer network. While the move will mean the elimination of septic systems, an environmental plus, and leave room for further expansion in the future, connecting Ocean Downs to the network will also mean extensive roadwork in the area which could lead to delays and detours for...READ MORE

Cricket Center’s Abuse Campaign Aimed At Educating Community

OCEAN CITY – The Cricket Center has initiated an “Enough Abuse” campaign to educate the community on child abuse and ways to help. The Cricket Center is the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Worcester County, which is a one-stop safe and friendly place where children who are victims of abuse can tell their story and get help for themselves and their non-offending family members. “Basically, we came about in 2006 when a few agencies that investigate abuse came together as a...READ MORE

Casino Revenue Up 24% Over Last August

BERLIN -- The August revenue numbers for the Casino at Ocean Downs and Maryland’s two other operating casinos were released this week and while the news was mixed for the most part, the Berlin facility enjoyed another strong month after setting a record in July. As the campaigning for the referendum on expanded gambling in Maryland continues to heat up with the battle already raging in advance of the November election, at least two of Maryland’s three operating casinos including the...READ MORE

Effort To Delay Route 589 Property Rezoning Rejected

SNOW HILL -- An attempt by one Worcester County Commissioner to delay a controversial zoning change in Ocean Pines was quickly shot down, leading to frustration and the expectation that the matter will move to the courtroom. “I was frustrated … they really did shut me down,” said Commissioner Judy Boggs. Representing Ocean Pines, Boggs was a staunch member of the commission minority that opposed changing a parcel of land along Route 589 from agricultural to commercial. Though...READ MORE

West Nile Virus Threat Spikes; Local Cases Reported

BERLIN -- With one reported human case of West Nile Virus reported in Worcester County and over a dozen more across the state including one fatality, local health officials this week continued to advise residents to take measures to protect themselves from the mosquito-borne illness and at least one community has ramped up its spraying efforts. West Nile Virus has re-emerged as an illness bearing close watch this year with nearly 1,600 human cases reported around the country including 66 deaths,...READ MORE

Salisbury Police Officer Raises Sought

SALISBURY -- In an attempt to keep Salisbury competitive in retaining police officers, City Council members agreed this week that, if Mayor Jim Ireton chooses to advance a budget amendment Monday night, they will be willing to consider granting a $650,000 annual boost to the Salisbury Police Department (SPD) budget to raise officer salaries. “I think we all recognize the problem,” said Council President Terry Cohen. According to SPD Chief Barbara Duncan, the city is currently...READ MORE

Farm Litigants Disagree Over Proposed Site Visit

BERLIN -- With an October court date looming in the ongoing battle between a Berlin farm family and an environmental watchdog group over alleged pollution violations dating back to 2009, the defendants last week filed a motion to have the federal judge and the participating parties tour the farm where the infractions allegedly occurred, but the plaintiffs this week already filed a motion in opposition. In March 2010, the Waterkeeper Alliance, along with the Assateague Coastal Trust and the...READ MORE

EDC Officials Hear About Resort Movie

OCEAN CITY -- With the independent film “Ping-Pong Summer” now filling out its cast and hiring extras in Ocean City and production set to begin in about two weeks, the producer this week briefed resort business leaders on what they can expect from the movie in terms of exposure for the resort and the potential economic benefit. Ping-Pong Summer producer Michael Gottwald on Wednesday briefed the Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) on plans for the production and marketing...READ MORE

Indictment In Alleged Teachers Union Embezzlement

SNOW HILL -- A Worcester County grand jury last week formally indicted an Ocean Pines woman charged in early August with allegedly absconding with well over $400,000 from the Worcester County Teacher’s Association (WCTA) over a three-year period. Last Tuesday, a Worcester County grand jury indicted Denise Inez Owens, 58, of Ocean Pines, on multiple charges including four counts of theft over $500, theft scheme over $500, embezzle or misappropriate funds, and embezzle or misappropriate...READ MORE

County Takes Step Toward New Snow Hill High School

SNOW HILL -- Residents eager to see a new Snow Hill High School (SHHS) got some good news earlier this week when the Worcester County Commissioners agreed unanimously to fund $255,000 toward architectural reviews and pre-construction costs for the project. While this doesn’t guarantee that the commission will support building a new SHHS when it comes time to go to the bond market, it is a step in that direction, supporters said this week. “I’m more optimistic now than I ever...READ MORE

Online Skateboarding Petition Seeks To Vocalize Support

OCEAN CITY – The legalization of skateboarding effort has gotten a shot in the arm recently as a petition has hit the web to bring the issue back to the Mayor and Council. For about a week now, a petition has been circulating via the Internet. The petition is titled, Mayor and City Council: Legalize Skateboarding in Ocean City, Maryland, and can be found on change.org. The petition was created by Ocean City resident Mick Chester. As of Thursday morning, the petition had gained 136...READ MORE

Berlin Residents Frustrated By Constant Flooding

BERLIN -- Yesterday’s torrential downpours across the region only exacerbated an already dicey flooding problem in Berlin as streets flooded and water rose well past the comfort level in some neighborhoods. In late August, a historic storm ravaged Berlin, flooding streets, washing cars off the roadway and depositing several feet of water in homes in some neighborhoods. Just two days later, Berlin officials addressed concerns of residents about the town’s chronic flooding problems and...READ MORE

Berlin Mayor Seeks 2nd Term Leading Historic Town

BERLIN -- Mayor Gee Williams officially announced his campaign for re-election this week. “I pledge to do all within my ability to continue to promote Berlin as a community steeped in traditional American values while also embracing all the technological advances that create opportunities for economic development and the conveniences of life in the 21st Century,” wrote Williams in a press release confirming his bid for re-election next month. During Williams’ years as mayor,...READ MORE

Suspect Sought In Bike Hit-And-Run Accident

SHOWELL -- Local law enforcement officials this week are looking for the suspect who struck a bicyclist on Route 113 near Jarvis Rd. in Showell early last Saturday morning and fled the scene, leaving the bike in the road for passing motorists to discover and find the victim. Shortly after midnight last Saturday, Maryland State Police troopers and the Showell Fire Department responded to the area of Route 113 and Jarvis Rd. for a report of a victim, later identified as Phillip Edward Cougill, 47,...READ MORE

Salisbury Arts Complex Garners Early Council Support

SALISBURY -- Good news for Salisbury’s starving artists -- the City Council made the first signs of support this week for a proposed “Apartments and Studio for the Arts” complex on Fitzwater Street. “I think it’s thinking outside of the box for Salisbury,” said Council President Terry Cohen. The project, currently under the working title of “River’s Edge,” would consist of 106 new apartment units and a 2,284-square-foot artist studio. The...READ MORE

New Volunteer Group Will Help Disabled Adults

BERLIN -- On Tuesday, Aug. 7, a dozen people from around Worcester County met and formed the Friends of WCDC, a group dedicated to helping further the mission of the Worcester County Developmental Center (WCDC). For 38 years, WCDC has been providing employment opportunities, day habilitation training and residential services to adults who live with an intellectual disability in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties. In September of 2007, a fire destroyed the WCDC buildings in Newark. The...READ MORE

County Says Pond Work More Critical Than Ownership Issue

SNOW HILL -- Although unanimously objecting to the state assessment that Worcester County owns land surrounding the Bishopville Pond, the County Commissioners agreed this week not to dispute it for risk of interfering with a Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) project. “We are now in so far as ‘property owners, land owners’ that we probably need to stay in,” advised County Attorney Sonny Bloxom. Bloxom explained to the commission the state has long considered Worcester...READ MORE

Delmarva Bike Week Returns

BERLIN -- The 12th Annual Delmarva Bike Week® returns to the area on Thursday, Sept. 13 for the weekend. Organizers released the schedule of events this week at the four event locations -- Harley-Davidson of Seaford, Seacrets in Ocean City and at Winter Place Park and Perdue Stadium in the Salisbury area. Thursday. Sept. 13 9 a.m.-7 p.m.: Event hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m.: Extreme Wheelie Rides all day at Arthur W Perdue Stadium 9 a.m.-7 p.m.: American Motordrome all day at Winter Place Park 11...READ MORE

OC Police Use Taser To Diffuse Situation

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City Police last weekend had to use a Taser on an unidentified man who was threatening himself with a knife and told officers he was attempting to commit “suicide by cop.” Shortly before 10 p.m. last Saturday, police responded to the area of Philadelphia Ave. and 21st Street to check on the welfare of an unknown male individual. Citizens had called police after the man, whose name has not been released, was initially acting disorderly, but had since walked away...READ MORE

Wicomico Earns $183K In Landfill Gas Credits

SALISBURY -- Wicomico County’s efforts to go green at its landfill with a proactive program to collect gases generated by the facility and selling them for “carbon credits” resulted this week in over $183,000 for the county from its consultant Geosyntec. For the past 10 years, in an effort to operate the landfill in a more environmentally sound way, Wicomico County has voluntarily collected the gas generated at its Newland Park landfill. The landfill gas results from food,...READ MORE

Shorebirds’ Attendance Highest In Decade

SALISBURY -- The Delmarva Shorebirds, class “A” affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, this week announced a total of 231,194 fans attended 70 home games at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium this summer, the highest single season total since the 2002 season.  The team ended the home portion of the schedule on Aug. 30 in front of a near capacity crowd of 6,841. The 231,194 fans is the eighth highest season total in franchise history. In 2012, an average of 3,303 fans per game flocked to...READ MORE

Groups Appeal To Feds To Protect Assateague

ASSATEAGUE -- Despite assurances the barrier island is only on the short list as a possible site for a transmission line connecting a future offshore wind farm to the mainland, a coalition of local environmental groups last week took their concerns over the proposal to the federal government. Local attorney Hugh Cropper IV, on behalf of private sector groups, quasi-governmental organizations and scores of environmental advocates and volunteers, this week sent a letter to the federal Bureau of...READ MORE

UMES Celebrates Founders’ Week

PRINCESS ANNE -- What’s a birthday without cake, song, reflection on the past and visions of the future? The University of Maryland Eastern Shore celebrates its annual Founders’ Week, Sept. 9-15, with events for campus and community. The theme, “From Excellence to Eminence — the Journey Continues,” signals the beginning of Dr. Juliette B. Bell’s first year as UMES’ 15th president. Explore the university’s rich heritage in an exhibit at the...READ MORE

Budget Amendment Reflects Fund Increases

OCEAN CITY – Good news for Ocean City’s bank account as a final budget amendment was passed on first reading that reflects mostly increases in different funds. Last week Budget Manager Jennie Knapp advised the Mayor and City Council of changes affecting Ocean City’s fiscal year budget since the first budget amendment was authorized. The amendment was passed on first reading this week and is scheduled for its final vote on Sept. 17. According to Knapp, the General Fund revenue...READ MORE

Council Rejects Motion Seeking Formal Opposition To Union Effort

OCEAN CITY – A councilman’s request during Tuesday’s Mayor and City Council meeting to position the council against the general employees’ right to collective bargaining was adamantly denied by a majority of his colleagues. Councilman Joe Hall, who is up for re-election this fall, said that a pivotal issue of the upcoming election on Nov. 6 will be the referendum on the ballot asking the voters if the general employees of Ocean City should have the right to collective...READ MORE

Smitty’s Now Offers Sports Lottery In Fenwick

FENWICK ISLAND -- Smitty McGee’s, a restaurant and raw bar known locally for being a sports viewing hotspot, has seen its reputation enriched this summer with the addition of a sports lottery. Since opening in 1989, Smitty McGee’s owner Dawn McGee explained that the bar has earned a reputation as a popular location to watch sports and grab dinner. “We’re the biggest football bar in the area,” she said. With a sports legacy two decades long and growing, McGee said...READ MORE

Ping-Pong Summer Holding Auditions

OCEAN CITY – The filming of Ping-Pong Summer in Ocean City starts in just a couple weeks and auditions for “day players” and a main female role are set for this Friday to round out the cast. On Friday, Sept. 7, from 4-9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront on 66th Street and Coastal Highway, auditions will be held seeking kids and adults of all ages for small roles, known as day players, as well as Caucasian girls ages 15 to 18 to play the lead sister in the movie. Call...READ MORE

Four Armed Robbery Suspects Indicted

SNOW HILL -- Four suspects arrested in early August in connection with an armed robbery at a Route 50 convenience store, followed by a chase and ultimately a crash in Ocean City were formally indicted by a Worcester County grand jury on numerous charges related to the incident. A Worcester County grand jury last Tuesday indicted Charles Richard Conden III, 19, of Edwardsville, Pa., Sarah Jean Gryskevicz, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Antonio Lee Suarez, 18, of Allentown, Pa., and Payne Stewart...READ MORE

Annual Arts Festival Gives Back To School Programs

FENWICK ISLAND, Del. — The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce is anticipating another wonderful day at the 34th Annual Bethany Beach Boardwalk Arts Festival on Saturday, Sept. 8. Presented by WSFS Bank, this one-day show is the area’s premier juried fine arts festival featuring over 100 fine artists. Each year many of the artists from the show generously donate a piece of their work to be awarded to the highest bidder at the Silent Auction sponsored by Mediacom Residential...READ MORE

To Knight, ‘The Election Is About The Future’

OCEAN CITY – Councilwoman Mary Knight became the second incumbent to file for re-election when she filled out her paperwork at City Hall last month.Utilizing the tool of social media to express her message as well as simultaneously receive opinions from Ocean City citizens, Knight has established a list of goals to accomplish if she returns to the City Council after November’s election.Knight said she decided to run for re-election for the future of Ocean City and its...READ MORE

Big Plans For New Bank Of OC Branch

OCEAN CITY – The Bank of Ocean City on 59th Street has closed its doors with designs on becoming a much more user-friendly location by next spring. The Bank of Ocean City is re-developing its 59th Street location in Ocean City. The branch closed last Wednesday and will be re-open by May 15, weather permitting. Full service banking will be available at the bank’s five other locations. In 1916, the Bank of Ocean City opened its first location on the corner of Dorchester Street and...READ MORE