Archives

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Morning Power Outage Affected 5,000

BERLIN -- Thousands were without power across a wide swath of northern Worcester County early this morning when a breaker tripped at a substation near Berlin after running low on gas. Around 4:45 a.m. on Thursday, a breaker tripped at a Delmarva Power substation at Route 346 on the outskirts of Berlin leaving around 5,000 customers without power on a frigid fall morning. The outage area was framed by Pittsville on the eastern edge of Wicomico County to the Glen Riddle community near West Ocean...READ MORE

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Proposed Beach Music Festival Delayed Till 2014

OCEAN CITY – The much-anticipated High Tide Music Festival has been postponed for the second year in a row and has taken a turn toward boot stomping versus fist pumping. After an update on the scheduled High Tide Music Festival for this summer was postponed twice, Tom Russell of Founders Entertainment was present for this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting asking for the event to be postponed for another year. When the music festival was first proposed in October of 2011, it was...READ MORE

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Of Rare Jetty Beach, Army Corps Says, ‘You’ll Probably Never See It Again’

OCEAN CITY -- A rare, if never-before-seen, anomaly appeared at the Ocean City Inlet this week in the form of a wide, flat sandy beach on the south side of the north jetty in an typically under water and pounded by waves. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which plowed through the resort area in late October, nearly all of the beaches in the area were altered to some degree and some more than others as sand was eroded from certain areas and deposited in others by the storm. Perhaps the most...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Changes Looming For Ocean City Surf Beach Policies?

OCEAN CITY – Following in the footsteps of Ocean City’s body boarding and skateboarding laws being changed to keep up with the times, a Surfing Beach Committee will be formed to take a look at how the resort handles its designated surfing beaches. During a department update this week, Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster presented the Mayor and City Council with the proposed 2013 Surfing Beach Schedule for approval. The schedule establishes two rotating surfing beaches, a street...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Tip Averts Downtown OC Armed Robbery Last Night

OCEAN CITY -- Confidential information obtained by the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) allowed officers to proactively avert an attempted armed robbery at a downtown business on Monday night and eventually subdue the suspect with the use of a Taser. On Monday afternoon, Ocean City Police detectives received confidential information that a male suspect, later identified as Hector Aaron Torres, 25, of Ocean City, was planning an armed robbery of the O.C. Dollar Store on Philadelphia Ave. near...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Redevelopment Projects Proposed For Downtown Properties

OCEAN CITY – A few changes are on the horizon in the downtown area with a new building to house Fat Daddy’s and a new miniature golf course clearing planning hurdles this month. Last week Fat Daddy’s owner Ed Braude returned to the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission to give an update on a site plan that had been approved over a year ago depending on several conditions. September of 2011 was when the commission first saw the plans for the Fat Daddy’s project...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: Worcester Casino Mulling Addition Of Table Games

SNOW HILL -- In the wake of a successful voter referendum for Maryland’s Question 7, an initiative allowing a significant expansion in state gambling laws, the Worcester County’s Local Development Council (LDC) and Ocean Downs Casino representatives discussed Monday if, when and how the casino will expand. While Ocean Downs General Manager Joe Cavilla was not prepared to set anything in stone, he did tell the board this morning that growth into table games is being considered and he...READ MORE

Worcester County News Briefs

SNOW HILL -- Discussed at Tuesday’s Worcester County Commissioners meeting was a new Maryland State Police (MSP) tower generator, several grant agreements and the abating of a public nuisance on Germantown Road in Berlin as well as a public hearing was held on an Ocean City Water and Sewerage Plan amendment. Here’s a recap: MSP Berlin Generator Tower The commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a $65,000 bid from Reliant Shelters to install a permanent generator at the MSP...READ MORE

Salisbury Council Turns Away State Skate Park Grant

SALISBURY -- Citing environmental worries, a lack of cooperation with Wicomico County and the concerns of residents, the Salisbury City Council chose not to move forward this week with the acceptance of a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant for a new skate park. The council learned earlier this fall that DNR was offering $262,000 to help fund Phase I of a new skate park in the city of Salisbury. The proposed location was a city park near South Park Drive. When the council was briefed on...READ MORE

Man Sentenced For Roommate Assault

SNOW HILL -- An Ocean City man arrested on first-degree rape and other charges last March after sexually assaulting a former female roommate was found guilty this week in Circuit Court of first-degree burglary and was sentenced to two years in jail. Oseas Osmin Mancia, 29, in March was charged with first-degree rape and other serious charges after allegedly breaking into a former roommate’s residence and ignoring her refusal of his sexual advances before sexually assaulting her. On Monday,...READ MORE

Condominium Project Needs Easement Variance

OCEAN CITY – An unfinished townhouse project in mid-town Ocean City is looking to build again but first is requesting a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals to construct public easements inside the project. The Planning and Zoning Commission received a proposal for a subdivision to take place within the condominium and townhouse development known as Broad Marsh, located between 69th and 70th streets on the bayside of Coastal Highway in Ocean City. Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith...READ MORE

Correction

Last week’s article, “Downtown Ocean City Hoping To Light Up For Holidays”, reported free horse carriage rides will be provided on each Thursday through Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m. until Dec. 16. Horse carriage rides will be provided for a fee, not for free. The horse carriage rides are a component of the Light up Downtown Celebration that will kick off on Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. when the Sunset Park tower will be transformed into a lit up tree to begin the holiday festivities. Each...READ MORE

New School Initiative Promotes Outdoors

SNOW HILL -- Educators in Worcester County are approaching a new state requirement in a unique way. “Every Child Every Year” (ECEY) is a Maryland initiative designed to focus on promoting environmental awareness through outdoor experiences amongst public school students. The Board of Education learned this week how grades 1-9 took part in various environmental promotion classes, academies and field trips last year and learned what the plan will be for this year. The focus of all of...READ MORE

Biker Stops In Berlin On Cross Country Trip

BERLIN -- Feeling worn down by the weight of an exhausting job and inescapable schedule, Dave Gill decided to break away from it all and embark on an 11,000-mile bicycle journey across almost two dozen states and two countries. Early in his journey Gill came through Berlin and Snow Hill, claiming to have one of the best experiences of his entire trip. “I love Berlin,” he said. “I’d love to go back.” Gill spent a day going through the Eastern Shore last Thursday as...READ MORE

OC Boat Ramp Project To Begin

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council unanimously voted across the board this week, with Council President Lloyd Martin and Councilman Joe Mitrecic absent, to approve a list of business items during Monday evening’s legislative session. Parking Laws Amended Last week Public Works Director Hal Adkins brought to the Mayor and City Council’s attention confusion regarding dates of paid parking enforcement. Adkins explained historically, the town would commence paid parking on...READ MORE

Former Prisoner’s Lawsuit Against Jail Dismissed

SNOW HILL -- A federal judge earlier this month completely dismissed a civil suit filed by a former Worcester County Jail prisoner against the facility, its administrators and certain members of its medical staff, claiming he was cruelly and maliciously denied medical treatment. Last March, James A. Stanley, a prisoner who was extradited to Worcester County from Colorado in 2011, filed suit in U.S. District Court against the Worcester County Jail, Wardens Garry Mumford and Kathleen Green and...READ MORE

Ocean City Clarifies Parking Language

OCEAN CITY – Language within the city’s code regarding parking requirements was clarified this week. The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing to consider amending a section of the code that states, “Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces required shall be construed to be the next highest whole number.” The proposed amendment was, “Where a fractional space results after tabulating the total number of required spaces, the parking spaces...READ MORE

Mixed Results In Annual Coastal Bays Report Card

OCEAN CITY -- It was good news, bad news this week as the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) released its annual report card for the estuaries in and around the resort area with an overall grade of C, although some regions continued to do better than others. The MCBP, along with its numerous public and private sector partners, each year since 2008 has compiled a comprehensive report card for the six individual regions within the larger coastal bays and assigns an overall grade for the entire...READ MORE

Legal Posturing Continues In Assateague Excessive Force Case

ASSATEAGUE -- Legal wrangling continued last week in the ongoing civil suit filed by a local resident against the U.S. and a National Park Ranger at Assateague over the alleged use of excessive force during an arrest on the barrier island in the summer of 2011. Just over a year ago, Ocean Pines resident Bonnie Preziosi filed suit in U.S. District Court against the U.S. and Assateague Island National Seashore Park Ranger Dana Condron alleging false arrest and excessive use of force in violation...READ MORE

Recor’s Former Colleague Picked For OC Planning Post

OCEAN CITY -- The two-way traffic between Ocean City and Florida in terms of new department heads continued this week when town officials announced a Fort Pierce planning director has been tapped to fill the resort’s Planning and Community Development Director vacancy. After conducting a national search, resulting in dozens of qualified candidates, including a couple from within the ranks, the town this week announced Matthew Margotta, current planning director for Fort Pierce, Fla., has...READ MORE

Changes Sought To Save Beach Stand Operators

OCEAN CITY – Beach stand operators continued this week to express their concerns about having one owner permitted to own half of Ocean City’s beach equipment franchises while bid prices are increasing and the economy continues to struggle. Patti’s Beach Service owner Patti Murrell has been in business for over 37 years and came before the Mayor and City Council during Monday’s meeting to ask for a change for the amount of beach stands one operator can own. In November of...READ MORE

Get Bluegrass Benefit In Snow Hill Returns For Encore

OCEAN CITY – The Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) is bringing back its fundraising event, Get Bluegrass, and this year has some new and exciting aspects for attendees. Last year LSLT Executive Director Kate Patton explained that the event was created to steer in a different direction from the traditional holiday dinner or cocktail party and instead come out, listen to music and blow some steam off. “I really think this event is not your typical fundraiser, the music is great, and it is...READ MORE

Jingle Bell Run, 2013 Komen Race OK’d For Resort

OCEAN CITY – A new holiday run was approved this week to coincide with Winterfest of Lights on a December evening as well as several other private event permit requests, including the second Komen Maryland Ocean City Race for the Cure. The Mayor and City Council approved the Jingle Bell Fun Run, which will take place on Sunday, Dec. 2, from 5-7 p.m., and will be a running event in conjunction with the Winterfest of Lights in Northside Park. The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department...READ MORE

Salisbury Council Seeks Specifics Before Deciding On Annexation

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury City Council decided this week to gather more information about a proposed property annexation along Route 50 before putting anything final in ink. The proposal generated a number of questions and concerns and the council asked City Attorney Mark Tilghman to review the information about all of the properties connected to the annexation. “I think that we need to go into this with our eyes wide open and understand what we agree to on behalf of the city,” said...READ MORE

Fenwick Island Still in ‘Recovery Mode’

FENWICK ISLAND -- Three weeks after Hurricane Sandy roared through the mid-Atlantic area, Fenwick Island is still picking up the pieces, but the tiny resort community just north of Ocean City is now moving beyond recovery and into a return to normalcy. While most of the last vestiges of Sandy have long since been cleared from Ocean City and little evidence remains of the storm’s devastation, Fenwick Island was far less fortunate with most of its bayside residences flooded, decks and docks...READ MORE

Chief Provides Fall Update On OC Fire Department

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) Chief Chris Larmore reported to the Mayor and Council last week that service calls dropped significantly over the summer compared to last year. “Successful is always good when everyone goes home safe, we handled the calls, and we stayed within our budget,” he said. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, there were 2,745 EMS calls and 503 fire calls, totaling 3,248 calls. Compared to 2011, EMS calls decreased by 14 and fire calls decreased...READ MORE

Five Arrested For Tossing Explosive Devices In Community

WEST OCEAN CITY -- One local man and four juveniles were arrested for manufacturing and possessing explosive devices after allegedly tossing homemade bombs from their vehicle in the Glen Riddle community late Friday night. Shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, Maryland State Police received numerous calls from the area of Maid at Arms Lane in the Glen Riddle community along Route 50 in West Ocean City in reference to a red pick-up truck driving through the neighborhood and throwing explosive devices...READ MORE

Master, Advisory Board To Manage Berlin Market

BERILN -- As a result of continued talks between the Mayor and Council and the Berlin Farmers Market, a “market master” has been named to act as arbiter and director for the vendors and an advisory group will soon be formed. “We really look forward to having an advisory group,” said Market Master Susan Wood. In recent years, the market has been self-managed by the vendors with help from the Chamber of Commerce. By adding an official Advisory Board, comprised of vendors,...READ MORE

Worcester Plans Septic Hearings

SNOW HILL -- Land owners in Worcester County worried about what the adoption of a new state-wide septics bill could mean for their properties will have multiple opportunities to meet with county zoning officials next week to air any concerns they may have. “We’ll have all of the maps available and staff available to answer questions,” said County Director of Development Review and Permitting Ed Tudor. “For any written comments, we’ve set-up an email...READ MORE

Foreigner Tapped For Springfest

OCEAN CITY -- Foreigner, formed in 1976 and still touring today, has been announced as the headline act for Springfest 2013, which will be held in Ocean City May 2-5. Foreigner will perform Saturday, May 4 and tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 23. Tickets range from $27 to $59. Along with Foreigner, which has had 16 Top 30 hits and sold more than 70 million albums, tickets will also be on sale for Beatlemania Again, which will perform on Thursday, May 2. Tickets for both shows will be on sale at...READ MORE

County’s New Robotics Team Looks For Continued Growth

BERLIN -- After seeing success and high interest during its initial run last year, the Worcester County Robotics Team is anticipating extensive growth this fall into next year. Coach Michele Kosin said this week she plans on laying groundwork that will allow the program to continue to thrive for years after the original members have moved on. The afterschool club has already seen a bit of a boom since Kosin founded it during the 2011-2012 school year. A Lego robotics team has been added for...READ MORE

Convicted Killer Renews New Trial Bid

OCEAN CITY -- A little over a month after Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler filed a motion seeking to dismiss Erika Sifrit’s latest appeal, the convicted killer who, along with her husband Benjamin Sifrit, brutally murdered and dismembered a couple vacationing in Ocean City in 2002,  has renewed her attempt at a new trial. In March, Erika Sifrit, now 34, filed a petition seeking an overturn of her prior convictions and sentences and a renewed bid for a new trial, citing, among...READ MORE

Berlin Welcomes Unique Toy Store To Main Street

OCEAN CITY – Open for its first holiday season is Berlin’s World of Toys, which has gained success by going against the grain from the typical toy store and stocking its shelves with educational and developmental toys that kids of all ages will love. Olga Kozhevnikova opened World of Toys on May 25 after receiving the keys to the store on Main Street in Berlin only five days before. In that time, with help from friends and family, the store received a fresh coat of bright green...READ MORE