Surf Fishermen Ruin October Beach Day

Surf Fishermen Ruin October Beach Day
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Editor:

Last weekend, on a picture perfect Saturday in October, we decided to spend a day on the beach. It was 80 degrees, the cruisers were thundering through town (which I have learned to tolerate) and we headed out for one last taste of summer.

My boys were so excited because the water was warm enough that they could body board. Friends arrived and the day couldn’t have been more perfect. That is until trucks, by the dozen, came roaring onto the beach. They proceeded to pull all around our little group like an army surrounding the enemy. They unloaded their coolers, hung out their flags and started to set up their surf fishing rods. We learned there was a tournament in progress. "OK", we thought, "we can all share the beach, right?" Well, not so.

At precisely 1 p.m., as if someone fired a starting shotgun, the hooks went flying, right over my children’s heads. One came within 10 feet of my son as he excitedly rode the barrel of a perfect wave. I saw no one policing this event, just dog eat dog for your spot in the ocean and who cares if a kid gets fish hooked. We own two condos and spend our summer in Ocean City. We faithfully pay our taxes so that we can enjoy the beach on a beautiful October afternoon.

Last summer, I watched as at least four children were carried off, of our street alone, by beach patrol to have fish hooks removed from their feet. We love to fish as much as the next person, but safely.

If Ocean City really needs the revenue that this tournament brings in (which can’t compare to the Cruisin’ revenue for the same weekend), then please limit the areas and times for tournament fishing and have someone ensuring that participants aren’t casting over children.
Connie Alderfer
Ocean City

Loud Special Events
Need Better Monitoring
Editor:

Now that all the “doctor and lawyer” motorcycle drivers have gone back home for the next 11 months, it might be a good time to plan for their next visit, which our Ocean City Council leaders and the mayor are already planning for fall of 2011.

I suggest we all get involved next year with the planning for this annual event. What more fitting way to show a warm OC welcome to these “doctors and lawyers” and their bikes, then providing a city tour of our leaders residences for the visitors. We could develop a tour, complete with maps, of the public streets where our esteemed leaders reside so that they too can witness the lovely cacophony of sounds produced by our visitors during the annual visit. Why should we normal residents be the only ones to hear these sights and sounds? Our leaders deserve to witness it themselves along with their families, where they reside.

An extra benefit should accrue to the local merchants from the additional money spent by our leaders who would of course remain in town for this special occasion, to makeup for the reduced spending experienced this year by the bikers. It’s a, “win win”, as one of our leaders deputies likes to point out all too often.

As an indication of the warm welcome of our leaders, the Mayor and Council members will keep their windows and doors open during this period, to demonstrate the warmth of their welcome and to ensure they don’t miss any of the magical sounds our visitors produce. The current crop of political signs could be recycled and used as directional indicators leading to our leaders’ homes, some could be shared for use by incumbents not up for election this cycle.

I spoke too soon, the cruisers are back with our new abatement program working at last if you know what I mean. These folks love to ride up and down Coastal Highway, racing with each other and treating us all to their racing engines and lack of exhaust systems, like a pleasant melody. Since it’s a state highway, I guess the local OC police can’t do much about it, perhaps we need to call in the Maryland State Troopers to enforce the laws pertaining to speed, racing and working exhaust systems. Oh well, did you ever think you would look forward to the return of the June bugs. Even that will bring challenges now that the silly council has decided to take away free bus passes for the kids.

Joe Moran
Ocean City
Support Appreciated
Editor:

On behalf of the CRICKET Center, I would like to thank all those who donated to the 3rd Annual Gala for the CRICKET Center. We had donations in the form of goods and services, entertainment and cash donations from over 100 community businesses and citizens from the area. As always, the community has shown how supportive they can be for local charitable organizations. The entertainment provided by “Bad Mojo” was wonderful and enjoyed by many. I would like to congratulate the Hero’s of Protection Award winners for 2010 including the Board of Education (Pupil Services) who received the Community Partner of the Year; Kevin Schablein, Child Protective Service Worker of the Year; Leo Ehrisman, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year; Jeanine Jerscheid Lampe, Vicky Buesgens Child Advocate of the Year; and Terry Edwards, Lifetime Achievement Award.

Working in the field of child welfare can often be challenging, heart breaking and rewarding all at the same time. These individuals have shown their commitment and dedication to the children who reside in or visit the Worcester County Area. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of Wendy Myers, Program Manager for the CRICKET Center, for her compassion and commitment to making the CRICKET Center a welcoming and sustainable center that helps to lessen the trauma children (and their families) can experience as victims of child maltreatment.

I believe the quote displayed on the cover of this year’s program for the Gala sums it up in a few words, “When I told my story, you were listening”.

Thanks again for all those who helped to make this year’s Gala a success. Be on the lookout for future events to help support the center. If you are interested in volunteering or would like to make either cash or in kind donations, you can contact the center at 410-641-0097.

Monica Martin
Ocean City
(The writer is a center Board Member.)