Between The Line

Two ladies staying at the Hyatt in Cambridge were recently observed discussing the day trips they had taken while using the resort hotel as their home base to places like St. Michael’s and Oxford and inevitably the discussion came around to a visit to Ocean City.

The two women, from Atlanta, said they made the hour-plus trip to Ocean City, took a quick lap around the town and turned around and came back without getting out of the car. The two women told a front desk clerk at the Hyatt that Ocean City looked like a honky-tonk party town for kids and that they had “been there, done that” and could cross the resort off their list.

In defense of Ocean City, the two women were in Ocean City at the height of June bug season and they said they did never get out of their car, which didn’t allow them to enjoy all the resort has to offer away from the view from Coastal Highway, but perception continues to be the key for the health of Ocean City.

Additionally, while overhearing this talk, it’s interesting that the high price of gasoline never surfaced and was not a deterrent when it came to driving about 200 miles in a day.

Last month, a Bishopville woman was arrested on attempted second-degree murder and other charges after allegedly shooting her newlywed husband during a domestic argument reportedly involving a popular male enhancement drug.

According to police reports, the couple had gotten into verbal argument about Viagra, although the tenor or context of the argument was not included, although my curiosity has been running rampant since.

During the argument, the wife allegedly produced a small caliber handgun and shot her husband of just six months in the abdomen. The man survived the gunshot while his wife was arrested on attempted murder charges.

This week, the victim formally filed for divorce in Worcester County, although it remains uncertain if the divorce relates to the attempted murder, the performance enhancement drug, the possibility his elderly wife could be going to jail for a long time or a combination of all of those factors. Nonetheless, it does seem like the proper course to take under these circumstances.

Regarding their concerns about a free liquor buying market, county liquor licensees got the answer they wanted this week in Snow Hill.

The County Commissioners, specifically President Bud Church, assured the licensees they will let the sunset provision take place in five years, allowing bar and restaurant and retail store owners to opt out of the monopolistic control of the LCB and buy their spirits from who they wish.

“We just want to make sure that the sunset, sunsets,” licensee Shawn Harman told the commissioners, and Church responded he will go on record and promise the commissioners will not seek an extension from the state on this matter.

It’s nice to see the commissioners are above board on this issue, but my problem continues to be the entire makeup of this board will likely change drastically after the 2014 election, and there’s no guarantee the new commissioners will feel the same way.

Although the licensees can feel good about where things stand now, they will truly have to keep their guard up during the 2014 election season because that could ultimately determine if a free liquor market will ever come to this area.

By now, we are all versed well on the huge toll increase planned for the Bay Bridge. The charge is expected to increase to $5 in the fall and then again to $8 in 2013. It’s worth passing on there is a plan in place to dull the increase slightly if you use EZPass, which I personally love for the fact it saves time. If you use EZPass, the new charge will be $4.50 come the fall.

About The Author: Steven Green

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The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.