May Casino Numbers Show Slight Increase

BERLIN — The May figures for the Casino at Ocean Downs were released this week, revealing a continued pattern of gradual increase in the revenue taken in at the video gaming facility in Berlin.

The Casino at Ocean Downs grossed just under $3.7 million in May, up slightly from the $3.5 million the facility generated in March. Each month since the casino opened on Route 589, the revenue has gradually increased from $3 million in January to $3.13 million in February, and from $3.25 million in March to $3.5 million in April.

The average daily gross per machine for May came in at $158.61, up from the $155.94 in April and the $139.83 reported in March. Year-to-date, the Casino at Ocean Downs has now generated $16.6 million since opening in January.

A look at the breakdown of the revenue distribution for the casino for May shows $1.78 million dedicated to the Educational Trust Fund, the casino’s share for the month totaled $1.2 million, $258,143 was dedicated to the horseracing purse account, while local impact grants totaled just under $203,000. The Casino at Ocean Downs, along with the Hollywood Casino in Cecil County grossed $13.2 million combined in May, bringing the cumulative year-to-date total for both facilities to $90.4 million.

Air Show Closes Ocean Area

OCEAN CITY — Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the U.S. Coast Guard this week advised the public a vast section of the ocean will be closed this weekend during the 2011 OC Air Show.

The closure extends from Talbot Street north through 27th Street and eastward into the ocean from the beach into the ocean for just over 3,000 feet, or a little more than half a mile. The area will be closed to the public’s use from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, June 10, along with Saturday and Sunday.

All watercraft are prohibited from entering the area or anchoring within 1,800 feet of the beach on the north and south borders of the closed area during the specified times. The closed area will be clearly marked by brightly colored buoys and monitored by NRP and USCG Patrol boats to assure compliance with the safety zone.

Fishing License Outlets Added

OCEAN CITY — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently set up nine new fishing license locations to serve anglers who fish Maryland’s Coastal Bays and ocean waters.

“Five tackle shops in Ocean City, two in Berlin, one in Selbyville and one on Fenwick Island have stepped forward to serve their customers with fishing licenses,” said DNR Fisheries Director Tom O’Connell this week.

Until this year, Maryland did not require tidal fishing licenses for recreational fishing around Ocean City and the coastal bays. A new Federal Saltwater Angler Registry requirement instituted in 2010 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requires that all recreational anglers fishing in tidal waters in the U.S. be included or specifically accounted for in a national saltwater angler phone book.

The purpose of the registry is to enable NOAA to survey anglers and improve harvest estimates.

In order to comply with the federal requirement, the Maryland General Assembly changed recreational licensing requirements to include coastal anglers. Anglers who possess a Maryland tidal fishing license are automatically registered in the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

Anglers younger than 16 years old and anglers fishing on a licensed charter boat or a licensed commercial fishing pier do not need to be registered or licensed.

The new fishing license locations in the area include Oyster Bay Bait and Tackle on 116th Street; Skip’s Bait and Tackle on Talbot Street; the Ocean Pier  at the Inlet; All Tackle on Route 50 in West Ocean City; John Henry’s Bait and Tackle on Sunset Ave.; Captain Mac’s in Selbyville; Frontiertown; Sharky’s Market in Berlin;  and Fenwick Island Tackle.

Diabetes Education Programs Slated

SNOW HILL — The Worcester County Health Department is offering a multi-session diabetes self-management education program in Snow Hill and Pocomoke this summer.

A team comprised of a registered nurse, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and an American College of Sports Medicine-certified clinical exercise physiologist provide the educational sessions.

Sessions include information about managing the disease, reducing complications, goal setting, nutrition, lifestyle change, physical activity, blood sugar monitoring, sick day management, dental care, stress, medications and preventive care. The program is scheduled on Thursday from July 7 to August 11 at the Pocomoke Health Center, and on Wednesdays from August 17 to September 21 at the Worcester County Health Department in Snow Hill.

A $10 donation is requested for the entire program. For more information, contact the Worcester County Health Department at 410-632-1100, ext. 4.