It’s that time of year to take a look back and see how I fared with my predictions I made one year ago this week in this space. Typically, I don’t do so well, and this year was much of the same.
On The Money
This time last year I wrote, “Ocean City will not promote from within the police department for its next chief. Instead, a current chief with experience in the northeast will be chosen to replace Bernadette DiPino.”
I put this in this category because I was right that the Mayor and Council went outside the department in selecting Ross Buzzuro as the new chief. However, Buzzuro hailed from Baltimore, which is obviously not in the northeast.
Delmarva Power and Light’s controversial substation expansion plans in north Ocean City did eventually gain the support of the Mayor and Council.
As shocking as it was, the Maryland legislature did proclaim the soft crab sandwich as Maryland’s official sandwich.
Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown did begin campaigning for governor.
Ocean City did in fact agree to expand paid parking in the resort. What I did not predict was the fact the decision was later rescinded after public outcry and a successful petition effort.
Maryland did pass a package of tighter gun control laws in response to the Connecticut school shooting.
I predicted the Berlin Fire Company would receive about half of its previous funding level from the town of Berlin. It was a bit less than half, but it was close enough.
Plans to construct a wind turbine in Berlin were derailed by citizen input as I figured. However, a revised site was chosen and construction continues.
I was thrilled to be right that no tropical activity impacted Ocean City this year for the first time since 2010.
The Casino at Ocean Downs did unveil plans to expand its footprint, allowing for table games to be offered.
Parking rates at the Inlet parking lot were raised.
Work did in fact begin on the new Bennett school in Salisbury.
As I thought, the Waterkeeper Alliance decided not to appeal the Hudson Farm lawsuit that it lost in court.
I was right that it was a quiet year as far as the ongoing Route 113 dualization project was concerned.
What Was I Thinking?
A Ocean City Mayor and Council member did not call it quits in the middle of a term as I expected.
Ocean City did not initiate eminent domain proceedings on a north Ocean City movie theater for an expanded bus station as I predicted it would.
Salisbury did not elect a new mayor in the spring. Instead, Jim Ireton was elected over blogger Joe Albero by a wide margin.
I was wrong when I predicted the legislature would enact legislation allowing breweries to begin making their own liquor.
A new microbrewery did not open in northern Worcester County specializing in brick oven pizza.
A new movie theater did not open in Worcester County.
I was off when I opined the Worcester County Commissioners would not include funding for a Snow Hill High School in its budget.
I was equally wrong when I said Snow Hill would not get its long-desired traffic light at Routes 113 and 12.
Wrong again when I predicted Ocean City and the State Highway Administration would add a median barrier to Coastal Highway to stop people from crossing mid-block.
Maryland legislators did not increase the cigarette tax as I thought they would.
Ocean Pines did not hold a referendum to determine whether it should proceed with plans to call itself a municipality.
In 2013, the United States Postal Service did not eliminate Saturday delivery.
The cost of a first-class stamp did not surpass 50 cents as I thought it would. That will come in 2014.
Speed cameras and red-light cameras were not added to Coastal Highway in Ocean City as a means to increase revenue.
There was no merger between Johns Hopkins Hospital and a local hospital.
Ocean City has not begun to sell naming rights to its large special events, such as Winterfest.
Maryland did not pass mandatory residential recycling.
The Broncos did not defeat the Packers in the Super Bowl. In fact, it was the Ravens knocking off the 49ers for the crown.
The Army Corps did not conduct emergency dredging of the Inlet to remove the temporary beach buildup on the north jetty.
Still In Doubt
A new three-digit area code was not deemed necessary in Maryland, but there is a study underway.
Cracker Barrel and Chili’s were not named as new tenants at the Ocean Landings Shopping Center where Wal-Mart and Home Depot are located. There has been no announcement on that front so far.