I will miss the random calls I used to get from Louise Gulyas, who passed away yesterday morning four months after her daughter, Mimi.
Oftentimes, during her 16 years as a Worcester County Commissioner, she would call and give me the proverbial business, urging me not to hang up on her while she in clear fashion explained why I was wrong. In her uniquely charming way, she often reminded me how young I was and how my youth was misguiding my views. Occasionally, she would call and complement me on something I wrote on these pages (just to show “I’m not a mean, old lady,” as she would say).
There’s a lot to remember about Louise, as her contributions to the community were immense. She was an impressive businesswoman who was respected by everyone. You didn’t have to agree with her on every matter to hold her in high regard. I know I always had respect for her and her opinions even if we weren’t on the same page.
Whenever I would hear her name come across the phone intercom at my office, I always took her call. I can’t recall ever not laughing at some point in time during those many conversations. One of our last talks had to do with the Route 50 Bridge. She was not a believer that the span needed to be replaced. She felt repairs were the way to go because replacing it would cause irreparable harm to downtown Ocean City, specifically property owners who would lose their land to make way for it. When she said a bridge replacement would never happen in her lifetime, I giggled and she knew what I was thinking. She then added, “I guess that’s not really a bold prediction, is it? Let’s say it will never happen in your lifetime.” She might be right.
The best never stop trying to get better. While most commonly an athletic reference, it also applies to all facets of life, and that’s my big takeaway with word Seacrets and Fager’s Island will both be closing for a significant period after the turn of the year.
It’s not big news that most private businesses in the Ocean City area are constantly reinvesting and always looking to offer new amenities to their customers. The fact is most successful businesses do something to their infrastructure or their offerings every off-season. Some are simple, such as an overhaul of a menu, while others are more major, like building a new hotel pool or redesigning a dining room or bar.
In the case of Seacrets, the new distillery under construction means the problematic flooding at the main entrance needs to be addressed through 49th Street being elevated. That means a major reconstruction and there’s no reason to stay open if patrons can’t get to you.
For Fager’s, the main bar area is getting a major overhaul. Typically, during previous improvement projects, the Island would stay open, but the extent of this effort requires it to close for a few weeks. Without question, and the establishment’s storied history confirms this, the project will make the landmark bayfront operation even better and be welcomed by guests.
The Fenwick Town Council did the right thing last week by approving a zoning change that will allow a motel to be redeveloped on Route 1. At the same meeting, and immediately after passing this ordinance, the council showed its intent to appease those concerned about it by passing a two-year moratorium on new hotel permits being issued in town. The Sands would be grandfathered in, of course.
All along even the most vocal detractors have agreed with ordinance supporters that the Sands Motel property needs upgrading. The concern was approving the ordinance — which allows the motel to be rebuilt as a 65-room facility rather than the current 38 — would open the floodgates to other properties seeking to redevelop into hotels. While that was a concern I never viewed as rooted in reality, the council made sure that would not happen immediately with the two-year moratorium.
The idea being it will allow the town time to develop a new comprehensive plan to address some of the concerns expressed in recent months. That seems reasonable to me and it was a responsible outcome for all involved in my opinion.
Until this week, I had never heard of the “Berlin Falls” concept, but it apparently has been discussed quite a bit at Town Hall.
While it’s unclear if the name will stick permanently (I do like the It’s A Wonderful Life connection, however), the vision expressed for the old Tyson property by Mayor Gee Williams is an interesting one.
“… the initial feasibility study outlined about seven different concepts … one of those options offered creating a permanent, beautiful waterfall between those ponds,” Williams said. “Do you realize the only time we have water in this town that’s not in pipes is when we have a very hard rain? We’re the only community in this region that does not have a natural water asset. We can have something unique to the entire Delmarva peninsula.”
Whatever happens specifically on the land, it’s welcome news to hear embracing the open space at the property will be a big part of its future.