Performer Responds
Editor:
(The following letter is from the violinist who was not named in this publication in a story two weeks ago, “Mitrecic Maintains Performer Violated His Rights On Boardwalk.)
I love you, too.
I have been given the most wonderful gift and mission to spread the love.
To all the mean spirited losers that cannot stand my music, I have one question and one friendly piece of advice.
Question: Will you prefer tomorrow waking up deaf so you will not be bothered by my music?
Advice: For your own good, please seek professional mental health because your heart attack is catching up with you.
Honoring life by spreading the love.
Ion Lucian C. Ionescu
Ocean City
Successful Event Will Lead To More
Editor:
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Rackliffe House, I would like to thank the many generous individuals and organizations who helped us launch “Rackliffe House Presents: Chamber Music in Berlin.”
Drawing a near-capacity audience from the Town of Berlin and surrounding area, and an overwhelmingly positive response from attendees, we are encouraged to consider this the first in an ongoing series of “Chamber Music in Berlin” concerts.
The three-day event (Aug. 24-26) brought internationally acclaimed musicians Elena Urioste, Nicholas Cannellakis, Benjamin Beilman, and Matthew Lipman to Berlin for a public concert, a donors’ event, and a free master class for young violinists at Stephen Decatur Middle School.
We are grateful to Ms. Urioste for sharing her concept of a chamber music series here, for her outreach to the talented musicians who performed, and to the Rackliffe House volunteers who put in countless hours to make the event a success. With deep appreciation, we would like to thank our event sponsors for their generous support: Kathy and Mark Clark of Monogram Realty; Taylor Bank; Bank of Ocean City; BSC America; Worcester County Tourism; Worcester County Arts Council; Rebecca and Leighton Moore; Anonymous; Bunting Realty; Ayres, Jenkins, Gordy and Almand, P.A.; the Worcester County Arts Council; Maryland State Arts Council; and the National Endowment for the Arts. An additional thank you goes out to Berlin Mayor Gee Williams for helping us to welcome the audience and kick off a successful event.
Fantastic talent, dedicated volunteers, the backing of local businesses and the community, and an enthusiastic public response… altogether it is clear to us how Berlin is “The Coolest Small Town in America.”
Carolyn Cummins
Berlin
(The writer is the president of the Rackliffe House Trust Board of Directors.)
Applause For BikeFest
Editor:
A great big thank-you to the coordinators of all the events and entertainment held at the Inlet during this past weekend’s BikeFest. So often we are criticized for the negatives, so much that the positives go unrecognized.
Well this time a great big “job well done” is an order. As always, Ocean City is a proud city that has something to offer everyone. I and many others look forward to events to come. Thanks again.
Neil W. Snyder
Littlestown, Pa.
Celebrity Opinions
Editor:
It is and has been apparent to me over the past 70 years or so that the celebrity world is far different from the everyday, ordinary life, 90% of us lead each and every day. I make no opinions or comments on their life styles and/or their outlook on life in general. I just say it is different, and comparisons should be self-evident.
I wonder, therefore, when our lifestyle and our core beliefs are so different, that we pay so much attention to what these celebrities think, say or do? It’s a different world guys, and what these people think, say or do matters not a whit to us.
That’s what shocks me when one of these people decides not to stand at the playing of our National Anthem, and the whole of America goes berserk. Who the hell cares? All of our news media is quick to defend with, “He has a right to say what he thinks.” Well, of course he does. What I don’t agree with is that I have to care or that it will change my life.
I love my sports, but what I don’t understand is why more of us don’t recognize celebrity and the show business in sports. These athletes fill paid seats to watch them and the game. Is that not what other celebrities do, no matter their specialty? The opinions of these athletes mean naught to me and they shouldn’t to you either, so what’s the big deal when one of them refuses to identify himself with patriotism and love of his country? If they are not intelligent enough to know there is no other place on earth they could achieve what they have here in the U S of A, it’s their problem to deal with not ours.
It changes his life a lot more than it does one of ours, so let him wallow in the mud while we bask in our patriotism and love of our country. So I say to him and others like him, “See ya, and don’t look for me in one of your paid seats.”
Frank Vetare
Berlin
Support For Taylor
Editor:
I am a retired high school teacher of 39 years, 30 of which have been in Worcester County Schools.
I coached and taught at Snow Hill High School for 18 years, and at Stephen Decatur High School for 12 years. The 12 years at Stephen Decatur High School were under the leadership of Principal Lou Taylor.
I strongly recommend that you hire Mr. Taylor for the position of Superintendent of Schools for Worcester County.
Lou Taylor was a superior leader as principal and as a representative for education in Worcester County.
He made it clear from the first day of classes each year, that our goal was to work hard together to educate and help each student grow and reach the best of his or her potential. He set a high standard for himself, his administrative staff, and teachers alike to work as a team to produce educated citizens.
He worked an unbelievable amount of hours in support of our school and our community. I believe that Stephen Decatur’s high state and national academic rankings during his tenure prove this.
While I was a staff member at Stephen Decatur, we were evaluated for accreditation by The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. We scored well on the evaluation. It was mentioned to me by several committee members that the entire committee was extremely impressed by our school. To my recollection, this is what was said: “One thing that stood out during our evaluation was how your faculty and staff cares for your students.” They continued that, to their observation, the students could “feel” this and responded to it.
To me, this is an example of how Mr. Taylor’s great leadership was manifested in a way that was obvious to all. Mr. Taylor should be hired as Superintendent of Worcester County Schools. He is an experienced educator, administrator, involved citizen, and community advocate who will not rest until our schools shine as an example of what schools should be doing for our students. To me, there is no other choice.
Robert F. Mitchell, III
Berlin
Kasbah Appreciation
Editor:
The Art League of Ocean City would like to thank all those who supported our Rock the Kasbah Cocktail Party, the event of the year. This year’s event was our largest one yet, and all the special people who were sponsors, financially and in-kind are so greatly appreciated.
The Gateway Grand Condominium once again provided us with a gorgeous setting, a beautiful night and a special harvest full moon. Thank you.
Many thanks to our committee of talented and creative women: Trish Wentz (the seamstress of all those gorgeous pillows and tents), Marsha Howarth, Gayle Widdowson, Rebecca Patrowicz, Rebecca Galyon, Cheryl Taustin, Nancy Fortney, Emmy Challenger, Judy Tremellen, Jan Perdue, Eileen Stamnas and Nadine Wieder. These women were the attitude and strength of this tremendous fundraiser.
Thank you to our event sponsors: The Gateway Grand Residences, Seacrets, Sello’s, Buddy and Laura Jenkins, Sidney and Sherrie Beckstead, Jack Burbage, Jim and Jan Perdue, Jeff and Jamie Albright, Kari and Leonard Berger MD., Dr and Mrs. Jonathan and Rebecca Patrowicz, Jeff and Rina Thaler, Fagers Island, Gayle and Dirk Widdowson, Mercedes-Benz Salisbury, Nadine Wieder, and Dr. and Mrs. Greg and Eileen Stamnas. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Our in-kind sponsors rocked: Baked Dessert Cafe, Candy Kitchen, Jim Gray and City Florist, Coastal Rentals, Delmarva Public Radio, Evo Craft Brewery, Lloyd and Monica Martin, Phil Cropper, Princess Royale Resort, Sysco, the Taustin family and Off the Hook Restaurant Group.
A very special thank you to Maryland’s First Lady, Yumi Hogan, for her support of the arts and belief in our Art League to serve as honorary chairperson of our Sand Castle Home Tour.
Thank you, to Councilman Tony DeLuca, the fire marshal’s office, Linda Kessinger and Colleen Powell.
Thank you to the fabulous band, The Main Event. Thank you to Madame Once and her troupe who entertained us. Thank you to our henna tattoo artist from Hollywood Art and Henna on 1st Street and the Boardwalk, and thank you to Glitter and Gold for the beautiful necklaces donated for our Moroccan Surprise.
Thank you to our one-night-only raffle sponsors: Paul Cullen, Senior Cigars, Judy and Jon Tremellen, Ayers Creek Adventures, Serenity Day Spa, Touch Of Italy, The Comedy Store of Los Angeles, Calif., Park Place Jewelers, Ocean City Golf, Nancy Fortney, Baypoint Equestrian Center, West O Bottle Shop, Casual Design Furniture, Team Productions and Ruark Golf.
Many thanks to our Art League staff who fielded phone calls, created brochures, took reservations and much more: Katie, Nicole, Merilee, Katrin and Gina.
Thank you to all the artists who painted the canvas tiles. And thank you for the wonderful enthusiasm of our young professionals in OC who volunteered to bar tend and sell raffle tickets: Ryan Whittington, Ryan Wilde, Austin Gerachis, Will Moore, Yesim Karaman, Frankie Knight and Amanda Fox.
Thank you to our executive director, Rina Thaler, for her guidance and support. And especially, thank you to our wonderful, generous and supportive Ocean City community.
Thanks to you, Art Matters.
Jamie Albright
Ocean City
(The writer was the chairperson of the Sand Castle Home Tour Cocktail Party 2016.)
Event Funding Must Stop
Editor:
BikeFest 2016 is over but serves as an example of how the system works in our Town of Ocean City.
As you know, the Town of Ocean City receives funds from taxes, fees for service and grants from County, State and Federal sources. Every dollar received from these sources is the same as you and I carry in our pockets or purses, U.S. currency.
The town, through the Mayor and Council, uses these funds to support the annual budget plan for the town and to pay for the costs of running the town government. In the process, the Mayor and Council earmark various sums to the operating units of the town, such as public works, police and fire departments, etc.
In addition and a case in point, the Mayor and Council designate various amounts to specific boards and commissions to utilize in their activities. In this instance, the Tourist Advisory Board (TAB), which operates under the town’s tourism department. TAB recommends to the Mayor and Council the allocation of these funds to their constituents, such as BikeFest 2016, a for-profit organization that received $10,000 this year. BikeFest owners have received a total of $105,000 over the past four years in town funding.
In addition, BikeFest and similar groups have received considerable “in kind” support from the town such as police, fire, public works, etc. BikeFest 2016 application for “in-kind” services totaled $70,000 from the town. Residents might want to keep these matters in mind as they consider candidates in the coming election.
Joe Moran
Ocean City