May 18, 2007

Thursday, May 24 - Ocean City Stands Behind Landmark Business

OCEAN CITY - Resort officials this week agreed to send an official letter of support to the appropriate agencies in the state for the beleaguered Trimper's Rides amusement park at the foot of the Boardwalk, which is threatened with extinction due in large part to staggering increases in property taxes for the massive complex. It came to light earlier this month the historic amusement park is considering shutting down after occupying the site at the foot of the Boardwalk for 120 years because the...READ MORE

Wednesday, May 23 - Ocean City's New Surfing Program Begins Next Week

OCEAN CITY - The Town of Ocean City has added a third surfing area along its 10-mile beach. In addition to the two rotating surfing beaches that have been in effect for nearly 20 years, the town has approved a one-year pilot project that will allow surfing during the day, Monday through Friday, in an area that is 200 yards north of the Inlet rock jetty. The specifics of this surfing area have been worked out between the Ocean City Beach Patrol and representatives of the surfing community. This...READ MORE

Tuesday, May 22 - OC Police File Attempted Murder Charges

OCEAN CITY - A Salisbury man was arrested early yesterday morning after a vicious attack on his girlfriend.  Officers were called to the 15th Street fire station where they met an off-duty volunteer fire fighter. The fire fighter was flagged down by Catherine Capone who flagged him down as he was driving.  She told him she had been assaulted and needed medical attention.  He brought her back to the station to be seen by paramedics. Capone told officers that her boyfriend of 20...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

The beauty of Cruisin' weekend is you know they will come. It's one of the town's only special events that can be a success in spite of the weather. It goes without saying the annual event is much more enjoyable for all involved if the weather cooperates, but the four-day affair goes on despite what Mother Nature has in store and area hotels and motels and restaurants and bars typically report a good business weekend nonetheless. It's no secret some businesses prefer Cruisin' weekend over the...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Park's Loss Would Impact All Of OC Editor: It was with regret that I read about the demise of the Trimper properties located on the southern end of the Boardwalk. As usual, outlandish taxes is the main culprit, coupled with future plans for the existing properties. My family has been staying at the Worcester and Boardwalk location (Playland) for 29-plus years enjoying the relaxed, nostalgic location. The southern end of the Boardwalk has already been scared with the construction of the first...READ MORE

Monday, May 21 - Ocean City Beach Patrol Begins Season With Full Staff

BERLIN - The Ocean City Beach Patrol will hit the sand this weekend for the start of another exciting summer season. Captain Butch Arbin reports that the Beach Patrol has been successfully recruiting and training in the off-season. The Beach Patrol will be fully staffed and ready to go this weekend, according to Arbin. In the past, the patrol has started the season with 60 stands beginning full operation for the start of the summer. This year Arbin estimates a total of 65 stands will be up and...READ MORE

'Radical' Plan for OCVFC Quickly Retracted

OCEAN CITY- Much of the discussion during Tuesday's Mayor and Council meeting about the future of the organization appeared to have been borne out a plan prepared by City Manager Dennis Dare last winter to expand the scope of the paid emergency services organization at the expense of the historic volunteer agency, but some on the council said they had never been privy to the document. In January, Dare apparently floated a conceptual plan, based on the recommendations of an independent...READ MORE

Potential Sex Store Sites Identified

OCEAN CITY- Resort planners on Tuesday got a first look at maps showing potential sites throughout Ocean City for adult book stores and shops selling sexually-related content, and while the sites identified added up to just about one percent of the total area of the town, there were a few surprise locations identified under the proposed zoning changes. Following the surprise opening of an adult-themed book store on 137th Street this winter, resort officials have embarked on a two-prong course to...READ MORE

Sewage Disposal Plan Still Stalls Major Showell Project

SNOW HILL - Spray irrigation is the way to go for the controversial proposed residential sewer plant in Showell, the planning commission told the county this week. Planning commission chair Carolyn Cummins laid out the commission's position in a half hour presentation Tuesday, concluding that a combination of spray irrigation and reuse of the treated effluent would be the best choice. 'Spray is still the preferred option,' said Cummins, who several times made the point that the new comprehensive...READ MORE

Program to Target Youth Suicide in County

BERLIN - Two mothers who lost sons to suicide want to equip local youth with a tool to get help in times of crisis by starting a chapter of the Yellow ribbon suicide prevention program. 'We thought it's about time we got something out there. This program is definitely needed in Worcester County,' said Melanie Welton, who lost her 16-year-old son Randy to suicide in October 2006. 'The basis of the program is a business card you hand out and on the front it states, •€˜this is your lifeline,'...READ MORE

North End Highway Study Set for This Summer

SNOW HILL- The north end of Worcester County will be subject to a regional transportation study this summer, set to begin sometime in July. The study, under consideration for the last two years, got approval from the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday during a commissioner meeting. The $100,000 is currently available, and will not be part of the fiscal year 2008 budget. Staff originally thought the study would cost as little as $50,000, which was duly requested and received two years ago,...READ MORE

Two Locals Busted in Drug Raid

OCEAN CITY- Two local residents were arrested on drug charges last Friday after a month-long narcotics investigation conducted by the Ocean City Police Department. Last Friday, the OCPD's Quick Response Team (QRT), along with the resort's narcotics officers, executed a search and seizure warrant at 1208 Baltimore Ave. Once inside the residence, resort police discovered approximately a half-ounce of powder cocaine, three bags of marijuana, multiple items of drug paraphernalia and a digital scale...READ MORE

Council Approves Flea Market Return

OCEAN CITY- An old Ocean City tradition gone for several years now will get a new life at a new location this summer when the weekly flea market returns to the Worcester Street parking lot downtown. For decades, the town hosted a huge flea market on the parking lot of the Convention Center on 40th Street, but the tradition died when the parking lot was no longer available because of increased activity at the facility. However, the Ocean City Mayor and Council this week agreed to bring back the...READ MORE

Four Sought in Armed Robbery

OCEAN CITY- Resort police are searching for four suspects involved in an armed robbery in Ocean City early Monday morning. Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Monday morning, Ocean City Police Department officers responded to a reported armed robbery on Baltimore Ave. around 21st Street. The investigation revealed the victim had met the four suspects on the Boardwalk near Wicomico Street and later walked with them from the downtown area to 21st Street where the group exited the Boardwalk. At that point,...READ MORE

Powerboat Races Set to Return Next Month

OCEAN CITY- The grand spectacle of offshore powerboat racing is set to return to the resort on Father's Day weekend, June 15-17, with the arrival of the OPA Racing and Super-Cat Pro Series. For years, the annual offshore powerboat races were a staple in the resort each fall before being discontinued for several years. Last fall, however, the fan favorite returned with a new national racing series and the same local sponsor, Bull on the Beach, which has its own boat and racing team. This year,...READ MORE

New Electric Supply Contract Accepted

OCEAN CITY- Resort officials this week agreed on a new electric supply contract for municipal service with an option that could save the town hundreds of thousands of dollars. City Engineer Terry McGean told the Mayor and Council on Tuesday the town's current electric power agreement is about to expire at the end of June and it was time to review bids for a new agreement that will last the next few years. McGean said the town recently received five bids for providing electric service and...READ MORE

It's Time to Get Ill

'I haven't been this sick in years.' I recalled thinking this at some point in the middle of the night this past Mother's Day, as I shuffled down the hallway of my home wrapped in a blanket like I had just been pulled out of the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean by the Coast Guard after my vessel had become property of the sea by means of shipwreck. I had once again set the bar for incredibly romantic gestures by getting sick as a dog on Mother's Day, and not only needing to be quarantined in a...READ MORE

Suspected Rape Case Forwarded to Circuit

OCEAN CITY- A Baltimore man arrested in April for allegedly raping a woman in an Ocean City motel had his case forwarded to Circuit Court this week after District Court Judge Danny Mumford found there was probable cause after reviewing testimony in a preliminary hearing in District Court. Ernest Wesley Smith, 53, of Baltimore, was in District Court on Monday for a preliminary hearing for an incident in April. Smith is facing attempted rape, sexual offenses, assault and breaking and entering...READ MORE

OCVFC Reassured of Leadership Role in Resort's Fire Service

OCEAN CITY- The leadership of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company were reassured during a two-hour heart-to-heart with the Mayor and Council on Tuesday they are still the lead agency in the umbrella of sorts that covers fire service in the resort, but a mysterious memorandum of understanding encouraging the volunteer outfit to work more closely with the paid emergency services department was extended. Public safety for Ocean City is the top priority for each of the allied agencies that...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Pasted

OCEAN CITY- Ocean City lost a treasured icon last week when Martha J. Bunting, matriarch of a historic resort family, passed away at her West Ocean City home at the age of 74. For decades, Bunting and her late husband Captain Bill Bunting, who died in 1994, owned and operated the historic Angler Restaurant and Marina at the foot of Talbot Street in Ocean City and her children and their families continue to operate the establishment still. Hundreds gathered Tuesday afternoon for a memorial...READ MORE

Lady Mallards Win A Thriller For ESIAC Tourney Crown

BERLIN - The heated rivalry between the girls lacrosse teams of Sts. Peter and Paul and Worcester Prep continued last Friday with the Mallards winning in the final minute of overtime. Kristin Chandler's goal with 29 seconds remaining in the second three-minute overtime period lifted the Mallards to a thrilling win and the conference tournament champion. The Sabres and Lady Mallards are no strangers, having split their previous two meetings during the regular season. In their last meeting in...READ MORE

WPS Cruise To Another Tourney Title

BERLIN - Worcester Prep scored early and often to defeat the Salisbury School 12-1 in the ESIAC Conference Tournament Championship. The Mallards were led by Senior Travis Gregory, who scored four goals and added four assists. Will Regan added three goals, while Christian Coates had nine saves in the net.   ...READ MORE

Decatur Boys' Lax Upset in OT

The Seahawks played well all year and earned a number-two seed in the Class 3A-2A East bracket and a first round bye. However, their appearance in the state tournament was short-lived with an 11-10 overtime loss to Northeast at home last Saturday. After the two teams were tied at 10-10 at the end of regulation, Northeast's Donovan Lange scored a goal just 44 seconds into the overtime period to end the game and the season for the Seahawks. The two teams were tied at 2-2 at the end of the...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Win Regional Title

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girl's varsity lacrosse team won its second straight state Class 3A-2A East Region championship in Wednesday, beating visiting Kent Island, 12-6, in a physical contest to advance to the state's Final Four for the second year in a row. The Seahawks, which are still unbeaten on the season at 15-0, wore down Kent Island in a tough game that resulted in yellow cards for both teams. The two teams are very familiar with each other, having now played three times this season...READ MORE

Errors Doom Seahawk Softball Team

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity softball team had an up and down week with a 15-0 win over Southern in the first round of the state Class 2A-East Region tournament on Monday, followed by a disappointing 11-1 loss to Easton on Wednesday in the region semifinals. Decatur ran into a buzz saw in top-seeded Easton on Wednesday, falling to the Warriors, 11-1, to close out what was another great season for the Seahawks. The 11-1 score was not indicative of how the game went. With the steady Ali...READ MORE

Seahawks Fall in Class 2A-East Tourney

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity baseball team's magical season came to an abrupt end on Wednesday when the Seahawks fell to Parkside, 4-3, after leading the game, 3-1, going into the final two innings. With Dominick Favazza cruising on the mound and the Decatur offense scoring just enough to maintain a comfortable lead over the Rams through five innings, it appeared the Seahawks were headed to the next round in the Class 2A-East region tournament. However, the Rams rallied to beat the...READ MORE

Annual Music Fest Planned To Aid Autistic Support Group

BERLIN - The Autistic Children's Support Group of Worcester County, Inc. will hold its 4th Annual 'Expect a Miracle' Music Fest on Sunday, May 20 at the Greene Turtle in West Ocean City from 1-5 p.m. The 'miracle' of this event has been the amazing support from the community and businesses that make it more successful every year. Last year this event drew over 200 people and raised over $11,000 as a result of donations, silent auction, Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. As a direct result, the...READ MORE

Cedar Chapel Teacher Honored By Wal-Mart

BERLIN - In a surprise announcement during a music assembly on May 8, Cedar Chapel Special School Teacher Victoria Radford learned that she had been selected as the 2007 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for Pocomoke City. When Cedar Chapel Principal Rae Record made the announcement in front of the school's faculty, staff and students, T.J. Frampton, one of Radford's former students, cheered, 'You are awesome to the max!' Simultaneously, student Michael Knight hugged his teacher, while the music...READ MORE

Long & Foster Real Estate

Judy Froman, a sales agent at the Long & Foster Real Estate's West Ocean City office, and Kona took part in the recent Board Walkin' for Pets to benefit the Worcester County Humane Society. ...READ MORE

Peninsula Regional Medical Center

Peninsula Regional Medical Center's 2007 Employee of the Year Barney Foxwell of Salisbury, right, receives from Alan Newberry, president/CEO, a sign that will mark his designated parking spot at the Medical Center for the next year.   ...READ MORE

Snyder Earns Highest Honor

OCEAN CITY - Joy Snyder of Re/Max Premier Properties in Ocean City was awarded the highest level of service achievement in the real estate industry, Quality Service Certified® Platinum. The award is in recognition of earning 100 percent client service satisfaction in 2006, as measured by Leading Research Corporation (LRC). Quality Service Certified (QSC) status is the only award in the real estate industry based on independently validated, measurable service results. Clients of QSC agents...READ MORE

Larry Whitlock Partnership Announced

BERLIN - Daft-McCune-Walker, Inc. (DMV), a multidisciplinary land development consulting firm, announced this week that it has joined forces with Berlin-based Lawrence T. Whitlock & Associates, Inc., to open a new office on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The two companies will integrate their respective strengths to provide clients with access to a broader range of land development services. A local presence on the Eastern Shore also positions DMW to better service its strong portfolio of clients...READ MORE

L&F Leaders

BERLIN - Linda Moran and the Moran have been named team top producers for the month of April for the West Ocean City office of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. Bob Allen was the Individual top producer, and Moran was also the top lister and sold the most units. Moran will be spending the next week in Hawaii at Brian Buffini's Prestigious Peak Performers Seminar. This is a select group of 300 realtors nationwide from various real estate companies. Moran is licensed in Maryland and Delaware....READ MORE

Alert Citizen Helps Nab Shoplifters

OCEAN CITY- Just days after a reported shoplifting spree at the CVS pharmacy on 120th Street in Ocean City, an alert citizen who saw the suspects pictures on television recognized them at the CVS in West Ocean City and alerted resort police, which touched off an investigation that led to their arrest. Three suspects in the initial shoplifting spree at the Ocean City CVS on April 28 were arrested this week after a tip from an alert citizen who saw the trio apparently up to their old tricks at a...READ MORE

Alleged Rape Case Forwarded to Circuit Court

OCEAN CITY- An Ocean City man arrested on rape charges in April after an alleged sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl passed out from alcohol had has case forwarded to Circuit Court this week after a preliminary hearing in District Court in Ocean City, but not before some questions were raised about his involvement in the case. Semeredin Bederu, 24, of Ocean City, was arrested on second-degree rape and second-degree assault charges on April 3 for an alleged attack on a 17-year-old girl from...READ MORE

Late Fire Department Requests Derails Berlin Budget

BERLIN - A last minute request for more funding from the Berlin Volunteer Fire department has thrown off Berlin's balanced preliminary budget. The request, revealed Monday night at a Berlin town council budget work session, is not part of the budget prepared by town administrator Linda Bambary and staff, and will prompt some cuts elsewhere, she said. The town anticipates $4,621,077 in revenue in 2008. The budget presented to the council Monday night shows expenditures in the same amount, but the...READ MORE

Berlin Man Arrested for Resort Burglary

OCEAN CITY- A Berlin man was arrested this week on a slew of charges including first-degree burglary after Ocean City Police connected him with a breaking and entering at an unoccupied home in the resort. Douglas Lawrence Ransley, 20, of Berlin, was arrested this week after resort police were able to connect him to a robbery at a vacant north Ocean City home last weekend. An Ocean City police officer was patrolling in the area of North Heron Drive last Sunday looking for a reported...READ MORE

Berlin Town Council To Donate Old Ledgers To Museum.

BERLIN - Some old books from Berlin's history have a new home, after the Berlin town council voted to donate 13 dusty old ledgers of town records to the Calvin B. Taylor House museum.             'Some of these are from 1901, handwritten town minutes,' said Weisner.  'Because they're town records, I don't want to throw them away.'             The unusual find came to light...READ MORE

Grants Sought for Berlin Project, Housing Rehabs

SNOW HILL- Berlin residents and some county homeowners are hoping that requests for community development block grant (CDBG) funding will come through for the replacement of a community center in Berlin and the county's housing rehabilitation program. The Worcester County Commissioners agreed to support the grant applications for both endeavors at Tuesday's commissioner meeting. Efforts to replace the run down multi-purpose building on Berlin's Flower Street will move forward if the CDBG program...READ MORE

Ocean City Council Briefs

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Mayor and Council met in a work session this week and discussed a wide variety of issues from a bid to repaint the water tower on 15th Street to improvements to the fire company headquarters to a new health care plan for town employees to new gear for resort firefighters. The following is a quick look at some of the activity: Bid Accepted for Water Tower Rehab The Council unanimously approved the low bid submitted for a major repainting and rehabilitation project for...READ MORE

Downtown Height Restrictions Approved

OCEAN CITY- With the intent of preserving the old town charm of the downtown area in Ocean City, the Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved new maximum height limitations on new development in vast areas of the oldest section of the resort. During their regular work session on Tuesday, the council approved the proposed maximum height limitations by a 5-2 vote, although some questions were raised about various components in the zoning code amendment including the pitch of roofs and dormers allowed...READ MORE

County Wrestles With Adult Shop Law

SNOW HILL- Citizens will get the chance to weigh in on temporary legislation to regulate adult businesses at a June 19 public hearing. Worcester County established a moratorium on new adult businesses in early May, extending through the end of 2007, to give the county time to put permanent legislation into place. The interim legislation will back up the moratorium in the case of a legal challenge to the seven-month ban on adult businesses. 'I think we have to be ahead of this issue,'...READ MORE

Council Briefed on General Assembly Session

OCEAN CITY- Resort officials this week got an update on activity in the recent General Assembly session that will affect Ocean City and other municipalities around the state the most and took an early look at potential legislation to support next year. As a member of the Maryland Municipal League (MLL), an organization of the 157 towns throughout the state, Ocean City has a vested interest in legislation related to municipal issues debated and enacted by state lawmakers. To that end, officials...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a romantic nature that allows you to find the best in people. You would excel at poetry and drama. ARIES (March 21 to April 19): A stubborn refusal to go ahead on a project mystifies colleagues who expected more flexibility. But once you explain your position, they'll understand and even applaud you. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A relationship seems to be stuck in the same place. Now it's up to you, dear Bovine, to decide how far you want it to go and how intense you...READ MORE

Gibbs Steering Castaways Into Third Summer Season

OCEAN CITY - Armed with a love of music and good food, and backed by a family in the restaurant business, Gary Gibbs is looking forward to his third summer at the helm of the Caribbean-themed restaurant Castaways. Gibbs, 32, grew up behind the scenes at his family's Dough Roller restaurants. After graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in engineering, Gibbs joined the nine-to-five work world, but soon found himself dissatisfied. 'I didn't enjoy my work when I finished...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Insider tried to watch a professional basketball game the other night and just could not bring himself to get into it. The old guy likes basketball. Always has enjoyed watching it, particularly the college variety. The professional game is just boring. It's as if the guys are too good for their own good. They easily make their shots from anywhere on the court it seems and defense is non-existent for the most part. In the college game, the players are a reflection of their coaches. They follow...READ MORE

Securing Your Family's Financial Future

BERLIN - Today's baby boomers constitute one of the wealthiest segments of the U.S. population, with an estimated $41 trillion expected to pass from boomers to their heirs by the year 2052. If you expect to be a participant in this massive transfer of wealth, you should approach it in a way that keeps family bonds strong, as well as make sure it is handled in a tax-efficient manner. Although many estate plans are built around tax efficiency, there are other objectives that matter. That's why,...READ MORE

Things We Like

Smiles Children The Truth Volunteers Voters A steamed lobster dinner Patsy Cline singing any song Attentive waiters/waitresses A good chef/cook Help from someone Prayers from anyone Another day to serve -- Jim McGinniss  ...READ MORE

Pocomoke Middle School

A combination of shrewd investing and a little bit of luck helped students from Pocomoke Middle School earn a simulated $119,974 and a first place finish in the fall session of the Eastern Shore Region Stock Market Game competition, organized by the Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE). Above, team members Devin Fairman, Kyle Gillespie, Stephen Grayson and Christopher Watson are pictured with their advisor Tanya Quisgard. ...READ MORE

Showell Elementary

Ben Kolarik won first place in the non-experimental division of the recent Worcester County Science Fair. Kolarik is a student in Mrs. Sullivan class at Showell Elementary. His project was on the Solar System.  ...READ MORE

Girl Scouts Service Unit 7

A local Girl Scouts Service Unit 7 had its Annual Bridging Ceremony at Stephen Decatur High School on April 29. Troop #684 assisted with the Flag Ceremony. Pictured, from left, are Emily Cashman, Anna Crooper, Emily Kate Kolarik and Monica McInerney.  ...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary

Buckingham Elementary School held its annual Muffins with Mom celebration with a turnout of more than 200 parents and guardians over two days. The event is one of many community outreach programs designed to foster and increase parent involvement. Above some unidentified parents and students are pictured. ...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary

Second grade students in Mrs. Smith's class at School have been busy learning their Platonic Solids (3-D shapes) through hands-on activities. Above, some students are pictured in the classroom. ...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary

Buckingham Elementary School recently celebrated the diversity of career choices and options in the region with Vehicle Day. Above, representatives from the Berlin Fire Company are pictured speaking to the students. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

As part of environmental awareness at Worcester Prep, students enjoyed a day dressed in greens and browns and attended assemblies targeting environmental issues. Pictured, front row from left, are Erin Ternahan, Bethany Beach; Amanda Phillips, Bethany Beach; Kristen Chandler, Salisbury; Codee Buckler, Ocean City; (back) Matt Edmunds, Ocean City; Nick Spinuzza, Ocean City; Ross Roessler,Bishopville; Lee Kendall, Berlin; and Brad Allen, Rehoboth Beach. The program was sponsored by the Worcester...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Worcester Prep students took top honors in the Daughters of the American Revolution's Jamestown 400th Anniversary Celebration Competition, which included categories for writing and art. Winners are, from left, Riddhi Sanwal, first place State of Maryland, third place Eastern Region, Grade 7 Poetry; McKinnon de Kuyper, first place State of Maryland, Honorable Mention, Eastern Region, Jamestown Stamp Design, Grade 7; Casey Knerr, second place State of Maryland, Jamestown poetry, Grade 6; Billy...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in Berlin held its May Procession and "crowning" of Mary at St. John Neumann's church.  The church had recently bought a beautiful Statue of the Virgin Mary, and the Eighth Grade students adorned her with flowers. Pictured, front row from left, are Samantha Stevens, Michele Snead, Ionice Murillo, Elizabeth D'Onofrio, Father Thomas Protack, Mrs. Cris Kaczmarczyk, Joe Giffin, Dominic Quattrini and Gabrielle Anthony. Middle row, Carly Lederman,...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

The "Bella Notte" Fashion Show at Most Blessed Sacrament (MBS) was a fun filled night for all with live entertainment by the MBS choir,a fabulous dinner by Carrabba's served by the always festive Ocean City Knights of Columbus, and hot spring/summer fashions worn by MBS students, parents and teachers. Above, Devan Fischbeck and Gracie Riley are all smiles after their walk down the "catwalk.' Below, Kate Kotoski and Tierney Loese look like they are ready for summer in their outfits...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Dominique Kunciw, a sophomore at Worcester Prep, recently won two more awards, one the Benjamin Peace Essay Prize and the other from the Maryland Humanities Council for its Letters about Literature competition. Kunciw was honored as the first place essay winner in the Benjamin Peace Essay Competition for students in Grades 9-12 in the State of Maryland. She was named a Finalist in Letters about Literature and invited to attend the ceremony held at Enoch Pratt Free Library's Wheeler Auditorium in...READ MORE

Things I Like

Frank McCourt's writing Coming across 'Violets Are Blue' on television Springfest on a sunny afternoon A weekend without rain The fine sand found on Ocean City's beach The shade of a big tree People who know how the insides of a computer work Short letters to the editor Fixing things The magazine, 'Bark' Finding something thought to be lost ...READ MORE

Live Bands and DJs

Assateague Island Oasis: 410-629-1492, Rt. 611; Every Friday & Saturday: Patrick McAllorum; Every Wednesday: Jon Pheasant. Bahama Mamas: 410-289-0291, Call for entertainment. Blue Ox & Babe's Lounge: 410-250-6440, 127th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Call for entertainment. Buxy's Salty Dog: 410-289-0973, 28th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Friday, May 18: TBA; Saturday, May 19: Crowded Outhouse; Sunday, May 20: DJ BK. Castaway's: 410-524-9090, 64th St. Bayfront; Friday & Saturday, May 18 &...READ MORE

Ocean City

OCEAN CITY Seaside Retreat Daily 10-4 3BR, 2.5BA Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 Call for Directions OCEAN CITY Emerson Towers Fri,Sat, & Sun 11-4 3BR, 3BA Luxury Condo w/ Boat Slips Eric Emerson ReMax Premier Properties 410-524-6700 Call for Directions OCEAN CITY The Quay Saturday 2 & 3BR Condos Mary McCracken Long & Foster 410-430-7302 Call for Directions OCEAN CITY Pelican Perch Weekends 11-3 4BR, 4.5BA, & Loft Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 Call for Directions DOWNTOWN, OC Bel...READ MORE

West Ocean City - Ocean Pines - Delaware

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Fri 11-3 Sat & Sun 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 Call for Directions OCEAN PINES 39 Abbeyshire Lane Fri & Sat 10 - 12 3BR Rancher Jim Bacco Coldwell Banker 443-614-4833 Call for Directions KEENWICK, DE      Oak Road Sat. 10-2 2BR Contemporary on Water Ed Sheppard Holiday Real Estate 410-430-5408 Call for Directions OCEAN PINES 7 Evergreen Court Sat & Sun 11 - 3 Home on 1/2...READ MORE

Officials Act To Prevent Future Surprises

On the heels of an adult business opening in Ocean City along Coastal Highway, local governments are doing exactly what they should be - making sure it does not happen again without their input. When the SexStyles shop opened in north Ocean City this spring, it became the first such business to begin operating in Worcester County and it caught officials by surprise. While it's true there are other businesses in town peddling pornographic material and there have been others selling lingerie and...READ MORE