Articles

County Mum On Amusement Tax District Proposal

BERLIN - Worcester County's elected officials kept their thoughts to themselves after Jolly Roger's Buddy Jenkins presented the case for an Ocean City amusement tax overlay district, which would give two major amusement enterprises tax relief. The measure would freeze property assessments of the Trimper rides properties, Jolly Roger Amusement Park, and Jolly Roger rides at the Pier at the 2004 level, or the current assessment, whichever is lower. If the use of the property changes, however,...READ MORE

Governor Outlines Plan For Foreclosure Crisis

BERLIN - Just one month after his Homeownership Preservation Task Force released its grave final report on the growing foreclosure crisis across the state, Governor Martin O'Malley this week announced proposed emergency regulations and initiatives to help stem the tide of residents across Maryland including Worcester losing their homes. O'Malley on Monday unveiled a multi-faceted plan to reverse the growing foreclosure trend in Maryland, where 33,000 homeowners are faced with the prospect of...READ MORE

Inlet Surfing Beach To Return

OCEAN CITY - The Inlet surfing beach concept will return to Ocean City for a second year in 2008, giving surfers another year to enjoy the long-awaited designated surfing beach. Ocean City Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster reported this week that due to the overwhelming success of the first year of the Inlet surfing beach pilot program, the program would continue. Last year marked the first year for the pilot program, which gave surfers a large chunk of beach at the Inlet to be used...READ MORE

Options For Showell School's Future Weighed

NEWARK - A recently completed land-use study of the Showell Elementary School property revealed the site could handle a major expansion, renovation or even replacement estimated between $25 million and $27 million depending on the option chosen, but there are serious issues to resolve including sewer, before any project can be undertaken. Worcester County Board of Education members this week got an overview of a land-use study conducted by the Becker Morgan Group of the Showell Elementary site....READ MORE

Public Schools Initiate Plan For Bridge Closure

OCEAN CITY - Preparations for the closure of the Route 50 bridge began as expected yesterday, creating at least a month's worth of headaches and complications for numerous local residents, including school-age children who live just across the span from their schools but will have to take a tour of Ocean City and northern Worcester County each day to reach them. Early yesterday morning, State Highway Administration (SHA) crews were busy putting out the familiar orange barrels and dragging...READ MORE

Sponsors Eyed For Ocean City's Special Events

OCEAN CITY - At a work session of the Mayor and Council this week, the issue of soliciting more sponsorship for town events arose, with several officials arguing for an increase in sponsorship to alleviate tax burdens. The issue arose during a presentation by Tom Shuster, director of Recreation and Parks, as he presented the 2009 Special Events Schedule. Councilwoman Margaret Pillas suggested alleviating the high costs of fireworks displays by having them sponsored. Shuster pointed out that...READ MORE

Winterfest Riders Down, But Exceed 15-Year Average

OCEAN CITY - Although the 2007-2008 Winterfest of Lights came to an end earlier this month, the event is still glowing with the report of another successful year and increased revenues. Ocean City Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster reported this week that the Winterfest of Lights brought in more than 80,000 people to ride through the displays. The 15th annual event kicked off on Nov. 15 with an opening ceremony and concluded on Jan. 1. The temperate weather aided the event, with only...READ MORE

Adkins Nominated For Cathell's Seat

BERLIN - It appears this week local attorney Joe Moore was not successful in his attempt at gaining a nomination to sit on the bench of Maryland's highest court as the Judicial Nominating Committee last week forwarded just one name to the governor for the appointment, but O'Malley could ask the committee to reconsider adding one or more names, including Moore's, to the list. Moore in December officially filed an application to replace Judge Dale Cathell as the Maryland Court of Appeals judge for...READ MORE

Alleged Murder Victim Part Of '06 Charity Scam

POCOMOKE - The woman's body found along a dirt road outside Pocomoke last Sunday turned out to be the woman arrested in Ocean City two years ago for fraudulently soliciting money for charities and events she did not represent including the annual Penguin Swim. The Worcester County Sheriff's Office and the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) this week is investigating the homicide of Judy Lynn Wojcik, 42, of no fixed address, whose body was found by trappers on a dirt road in Pocomoke...READ MORE

Berlin To Ask County Again For More Capacity To Grow

SNOW HILL - Berlin plans to formally ask the County Commissioners for more sewer capacity, the town informed elected officials this week, less than a month after the county reduced Berlin's sewer expansion. 'The town is going to be coming back to the commissioners to modify their plan to the full one million gallons per day that was requested in the formal application,' consultant Mark Prouty informed the commissioners Tuesday during a hearing on a separate matter, the expansion of the Berlin...READ MORE

Coastal Bays Exceeds Fundraising Goal

BERLIN - The Coastal Bays Program exceeded its goal last week of raising $250,000 in 2007 by some $75,000. Last January, an anonymous donor gave the program $500,000 to create the first designated environmental endowment fund on Maryland's lower shore. On the heels of the news, the same donor offered to match every private dollar raised with an additional $2 by year's end up to $250,000 - giving the program a chance to create a million-dollar endowment. The program recently announced that it...READ MORE

County Okays Campground Lodge Height Request

SNOW HILL - Eagle's Nest Campground owner Jack Burbage may now construct a 41-foot tall lodge at the campground, after the Worcester County Commissioners acceded to his request for an increase in allowed accessory building heights in campgrounds countywide. The commissioners also agreed to pass the bill as emergency legislation, which puts the new law into effect in time for construction of the Eagle's Nest lodge to be completed by Memorial Day. The commissioners' vote for 45 feet, to apply to...READ MORE

Flooding Solutions Elude Berlin Officials

BERLIN - Flooding problems in the town of Berlin need to be taken in hand, but the town's elected officials have not concluded how to tackle the problem. Berlin Mayor Tom Cardinale wants to get a committee together to create a plan of action. 'It's three, almost four years and $75,000 later,' Cardinale said, referring to the Army Corps of Engineers stormwater flooding report, completed in 2007. Cardinale wants to put together a small committee with wastewater, stormwater, construction and other...READ MORE

OC Hears Homeland Security Update

OCEAN CITY - The City Council was briefed on the town's Homeland Security Grant Initiative this week, receiving an update on the current initiative and a briefing of spending goals for 2008. Wayne Pryor, Special Programs and Grants Manager, reported that to date, $2.8 million in grant money has been received. Some of the accomplishments that have resulted from the grant money include bomb squad equipment, which has launched Ocean City's bomb squad to the status as one of the best in the state,...READ MORE

Ocean City To Try Outsourcing Vehicle Washes

OCEAN CITY - The City Council entered into a one-year trial run of a vehicle washing services contract this week, in hopes of cleaning up the municipal fleet and alleviating the stress on the town's current, fledgling bus washer. Oasis Car Wash, located on 72nd Street and Coastal Highway, presented the City Council with a proposal at Tuesday's work session offering year-round car washes for the town's municipal fleet for an annual price of  $60,000. Ocean City Public Works Director Hal...READ MORE

Original Musical Appearing At Worcester Prep

BERLIN - Worcester Preparatory School's Parents' Association is sponsoring the production of 'Coconut Road,' an original musical play by local playwright Harold Schmidt, for two evening performances on January 18-19. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the school's Athletic & Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and children under 18. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the night of the performance or at the Good Earth Market on Rt. 26 in...READ MORE

Pocomoke Man Sentenced In Federal Drug Distribution Case

BERLIN - A Worcester County man, convicted in federal court in October on four counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, was sentenced this week to 11 and a half years in jail by a U.S. District Court Judge. A federal jury in late October returned guilty verdicts on all four counts against Curtis Schoolfield, 39, of Pocomoke, also known as 'Smoosh,' after deliberating for under two hours. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge J. Frederick Motz...READ MORE

So Far So Good With Dog Park

OCEAN CITY - The new Ocean City Dog Playground may have opened with little fanfare Dec. 3, but the park has met success during its early stages, with 42 passes sold during the first weeks of operation, according to the city. At a Recreation and Parks Commission meeting this week, Tom Shuster, director of Recreation and Parks, reported that the Dog Playground was doing well so far and receiving positive feedback. In the six weeks since the Dog Playground opened and became the town's only...READ MORE

Voter Registration Deadline Approaching

BERLIN - Worcester County voters hoping to participate in the Feb. 12 primary election have until Tuesday to register to vote or miss the opportunity this time around. County residents not registered to vote can do so in a variety of ways before the deadline at 9 p.m. on Tuesday. With leading Democratic and Republic presidential candidates separated by mere percentage points this week, the Feb. 12 primary in Maryland and a handful of other states could go a long way in determining who is on the...READ MORE

West OC EDU Sales Can Continue, County Votes

SNOW HILL - West Ocean City property owners may still buy and sell sewer and water rights, after the Worcester County Commissioners decided this week not to eliminate the practice. The EDU market opened in 1997, when the county decided to allow the sale of water and sewer access in the West Ocean City service area, after that system was restricted to roughly one million gallons of effluent per day. Property owners with no plan to use their EDUs sold capacity access to those who wanted to build,...READ MORE