February 1, 2008

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Rita Inez Harris CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Rita Inez Harris, age 86, died, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Cambridge, Mass. Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Schaub and Anna Busch Schaub. She was preceded in death by her husband George L. Harris, Sr. in 1988. Harris had worked as a secretary for many years with the District of Columbia Unemployment Board for lawyers, administrators and managers in the public sector. She was a member of St. Mary/Holy Savior Catholic Church in Ocean...READ MORE

Thursday, February 7 - New Library Opening Pushed Back

OCEAN CITY - The anticipated opening date for Ocean City's new 13,000-square-foot, state of the art public library on 100th Street was moved back this week when inspectors failed to issue a certificate of occupancy for the facility as expected on Monday. Inspectors were expected to officially turn the new facility over to the county, and thus Ocean City Library officials on Monday with the issuance of the certificate of occupancy (CO), but some last minute issues had to be resolved before the CO...READ MORE

Wednesday, February 6 - State Says Trimper's Bill Is Illegal

SNOW HILL - The proposed downtown amusement overlay tax district, intended to reduce property taxes for Ocean City's historic Trimper's rides and amusement park, is not legal, according to the State of Maryland. The Worcester County Commissioners took a different tack and voted Tuesday, Feb, 5, to allow county and town tax credits to be offered to the historic amusement park to offset recent skyrocketing property tax assessments, which resulted in much higher property taxes. The overlay tax...READ MORE

Tuesday, February 5 - OC Makes Top 50 Motorcoach List

OCEAN CITY - The National Motorcoach Network Inc. has recognized Ocean City as one of the Top 50 Motorcoach Destinations of 2008. The Top 50 list was recently announced in Byways, a publication of the National Motorcoach Network distributed throughout North America to those who plan motorcoach tours and charters. The Top Motorcoach Destinations for 2008 were selected by affiliates of the National Motorcoach Network. According to the article in Byways, the annual survey is not random, but rather,...READ MORE

Monday, February 4 - Area Artists Team Up To Create Scholarship

BERLIN - Artists Kevin Fitzgerald and Patrick Henry have joined together to create scholarship fund for students from Stephen Decatur High School who plan to pursue a fine art career. 'Patrick and I wanted to create something that would recognize and reward achievement in the arts, something to encourage students to pursue their passion, to take a non-traditional career path,' said Fitzgerald. Henry added, 'When Kevin and I began talking, we spoke of the many helping hands we had received...READ MORE

Joint Investigation Nets Big Drug Bust

BERLIN - Two people were arrested on drug charges last weekend after a cooperative effort by the Ocean City Police Department and the Worcester County Sheriff's Office snared them in a sting operation. Last Saturday, Worcester County Sheriff's Deputies stopped a vehicle on Hall Rd. near Route 50 in reference to a joint drug investigation between the sheriff's office and the OCPD narcotics unit. The passenger in the vehicle, Georgianna Shockley, of Snow Hill, was wanted by the OCPD on an...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Ban Implementation Is What's Unfair Editor: I hope you will print this in the interest of all concerned. Regarding Daniel Heinecke's letter, I was allowed to smoke in certain bars and restaurants and now I'm not, I think that any reasonable person can see that I have lost a right I once had. But this is not the point of my letter.  I am a "type A" and smoking relaxes me and quiets my nerves. In my case it is probably good for me. I try to be a considerate smoker and not offend the...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

A good man known by many in the community passed away this week. Mr. Coates, the patriarch of a local family of well-known lawyers, died after a long illness on Sunday. It's been a while since I last saw Mr. Coates and longer since we had a conversation, but I got to know him well over the years as we did a lot of business with the family law firm. After a property settlement with his son, Ray Jr., years ago, the 'old man' asked if it would be too much trouble to drop off a paper each Friday...READ MORE

No Harm In Giving Slots To Fraternal Clubs

Worcester County fraternal organizations should be allowed to have slot machines in their buildings under the conditions they devote a certain amount of the proceeds to the community. However, the path we are taking to get to that outcome has become quite bizarre and seems to have further fractured relations between county and Ocean City officials. Currently, Worcester is the only jurisdiction on Maryland's Eastern Shore prohibiting slots in the fraternal clubs. At a recent public hearing,...READ MORE

Beach Lacrosse Seeking Players, Coaches

BERLIN- The Beach Lacrosse program is currently seeking interested boys and girls players in grades K-8 for the upcoming season with online registration now available on the program's recently updated website. The 'fastest game on two feet' is also one of the fastest growing sports in the area with hundreds of young players participating in youth programs. Beach Lacrosse was one of the first in the area and many of its players have now moved on to play in high school and college. The program...READ MORE

Boys Basketball Rolls On

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's boys' basketball league continued to roll on this week. The following is a brief glance at a handful of recent games: Dr. William Allen 42- Carousel Hotel 25: Josh King scored 21 points to lead all scorers while Shae Farmer added 10 as Dr. Allen's team prevailed.  OC Rec Boosters 47- Maui Golf 39: Jacob Welling scored 22 and Aaron Miller pitched in 17 as the Boosters rolled. Clark Lynch led Maui Golf with 13 points. American...READ MORE

Decatur Finishes Second in Arundel Duals

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's boys' varsity wrestling team last weekend made a strong showing at the 25th Annual Arundel Invitational Duals, reaching the team finals before falling to Hereford of Baltimore County in the championship match to finish second among 20 of the top wrestling schools in the state. Decatur blazed through the early rounds relatively unscathed, sweeping Clarksburg, Chesapeake and Howard by a combined team score of 202-27. The Seahawks lost just five individual matches during...READ MORE

Men's League Action Continues

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's men's winter basketball league continued this week with a full slate of games at Northside Park. The following is a quick look at some recent league action: Seacrets 114- Atlantic Orthopedic 71: Anthony Sturgis went off for 41 points and Curtis Chandler added 37 as Seacrets rolled Atlantic Orthopedic in a high scoring game. Kimball Witcher added 14 points in the victory. Wisemen 60- Young Assassins 50: Torrez Spence scored 17 points,...READ MORE

Seahawks Drop a Pair to Eagles

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's boys' and girls' varsity basketball teams continued to slide this week with each team falling to county rival Snow Hill on Tuesday. The Decatur boys' got plowed by county powerhouse Snow Hill, 104-44, on Tuesday as five Eagles scored in double digits. Snow Hill is now a perfect 15-0 overall on the season including an 11-0 record in the Bayside Conference. Andrew Brickey led the Seahawk scorers with 13 points. The loss dropped Decatur to 3-14 on the season including a...READ MORE

Super Bowl Scramble on Tap

BERLIN- Before the big game on Sunday, local golf enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in a little pre-game golf action with the Super Bowl Scramble at Eagle's Landing. The creative tournament features a traditional four-player scramble format with a coach (the team's A player), a quarterback, a wide receiver and a running back. The scoring format is unique, however, with six points for a touchdown (eagle), three points for a field goal (birdie), and one point for an extra point (par)....READ MORE

Worcester County Youth Wrestling

The Worcester County Youth Wrestling Junior Seahawks improved on their great season with a strong showing at a recent tournament at Sussex Central last week. The young wrestlers have scored well in tournaments all over the area this year including Mardela, Smyrna and Georgetown. Pictured above are nine of the Junior Seahawks at the match at Sussex Central including Logan Smith (1st place), Nate Rosenblatt (1st), Ben Haines (3rd), Matt Meekins (2nd), Adam McInery (4th), Grant Rosenblatt (2nd) and...READ MORE

Fatal Accident Raises Concern About Route 113

BERLIN - A Berlin man was struck and killed by a car Saturday evening while trying to cross Rt. 113, prompting calls from the community for a lower speed limit on the Berlin section of highway. Harry Eckman, 48, tried to cross the busy highway at roughly 7 p.m. Saturday evening, choosing to cross near Franklin Ave. but away from the intersection in a badly lit area, while wearing dark clothes, according to the Berlin Police Department. A 1998 Chrysler then struck him.  Responding police...READ MORE

Residents Give Up Hope Of Pines Getting Slots Money

OCEAN PINES - A group of Ocean Pines residents who attempted to pursue potential slots revenue for the community, despite the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) Board of Directors decision to back off, have concluded that there is little chance of getting the slots law changed to funnel part of the revenues to Ocean Pines. Roseann Bridgman, Norm Katz, Dan Stachurski, Sharyn O'Hare and Joe Reynolds met with Delegate Jim Mathias last weekend to explore alternatives now that the OPA Board has stepped...READ MORE

Resort Wants More Ads On Cable TV

OCEAN CITY -With the 2008 summer season approaching, Public Works and the Mayor and City Council sat down this week to discuss the locally focused media campaign for bus service for 2008. Public Works Director Hal Adkins appeared before the Mayor and Council this week, requesting the annual allocation of roughly $50,000, to be used to contract with Independent Media. The 'Ride the Bus' campaign is addressed each year in an effort to educate visitors about the availability of Ocean City's bus...READ MORE

Two Sex Shop Ordinances Near Council Approval

OCEAN CITY - Discussions surrounding sexually oriented businesses appear to be coming to a close as the Mayor and City Council moves one step closer to passing ordinances outlining the zoning and licensing of sexually oriented businesses. City Solicitor Guy Ayres presented the Mayor and Council with two ordinances at a work session of the Mayor and Council this week, and if all goes well, both ordinances will be passed on first reading Monday night. Sexually oriented business has been an...READ MORE

County Pens Letter Supporting Slots At Fraternal Clubs

SNOW HILL - Controversy over legislation permitting Worcester County service clubs to host slot machines for charitable fundraising has emerged this week, after a letter was sent to local state legislators asking that a bill be drafted. The letter was not discussed at the most recent Worcester County Commissioner meeting, on Jan. 15, when a public hearing on slots for service clubs was held. Commissioner Virgil Shockley said the Jan. 18 letter was his idea. 'The letter went out at my request,'...READ MORE

'Mr. Coates' Remembered As Attorney, Coach And 'Mentor'

BERLIN - Berlin and all of Worcester County lost a patriarch this week when Raymond Davis Coates, Sr. passed away on Sunday at the Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury at the age of 79. Coates touched thousands of lives in his native Berlin and throughout Worcester County as a prominent attorney and, perhaps, more importantly, a coach and mentor. He founded the Berlin Little League in the 1950s and is credited for bringing organized football to Worcester County. He was also a former head...READ MORE

Mathias Wants County, OC To Discuss Tax Differential

OCEAN CITY - With no action from the county on Ocean City's request for support on the tax differential, the Ocean City Mayor and Council has asked Delegate Jim Mathias to go ahead with the legislation without the county's support. The town sent the letter Tuesday. 'That was a parallel path to follow for legislation,' said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. 'We'd certainly like to sit down with the County Commissioners.' Mathias said Wednesday he would not submit the legislation until the town and...READ MORE

OC Gives Support To Proposed County Eco-Park

OCEAN CITY -'Adventure with a coat check,' could become a new slogan for Ocean City tourism as the concept of an eco-park gains strength and eco-tourism moves to the forefront in the resort area. The Ocean City Mayor and City Council gave unanimous support to the concept of an eco-park this week, shedding light on an under-utilized segment of tourism in the area - eco-tourism. Jim Rapp, director of Delmarva Low-Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE), presented the Mayor and Council with the...READ MORE

Prosecutor Reflects On Murderer's Early Walk

BERLIN - The perpetrator of one of the most heinous crimes in Ocean City history, Jermaine Wright, who in 1995 lured a young girl in the resort for Senior Week into his car before ultimately murdering her and discarding her body near a country road, gets released from prison next week, years before expected and decades earlier than he would have if not for a life sentence overturned on legal issues. Wright will walk out of prison next Friday a free man after serving roughly seven years of a...READ MORE

Smoke-Free Md. Starts Today

OCEAN CITY - Restaurants and bars in Ocean City and across Maryland are completely smoke-free starting today with the arrival of the effective date of legislation passed last year to prohibit smoking in all indoor public places with few exceptions. Many businesses throughout the area this week scrubbed the last vestiges of smoking from their establishments, discarded or stowed ashtrays and made other arrangements for the arrival of the smoking ban across the state. Others who...READ MORE

Berlin Designing Lower Capacity Wastewater Plant

BERLIN - Despite a professed desire to ask for more sewer capacity, the town of Berlin is going ahead with work on the lower capacity wastewater plant. 'My understanding is we're proceeding with the .75 million gallons per day (mgd),' said Berlin Administrative Director Linda Bambary this week. Town representatives informed the Worcester County Commissioners of their need for more sewer sooner in mid-January, but have not yet made a formal request for a reconsideration of capacity. Bambary...READ MORE

Bridge Shuttle Bus Keeping Busy

WEST OCEAN CITY - In the first 10 days of the Route 50 bridge closure, a county-sponsored shuttle bus moved 1,309 people between Ocean City and West Ocean City. 'That is just astonishing,' said County Commissioner Bud Church, who also serves as president of the Tri-County Council (TCC), which operates Shore Transit, the county's public transportation effort founded to get residents to work. The county is picking up the $1,100-a-day price tag for the service, which enables people to get to work...READ MORE

New Assateague Visitors Center Work Initiated

ASSATEAGUE - Amid much fanfare and long speeches by state and federal lawmakers, ground was officially broken on Monday for the long-awaited Barrier Island Visitors Center on Assateague Island. Retired U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, along with his successor Sen. Ben Cardin and Congressman Wayne Gilchrest, were among the dignitaries on hand on Monday for the official ground-breaking ceremony for the new 10,000 square-foot visitors center at the entrance to state park not far from the new University...READ MORE

OC Chamber Tracking Bills Of Local Importance

BERLIN - With the deadline for introducing new bills rapidly approaching, state lawmakers this week continued to flood the hoppers on both sides of the aisle as several bills of local import were introduced. Today, Feb. 1, is the Senate introduction date and the last day to introduce new legislation on the House side arrives next Friday. Bills introduced after those dates are sent to the rules committee of each chamber and then must be referred to a standing committee for consideration. Several...READ MORE

Ocean City Again Requests Large Bus Loan From Md.

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City will be gaining assistance from Maryland once again in 2008 through the seasonal borrowing of articulating transit buses. George Thornes, Transportation Superintendent, came before the Mayor and City Council this week seeking approval for the annual request of the articulating transit buses. Each year Ocean City's Transportation Department makes the request for additional buses during the season in an effort to accommodate the inevitable influx of people that come to...READ MORE

Ocean City Bulkhead Repair Plan Pitched

OCEAN CITY - The Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing in the near future in an effort to resolve issues surrounding the on-going efforts to repair the bulkhead along South Ocean Drive. City Engineer Terry McGean presented the proposal for a public hearing at a work session of the Mayor and City Council this week in an effort to move forward with the bulkhead permit process that has reached a stalemate in past months. The South Ocean Drive bulkhead, which runs about 1,000 feet in length...READ MORE

Ocean City Council News Briefs

OCEAN CITY - At a work session of the Mayor and City Council this week, a variety of issues were discussed. The following is a brief look at some of the happenings at City Hall this week. Request For Purchase Of Gas Monitoring Equipment The Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC) appeared before the Mayor and Council this week with a request for the sole source purchase of gas monitoring equipment. OCVFC President James Jester made the request for 12 industrial scientific MX6 gas monitors...READ MORE

Rape Conviction Results In 40-Year Prison Sentence

SNOW HILL - A Berlin man convicted in December on first-degree rape charges was sentenced last week in Worcester County Circuit Court to 40 years in jail. Preston Lewis Whaley, Jr., 43, of Berlin was convicted in December on first-degree rape and first-degree assault charges for an incident dating back to August, which was just the latest in a long and sordid pattern of abuse on the victim, who was his girlfriend and mother of his child. Back in Circuit Court last Thursday, Whaley was sentenced...READ MORE

Showell Elementary

Jennette Mears' kindergarten class at Showell Elementary won a "country in the classroom" lunch from Froggy 99.9 sponsored by Chick-Fil-A. Mike Thomas and April Brilliant from the radio station brought a delicious lunch to the entire class. Students feasted thanks to Ellie Dutton who emailed her entry to the station. The next day, parents could hear their students' voices on the radio. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Ocean City Elementary

Emily Case, Alexis Gausepohl, and Alyssa Howard, fourth grade students at Ocean City Elementary School, are pictured performing an original song and dance routine on Performance Day in Mr. Rick Chapman's music class. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Students in Grade 6-8 at Worcester Prep recently hosted an Art & Media Show in the school's Guerrieri Library. Exhibits included art created in George Zaiser's Middle School classes and media created in Nancy Raskauskas' computer lab. Above, Lynde Pepper, Lewes, shows Dr. Barry Tull, Headmaster, her pencil drawing, Elephant Splash. ...READ MORE

Ocean City Elementary Performance Day

Frank Nanna and Quinn Ebaugh, second grade students at Ocean City Elementary School, are shown performing an original song during Performance Day in Mr. Rick Chapman's music class. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Worcester Prep Grade 4 student Nolan Irey of Berlin is pictured standing in front of the National Archives in Washington, D.C. with his grandfather, Al Golub, Silver Springs. Golub spoke to Archive docents about the first civil rights bill and his part in crafting the legislation. His grandsons, Connor, Grade 7, and Nolan Irey, traveled to Washington to hear him speak and then enjoyed touring the National Archives as special guests. ...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Raymond Davis Coates, Sr. BERLIN - Raymond Davis Coates, Sr., age 79, died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. Born in Berlin, he was the son of the late Charles H. and Violet Davis Coates. He was a graduate of The Mercersburg Academy, Washington & Lee University  and the Washington & Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Va. He was the founder of the Berlin Little League and the founder of organized football in Worcester County. He was a former...READ MORE

Ocean City Lions Club

The Ocean City Lions Club recently honored Lion Wayne Cannon with the prestigious 'Lion of the Year' award in recognition of his outstanding service, loyalty and devotion to Lionism. The award was given to Cannon for his efforts in helping to establish the Ocean City-Berlin Leo Club at Stephen Decatur High School. The Leo Club is the youth-based community group of the Lions. Above, Immediate Past President of the Lions John Roeder, left, presents Cannon with the  'Lion of the Year' award....READ MORE

Atlantic General Hospital Medical Staff

The medical staff at Atlantic General Hospital recently elected new officers for 2008-2009. From left: Edwin T. Castaneda, MD, FACP, chief of staff; Eric B. Bontempo, DO, vice-chief of staff; Thomas D. Beck, DO, chief, Department of Surgery; Jeffrey A. Matzoni, DO, Chief, department of medicine. ...READ MORE

Headlines Salon Stylists

Rhonda Pilarski, Darla Ostrander, Amy Jones and Terri Hedges, stylists at Headlines Salon in Ocean Pines, recently completed an advanced education course. The four-day seninar was held Jan. 13-16 at the Tigi Academy in New York City. ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Bank Promotions BERLIN - Raymond M. Thompson, President and C.E.O. of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company has announced the following promotions. Barry Laws has been promoted to Loan and Business Development Officer for the Snow Hill and Pocomoke areas. Laws has been with the bank for 19 years as Branch Manager of the Snow Hill office. Laws is active in the Snow Hill community with the Lions Club, the Snow Hill Area Chamber of Commerce and a Board Member of the Atlantic General Hospital and the...READ MORE

"I Predict A Riot (the slight return)"

Nobody really likes it when taxes go up, not even those that lean farthest to the left. As the smoke literally cleared from the air of local establishments, and smokers were left out in the cold when the 'Clean Air Act' goes into effect, the ones that haven't quit cold turkey are twitching just as badly when they see how much a pack of 'lung darts' are costing these days. The buck per pack that is now the tax for cigarettes, up 156 percent from the 39 cents per pack that it was just a few months...READ MORE

Proper Ways To Give Back To Your Alma Mater

BERLIN - College was a place to learn and a time to grow. As the years pass, it becomes easier to realize what those years provided us and it's only natural to want to return the favor. From creating scholarship funds to supporting teams or making cash donations to a school's general fund, supporting your alma mater financially can be a particularly rewarding component of your philanthropic activities. Historically, gifts from individual alumni provide the bulk of charitable support. Without...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Everything is more expensive these days than ever. And if it seems like there's no relief in sight, that's because there's not. The world is becoming a very expensive place to live. The cost of everything is going up. Of course, there's the obvious - gasoline, electric, cigarettes, cable, health insurance and taxes. Those will continue to increase with wild abandonment with the way of the world. But there's other things that normal people do not think about - milk, eggs, meats, tomatoes,...READ MORE

Things I Like

The smell of caramel popcorn in the winter on the boards Exiting the New Jersey Turnpike A worn-in sweatshirt with a hood A comfortable pull-out couch Trying and liking wine I have never heard of Wedding anniversaries Seeing places I have visited depicted in movies Walking the streets of New York City Our new •€˜Pets of the Month' People who have faith but don't force it Watching a person who knows how to play pool well ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You might feel bolder as each new success falls into place. But caution is still advised through the end of the week. Until then, a step-by-step approach is best. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): That cooperation you request could come at too high a price. Since few can beat the Bovine at being clever and resourceful, why not see what you can do on your own? GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Aspects favor a quieter time spent getting closer to the people who are especially...READ MORE