January 16, 2009

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Jan. 16: Pompous Pie Saturday, Jan. 17: Randy Lee Ashcraft Sunday, Jan. 18: TBA Every Tuesday: Open Mic Hosted By Tungsten Groove Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Jan. 16: DJ BK Saturday, Jan. 17: TBA Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th Street Friday, Jan.16: DJ Rupe, 7-10 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 , 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Friday, Jan. 16 &...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

In the days leading up to this week's Maryland General Assembly session, there was a lot of bipartisanship talk. Both sides of the aisle were quoted in media outlets as saying it will take a team approach to work on balancing the state's budget and address the $1.9 billion shortfall. State Senate leader Mike Miller seemed to throw all that out the window in recent comments, confirming Republicans will be sitting on the sidelines while the Democrats make all the decisions. It's no secret...READ MORE

Bad Policy To Change Slots Specifics Now

The County Commissioners' recent letter to the local state delegation seeking specific changes to the slots legislation has agitated officials in Ocean Pines, Berlin and Ocean City. A little background: On Dec. 22, 2008, the County Commissioners wrote Gov. Martin O'Malley, Senator Lowell Stoltzfus and Delegates Jim Mathias and Norman Conway asking for 'some changes to the law to make it more beneficial to the needs of our citizens.' The points addressed touched on hiring preferences, who should...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Group Thinks Pines Deserves Slots Money Editor: (The following letter was addressed to Delegate Norman H. Conway.) We are writing as co-chairpersons of Citizens for Ocean Pines Equity (C.O.P.E.), a diverse and non-partisan group of Ocean Pines citizens. C.O.P.E. is seeking equitable treatment for Ocean Pines in the distribution of slots impact funds. To that end, we respectfully request legislation be introduced to change the legislated distribution of the total coming to Worcester County as...READ MORE

Fight Leads to Cop Assault

OCEAN CITY - A Baltimore woman involved in a fight in downtown Ocean City was arrested for assaulting an officer attempting to help her after she claimed she had been 'raped and murdered' earlier that night. Around 12:40 a.m. on Sunday, an OCPD officer on patrol responded to assist other officers with a fight in the area of 15th Street and the Boardwalk. Upon arrival, the female officer came in contact with a female subject who identified herself verbally as Amanda Merritt. Merritt had been...READ MORE

Little League Sign-Ups Next Week

BERLIN- The Berlin Little League will hold sign-ups for the 2009 season next Friday and Saturday, January 23-24 at Town Hall. On Friday, players can sign up at Town Hall from 6-8 p.m., while registration on Saturday will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost for players ages 5-12 will be $40, while the cost for players ages 13-16 will be $50. A copy of a birth certificate for new players is required at registration. For more information, contact Nornie Bunting at (410) 251-0201, of Frank...READ MORE

Blazer, Seahawks Set Swim Records

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's young swimming team earned a split with host Cape Henlopen this week, with the boys winning their meet and the girls dropping theirs, but it was the latter that made the biggest splash on Tuesday. The Seahawk boys' team beat the Vikings on Tuesday behind a strong performance by Stephen Kosicki, who won the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:48:42, and Garrett Neville, who won the 100-breast stroke with a winning time of 1:19:31. For the boys' team, the win over Cape...READ MORE

Mallards Topsy Turvy Season Continues

BERLIN- Worcester Prep boys' varsity basketball team's topsy-turvy season continued this week with a split in its last four games including a dramatic win over host Seaford Christian, 39-38, on Tuesday after a tough loss at home to Chincoteague, 37-24, on Monday. The Mallards record now stands at just 6-7 on the season, but it could have swung one game or so in either direction the way the season has gone thus far. After a tough loss to visiting Chincoteague on Monday, Worcester Prep rallied for...READ MORE

Lady Seahawks Get Back in Win Column

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity basketball team got back in the win column for only the second time this season, beating host James M. Bennett, 38-27, in a low scoring game on Tuesday. Wins have been tough to come by this season for the young Seahawks, who entered Tuesday's game against the Clippers with just one win. Decatur beat county rival Snow Hill, 39-37, in the Coleman Holiday Tournament back on December 30 for its only other victory. Nonetheless, the Seahawks have continued to...READ MORE

Winter Basketball Action Continues

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's boys' winter basketball league continued this week with a full slate of games at Northside Park. The following is just a sampling of some of the action: (bullet) Trimper's 38- OC Rec Boosters 20: Javonshae Farmer and Taveyon Mills each scored 10 points and Zach Mushrush and Jamel Showell each pitched in seven as Trimper's beat the Boosters. (bullet) OC/Berlin Optimists 57- OC Rec Boosters 30: Peter Mais scored 17 points, Chris Koester...READ MORE

WPS Girls Win in OT, 44-43

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's girls' varsity basketball team won a nail-biter on Tuesday, edging host Seaford Christian, 44-43, on a free throw by freshman standout Kelly Chandler with two seconds remaining in overtime. Chandler came to line with two seconds left in overtime and the score tied at 43-43 and calmly made one of two free throws to propel the Mallards to the dramatic victory. Chandler, who was the catalyst for Worcester the entire game finished with 20 points and six steals, while...READ MORE

Council Looks To Raise Inlet Parking Fees

OCEAN CITY - The ongoing cost cutting measures that local government continues to implement throughout Ocean City have begun to move toward rate increases for several services and beloved amenities. A number of things were proposed by City Manager Dennis Dare in his continuing hopes to 'right size' the way Ocean City does business, most notably, raised parking fees at the Inlet lot and downtown streets, and a change in the age limit allowed for free passage into the Winterfest of...READ MORE

Friday, January 16--Berlin Optimistic Stimulus Package May Trickle Down

BERLIN - National news tends to pass small towns by, but the national infrastructure stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barack Obama could lighten Berlin's load on some major projects. Berlin Mayor Gee Williams received a letter from Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley before Christmas asking the town to identify 'shovel ready' infrastructure projects that are less than two years from getting underway as possible targets for federal infrastructure stimulus funds. Williams, speaking at the...READ MORE

Friday, January 16--City Wants To Move Ahead With Night Swimming Ban

OCEAN CITY - Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean has always been free in Ocean City, but after City Council ruled Tuesday to ban night swimming, it may come with a fine post 9 pm. Fire Department Chief Chris Larmore had asked the City Council to create an ordinance that would put restrictions on when people were legally allowed to enter the Atlantic Ocean, citing a recent 'close call' last September when a late night rescue of three Canadian swimmers severely jeopardized the lives of two of his...READ MORE

Friday, January 16--Elderly Embezzler Must Pay Back $105K

SNOW HILL - A West Virginia woman indicted by a Worcester County grand jury in May on six counts including theft, theft scheme and forgery after embezzling over $100,000 from an elderly Ocean City man in her care was found guilty this week on a theft scheme charge after a two-day trial in Circuit Court and was sentenced to five years in jail, all of which was suspended in favor of probation and restitution to the victim. Scharma Louise Hayes, 42, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was in Circuit...READ MORE

Friday, January 16--Third Batch Of Subway Cars Will Be Sunk Soon

OCEAN CITY - Less than two months after the last batch of retired New York City subway cars were dropped on Ocean City's growing artificial reef system, another batch could be deployed off the coast of the resort as early as next week. Ocean City Reef Foundation officials this week said the Maryland's turn in the multi-state rotation came up sooner than expected this time around, but the organization had the funding and a plan in place to secure the newest batch of subway cars. The 42 cars were...READ MORE

Berlin's Green Movement Gets Major Boost With $125K Grant

BERLIN - A $125,000 grant from the Town Creek Foundation will fuel the first year of a three-year effort to green Berlin through the Grow Berlin Green (GBG) initiative. 'Our overall goal is to establish Berlin as a model community for participating in conservation and smart growth,' said GBG Project Director Steve Farr, who is also development director for Assateague Coastal Trust, a partner in GBG. Town Creek Foundation Director Stuart Clark said he hopes 'that Grow Berlin Green will be...READ MORE

Killer's Relatives Charged As Accessories In Abuse Case

OCEAN CITY - Relatives of the man sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing of a West Ocean City woman in April 2008 were arrested last week and charged as accessories for covering up the convicted killer's sexual assault and abuse of their own daughter a little over a month before the murder. Last week, Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Theodore Eschenberg sentenced convicted killer Roberto Antonio Murillo to life in prison for the stabbing death of Cecilia Dea Parker in her West Ocean...READ MORE

OC Ad Surge Set To Hit Soft Market

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City is spending more than ever before in advertising dollars, but the expenditure should end up getting a significant 'bang for the bucks.' MGH, the town's contracted ad agency, outlined the advertising campaign for this year at last week's Tourism Commission meeting and showed just how they will spend the town's $3 million in advertising money, and gave a report on the progress and delivery date of the town's new website. MGH President Andy Malis said families will be the...READ MORE

Resort Joins Opposition To County's Slots Stance

OCEAN CITY - Though some seem to want a larger piece of the slots pie than others, Ocean City may need to take steps to ensure they get a slice at all. Mayor Rick Meehan addressed a recent letter written by the County Commissioners of Worcester County to Annapolis, and City Solicitor Guy Ayres pointed out a few 'text problems' with the current legislation that does not necessarily protect Ocean City from the implementation of slots as much as what many people originally thought. Video Lottery...READ MORE

SHA Favors New Bridge Option

OCEAN CITY - The fate of the Route 50 Bridge came into question on Tuesday as State Highway Administrators revealed a new bridge would be needed in the not so distant future. Jamaica Kennon of the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) presented several ideas for a new bridge to the Mayor and City Council with some severely altering the downtown and potentially displacing residents and businesses. Kennon called the bridge 'functionally obsolete' due to its narrow roadway and the lack of...READ MORE

Agencies Headed To Inauguration

OCEAN CITY - With a crowd of a million or more expected to pile into the nation's capital on Tuesday for the Presidential Inauguration, law enforcement agencies from all over the country have been called upon to lend support, including a substantial contingent from Ocean City and Worcester County. The Ocean City Police Department was recently invited to assist during the historic 56th inauguration and is sending a contingent of 10 officers, along with two members of the Ocean City Fire Marshal's...READ MORE

Area Retailers' Short-Term Outlook Much Of Same

OCEAN CITY - After a ho-hum holiday shopping season, retailers are starting to see just how dark the immediate days and months ahead just might be. After what many in the nationwide industry are citing as the least profitable shopping season since 1970, area retailers are beginning to assess if consumers will continue to be as conservative with their dwindling dollars in 2009 as they were at the end of 2008. 'I think that people might have money to spend, but they are just scared to spend it...READ MORE

Association Honors Detective As Year's Top Cop

OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Neighborhood Watch Association this week handed out its 2008 Ocean City Police 'Officer of the Year' award, but the honoree's picture will not appear in local newspapers or on television. During its annual ceremony on Monday at the Ocean City Elks Lodge, the Ocean City Neighborhood Watch Association selected OCPD Detective/Corporal James Schwartz as the recipient of its 2008 Ocean City 'Officer of the Year' award. Schwartz, who has been with the department full time...READ MORE

Berlin Forms Committee To Help With Tech Issues

BERLIN - A new citizen and staff Information Technology Committee (ITC) will help the town of Berlin make decisions on computer and tech issues, while appointments to other committees and the addition of alternates to some should enhance the workings of existing groups. Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, who came into the office last May after the unexpected death of Mayor Tom Cardinale, has said over the last several months that he would put off making committee appointments or changes until after the...READ MORE

Berlin Wants To Manage Forest Conservation For Own Projects

BERLIN - Berlin plans to take over forest conservation development review of in-town projects from Worcester County, allowing the town to smooth out the process for developers and gain power over use of mitigation fees. The Berlin Mayor and Council did not take a formal vote, but reached a consensus to pursue the change. A dozen years ago, Berlin asked Worcester County to handle forest conservation review duties when the Maryland Forest Conservation Act was approved, imposing a new unfounded...READ MORE

Church Named To National Register

OCEAN CITY - St. Paul's by-the-Sea Protestant Episcopal Church was recently entered into the National Registry of Historic Places, a division of the National Park Service, United States Department of Interior. This Gothic Revival frame church, constructed in 1900-1901 is a prominent landmark in Ocean City. St. Paul's, with only minor alterations in its long life, is one of the few buildings remaining in the resort town from the turn of the 19th century. The historic designation was initiated by...READ MORE

Coast Guard Honors Resort Heroics

OCEAN CITY - A Coast Guard rescue swimmer who successfully pulled three potential drowning victims from the ocean during a fierce coastal storm in May, including one stranded on a foundering sailboat just of the coast of Ocean City, was rewarded last week for his heroics with the Air Medal, one of the agency's highest honors. Coast Guard Petty Officer Tye Conklin, a rescue swimmer from Air Station Atlantic City, was last week awarded the Air Medal for his daring rescue of three individuals in...READ MORE

Fire Department Shuffling To Save Ocean City Money

OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Fire Department took on a new look last year with the merger of the career and volunteer divisions, and now it has a new ranking structure, one in which the 'hook' seems to be the implementation of a newly defined corporate-type ladder. Chief Chris Larmore requested approval for the 'next important step in the continuing process of the building of the Ocean City Fire Department' on Tuesday, altering the ranking structure on the career division side of the department,...READ MORE

Human Remains Recovered In Woods

WEST OCEAN CITY - The identity of the human skeletal remains discovered in a densely wooded area in West Ocean City last Friday remains unknown this week as investigators continue to search for clues about the deceased. Around 2:15 p.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a heavily wooded area just west of Sinepuxent Rd. at Route 611 in reference to the discovery of human skeletal remains. Workers conducting perk tests on the densely wooded property found the human remains...READ MORE

Planning Head Sees Ways To Expand Parking In Berlin

BERLIN - There may be more public parking available in the town of Berlin than common wisdom has shown, according to one town staff member, and increasing the numbers could cost the town very little. During a Maryland Main Street Program meeting this week at The Globe, Berlin Planning and Zoning Director Chuck Ward told an assembly of local business owners that an internal parking study by town staff shows that the estimation of roughly 300 parking spaces in downtown Berlin is quite a bit lower...READ MORE

Schools See Inauguration As Learning Tool

BERLIN - The inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama will be a day of celebration for some people across the United States, but one local student will sit it out. Kimberly McAllister will keep her 7-year-old daughter home that day from Buckingham Elementary School (BES), which is holding an assembly to watch Obama's inauguration, in protest over what she calls political indoctrination. 'I believe it's being used as a political tool,' McAllister said. BES Principal Roger Pacella disgreed,...READ MORE

People In Society

Neighbors helping one another throughout the community ...READ MORE

Faces in Places

A spotlight on the regional bar and restaurant scene ...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

He's just not that into us anymore. There was a time when Beckett was fascinated by our face, expressions, voice and every move. Now it's all about what else is going on around him. All of you parents reading this understand this progression all too well. I was thinking about this the other morning when I went in to pick him up out of his crib after he had just capped off 10 hours of straight sleep (so proud!). There he was playing his little pacifier game, consisting of putting it in his mouth,...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Selzer Appointed Resident Director WEST OCEAN CITY - The local office of Merrill Lynch in Ocean City has appointed a resident director this year. Christine Selzer has accepted the position. 'I am very excited about leading the office of 10 financial advisors and four assistants,' Selzer said.  Selzer will still actively service her currents clients with her team of three. She holds a Masters Degree from Johns Hopkins University in her field and has been in the financial industry since...READ MORE

Understanding Your Entire Portfolio A Must

OCEAN CITY - Many investors tend to focus on one investment account at a time. They review the performance of their 401(k), check their mutual funds' returns, and then review their brokerage account. While this approach provides useful information, it doesn't recognize that all investments are part of an integrated portfolio. And it doesn't recognize that your investments are only part of your total financial picture. For example, suppose your company has been doing well and you've invested a...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Rada M. Lewis BERLIN - Rada M. Lewis, 99, of Berlin, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009 at Berlin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Berlin.  Lewis was born in Whaleyville, MD and was the daughter of the late Levin T. and the late Louianna (Parker) Jones.  She had been a steamstress for the former Berlin Shirt Factory and was a poultry grower. She was a member of Whaleyville United Methodist Church and a member of the United Methodist Women.  She is survived by her daughter, Joretta L....READ MORE

My Thoughts

Baseball is known as America's favorite pastime. Insider does not think that's the case anymore. Football seems to now be this country's favorite sports. Why else would those crazy lunatics stand in the freezing rain and snow to watch their favorite team each Sunday? The old guy does not know too many Orioles fans who would suffer through weather like that, let alone cut their chest hair in the shape of a letter for their favorite team. Crazy kids. The youth of today have no idea what love is....READ MORE

Students Sell Halloween Candy to Raise Money for a Wounded Soldier

Random Acts of Kindness are not so random with these Middle School students from Worcester Prep. They and their friends from the Random Acts of Kindness Club sold their Halloween candy to raise money for a wounded soldier who is a father of seven. Their selfless act inspired fellow classmates to collect loose change and empty piggy banks to contribute over $600 to this and other worthy charities. In addition, they have adopted 10 wounded U.S. soldiers and three cancer patients, sending them...READ MORE

Snow Hill 7th Grader Wins Championship Round of Geography Bee

Zachary Dix, center, a seventh grade student, won the championship round of the Geography Bee at Snow Hill Middle School on Jan. 8. He will next take a qualifying test in order to participate in the state level National Geographic Bee in April. Pictured with Zachary are Principal Janet Simpson, left, and retired teacher Mr. Robert Fisher, right, who served as the moderator. ...READ MORE

Almost $1000 donated to Worcester County Humane Society

Jillian and Sara Mitrecic presented the $905 collected during the annual Ocean City Elementary School fundraiser to Worcester County Humane Society volunteer Nancy Wein. In addition to collecting money for the shelter, students donated food, treats, toys, beds and blankets for the homeless animals. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Students Compete for Lower School Championship

Worcester Prep students in grades 4-5 who were tops in their classes in geography recently competed for the Lower School Championship. They were, kneeling from left, Jonathan Ruddo and Grace Schwartz; middle, Isabel Dashiell, Celeste Bunting, Head of the Lower School, and Rayne Parker; back, Ross Deckmann, Caleb McCurdy, Alan Bross and Elio Telo. The winners of competition were Dashiell and Parker. ...READ MORE

Reading Classes for ELL Students at OC Elementary

ELL students in Janet Baunhofer's class at Ocean City Elementary School make sure they track while they are reading. The first grade students in the picture are Leslie Zamora-Espinoza, William Melgar-Mejia, German Cordero, and Julissa Astudillo-Cuevas ...READ MORE

SDHS Art Students Paint Hospital Windows at AGH

For the second time this semester, Stephen Decatur High School art teacher Cynthia Pilchard and her students went to the Emergency Room of Atlantic General Hospital to paint the windows. Pilchard and her students have brought beauty through art to the local hospital. Above are Ben Kelleher, April Aliangan and Heidi Gunzelman ...READ MORE

Brownie Troop 1399 Creates their own Brownie Bear Outfits

Brownie Troop 1399 at Worcester Preparatory School includes second and third grade students. The Brownies enjoyed creating their own Brownie Bear outfits. First row, from left, are Emilee Dorey, Samantha Wolpin and Olivia Parker; second row, Virginia Bateman, Julia Godwin, Maya Zia-Shakeri, Abby Bright and Grace Nichols; third row, Cameron Sofronski, Grace Schwartz and Mette Jacobsen. ...READ MORE

1st District Congressman Frank Kratovil Sworn In

First District Congressman Frank Kratovil was sworn into office on Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C. Pictured, from left, are Delegate James Mathias (38-B), Kratovil, Worcester County State's Attorney Joel Todd and Coastal Bays Program Outreach Director Anita Ferguson. ...READ MORE

Popular Religious Quartet to Sing at Snow Hill Church

Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church of Snow Hill will feature the voices of God's Country Crossroads during the regular 11 a.m. morning service on Sunday, Jan. 18. The popular quartet will perform a concert of contemporary religious songs. Singers making up the ensemble are Kirk Carmean, Tenor; Donna Heiser, Soprano; Toni Johnson, Alto; and Dean Stutsman, Bass. The special service of music is open to the general public. Pictured, from left, are Dean Stutsman, Toni Johnson, Donna Heiser and Kirk...READ MORE

Ocean Pines Community Members Take a Dip for Charity

The Parke fundraising team recently took the plunge in the 15th Annual Penguin Swim to benefit the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation. Twenty-six residents of The Parke at Ocean Pines, an active 55-plus adult community, stepped forward to raise $7,170. The team is pictured above after the chilly dip for a good cause. ...READ MORE

Coldwell Banker Donates to Diakonia

Coldwell Banker Branch Vice President Stephen Cain and Associate Broker Sheila Hodges are pictured presenting a check to Diakonia Executive Director Claudia Nagle. The donation is from Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cares Foundation, which is the local chapter of the Realogy Charitable Foundation, a national 501c3 organization set up to benefit the communities served by the various Realogy companies. The local foundation meets quarterly to distribute funds to service organizations...READ MORE

AGH Auxiliary Donates Thousands to Hospital Foundation

At its December meeting, the Atlantic General Hospital Auxiliary donated $65,000 to the hospital's foundation, with $30,000 supporting the annual campaign. The remaining $35,000 is a pledge to the Major Gifts campaign. Pictured, from left, are Outgoing Auxiliary President Emma Fralley; Michael Franklin, president and CEO of Atlantic General Hospital; Janice Slaysman, Auxiliary treasurer; Outgoing Auxiliary Vice President Joanie Stearn; and Auxiliary Corresponding Secretary Kay Heinlen. ...READ MORE

Art League of Ocean City Recognizes Volunteer of the Year

Art League of Ocean City President Rina Thaler recently recognized Joy Faulkner as the organization's Volunteer of the Year. The award was made at the ALOC annual meeting. Officers were installed at the meeting as well including Thaler as president; Vice President Jill Glassman; Treasurer Lyn Burr; Recording Secretary Jean Scanlon; and Corresponding Secretary Paige Ruby. ...READ MORE

Things I Like

The Sunday morning news interviews Hoping for a Ravens-Eagles Super Bowl My son when he is all bundled up for outside ACC college basketball season Short runs in the cold Having someone else do my taxes Waking up and realizing it's not a week day Taking down the holiday decorations When health insurance does what it's supposed to do Hearing from a friend after a long absence Watching people ice skate at the Carousel ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Although you're getting kudos and other positive reactions to your suggestions, don't let the cheers drown out some valid criticisms. Better to deal with them now than later. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Following your keen Bovine intuition pays off, as you not only reassess the suggestions some people are putting in front of you, but also their agendas for doing so. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): You continue on a high-enthusiasm cycle as that new project you've...READ MORE