July 3, 2009

Thursday, July 9-Author Uncovers New Details In Sifrit Book

OCEAN CITY - A little more than seven years after convicted killers Benjamin and Erika Sifrit brutally murdered and dismembered a Virginia couple vacationing in the resort on Memorial Day weekend in 2002, a new book detailing perhaps the most heinous crime in Ocean City history was released this week. On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 2002, the Sifrits lured their eventual victims, Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, back to their resort condominium after spending the evening with them in a...READ MORE

Wednesday, July 8-Rehabilitated Seal To Return To Ocean

OCEAN CITY - The National Aquarium's Marine Animal Rescue Program will return a rehabilitated male harbor seal to its Atlantic Ocean home tomorrow morning. 'Hamilton,' as aquarium staff members refer to him, will be set off from the Delaware Seashore State Park, which is located just north of the Indian River Bay Inlet, about 10 miles north of Ocean City. Hamilton will be fitted with a satellite tag, so visitors can follow his movements on the National Aquarium's website, www.aqua.org. This seal...READ MORE

Tuesday, July 7-Resort Teen Not Feeling Patriotic

OCEAN CITY - A local woman was arrested for disturbing the peace and burning an American flag early last Sunday morning, long after the embers of the last Fourth of July fireworks had smoldered and died. Shortly after 6 a.m. last Sunday, two Ocean City police officers who had finished their Fourth of July shifts and were heading home observed a woman, later identified as Rebecca Ellen McKimmie, 18, of Ocean City, igniting an American flag with a cigarette lighter. As the officers approached,...READ MORE

Monday, July 6-OC Museum Offers Weekly Programs

OCEAN CITY - Families looking for an enjoyable morning activity in Ocean City can head to the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. Nestled on the Boardwalk by the Inlet, the museum offers free programs six mornings a week starting on Monday, July 6 and running through Aug. 29, with topics ranging from knot tying to 'All About Sharks.' At 10:30 a.m. each day except Sundays, chairs are set up in front of the famous shark display at the southern end of the Boardwalk where all are welcome to enjoy...READ MORE

Behind The Scenes Of A Beach Resort

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City Public Works Director Hal Adkins judges the job that his department is doing by silence, as in the more the better. If one would compare Ocean City to the wonderful Land of Oz, then Adkins' job is to make sure that everything is running smoothly behind the curtain and beneath the proverbial yellow brick road, as he and his staff, which makes up 40 percent of the town's workforce, manages pretty much every service and amenity that residents and visitors take for granted...READ MORE

Cab Driver Helps Authorities Locate Hit-And-Run Suspect

WEST OCEAN CITY - One local man is dead and another faces serious charges including negligent homicide by motor vehicle after a hit-and-run accident on the Route 50 Bridge early last Friday morning. Around 2:26 a.m. last Friday, Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to the span known locally as the Harry Kelley Memorial Bridge for a hit-and-run accident involving a motor vehicle and two bicyclists. The investigation revealed a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Daniel M. Bren, 34, of...READ MORE

First Lady Stresses Healthy Eating To Area Students

BERLIN - Maryland First Lady Katie O'Malley dished out pepperoni pizza, made with whole grain wheat, carrots and advice on eating healthy to Summer Academy students at Buckingham Elementary School (BES) in Berlin on Tuesday morning. 'Just try a few of them. You don't have to eat them all,' O'Malley urged the BES students lined up at the lunch counter. O'Malley spoke to the children during lunch about the importance of eating right. 'When you wake up in the morning, what's the most important...READ MORE

OC Restaurateur Named New Tourism Board Chair

OCEAN CITY - Shenanigans owner Greg Shockley says he used to look at tourism through 'local eyes', but after his induction as the new chairperson of the state's tourism development board on Wednesday, he'll not only be looking at a bigger picture, but he'll also be fighting for a much larger entity. Shockley took the reigns from Annapolis hotelier David Meloy as the new chairperson of the Maryland Tourism Development Board (MTDB) on July 1, and will essentially be the face of the fight for more...READ MORE

Pa. Family Alleges EMTs Acted Negligently In 911 Call Mishap

OCEAN CITY - Three months after the family of two Pennsylvania tourists who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a Boardwalk hotel room in June 2006 successfully settled a $30 million lawsuit against the facility's owner and other defendants, the same plaintiffs last week filed a second suit, targeting the Ocean City paramedics who allegedly failed to respond to their pleas for help in the confusion of the tragic morning. Yvonne and Morgan Boughter, family members of the pair of tourists who...READ MORE

Route 50 Bridge Biking Questions Raised

OCEAN CITY - Last Friday's fatal accident on the Route 50 Bridge raised some questions this week about how and where bikes are supposed to get across the span, but the answer is there is no right answer. One bicyclist was killed and another was injured early last Friday morning when they were struck from behind by a motorist while crossing the bridge in the travel lanes. The accident renewed the debate about where bicycles should be on the bridge, whether it is on the sidewalks protected from...READ MORE

Friday, July 3--Comptroller, Mayor Walk Boards, Talk Business

OCEAN CITY - What some might have viewed as a simple public relations type photo opportunity might just turn into something beneficial for the town of Ocean City. On Monday, Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot and Mayor Rick Meehan took a stroll of sorts on the Boardwalk, speaking to visitors and merchants about the state of the local economy and listening to concerns from all parties. Although some people might have passed off the walk as a political 'photo opp', Meehan said that it may...READ MORE

Friday, July 3--OC Police Help With Pa. Probe

OCEAN CITY - A failed shot in the air from a handgun in the downtown area two weeks ago led to the arrest of a Pennsylvania man and ultimately helped law enforcement officials in that state to close a residential burglary investigation during which several guns were stolen. Around 2 a.m. on June 16, Ocean City police plainclothes officers patrolling in the downtown area around 3rd Street and Baltimore Ave. observed a man with a larger group of people urinating on a parked car. While the officers...READ MORE

Friday, July 3--Overcrowded Surf Beaches Remain A Problem

OCEAN CITY - Overcrowding on the surf beaches has always been a bit of a concern, and something that most local surfers have learned to live with, but that doesn't mean they think it's an ideal situation by any means. Despite the town of Ocean City adding the Inlet as a surf beach during the week two years ago, bringing the total to three during the week, there are some in the surfing community who think there is not enough room on the beaches for the hordes of summer wave-riders. 'It's a zoo...READ MORE

Friday, July 3--Senator, Commissioners Discuss Local Issues

BERLIN - Senator Barbara Mikulski this week hosted a face-to-face meeting with the Worcester County Commissioners to discuss a wide variety of issues germane to the local area, from ongoing improvements to Route 113 and startling unemployment figures for the county to enhancements and additions to the local railroad system and the flow of federal stimulus dollars. During the informal meeting at the Ocean Pines Library on Tuesday, Mikulski briefed the commissioners on several federal initiatives...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

With a little luck, the weather will cooperate and allow the fireworks to go off as planned tomorrow night. It's always quite the bummer when the fireworks have to be delayed or cancelled, both of which have happened in recent years in Ocean City. It's disappointing for everyone involved including the city coffers, which shell out about $62,500 annually for two fireworks displays in Ocean City - on the Boardwalk and at Northside Park. As staff writer Bryan Russo pointed out in his article, this...READ MORE

Some Thoughts For Locals This Weekend

If Ocean City is as it should be, everything will be a little hectic around town this holiday weekend. To locals, it may be a bit of an annoyance and leave many with mixed emotions. However, a little perspective shows the Fourth of July around these parts is an exciting and unique experience that epitomizes living along the shore. As any resident of the Ocean City area understands well, resort living in any season, but particularly summer, is unusual. During the busy season, we encounter,...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Mixed Signals Editor: It is so sad that we hear and read the many tragic stories about pedestrians getting killed and injured during the summer months in Ocean City. I don't know who sets the timers on these stops lights and 'walk/do not walk' signs. Hasn't anyone ever noticed that coming off a side street onto Coastal Highway the 'ok to cross' for pedestrians is 'On' as well as a green light for drivers to turn? Why? Most of these people are loaded up with beach items, carts and none the less,...READ MORE

Berlin Embracing New Ventures

BERLIN - In a time when some businesses are hurting and seeing revenues drop, the town of Berlin is seeing new businesses open and at least one new event added to the town's lineup of attractions. 'We've had a rush of new businesses in the past month,' said Michael Day, new economic development director for Berlin and longtime coordinator of the Maryland Main Street program. Berlin has a new coffee shop, glass blower's studio, toy store and the recently started ghost tours. According to Day,...READ MORE

Berlin Working Out Green Belt Details

BERLIN - The outline of the town's future growth boundary, complete with green belt, was laid out this week by the Berlin Planning Commission during a work session. The urban growth boundary, which got the green light from Berlin Mayor Gee Williams and the members of the council several weeks ago, marks the planned furthest extent of the town's future growth. Those parcels lying within the urban growth boundary, which are now in the county, would also provide an eventually contiguous green belt...READ MORE

Citizens Cry Foul Over Zoning Head Change

BERLIN - The apparent demotion of Worcester County Zoning Administrator Kelly Henry to a position overseeing county mapping employees has some citizens seeing a darker purpose behind the change, which they say could make it easier for developers to slide environmentally-problematic projects by county staff meant to act as gatekeepers. 'Her job was to interpret the code and decide what the code actually said and apply that decision to whatever was in front of her. It's an extremely important...READ MORE

City Says Fourth Changes Not A Big Deal

OCEAN CITY - Town officials are confident that visitors will not notice a few minor changes to the annual Fourth of July celebration in Ocean City, but they also don't want people to forget that they saved thousands in the process. As part of the city's budget cuts in the off-season, City Manager Dennis Dare trimmed back the events leading up to the 18-minute Zambelli Internationale Fireworks displays on Saturday night. 'The fireworks are exactly the same as always.  However, on the beach...READ MORE

Compliance Board To Hear Closed Meeting Debate

BERLIN - The controversy over a closed meeting that resulted in the consolidation of three Worcester County government departments continues with a formal complaint made to the state that the County Commissioners violated the Maryland Open Meetings Act. The Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) filed the six-page complaint with the Open Meetings Compliance Board late last week. The complaint was prepared with the assistance of lawyer and ACT board member King Burnett and other ACT lawyers. 'They're...READ MORE

Final Say On County Rezoning Up To Commissioners

SNOW HILL - South Point will retain estate zoning and the area around the headwaters of Herring Creek will be designated agriculture and resource protection in the draft rezoning, if the County Commissioners accept recommendations made by staff and endorsed by the Worcester County Planning Commission. The estate zoning, designated E-1, will most likely stay throughout the South Point neighborhood at the request of several residents who testified against what they saw as upzoning of the area to...READ MORE

Legal Clarification Issued In Escalator Fall Lawsuit

OCEAN CITY - Early legal maneuvering continued this week in the $500,000 civil suit filed in May against the town of Ocean City, its Convention and Visitors Bureau and a private company by a former Vermont high school student injured in an escalator accident on the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in May 2006, with a clarification of just who the defendants are in the case. In May 2006, several members of a high school band from Vermont, in Ocean City for the annual Youth Music Competition at...READ MORE

OC Tuna Tourney Returns Next Week

OCEAN CITY - The 22nd Annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament returns next week when hundreds of boats and thousands of anglers descend on the resort area for a three-day search for the burly behemoths in the canyons off the coast of the resort. Tuna of all shapes, sizes and species have begun arriving in the waters off Ocean City in the last few weeks, jumpstarting the summer offshore season and setting the tone for what could be a memorable tournament. The event gets underway next week with a...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - With the holiday weekend here, there was talk of note about tourism around Ocean City. Here's a couple highlights. Ocean City Scores Demoflush 'Hat Trick' There were many people who were ready to flush their expectations for the summer season down the proverbial drain last fall after the recession hit full stride, but after demoflush numbers were released this week, the town is now reporting that it has scored a 'hat trick' of three straight record attendance months in Ocean...READ MORE

Walk-By Stabbing Juvenile Charged As Adult

OCEAN CITY - Resort police last week arrested an Elkton man for a stabbing incident back on June 16 after detectives obtained information tracing the suspect back to his home town. During the early morning hours of June 16, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) responded to the area of 8th Street and St. Louis Ave. for a reported stabbing incident. Officers arrived and met with the victim, a 21-year-old Irish citizen living in Ocean City for the summer. The victim told police he was walking on...READ MORE

Wallops Initiative Touted For Jobs, Economic Impact

BERLIN - Ground was broken this week on new launch facilities at NASA's nearby Wallops Island Flight Facility, setting in motion a chain of events that will ultimately provide an shot for Worcester County and the Lower Shore in terms of jobs and economic development. On Monday, federal, state and local officials, including Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, were at Wallops to break ground on new launch facilities to support the Orbital Science Corporation's work on the Taurus II space launch...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Angler Restaurant 410-289-7424 , Talbot St. & The Bay Saturday, July 4 & Sunday, July 5: Blue Sky Every Sunday: Dock Party with DJ Mike C Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Every Friday: DJ Wood Saturday, July 4: Under The Outhouse Every Sunday: Locals' Party with DJ BK Tuesday, July 7: TBA Thursday, July 9: Electric Company CaribBean bar & grill 410-289-0837 , Just off the Boards on 2nd St. Friday, July 3: Dave Sherman, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

Suspect Nabbed In Pines Break-Ins

OCEAN PINES - A Salisbury man is in custody this week after Ocean Pines Police were able to connect him to several house burglaries in the community over a three-week period from late May to mid-June. Ocean Pines Police this week arrested Joseph Glenn Cherone, 43, of Salisbury, after linking the suspect to at least three house burglaries in the community over a recent three-week period. Cherone has been charged with three counts each of first-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, fourth-degree...READ MORE

Berlin Little League Sweeps 2nd Title

BERLIN- The Berlin 7-8 Little League All Stars remained unbeaten in the early tournament season, sweeping the Willards Little League Pitching Machine Double Elimination Tournament last weekend for their second championship in as many weeks. Two weeks ago, the Berlin Little League 7-8 team won the Fruitland Little League All-Star Tournament, going a perfect 4-0 including a dramatic 7-6 win over host Fruitland in the championship game. Last weekend, the Berlin team repeated the remarkable feat,...READ MORE

Marlin Club’s 27th Canyon Kick-off Underway

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Marlin Club's 27th Annual Canyon Kick-off tournament got underway this morning with the first of three official fishing days. With the tuna bite staying hot all through the early summer season and sharks and billfish starting to show up in decent numbers, there should be plenty of action in this year's Canyon Kick-off. Captains must choose to fish two of the three fishing days of the event, the first of which is today. The tournament wraps up with the last day of...READ MORE

Greene Turtle West 5K Run and Walk a Big Success

WEST OCEAN CITY- The 5th Annual Greene Turtle West 5K run and walk held last weekend for the benefit of the Ocean City Emergency Medical Technicians and Fire Department was once again a huge success with over 200 racing on a picture-perfect Sunday morning. For the fifth straight year, the Greene Turtle West, with partner Races2Run, hosted the annual 5K for the benefit of the Ocean City EMTs and Fire Department. From modest beginnings five years ago, when less than 100 participants signed up for...READ MORE

Terps Coach to Lead Lax Camp

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department will host the annual 'Lax'n at the Beach' lacrosse camp for boys next week with University of Maryland head coach Dave Cottle on board as camp director. The camp opens on Monday and runs through Thursday with the action starting at 10 a.m. each day and running until 3 p.m. at Northside Park in Ocean City. The camp is open to boys ages 8-16, who will receive instruction and define their lacrosse skills including shooting, throwing,...READ MORE

Big Thresher Also New State Record

OCEAN CITY- State fisheries officials this week confirmed a 642-pound thresher shark caught off the coast of the resort two weeks ago was also a new Maryland state record, making it the second shark record to fall on the same weekend. On Saturday, June 20, local angler Jim Hughes and the crew aboard the 'Nontypical' caught a massive 876-pound mako on the last day of the annual Ocean City Shark Tournament to win the mako division of the event and break a Maryland state record that had stood for...READ MORE

People in Society

Check out What Your Neighbors Are Up To Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

Wow, what a tough week to be a soft plastic shad - or a live spot for that matter. Every time I went fishing this past week my bait and plastic lure supply got smaller and smaller. Tons of plastic shads chomped in half, right behind the hook, and the poor spot, honestly, I sometimes feel bad for them. They seem so content when I set them loose to find me a trophy rockfish •€' only to come back in horror, like they have just been to a terrifying picture show. On the flip side, this past week...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Wallace Hudson IV SNOW HILL - Wallace Hudson, IV, age 37, died Monday, June 29, 2009 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. Born in Salisbury, he was the son of Daniel Wallace Hudson, III and Debbi Rogers Hudson of Snow Hill. He was a graduate of Snow Hill High School Class of 1990. He had worked as a Correctional Officer at the Eastern Shore Correctional Institution in Westover, Md., where he was a range instructor. He also worked as a MAC Tool Truck driver and was self employed. He is...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

The day starts and ends early around my house. Have you ever been asked whether you are a morning or a night person? Years ago, particularly during my college years, I would have never imagined calling myself a morning person, but I have definitely become just that over the years, thanks to my job, in part, and my son, largely of late. Generally, my day starts by 6 a.m. and usually ends by 11 p.m. Getting up early and going to bed early seems to be the life of most parents I know. Personally,...READ MORE

Pocomoke Elementary Recognized by National School Award Program

Pocomoke Elementary School has received recognition in the Panasonic National School Change Award Program for the second consecutive year. The committee who prepared the application includes, from left, Todd Hall, principal; Robyn Donoway, guidance counselor; Stephanie Taylor, Title I curriculum resource teacher; Mrs. Beverly Watson, first grade resource room teacher; and Michael Browne, assistant principal. ...READ MORE

Guest Speaker at Kiwanis Club of OC-OP

Maureen McNeill, director of Development for the Coastal Hospice at the Ocean, is shown with Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City President-elect Dan Peletier after she spoke to the club members about the startup of the new Taylorville Center. ...READ MORE

PRMC Celebrates 100th Surgery Using New Technology

Peninsula Regional Medical Center, which first introduced the da Vinci S High Definition Surgical System Robot to the Delmarva Peninsula in 2007, recently celebrated a milestone by completing its 100th urologic surgery using the revolutionary technology. Above, members of the urology team join Dr. Mark Edney, urologist, in celebrating the feat. ...READ MORE

Worcester County Humane Society Gets Donation from Student

Worcester County Humane Society representative Mary Kay Mullen, left, receives a donation of $586.65 from Headmaster for the Day Shannon Southcomb, who last month finished the sixth grade. During her tenure, students made donations to be contributed to the work of the local shelter. ...READ MORE

A Week in Business

PRMC Achieves A First SALISBURY - Peninsula Regional Medical Center, a 362-bed hospital established in 1897 and the largest provider of tertiary care services on the Delmarva Peninsula, recently announced the launch of the Peninsula Institute for Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery (PILARS), the first institute of its kind in the region. PILARS was developed by the laparoscopic and robotic surgeons at Peninsula Regional Medical Center to better educate patients on the latest and most successful...READ MORE

Things I Like

Three-day weekends Holding my son's hand as he walks Macaroni and cheese Relaxing on a float in a pool Fireworks displays from a distance When long-time friends visit Believing that karma exists Walking into A/C on a humid day When locals win fishing tourneys Driving to a quiet spot on Assateague An old brick driveway ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Don't be surprised if, in spite of your well-made plans, something goes awry. But don't worry. Your knowledge of the facts plus your Arian charm will help you work it out. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A personal relationship seems to be demanding more than you feel you're able to give. Best advice: Confront the issue. You could find the situation surprisingly easy to work through. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Resist being pressured into meeting your self-imposed...READ MORE

Some Advantages To CD Laddering

OCEAN CITY - When credit becomes noticeably tighter, as it is in today's economy, meeting your cash flow needs can require a little more planning than usual. More than ever, dealing with life's expenses •€' both planned and unexpected •€' calls for a strategy that gives you the flexibility you need without disrupting your larger investment goals. One part of a strategy that can keep you positioned for growth while offering you liquidity •€' in other words, the ease with which...READ MORE