July 31, 2009

Wednesday, Aug. 5-OC Stores Caught Selling Salvia

OCEAN CITY - A few hours after a ban on salvia and related paraphernalia went into effect, Ocean City police discovered several resort businesses openly violating the law by continuing to sell the so-called hallucinogen. Yesterday, at approximately 1 p.m., the Ocean City Police Department began inspecting businesses located within the corporate limits of Ocean City to ensure compliance of a newly adopted ordinance banning the possession and sale of the hallucinogen known as salvia and all...READ MORE

Tuesday, Aug. 4-1st Place Marlin Worth $1.5M After Day One

OCEAN CITY - The first day of the 2009 White Marlin produced its share of excitement at host Harbour Island with one qualifying white sitting atop the leader board currently worth over $1.5 million, although that will likely change, and a bunch of monster tuna also on the board. In years past, Day One has always been one of the busiest days and has often produced the winner in the tournament's glamour division including last year. It remains to be seen if it will hold up, but angler Daniel C....READ MORE

Monday, Aug. 3-White Marlin Open Returns For 36th Year

OCEAN CITY - The 36th Annual White Marlin Open, the World's Largest Billfish Tournament, based out of Harbour Island Marina on 14th Street for the better part of the last four decades, got underway this morning with the first of five official fishing days. This year, 297 boats will vie for millions of dollars in prize money. Anglers are fishing for white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, dolphin, wahoo and shark. Cash prizes are also awarded for billfish releases.  Named as one of Marlin...READ MORE

People in Society

A spotlight on neighbors lending a hand in the community ...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Angler Restaurant 410-289-7424 , Talbot St. & The Bay Saturday, Aug. 1 & Sunday, Aug. 2: 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, Aug. 1: Crowded Outhouse Every Sunday: Locals' Party with DJ BK Tuesday, Aug. 4: Aaron Howell Thursday: Aug. 6: DJ Wax CaribBean bar & grill 410-289-0837 , Just off the Boards on 2nd St. Friday, July 31: Dave Sherman, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie Duo,...READ MORE

Mounted Officer Nabs Robber

OCEAN CITY - A Baltimore man was arrested on armed robbery and assault charges last week after getting chased down by an OCPD mounted officer following an alleged knife assault. Shortly after 2 a.m. last Friday, OCPD officers responded to the area of 2nd Street and Baltimore Ave. for a reported assault involving a knife. As officers began responding to the area, an OCPD mounted officer spotted the suspect, whose description had been broadcast, fleeing the scene. The mounted officer pursued the...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

We threw out our first book, and the pieces that were left of it, this week. It wasn't something we wanted to do, but Beckett left us no other choice. It was one of those flap books. You know, the kind with the pull down, yank or tear, flaps that reveal a photo of some sort. We have dozens of these books around the house. Over the last year or so, it's been interesting to watch the transition. When Beckett was younger and essentially immobile, we would show him the book, flips the...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

For whatever reason, surely it was petty politics, the state legislature did not see fit to endorse Delegate Jim Mathias' legislation earlier this year seeking to make the sale of salvia illegal. Until the state legislature, specifically the Senate, comes to its senses and outlaws this dangerous substance, which the federal Drug Enforcement Agency has yet to classify, the town needs to take control. There's no question something unfortunate and perhaps tragic is going to happen if salvia sales...READ MORE

Numbers Cloud Air Show's Importance

Although they cannot be dismissed entirely, the financial numbers unveiled this week behind last month's OC Air Show do not tell the entire story. At this week's Mayor and Council meeting, all the available financial information on the second annual event was presented, and it was not exactly a pretty picture. The fact is the air show is a young event and is not yet on sound financial footing. It's still growing and finances are expected to be tight until major national sponsors are inked to...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Step Up Highway Safety In Wake Of Tragedy Editor: Our daughter Kristen was killed on June 23 on Costal Highway and 33rd Street. Our grief, as you can imagine, is beyond belief. We are very concerned about the safety of your area and continue to wonder why the safety measures have not been stepped up in accordance to your ever-growing population explosion during the tourist season. Perhaps you should consider pedestrian bridges over Coastal Highway, and other such congested areas, so that loved...READ MORE

Severe Storm Wreaks Havoc On Summer Afternoon

OCEAN CITY - A band of severe thunderstorms, complete with torrential downpours that dumped an estimated four inches of rain on the resort, rolled through the area on Monday afternoon, flooding streets, stranding motorists, sending beachgoers scrambling for cover and even disabling a large head boat full of passengers two miles offshore. Storms complete with lightning, high winds, heavy rains and even hale are commonplace in Ocean City in the summer and their possibility is a fixture on the...READ MORE

Friday, July 31--Area Fugitive Remains At Large

BERLIN - More details emerged this week in the search for a Berlin man, wanted by local authorities and U.S. Marshal's, who remained at large this week after a massive, multi-agency manhunt throughout the area late last week. Last Wednesday, Worcester County Sheriff's deputies responded to the area of Logtown Rd. in Berlin for a reported burglary and theft. During the course of the investigation, a Sheriff's deputy located a pick-up truck parked on a dirt trail off the main road and encountered...READ MORE

Friday, July 31--Committee Proposes Special Event Fee Spike

OCEAN CITY - Special event permits in the town of Ocean City might be getting a little pricier in 2010 if the Recreation and Parks Committee gets its way. On Tuesday, the committee voted to recommend to the Mayor and City Council to instill a bit more than an just an incremental price spike to not only get a permit for a special event, but also for the equipment used as well. Councilman Lloyd Martin, who also sits on the Recreation and Parks Committee, said that the potential move is not merely...READ MORE

Friday, July 31--Health Dept., School Officials Attend H1N1 Summit

BERLIN- With the calendar getting ready to flip over to August tomorrow, it won't be long until area schools re-open, and to that end, local health department and public schools officials this week traveled to Annapolis for a summit and update on the still dangerous H1N1, or swine, flu, outbreak. After reaching a crescendo in early spring, the hype about H1N1 has simmered considerably, but the virus continues to take its toll in every state in the country including Maryland, where the number of...READ MORE

Friday, July 31--Old Tyson Land Becomes Part Of Berlin

BERLIN - The former Tyson poultry processing plant is now part of the town of Berlin, after four Mayor and Council members voted unanimously Monday night to approve the annexation. While the property has repeatedly been before the council in the last six years and has been an object of interest to townsfolk since the plant was sold, the approval of the annexation Monday night was a low-key affair. Judging by the lack of audience members and the lack of participation in the public hearing held...READ MORE

Boardwalk Tensions Run High Among Some Merchants

OCEAN CITY - Dan Troiano is trying to fight the good fight for the future of his business, and as it seems, he has more than just one opponent. Troiano, who owns Dimensions on the Boardwalk and Lot 80 in mid-town Ocean City, came before City Council last week with a gripe about alleged false advertising on outdoor signage from some of his competitors in the body piercing business. Troiano was dismissed on the grounds of Zoning Administrator Blaine Smith's ruling that the phrase 'body piercing...READ MORE

Council Views Air Show Funds As Wise Investment

OCEAN CITY - Spectacular?  Yes.  Amazing? Absolutely.  Profitable? Not quite yet. The 2009 Ocean City Air Show has been described as many things in the seven weeks since the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds roared over the resort's coastline, glamorously headlining what was deemed to be a landmark event for the town of Ocean City, but it seems, after the final numbers were released this week by event promoter Brian Lilley, the town has found itself in the 'red' on its initial...READ MORE

Local Water Quality Saluted n National Beach Report

BERLIN - While many American beaches have polluted, unhealthy water, the Ocean City and Assateague beaches showed no reports of contaminants in local ocean waves, according to a national report released this week. 'Everyone works very hard to keep it that way, even with 300,000 people visiting,' said Shelly Dawson, chair of the local Surfrider Foundation. Overall, Maryland was listed as eighth in the United States for beach water quality, including Ocean City and Assateague beaches, as well as...READ MORE

Resort Hoteliers Expected June Room Tax Decline

OCEAN CITY - Some say that room tax revenue tells a more accurate story when attempting to gauge the resort's level of success for the summer, and if that's true, things are looking slightly below average for a second straight month. Room tax revenue for Ocean City fell 6 percent in June compared to last year, and with a similar decline in May, revenue figures seem to be heading down a path much like 2003, when the town's only month of room tax revenue profit was August (a mere $2,031 better...READ MORE

Salvia Ban Sought In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY - With the stroke of Mayor Rick Meehan's pen, Ocean City could be rid of a problematic thorn in its side as early as Tuesday morning. Councilman Jim Hall's request for an emergency ordinance that would outlaw the sale or possession of salvia Divinorum within the town limits of Ocean City was answered with a favorable 6-1 City Council vote, with Councilman Joe Hall in opposition, at Tuesday's work session at City Hall. In essence, City Solicitor Guy Ayres will write the new ordinance,...READ MORE

Beach Evacuated After Pipe Bomb Found By Citizen

OCEAN CITY - The beach at 40th Street was evacuated for about an hour on Tuesday afternoon when a pipe bomb was discovered in the area. Around 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Ocean City police and the resort's Fire and Bomb Squad responded to the beach at 40th Street in reference to a report of a pipe bomb. The suspicious device was discovered by a private citizen and was reported to the Ocean City Beach Patrol, which immediately notified police. The area was evacuated for about an hour as Ocean City Bomb...READ MORE

Commissioners See No Future With TDR Program

SNOW HILL - A new amendment to the 2006 Worcester County Comprehensive Plan called the Priority Preservation Area element will not include transfer development rights (TDRs), county elected officials decided last week during a discussion of the draft element and the recertification of the county land preservation program. The draft Priority Preservation Area (PPA) element is required by the State of Maryland to be added to the Comprehensive Plan. The draft PPA will now go through a 60-day review...READ MORE

Concerns Surface Over Berlin Intersection

BERLIN - Recent motor vehicle accidents at the busy intersection of Berlin's Main Street and Old Ocean City Boulevard could be prevented in future by improving visibility. Berlin resident Jim Hoppa, who witnessed an accident at Main Street and Old Ocean City Boulevard a few weeks ago, raised the question of visibility improvements at that intersection during the public comments section of the Berlin Mayor and Council meeting Monday night. Hoppa witnessed a car traveling west on Old Ocean City...READ MORE

Joe Hall Explains Decision To Vote Against Salvia Ban

OCEAN CITY - Councilman Joe Hall says he wants to see salvia go away, but he doesn't think the town should instill emergency legislation to stop a bad perception or image. Hall was the lone 'nay' in Tuesday's council decision to request for an emergency ordinance to be created that would make the sale or possession of salvia illegal in Ocean City. Hall's stance on the issue surprised many at City Hall on Tuesday, as Hall is a father of six, owns a family restaurant and has long been a vocal...READ MORE

Local Killed Trying To Cross Route 50

BERLIN - Tragedy struck this week when an elderly local woman was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Route 50 on Tuesday afternoon. Around 2:20 p.m., Maryland State Police responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on eastbound Route 50 just west of Jerry Mack Rd. The investigation revealed a 2006 Toyota operated by Mary Rogers Cavey, 78, of Berlin, had attempted to enter the eastbound lanes of Route 50 in an attempt to cross over to the westbound lanes and pulled into the path of a 2007...READ MORE

New False Alarm Law To Begin

SNOW HILL - Each year false alarms cost thousands of dollars in equipment, fuel and manhours and place lives in danger. To decrease the number of false alarms to which fire fighters and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers respond, the County Commissioners adopted Bill 09-3 (Public Safety-Nuisance Alarms) on June 16, a law that will become active on Aug. 1. This bill adds a new section to the Fire Prevention Code regarding false and nuisance alarms for fire and medical services to which...READ MORE

Nutria Project Excludes County

OCEAN CITY - Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) this week introduced legislation to pump millions of federal dollars into an expanded nutria eradication effort across Maryland, but even if approved, none of the funding will be headed to Worcester and the coastal bays because the area inexplicably does not have a problem with the voracious wetlands munchers. Nutria arelarge, semi-aquatic rodents often described as 'eating machines' that chomp as much as 25 percent of their body weight in wetlands plants...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - In the brief this week, the downtown water tower is about to get a much needed makeover, albeit a pricey one, and the topic of raising the inlet parking lot's rates has come up once again. Hefty Price For Water Tower Bids Public Works Director Hal Adkins rarely looks surprised or taken aback when he's in front of the Mayor and City Council, but as the Requests For Proposal (RFP) were opened on Tuesday and the total price quotes for the job to essentially overhaul and repaint the...READ MORE

Police Nab Robbery Suspects

OCEAN CITY - Resort police this week closed the books on the investigation of an armed robbery at a downtown hotel in June with the arrests of two of the three suspects still wanted in the case after tracking them to Pennsylvania. Around 5:45 a.m. on June 11, Ocean City police responded to the Americana Hotel for a reported armed robbery. When officers arrived on the scene, they were told three masked individuals brandishing handguns entered the hotel lobby around 5 a.m. The armed robbers then...READ MORE

SHA Maintains Intersection Safe Despite Another Crash

SNOW HILL - Another motor vehicle accident at the locally notorious intersection of Routes113 and 12 sent two people to the hospital Wednesday morning. Around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, a Chevy Camaro traveling south on Rt. 12 failed to yield to oncoming traffic when attempting to cross Route 113. A van traveling south on Route 113 then collided with the Camaro, according to a press release from the Worcester County Sheriff's Office. The motorists, both adult males, were then taken to Peninsula...READ MORE

White Marlin Open Kicks Off Monday

OCEAN CITY - The 36th Annual White Marlin Open, the World's Largest Billfish Tournament, based out of Harbour Island Marina on 14th Street for the better part of the last four decades, gets underway on Monday with the first of five official fishing days. Each year, over 300 boats vie for millions of dollars in prize money.  Anglers fish for white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, dolphin, wahoo and shark.  Cash prizes are also awarded for billfish releases.  Named as one of Marlin...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

 'I need a cup of coffee•€¦' I thought as I continued down Coastal Highway. It was 2:30 a.m., and I had just spent four hours on Indian River Inlet's north jetty. My back was a little bit stiff, and my pride was running a little bit low from the skunking I had just taken. It wasn't a total skunking, however. I had a chance. As the tide was just about slack, I had a very nice hit on my live eel. I was fishing it weightless and reeling very slowly when the fish hit violently. In my...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Edward Leo Wisniewski BERLIN - Edward Leo Wisniewski, age 89, died on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at his home in Berlin. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Thief and Julia Rutkoustra Wisniewski. Wisniewski entered the US Navy in July, 1938 and served until his discharge in 1945. While in the Navy, he served in the Naval Combat Demolition team, which is the predecessor to the modern day Navy SEALs. Wisniewski was Past President of the Long Shoreman Local #829, owner of Sherry's Inn in...READ MORE

New State Record Cobia Tops Old Mark by Five Pounds

OCEAN CITY- Almost lost among the other great fish stories in and around the resort area this week was a new state record cobia caught last Saturday that topped the two-year-old record by about five pounds. Angler Chris Toner, fishing aboard the 'Fish Finder' with Captain Mark Sampson, caught the new state record cobia, a 71-pounder taken in about 12 fathoms near the Great Gull Reef on Saturday, July 25. The cobia topped the existing record, a 67-pounder, caught by local angler Mike Horsey on...READ MORE

Big Sharks Landed on Assateague

OCEAN CITY- Veteran surf fishermen caught some big sharks from the beach on Assateague last weekend thanks in large part to a casting system they invented and recently patented that allow them to launch their baits several hundred yards offshore. Veteran surf angler Dan Triano and his cousin Joe Triano last Saturday caught several large sharks plus a couple of huge rays from the beach on Assateague, the largest of which was over seven feet long. Dan Triano and his partner, Doug Osenbach,...READ MORE

1st Kreppel Tourney a Big Success

OCEAN CITY- The 1st Annual Branch Kreppel Memorial Blue Marlin Tournament, named for a beloved local angler and diver who passed away last fall, was a huge success on all fronts last weekend with plenty of action offshore and outpouring of love and community support on land. As an avid diver and owner of Diver Services, Kreppel was a popular man around the marinas in the resort area and often kept the local sportfishing fleet up and running. He passed away in November and the first-ever blue...READ MORE

Ladies Only Tournament Underway

OCEAN CITY- Before the big boys hit the seas for the 36th Annual White Marlin Open early next week, lady anglers throughout the resort area will have their moment in the spotlight this weekend with the first-ever Ocean City Marlin Club Ladies' Tournament. The ladies-only tournament got underway yesterday with a captains meeting and late registration, but the real action got started this morning with the first of two official fishing days. Captains and teams must choose to fish one of two days,...READ MORE

SU Coach to Host Basketball Camp

OCEAN CITY- Salisbury State University women's head basketball coach Charisse Mapp is joining the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department to host a basketball camp at Northside Park next week. The camp is open to girls ages 7-17 and will be held under the direction of Coach Mapp and her assistants. Participants will practice drills to improve their shooting, passing, dribbling and other techniques and will also be taught the intricacies of the sport. Much of the time will be spent doing...READ MORE

WOC Horseshoe Club Holds First Tourney

WEST OCEAN CITY- The recently formed West Ocean City Horseshoe Pitchers Association based at the Alamo Motel on Route 50 held its first informal tournament last weekend with several teams competing for cash and prizes. The West Ocean City Horse Shoe Pitchers Association and the nine new pits at the Alamo have been officially sanctioned by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA), a federation of 60 charters in the U.S. and Canada, each with numerous club affiliates and individual...READ MORE

A Week in Business

New Family Physician At AGH BERLIN - Atlantic General Hospital recently announced the addition of family medicine physician Lei Gong, M.D., to the Atlantic General Hospital/Health System Medical Staff. The hospital recruited Gong to care for the patients at Snow Hill Family Medicine. Gong recently completed his family practice residency at Warren Hospital in Philipsburg, N.J. He is a graduate of St. George's University Medical School. Snow Hill Family Medicine, the former practice of Dr. Andrea...READ MORE

Noticing Fiscal Crisis Trends

OCEAN CITY - Each year the Capgemini-Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report tracks financial trends among the globe's most affluent investors, offering insights on how they save, spend and invest. This year's report has particular historical significance, as it tracks 2008's unprecedented global financial changes and reveals some unexpected shifts in investor behavior, with people everywhere reassessing their risk tolerance in reaction to the economic downturn. One finding that was predictable in...READ MORE

Things I Like

The beach after the lifeguards call it a day The view from the top deck at Tony's Pizza Dave Matthews Band live The look and smell of a newly stained deck Picking up my son after he runs to me A morning of yard work An afternoon of relaxation Smell of suntan lotion on the beach Picking my son up after being away Rain on a freshly waxed car Anything cooked on an outside grill ...READ MORE

Pine'eer Craft Club Discusses Upcoming Festival

Margaret Long, vice president of the Pine'eer Craft Club, discusses with Jamie Englishmen, president of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department, plans for the Pine'eer Club Arts and Crafts Festival, which will take place Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will include over 100 vendors utilizing White Horse Park and the bay of the fire department. In addition to arts and crafts, the festival will include refreshments and a bake sale. There is free admission and free...READ MORE

Worcester Prep 40th Anniversary GALA Celebration in the Works

Chairing Worcester Preparatory School's 40th Anniversary GALA Celebration are, from left, Ann Moore, Rehoboth Beach; Lily Gosnear, Rehoboth Beach; and Michelle Dashiell, Ocean City. The chairmen and their committees are hard at work planning a festive event that will be held at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010. The gala event will presented 40 years of wonderful memories from the school's history as well as look to the future. ...READ MORE

Delmarva Discovery Center Receives Generous Donation

Barry Laws and Baxter Brasure, Taylor Bank representatives, recently presented a check to the Delmarva Discovery Center (DDC) in the amount of $2,500. Receiving the check is DDC Executive Director Brian Garrett along with members of the Board of Directors of the DDC. This check is the third of four pledged donations totaling $10,000 from Taylor Bank over the course of four years. ...READ MORE

Bill Wills Memorial Golf Tournament Held

A golf tournament held in memory of Bill Wills raised $5,000 for the benefit of Coastal Hospice. Tournament organizers recently presented a check to Coastal Hospice President Alane Capen. Pictured, from left, are Bob and Ruby Dillon, Terrie Wills, Capen and Julie and Bob Sadler. ...READ MORE

Bike Giveaway at Boog's BBQ Grand Opening

Boog's BBQ and Drive-Thru owner J.W. Powell is pictured presenting a bike to Cody Vance from the bike giveaway at the establishment's grand opening last week. ...READ MORE

Wall Murals on Dorchester Street Get New Look

The wall murals on Dorchester Street by the Boardwalk are presently being renovated by two of the original painters who completed the original murals and another artist. Local artist Earl Cantine and Colleen Black of Pittsburgh and Juro Molcak of Slovakia painted the original mural in 2003. The mural depicts postcards of Old Ocean City. Cantine and Black, along with Pittsburgh-based artist, Rick Bach, are restoring and enhancing the five pictures comprising the mural. The artwork is being...READ MORE

Ocean Pines Resident Helps Supply Instruments to Most Blessed Sacrament

Glenn Brown III of Ocean Pines recently collected musical instruments to benefit the band program at Most Blessed Sacrament School. Instruments donated included a cello, four clarinets, one coronet, three flutes, a saxophone, two snare drums, a trombone, three trumpets and two violins. Above, Brown is pictured with Amy Mike, former principal. ...READ MORE