September 4, 2009

Seahawks Hit the Road for Opener Tonight

BERLIN- As it prepares for the season opener tonight on the road at Rising Sun in Cecil County, Stephen Decatur's varsity football team is hoping become the life of the state playoff party this year and not just a quickly forgotten guest. Two years ago, Decatur finished 6-4 and narrowly missed the state playoffs in their first year at Class 3A. Last year, the Seahawks picked up another win, went 7-3, and earned a number-three seed in the state Class 3A-East. The Seahawks were quickly dispatched...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Talented, Focused

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity soccer team is deep and talented this fall as it prepares to challenge for another Bayside Conference championship and a deep run in the state playoffs. Coach Misty Bunting has eight seniors and seven juniors returning from last year's team, which finished with an impressive 11-3-1 mark and reached the state regional semifinals. The Seahawks fell to Reservoir in the state regional semifinals on penalty kicks after two gritty overtime periods, and the...READ MORE

Mallards Open Season with 3-0 Shutout

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity soccer team's promising 2009 season got off to a good start last week with a 3-0 over Holly Grove in the season opener for both teams. With depth and experience all over the field, the Mallards look like a strong bet to repeat as Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) champions again for the eighth straight year. Worcester began its title defense with a tidy 3-0 win over Holly Grove last Friday to jump out to a quick start for the 2009...READ MORE

Marlin Club's 51st Annual Labor Day Tournament Underway

OCEAN CITY- While it may lack the glamour and high payouts of the White Marlin Open, the Ocean City Marlin Club's 51st Annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament, which got underway this morning, trumps all others in terms of history and prestige. Called the 'granddaddy' of the resort area fishing tournaments, the Marlin Club's annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament is the oldest among the tournaments held in and around Ocean City each summer. The first was held in 1958 and the annual event has...READ MORE

Seahawks Hit the Road for Opener Tonight

BERLIN- As it prepares for the season opener tonight on the road at Rising Sun in Cecil County, Stephen Decatur's varsity football team is hoping become the life of the state playoff party this year and not just a quickly forgotten guest. Two years ago, Decatur finished 6-4 and narrowly missed the state playoffs in their first year at Class 3A. Last year, the Seahawks picked up another win, went 7-3, and earned a number-three seed in the state Class 3A-East. The Seahawks were quickly dispatched...READ MORE

Veterans to Lead Worcester Girls

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's girls' varsity soccer team will likely go as far as its strong senior class will take it this year with veteran leadership in key positions all over the field. The Mallards have several key players returning from last year's team and should make plenty of noise in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) again this year. Senior Molly Dickerson returns as a catalyst in the middle of the field on both offense and defense. Other seniors Taylor Beauchamp and...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Like most kids his age, my son speaks his own language, most of which is still a bunch of gibberish. At this point, that's just fine by me because it cracks me up when he strings a few so-called words together and jabbers about something or other. However, I must admit that nonsense at 4:45 the other morning was not exactly greeted with acclaim by anyone in the house. •€˜No' seems to be his favorite word these days. Also high on the list are •€˜mama' and •€˜dada', which still...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

About this time every year, I start looking forward to fall. In fact, these past few days have got me down right excited. Air temperatures have dropped into the low 60s the past couple of nights, and the early morning air has had a nice crisp chill to it. It won't be long till I'm donning my thermal underwear, sporting my Helly Hansen's, and heading out to the south jetty in chase of some serious rockfish. Fall is almost here •€' I love this time of year. In spite of the storms and the...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Alfred Joseph Moran BERLIN - On Aug. 28, 2009, Alfred 'Al' Joseph Moran, 87, of Berlin and formally of Baltimore, passed away. He was the beloved husband of the late Anne S. Moran; loving father of Patricia Saiia and her husband Robert, Susan Horn and her husband Michael, Nancy Long and Jeffrey and Steven Moran and his wife Regina; cherished grandfather of Lisa Saiia, Christina Truitt, Kim Hall, Christopher Moran, Amanda Long, Moranda Horn and Michael Horn; loving great-grandfather of Evan...READ MORE

Kicking, Spitting Leads To Assault Charges

OCEAN CITY - A Gaithersburg man was arrested on assault, resisting arrest and other charges last weekend after repeatedly refusing to leave the property of a midtown nightclub. Shortly after midnight last Sunday, Ocean City police bicycle officers in the area of Seacrets on 49th Street were flagged down by nightclub security staff in reference to a disorderly subject on the premises in the parking lot. The officers located a man, later identified as Zachary Adam Hirsh, 24, lying in the bushes...READ MORE

Nothing But Praise Reported On Summer Bike Hour Change

OCEAN CITY •€' That extra hour to ride a bike on the Boardwalk appears to have made a huge impact for not only the bike rental businesses, but also for the riders. Creating too much congestion on an already busy Boardwalk was the main tripping point for a few members of the City Council in April, but they eventually decided to grant a one-hour extension until 11 a.m. during the week for people to ride and rent bikes this summer. The reaction and results of the council's decision seems to be...READ MORE

Friday, Sept 4--Cuts Leave Commissioners Facing 'Drastic Decisions'

SNOW HILL - Budget cuts by the state of Maryland finalized last week slash over $2.5 million from Worcester County and municipality coffers, leaving elected officials wondering just how to handle the harsh reductions. The Worcester County Commissioners will not be able to come up with a plan to handle their share of the reduction until fiscal year 2009 is closed out in October. The county will lose $913,000 in state funds, $48,000 from police aid and $865,000 from highway user revenue. The...READ MORE

Friday, Sept 4--Nine Agencies Challenge MGH For Ocean City Advertising Work

OCEAN CITY •€' It seems that there will be nine new contestants in the 'beauty pageant' that will crown the town's new advertising company and one returning champion. Despite 31 inquiries from advertising agencies who potentially wanted the town of Ocean City on their client lists, only 10 Requests For Proposals (RFPs) were opened and remanded to staff for review on Tuesday at City Hall. Four ad agencies, including the town's current agency MGH, applied for the job from the state of...READ MORE

Friday, Sept 4--Poultry Giant To Close Two Worcester Facilities

BERLIN - As part of a larger plan to consolidate its operations and re-invest in its hatchery program elsewhere, Perdue Farms announced last week it is closing it hatchery facilities in Showell and Bishopville early next year, resulting in the loss of dozens of jobs in the county. Perdue Farms announced last week it plans to invest $3.7 million to expand production at its hatchery facilities in Salisbury and in Kenly, N.C. as part of the company's ongoing effort to improve the efficiency of its...READ MORE

Friday, Sept 4--Suspect Trashes Store, Then Assaults Owner, Worker

OCEAN CITY - A Berlin man with a long history of run-ins with local law enforcement was arrested in Ocean City last weekend after a fight at a Boardwalk store during which he allegedly assaulted the owner and an employee in an incident that reportedly attracted hundreds of onlookers. Last Friday, an OCPD officer was on uniformed foot patrol on the Boardwalk when he was flagged down by a private citizen about a fight in progress at the nearby Beach Styles store. When the officer arrived, he...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

It's remarkable to me that only an estimated 17 percent of the approximate 30,000 units in Ocean City supposed to have carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are in official compliance. That was the big news coming out of Ocean City Fire Marshal Sam Villani's presentation to the Mayor and Council this week. While it's true more units could be in compliance and simply not have sent the required confirmation to the city after they installed their CO detectors, it's more than likely a reasonable ballpark...READ MORE

Voices From the Readers

Current Fiscal Mess Was Preventable Editor: While watching the governor discussing all the major cuts in the budget yesterday, I started to wonder how much of this would have been needed had the Big Three (O'Malley, Miller and Busch) not played politics with the slots bill five years ago. Just imagine how much extra money would have been in the state treasury had the slots been passed when they were initially introduced. There were estimates that the slots would have added up to $500 million a...READ MORE

Summer Inlet Parking Rates Should Go Up

After what was observed over the last few months, Ocean City should have no issue with increasing the hourly rates at the Hugh T. Cropper Inlet Parking Lot during the summer season. This is a controversial decision, as is any move to dig further into visitors' wallets, but demand continues to far outstrip supply at the oceanfront parking lot, which was reportedly full as early as 8:30 a.m. on most weekend mornings. It's clear day-trippers as well as overnight guests find the current rates easily...READ MORE

Budget Figures Confirm Needed Spending Cuts

OCEAN CITY •€' All the budget cuts in the town of Ocean City have apparently paid off, as the town seems to have a substantial surplus, setting it in the black, as opposed to other municipalities who are teetering closer to the red. During Budget Manager Jennie Knapp's second amendment reading to the FY2010 budget for the town of Ocean City, it was revealed that as expected, the $2.7 million in budget cuts passed down by City Manager Dennis Dare and the Mayor and City Council have eased the...READ MORE

CO Plan Features Mix Of Education, Inspections

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City's strategy for enforcement of the carbon monoxide (CO) law seems to be one of defense through diplomacy instead of offense via all-out inspections. Town officials are keen on spreading the word about their carbon monoxide detector law, since only 17 percent of properties are in compliance, according to Fire Marshal Sam Villani on Tuesday. Villani said that the best way to deal with non-compliance of the city's carbon monoxide detector law is through education, and though...READ MORE

Lawmakers Brief Business Leaders On Fiscal Crisis

OCEAN CITY - State lawmakers met with Ocean City business leaders this week for a legislative briefing on the upcoming General Assembly session, and while a wide variety of topics were discussed, the conversation inevitably returned to the rather dismal situation with the state's economy. Just one week after Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the latest round of state budget cuts totaling $450 million, largely on the backs of local jurisdictions including $2.6 million for Worcester, the...READ MORE

Ocean City Parking Revenue Numbers Hold Steady

OCEAN CITY •€' The real estate might be prime, but the price is rather puny to some who would like to see revenue increases at the Inlet parking lot. This fact, coupled with revenue numbers being virtually static, according to Ocean City Superintendent of Maintenance Bruce Gibbs, could be why town officials are hinting that a change might just be on the horizon for inlet parking lot prices. The price for a parking spot at the Inlet lot was a heavily debated number last winter, and now that...READ MORE

Resort Has History Of Making Good With Land Grabs

OCEAN CITY •€' City Manager Dennis Dare said that the looming legal battle over Rick Laws' 64th Street property is 'practically identical' to the town's acquisition of the land that neighbors the site and is now the home of a vital part of town infrastructure. As expected, Laws got served with the condemnation papers last week, as the town continues to move forward with hopes of acquiring his land, which used to be the home of the 64th Street Slide-N-Ride, for future and alleged imperative...READ MORE

Arborists Eye OC Conference

BERLIN - A professional group of tree experts will be coming to Berlin this October to spend a day in a town park. Berlin's largest park will host the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (MAC-ISA), a society of tree professionals, in October as part of a three-day conference on arboriculture. All MAC-ISA members are certified arborists. 'This is the first time the Mid-Atlantic chapter has ever been in this area,' said Greg Purnell, a town of Ocean City...READ MORE

Berlin Planners Do Not See Golf Course As Growth Area

BERLIN - Talks on the last few chapters of Berlin's draft Comprehensive Plan turned to a conflict between Worcester County's growth areas around the town and the Berlin Planning Commission's vision of those growth areas, specifically the Bay Club golf course. The Berlin Planning Commission held a draft comprehensive plan workshop Wednesday night, spending most of that time talking to Worcester County Planning Department Director Ed Tudor and his deputy, Phyllis Wimbrow. The Bay Club golf course,...READ MORE

County's Salvia Ban Nearly Identical To Ocean City's Law

SNOW HILL - Salvia is now illegal in Worcester County following a unanimous vote by the County Commissioners on an emergency bill banning the hallucinogenic substance. The commissioners passed the emergency bill Tuesday afternoon, and the new law banning sale and possession of salvia divinorum and salvia paraphernalia went into effect immediately. The Worcester County bill follows Ocean City's lead in banning salvia through an emergency bill passed the first week of August. According to county...READ MORE

Families Allege EMT Rescue Efforts Abandoned Hastily

OCEAN CITY - Less than three weeks after Ocean City emergency services department filed a motion to dismiss the $20 million civil suit filed against them by the family of two Pennsylvania tourists who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a resort motel room in June 2006, the plaintiffs in the case fired back the very reasons outlined for the dismissal were reason enough for the case to move forward. In June, Yvonne and Morgan Boughter, surviving family members of the pair of tourists who...READ MORE

Legislators Fear Md. Business Climate Causing Problems

OCEAN CITY - Maryland's unfriendly business climate is as much to blame for the state's ongoing fiscal malaise as any other leading indicator, state lawmakers told Ocean City business leaders on Wednesday. Several Lower Shore representatives in Annapolis met with members of the Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) on Wednesday for their annual broad-based discussion of several topics of local interest as the 2010 General Assembly session approaches. Invariably the discussion reverted...READ MORE

OC Mayor Stresses Positives At Gloomy Meeting

OCEAN CITY - Perhaps he was still flush with a dose of good news received a day earlier about the town's budget or was trying to lighten what had been a decidedly gloomy meeting, but Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan was practically giddy when he addressed the resort's Economic Development Committee on Wednesday. After around two hours of gloom and doom expounded by local legislators about the state's economy, current and future budget cuts and the ongoing recession, Meehan gave town business...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In 'the brief' this week, the only thing similar about the reports given by the MML (Maryland Muncipal League) and the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is that both entities are commonly known by their respective acronyms. Yet, when representatives from each organization visited city hall to give reports to the Mayor and City Council, one broached the subject of budget cuts and pending legislature, while the other touched on saltwater fishing...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Every Friday: DJ Wood Saturday, Sept. 5 Crowded Outhouse Thursday, Sept. 10: Steelers' Tailgate Party, 3 p.m. Every Sunday: Locals' Party with DJ BK CaribBean bar & grill 410-289-0837 , Just off the Boards on 2nd St. Friday, Sept. 4: Dave Sherman, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie Duo, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5: The Moodswingers, 1-5 p.m.; Wes Davis Band, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6: No Byscyts, 1-5 p.m.; Murphy's Law,...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

Ravens Roost #58 Appoints Officers

Ravens Roost #58, a local chapter of the Baltimore Ravens Council of Roosts, recently appointed its officers. The Pirates Den is the home location for this roost. Pictured, seated from left, Maryanne Henry, sergeant-at-arms; Maria McEvoy, secretary; Richard Pennington, director; and Dick Hafer, director; and, standing from left, Sarge Garlitz, treasurer; Danny Bohn, president; Tim Fugate, director; and Mike Lawson, vice president. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

United Way of Lower Eastern Shore Introduces Board of Directors

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore recently introduced its 2009-2010 Board of Directors and its Board Executive Committee. Members of the Executive Committee include, from left, Jim Krahn, of Interstate Container; Rick Nelson, of Nelson's Nationwide; Elaine Brady, of The Bayside Gazette; Gage Thomas, of Choptank Real Estate and United Way Board President; Kathleen Mommé, Executive Director of United Way; Tim Feist, of Peninsula Regional Medical Center and United Way 2009 Campaign Chair; and...READ MORE

OC/Berlin Rotary Club Goes Out to the Ballgame

Ocean City/Berlin Rotary Club members took family and friends out to the ball game at Perdue Stadium. Some of the group pictured above, from left, are Maureen and Gloria Alarcon, Maurice Herman, Ed, Jordan and Jamie Welch, David Blair, Nicole Pachuta, President Margo Jones, Tom Bickerstaff, Stan and Paul Kahn, Robert Pachuta and District Governor Elect Don Hackett and Donald Brannock Hackett II. ...READ MORE

OC Lioness President Donates Trauma Bears to Children

Ocean City Lioness President Joan Strang presented trauma bears to Maryland State Police-Berlin Barrack 'V' Commander Lt. E. W. Starner.  The Maryland State Police use the trauma bears for children who are caught in a stressful situation.  ...READ MORE

Church Volunteers Distribute Month Food Ministry

Volunteers Madeline Wheeler, Jeanne Taylor, Jack Snyder, Skip Dennig are pictured at the Community Church preparing food boxes for distribution of the monthly Angel Food Ministries food outreach program.  Food may be ordered and paid for each month and picked up the last Saturday of the month.  Upcoming order dates are  Sept. 9, 10, 12 and 14.  Call 410-629-9669 or check out www.ccaop.org, then click on Angel Food. ...READ MORE

Forecast Finds Recovery Signs

OCEAN CITY - The global economy is recovering at a faster rate than expected. That's the optimistic conclusion of the Global Economics Midyear Update from Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch Research. Although the uncertain market climate is likely to last at least through the end of the year, the research team forecasts a positive outlook for 2010 •€' including a better-than-expected hike in global real GDP growth, to 3.7 percent from 3.2 percent. The fiscal and monetary stimulus...READ MORE

Things I Like

Lunch hot off the grill A squirrel's dexterity A bee that minds its own business Steam coming off a pile of hot crabs A cool car on a humid day Old Bay atop corn on the cob A sunrise over water That NFL's Week 1 is closing in My dogs after they are brushed A big smile from my son Fall-like days in the summer ...READ MORE

People in Society

Neighbors Lending a Hand Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

Open Houses in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY The Meridian Daily 10-4 Oceanfront Residences New Construction Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-520-0072 OCEAN CITY Bella Vista Open Daily 10-4 3BR Bayside Condos 45th Street Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Belmont Towers Boardwalk & Talbot Street Mon-Thurs 11-4 Fri-Sun 10-5 Kevin Decker Remax Premier Properties 443-235-6552 OCEAN CITY Bahia Vista 10th St. Bayside Daily 10-4 3&4BR Condos Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Seaside Escape 79th Street 2...READ MORE

Open Houses in West Ocean City and Berlin

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Daily 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 WEST OCEAN CITY New Construction 9800 Mooring View West Harbor Village Daily 11-5 11 Townhouses 3BR/3.5BA/Garage Bryant Hungerford Prudential Carruthers 410-430-0370 BERLIN Purnell Crossing Mon 12-6 Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat & Sun 11-6 3BR/2.5BA Villas New Construction Ryan Homes 410-641-2730 ...READ MORE

Open Houses in Surrounding Areas of Ocean City

NEWARK, MD Arcadia Village Affordable New Homes Models Open Sat & Sun 11-2 Prudential Carruthers 410-430-5333 MILLVILLE, DE Millville by the Sea Mon-Sat 9-5 Sun 11-5 New Beach Community Single Family & Townhomes Off Rt 26 877-285-2888 SALISBURY 846 Johnson Rd Summersgate Daily 12-5 2-5BR Custom Homes For Active Adults Lynn Brocato Senior Realty 410-543-8750 MILLSBORO, DE Whartons Bluff Mon 12-6 Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat & Sun 11-6 3BR Single Family Homes New Construction Ryan...READ MORE