October 16, 2009

Operators Hope For Best With Bridge Closure

OCEAN CITY •€' With yesterday's Route 90 bridge closing, both midtown and uptown Ocean City businesses are now preparing for what one owner called 'the 90-day hurricane.' As drivers reroute their path into Ocean City for the next two months after yesterday's Route 90 bridge closing for a massive structural repair, businesses owners who overcame the poor economy, sub-par start to the summer season, and lackluster finish are readying their establishments for the new challenge of getting...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

The specifics of the conversation behind closed doors at City Hall on Tuesday is unknown, but it's clear tensions were running high and that's why a closed session planned for an hour went for two-plus. The exact nature of the comments are unclear, but the City Council members showed the wear and tear from a frustrating private discussion on their faces when they finally adjourned to conduct the public meeting. At one point, City Manager Dennis Dare came into the council chambers to tell the...READ MORE

More Hope Than Facts In Recovery Hype

Fanatics exist at every turn, and the most recent example that struck a nerve with me has to do with federal stimulus funding. Locally, there's no denying the area has benefited from stimulus dollars. Two sewer plant projects, one in Berlin and the other in West Ocean City, are about to begin in the area, as a result of stimulus dollars, and Coastal Highway in Ocean City is getting some new sidewalks and driveways from federal sources. All of this work, and some other minor projects, are a...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Stolen Moped Found In Police Impound Lot Editor: Prior to last week's letter even being published, the OCPD investigating officer was here first thing Thursday morning Oct. 8. The first thing that the officer and my son discovered was that the owner of Continental Cycles where we bought the moped, left out a character digit of the VIN on the original sales document, which also serves according to him, as proof of ownership. This document and the VIN associated, along with a picture, is what was...READ MORE

Resort Police Seek Jewelry Store Burglar

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City police this week are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect who broke into a jewelry store in the Princess Royale hotel early Monday morning. Around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, an unidentified suspect entered the Avanti Jewelers in the Princess Royale on 91st Street. OCPD officers were able to obtain surveillance video that shows the suspect enter the store, break into jewelry cases and steal several items. The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male...READ MORE

Friday, Oct 16--Berlin Man Rescued From Fire

BERLIN - A Berlin man was seriously injured in a house fire on Flower Street late last Friday and his condition remained uncertain as of late this week. Shortly before 11 p.m. last Friday, the Berlin and Showell Fire Companies were dispatched to a reported house fire on Flower Street in the area of Honeysuckle Lane on the east side of Berlin. First arriving units discovered the one-and-half story, split level residence with heavy smoke showing from three sides. Prior to the arrival of the first...READ MORE

Friday, Oct 16--Berlin Mayor Hired Accountant Before Council Approved Move

BERLIN - Berlin Mayor Gee William's decision to engage an outside accounting firm to take over some interim duties while the town works on hiring a new finance director concerned some town council members because the company was hired before the council had the chance to vote on the matter. 'I have a lot of heartburn,' said Council member Paula Lynch, after finding out Monday that the firm had already been hired. Lynch said she does not object to the hiring of an accounting firm to undertake...READ MORE

Friday, Oct 16--Ocean City's Take-Home Cuts Take Effect Today

OCEAN CITY •€' Today marks the day when the town of Ocean City takes back the take-home vehicles. Depending on whom you ask, the quest to trim back the town's take-home vehicle fleet dates back a number of months or years, but now that the council's recent decision to cut 63 percent of employee take-home cars has gone into effect, the sting of that decision has not fully faded away. 'I know there's a lot of people who aren't happy about this,' said Councilman Joe Hall, 'but I really think...READ MORE

Friday, Oct 16--Rangers Honored For Saving Life

ASSATEAGUE - The Maryland Park Service this week presented two Assateague State Park rangers with Valor Awards in recognition of their efforts to save the life of a co-worker during a choking incident in May. For Assateague State Park seasonal maintenance employee Upshure Coard, May 19 started out as any other busy day as he went about his duties preparing the park for the coming season. What Coard didn't know at the time was he would need the assistance of Park Rangers Mike Riley and J.C....READ MORE

90 Bridge Concrete Could Become Reef

OCEAN CITY - The bad news is the Route 90 Bridge was closed yesterday for an estimated two months while contractors remove an 85-section of the span deemed unsafe by corrosion, but the good news is large sections of the damaged bridge could find a new home as part of the resort area's growing artificial reef system. Yesterday, weather permitting, private contractors were supposed to start dismantling the Route 90 bridge at its highest point over the Isle of Wight Bay in preparation for the...READ MORE

Insurance Issue Continues To Hold Up Kayak Venture

OCEAN CITY •€' Until the insurance issue gets resolved, any debate about the Ayres Creek kayak venture is going to look and sound like paddling in circles. The debate concerning the Ayres Creek kayak venture was revisited on Tuesday at City Hall as Dr. Roman Jesien of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program argued to the City Council the reasoning in the request for the non-profit group to obtain liability insurance for the proposed usage of the old Ocean City dump for a boat launch. 'I got off...READ MORE

Mathias, James Lean Toward Senate Runs

BERLIN - While both candidates have been decidedly sheepish about their intentions for the upcoming 2010 election, it now appears both Delegate Jim Mathias and former House challenger and Ocean City hotelier Michael James could be on a collision course for the District 38 Senate seat. There has been much speculation about both candidates' intentions following long-time incumbent J. Lowell Stoltzfus' announcement earlier this summer he would not seek re-election when his current term expires. The...READ MORE

Officials Express Concern Over Closed Session Leaks

OCEAN CITY •€' For two hours on Tuesday, the eight seats reserved for the Mayor and City Council sat empty as they debated about the Ocean City Air Show behind closed doors, but the council remains mum about the details of that conversation. As per usual, council members are supposed to be tight-lipped about the information deliberated on during executive closed sessions, but this week, several members of the council said that there has been a proliferation of leaked information or 'loose...READ MORE

Paper Inks New Printer, Announces Changes

BERLIN - A series of changes have recently taken place for The Dispatch, the Berlin-based newspaper that has circulated weekly throughout northern and central Worcester County and lower Sussex County for the last 25 years. In an interview Tuesday, Publisher J. Steven Green announced a new partnership this week between the weekly publication and Bartash, a Philadelphia-based cold off-set web printer. The new relationship has been in the works for the last two months, but it became official with...READ MORE

Authorities Warn About Utility Scam

BERLIN - The Worcester County Sheriff's Office this week issued a warning about a possible suspect posing as an employee of a utility company knocking on doors and attempting to collect money in the Berlin area. Around 4 p.m. last Thursday, a Worcester County Sheriff's Deputy responded to Choptank Electric in reference to a suspicious person complaint from customers of the utility company. Numerous Choptank customers had called the utility company to report an unidentified black male driving a...READ MORE

Bar Surrenders Liquor License

SNOW HILL - A small measure of closure in the saga of the Cowboyz Smokehouse and Saloon, closed in September amid health code violations and an investigation into underage drinking and late-night pornography sessions, was meted out yesterday when the owner surrendered the establishment's liquor license. At a scheduled county Board of License Commissioners hearing, for which Cowboyz had been called to address an underage drinking violation as well as a noise violation, the restaurant's owner,...READ MORE

Berlin Sewer Rates Discussed

BERLIN - Berlin wastewater customers should pay less than $3 a month more to fund the improvements to the Berlin wastewater treatment plant, and the special connection fee should be much less than predicted a year ago after the award of substantial grants and low-interest loans to the project. The $15.7 million project will be funded by $8 million in grants, $6 million in loans, with the remainder, about $2 million, from Berlin's coffers. That leaves $365,000 to roll over for the spray...READ MORE

Electric Changes Save Berlin $600K

BERLIN - Changes in how Berlin's power plant is run have saved the town probably $600,000, according to electric consultants Booth and Associates. Booth Vice President Dwight Davis said, during a report on the state of the town's electric utility this week, that they would soon get confirmation that the power plant hit all peak hours last summer that it could.  'We've learned that those peak hours come between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday,' said Davis. That savings will not...READ MORE

Ex-County Teacher Files Discrimination Complaint

BERLIN - A former Ocean City Elementary School (OCES) teacher late last month filed a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging a pattern of discrimination and retaliation for not heeding her principal's warning not to get pregnant. On Sept. 30, former OCES teacher Lyndsay Greenan, through her attorney Robin Cockey, filed a formal complaint with the EEOC, alleging discrimination because she became pregnant about halfway through her first year at the...READ MORE

Expert Frowns On OC Pension Changes

OCEAN CITY •€' The town brought in an expert to basically tell the Mayor and City Council that a massive overhaul to Ocean City employee's pension packages would be a dumb move. Pat Donahue, President and CEO of Municipal and Financial Services Group (MSFG) and 10-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Pension Oversight Committee, was invited to inform and advise the council on the rather complex issue of altering the town's pension packages for new employees to the town. 'The objective is...READ MORE

Master Plan Stresses Need For Historic Themes In Parks

BERLIN - Berlin's three parks should echo the town's historic downtown to present a sense of identity and cohesion, according to a parks master plan presented this week. Steve Engel and Frank Kea of Vista Design offered a new vision for Berlin's three parks that should improve usability and aesthetics and make Berlin's dedicated open space a cohesive part of the town. The new vision was reached partly in response to a citizen survey on the parks, which yielded only 69 responses. 'It sounds...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, the Ocean City Police Department got a grant for some new technology, and the Fire Marshal's Office reminded single-family homeowners that they too need a carbon monoxide detector. Police Department Gets Nod For New Surveillance Gear Captain Robert Bokinsky of the Ocean City Police Department asked for permission to use newly acquired grant money to purchase what he called 'the most prevalent forms of evidence acquisition used nowadays.' After getting...READ MORE

Programs Offered To Help Berlin Electric Customers

BERLIN - Two new programs to help Berlin electric customers pay their bills and reduce their electric costs have been put in place just in time for colder weather. Electric customers in dire straits can now receive assistance in paying those bills through Berlin's new Energy Assistance Program. The new program is available through ShoreUp! and is meant for customers who have been denied assistance through Maryland's energy help program. In the recent past, high electric rates for Berlin electric...READ MORE

Subdivision Eyes Tripoli St, Route 113 Intersection

BERLIN - For the first time in months, the Berlin Planning Commission was asked to consider a new housing development in town. Developer Main Street Homes from Gaithersburg, Md. asked the Planning Commission Wednesday night to offer comments on its concept for a 38-house subdivision on 11 acres at the corner of Tripoli St. and Route 113, bordering Stephen Decatur Park. The concept plan calls for 38 homes, at 2,000 square feet each, clustered around a central span of open space. 'So every home in...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Ever since my first day as a father, I have had a burning desire to give my son whatever he wants, whenever he wants it. And ever since I became a 'dada', I have been fighting that instinct. I presume this to be how all parents feel, particularly when a child is at the ripe age of 17 months, but I am starting to realize it's important to not give in to that impulse to spoil. My problem is it goes against all of my instincts to not give my son something he wants. I am not talking about when he is...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Every Friday: TBA Saturday, Oct. 17: Under The Outhouse Thursday, Oct. 22: DJ Wax Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Every Thursday: DJ Rupe, 5-8 p.m. Every Friday: DJ Rupe, 1-5 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Ocean Club: Friday, Oct. 16 & Saturday, Oct. 17: Rhondells Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 , 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West OC Friday, Oct. 16: DJ...READ MORE

Berlin Seahawks Top Laurel to Remain Unbeaten

BERLIN- The Berlin Seahawks Pee Wee team of the Cape Henlopen Pop Warner Football League picked up a huge win last week, beating the Laurel Bulldogs, 27-14, in a battle of unbeaten conference heavyweights. Something had to give as the two teams met last week with Berlin atop the standings at 6-0 and Laurel also unbeaten and just behind at 5-0. Berlin handed Laurel its first loss of the season and remained unbeaten at 7-0. The Seahawks have one regular season game remaining against Cape...READ MORE

Decatur Golfers Sweep Bayside, District Titles

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's golf team completed a memorable regular season last week with a pair of matches two days apart at the River Marsh Golf Club at the Hyatt in Cambridge, sweeping both the Bayside Conference and Maryland District VIII championships to finish at 10-1. The big week started last Tuesday when the Seahawks shot a team low 322 to come out first among the 18 Bayside Conference schools in the tournament at River Marsh. Easton finished second last Tuesday with a team score of 351,...READ MORE

Junior Dolphins Get in Win Column

BERLIN- The Berlin Dolphins Juniors team of the Salvation Army League got in the win column last week with a 21-13 win over county rival Snow Hill. The Dolphins Juniors team, ages 11-13, had taken a couple of tough losses early in the season, but beat the Eagles, 21-13, for their first win. The game started rough for the Dolphins, who fumbled the opening kick-off and watched Snow Hill march down the field for an early 6-0 lead. However, the Dolphins answered quickly, ending a long drive of their...READ MORE

Mallards Extend Unbeaten Streak to 12-0

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity soccer team turned in two dominating performances this week, beating Greenwood Mennonite, 9-1, at home last Thursday before thrashing host Holly Grove, 7-1, on Monday to remain unbeaten on the year. With the two lop-sided victories, the Mallards extended their season-long unbeaten streak to 12-0 with just a few speed bumps standing between them and a potential perfect season. Against Greenwood Mennonite last Thursday, the Mallards got goals from all over...READ MORE

Seahawks Blank WiHi to End Skid

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity soccer team got off the snide a little this week, beating Wicomico, 3-0, on Monday to end a three-game losing streak. The Seahawks ended a rough patch on the schedule on Monday, blanking the Indians, 3-0, with timely offensive bursts and stingy defense throughout the contest. Alycia Skarzinski led Decatur with two goals, while Lauren Cosgriff added a third. The win ended a three-game skid for the Seahawks against tough Bayside Conference opponents. During...READ MORE

Seahawks Drop a Tough One to Bennett

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity football team's winless streak slid to four last week with a tough loss to Bennett, 14-13, in the Clippers' homecoming game last Saturday. After winning their first two games of the season in impressive fashion, including a 34-20 romp over Rising Sun in the opener and a 39-12 pasting of Washington in week two, the Seahawks have not found their way back into the win column in a month. The streak, which climbed to four last Saturday with the loss to Bennett, has...READ MORE

ATP Tough Guy of the Week

This week's Atlantic Physical Therapy 'Tough Guy of the Week' award went to Seahawk John Lewis for his outstanding play during a narrow 14-13 loss to Bennett last Saturday. Pictured above is Lewis (center) flanked by Coach Bob Knox (left) and ATP lead physical therapist Charles Curran (right). ...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

People in Society

Neighbors Helping One Another Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

Bank of OC Selects SDHS Football MVP of the Week

The Bank of Ocean City continues to sponsor the live broadcast of Stephen Decatur High School's football games on WQMR 101.1FM this season. Additionally, the bank is presenting a weekly plaque to the MVP of each game as well as making a $50 donation to the football program's athletic boosters. Above, from left, are WQMR's Rick Charles, Bank of Ocean City's Earl Conley, this week's MVP Delonte Tate and Coach Bob Knox. ...READ MORE

BIS Students Celebrate Second Spirit Day

Berlin Intermediate students, staff and teachers celebrated this year second spirit day with "Hat-titude" Day. Students showed off their positive attitudes by wearing and comparing their favorite hats. Showing off their spirit are fourth graders Eli Rush and Kyle Jarman. ...READ MORE

Strong School Spirit Shown From OC Elementary Kindergarteners

Kindergarteners in Liz Engh's class at Ocean City Elementary School wear their school apparel to show their school spirit. Back, from left, are Gavin Vent, Rudy Engh, Abby Greenwood and Collin Fohner; and, front from left, are Graham McCabe, Grace Cropper, Saige Figgs, Lorelei Auker and Taylor Baron. ...READ MORE

4th Graders Get Hair-Raising Lesson

Cedric Pabich, Matt Lodanski, and Daniel Stepcic from Faith Murray's fourth grade class at Ocean City Elementary School show how their hair is affected by static electricity during a class science experiment.  ...READ MORE

SDHS National Honor Society and WOCO Red Knights Help Welcome Bikers

The Stephen Decatur High School National Honor Society teamed up with the Worcester County Red Knights, a riding group, and Harley Davidson to host thousands of bikers during the annual Delmarva Bike Week. Members collected donations to support their school and for the Ocean City Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation. Above, Morgan Mitchell, Josh Bargar and Leah James collect donations. ...READ MORE

SDHS Senior Named National Hispanic Scholar

Stephen Decatur High School Senior Elyssia Cardenas has been named a National Hispanic Scholar by the 2009-2010 National Hispanic Recogition Program, which honors Hispanic/Latino high school students from across the nation. Cardenas was selected as an NHRP scholar from a pool of over 200,000 students nationwide. Pictured with Cardenas are guidance counselor Betsy Williams and Principal Louis Taylor ...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Students Bring Animals To School

Fifth grader Clare Riley and her sister Gracie, a seventh grader at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, brought both live and stuffed animals to the pet blessing, held recently at the school. ...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Harriett Cropper HEBRON - Harriet Cropper, 50, died Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at Atlantic General Hospital. Born in Washington, she was a daughter of the late Harry Haraway and Hazel Wooding Haraway. She graduated from Randolph Tucker High School in Richmond in 1977, then attended Randolph Macon College and Wor-Wic Tech. She was employed with her husband at Phone Cards Delmarva Inc. and worked in the hotel business at Castle in the Sand. She is survived by her husband, David Cropper. She is also...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Bank Promotion BERLIN - Raymond M. Thompson, President and CEO of Taylor Bank, announced that Scott P. Williams has been promoted to assistant manager of the bank's Main Office in downtown Berlin. Williams graduated from Salisbury University in 2005 with Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He joined Taylor Bank in 2006 as a teller and was promoted to management trainee in June 2008. He has received training in branch operations, loan processing and credit review in the bank's Berlin...READ MORE

Global Economy Encounters Headwinds, Not Hurricanes

OCEAN CITY - Spurred by government stimulus, pent-up demand and renewed investor confidence, economic recovery is spreading across the globe. "Almost every economy is showing signs of shaking off the deep psychological shock and the wealth losses of the recession •€' and, with the help of policy, starting to grow again," says Ethan Harris, Head of North America Economics at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. More important, economic recovery is creating market...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Caution dominates the Sheep's monetary aspect this week. Rams and Ewes might want to shear their big spending plans until a more favorable financial picture begins to emerge by week's end. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Thrift counts both at home and at work. So you might want to rethink major purchases or investments. Also, be wary of a so-called revelation about a previous decision. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Both household budgets and workplace accounts might...READ MORE

Things I Like

The new cover of this paper Getting to the Route 1 bypass when driving through Delaware Chapstick that works Hardee's on a road trip Pulling in my driveway anytime Taking my son to the park Hearing a friend's good news Unusual names The show 'Fast Forward' Packing for a vacation The orange-flavored G2 ...READ MORE

OP Kiwanis Hold Annual Installation Dinner

The Ocean Pines Kiwanis Club recently held its Installation Dinner at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. Above, Daniel Peletier is installed as president for 2009-2010. Pictured, from left, are Barbara Peletier, Peletier, Past Lt. Governor Dick Feeser and current Lt Governor Barbara Hickman. Below, David Lloyd receives the highest Kiwanis honor, the George Hickman Award for many years committed service toward the objectives of Kiwanis. Pictured, below from left, are Lt Governor Barbara...READ MORE

Ocean Villa Condo Association Wins OC Beauty Spot Award

Even though it's mid-October, Betsy Tebow, Duncan Tebow and Trish Ward wear their spring finery celebrating along with the other members of the Ocean Villa Condo Association their recent winning of an Ocean City Beauty Spot Award. ...READ MORE

Area Youth Assist with Angel Food Ministries

Area youth are assisting Angel Food Ministries by carrying food boxes to the vehicles of people who have made a purchase. Angel Food Ministries is an outreach ministry of Community Church at Ocean Pines. Pictured, from left, are Zachary Palmisano, Derrick Alexander and Daniel Kovic of Stephen Decatur High School and Christopher Nichols of Worcester Prep. ...READ MORE

Diakonia gets $1000 Check From Ocean Pines Home Tour Committee

The Ocean Pines Home Tour Committee recently presented a check for over $1,000 to Claudia Nagel, executive director of Diakonia. Pictured, from left, are committee members Ann Lutz, Barbara Weitzel, Nagel, Diana Gross and Jean Louis. ...READ MORE