December 18, 2009

Decatur Edges Snow Hill, 58-50 to Remain Unbeaten

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's boys' varsity basketball team used a late surge to pull away from county rival Snow Hill, 58-50, in a battle of county high school heavyweights in front of a huge crowd at home on Tuesday. Something had to give Tuesday night when county rivals Decatur and Snow Hill hooked up in front of a standing room only crowd with early season bragging rights on the line, and the Seahawks responded with an impressive eight-point win over the Eagles to remain unbeaten. For the better...READ MORE

Seahawk Swimmers Sweep Kent County

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity swim teams continued their early season success last week with both the boys' and girls' teams sweeping their meets with Kent County. After earning a split in the season opener against Easton with the girls beating the Warriors and the boys falling in a close meet, the Seahawks responded last week with a sweep over Kent County. The Decatur girls won 123-46 with several Seahawk swimmers winning individual events. Taylor Blazer won the 50-meter freestyle, Kelly...READ MORE

Kirby's Reaches Flag Title Game

OCEAN CITY- Kirby's Pub overcame and early playoff loss, settled some old scores along the way and fought all the way back from the loser's bracket this week to reach the championship game in the Ocean City Recreation and Parks' Fall Flag Football League. Eastern Shore Golf Magazine (ESGM) went unbeaten in the regular season, finishing with a perfect 8-0 record, to earn the top seed in the tournament. Buxy's Salty Dog was second at 6-2, while Kirby's was third at 4-4. ESGM cruised through the...READ MORE

Local Players Lead Bayside South Upset

BERLIN- A pair of Worcester County standout football players helped the Bayside South upset the Bayside North, 34-28, last week in the annual Eastern Shore Senior All-Star game. The Bayside South entered the annual All-Star contest as the decided underdog to the Bayside North, which boasted the top three teams in the conference overall this year. However, further evidence of why the game is played on the field and not on paper was provided when the South upset the North thanks to a big...READ MORE

Mallards Beat Delmarva Christian, 58-44

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boy's varsity basketball team won its third straight game in Tuesday, beating Delmarva Christian, 58-44, on the road to improve to 5-2 on the season. The Mallards cruised past Delmarva Christian on Tuesday behind a pair of prolific scorers in Justin Butler, who finished with 18 points, and Alex Ternahan, who finished with a double-double including 15 points and 10 rebounds. After falling to Holly Grove in a tight game, 48-42, last Thursday, in a game in which Ternahan...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Girls Have Up and Down Week

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's girls' varsity basketball team had an up and down week, winning two games before falling to Delmarva Christian, 29-21 on the road on Tuesday. The Mallards beat Christian Tabernacle Academy, 28-27, in overtime in its own invitational tournament last Saturday. Devon Zorn scored 10 points to lead Worcester over CTA in the tournament including five big points in the decisive overtime period. On Monday, the Mallards were back in action at home against Countryside Christian...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Things do not always turn out in reality as you anticipate in your head. However, in the case of the messy side of parenting, I have to say it's just about how I thought it would be. With two kids in diapers, and my toddler eating just about everything I do or at least the same kinds of foods, the poop patrol has been quite busy around my house these days. I apologize for being a little off color here, but this is no politically correct way to address this topic. The fact is there are times when...READ MORE

Seven Arrested In Drug Sweep

OCEAN CITY - A total of seven individuals including one juvenile were arrested during a drug sweep at a downtown Ocean City apartment complex early last Saturday morning. Around 6:20 a.m. last Saturday, the Ocean City Police narcotics unit, along with patrol officers, served search and seizure warrants on two units in the Jocelyn Manor Apartments on 8th Street. During a search of the first unit, OCPD officers located marijuana and paraphernalia and took two people into custody. Arrested were...READ MORE

OC Officials Fear Major Boardwalk Project Looming

OCEAN CITY •€' Town officials are concerned that the city's most famous landmark is long overdue for a massive renovation and soon they expect to know just how massive that project might be. Monday's bid openings for a projected six figure deck replacement job between 12th and 13th streets on the Ocean City Boardwalk may just be the beginning, as town officials are quietly planning a total reconstruction of the resort's famous Boardwalk as early as fall 2012. City leaders, who have...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

The first weekend in June is going to be tricky in Ocean City. Although officials seem to be downplaying its significance, the resort will be hosting three popular events that weekend - the Ocean City Air Show, the Ravens Roost Convention, most notably the annual parade, and the OC Car and Truck Show. While the event itself received rave reviews from just about everyone, traffic and parking for the Air Show was a nightmare last year. There's really no way to address this fact. When thousands of...READ MORE

Health Insurance Debate Worth Following

As is often the case, a nasty game of politics is confusing the public regarding the health insurance reform debate. Consequently, many are choosing to become disenfranchised with the goings on in the nation's capital and simply writing it off to politics as usual. While it's understandable to be turned off by all the perplexing shenanigans that take place in Congress, this is one situation we should all continue to follow because it will more than likely impact everyone at some point on some...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Stress Safety In Ads Editor: It seems to me that all the hoopla about advertising money may be missing the point. I recently talked to a couple from Pittsburgh who had just visited downtown Baltimore. They got the impression that it is no longer safe to walk around Harborplace now even in the daytime. They said they saw gangs strolling around and looking for trouble. I think Ocean City had better act proactively to address this problem. Once people get the idea it's not safe here, you can spend...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 18: TBA Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Every Friday: DJ Rupe, 7-9 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Ocean Club: Friday, Dec. 18 & Saturday, Dec. 19: Best Kept Secret Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 , 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West OC Friday, Dec. 18: DJ Bigler, 6-10 p.m. Fager's Island 410-524-5500 60th St. in the Bay Deck: Friday, Dec. 18:...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 18--Cuts Leads To Reduced Health Services

SNOW HILL - Over $1.5 million in cuts have forced Worcester County's Health Department to reduce services, transfer staff and eliminate programs. County residents are receiving fewer services, said Worcester County Health Department Officer Debbie Goeller while reporting on the current state of her department to the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday. Waiting lists for available services are a possibility, she added. The health department lost funding from federal, state, and county sources...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 18--Perdue Worker Loses Leg In Accident

BERLIN - A local man was seriously injured this week after getting his leg caught in a sweep auger at Perdue's feed mill in Berlin on Monday afternoon. Around 2:20 p.m. on Monday, Berlin Police responded to the Perdue Feed Mill on Bryan Ave. for a reported industrial accident. Upon arrival, Berlin Police learned a worker at the plant, James Garrett Ehrisman, 25, of Eden, had gotten his leg caught in a sweep auger in one of the facility's grain silos. As a result of the accident, Ehrisman's right...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 18--State Flush Tax Funding Hit Hard

SNOW HILL - Homeowners hoping for state flush tax money to improve their septic systems might be out of luck this year after the state raided the flush tax fund for $5 million to be used to make up budget gaps, county staff reported this week. Just 15 properties in Worcester County could receive flush tax monies to add enhanced nutrient removal technology to septic systems this year. This technology pre-treats effluent collected in a septic system to a much higher standard than traditional...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 18--Universal Boardwalk Display Rules Now In Effect

OCEAN CITY •€' The outdoor display guidelines are now officially the same for the entire Boardwalk, creating what town officials have been striving for and pushing to the point of redundancy: the level playing field for all merchants. Prior to last summer, the Mayor and City Council passed new outdoor display guidelines for Boardwalk merchants, essentially putting a few restrictions on not only how much merchandise could be displayed just outside their shops, but also making the displays...READ MORE

Council's Code Change Could Impact Some Businesses

OCEAN CITY •€' When you hear it explained, it seems like common sense, but if you were to read the entirety of the newly adopted mechanical code in Ocean City, it seemingly makes very little sense at all. The City Council may have unanimously passed a new mechanical code on Tuesday afternoon at City Hall, but there were some who raised their hands with visibly befuddled looks on their faces. Chief Building Official Kevin Brown admits that there are parts of this complex state mechanical...READ MORE

Industry Waiting For Taxi Franchise Proposal Specifics

OCEAN CITY - Tempers may have started to flare, but town officials are trying to keep their cool and assure the taxi industry that any changes made to the town's cab service is in the name of improvement and not a hostile takeover. Since City Manger Dennis Dare's mere mention of the idea to create a taxi franchise in the town of Ocean City two weeks ago, there has been a growing number of opinions and perhaps conspiracy theories brewing from those who work in the taxi industry, ranging from...READ MORE

Officials Support Expedited Call For Wind Farm

OCEAN CITY - A cross section of elected officials, business leaders and environmentalists came together in Ocean City this week in support of an expedited effort to develop offshore wind farms off the coast of the resort. Environment Maryland, a private sector conservation group, this week released its new report entitled 'The Power of Offshore Wind: A Source of Clean, Reliable, Affordable Electricity for Maryland's Future,' that calls for the development of an offshore wind farm off the coast...READ MORE

Pair Rescued From Burning Boat

OCEAN CITY - A potential tragedy was averted this week when two people were rescued from a burning fishing boat just off the coast of Ocean City, but the vessel burned to the water line and later had to be towed ashore amid a spread of debris that covered nearly an entire block. Shortly before 8 a.m. on Monday, the 40-foot sport fishing boat was traveling north along the coast in the area of 118th Street about 200 yards offshore when its occupants, owner and operator David Catrino, 41, of Ocean...READ MORE

Smaller Project May Determine Boardwalk's Overall Condition

OCEAN CITY •€' Millions of people walk on the Ocean City Boardwalk each year, and presumably, only a mere few have ever cast more than a passing thought to what really lies underneath the town's most treasured tourist attraction. With town officials hinting at a possible massive reconstruction of the Boardwalk in the next several years, Public Works Director Hal Adkins tried to explain what is being discussed and the reasons why the infrastructure under the Boardwalk might be getting a new...READ MORE

Berlin Council News In Brief

BERLIN - The Berlin Mayor and Council discussed several topics at their first December meeting Monday night, such as the design of and funding for the town's new spray irrigation space in Newark, a water rate study and new town-supplied garbage cans for residents. ------- The council has authorized the beginning of the design process for the new wastewater effluent spray irrigation site in Newark in an attempt to have a design ready this spring for funding applications. The town will approach...READ MORE

Clean Water Act Lawsuit Filed

BERLIN - Local green advocacy group Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) and the national  Waterkeepers Alliance plan to file suit against a Berlin chicken farm and Perdue Farms, Inc. over manure pollution in local waters. Farm owners Alan and Kristin Hudson, contract growers for Perdue, and Perdue Farms, have been served notice of ACT and the alliance's intent to file a case in federal court. The organizations will ask for an injunction against more pollution, a clean up order, and fines for...READ MORE

Correction

In the article 'Three Local Families Growing Through Adoption' in the Dec. 4 issue, it was incorrectly implied that adopted children Jessie and Keri Tinker have no other family aside from their adoptive parents. The children are still in contact with their birth mother, Cristi Ann Shankland. The Dispatch regrets the error. Editor. ...READ MORE

OC Budget Review Looks Solid

OCEAN CITY •€' All things considered, the town of Ocean City's budget is still holding a reasonably strong line. During the first of two annual budget amendments, which was presented by Budget Manager Jennie Knapp on Tuesday afternoon at City Hall, Knapp told the Mayor and City Council that she was able to move some things around with savings and revenue enhancements to compensate for the losses of revenue in other areas.  Knapp said that thanks largely to the massive cuts and...READ MORE

Rules Needed For Gated Communities, County Says

SNOW HILL - A planned gated development of 15 homes has prompted the Worcester County Commissioners to call for regulations to govern gated access to local communities to ensure that emergency responders can open those gates. 'We need to have some rules,' County Commissioner Virgil Shockley said Tuesday during a brief discussion of the Aramis community planned on south St. Martin's Neck Rd. The county, Shockley said, needs rules for all gated communities. Inquiries about gated communities have...READ MORE

Senators Scrap For Route 113 Funds

BERLIN - At a time when state funding for highway projects has become doubtful, Maryland's U.S. Senators this week announced nearly $1 million has been included for the ongoing Route 113 dualization project in a recently approved federal transportation appropriations bill. Maryland Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin this week announced the federal Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill approved by a House-Senate conference committee as part of the larger...READ MORE

Showell School Gets Connected

SNOW HILL - The long awaited public sewer and water connection for Showell Elementary School should be completed by the time school starts in fall 2010. The design for both connections is complete, and money has been set aside to pay for the construction. The bid package for the construction should be sent out in mid-January, said Worcester County Public Works Director John Tustin, who presented the project's progress to both the County Commissioners and the Worcester County Board of Education...READ MORE

Snow Hill Middle Is Area's Latest Md. Blue Ribbon School

SNOW HILL - Worcester County's highly decorated public school system added another feather to its cap this week when state education officials named Snow Hill Middle School a Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. With the announcement on Tuesday, Snow Hill Middle joined seven other Worcester County public schools to have received the prestigious award including, in no particular order, Ocean City, Showell, and Snow Hill Elementary Schools, Stephen Decatur Middle School and all three of the...READ MORE

State Funds Planned For Bays

BERLIN - Maryland's Board of Public Works (BPW) this week approved grants totaling nearly $12 million to local governments and land trusts earmarked for the preservation of farmland and forest, including $1 million for Worcester County's coastal bays. On Wednesday, the three-member BPW, which includes Governor Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp, approved $11.8 million in grants for farm and forest preservation through the state's Rural Legacy Program. Included...READ MORE

West OC Fire Destroys Garage

WEST OCEAN CITY - A fire at a residence in West Ocean City last Saturday afternoon drew a response from three fire companies and completely destroyed an attached garage with black smoke visible for miles. Residents of the house on Lakeview Drive in the Ocean Reef community in West Ocean City reported the fire last Saturday afternoon around 3:18 p.m. Black smoke was visible throughout the West Ocean City area and even in Ocean City. First arriving crews reported heavy fire extending from the...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

A Week In Business

New Director Named SALISBURY - John Morcom has been named Peninsula Regional Medical Center's Director of Respiratory, Pulmonary and Neurology Services, according to Karen C. Poisker, Vice President of Patient Care Services. Morcom has been employed at Peninsula Regional since 1971 and served as a Respiratory Therapist in the Respiratory Care Department until 2003. He then joined the Medical Center's Information Services Department as a clinical analyst, where he played an important role in...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Charles B. Bohner OCEAN CITY - Charles B. Bohner, age 69, passed as gently as the life he lived on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. Born in Kansas City, Mo., he was the son of the late Woodrow Bohner and Blanche Brosius Bohner. Bohner was a U.S. Navy veteran. He had worked as a manager for the Liquor Control Board in Pennsylvania until his early retirement at the age of 52. He had resided in Ephreta, Pa. and Lancaster, Pa. and enjoyed visiting Ocean City since...READ MORE

Tax Advice For Today's Markets

OCEAN CITY - Tax considerations are about to play a much more central role in many people's thinking as they're making critical financial decisions. At the end of 2010, several cornerstones of the federal tax legislation of 2001 and 2003 •€'specifically, those reducing tax rates on income, capital gains and dividends •€' are set to expire. Meanwhile, with U.S. government debt soaring as the result of stimulus spending to rescue the economy, many economists believe...READ MORE

Worcester Prep 8th Graders Recognized for Excellence in Writing

Recognized by the Rehoboth Writers' Guild for their excellent writing were Worcester Prep eighth grade students Claire Stickler, left, and Emma Richardson. The students, both previous winners in Rehoboth Writers' competitions and in Young Authors of Maryland events, are honored in the current Delaware Beach Life magazine, where you can read their work. Richardson's story, The Journey Home, placed first in fiction, and Stickler's Bingo was second. With the student authors is Maribeth Fischer of...READ MORE

PNC Bank Staffers Read to OC Elemetary Kindergarteners

Robin Ashwell and Lori Dixon from PNC Bank recently took time out of their day to read to the kindergarten students at Ocean City Elementary School. David Thompson, Marie Griffiths, and Jaden Newcomer, students in Sheri Brueckner's class, were happy to listen to holiday stories ...READ MORE

Fun With Painting at Showell Elementary School

Brittany Schmidt and Justin Stull learn their colors the fun, messy way by painting color patterns on a pumpkin at Showell Elementary School. Identifying colors and simple patterns are skills kindergarteners learn as part of the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum standards for math and visual arts. ...READ MORE

Kindergartener Gives Speech About Making Snowman To Class

David Thompson, a student in Sheri Brueckner's kindergarten class at Ocean City Elementary School, recently gave a speech about making snowmen to his fellow classmates and visiting parents. ...READ MORE

Scenes From Worcester Prep Alumni Basketball Game

Some members of the Class of 2008 returned last month to Worcester Preparatory School to watch the annual alumni basketball game. Among them were, from left, Caroline Wyatt, Chase Humphrey, Mackenzie White, Caitlin Whalan, Woody Harrington, Tory Dickerson, Matt Edmunds and Christian Coates. On the right is Olivia Parker, a member of the school's Class of 2018. ...READ MORE

Showell Kindergarteners Illustrate Model Student Behavior

Showell Elementary kindergarteners Michael Romano and Zachary Powers illustrate what a model student does when he has the answer to the teacher's question. Students practice model behavior and following school rules to insure that everyone has a chance to learn in a safe and respectful environment. Students at Showell are sent to the principal's office when they are caught doing something right. This "positive office referral" promotes the idea that the principal's office is a place...READ MORE

Things I Like

A quiet house Driving my boys around A forecast for snow that's accurate Weekends without rain The feel of an old pair of Uggs Anything by Tastykake A movie and dinner with my wife Thick socks on cold days The Heisman Trophy pose Low-budget movies that make big bucks Putting on a tie for a happy occasion ...READ MORE

Community Foundation of Eastern Shore Awards $2,000 Grant

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore has awarded a $2,000 Help Your Neighbor Grant to the Gateway Christian Ministries in Ocean City to help struggling families and seniors who need assistance paying for utilities, food or prescriptions. Above, Robin Derrickson of Gateway Christian Ministries accepts the grant check from Spicer Bell, CFES President. In the past year, the Community Foundation has provided over $37,000 in emergency assistance to small nonprofits on the Lower Eastern Shore...READ MORE

Community Church Working With Worcester G.O.L.D for Christmas

The members of Community Church at Ocean Pines are making Christmas a little happier for area families by working with Worcester G.O.L.D. and the Angel Tree program. Over 200 paper angels were placed on a Christmas tree in the church narthex. Each contained information about a person such as their age, sizes and an item from their Christmas wish list. Congregation members took an angel, purchased a gift for the person described and then returned the wrapped gift to the church. Marjorie Mause,...READ MORE

Daughters of American Revolution Local Chapter Donates Flag to Senior Cen.

The General Levin Winder Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented a flag that was flown over the Capitol building in Washington, DC to the Fulton Senior Center in Snow Hill. Above are General Levin Winder members, from left, Carol Morrison, Janet Cassidy, Betty Jackson, Kathy Muncy, Judy Reeser, Pat Ayers and Pat Arata and, back row, Jeanne Townsend. Not pictured but in attendance was Kitt Matthews ...READ MORE

Berlin Resident's Homeade Candles Help Raise $450 for Local Charity

Sheila Zimmer of Berlin recently solicited the help of some friends to make homemade candies to sell at the Lower Shore Red Cross Celebrity Luncheon in Salisbury. An assortment of delicious Christmas treats helped to raise over $450 for the local Red Cross Chapter. Pictured, from left, at her candy wrapping party luncheon are Evonne Lee, Pearl Lasley, Betty Stork, Betsy Ludlam, Zimmer, Kathy Bellestri, Karen Kriege, Niv Kitzig and Jean Shanley. ...READ MORE

Scenes From Ribbon Cutting for Salisbury Life Crisis Center

Michele Hughes, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Delegate Rudolph Cane, Jimmy Sarbanes, Kathleen Momme are pictured participating in the 2-1-1 Maryland dedication ribbon cutting at the Life Crisis Center last week in Salisbury. ...READ MORE

People in Society

A spotlight on those lending a hand throughout the community ...READ MORE