December 25, 2009

Pipe Project To Limit Lane Use For OC Motorists

OCEAN CITY •€' Motorists traveling through midtown for the next few months should plan on getting accustomed to one unpleasant traffic term in particular: bottlenecking. Public Works Director Hal Adkins said this week that Coastal Highway would be limited to one lane (the extreme left lane for northbound traffic) gradually from 59th to 65th streets for almost three months starting approximately Jan. 10 in order for contractors to repair the town's primary 48-inch sewer intake valve that...READ MORE

Emergency Beach Repairs Slated To Begin Soon

OCEAN CITY •€' As one major storm passed over the town of Ocean City last weekend, resort officials were putting the finishing touches on plans to clean up the damage left behind from last month's storm that hit Ocean City square in the face. The first part of the emergency beach replenishment project will commence the first week of 2010, as town officials plan for the larger portions of the massive project to clean up the aftermath of last month's Nor'Ida storm, which ravaged the resort...READ MORE

Waterkeepers Hope Lawsuit Threat Cleans Up Farm

BERLIN - Water pollution is the issue, not whether a mound of material on the Hudson Farm is chicken or human waste, said the Waterkeepers this week after controversy erupted over an intended citizen lawsuit against the Hudson Farm and Perdue Chicken over contaminated farm run-off. 'It's not really about the pile. It's about the discharge coming off the farm. It's about getting the ditch cleaned up,' said Kathy Phillips, the Assateague Coastkeeper. The notice of intent to file a lawsuit sent...READ MORE

One-Block Boardwalk Project Comes In Under Budget

OCEAN CITY •€' What was projected to cost at least six figures, has seemingly come in well under budget as the town of Ocean City prepares for the first part of what may end up being some major changes to the town's famous Boardwalk. On Monday night, the Ocean City Council received nine bids for the project to replace the decking on the Boardwalk from 12th-13th streets, which reportedly will be closed to the public in early January until April while the job is being completed, according to...READ MORE

Questions Raised About Charity Requests

OCEAN CITY - The alleged victims of a mobile home explosion in Ocean City in early December have been making the rounds seeking charitable donations from individuals, businesses and financial institutions in the community, but it now appears the supposedly displaced mother of three is not on the up and up. Around 3 a.m. on Dec. 4, Ocean City Communications received a call for a reported structure fire in the area of 136th Street and Coastal Highway. Ocean City aire and police units arrived a...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

 OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, Winterfest took a hit from the so-called blizzard of 2009, while the town got the go-ahead from the Mayor and City Council to add some new 'lighting' to the Boardwalk. New Digital Message Boards To Appear On Boardwalk After Mayor Rick Meehan brought the idea to the City Council in September, the town went forward and got the necessary Homeland Security Grant (for approximately $30,000) that would enable the town to construct two new variable...READ MORE

City Council Swiftly Approves Year's Final Measures

OCEAN CITY •€' The final Mayor and City Council session of 2009 had a slew of new ordinances that had to be decided upon and as quickly as City Solicitor Guy Ayres could read them into the record, the council voted them through to the second and final reading. Here's a brief overview: Budget Amendment OK'd The council voted unanimously to pass through the first of two annual budget amendments as this was the proverbial result to Ocean City's summer from a fiscal standpoint. Budget...READ MORE

Correction

Correction In last week's Between The Lines column, information retrieved from the Ocean City Police Department's Daily Bulletin on its website was referred to as calls for service. According to PFC Mike Levy, the information found on that bulletin represents 'physical written reports.' Those figures were examined to compare the resort's police activity to that of Salisbury's. Here's a look at the town's actual calls for service for the dates used last week with Salisbury's numbers represented...READ MORE

Developer Planning Campground Near Golf Course

BERLIN - Despite the sagging economy, plans are moving forward to convert a vast open space adjacent to a Berlin golf course into a campground with nearly 270 approved sites. Deer Run Golf Course owner Ed Colbert this week said the project planned for a vast parcel across from the entrance to the existing golf course continues to plod forward with nearly all of the required approvals and permits in hand. The plans call for the development of a campground on the site with some cabins and sites...READ MORE

A Family's Unforgettable Gift

BERLIN - The gift of homeownership and stability came early for one local family last week with the dedication of the latest Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County house in Berlin, renewing faith and the spirit of generosity in the community during the holiday season. The latest Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County home on Flower Street was recently completed and officially dedicated on Dec. 12 with dozens of local Habitat volunteers, local and state elected officials, clergy and, most...READ MORE

City Prefers Soft Shoreline Over Bulkhead

OCEAN CITY •€' Bulkheads could be making way for more ecologically friendly and natural looking shorelines as town officials reported this week that the state is leaning toward funding the latter for the foreseeable future. A new eco-friendly soft shoreline will be constructed on Robin Drive, replacing a decaying bulkhead funded by a no-interest loan in the amount of $308,700 from the Department of Natural Resources and an $8,000 grant from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. The total...READ MORE

County To Start Thorny Budget Process Earlier Next Year

SNOW HILL - Worcester County will keep an eye on the state of Maryland as it begins its budget process for fiscal year 2011, which will begin 30 days earlier than usual to allow county elected officials more time to deal with major projected revenue reductions. 'You're going to have a lot more time. It's going to be a lot tougher budget,' said county administrator Gerry Mason. 'I don't think that comes as a surprise to anybody,' said Commissioner Bud Church, president of the board. Fiscal year...READ MORE

Md. Officials Attend Ocean Summit

OCEAN CITY - State officials last week participated in a two-day summit in New York to brainstorm on a wide variety of issues facing the ocean and coastal communities throughout the mid-Atlantic region including Ocean City. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO), a coalition of five states including Maryland formed last summer to provide a unified, cohesive voice on issues affecting the ocean and coastal communities, held its first-ever summit last week in New York City. The...READ MORE

Pines Robber Nabbed

SNOW HILL - An Ocean Pines man was arrested this week on several serious charges after police were able to identify him as the suspect in an attempted armed robbery at a store in the community on Dec. 15. Shortly after 8 p.m. last Tuesday, Ocean Pines Police officers and Worcester County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Walgreen's store on Manklin Creek Rd. in Ocean Pines for a reported attempted armed robbery. The investigation revealed a suspect entered the warehouse area of the store and...READ MORE

What Others Are Saying

Expanding Benefits Is Worth The Price (Editor's Note: In the interest of showing all sides of an issue, the following is an opinion that represents the polar opposite of how we feel on this particular issue, which we weighed in on last month.) Maryland business groups have been up in arms in recent months about automatic increases in unemployment insurance payments that are about to kick in - costing them $136-$383 extra per worker. It's a tough thing to take in the middle of a recession, but it...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Health Care Bill Thoughts Editor: According to Congressional and Senatorial proponents, the principal purpose of the current healthcare bill is 'to provide affordable healthcare coverage for all Americans', (including some 31 million Americans now without medical insurance coverage). A noble objective, but just how realistic is this goal? Providing affordable healthcare to hundreds-of-millions of Americans, through the so-called 'Public Option' (or its equivalent), is based on the single premise...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

At the end of every year in this space, I put forward some predictions for what I think will happen over the next year. I looked back this week to grade myself and see whether I was on the mark with my forecasts or way off on what would happen in 2009. By far and away, it was not a good year as far as my predictions go. Here's a run down of my embarrassing performance. On The Money -- I suggested 'bureaucratic delays and other practical obstacles' would lead to not one slot machine being used...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Thursday, Dec. 31: New Year's Eve Bash with DJ Joe Daddy Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Thursday, Dec. 31: NYE Party with DJ Rupe Every Friday: DJ Rupe, 7-9 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Ocean Club: Saturday, Dec. 26: Best Kept Secret Thursday, Dec. 31: NYE Party with First Class & Power Play Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 , 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy.,...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 25--Assateague Island Looking For Parking Alternatives

Shawn J. Soper News Editor ASSATEAGUE - While the fierce coastal storm that lashed the mid-Atlantic region in November has become a distant memory for many in the area, officials on Assateague Island are still repairing the damage and making long-term plans to mitigate similar destruction in the future. Assateague Island National Seashore officials last week announced while much of the repairs on the barrier island have been completed, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done to...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 25--Berlin Fiscal Health Called Strong

BERLIN - Despite the economy, Berlin achieved a surplus of $6.9 million in the last fiscal year, according to auditors. At last week's meeting, Berlin received a clean bill of financial health from auditors, who pointed out some highlights of the town's financial picture. 'We feel the town's financial position is very strong,' said auditor Mike Kleger of Pigg, Krahl, and Stern. The town started the year with $6.9 million left over from the previous year. 'This is the surplus carrying forward,...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 25--Horseshoe Crab Study Suggests Future Changes

BERLIN - An eight-year study of the spawning habits of local horseshoe crabs by the Maryland Fisheries Service and Maryland Coastal Bays Program could prompt a change in horseshoe crab harvesting dates to allow the sea creatures to reproduce before capture. The coastal bays horseshoe crab study, begun in 2002 and concluding early last summer, has determined that horseshoe crabs in Maryland spawn later than horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay. Horseshoe crab spawning in Maryland's coastal bays,...READ MORE

Friday, Dec 25--School Board Hoping To Maintain As Budget Looms

NEWARK - With a harsh budget year approaching, the Worcester County Board of Education is hoping to just keep what it has. 'We're not asking for new programs, just to maintain or sustain existing programs,' said Superintendent of Schools Jon Andes. Local schools budget goals continue to call for small class sizes, support for good teachers and the infrastructure necessary for instruction. 'They're all very important budget goals. They were last year. They are this year,' said Board of Education...READ MORE

Faces in Places

A Christmas spotlight on some of the local and regional holiday parties in the area ...READ MORE

Strange Fiery Object Found On Beach

OCEAN CITY - A mysterious, glowing hot object fell from the sky and landed on the beach in Ocean City last week, but it remains uncertain this week just what it is and from where it came. Early last Tuesday morning, an Ocean City cab driver was walking down the Boardwalk in the area of 22nd Street when he saw a bright glowing object fall from the sky from north to south and land on the beach roughly 20 yards away from him. Classic Cab Company driver Derrick Miller typically drops his taxi back...READ MORE

OC Elementary Kindergarteners Explore Science

Chirstine Lieb's kindergarten students from Ocean City Elementary School worked through the scientific process to discover what type of paper best repels water. Pictured are Emma Meyers conducting the experiment and Elijah Wiltbank recording the findings on a data sheet. ...READ MORE

Buckingham Kindergarteners Show Off Gingerbread Houses

Buckingham Elementary School pre-kindergarten students Jayden Criner and Marsha Malcombson show off a gingerbread house they made as a class. They are students in Mrs. Raine's class. ...READ MORE

BIS Orchestra Performs Holiday Concert

Orchestra students started off the holiday season at Berlin Intermediate School by performing for the students, teachers and parents. Above, cello players Malia Nichols and Becca Cooper perform one of the many pieces presented at the concert. ...READ MORE

Buckingham First Graders Show Off Holiday Hats

Buckingham Elementary School first-grade students Olivia Brown, Evan Kinsey and Will Barrett show off their holiday hats in Mrs. Jack's class. ...READ MORE

Buckingham Students Write Letters To Santa

Marcus Shorter, third grade student in Mrs. Williams' class at Buckingham Elementary School, shows the letters he recently wrote to Santa as part of a class lesson ...READ MORE

3rd Grader Writes To Santa as Part of a Class Lesson

Third grader Elizabeth Horner at Buckingham Elementary School show the letters that she recently wrote to Santa as part of a class lesson. ...READ MORE

Steps To Keep In Mind For Better Retirement Living

OCEAN CITY - While retirement can be a time for exploration, the element of surprise should be reserved for new life experiences •€' not for managing your assets and income. The unique financial challenges that retirement presents can often jeopardize your cash flow and your goals if you don't plan carefully. Short- and long-term financial needs could be competing for the same resources in your retirement portfolio, and a curveball, such as a health crisis or overspending in the...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your love of the holidays creates a special bond between you and the people in your life. Use this as a way of building stronger relationships that will carry over well beyond this time. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A new approach could go a long way toward resolving a painful estrangement, especially at this holiday time. And since your aspects favor friendship this week, why not go ahead and try it? GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Your positives continue to dominate,...READ MORE

A Week in Business

Top Producers Listed OCEAN CITY - ResortQuest Real Estate recently announced November's top producers for its Delaware and Maryland locations. Tammy Hadder and Anna Meiklejohn of the Marketplace at Sea Colony office received top honors for listing volume for the month of November. Top listing volume awards for individual agents by office were Hadder and Meiklejohn for the Marketplace at Sea Colony office and Jane Baxter for the Bethany Beach office. Team Winwaik (Colleen Windrow and Missy...READ MORE

People in Society

Snapshots of Those Helping Causes Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Arthur Francis Carley BISHOPVILLE - Arthur Francis Carley, better known as Skip, age 57, passed into eternal life on Dec. 15, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Penelope Carley, and Penny's family that he helped raise, educate and love beginning with Robert Tanner, Jr., Lori and Scott Tanner; two grandsons, Kyle and Dylan Tanner; daughter Tamara and Mike Bubczyk; and granddaughter Ashley Hall. Also, sisters Joan Walker, Kathy Carley, Margie Grebin, Sharon Ayersman, Susan Merritt, Rita George,...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Bill Cosby famously said, 'You are not really a parent until you have a second child.' While a father to one, this quote bothered me tremendously. Thanks to last month's birth of my second son, I understand what the five-time father meant by it. Nonetheless, I still do not agree entirely with it. Of course, you are a parent if you have an only child. I would even say you are a parent if you have a dog or a cat or any other kind of pet that's dependent on you for everything. There's the same...READ MORE

Things I Like

Stockings hanging from a mantle ACC College basketball Good snowball making snow My son's little boots Christmas tunes playing in the streets of Berlin Sandra Bullock in •€˜The Blind Side' Holiday cards in the mailbox The smell of a good coffee shop A vehicle with a fast defrost My kids dressed up in Christmas outfits Smell of a fire burning on a cold night ...READ MORE

Ocean Pines Novelettes Book Club Holiday Party Held

Members of the Novelettes Book Club of Ocean Pines pose at their Holiday Party at Inn on the Ocean with the children's books to be donated to needy families at Christmas with Worcester G.O.L.D. Pictured, from left, are Em Hench, Darel Carpenter and Edie Brennan; and, second row, Dian Witt and Joan Muschiatti; and, standing, Ellie Sizemore, Jackie Todd, Jan Paige, Pat Capezio and Darlene Stevens. ...READ MORE

SDHS National Honor Society Makes Annual Donation to Children's Foundation

For the fifth consecutive year, the Stephen Decatur High School National Honor Society made an annual donation to Believe in Tomorrow Childrens Foundation.  This year the group was able to collect thousands of dollars working the school parking lot during Bike Week.  Officers presented a check to local Coordinator Wayne Littleton last week in the amount of $4,000. Pictured, back from left, are Drew Murrell, Brandon Maddy, Littleton, and Principal Lou Taylor; front, from left, are...READ MORE

AGH Auxiliary Swears in 2010 Officers

Atlantic General Hospital Auxiliary held a swearing in of 2010 officers during the auxiliary annual membership meeting held in December at the Ocean Pines Library. Pictured, from left, are Harriet Johnson, president; Betty Franke, vice president; Kathleen Gibbons, recording secretary; Janice Slaysman, treasurer; Lavern Powell, corresponding secretary; and Carole Kramer, Maryland Association of Hospital Auxiliaries president. ...READ MORE

Merrill Lynch of Ocean City Participates in Local Toys For Tots Drive

Brian and Christine Selzer, along with their clients, of Merrill Lynch in Ocean City recently donated unwrapped toys to the local Toys for Tots drive. They are pictured with some of the items collected. ...READ MORE

OC Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary Holds Christmas Luncheon

Ocean City Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary held its Christmas Luncheon at the Cottage Cafe in Delaware.  They brought donations to stock the Baby Pantry for Worcester County G.O.L.D. Here are Frances Nickels, Bertha Huettner, Margaret Yates and Darlene Onley ...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 Daily 11-4 Closed Thanksgiving Kevin Decker The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 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...READ MORE

Open Houses in West Ocean City and Berlin

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Fri-Sun 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 Prudential Carruthers 410-520-2600 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 410-520-2600 ...READ MORE