May 28, 2010

Thoughts From the Publisher's Desk

The holiday weekend marks the middle of a three-week stretch of strong draws for the Ocean City area. Last weekend's Cruisin' event seemed at times, particularly on local roads, like the town was filled to capacity. While demoflush shows about 170,000 people were in town (down about 25 percent from last year), that number seems deflated to me. It was much busier by nearly all accounts. Cruisin' truly has become the start of the busy season around here. For some businesses, like hotels and...READ MORE

Voices From the Readers

Commissioners Let Down Residents Editor: On May 18, I attended the public hearing held by the Worcester County Commissioners regarding a barking dog ordinance. I had collected 27 signatures in support of this ordinance by neighbors in our development. As I spoke with them, we all had hope for the first time that something might be accomplished to remedy the constant barking of 5-8 dogs at one residence (this kennel practically sits on my property line). On May 11, for instance, it began in...READ MORE

Barking Dog Decision Needs Another Look

Barking Dog Decision Needs Another Look It may not be akin to Ocean City's decision to drop the recycling program, but there are people around these parts barking mad over the County Commissioners' decision to not do anything about what they perceive as a serious issue - barking dogs. At last week's meeting, the commissioners decided against approving a measure that would allow for property owners to be fined if their barking dog is found to be a nuisance. The bill would have established,...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

Teen Credited With Saving Toddler's Life

WEST OCEAN CITY •€' Two local teens are being called heroes this week after helping to save an 18-month-old girl's life. When 16-year-old Austin Deppe heard cries for help outside his West Ocean City home last Saturday, he said he wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew that he had to help in any way that he could. 'I just had this feeling like something was going to happen that morning for some reason,' said Deppe. 'We were waiting for the cable guy to do some work at our house, and I...READ MORE

A Week in Business

Top Producer Named WILLARDS - Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley has announced Meagan Krause Kohut as top producer for April. Kohut is a commercial insurance account executive specializing in property and casualty insurance. She has completed extensive training with The Hartford, earning the Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) designation. New Hire, Top Sales Agents BERLIN - Shamrock Realty Group recently welcomed Toni Ney to its office in the Grays Corner Professional Center. She...READ MORE

Friday, May 28--Berlin Retains Same Tax Rate, Copes With Less Money

BERLIN - Berlin will make do with less revenue in fiscal year 2011 and keep the real property tax rate the same despite lower property value assessments. The town will make up the projected gap in revenue by reducing expenses in the fiscal year 2011 budget, not increasing taxes, officials emphasized. Town taxpayers will be subject to a property tax rate of 73 cents per $100 of assessed value next fiscal year, the Berlin Mayor and Council decided Monday night. The town council also set Berlin's...READ MORE

Friday, May 28--Burglary Suspect Caught In Del.

BERLIN - A Pocomoke man wanted in connection to a string of burglaries throughout the county over a two-day period in March and April is in custody in Delaware this week after attempting another burglary and having his car tires shot by a concerned neighbor as he tried to escape. Brad Donaway, 32, was charged last week with multiple residential burglaries over two days in Worcester County including break-ins in Berlin, Snow Hill and Whaleyville, after a month-long investigation by the Worcester...READ MORE

Friday, May 28--County To Fund Welcome Center

SNOW HILL - The Pocomoke Welcome Center should be kept open, the Worcester County Commissioners decided this week. In a final budget work session Tuesday morning, the Worcester County Commissioners considered last-minute changes to the fiscal year 2011 budget, with some further expenditures on the table, as well as more reductions. The commissioners agreed Tuesday to several minor changes to the overall FY 11 budget accepted by consensus at an earlier budget work session, including the addition...READ MORE

Friday, May 28--Fenwick Island Landmark Celebrates Two Decades

OCEAN CITY •€' Some have said that David and Janet Twining built Nantuckets Restaurant on an exceptional bowl of soup, but that would only be part of the recipe, and according to them, not nearly the most important ingredient. As the couple recently celebrated 20 years as award-winning restaurateurs of the Fenwick Island mainstay, they have their eyes set on the future, as their newest venture, Twining's Lobster Shanty, is poised to open in a matter of weeks on the Route 54 corridor. As...READ MORE

Police Got The Right Speece

WEST OCEAN CITY - A Baltimore man with an extensive criminal record and numerous known aliases was arrested in West Ocean City early Wednesday morning after attempting to deceive Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers. Shortly after midnight on Wednesday, a MSP trooper patrolling in the area of Routes 50 and 611 in West Ocean City observed a 1991 Acura traveling at a high rate of speed in foggy conditions. As the trooper attempted to catch up to the vehicle, it turned onto Route 707 and turned off...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

A new chapter of memories are currently being made on Saturday mornings at the indoor pool in Ocean Pines. That's where Beckett and I, along with a dozen or so other local parent/child teams, participate in Coach Lori's Toddler and Me swimming lessons. This is a fun family activity for us, and it gives me the organized shelter needed from my wife to do what needs to be done to Beckett so he learns the ins and outs of being in a pool and swimming. Around my house, it's well known Pam has some...READ MORE

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your Aries self-esteem level is high, as is your impatience to see more action come your way in the workplace. Good news, Lamb: It could start to happen sooner than you think. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Changing things now could upset a lot of people. But if you feel you're acting because you believe it's the right thing to do, others will understand and even come to support you. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A change of mind might not necessarily be a change of...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Pauline M. Hetler BERLIN - Pauline Marie Hetler, age 94, died on May 17, 2010 at Atlantic General Hospital. She would have celebrated her 95th birthday on May 22. A resident of Berlin since 1983, she was preceded in death by her husband Marion E. Hetler. They were married for 66 years. Born in Mansfield, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Hoyt S. Shryock and Lottie Vay Kurtz Shryock. Hetler graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, in 1936, and taught school in Circleville,...READ MORE

Inflation: When Price Is The Object

OCEAN CITY - The effects of short-term market volatility can be frightening, but when it comes to planning for retirement, the real bogeyman is inflation, says Joseph Zidle, Global Wealth Management investment strategist, BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. For the past 25 years, inflation has averaged about 3% annually. While that doesn't sound very threatening, this steady increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the key measure of inflation, has eroded purchasing power by...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

As I sit down to write this report, which will be my first of the 2010 season, I will freely admit that I almost do not know where to begin. It is still only May, and we have been fishing here for just a few short weeks, but the fishing so far has been nothing short of phenomenal. We all know that fishing is very seasonal, and that some years are more productive than others. We also know that it is impossible to predict where and when the fish will show up, and how a season will eventually turn...READ MORE

AGH Auxiliary Honored With Governor's Award

Atlantic General Hospital and Health System's Auxiliary was recently honored with a Governor's Volunteer Service Award. The 328-member body, which donates more than 39,000 hours of service to the hospital each year and has contributed nearly $500,000 to the hospital's foundation since its inception, was nominated by Delegate Jim Mathias for the annual award. Above, from left, are CEO Michael Franklin; Harriet Johnson, AGH Auxiliary president; Mathias; and Toni Keiser, vice president of...READ MORE

Mayor Proclaims National Safe Boating Week

Ocean City Mayor Richard Meehan issued a proclamation supporting National Safe Boating Week, May 22-28, to Ocean City Power Squadron (OCPS) Commander Fred Stiehl and Past Commander Tony Curro. The squadron provides public boating courses, free vessel safety checks and other community services.  ...READ MORE

The Parke at Ocean Pines Announces New Board of Directors

The Parke at Ocean Pines Community Association, Inc. has announced its new Board of Directors for 2010-2011. Pictured, from left, are President Jim Angstadt, Secretary Tom Weber, Members At Large Fred Husman and Dominic Tangredi and Vice President Steve Habeger.  ...READ MORE

SDHS Students Recognized For 12th Place National Finish

Stephen Decatur High School students from Kurt Marx's Investment Club were recently recognized by the Worcester County Board of Education for their 12th place finish in the National ECON Challenge. Pictured, from left, are senior James Pack, sophomore Michael Musiani, and seniors Caroline Howard and Garrett Allbritton. Submitted Photos  ...READ MORE

Buckingham 1st Graders Visit Assateague Island

Buckingham Elementary School's first grade students visited Assateague Island to learn about the wildlife and how to protect Maryland's beaches. Above are Adon Russo, Judah Morningstar and Jason Ferguson collect shells on the beach. Below, Brett Truitt, London Drummond and Riauna Holland play in the sand.  ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Kindergarteners Travel to Beechnut Farm

Kindergarten students from Ocean City Elementary recently took a trip to Beechnut Farm near Mardela Springs. This was a culminating activity to the reading theme Down on the Farm. Pictured are Samuel Woodley and Milena Olerta petting a 3-day-old calf.  ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep 4th Graders Honored as State Finalists

Worcester Prep fourth grade students Ethan Gaskill, Grace Nichols, Matthew Wilson, and Reid Odachowski were honored as state finalists in the If I Were Mayor Competition. They are students in Laura Holmes' and Amanda Lynch's classes at Worcester Preparatory School. With the students is Celeste Bunting, Head of the Lower School.  ...READ MORE

Showell Pre-K Students Build Literacy Skills

Pre-kindergarten students Trevor Short and Mia Diehl at Showell Elementary School select age appropriate library books during media class. Students are encouraged to read or have someone read to them for 20 minutes per night to build literacy skills.  ...READ MORE

Snow Hill First Graders Examine Different Bird Eggs

First grade classes at Snow Hill Elementary School recently read "The Surprise Family", a story about a hen that becomes mother to a group of ducklings. Students in Mrs. Tucker's class examined three different bird eggs. Shown comparing the eggs of a quail, a chicken and an ostrich are first grade students Daniel Shelton and Jamie Willing.  ...READ MORE

Beach Patrol Captain To Start 38th Summer On Beach

OCEAN CITY •€' When Ocean City Beach Patrol Captain Melbourne 'Butch' Arbin leads his new recruits and returning lifeguards in the annual moment of prayer on Saturday near Somerset Street on the Boardwalk, it will mark the beginning of his 38th summer in Ocean City. Tomorrow marks the first day that the Ocean City Beach Patrol will get back on their wooden perches overlooking the cool waters of the Atlantic, and Arbin says they are not only well prepared but also extremely excited for...READ MORE

Mathias Officially Files For Senate Seat

BERLIN - Ending months of speculation, Delegate James Mathias this week officially filed for election to the Senate seat in District 38, which includes all of Worcester County, Somerset County and a portion of Wicomico County. Unofficially, Mathias, former mayor of Ocean City, has made no secret of his intention to seek the District 38 Senate seat since Republican Senator Lowell Stoltzfus, who held the position for nearly two decades, announced last year he would not seek re-election. Mathias...READ MORE

N.Y. Bike Group Crowd Estimates Hover Around 2K

OCEAN CITY •€' Some concern surfaced this week with rumors that tens of thousands of African-Americans motorcycle enthusiasts were going to be roaring through the streets of Ocean City on an already packed holiday weekend. One simple phone call, however, put a wrench in the rampant rumor mill as a more credible number of bikers headed down for their second annual event, is more like 2,000 and not 20,000, according to event organizers. 'I'm not really sure where those numbers are coming...READ MORE

Petition Seeks Endangered Listing For Bluefin Tuna

OCEAN CITY - Prompted in part by the ongoing oil spill catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico and its potential devastating effects on the species' spawning grounds, a national environmental group this week filed a formal petition seeking Endangered Species Act protections for Atlantic bluefin tuna, a staple of the resort area's vast recreational fishery. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) on Monday filed a formal scientific petition to protect Atlantic bluefin tuna under the Endangered...READ MORE

Trio Of Weekends Launch Ocean City's Season

OCEAN CITY •€' Memorial Day used to be the official kickoff to the summer season in Ocean City, but this year, it's just one of three busy weekends scheduled in succession to help blast the resort into the summer of 2010. Local businesses are hoping that three is the magic number this year as a trifecta of events (last week's gigantic Cruisin' weekend, the present Memorial Day weekend and next week's 3rd Annual OC Air Show) will help get the summer off and running in the right direction...READ MORE

Alleged Internet Pirate Cleared

SNOW HILL - A Gambrills, Md. man accused last year of pirating Internet service for several condominium buildings in Ocean City was found not guilty of the charges this week in District Court, but the civil case against him filed by the alleged victim, Comcast of Eastern Shore, continues to plod along. In March 2009, Comcast filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking thousands of dollars in lost compensation and other damages against Frank Clark, 47, of Gambrills, and his fictitious company...READ MORE

Ben Tate Day Celebration On Tap For Summer

BERLIN - Ben Tate's professional football future lies with the Houston Texans, but the second round draft pick will be back in Berlin to celebrate his accomplishments with the people of his home county on July 17. Tate, a native of Berlin, was a standout running back at Stephen Decatur and Snow Hill High schools. He still holds the Maryland state high school record for most rushing yards in a single season with 2,879 yards in 2004. Tate fielded scholarship offers from several schools during his...READ MORE

Canale's New Trial Bid Denied

BERLIN - An Ocean City man, serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter in the baseball bat beating death of another local man in May 2008, will not get a shot at a new trial or a reconsideration of his sentence after the state's Court of Special Appeals last week issued an opinion upholding the judgment of the Worcester County Circuit Court. In November 2008, a Worcester County jury found Dominic Canale, now 23, of Ocean City, guilty of manslaughter in the death of Michael Harry Mitchell at a...READ MORE

Citizens Start Petition Over Barking Dogs

BERLIN - Barking dogs are not going away, and supporters of more regulation of canine noise nuisances say they will keep on fighting, despite the recent rejection of a barking dogs ordinance by elected officials. Last week, several citizens went down to Snow Hill to speak in favor of the barking dog law that would have imposed fines on the owners of chronically barking canines. Other people wrote letters or assembled petitions. Despite this support, four of the seven Worcester County...READ MORE

correction

Editor:    Last week's article, 'County Decides Against Barking Dog Law', incorrectly identified a man who barked while leaving the Worcester County Commissioners meeting as Bud Himes. The man who barked is named Jack Davis. The article incorrectly named Budd Heim as Bud Himes. The article also incorrectly attributed quotes by Shirley Aydelotte to Beverly Rae Lynch. The Dispatch regrets the errors.  ...READ MORE

County Schools Off Hook For Contractor Legal Fees

SNOW HILL - A visiting Worcester County Circuit Court judge last week denied Beka Industries' effort to collect over $72,000 in legal fees and expenses from the Worcester County Board of Education after a failed attempt by the latter to counter-sue the private contractor. The Board of Education claimed another minor victory of sorts last week in its ongoing legal battle with Beka Industries when visiting Circuit Court Judge Sidney S. Campen denied the contractor's bid to seek over $72,000 in...READ MORE

Court Upholds Snow Hill Assault Conviction On Appeal

SNOW HILL - The Maryland Court of Special Appeals last week upheld a Worcester County Circuit Court judgment on a Virginia man convicted of second-degree assault and sentenced to one year in jail for his role in a scuffle with his ex-girlfriend's mother in her Snow Hill apartment in 2008. In January 2009, Terrence Richard Justice, 28, of Temperanceville, Va., was found guilty of second-degree assault in Worcester County Circuit Court and was sentenced to one year in jail. Justice appealed the...READ MORE

Fed Review Of Oil Disaster's Impact On OC Eyed

OCEAN CITY - With the ongoing oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico passing the one-month mark last week, Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski this week fired off a letter to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials, calling for a federal review of the potential impact on Ocean City, the Chesapeake and other coastal areas in Maryland. On April 20, the high-tech Deepwater Horizon oilrig in the gulf exploded, killing 11 crewmembers before eventually collapsing off the coast of...READ MORE

Hospitality Workshops Planned

OCEAN CITY - The Economic Development Committee, the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hospitality Training Institute are presenting a series of workshops on Tuesday, June 8. With so many destinations competing for vacationers' discretionary income, it is crucial that Ocean City businesses deliver the best guest service possible. Therefore, these workshops have been designed to 'train the...READ MORE

Local Man's Cause Of Death Remains A Mystery

OCEAN CITY - The human skeletal remains discovered on the beach in late April were positively identified as those of a missing Selbyville man late last week, providing some measure of closure for family and friends, but it now appears investigators might never be able to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance. Late last Friday, the Maryland Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the skeletal remains found washed up on a wide swath of beach in south Ocean City belonged to Greg Forte, 29,...READ MORE

Pay Study To Lead Summer Talks At City Hall

OCEAN CITY •€' This week, as the Mayor and Council enjoyed a respite from their scheduled weekly meetings, City Manager Dennis Dare was putting the finishing touches on a salary study that is expected to be one of the main political talking points in what could be a rather quiet summer at City Hall. Historically, after the Mayor and Council passes the annual budget, the focus shifts from lengthy debates about things that could affect the way the town operates, to just merely operating the...READ MORE

Planet Maze Still Evolving 15 Years After Opening

T.K. Dickerson Staff Writer OCEAN CITY - Outside of the brightly colored building that is home to Planet Maze on 33rd Street in Ocean City, there are several sets of tiny handprints set in to the sidewalk, labeled with the year 1995. This was the year that the Thalers, Albrights, and Gordons (all with children around the age of 3) realized that there were almost no places in Ocean City for kids to have birthday parties, and they decided to change that. Now, 15 years later, the children who left...READ MORE

Restaurant Week Returns Sunday

OCEAN CITY - Sunday, May 30 through Sunday, June 6 marks Ocean City's culinary adventure, Restaurant Week. This eight-day promotion will encourage visitors and locals alike to try the finest restaurants and revisit their tried and true favorites. Guests can indulge on the best fare Ocean City has to offer from a special price fixed three-course menu for $30, and/or a two-course menu for $20 (tax, gratuity and alcohol not included). Long known as a great spot for sun, surf and sand, Ocean City's...READ MORE

Surf Shop Gets New Neighbor

OCEAN CITY •€' If you miss Mad Hatters, you should get in line and check out Crazy 8's, Ocean City's newest midtown lunch spot. With 32,000 different options from their 'build your own deli sandwich', you may never have to have the same thing twice, although early reviews are indicating a few instant favorites just a couple months into operations. If you ask any proprietor of a local business how they got into business, you might be surprised at how the whole thing came about, and Eugene...READ MORE

Tourism Advertising Doubled By Commissioners

BERLIN - While much of the discussion at Tuesday's final Worcester County budget work session was a formality, controversy emerged over the tourism advertising budget and the elimination of 15 take-home vehicles for county government staff. The tourism budget, in the proposed fiscal year 2011 county budget saw its advertising spending doubled from $150,000 to $300,000. One Worcester County Commissioner, Bobby Cowger, said he was having a tough time with an additional $150,000 for tourism...READ MORE

Two Arrested in Cocaine Bust

BERLIN - Two Berlin men were arrested last week on numerous drug distribution charges after a search and seizure were executed at three separate locations in town resulting in one of the most significant cocaine busts in recent Worcester County history. The Worcester County Sheriff's Office criminal enforcement team recently concluded a 10-month cocaine distribution investigation in the Berlin area. On April 26, as a result of the investigation, a Worcester County grand jury indicted...READ MORE

Things I Like

The beach in the morning Waking up before everyone else in the house Smell of cookies in the oven A clean black car after a wash Tervis tumblers Backyard ponds with fish A beer on a sunny Friday afternoon My kids laughing at the same time A few hours without the cell on the weekends Watching the powerboat races from the beach Insightful letters to the editor  ...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where and When Musically Speaking

Sports Bar & Grille Old Bridge Road, West OC May 28: Tranzfusion Saturday: Karaoke With Hey Mick June 3: Rick Rose, 6-10 p.m. The , Talbot St. On the bay May 28: Time Police, 9 p.m. May 29 & Sunday, May 30: Burridge Sunday: Local's Social with DJ Rusty Griswold, 10 p.m. Salty Dog , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. May 28: Aaron Howell Band May 29: Jimmy Charles Sunday: Local's Party with DJ BK Wednesday: DJ JJ bar & Grill off the boards on 2nd St. May 28: 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie,...READ MORE

People in Society

Shots of Locals Lending a Helping Hand Throughout the Community ...READ MORE