September 17, 2010

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Some observations about this week's primary election, which was dominated largely by predictable finishes, easy victories for most incumbents and low voter turnout: -- Although there were little surprises in the official results, the low voter turnout (34 percent) did disappoint and was a topic of conversation at the polls throughout the county and state. Primaries typically draw small turnouts, and this year was no different. However, considering the state of many people's personal affairs, it...READ MORE

Is It Apathy Or Satisfaction In Berlin?

Thanks to the filing deadline passing on Monday, Berlin Council members Dean Burrell, Paula Lynch and Troy Purnell were re-elected this week. Whenever an elected official faces no opposition in a re-election bid, it raises the question: is it voter apathy or satisfaction? The question was raised earlier this summer when County Commissioner Bud Church was unopposed and has been a reoccurring theme in recent years in Ocean City as Mayor Rick Meehan has never been opposed for his seat as the town's...READ MORE

What Our Readers Are Saying

Offshore Wind Power Has Immense Benefits Editor: Having grown up in Rockville, Md., I have many fond memories of family vacations to Ocean City. Riding the waves with my grandfather, playing arcade games on the Boardwalk with cousins, and watching the planes go by with their various advertisements. Now as an adult, I enjoy visiting this quintessential American beach town with friends and family, strolling along the shore, and taking in the great nightlife. I'm also proud to vacation in a town...READ MORE

Adventures In Fatherhood

With a 2 year old, life often involves a lot of 'no'. This can become quite repetitive, and, while we try to come up with other creative ways to get the point across, the word 'no' is almost always inevitable. There's really no other way around it, at least as far as my toddler goes. Beckett is a handful. He likes to test the boundaries. Although I know he understands right from wrong, there are times when he sides with the later. It's just his nature to be a little mischievous at times, and,...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where And When

707 Sports Bar & Grille 410-213-9507 12702 Old Bridge Road, West OC Friday, Sept. 17: 7 Days Wasted, 1-6 p.m.; Tommy Edwards & Melissa Rose, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18: Tranzfusion, 1-6 p.m.; Fuzzbox Piranha, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 19: Football Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Sept. 17: DJ BK Saturday, Sept. 18: Graceys Way Sunday, Sept. 19: Football Caribbean bar & Grill Just off the boards on 2nd St. Friday, Sept. 17: Dave Sherman, 1-5...READ MORE

Things To Do Around The Area

Sept. 17: Caring for Loved Ones With Alzheimer's Disease Program 1-3 p.m., Woodlands of Ocean Pines. Sponsored by the Woodlands and Catered Living of Ocean Pines. Lunch will be provided. Cost: $2, in advance; $5, at the door. To RSVP, 410-208-5008. Sept. 17-19: Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show Friday: Noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Ocean City Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Hwy., O.C. Cost: $4, admission. Ages 16 and under are free. For more information,...READ MORE

Council Mulls Better Ways To Inform Public Of Hearings

OCEAN CITY - Frustrated somewhat by the lack of participation during various public hearings, the Ocean City Mayor and Council this week took up a spontaneous debate about the need to find a better way to reach out to the town's citizens about its important proceedings. The issue arose during the review and potential approval of the town's new Critical Areas ordinance. The Mayor and Council on Tuesday were prepared to move forward with a vote on the town's new Critical Areas laws after reviewing...READ MORE

Homicide Charges In Pocomoke

POCOMOKE - A Pocomoke man was arrested for homicide by motor vehicle and other serious charges last weekend. Around 9:15 p.m. last Friday, Pocomoke Police responded to the parking lot of a tractor supply business for a report of a victim thrown from a moving motor vehicle. Police interviewed witnesses and learned the victim had been hanging from the door of a vehicle driven by Jesse James Mason, 24, while it was in motion. According to police reports, Mason had been consuming alcoholic beverages...READ MORE

New Stormwater Rules Pitched For Berlin

BERLIN - New stormwater regulations, including a waiver provision, have been drafted and are under review by Berlin town officials. Stormwater consultant Darl Kolar presented the regulations to the Berlin Mayor and Council on Monday night. The new regulations, procedures and checklist have been underway for months, since the town took over responsibility for stormwater per state law in May, said Mayor Gee Williams. 'It's a totally new responsibility, a stormwater utility,' said Williams. 'This...READ MORE

OC Airport Runway Project Will Cost $2.8M

OCEAN CITY - The rehabilitation of the north-south runway at the Ocean City Municipal Airport is moving forward this week after town officials on Tuesday approved a contract for the design of the roughly $2.8 million project. The Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved an engineering services contract with Delta Aviation for the design phase of the rehabilitation of the north-south runway at the municipal airport. The planned improvements include milling down the existing surface of the runway,...READ MORE

Assault In Berlin

Assault In Berlin BERLIN - A Berlin man was arrested on assault and weapons charges early Monday morning after allegedly attacking a female victim with whom he lives. Around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reported assault on Hayes Landing Rd. Upon arrival, the troopers made contact with a suspect, identified as Christian Eckle Edwards, 35, of Berlin, who was reportedly extremely intoxicated. The investigation revealed Edwards had assaulted a 60-year-old...READ MORE

Thousands Mourn Snow Hill Teacher, Coach

SNOW HILL - Thousands turned out on Tuesday at Stephen Decatur High to pay tribute to long-time Snow Hill High School teacher and coach Allen Miller, who passed away suddenly last Friday at the age of 47. Miller, a teacher and coach at Snow Hill High for two decades, died of an apparent heart attack last Friday, leaving the entire community stunned at the sudden loss of a man so passionate and dedicated to his school, his student-athletes and, most importantly, his family. Passion was a word...READ MORE

Classifieds 09-17-2010

Classifieds  ...READ MORE

Berlin Officials Unopposed, Re-Elected

By Cara Dahl Staff Writer BERLIN - After 22 years of service, this will be Paula Lynch's last term on the Berlin Council. Lynch, who has served on the town council since 1988, said, 'This is definitely it.' The town council election will turn up no surprises this year, with all three incumbents running unopposed at the filing deadline, which was the close of business on Sept. 13. Council members Troy Purnell (District 1), Dean Burrell (District 4) and Paula Lynch (At-Large) will keep their...READ MORE

Former Priest Must Register As Md. Sex Offender

SNOW HILL - A former Catholic priest, charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse and assault on a minor in Ocean City dating back three decades, was sentenced this week to six months in jail and was forced to register as a sex offender. Michael Lowell Barnes, now 65, of Haywood County, N.C., appeared in Worcester County Circuit Court on Tuesday for a sentencing hearing after entering an Alford plea to one count of child abuse-custodian in June. Barnes was extradited to Worcester County last...READ MORE

Incumbents Shockley, Boggs Advance To General Vote

BERLIN - Incumbents edged out challengers in two of the County Commissioner primaries held Tuesday, among a flurry of primary races that set the stage for the general election. Only 34 percent of registered voters overall in Worcester County turned out for the primary vote this week. Five commissioner districts saw a primary race between candidates from the same party, with two districts essentially deciding the overall winner this week, with no candidates from the opposing party filed to...READ MORE

Mobile Radio Buy Sparks Talk Of Reverse 911 System

Shawn J. Soper News Editor OCEAN CITY - Ocean City officials this week approved the purchase of new mobile radios for the police department, but not before a discussion about the town's reverse 911 call capabilities in the event of a storm or other disaster. The Ocean City Mayor and Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of eight new mobile radios and the associated equipment to replace aging models, some of which are nearly 20 years old, in several Ocean City Police Department cruisers. The...READ MORE

Ongoing Hiring Freeze Touches Off Pay Scale Debate

Shawn J. Soper News Editor OCEAN CITY - A seemingly innocuous discussion about replacing a retiring civilian position in the Ocean City Police Department this week touched off a much larger philosophical debate about the town's ongoing effort to restructure its pay scale and benefits package for new employees and the need to quickly fill vacated positions. Earlier this year, Ocean City officials embarked on a study to compare the salary and benefits package for new employees as part of a larger...READ MORE

Town Will Not Use Reserves On Debt

BERLIN - Berlin has plenty in the bank, a review of the town's finances revealed this week, but town officials will not use that cash to pay down debt on the electric plant. The Berlin Mayor and Council held the work session Monday before the regular town council meeting simply to make sure everyone has current information on the town's finances and cash flow. 'There's no crisis. There's no problem. It's just time to do this,' Mayor Gee Williams said. Using Berlin's reserves to prepay debt is...READ MORE

Critical Areas Change Includes All Of Ocean City

OCEAN CITY - Resort officials this week tabled a vote on the pending Critical Areas legislation when it became evident the proposed changes would include the entire town. Several years ago, Maryland adopted stringent Critical Areas legislation pertaining to new development in waterfront areas around the state. The intent was to establish minimum setbacks from the water and wetlands for new construction, create buffers and require property owners to include landscaping and increase impervious...READ MORE

Defeated Incumbent Planning Write-In Campaign

BERLIN - Single-term incumbent Worcester County Commissioner Linda Busick was toppled from her District 6 seat by challenger and political newcomer Madison 'Jimmy' Bunting in this week's Republican primary race, but Busick vowed this week to fight on as a write-in candidate. 'I've been on a pretty good high all day,' Bunting said on Wednesday. Bunting received 62 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary, while Busick received 38 percent, 652 votes to 396. The turnout of 1,048 Republican voters...READ MORE

District Delegate Field Narrowed To Four After Primary

BERLIN - There were few surprises this week after voters across Worcester County and the Lower Shore turned out in modest numbers for Tuesday's primary election, as the field of candidates in the District 38B House of Delegates race and the District 38 State Senate race came into focus. In the District 38B primary on the Republican side, four candidates vied for the two spots needed to advance to the General Election in November in what turned out to be a fairly tight race. Pocomoke Mayor Mike...READ MORE

LCB Head's Past Sparks Questions Over Slots License

OCEAN CITY •€' With the introduction of Worcester County's first slots parlor reportedly opening in less than three months, local vendors are in the process of going through the required protocol to earn the right to do business at Ocean Downs. Yet, an interesting question was raised this week: whether the Worcester County Liquor Control Board will be able to even get a vendor's license granted by the Maryland State Lottery Commission based on its executive director's checkered past? It is...READ MORE

Purnell Cruises To 5th Term; Challenger Raises Ethics Concern

BERLIN - Commissioner Jim Purnell easily held onto his commissioner seat in a low turnout primary vote, surpassing challenger Eddie Lee to gain his fifth term in office representing District 2. Purnell has held the minority-majority district seat since it was created in 1995 to address the political imbalance in Worcester County, which had never had an African-American commissioner before. Turnout for the District 2 Democratic primary was low - just 28 percent of eligible Democrats voted - but...READ MORE

A Spotlight On The Local And Regional Bar Scene

Faces in Places ...READ MORE

Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

People in Society ...READ MORE

Open Houses This Week

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Daily 10-4 3BR/3.5BA New Construction Luxury Townhouses Only 4 Left Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY The Meridian Open Daily Oceanfront Residences 60th Street New Construction Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-520-0072 OCEAN CITY Bella Vista Two Models Open Daily 10-4 2&3BR Bayside Condos 45th Street Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Belmont Towers Boardwalk & Talbot Street Daily 11-4 New 2&3BR Condos/THs Kevin Decker The...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Marie Virginia Smith BERLIN - Marie Virginia Smith, 89, died Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of the late Harry M. and Beatrice A. Corame. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry E. Smith. She is survived by her children, Harry E. Smith and his wife Beverly and Dianne B. Dowling and her husband Leo; her sister, Lorraine Mosco; four grandchildren: four great grandchildren; and her companion of over 40 years, Russell...READ MORE

Things I Like

Watching my son play with his dogs Patriotic expressions on 9-11 The first Sunday of football season Driving on the beach A bizarre random happening Yellow notebook paper When change is good A sunny day after a rainy one Biking on the Boardwalk in the morning The weeks leading up to a vacation Fresh raw oysters ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Hospital Joins Health Initiative BERLIN - In August, Atlantic General Hospital joined other Eastern Shore employers in signing the Healthiest Maryland commitment board at a ceremony at Salisbury University, one more milestone in the efforts the organization has undertaken in recent years to improve the health of its employees. Healthiest Maryland is a voluntary statewide initiative launched by Governor Martin O'Malley in May to promote health management practices in the workplace. Through the...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Personal matters claim a good deal of the Lamb's time in the early part of the week. But by midweek, pragmatic considerations (work, school, job-seeking, etc.) begin to take priority. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): The seasonal shift ignites the Bovine's creative aspects. You could do well if you try to combine your penchant for innovation with the more pragmatic demands of the week. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Ideas come easily to you this week. And never mind that...READ MORE

Perfect Time To Explore Estate Planning Strategies

Christine Selzer Special To The Dispatch OCEAN CITY - If there is a silver lining to the recent slump in equities, it may be this: Taken in conjunction with low interest rates, these temporarily reduced asset values are helping make a number of smart estate planning opportunities possible. This is a good time to pursue gifting strategies to the next generation. Making use now of certain estate planning techniques •€' such as grantor-retained annuity trusts and qualified personal residence...READ MORE

T-Shirt Sales To Benefit OC Lions

Hooters on 123rd Steet have created a special Ocean City Lions Club Bike Week T-Shirt that will help the club raise money for three important community programs. Money raised will benefit the Lions "Wounded Warriors" fund drive, Coastal Hospice and the Worcester County Developmental Center. Pictured, from left, are Matthew Ortt, Hooters Director of Operations; Melissa; Ocean City Lion Greg Burgan; Heather; and Jason Ortt, Hooters General Manager. Submitted Photos  ...READ MORE

AGH Receives Helping Hands Award

The Atlantic General Hospital Auxiliary recently received the Helping Hands Award from the Autistic Childrens' Support Group of Worcester County. The award was presented to the Auxiliary Gift Shop committee for supporting the group's collection can campaign for summer programs. Back row, from left, are Mary Jock, vice president; Wendy Di Buo, president; and Michelle Schachter, treasurer of the Autistic Childrens' Support Group of Worcester County. Front row, from left, Joan Schaefer  ...READ MORE

AGH Receives Helping Hands Award

The Women's Council of Realtors® held a Golf Tournament, Silent Auction and Dinner at the Ocean Pines Golf and Country Club last month. Although rained out, the group still had a wonderful time while raising $2,295 to benefit Habitat For Humanity, Worcester County.  Above, Vicki Harmon, chair of the Community Service Committee of the Women's Council of Realtors presents the donation to Clint Houser, Habitat board president.  ...READ MORE

Suicide Prevention Week

The County Commissioners presented Health Department staff Monica Martin, Alisa Crockett, Valaree Murphy, Michele Adkins and Katherine Gunby and Chief Deputy Reggie Mason of the Sheriff's Office with a proclamation recognizing Sept. 5-11, 2010 as Suicide Prevention Week in Worcester County. ...READ MORE

Salisbury Urban Ministries received a Technical Mini-Grant

Salisbury Urban Ministries received a Technical Mini-Grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore for a new office copier/printer.  Pictured, from left, are Erica Joseph, CFES Program Officer; Jennifer Doyle, SUM President; and Bill Perry, SUM Treasurer.  ...READ MORE