January 28, 2011

SDHS Field House Thankful

Stephen Decatur High School Alumni Association Treasurer Ross Bergey, left, presents a plaque to Russell Finecey, right, owner of Finecey Masonry, in appreciation for his firm’s donation of discounts for materials and labor in the building of the athletic field house at Stephen Decatur High School’s Seahawk Stadium. The field house is now under construction and is a project of the SDHS Alumni Association. Go to www.sdhsalumni.com for more information. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

United Way Helps Life Crisis

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore recently presented the Life Crisis Center with $63,000 to support the MD 211/Crisis Hotline, a program providing crisis intervention and referral services across the Eastern Shore. Since 1983, the Life Crisis Center has received over $1.35 million in United Way funding. Pictured, from left, are Life Crisis Center Board members David Harkins and Chris Hall, Life Crisis Center Executive Director Michelle Hughes and United Way Donor Relations Director Amy...READ MORE

DDC Welcomes New Board Members

The Delmarva Discovery Center recently welcomed four new Board members. Pictured, from left, are Geren Mortensen Sr., Julie Widdowson, Jim Jones and Nancy Goldsmith. ...READ MORE

Breast Cancer Center Receives Check

American Legion Riders presented a check for $4425 to the staff of the Helen F. Graham Breast Cancer Center. Pictured, from left, are Nicholas J. Periling, center medical director; Buster Slaton; Dr. Diana Dickson, center associate medical director; Jimmy Kirkland; Rene Mullen, center director; Dr. Emily Penman; and John and Poppy Granite. ...READ MORE

AGH's Auxiliary Makes Big Donation

During its installation luncheon, Atlantic General Hospital’s Auxiliary, pictured above, donated $90,000 to Atlantic General Hospital. Pictured, from left, are Michael Franklin, president and CEO; Betty Franke, outgoing vice president; Kathleen Gibbons, outgoing recording secretary; Lavern Powell, outgoing corresponding secretary; and Harriet Johnson, past president. ...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

William Thomas Gallagher BERLIN – William Thomas Gallagher, 80, died on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 at his home in Berlin. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Francis and Agnes McDonald Gallagher. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara Ann Gallagher. 
Gallagher was an Army Veteran and had served in the Korean War. He worked for many years for Continental Can Company and for 10 years at Walmart. He leaves behind his beloved dogs Noel and Scooby and 
was known...READ MORE

Worcester County STEM

Worcester County STEM students from the biomedical and pre-engineering programs volunteered at the Eastern Shore First Lego League Regional Tournament. The students were in charge of scoring, set-up, take-down, music, electronic score submission and everything to do with the actual table tournament. The students are from Stephen Decatur H High School, Worcester Technical High School and Snow Hill High School. Pictured, back from left, Chris Brown, Damian Klein, Savannah Molina and Austin...READ MORE

Crime Scene Investigation At SDHS

Stephen Decatur High School biology teacher Jim Krall along with Worcester County Deputy and School Resource Officer Jason Chance teamed up to teach a lesson on crime scene investigation. Students analyzed a fictitious crime scene, then conducted DNA testing of blood found on the scene using gel electrophoresis and compared it to blood samples of suspects. Above, Chance is pictured with juniors Mari-Claire Bowie, left, and Michelle Rosinski adding electrical currents to the prepared DNA. ...READ MORE

Basketball Music And Dinner At WPS

The Worcester Preparatory School Parents’ Association treated all students and their families to an evening of basketball, music and dinner. Pictured, from left, are middle school students Luke Buas, Shelby Cannatelli, Karlie Southcomb, Julie Talbert, Owen Nally, Aria Zia-Shakeri, Ryan Shriver and Tate Shockley. ...READ MORE

Donuts For Dads

Buckingham Elementary School recently held its annual Donuts for Dads. Above are Colby and Judah Matlock. ...READ MORE

Snowflake Facts

Students in Kristie Priestley's first grade class at Ocean City Elementary School enjoyed researching facts about snowflakes.  After writing two facts that they learned, they each created a model of a snowflake. Pictured, from left, are Morgan Echols, Autumn Tunnell and Brandon Campechano-Cordero. ...READ MORE

BIS Visits Nursing Home

Before winter break, students from Susan Baker's, Rita Shahan's and Pam Yingling's homerooms at Berlin Intermediate School visited with the residents at Berlin Nursing Home. Students made and distributed holiday wreaths, sang songs and played musical instruments for the residents. Students pictured are Megan Corcoran, Logan Figgs, Wayne Morse, Andrew Nock and James Whittingham. ...READ MORE

Memory Game A Big Hit

Student from Hazel Freeman's, Wendy Nash's and Ben Nelson's homerooms at Berlin Intermediate School delighted Berlin Nursing Home residents with performances and presentations. Everyone enjoyed the "Memory Game" with the winter fun cards that students had colored. Above are Ross Makomson and Daniel Scott with a Berlin Nursing Home resident. ...READ MORE

Adventures In Fatherhood

Thanks to a few interruptions of power, I found myself in a tough predicament Monday night. Over the last couple years, I have come to understand there are many curve balls that come with parenting. Some of these lessons have been easier to deal with than others. Sure, there are many things that can be planned out and predicted, but an ability to adjust on the run and go with the flow seems to me to be the key with kids. It’s a lesson I am taught again and again with my children. However,...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where And When

Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Jan. 28: TBA Saturday, Jan. 29: Tim Cyphers Duo Charlie’s Bayside Restaurant 302-539-3526 Rte. 1 & Maryland Ave., Fenwick Island   Friday, Jan. 28: Chris Button & Joe Mama, 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29: Electric Velvet, 8 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.   Ocean Club: Friday, Jan. 28 & Saturday, Jan. 29: Power Play Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West...READ MORE

Things To Do

Jan. 28: AARP 55 Alive Driving Program 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sponsored by the Ocean Pines Chapter of the AARP. Many insurance companies provide a premium discount that is effective for 3 years. Cost: $12, AARP members; $14, non-members. To reserve space for this class ot a future class, 410-641-6278. You will be informed of the location and details when you call. Jan. 28: Holy Savior/KC Bingo Doors open 6 p.m.; games begin, 7 p.m.; 9901 Coastal Hwy., O.C. Re-freshments will be on sale. For more...READ MORE

Applauding Mayor’s Veto

Editor: I would like to commend Mayor Rick Meehan, for his veto of seven proposed ordinances which could have made deep cuts to the Ocean City employees payroll and benefit packages. My kudos to the mayor is not for the substance of his veto but rather for his concern that we “know what we are doing and the impact on our Ocean City workforce.” I have watched all the council deliberations on our local cable and quite frankly have been shocked at the cavalier and somewhat...READ MORE

Between The Lines

Nearly half of the 5,000 people who have voted in an online poll seem to support Ocean City’s new Boardwalk featuring a stamped concrete tram lane down the center made to resemble wood. That’s surprising to me, as I thought most would side with the traditional wooden surface for the portion under consideration from 4th to 27th streets. According to the town’s website, which outlines the three options, the favored surface would mean replacing the existing Boardwalk with two...READ MORE

Maryland Wears Anti-Business Crown Well

It’s looking more and more like Maryland might just be an anti-business state, as critics have maintained for years. Many have suggested conducting business in Maryland is much tougher compared to others around us. Many point to crippling income taxes for those who make a solid living, while others point to the recent sales tax increase and expansion to new realms and consumer fee increases as worthy examples. There comes a time when it’s impossible to conclude this is not a fact....READ MORE

Open Houses This Week

WEST OCEAN CITY Bay Point Plantation Rt589/Gum Point Rd Daily 10-5 Waterfront Estate Lots in 142 Acre Preserve Kevin Decker The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 443-235-6552 OCEAN CITY Coconut Malorie 60th Street Bayfront Open Daily 1BR w/ Views Jim White ReMax Premier Properties 410-726-9026 OCEAN CITY Makai Condominiums 42nd St. Bayside Daily 10-4 New Construction 2BR & Studio Condos Ben Dawson The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 410-603-2205 WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf...READ MORE

Berlin Bank Repairs Will Close Intersection For Weeks

BERLIN – The intersection of William and Main streets will be blocked for a few weeks once reconstruction work on the PNC Bank in downtown Berlin begins in the near future. “It [construction] could start within a week,” Police Chief Arnold Downing told the Mayor and Council on Monday night. Due to the extensive work needed, Downing explained that the intersection in front of the bank would likely be blocked for a significant amount of time, probably between two and three...READ MORE

LCB Decision Expected Next Week

SNOW HILL – After hearing a proposal from the newly formed Worcester Alliance for Free Market (WAFM) and a rebuttal from the Worcester County Liquor Control Board, County Commission President Bud Church expects the commission to make a ruling regarding the fate of the LCB within the next two weeks. “We’re working on it daily,” Church said this week. Last summer, the LCB came under state scrutiny after allegations of trade code violations were discovered. Since then, the...READ MORE

Bar Crawl Record Confirmed

OCEAN CITY – Almost six months to the day after completing the grueling task, a group of nine friends who successfully completed a trek into the Guinness Book of World Records in Ocean City in July for the most pubs visited by a team during a 24-hour period received word the new record was official. Team organizer John Egan last week received official confirmation of the new record of 102 pubs visited during a 24-hour period from Guinness Book officials after a complicated and stringent...READ MORE

Proposed Resort Bike Week Event Not Happening

OCEAN CITY – A proposed “OC Jam” event during Delmarva Bike Week looks doomed this week. During last week’s Mayor and City Council meeting, Cliff Sutherland, proposed “OC Jam” for the Inlet parking lot to the council as a way for the resort to have an open gathering place for the public during the annual September event. Sutherland is one of the founding members and president of Wild and Wonderful MountainFest motorcycle rally and also organizes JamFest in...READ MORE

City Council Eyes Talks On Pension Changes

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council had a hiatus this week in advance of next week’s work session that will likely determine whether compromise among this divided group is possible. As of result of Mayor Rick Meehan vetoing seven out of 11 ordinances proposed to cut down on newly hired town employee pay and benefits in order to decrease town expenses, the City Council is to return to discussing the motions on Tuesday in order to meet on common ground. Last week Council President...READ MORE

Shore Lawmakers Weigh In On Social Issues

BERLIN – While the economy and budget issues have dominated the early part of the 2011 General Assembly session, several weighty social issues will soon likely come to bear including a potential resumption of the death penalty and an anticipated debate on same-sex marriages in Maryland. Gov. Martin O’Malley last Friday introduced his proposed 2012 budget and much of the debate in the early phases of the General Assembly has focused on fiscal issues, but there are a handful of...READ MORE

Berlin Power Outages Caused By Faulty Shut Off Device

BERLIN – A malfunctioning piece of equipment is responsible for a series of brief power outages that struck Berlin this week. The device is called a “DPU” and Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence compared it to a mainframe computer in regards to the duties it performed for the electric department, the most important of which being to shut down systems to prevent damage to the generator in certain situations. With it malfunctioning, however, the power was shut off several...READ MORE

SDHS Swistak

Decatur’s Matt Swistak puts up a jumper in the paint during the Seahawks’ 55-51 win over county rival Snow Hill on Tuesday. Swistak finished with a game-high 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Photo by Shawn Soper ...READ MORE

Seahawks Outlast Eagles

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team withstood a big run in the middle of the game by visiting Snow Hill on Tuesday to get by the Eagles, 55-51, to pull to .500 for the season. In basketball, like most sports, what happened in the middle of a game is not as important as what happened in the end, and that was the case on Tuesday as the Seahawks hosted county rival Snow Hill. Decatur got out to an early lead, saw the Eagles go on a big run through the second quarter...READ MORE

Beach Lax Seeking Players, Volunteers

BERLIN- The Beach Lacrosse Club, a volunteer organization that has been around for 18 years and has introduced thousands of young players to the game, is now accepting applications for its spring program. Beach Lacrosse is seeking boys and girls for several teams at various age and skill levels including under-9, under-11, under-13, and under-15. There is also a “scoopers” program where children as young as six years old can begin to learn the basics of lacrosse. The club belongs to...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Drop A Pair

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team dropped a pair of tough games this week, falling to Wicomico, 63-53, last Thursday before losing to Snow Hill, 70-43, on the road on Tuesday. The Seahawks continued to show signs of improving on both ends of the floor but have had little success in terms of the bottom line. Decatur’s record now stands at 2-10 overall, including a 1-7 mark in the Bayside South, despite being competitive in just about every game. Against...READ MORE

Decatur Roll Past Queen Anne's

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team remained unbeaten last weekend, cruising past visiting Queen Anne’s, 60-9, to improve to 7-0 heading into a big non-conference dual meet this weekend. The Seahawks lost just two of 14 matches against Queen Anne’s at home last Friday and collected six pins along the way. Matt Meekins started the parade for Decatur with a technical fall win in the 112-pound match, while Cody Bush pinned his opponent at 119 to stake the Seahawks to...READ MORE

Coastal Lax Club Seeking Players

BERLIN- The Coastal Lacrosse Club is seeking players for its 2011 outdoor spring season, but with limited space for players, the team rosters are filling up quickly. The Coastal Lacrosse Club, founded in 2009, is one of Worcester County’s only non-profit lacrosse organization serving young players throughout the area and across Delmarva. The club offers organized, instructional teams for both boys and girls. Young players ages 5-14 are invited to participate in the club’s upcoming...READ MORE

Half Marathon Kick-Off Event Next Week

BERLIN- With the annual Ocean City Half Marathon coming up again in April, one local team of runners representing an important safety net for Worcester County is already organizing a kick-off party and registration event for the annual race. The Ocean City Half Marathon and associated 5K race is set to return on April 30 with hundreds of racing enthusiasts expected to descend on the resort area for a weekend of road racing, fun events and, perhaps most importantly, an opportunity to raise funds...READ MORE

OC Rec Basketball Action Continues

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s boys’ winter basketball league continued this week with a full slate of games at Northside Park. The following is a quick look at some of this week’s action: (bullet) Ocean City Lions Club 30- OC FOP 24: Josh Kleinstuber scored 16 points, while Tim Roberts scored eight and Sam Cannon added six to lead the Lions over the FOP. Allen Justice scored 14 points for the FOP in defeat. (bullet) Dr. William Allen 31- Bonfire...READ MORE

Tax Law’s Impact

OCEAN CITY – The $858 billion tax law enacted in December – formally known as the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the "Act") – promises to affect Americans of all income levels. But while it largely keeps rates steady for the next two years, it also includes some major changes that have taken many taxpayers by surprise. The answers to these six questions will help you make the most of the opportunities arising...READ MORE

Council Majority Says Ordinances Aimed At Starting Discussions

OCEAN CITY – Though there was no government meeting this week, the extreme philosophical differences among the seven City Council members continue to dominate Ocean City politics. Over the past few months, the Mayor and Council has been divided over a list of 11 ordinances that would decrease newly hired town employee’s pay and benefits and address some changes for current workers as well. The majority of the council, Joe Hall, Brent Ashley, Jim Hall, and Margaret Pillas, set the...READ MORE

County Will Assume $1M Cost To Fund SDAT Office

BERLIN – With Gov. Martin O’Malley introducing his proposed fiscal year 2012 budget last week, it appears on the surface to be a case of good news, bad news for Worcester County in terms of absorbing expenses paid by the state in the past. As promised, O’Malley’s budget introduced last Friday did not include an earlier proposal to shift the teacher pension program off to the counties. The governor’s budget advisors had recommended passing as much as 40 percent of...READ MORE

Home Energy Audit Called Key To Reducing Waste

OCEAN CITY – Maryland homeowners can be reimbursed through federal and state rebate programs to improve energy efficiency. This week the Maryland Coastal Bays Citizens Advisory Committee hosted a presentation on reducing energy waste and rebate programs available to homeowners. Allen Luzak of Total Home Performance has been performing energy audits for 25 years. He said that most homeowners are under the impression that their homes are energy efficient because the builder told them so, as...READ MORE

Group, Berlin May Join Forces On Youth Services

BERLIN – The Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) made a presentation to Berlin’s Mayor and Council on Monday in the hopes of forming a partnership with the town. Prior to the meeting, the council had planned on hiring one part-time employee to handle youth services. However, when WYFCS Executive Director Teresa Fields heard about the town’s need, she approached the council about the possibility of having Berlin take the funding it would have used to hire that...READ MORE

Wallops Exercise A Success

OCEAN CITY – Perhaps providing further evidence of a growing presence at Wallops Island, along the coast just south of Assateague, NASA last weekend conducted a significant rocket launch visible in much of the mid-Atlantic area, as part of a joint training exercise with the U.S. Navy. Shortly after 1 a.m. last Saturday, residents and visitors to the resort area still awake were treated to a rare spectacle when the Terrier-Oriole sub-orbital rocket arched its way across the Delmarva sky and...READ MORE

Phillips Wins Governor’s Award

OCEAN CITY – Phillips Foods President and CEO Steve Phillips has been awarded Maryland’s 2011 Governor’s International Leadership Award. The award is the highest honor given in the Maryland business community, according to a press release. Those honored with this award demonstrate creativity and innovative strategies to drive industry leadership and world-class results while positively impacting Maryland’s place on the global stage. Phillips earned a bachelor’s...READ MORE

Stamped Concrete Lane Tops Boardwalk Poll

OCEAN CITY – The town is taking a poll of what material the majority of the public would prefer Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk be renovated with. City Engineer Terry McGean presented the Mayor and City Council last December with three different options to renovate the Boardwalk. The three options are an all wooden board surface, boards with a plain concrete train lane and boards with a stamped concrete train lane to resemble wood. “Option One” will replace the entire...READ MORE

School Officials Await Md. Budget’s Impact

BERLIN – The other shoe dropped last week when Gov. Martin O’Malley introduced his proposed state budget as expected on Friday, but just how far it fell remains uncertain for Worcester County Public Schools officials. Last week, the Worcester County Board of Education introduced its own fiscal year 2012 budget without knowing precisely what to anticipate in terms of state aid. Board officials bemoaned the fact they were required to submit a balanced budget in advance of knowing what...READ MORE

Proposed Carry-In Wine Concept Meets Resistance

OCEAN CITY – A proposed change in state law to allow diners in many jurisdictions to bring their own bottles of wine into licensed establishments appears to be gaining some momentum, but the state’s largest restaurant association remains staunchly opposed to the revised policy. For years, many restaurants across the state, including many in the resort area, allowed diners to bring their own bottles of wine to dinner, but a change in state law a few years back prohibited the practice....READ MORE

Things I Like

Aerosmith's classics

 A great sports rivalry 

Pancakes and syrup every once in a while 

Family car rides

 Movies that stay with me days later

 Inspirational news stories

 Windows 7 

Bird feeders outside a window

 A strong-willed kid 

Hanging in a warm house on a freezing day

 Old wooden lacrosse sticks ...READ MORE