July 22, 2011

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You face the possibility of raising your relationship to another level. However, your partner might demand that you make promises for which you're not sure you're ready. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): As changes continue, expect things to get a little more hectic at your workplace. An unexpected travel opportunity could open new career prospects. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Confront the person who caused your hurt feelings and demand a full explanation for his or her...READ MORE

Things I Like

Cooking out after a beach day That the Dew Tour is here Funny videos of my sons at play Vehicles stopping to let geese cross Pictures of little kids with their first fish Living close to a national park Driving in light traffic Brown bag lunches Rockfish bites at Dead Freddies A song that brings back memories Sand between my fingers ...READ MORE

Star Charities Western Night To Benefit Diakonia

It was Star Charities Western Night at the Races to benefit Diakonia at Ocean Downs on July 14. Anna Foultz's Star Charities sold out its benefit with lots of hard work from the volunteers. Above, Foultz and Diakonia Executive Director Claudia Nagle and volunteers pose with the winning horse of the Diakonia dedicated race, Champayne Hanover. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Worcester Gold Board President Accepts Check

Margaret Yates, Worcester Gold Board President, accepts a check for $600 from Jim Spicknall, Kiwanis Club of Greater OP-OC Chair for Young Children: Priority One, which "supports special needs of children from their prenatal stage through age 5".  ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Filmamakers Work On Their Editing Skills

Summer videographers Hana Miller, left, and Emily Nord, right, work on their film editing skills with Worcester Prep Filmmaking I Camp Director Colleen McGuire. ...READ MORE

Ravens Roost 96 Presents $2,000 Check To Worcester County Humane Society

Ravens Roost 96 met at Hawaiian Crab Bar & Grill on Route 54 to present annual charitable donations. Above, $2,000 was presented to the Worcester County Humane Society. Pictured are Walter Wright Lee Smith, Regina Ecker and Chuck Porter. Other donations were made to the Justin W. Jennings Foundation, $5,000, and the Roxana Volunteer Fire Company, $3,000. Since June of 2008, Ravens Roost 96 has donated more than $36,000 to various charities in the area. ...READ MORE

Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club Winner Dan & Alex West

The Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club recently held its parent-child tournament. This year’s winners were Dan and Alex West.  ...READ MORE

Hospital Wins Wired Award

SALISBURY -- Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) has been recognized as one of the nation’s Most Wired hospitals, according to the results of the 2011 Most Wired Survey released in the July issue of the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. PRMC was one of just 205 United States hospitals to win the award and was the only recipient on the Delmarva Peninsula. Just three Maryland hospitals were presented with this distinguished honor. The...READ MORE

Fish 'N OC

If you read last week’s installment of “Fish ‘N OC”, you’ll know that we talked a little bit about fishing line and the importance of choosing the right lines for the places we fish and the types of fishing that we do. At the end of the article, I promised to provide you with some insight into the types of lines that I use in my own personal fishing, as well as the lines I’ve found to be most popular around Ocean City. So to get things started, I’d like...READ MORE

A Smart Way To Pass Down Your Family Business

OCEAN CITY -- Many family business owners balk at handing the reins of their companies to their children during their lifetime. Some fear having to pay significant gift taxes; others are simply not ready to cede control (or the children are not ready to receive it). Still others are concerned that passing down their company will mean losing access to the precious income stream they’ve worked so hard to build. But not acting can have unwanted consequences, such as derailing well-deserved...READ MORE

Obituaries

Robert Edward Faulkner OCEAN CITY -- Robert Edward Faulkner, 78, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2011 at the Coastal Hospice Hospital in Salisbury after a long battle with cancer. He was born April 30, 1933 in Washington, D.C., the son of the late James S. Faulkner and Evelyn M. Winkleman-Faulkner. Bob was raised in Washington, D.C. and enlisted in the Army where he served in Korea from 1952-1955. He received the Bronze Star for his service and bravery. In 1994, Bob and his wife Joy retired and...READ MORE

“Crush Em” Lives Up to Name in Tuna Tournament

OCEAN CITY- The 24th Ocean City Tuna Tournament, played out over three days at the Ocean City Fishing Center in West Ocean City last weekend, was one for the books with a whopping 259-pounder weighed early on Day One and a record-breaking stringer weight by the same crew that stood up all weekend. With tuna practically jumping in the boats this summer, last week’s 24th Annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament had the potential to be one of the best in recent memory. After three days, the...READ MORE

7th Annual Kid’s Classic Underway

OCEAN CITY- Young anglers will get their moment in the spotlight this weekend when the Ocean City Marlin Club hosts its 7th Annual Kids Classic Tournament. Throughout the summer, the big boys and girls get to show off their fishing skills practically every weekend with one tournament or another, but the focus during this weekend’s 7th Annual Kid’s Classic will clearly be on the younger anglers. The event is open to all anglers age 19 or younger. With several categories both inshore...READ MORE

Berlin Little League All-Stars Roll to State Championship Finals

BERLIN- The Berlin Little League under-10 All-Stars continued to roll through the Maryland State Tournament this week, beating South Caroline, 18-2, on Tuesday to remain undefeated and advance to the championship round where they could have two shots to win the title. The Berlin All-Stars cruised through the early rounds of the Maryland State Little League Championship Tournament in Brunswick in western Maryland this week, sweeping three games in impressive fashion to advance to the...READ MORE

3rd Annual Branch Kreppel Tourney Next Week

OCEAN CITY- The 3rd Annual Branch Kreppel Blue Marlin Tournament, named for a beloved local angler and diver who passed away in 2008, gets underway next weekend with a captain’s meeting and registration on Thursday, followed by three full days of fishing action next Friday through Sunday. As the name of the event implies, blue marlin are the target species for the tournament, which has become a precursor of sorts for the prestigious White Marlin Open two weeks later. The minimum size...READ MORE

Surf Shop Happy To See Dew Tour Spotlight Action Sports

OCEAN CITY -- With the Dew Tour heading to the beach this week, one local business is hoping the event will show Ocean City how important action sports are to the Eastern Shore. “I think it [the tour] is going to be tremendous,” said Mark Pugh, one of the owners of K-Coast Surf Shop on 35th Street in Ocean City. “I think we’ll see a lot of day trippers come into town.” The Dew Tour is a massive event consisting of skateboard, BMX and surfing competitions, along with...READ MORE

Burger’s Surf’s Up Café Off To Fast Start In OC

OCEAN CITY – A new local hotspot opened last week and is aiming to provide a comfortable beach scene for locals and tourists alike to enjoy drinks, food and entertainment. According to owner Ed Burger, the grand opening of Surf’s Up Café on 54th Street and the bay last Thursday was a great success. “It went well,” Burger said. “A lot of locals and friends that we anticipated on coming came in but we also saw a lot of new faces as well.” Burger is...READ MORE

Wicomico Council Approves New Department Heads

SALISBURY -- The Wicomico County Council this week reluctantly approved the appointments of nine key department head positions after a discussion to table the actions in order to wait for County Executive Richard Pollitt’s much anticipated restructuring plan. Earlier this summer, 44 Wicomico employees took advantage of the county’s early retirement incentive plan and left their respective positions on July 1. In the wake of the mass exodus, which included several department heads,...READ MORE

Decatur Field House Nearly Done

BERLIN -- Stephen Decatur High School (SDHS) will be opening the doors to its new community-funded field house on Aug. 13. “It is 95 percent done,” said SDHS Principal Louis Taylor of the project. The mission to build the facility has been a long one for Taylor, who admits that it’s been a goal of his for the last 15 years. However, he explained that there was never enough money for the expensive undertaking and it had to be put on the backburner. Luckily, earlier this year...READ MORE

OC Motel Worker Busts Vending Bandits

OCEAN CITY -- A vigilant downtown motel employee this week is being credited with nabbing a pair of vending machine burglars wanted by resort police after observing their latest break-in early Monday morning. Throughout much of the summer, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) has been pursuing the unidentified suspect or suspects wanted in connection with a string of vending machine break-ins throughout the resort area to no avail. Early Monday morning, a maintenance man at the Eden Roc Motel...READ MORE

No Major Injuries In Nine-Car Crash

OCEAN CITY -- Traffic in and out of the resort was snarled last Friday night after nine cars carrying 16 occupants were involved in a series of three separate accidents on the Route 90 bridge. Around 9:45 p.m., Maryland State Police troopers responded to eastbound Route 90 and the span over the St. Martin’s River for a reported accident involving nine motor vehicles. The investigation revealed a single motor vehicle accident on the bridge had spawned two other accidents. The investigation...READ MORE

Resort Jeep Week Will Feature Beach Parade

OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City Special Edition 2011 Jeep Wrangler is in the works and will be joining the recently approved Ocean City Jeep Week Parade this year. The second annual Ocean City Jeep Week is slated for Aug. 25-28 and is hosted and funded by The Commander Hotel on 14th Street and sponsored by a group of local businesses. Will Lynch, spoke on behalf of The Commander Hotel and Ocean City Jeep Week, during Monday evening’s Mayor and City Council meeting. He explained the event...READ MORE

Alleged Dealer Drags Cop, Uses Canal To Escape

OCEAN CITY -- A Pennsylvania man was arrested on first-degree assault and numerous other charges last weekend after a wild incident that began with an attempted drug sale to undercover officer on the Boardwalk, included the dragging of another officer alongside a vehicle and ended with the suspect jumping into the bay before being caught hours later. Around 1:47 a.m. last Saturday, Ocean City narcotics detectives, assisted by undercover and plainclothes officers, attempted to arrest Michael...READ MORE

County Contracts Med Services For Jail

SNOW HILL -- Conmed Healthcare Management, Inc. has signed a full-service agreement with Worcester County to provide correctional healthcare services for the Worcester County Jail. The contract includes a full suite of services for detainees, including physicians and 24-hour nurses; utilization management and utilization review of out-of-facility services; management of pharmacy services; mobile x-ray; and laboratory services. The average inmate population of the facility is 370, including a...READ MORE

Convicted Killer’s Jail Escape Foiled

SNOW HILL -- Convicted killer Justin Hadel last week attempted to escape from the Worcester County Jail. Hadel, 20, of College Station, Texas, was found guilty of first-degree murder in June for the beating death of Christine Sheddy, a 26-year-old Delaware woman reported missing in November 2007 from a farm in Pocomoke where she had been staying with friends. Last Tuesday, jail officials learned Hadel had removed a 12- to 14-inch steel hinge pin from the door of the Administrative Segration 4...READ MORE

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Toll Hike Plan Blasted

BERLIN -- A lively crowd sent a unanimous message to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) last Thursday -- steep increases to the Bay Bridge toll would not be popular. “We can no longer remain complacent on the Eastern Shore,” asserted Gail Butkus. Butkus was one of many to speak at a public hearing on toll increases held last Thursday at Stephen Decatur Middle School. The hearing was the last in a series of 10 staged across Maryland by the MDTA and meant to gauge public...READ MORE

Four Arrested For First-Degree Burglary

OCEAN CITY -- Four people, including two juveniles, were arrested on first-degree burglary charges last weekend after allegedly taking up residence at a vacant West Ocean City home. Last Sunday, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a residence on Village Lane in West Ocean City for a reported burglary in progress. The troopers met with the victim who said he had returned to his residence and found four strangers in the home. One of the suspects fled and was taken into custody a short time...READ MORE

Adventures Of Fatherhood

An overwhelming feast for the senses is the best way to describe a family day at a water park. Pam, Beckett, Carson and I decided to join hundreds of others at Frontier Town’s water park last Sunday. Immediately upon our arrival, we worried things were going to turn south quickly, as Beckett’s fascination immediately turned to the large slides visible from the parking lot. A little excitement on my part is to blame, as I actually drove the family “truckster” past the...READ MORE

Between The Lines

The Dew Tour only got started yesterday, but many (including myself) are already wondering about next year. If history is any indication, at least as far as Maryland is concerned, there could be reason to be optimistic. In 2007 and 2008, The Dew Tour was held in Baltimore’s Camden Yards Sports Complex, which reported hosting more than 55,000 people during the event each year and seeing an economic impact of approximately $10 million each year. According to an article in the Baltimore...READ MORE

Government At Its Reactionary Worse

Government agencies are often criticized for wearing blinders and not being aware of the consequences of their actions, and perhaps there’s no better example of this than this summer on Route 54. After a public and private outcry from residents, motorists and businesses along the corridor, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced last Friday construction will cease through Labor Day during the day along Route 54. Effective immediately, contractors will work between 10...READ MORE

Letters To The Editor

On Art, Pornography Editor: I find it outrageous that the Mayor and City Council are willing to use $600,000 of our tax money to support the pet project of an elite minority, the Art League of Ocean City (ALOC). I thought the council recognized the need for fiscal restraint in this time of declining property values and tax receipts. Did we suddenly have an economic recovery that I missed? The Mayor and Council don’t seem to understand the difference between the concepts of “need to...READ MORE

Dinning Out

West Ocean City- Berlin Ocean Pines-Fruitland Assateague crab house & Carryout Rte. 611, Assateague Island • 410-641-4330 On the way to visit the ponies of Assateague, stop by this rustic crab house. Enjoy Maryland crabs by the dozen or try the all-you-can-eat specials including snow crab legs. Their extensive menu features various appetizers, fresh fish, seafood, steaks, chicken and ribs. The kids can enjoy their own menu along with the great game room. Great for casual dining or...READ MORE

Best Beats

Angler, the 410-289-7424 • 2312 Talbot St. On The Bay Friday, July 22: Time Police, 4-7 p.m. Saturday, July 23 & Sunday, July 24: Alex & Shiloh, 4-7 p.m. Every Sunday: Locals’ Social With DJ Deogee, 10 p.m. Burger’s Surf’s Up Cafe 410-723-2007 • 5401 Coastal Hwy. Friday, July 22: Mike Bennet, 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, July 23: Joe Smooth & John Remy, 8 p.m.-midnight Thursday, July 28: Phantom Limbs, 8 p.m.-midnight Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973...READ MORE

Things To Do

July 22, 23 &25: Library Book Sale Friday: 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Ocean Pines Library. Friday’s sale is only open to members of the Friends of Ocean Pines Library. The book sale will be open to the public on Saturday and Monday. For more information, 410-208-4269 or 410-641-7946. July 23: Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser For OCVFC Ladies Auxiliary 8-10 a.m., Applebee’s Neighbor-hood Grill, 12849 Ocean Gateway. To benefit the Ocean City...READ MORE

Open Houses

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 BERLIN 11640 Gum Point Rd Open Daily 10-4 5850sf Waterfront Home on ¾ Acre 50’ Pier & Boat Slips Waterfront Pool Greg Steen Steen Realty, Inc 443-235-2325 OCEAN CITY Makai Condominiums 42nd St. Bayside Daily 10-4 New Construction 2BR & Studio Condos Ben Dawson The Fritschle Group/ Condominium...READ MORE

Fans Pack Event Upon Opening

OCEAN CITY – Mayor Rick Meehan and Councilmembers Mary Knight and Doug Cymek, along with other Ocean City and Dew Tour representatives, officially kicked off the event yesterday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony. “This is the official grand opening this morning, and the first time this event has taken place in Ocean City or on the east coast,” Mayor Meehan said. “This has been a great experience, a great partnership, and this is a perfect fit the Dew Tour and Ocean...READ MORE

Wicomico Council Debates Eliminating Impact Fees

SALISBURY -- In the hopes of stimulating a sluggish building industry and creating or restoring jobs, the Wicomico County Council this week entertained the notion of eliminating impact fees on new construction, but it appears the concept has little traction. Councilman Bob Culver on Tuesday broached the subject of eliminating the county’s $5,200 impact fee on new residential construction in the hopes of luring back contractors who have taken their business elsewhere and stimulating the...READ MORE

Fines Issued For Underage Alcohol Sales

SNOW HILL -- Businesses found in violation of alcohol sales to minors were able to escape Wednesday’s Board of License Commissioners meeting (BLC) with minimal fines. However, board President William Esham warned two of the three violators that they were walking on thin ice. “It just can’t continue to happen,” Esham told Robert Jester, owner of Trader Lee’s in West Ocean City. Esham noted 12 checks on the establishment’s record, eight of which had been passed....READ MORE

Tanger Acquires Ocean City Factory Outlets

WEST OCEAN CITY -- A major player in retail in the area made a big splash last week with the announcement of the acquisition of a substantial share of the Ocean City Factory Outlets. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. last Friday announced it had closed on its admission into three significant outlet centers in the mid-Atlantic region including the Ocean City Factory Outlets in West Ocean City. Tanger’s other acquisitions include two existing phases of The Walk in Atlantic City. Tanger...READ MORE

County Ups Health Fees, Lowers Late Fines

SNOW HILL -- As of next year, several fees for food service and pool permits will by rising in Worcester County, while late fines will be going down. The County Commissioners spent more than an hour Tuesday discussing possible changes to the Worcester County Health Department (WCHD), specifically whether the agency’s late application penalties were too steep. “I don’t think 167 percent [fine] is fair,” said Commission President Bud Church, referring to the fact that a...READ MORE

Ocean City Seeks Dismissal Of Street Performer Suit

OCEAN CITY -- The town of Ocean City this week filed an answer to the civil suit filed late last month by a street vendor claiming an emergency ordinance banning him from setting up shop at North Division Street violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and expression, seeking a dismissal of the case, or in the short term, a stay against a preliminary injunction. In June, the Ocean City Mayor and Council unanimously passed an emergency order banning street performers from practicing or...READ MORE

Berlin Rental Rules Questioned

BERLIN -- The Town of Berlin is planning to revamp its housing standards in order to combat issues with rental properties. “I think there’s more than one problem here,” said Councilwoman Paula Lynch during a council work session Monday. Berlin has a long history with rental properties, the majority of it good, according to the council. “All of these problems are from a handful of properties,” said Mayor Gee Williams. The problems he referred to included rental...READ MORE

Council Approves Boardwalk Bid, To Test Timbersil

OCEAN CITY – As City Council members approved a bid on deck lumber for phase one of the Boardwalk reconstruction, they began to back track in how far they have come in their decision of what material to use. After reviewing the many bids submitted to provide the lumber to deck the new and improved Boardwalk, City Engineer Terry McGean recommended the apparent low bidder of Grasmick Lumber from Baltimore Md., in the amount of $602,650. The initial estimated cost for phase one was $621,000....READ MORE

Pressure Sparks Route 54 Construction Changes

FENWICK ISLAND -- Spurred by pressure from several residents and business owners suffering through one of the worst summers in decades, Delaware transportation officials this week announced the construction schedule for the ongoing Route 54 rehabilitation will be limited to nighttime hours for the remainder of the season. Last fall, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDot) embarked on an ambitious project to widen Route 54 from its intersection at Route 20 to the Mallard Lakes...READ MORE

Berlin Brewery Granted License

BERLIN -- More than two years in the making, Burley Oak Brewery Company, Worcester County’s first microbrewery, is finally preparing to open its doors next month. “The process isn’t over,” admitted Burley Oak Brewery Company owner Bryan Brushmiller, who has set Aug. 12 as the tentative opening day for the brewery, although the date is subject to change. Brushmiller explained that there are still a few details that need to be hammered out but that things are going smoothly...READ MORE

New Exterior Lighting Code Approved For Resort

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council took their final vote in approving a new exterior lighting code that will allow the town to eliminate lighting on new construction that’s non-conforming, or “annoying”, as one official described it. One problem property that has been creating issues for its neighbors in the last year or so is the Rivendell on 81st Street. The Mayor and City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission have been working with neighboring property owners...READ MORE

Funding Eyed For New Ocean City Boat Ramp

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City is requesting state capital funding for a new boat ramp. The total project cost is estimated at $4.15 million including land acquisition. The town is asking for $1 million in assistance. State funds will be used to pay for dredging a navigable channel to the new ramp location and to assist with site improvements including construction of the parking lot and restroom facilities. The new boat ramp will be located on property purchased by Ocean City between 64th and 65th...READ MORE

Dew Tour Athletes Interviewed

OCEAN CITY – The Dew Tour has taken over the resort this week and BMX vert athlete Jamie Bestwick and skate vert athletes Bob Burnquist and Pierre-Luc Gagnon found the time to talk to The Dispatch prior to the start of the Pantech Open. Bestwick of England has won first place in year-end Dew Cup standings for BMX vert for the last six years in a row. Bestwick rides for Team Toyota, which will host an action club Festival Village and he will be on hand Saturday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and...READ MORE