October 14, 2011

Hardwire CEO Explains Why He Abandoned County Plan

Editor's Note: The following is a copy of the letter sent to the County Commissioners as well as residents and neighbors by Hardwire CEO George Tunis as well as the response from the citizens group in opposition to the plans.) Hardwire 1947 Clarke Avenue Pocomoke City, Md. 21851 Fellow residents and neighbors, As I testified at the Snow Hill BZA hearing and told individuals on the phone or in person, I promised to listen to your concerns regarding the Newark Blast site. I had actually made up...READ MORE

Road Improvement Fund Considered to Address Future Street Repairs

OCEAN CITY- Faced with the prospect of $41 million in future road improvements, Ocean City officials this week debated the possibility of forming a dedicated funding source for an annual Street Improvement Program. Councilwoman Margaret Pillas initiated a discussion on the possibility of an Annual Street Improvement Program and although she was absent due to illness during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting, the item was scheduled to be discussed. Director of Public Works Hal...READ MORE

Wicomico Mourns Council Member

SALISBURY- Wicomico County this week lost one of its long-standing public servants when Councilman Bob Caldwell, Jr., 70, succumbed after a long bout with cancer. Caldwell served on the Salisbury City Council from 1992-1996 including a two-year stint as Council President from 1994-1996. In 2010, he was elected to the Wicomico County Council, representing District 4, which encompasses most of the Salisbury city limits. Caldwell also served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and was heavily...READ MORE

Powerhouse Resurrected in West OC

OCEAN CITY- Powerhouse Gym in West Ocean City is back in action with membership rates incomparable when it comes to their state-of-the-art facility and equipment. Powerhouse Gym in West Ocean City first opened in 1997 by Tony Taghipour, with other locations in Salisbury and Seaford following. In 2004 Taghipour sold West Ocean City’s location and opened a new health club in Cambridge. In 2010, Taghipour began exploring re-opening a gym in the area. After looking at several different...READ MORE

Council Approves Special Events Calendar

OCEAN CITY- Special events officials this week gave an update on this year’s successful Sunfest as they looked forward to the arrival of this year’s Winterfest of Lights and sought approval of 2013 Calendar of Special Events. This year was the 37th year Sunfest was held in Ocean City. Director of Recreation and Parks Tom Shuster reported a successful Sunfest this year despite some challenging weather. There were 154,507 visitors to the festival grounds at the Inlet during the 2011...READ MORE

Legionnaire’s Confirmed at Boardwalk Hotel; One Fatality Reported

OCEAN CITY- Three more cases of Legionnaire’s Disease connected to a historic Boardwalk hotel were confirmed this week, including an elderly out-of-state victim who has died from the disease, while state and local health officials this week confirmed the presence of the bacteria in the water at the facility. Last week, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Worcester County Health Department reported three individuals who were guests at the Plim Plaza Hotel on the...READ MORE

Resort Nightclub Cleared in Boat Crash Suit

OCEAN CITY- A federal judge last week dismissed a $1 million civil suit filed in March against a popular resort nightclub attempting to hold the establishment responsible in part for the actions of an inebriated skipper who later crashed his vessel into the Route 90 bridge. Around 1 a.m. on July 5, 2008, a 21-foot fiberglass ski boat carrying 10 people collided with an abutment on the Route 90 bridge in a dense fog, severely damaging the vessel and sending all of its occupants into the murky...READ MORE

Resort to Seek Main Street Title

OCEAN CITY- Ocean City officials this week unanimously agreed to pursue a Main Street Maryland designation for the resort. This week, Director of Planning and Community Development Jesse Houston asked for the Mayor and City Council’s endorsement to apply for Ocean City’s inclusion in the Main Street Maryland (MSM) program. The MSM program is a downtown revitalization program run through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Community participation is collected...READ MORE

Salisbury Charter Change

SALISBURY- The majority of Salisbury City Council voted this week to move forward with a charter amendment concerning power over the selection of the City Attorney despite a plea to hold off for additional public input. The Charter Amendment Resolution changes the city solicitor’s appointment process from a nomination by the mayor to an appointment solely by the vote of the council. In addition, the city solicitor shall no longer serve at the pleasure of the mayor, but at the pleasure of...READ MORE

Road Improvement Fund Considered to Address Future Street Repairs

OCEAN CITY- Faced with the prospect of $41 million in future road improvements, Ocean City officials this week debated the possibility of forming a dedicated funding source for an annual Street Improvement Program. Councilwoman Margaret Pillas initiated a discussion on the possibility of an Annual Street Improvement Program and although she was absent due to illness during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting, the item was scheduled to be discussed. Director of Public Works Hal...READ MORE

Grassroots Group Rails Against Approved Explosives Testing Range

SNOW HILL- Barely a month after the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) originally granted Hardwire LLC the right to test explosives at a Newark firing range, several property owners in the area have banded together to protest and are asking the BZA to reopen the case. Calling themselves “Seashore not C-4,” some members have already sought legal counsel. “Our counsel has identified several serious legal defects in the application,” said Seashore member Stacy...READ MORE

Storm Broke Radford in Two Pieces

OCEAN CITY- Recent dives on the former U.S.S. Arthur W. Radford, a retired U.S. Navy destroyer sunk in August to the bottom of the ocean as part of a three-state artificial reef system just 30 miles off the coast of Ocean City, has already broken into two large pieces, likely caused by the affects of Hurricane Irene. The 536-foot Spruance class Radford, decommissioned by the Navy and retired to dry dock for several years, was sunk to the bottom on August 10, becoming the centerpiece of a vast...READ MORE

Convention Center Update Presented

OCEAN CITY- With the first phase of the expansion of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center already underway, town officials this week got a briefing on the current project and the future of the facility. Convention Center Director Rick Hamilton on Tuesday presented the Mayor and City Council with a brief history of the convention centers expansion and where it is going. Previous goals were to create 20,000 square feet of new exhibit space, maintain a 20,000 square-foot exhibit area on the...READ MORE

12' Wicomico Restructuring Program Still Muddy

SALISBURY- Months after Wicomico County officials embarked on a significant reorganization of the county’s government, there are still more questions than answers as the plan starts to take shape. In the interest of cost-saving and efficiency, Wicomico County this summer undertook a major reorganization of the county’s government including the elimination of some positions, a change in duties for some others and a reconfiguring of several departments. The changes came in the wake of...READ MORE

Search for New City Manager Hotly Debated

OCEAN CITY- A couple of unexpected items were brought up during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting including an accusation of a council member suggesting to suspend the national search for a new city manager as well as a substantial pay hike for Fire Chief Chris Larmore. As a motion was called to adjourn this week’s Mayor and City Council work session, Councilman Joe Hall brought up a discussion that might have or have not happened behind closed doors during a closed session...READ MORE

Berlin Dealer Gets Five Years

BERLIN- A Berlin man who pleaded guilty in federal court in July to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine following one of the most significant drug busts in recent Worcester County history was sentenced this week to five years in prison, the minimum mandatory sentence for the offense. Tyrone Darnell Lawson, 38, of Berlin, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on July 14 to one count of possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine, a charge which...READ MORE

Taser Pilot Program Approved

OCEAN CITY- After years of debate, the Ocean City Mayor and Council this week agreed to adopt a pilot program for the use of Tasers for the resort’s police department. This week, Chief of Police Bernadette DiPino asked the Mayor and City Council for approval for the police department to purchase and implement electronic control devices (ECD), also known as a Tasers. “This isn’t the first time that I have come before the Mayor and Council with the proposal to bring this weapon...READ MORE

O’Malley Tours State Second Largest Solar Facility

SALISBURY- With the recent completion of the state’s second largest solar installation in Salisbury, the future of alternative energy in Maryland is looking brighter every day. “I think we’re just starting to scratch the surface of what we can do,” said Governor Martin O’Malley during an open house for the new solar installation. O’Malley, along with other government officials and industry leaders, visited the Salisbury headquarters of Perdue Inc. to tour the...READ MORE

County Kids Attempt Guinness Record

SNOW HILL- Partnering with National Geographic Kids magazine and the National Recreation and Parks Association, members of the Worcester County Recreation and Parks (WCRP) after school program took part in Let’s Jump, an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most people doing jumping jacks. Spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama as part of her ongoing efforts to promote fitness in America’s youth, the world-record attempt stretched over a 24 hour period, from 3 p.m....READ MORE

Storm Victims Need Local Support

OCEAN CITY- Perhaps presenting an opportunity to “pay it forward,” a prominent area disaster relief and restoration company is already helping residents of a small Pennsylvania community ravaged by Hurricane Irene in late August and has set up an account for monetary donations and a drop-off location for much needed supplies to allow local residents and visitors to contribute to the cause. Hurricane Irene blew through the resort area in late August causing minimal destruction, save...READ MORE

Redistricting Plan Lets Politicians Draw Borders

The chairwoman of the commission Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed to draft new congressional district maps for the state said that the members had attempted to respect natural and jurisdictional boundaries and communities of interest in drawing the lines. That is true, insofar as the group isn't proposing that the districts cross the Potomac into Virginia at any point. Otherwise, it's hard to find much in the Rorschach test-worthy map they produced that conforms to any standard of compactness or...READ MORE

Tough Guy Of The Week

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Seahawks Rout Warriors on Homecoming

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team won its third game in a row last weekend, pounding Easton, 41-8, on Homecoming to improve to 4-2 on the season. One week after upsetting Queen Anne’s, 34-31, on the Lions’ homecoming game, the Seahawks had to avoid the same fate last Friday when it faced Easton on a day it welcomed back alumni with full festivities including fireworks displays. Easton had shown signs of life the week before with a 56-0 rout of Colonel Richardson,...READ MORE

First Leg of Battle of Berlin Complete

BERLIN- The Stephen Decatur and Worcester Prep varsity golf teams renewed their friendly neighborhood rivalry last week with the first leg of the “Battle of Berlin Challenge Cup” with the Seahawks winning three of the four matches, or points. The first leg of the challenge, played last Thursday at the Ocean City Golf Club, was a two-person scramble with Decatur winning three of the four matches. Decatur’s Joe Iacona and Chase Eslin defeated Worcester’s Patrick Dowling and...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Rout Wicomico Twice

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity soccer team won a pair of games over Wicomico this week, beating the Indians, 6-0, on the road last Wednesday and scalping the Indians again by the same 6-0 score at home on Monday. On Monday, the Seahawks picked up where they left off against Wicomico, getting out to an early lead against the Indians on a goal by Tori Whigham just 10 minutes into the contest for an early 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 for much of the first half as the...READ MORE

Seahawk Golfers Qualify for State Semis

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity golf team stayed on a major roll this week, finishing second at the state quarterfinal tournament at the Hyatt in Cambridge on Tuesday to qualify for next week’s state semifinals at the University of Maryland. On Monday, the Seahawks won their fourth regular season tournament of the year, beating rival Parkside by 16 strokes in the process. Decatur shot a team-low 168, while the Rams finished in 184. Nikki Rafer led the Seahawks with a tournament-low...READ MORE

OCPD Looking For Armed Robbery Suspect

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Po-lice this week are looking for a suspect who allegedly robbed a woman, possibly at gunpoint, of her purse and a laptop computer while she was retrieving the items from her car. Around 7:50 p.m. on Monday, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 81st Street and Coastal Highway for a reported robbery that had just occurred. Officers met with a female victim who told police she was retrieving an item from inside of her parked car when an unknown male suspect...READ MORE

Open Houses Of The 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 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 Course Road Sat&Sun 10-4 3BR/3.5BA New Construction Luxury Townhouses Only 3 Left Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

H20 Event's Side of the Story Editor: Regarding your recent article talking about our show, I feel that you have a biased view of it and a little insight to our side of the story is necessary. I understand that your readers are locals because you are an Ocean City paper, but when you write an article about an "Internet organized event" you are going to get backlash when you post it on the internet especially to a show entering its 15th year at the same venue. To start off, our show is...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary Celebrate Their Compiment Chain

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SD High School Senior William Cardenas Named National Hispanic Scholar

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SH Elementary School Receives U.S. Flag

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OC Elementary School Participated In The Global Gear Drive

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Students Examine Samples From The Local Bays

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Snow Hill Volunteer Fire Department Visit Snow Hill Elementary School

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College Board Names National Merit Commened Scholars From Worcester Prep

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We Remember Those We Have Lost

Dorothy Joan Waterman BERLIN -- Dorothy Joan Waterman of South Point, Berlin, died Sept. 29, 2011 at her home of complications from COPD. She was born in Providence, R.I. in 1929 and grew up in Springfield, Mass. Dorothy graduated from Classical High School in 1947 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Med from Purdue University in 1951. She met and married Hawley Waterman in 1954 and moved to Princeton, NJ in 1956 where Mr. Waterman was the Athletic Director at the Hun School. While in...READ MORE

Best Eats On The Beach

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

Who's Playing When And Where

Burger’s Surf’s Up Cafe 410-723-2007 5401 Coastal Hwy. Every Thursday: Big Ass 80’s Party With The Bigler Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Oct. 15: Bryan Russo Charlie’s Bayside Restaurant 302-539-3526 Rte. 1 & Maryland Ave., Fenwick Island   Friday, Oct. 14: Ginger, 9 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.   Ocean Club: Friday, Oct. 14 & Saturday, Oct. 15: Power Play De Lazy lizard 410-289-1122 1st...READ MORE

Things To Do Around Town

Oct. 14: Parish At The Beach Golf Tournament Registration, noon; shotgun start, 1 p.m.; Bayside Resort & Golf Club. Sponsored by the St. Luke Catholic Parish to benefit the youth program. Banquet, awards and auction immediately following at the Bayside Cove Bar & Grille, Fenwick Island. Cost: $100, player. Includes a goodie bag, range balls, 18 holes of golf, cart and banquet. Youth players are $50. For more information stop by the St. Luke Parish office or call 410-250-0300 to receive a...READ MORE

Director Of Admissions Helps Seniors With College Admissions Process

Rich Edgar, Director of Admissions at St. Mary's College, each year visits Worcester Prep to team with Tony D'Antonio, Director of College Counseling, to help seniors with the college admissions process. Pictured above is Edgar (center) with Michelle Stickler, Kayla Baier, Edgar Riddhi, and Lynde Pepper. ...READ MORE

Church Mouse Thrift Shop Dontates $200 To Women Supporting Women

Helen Wiley (right) presents a $200 donation to Women Supporting Women from The Church Mouse Thrift Shop on Main Street in Berlin. Accepting the donation for WSW is Rota Knott (left), Worcester County Chapter coordinator. The donation was made from The Church Mouse as part of the month-long Turn the Town Pink breast cancer awareness event in downtown Berlin. ...READ MORE

Star Charities Presents $2,500 Check To Girl Scouts

Star Charities this week presented a $2,500 check to the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council at Stephen Decatur on Monday. Pictured, from left: Donna Smith, Girl Scouts Director of Membership, Volunteerism and Programs; Barbara Entwistle, Girl Scouts Unit 7 Service Team Member; Dr. Lou Taylor, Principal, Stephen Decatur High School; Anna Foultz, President, Star Charities; Kim Goldberg, Ocean Pines Marketing and Public Relations; and, Lou Anne Trummel, Treasurer, Star Charities. ...READ MORE

OC Elks Club Donate $5,000 To Seahawks Stadium

The Ocean City Elks Club #2645 last week made a leadership gift of $5,000 to the capital campaign for a new athletic field house at Seahawks Stadium, a project of the SDHS Alumni Association. Pictured above, SDHS Principal Lou Taylor accepting the donation from Elks Treasurer Jim Flaig, Past Exalted Ruler and State President Carroll Wagner, and Exalted Ruler Paul Yates. ...READ MORE

OP Vol. Fire Department Raffle Off House

The Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department last week held their annual raffle of a house in the community. Pictured above, from left, raffle winners Joseph and Victoria Wilkinson with their daughter, Joleen, along with OPVFD president Steve Rosen and Dan Healy, as the Wilkinsons took possession of their new home. ...READ MORE

Adventures Of Fatherhood

After three-plus years, I’m taking one week off from this daddy column, as my family heads south for a vacation. Therefore, here’s a look back at one of the early columns from 2008 when only Beckett was in the picture. My apologies for the repeat.  I am constantly amazed these days at how our little boy is changing, and it seems like he picks up some new sound, facial expression or activity every day. As of this writing, some of the biggest changes I have noticed have to do with...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Burgess Named REALTOR of Year BERLIN- The Shamrock Realty Group, Inc. this week announced the Maryland Women's Council of REALTORS (WCR) has given to Mary Burgess the prestigious "REALTOR of the Year" award. This title is awarded annually to the Women's Council member who has provided noteworthy service to the organization and its membership. In addition, Burgess received "REALTOR of the Year" honors from the WCR Coastal Delmarva Chapter. Mary Burgess has been affiliated with...READ MORE

Things I Like

The first day of being on vacation Andy Rooney’s last essay When the Yankees lose in the playoffs
 A glass of wine with dinner after a long day
 Waking up to a morning fog
 A check in the mail addressed to me A blooming flower outside a kitchen window 
 The look of a house after a good power wash
 A bye week for the Ravens When my kids sleep in the car Meeting new people ...READ MORE

Behavior Patterns Could Lead To Poor Results

OCEAN CITY -- Do you blame your investing blunders on bad luck? A bad market? There’s evidence that poor performance is often the result of ingrained behavior patterns. Experts in behavioral finance have identified certain predictable patterns of behavior that lead investors to make the same mistakes over and over. Here are six common behaviors that can deal your investments a substantial setback — and some changes that can help you avoid them. Last week, we took a look at three...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Mars, your ruling planet, begins a journey that will open up a growing number of possibilities. Put that surging Arian energy to good use and explore it to your heart's content. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): This is the time to prepare for a career move coming up next month. Update your resume. Get those proposals in shape. And don't forget to buff up that Bovine self-confidence. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Your Gemini instincts will guide you to the right people who...READ MORE