Articles

County’s ‘Sweetheart Deal’ May Be Illegal

SNOW HILL -- The Worcester County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) may have made its first major error since seizing control of the county’s booze dispensary in July, and it could prove to be a costly one, despite what was called “good” intentions. Reports earlier this week indicated the DLC was in negotiations with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABCB) to purchase large quantities of liquor at a much lower price than it could get from wholesalers in...READ MORE

Officials Weigh Proposed Gas Tax Increase

BERLIN -- With last week’s special session out of the way, pre-posturing for the 2012 General Assembly session, still months away, is already heating up with a couple of significant increases to taxes and fees recommended this week including a 15-cent hike on the state’s gas tax. This week, the governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Transportation Funding recommended, among other things, a 15-cent increase in the state’s gasoline tax, phased in five-cent increments over the...READ MORE

Interview: Andes Addresses Retirement, Local Education Issues

NEWARK -- After 16 years as Worcester County’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jon Andes announced earlier this month that he will be retiring at the end of this school year. The Dispatch sat down with Andes this week to discuss his career and future plans. Q: Could you tell me about your history before coming to Worcester County? A: I grew up in in rural Pennsylvania, which is very much like this area except with hills. I went to Bloomsburg University where I received my bachelor’s...READ MORE

West OC Harbor Dredging Project Near

WEST OCEAN CITY -- The long-awaited federal Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging of the commercial harbor in West Ocean City is expected to get underway any day now after a long public input and approval process. “The contract has been awarded and the contractor only needs the Notice to Proceed, which should be coming any time now,” said Army Corps Project Manager Bob Blama. “They will probably begin dredging in late October or early November.” The federal project...READ MORE

Year’s Last Rabies Clinics Scheduled

SNOW HILL -- With Worcester County preparing to offer its last two rabies clinics of 2011 in November, health officials urge owners to get their pets vaccinated. “[Pets] rely on us to protect them,” said Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) Rabies Coordinator Janet Tull. According to Tull, Worcester saw a rabies epidemic beginning in 2008. By 2009, there were 52 documented cases of rabies in pets and wildlife. In response to the increase, the county decided to offer 13 clinics...READ MORE

Salisbury News In Brief

SALISBURY – The City Council breezed through its legislative session as it unanimously approved a few items listed in their consent agenda as well as one additional resolution. Trust By-laws Approved According to City Clerk Brenda Colegrove, the by-laws of the Retiree Health Plan Trust for the Wicomico County Board of Education Wicomico County Maryland and City of Salisbury were unanimously accepted at the Trustees quarterly meeting held on July 28. The Wicomico County Council approved the...READ MORE

Music Students Eye National Prize In Glee Contest

SNOW HILL -- Inspired by a popular television show, one local middle school has entered a national contest with the hope of securing up to $50,000 worth of funding for music and fine arts. “We found out about it just by watching Glee,” said Snow Hill Middle School (SHMS) Extended School Administrator Dr. Mary Ann Cooper. Glee, a hit show featured on Fox Network about a fictional high school show choir, is offering $1 million in prize money to music programs across the country with...READ MORE

Operation Medicine Drop Expands To OC

BERLIN -- With the addition of Ocean City to the roster of communities involved in Worcester County’s Operation Medicine Drop (OMD), organizers are hoping to double the 130 pounds of medications collected by the event last spring. “This is an outstanding program,” said Worcester County Sherriff Reggie Mason. “It was started locally by the Town of Berlin, then last year our office became involved and now I see the Town of Ocean City will have a dedicated drop off...READ MORE

Conservation Easements Inked For Worcester Properties

WEST OCEAN CITY -- The state’s Board of Public Works last week approved the acquisition of two significant environmentally sensitive tracts along the coastal bays in Worcester, adding to an ever-growing list of perpetual conservation easements in the county. The three-member Board of Public Works last week approved the expenditure of over $1.5 million for conservation easement acquisitions for the two large tracts in the coastal bays watershed. The conservation easements, acquired from...READ MORE

Octoberfest Success Could Open Up More Alcohol Sales

BERLIN -- With no major incidents during Octoberfest, the town of Berlin will be considering selling alcohol at other future events. “The only hiccup [at Octoberfest] was a lack of tables and chairs,” said Economic and Community Development Director Michael Day, who said it was remedied by borrowing furniture from the Berlin Fire Department. Drawing in an estimated crowd of 2,500, Berlin’s Oct. 15 Octoberfest was an overwhelming success, according to Day. In fact, it was so...READ MORE

Suspect Arrested In OC Stabbing

OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City man is behind bars this week after allegedly stabbing another man in the chest during an incident on Wednesday evening. Around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Ocean City Police responded to a residence on Edgewater Avenue in the area of 8th Street for a reported stabbing. When OCPD officers arrived, they observed an intoxicated male suspect, later identified as Walter Leslie Everett, 49, attempting to stop police from entering the residence. Officers found a 59-year-old victim,...READ MORE

Ceremony Marks Dedication Of Tom Patton Lane

BERLIN -- Family, friends and government officials were among those gathered for the dedication of Tom Patton Lane last Friday. “I have no doubt he is a very, very pleased person today,” said Delegate Norm Conway (District 38B). Stretching approximately half a mile, Tom Patton Lane serves as a connection between the greater Assateague area and the Rackliffe Plantation House, a restoration project he was dedicated to in recent years. “We really try here to give visitors a...READ MORE

School Sidewalk Work Begins

BERLIN -- The Worcester County Health Department in collaboration with the State Highway Administration (SHA) this week began projects to build and replace sidewalks, cross-walks, signage and adding ADA ramps in order to improve the accessibility and safety of students and parents in getting to and from the schools in Berlin and Snow Hill.  The $118,006 contract for the sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements was awarded by Worcester County to Image Asphalt Maintenance, Inc. of...READ MORE

Salisbury Council Ironing Out BZA Issues

OCEAN CITY – After weeks of deliberation on how to approach an issue concerning nonconforming property uses, the City Council made progress this week on what route seemed most appropriate to guide the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) in hearing out cases. The ordinance on the table is to amend a chapter to change BZA procedures for appeals related to nonconforming property uses. The concern is that a shortage of safe, code compliant, low and moderate income housing exists in the city and past...READ MORE

OC Convention Center Tour Planned

OCEAN CITY -- The public is invited to tour the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City on Monday, Nov. 7. The one-hour tour of the facility begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Visitor Center entrance to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. The tour provides an excellent opportunity for citizens to see the 32,000-square-foot expansion now underway, which, when completed, will include a new lower exhibit hall and a new bayfront ballroom view.  The tour also will show locations for a...READ MORE

Cardin Introduces Bay Bill

BERLIN -- U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, this week introduced legislation to reauthorize the Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails program run by the National Park Service.  Cardin’s bill continues a successful program that helps visitors appreciate the far-reaching role the Chesapeake Bay has had in our region's culture and history while boosting our tourism economy. “The Chesapeake Bay binds our region together through our...READ MORE

Haunted House Plans Fizzle Out In Berlin

BERLIN – After a lot of back-and-forth with the town, one local resident has decided to cancel his attempt to offer a haunted house to the community this year. “It’s been an incredibly negative experience,” said property owner Eric Belardo yesterday afternoon. Belardo, who regularly decorates his house for Halloween, decided to take it one step further this year and turn his property on Dueling Way in Decatur Farm into a walkable haunted house. He enlisted the help of...READ MORE

Mitchell Confident Petition Drive Will Succeed

SALISBURY – The petition effort in Salisbury has taken off without a hitch as Councilwoman Laura Mitchell and volunteers collect signatures to put a stop to a charter amendment passed earlier this month. When The Dispatch caught up with Mitchell on Wednesday afternoon, she was out and about collecting signatures for the petition to referendum challenging a charter change. “What I have in my hand is about 600 [signatures],” she said. Earlier this month, the council voted 5-2 to...READ MORE

Wicomico Council Candidates Sought

SALISBURY -- The Wicomico County Council this week put out a call for candidates to replace the late Councilman Bob Caldwell, whose passing earlier this month vacated the District 4 seat. The county charter states when a council vacancy occurs before the end of the term of office, the Central Committee of the party to which the respective member so vacating was affiliated, shall prepare and submit to the County Council a list of four nominees for the vacated council seat. Each of the nominees...READ MORE

Filling In Resort’s Special Events Calendar A Priority

OCEAN CITY – The local business community gathered this week to hear what tourism officials have in store for next season. Tourism Director Deb Turk started out by saying the new Rodney Campaign TV commercials are close to being completed but because they are in their editing stages they could not be shared on Monday afternoon. “Every year I wonder how the commercials can get any better,” Turk said. “They are hilarious. It’s amazing how much goes into 50-second...READ MORE

Drug Dealing Designation Leads To Federal Grant

SALISBURY -- Wicomico’s ongoing battle with drugs and crime got a much needed shot in the arm from the federal government with the designation of the county last Friday as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) and a grant of $10.6 million announced the same day to help reverse the ignominy of the designation. Last Friday, National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, announced the designation of Wicomico County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The designation...READ MORE

Events Organized To Help Local Battle Hodgkin’s

OCEAN CITY – Come out and get your party on to support a good cause, the Charles Keenan Relief Fund. A golf tournament is being held at the Ocean City Golf and Yacht followed by an after party at Fager’s Island to raise funds for Charles Jeffrey Keenan on Nov. 7. Keenan, 27, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in early September. He immediately entered into chemotherapy without the assistance of health insurance. He is a Stephen Decatur High School graduate and moved on...READ MORE

Bay Bridge Toll Hike Takes Effect Tuesday

BERLIN -- Local residents and visitors to the resort area will need to have a couple extra bucks ready when they approach the east-bound Bay Bridge as the first phase of the new toll rates approved in late September go into effect on Tuesday. Last spring, the Maryland Transportation Authority announced a plan to double the toll at the Bay Bridge for most vehicles from the current $2.50 to $5 starting Nov. 1 and again to $8 in July 2013. However, after considerable public outcry, a compromise of...READ MORE

State Report Predicts Casino Projections Off

BERLIN -- A report released this week by the state’s Department of Legislative Services (DLS) revealed the new Casino at Ocean Downs has underperformed thus far and is not expected to live up to revenue projections in the next five years. The DLS this week released its Spending Affordability Briefing, a blueprint of sorts that examines state revenue sources and anticipated expenditures in advance of the next budget cycle during the General Assembly session early next year. In the section...READ MORE

Autumn Home Show Debuts In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – A new event debuts in Ocean City this weekend, as the Autumn Home and Condo Show will exhibit practically every service one could ever need for the home, plus much more. Mike Wicklein of Ocean Promotions is behind the spring Home, Condo, and Garden Show plus several other annual events in Ocean City. “With our 27 years’ spring experience, we decided to take a shot at autumn and see how that works,” Wicklein said last Friday. “We are getting a good...READ MORE

Announcements

A. Frazier-Malkin Steven and Debbie Malkin of Ocean City have announced the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Elizabeth Malkin, to Gregory Paul Frazier II, son of Paul and Judy Frazier of Damascus, Md. The two have been dating ever since they met at their alma mater, Damascus High School. The future bride graduated from Towson University with a bachelor's degree in Family Studies. She is currently employed by the National Institutes of Health. The future groom graduated from the University...READ MORE