Articles

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Mayor: Public Will Notice Major Change With New Council

OCEAN CITY – Mayor Rick Meehan cruised to re-election on Tuesday and is excited by how the voters structured the new City Council. For the first time as mayor, which he became in 2006, Meehan was opposed, this year by Nick Campagnoli. However, he succeeded to gain his post once again with 2,238 votes compared to Campagnoli’s 629 votes. “I am very appreciative of the fact that the citizens came out supported me in this election … it was great to see so many people come out...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Ocean City Voters Elect ‘New Direction’ Team

OCEAN CITY – Last night’s Ocean City’s Municipal Election results blew the last election’s voter turnout out of the water with the highest voter turnout seen in years as incumbents Mary Knight and Doug Cymek, along with former Council President Joe Mitrecic and former City Manager Dennis Dare, were elected to fill the four open council seats. Complete council election results were Dare, 1,952 votes; Knight, 1,853; Mitrecic, 1,778; Cymek, 1,680; incumbent Jim Hall, 929;...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Moderate Flooding Expected In Ocean City From Nor'easter

The Town of Ocean City’s Emergency Services personnel is reminding citizens that effects from the approaching nor’easter will be present in Ocean City beginning this afternoon.  The initial forecast has changed slightly, projecting an increased flood level for this afternoon’s 1:49 p.m. high tide, which will result in moderate flooding in the downtown and low lying areas. Fortunately, the peak of the storm surge will occur during the overnight hours and should the flooding...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: OC Results Announced

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY ELECTION RESULTS Mayor Rick Meehan: 2,238 Nick Campagnoli: 629 City Council (W) Winner Dennis Dare: 1,952 (W) Mary Knight: 1,853 (W) Joe Mitrecic: 1,778 (W) Doug Cymek: 1,680 (W) Jim Hall: 929 Bob Baker: 842 Joe Hall: 806 Sean Rox: 533 John Adkins: 314 Philip Sayan: 304 General Employees’ UnionFor: 931 Against: 1,723 ...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Berlin, Farmers Market Vendors Ink ‘Good Agreements’;

BERLIN -- Town leadership and vendors appear to have mended any fences that may have broken last month when the Mayor and Council requested a re-location of the Berlin Farmers Market. Following their confrontation in October, both groups have been working together to develop a new, agricultural-based town event as well as form a nine-member Advisory Board composed of vendors, town officials and business and community representatives. “I think that we’ve come to some really good...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: Council President Faces Ethics Charge On Eve Of Election

OCEAN CITY – With the municipal election looming tomorrow, an ethics complaint was filed this morning at City Hall against Council President Jim Hall for reporting false campaign finance information. First thing Monday morning, Councilwoman Mary Knight, who is running for re-election this year, formally filed an ethics violation against Jim Hall for not including accurate disclosures in his campaign financial report that was due on Oct. 30. Jim Hall filed his campaign financial statement...READ MORE

NEW FOR FRIDAY: Sandy Took Major Toll On Assateague Island’s Federal Side

BERLIN -- After a few days to survey damage from Hurricane Sandy, parts of Assateague Island National Seashore will be open today. The North Ocean Beach parking area is expected to open for day use visitation Friday, Nov. 3 at noon. The Verrazano Bridge has been checked out by the Maryland Department of Transportation and deemed safe for vehicular traffic. The cycling and pedestrian bridge is severely damaged and will be closed until further notice. Currently, visitors may not walk or ride...READ MORE

Wind Gusts Top 75 MPH At Wallops

WALLOPS -- NASA officials this week reported its flight facility on Wallops Island, which has become one of the agency’s major launch points in recent years, sustained only minor damage during Hurricane Sandy. An initial assessment team surveyed roads and facilities at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Tuesday and reported a number of downed trees but otherwise minimal impact in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. NASA officials are crediting a recently completed beach replenishment project...READ MORE

Waterman’s Not A Complete Rebuild After Fire

WEST OCEAN CITY -- Less than a month after a devastating fire at the popular West Ocean City restaurant, the future of the Waterman’s Seafood Company looks bright, as it now appears the main structure will be salvaged and not entirely demolished as feared in the wake of the blaze. The fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 5 and first arriving units from the Ocean City Fire Company reported fire extending from the roof area of the two-and-a-half story landmark restaurant on Route 50 in...READ MORE

Sandy Causes Road Closures, Turns Schools Into Shelters

SNOW HILL -- While Worcester County may have fared better in its brush with Hurricane Sandy than many other communities, the storm did still result in significant delays in everything from travel to education. Area schools were closed this week through Wednesday. Four of those schools were used as shelters during Sandy -- Stephen Decatur High School (SDHS), Stephen Decatur Middle School (SDMS), Snow Hill High School (SHHS) and Pocomoke High School (PHS). All told, 305 people took advantage of...READ MORE

Salisbury Trouble Spot Improved

SALISBURY -- Over a decade since first appearing on the planning radar, a major renovation of a trouble spot intersection in Salisbury near the university was officially completed last week, thanks in large part to the partnership between the city, the school and other state and local agencies. Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton last week announced the successful completion of the Bateman Street project, which has been ongoing for over 13 years. The intersection of South Division Street, Onley Rd. and...READ MORE

Salisbury Gains 12 New Firefighters

SALISBURY -- Salisbury officials this week announced 12 new firefighters hired with Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants have begun employment with the city’s fire department. With the assistance of FEMA, SAFER grants were created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer fire organizations to help them increase the number of trained “front line” firefighters in their communities. The goal of the SAFER grants is to enhance local...READ MORE

No Storm Impact On Boardwalk

OCEAN CITY – The town’s Boardwalk did not sustain any significant damage from Hurricane Sandy and the reconstruction project was delayed only by a couple days. Early this month the second phase of a two-year Boardwalk reconstruction project got underway with a large section in the area of N. Division and First streets being torn up and the old surface underneath being excavated. The second phase will finish the entire Boardwalk reconstruction from Somerset Street to 15th Street. Just...READ MORE

No Major Storm Issues In Wicomico

SALISBURY -- While obviously much farther inland, Salisbury experienced many of the same problems with Hurricane Sandy as the coastal areas in the region with flooding in low-lying areas and power outages caused by downed power lines, but city officials said late this week major damage was kept to a minimum. The Wicomico County Department of Public Works inspected all dams and bridges in the area and all were cleared with no damage to report. There was a pipe failure that caused a road washout...READ MORE

Natural Gas Line Connects To County

BERLIN -- The extension of a natural gas pipeline into northern Worcester County is now complete for the most part and service could soon be available to residences and businesses in the area pending approval from the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC). In early October, Chesapeake Utilities, the parent company of Eastern Shore Natural Gas, moved forward with its planned expansion into northern Worcester County with the extension of its main natural gas transmission line across the...READ MORE

Mathias, McDermott Both Support Gambling Expansion

BERLIN -- When voters head to the polls on Tuesday, among the top issues of local importance will be Question 7, a referendum on gambling in Maryland including an expansion to table games and the addition of a sixth casino. There has been no shortage of campaign rhetoric on Question 7 flooding the airwaves and filling up mailboxes in recent weeks, making for a tough decision for many local voters attempting to sort through the blather to the facts. Supporters say the referendum question promises...READ MORE

Early Voting More Popular Than 2010

SNOW HILL -- Friday is the last day that voters will have a chance to cast an early ballot in this year’s presidential election. Early voting this year has already set a new record with officials attributing the bump to an urge to vote before the disruptive arrival of Hurricane Sandy. Early voting began in Worcester County last Friday and will carry on until Friday, Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. This is only the second election in which Worcester residents will have the opportunity to...READ MORE

Charitable Contractors Overhaul Diakonia’s Kitchen

OCEAN CITY -- Trying to feed the hungry can be difficult with an old kitchen, which is why Contractors For A Cause (CFAC) stepped up this fall to re-build the aged kitchen at Diakonia. “It just goes to show the goodness of the community,” said Diakonia Executive Director Claudia Nagle. CFAC are well established in Delaware but branched out into Maryland recently. The group quickly expressed an interest in working with Diakonia, which serves as a non-profit food pantry and...READ MORE

Amended Complaint Filed In Lawsuit Against Berlin

BERLIN -- A long-time Berlin fire department supervisor accused of workplace harassment and discrimination filed an amended complaint against the town yesterday in Worcester County Circuit Court. In May, the town terminated EMS supervisor Norris Phillip Donohue, Jr. after 23 years on the job after at least two EMS employees filed formal complaints about alleged workplace harassment and discrimination. The allegations of harassment and discrimination in the EMS department of the Berlin Fire...READ MORE

‘Ping-Pong Summer’ Filming Completed; ‘Ocean City Was Really Good To Us’

OCEAN CITY -- Production for the independent movie “Ping-Pong Summer” wrapped up in Ocean City last weekend, just days before Hurricane Sandy left its mark on the resort. According to the crew, the filming this fall was fantastic and the atmosphere in Ocean City enviable for the producers of any film. Starring Hollywood heavyweights like Susan Sarandon, Lea Thompson, John Hannah, Amy Sedaris, Judah Friedlander, and Robert Longstreet, “Ping Pong Summer” will be the second...READ MORE

Iconic Pier’s History Rooted In Damage, Rebuilding

OCEAN CITY -- One of the earliest casualties during Hurricane Sandy occurred Sunday night and into early Monday morning when huge waves demolished much of the seaward end of the iconic Ocean City Fishing Pier. While no official report on the destruction has been released, pictures clearly show much of the historic pier has been washed away by the constant pounding of double-digit wave heights. Only support pilings can be seen jutting out of the raging surf with much of the decking already gone...READ MORE

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Assateague Storm Update: ‘The Island Survived … But There Is Considerable Damage’

ASSATEAGUE -- Assateague Island was slowly coming back to life, at least from a human standpoint, yesterday after Hurricane Sandy made her presence felt early this week, but the barrier island, like most coastal areas, took a good beating. Two days after the last vestiges of Sandy cleared out of the area, the Assateague Island State Park reopened for visitors yesterday morning on a limited basis, while the Assateague Island National Seashore remained closed. The National Seashore was expected to...READ MORE

Sandy Causes Minimal Power Outages For Berlin

BERLIN -- With flooding and lengthy blackouts popping up around the Eastern Shore in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Berlin was able to escape relatively unscathed. “Things went extremely well considering the severity of the storm,” said Mayor Gee Williams, crediting the hard work of town employees and a little bit of good luck. Rain and wind gusts from Sandy began to be noticeable on Sunday, with the full impact of the storm hitting the shore Monday. While Ocean City and West Ocean...READ MORE

Resort Resident Shoots At Boat To Protect Home

OCEAN CITY -- It’s always a tragic event when a property owner has to resort to gunfire to defend his or her home. Luckily, this time the threat came in the form of an unmanned boat propelled by storm surge. During Hurricane Sandy on Monday, Eden Roc Hotel owner Bill Salvatore found himself faced with an incredibly unusual situation: a roughly 30-foot boat hurtling toward his home. According to Salvatore, who lives on Marlin Drive off 21st Street, concerned neighbors called him Monday...READ MORE

Ocean City Church Plans To Host Baltimore Orchestra

OCEAN CITY -- The Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra (BPO) will be performing a concert of diverse works on Saturday, Nov. 24, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church at 10301 Coastal Highway. This is the first time the orchestra will be performing in Ocean City. The concert will feature guest vocalist Kate Jackman, and BPO Concertmaster Rafael Javadov. Special guest conductor for one of the orchestra’s selections will be Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. The BPO is a not-for-profit community-based...READ MORE

OC Storm Surge, Flooding Rival Hurricane Gloria

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City is in the process of assessing damaged done by Hurricane Sandy as Ocean City returns to business one step at a time. “I think we are very fortunate,” Mayor Rick Meehan said at this morning’s press conference. “We have our team out there right now doing a damage assessment. We have our partners, State Highway Administration, and other agencies helping us with that. We are trying to get things open back up as quickly as possible and I think we...READ MORE

West OC Hooters Plans To Stay Open All Year

OCEAN CITY -- With a successful first summer under its belt, Hooters in West Ocean City plans to operate through the fall and winter. While the north Ocean City and Boardwalk operations shut down in the fall, the third franchise in West Ocean City off Route 50 has grander designs with its eye on staying open 12 months of the year. “The first summer was good,” said Matt Ortt, Director of Operations. General Manager Jason Ortt explained that the atmosphere in West Ocean City makes it...READ MORE

Governor Credits Replenishment Project For Saving OC

OCEAN CITY – Gov. Martin O’Malley came to Ocean City on Wednesday to take in the town after Hurricane Sandy.As Mayor Rick Meehan, State Senator Jim Mathias and the governor, among others, strolled the Boardwalk they talked about how the beach replenishment project in Ocean City conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers saved Ocean City’s Boardwalk.“It is great to see the Boardwalk totally in place,” O’Malley said. “The mayor was just explaining to me...READ MORE

Army Corps Finds Beach Fared ‘Better Than Expected’

OCEAN CITY – The sea wall on the Boardwalk, along with other storm protection measures, did better in Ocean City than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ expected. On Tuesday Baltimore District commander Col. Trey Jordan visited Ocean City to conduct a preliminary assessment of the Atlantic Coast of Maryland Shoreline Protection Project, or beach replenishment, following Hurricane Sandy. “The Corp of Engineers is interested in public safety and all of our projects like this are...READ MORE

As Election Nears Finish Line, Councilman Seeks To Clarify Opponents’ ‘Disinformation’

OCEAN CITY -- Vying for his second term in Tuesday’s election, Councilman Doug Cymek is hoping voters return him to office as well as his allies who he thinks will return communication and leadership to the council. In an interview this week, Cymek talked about the vast differences between his first two years on the council (2008-2010) and the last two (2010-2012) when government was led by a different council majority. Along with the philosophical differences, Cymek addressed the absence...READ MORE