Articles

NEW FOR THURSDAY: One Turtle Hatchling Thriving After Being Relocated From Assateague

ASSATEAGUE -- It was good news, bad news this week as just one of the loggerhead turtle hatchlings rescued from the beach on Assateague in advance of Hurricane Sandy has lived, but the tiny survivor is well on the road to rehabilitation. On Friday, Oct. 26, just about two days before Hurricane Sandy arrived in the mid-Atlantic area, biological technicians and other staff from the Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) of the National Aquarium in Baltimore excavated a loggerhead sea turtle nest from...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Berlin Council Delays Fire Company’s Mediation Request

BERLIN -- The Berlin Fire Company (BFC) turned out in force at Tuesday’s meeting to petition the Mayor and Council to enter third-party mediation to resolve ongoing dispute and to restore the roughly $600,000 funding stripped from the fire company earlier this year. While the council said future mediation is possible, there are a number of conditions the town wants resolved before ever sitting down at a table with BFC leadership. However, even if funding is restored, the council has hinted...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Median Barrier, Lower Speed Limit Pitched To Heighten OC Pedestrian Safety

OCEAN CITY – Coming off a summer with numerous pedestrian accidents, city officials sat down this week with state authorities to come up with solutions. On Tuesday afternoon, the Mayor and City Council met with the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) for their annual fall meeting. SHA Assistant District Engineer Ken Cimino said the SHA hired a consulting engineering firm to do a pedestrian safety study on MD 528, or Coastal Highway, between 62nd Street and Convention Center Dr. The...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: New OC Council Talks Common Ground; Lloyd Martin Chosen As President

OCEAN CITY – All “what ifs” were put aside at last Thursday’s Mayor and City Council organizational meeting as the new council were sworn in and took their seats, including a new council president and council secretary. Council Secretary Lloyd Martin sat in Council President Jim Hall’s chair to conduct the meeting in his absence. “[Jim Hall] asked me to express his thanks to all of the citizens and let them know that he is still an Ocean City resident …...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: Dr. Berger Honored With Glick Award

OCEAN CITY -- More than 400 people celebrated last Saturday the life, accomplishments and contributions of Dr. Leonard Berger, who was bestowed with the 2012 Hal Glick Distinguished Service Award during a gala event. Berger was presented his award by award and gala namesake Glick to cap off an evening of tributes, personal recollections and at times emotional stories. Glick was the first honoree of the award in 2010. Last year, Seacrets owner Leighton Moore earned the...READ MORE

Wicomico Sheriff Defends Traffic Camera Usage

SALISBURY -- Despite a minor hiccup that resulted in a week’s worth of speeding violations being refunded, Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis stood by his office’s continued use of traffic cameras this week. “This has enabled us to do a lot with our resources … I think they’re working as desired,” he told the County Council Tuesday. Currently, the sheriff’s office has two traffic cameras that it deploys in different county school zones. They are only...READ MORE

Casino Leader Talks Expansion Plan’s Potential

OCEAN CITY -- Hours after voters across Maryland approved an expansion of gambling in the state including table games, Casino at Ocean Downs General Manager Joe Cavilla was already talking about an expansion at the gaming facility on Route 589 near Ocean Pines. On Tuesday, a majority of the state’s electorate approved Question 7, a referendum on a bill that will expand gaming in Maryland including the addition of table games at the state’s current and future casinos and the addition...READ MORE

Employee Union Effort Rejected Soundly By Voters

OCEAN CITY – Union rights for general employees is a no go, as the citizens said it was not the time, but spirits were high this week as the new council is seeking to immediately re-establish the general employees’ faith in their elected officials. At Tuesday’s election, voters chose to vote against the referendum question on this year’s Ocean City municipal ballot. The referendum asked if the town charter should be amended to allow all town department employees the right...READ MORE

Economic Committee Gets First Look At Expanded Powell Center

OCEAN CITY -- Resort business leaders this week got a first look at the nearly completed first phase of the expansion of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center along with some encouraging words from its relatively new director about the future of the facility. On Wednesday, the Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) held its bi-monthly breakfast meeting in the newest ballroom of the recently completed Phase I of the expansion of the facility. The first phase of the project featured an...READ MORE

Wicomico Mulls State’s Tier Plan

SALISBURY -- Like many neighboring counties, the Wicomico County Council is reviewing the potential effects of adopting a statewide septics bill that would require land to be assigned one of four tiers.“This bill is very complex,” said Transportation and Long Range Planning Director Keith Hall. “It’s not a one-day read.”The driving force behind the bill is an effort to encourage development on existing water and sewer and to shy away from adding more septics to...READ MORE

Timeline For New Snow Hill School Approved

SNOW HILL -- Without comments or questions, the Worcester County Commission unanimously agreed Wednesday to support the Board of Education’s Fiscal Year 2014 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes a timeline for the construction of a new Snow Hill High School (SHHS). While the commissioners generated some animosity in the county last year when they decided to delay planned renovations of SHHS due to financial concerns, so far this year the project is quietly moving...READ MORE

New Website Offers Objective Wine Reviews

SALISBURY – Wine lovers can now review objective wine recommendations online before their next trip to the wine store. DelmarvaWine.com is a new website created by wine writer John Rankin, who says he launched the site to provide wine reviews and to educate the growing number of wine consumers. “Despite the weak economy, the number of wine consumers continues to grow, particularly in the 25 to 40 age bracket,” he said. “The recent growth of this segment can be seen in the...READ MORE

Power Upgrade Planned For OC

OCEAN CITY -- Delmarva Power this week announced a major high-voltage transmission line installation project is scheduled to begin in mid-town Ocean City early next year along Coastal Highway. The $5 million project is designed to improve electric service reliability in Ocean City and throughout Worcester County and Sussex County in Delaware. The proposal includes rebuilding an existing transmission high-voltage transmission between 41st and 85th streets. Work on the 69,000-volt transmission...READ MORE

New Comfort Station Bids Opened; Roof For District Court Ahead

OCEAN CITY – City Manager David Recor presented the Mayor and City Council with a lengthy list of business items in need for approval this week. During the presentation, Recor he hinted it may be more productive to simply add a consent agenda to future legislative sessions to approve such items with one vote. The following items were approved in one fell swoop this week: New Comfort Station, Stage Bids Opened The Mayor and City Council recognized the low bid of about $940,000 by Black...READ MORE

State Warns Of Storm Scams

OCEAN CITY -- In the wake of Hurricane Sandy and this week’s Nor’easter, the state’s Attorney General is warning citizens to take steps to protect themselves from scam artists and con men looking to take advantage of those in vulnerable situations. Sandy passed through the area two weeks ago, downing trees, blowing off roofs and siding, flooding homes and businesses and picking up small buildings and moving them in some cases. In the wake of the storm, many area residents are...READ MORE

Sandy Called ‘An Elbow To The Ribs For Us On Delmarva’

SNOW HILL -- Early estimates for exactly how much damage Hurricane Sandy wreaked in Worcester County are positive, though officials acknowledge that certain spots in the area were hit harder than others. “Most of the county infrastructure was left with little or no significant damage,” Emergency Services Director Teresa Owens told the County Commissioners Wednesday. According to Public Information Officer Kim Moses, the first estimate of storm damage to public property and assets as...READ MORE

Casino Leader Talks Expansion Plan’s Potential

OCEAN CITY -- Hours after voters across Maryland approved an expansion of gambling in the state including table games, Casino at Ocean Downs General Manager Joe Cavilla was already talking about an expansion at the gaming facility on Route 589 near Ocean Pines. On Tuesday, a majority of the state’s electorate approved Question 7, a referendum on a bill that will expand gaming in Maryland including the addition of table games at the state’s current and future casinos and the addition...READ MORE

Entrepreneur Award Presented

SALISBURY – Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. (MCE) has announced that its inaugural Palmer Gillis Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner has been present4ed to Pete Roskovich, owner of Adams Ribs and Black Diamond Catering in Fruitland. The award was created to recognize the entrepreneurial spirit, outstanding accomplishments and sheer determination of local entrepreneurs who own and operate successful small businesses. He was was presented the award at MCE’s Annual Gala at the UMES...READ MORE

Resort Noise Rules Tightened

OCEAN CITY – Following another summer of noisy problem properties, the Noise Board has proposed amendments to move toward a more peaceful community in the future. Ocean City Noise Control Board Chairman Brett Wolf came before the Mayor and City Council on Monday to recommend several amendments to Town Code regarding noise. “We are here asking for changes to the noise code to give us the opportunity to better partner with the police in maintaining peace and quiet while assisting...READ MORE

Salisbury Looks To Formalize Internet Usage Rules

SALISBURY -- The Salisbury City Council is moving forward this week with creating a new Internet use policy as well as a more specific policy to address the addition of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to the city. For roughly a decade, Salisbury has operated without an Internet use policy because it was not responsible for its own connection. “Up until recently the city was using the county Internet connection,” said Salisbury Director of Information Technology Bill Garrett. By...READ MORE

Owners Aim To Simplify Dining With Delivery Service

OCEAN CITY – With the cold weather settling in, Just Deliveries will bring your meal to you. Just place your order with them and any craving can be satisfied whether, it’s Chinese in front of the TV or buckets of chicken for your next football get together. Just Deliveries, LLC owners Jennifer Judd and Dawn James moved to Ocean City from Baltimore three years ago and fell into a culture shock when they found out the limitations of delivery service. “We saw a need for it,”...READ MORE

Pocomoke Elementary School Commended

POCOMOKE -- Pocomoke Elementary School (PES) received a visit last Friday from State Superintendent Dr. Lillian Lowery, who presented plaque designating PES as a Superlative High Performing Reward School, one of only eight such Title-1 schools state-wide. During the visit, Lowery also spoke with PES leadership about the strategies used to promote education, which will be highlighted in an upcoming Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) video that will showcase best practices for...READ MORE

New Pines Yacht Club Plan Okayed

OCEAN PINES -- It’s been a long road but a new Ocean Pines Yacht Club has finally received site plan approval by the Worcester County Planning Commission. The project suffered delays last month when the commission initially refused to lower parking requirements for the proposed facility, which was short 62 spaces as judged by the county code. Following the denial, the Ocean Pines Administration (OPA) eventually won an administrative adjustment hearing that allowed them to alter parking...READ MORE

Lower Shore Counties Confirm Republican Tendencies

BERLIN -- In Tuesday’s general election, the lower shore continued its long-standing traditions of bucking statewide and nationwide trends and stayed close to its Republican roots in nearly every race. While President Barack Obama edged Republican challenger Mitt Romney by mere percentage points nationally, the presidential race was hardly an issue in the traditionally Democratic state of Maryland, but Worcester and Wicomico counties bucked the statewide trend as it has for decades. In...READ MORE

Ethics Charge Filed Over Finance Report On Election Eve

OCEAN CITY – With the municipal election looming on Tuesday, an ethics complaint was filed Monday at City Hall against Council President Jim Hall for reporting false campaign finance information. First thing Monday morning, Councilwoman Mary Knight, who was re-elected handily on Tuesday, 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 on Oct....READ MORE

WOC Restaurant Named In Class Action Wage Lawsuit

WEST OCEAN CITY -- A West Ocean City restaurant has been named as a defendant in a class action lawsuit over alleged unfair wages for tipped employees in what could be a test case of sorts for the hospitality industry. The Sakura Japanese Steakhouse chain, including its local restaurant, has been named as a co-defendant in the class action suit brought by a handful of former employees and filed in U.S. District Court last week. The suit alleges Sakura not only did not meet the minimum wage...READ MORE

Salisbury To Seek Agreement In Case Of Water Service Problems

SALISBURY -- With recent emergencies like Hurricane Sandy grabbing attention, Salisbury Public Works Director Teresa Gardner briefed the council this week on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Emergency Services to provide water services to areas of Wicomico County during “catastrophic” events. According to Gardner, one of the biggest issues following an emergency situation is providing water services to all residents. Should water be disrupted in...READ MORE

Viable Sea Turtle Nest Discovered

BERLIN – On Friday, Oct. 26, before the onset of high winds and waves from Hurricane Sandy, biological technicians and staff from the Marine Animal Rescue at the National Aquarium in Baltimore excavated a loggerhead sea turtle nest on the north end of Assateague Island National Seashore (AINS). The nest contained two live hatchlings and 160 potentially viable eggs.
When sea turtle hatchlings emerge from the nest, they look for residual light in the night sky reflecting off the ocean....READ MORE

Town Officials, 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

Repairs Underway On Assateague’s Fed Side

BERLIN – Slowly but surely, the Assateague Island National Seashore is licking the wounds caused by Hurricane Sandy, but some will take more time to heal than others. According to a press release from the federal side of the island, the cycling and pedestrian bridge on the Verrazano Bridge sustained significant damage. On the island side, part of the path has been completely washed out. Pedestrians and bicycles are consequently prohibited until further notice. Additionally, officials say...READ MORE

Ocean City Voters Support Dare, Knight, Mitrecic, Cymek

OCEAN CITY – Tuesday’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; Bob...READ MORE

Mayor Extends Unbeaten Streak In Ocean City Politics

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

A Surprising Opportunity In Europe For Some Investors

OCEAN CITY -- In today's low interest-rate environment, the search for higher-quality, higher-yield fixed income can sometimes seem like a fantasy. While low-risk standbys such as 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds and 10-year German bunds offer principal protection at their current yields of 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively, barely beat current inflation. Recently, bonds issued by some European countries offer more attractive yields, but considering the serious economic problems the Eurozone continues to...READ MORE