Articles

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Winterfest Of Lights Enjoys ‘Second Best Year Ever’; More New Year’s Eve Fireworks Possible

OCEAN CITY – A near record-setting year of attendance at Ocean City’s Winterfest of Lights ended with a bang to bring in the new year, and because the inaugural New Years’ Eve fireworks show was such a success, the city will be looking to have it again next year. The 20th Annual Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park kicked off on Nov. 15 this year and as of its conclusion on Tuesday, Jan. 1, there were 95,599 attendees, ranking the year of 2012 with the second highest...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: County To Seek Waiver For Traffic Light At Troubled Spot

SNOW HILL -- Following a heated meeting between the State Highway Administration (SHA) and residents of Snow Hill last month, the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to write a letter to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) requesting that a traffic light be installed at the intersection of Routes 12 and 113, despite the site not meeting the requirements for a light. Commissioner Virgil Shockley, who represents the Snow Hill district, briefed the rest of the...READ MORE

NEW FOR FRIDAY: Wacky Crime Stories From 2012

OCEAN CITY -- Throughout the course of each year, hundreds of criminals are arrested and prosecuted in the resort area for a wide variety of offenses, ranging from the gravely serious to the downright silly, and 2012 was no exception. Crime is rarely funny and often tragic, but there are those occasions when the perpetrators’ actions are just so ridiculous, they make for perfect “Cops and Courts” fodder and lively water cooler talk throughout the area. The following is a quick...READ MORE

Accident Claims Life Of Local Man

BERLIN -- A local man was killed Wednesday in a two-vehicle accident along Route 50 at its intersection with Route 818, or Main Street extended, in Berlin late Wednesday morning. Shortly before noon on Wednesday, Berlin Police responded to a reported vehicle collision at Routes 50 and 818 where Main Street extends across Route 50. The preliminary investigation revealed a vehicle, driven by Christopher Keenan, 24, of Berlin, was headed westbound on Route 50. Another vehicle, driven by Amberle...READ MORE

Wicomico Audit Confirms Expenses Below Budget

SALISBURY – Wicomico County’s annual audit this year revealed fund balances increased and expenditures were less than predicted. Wicomico County’s auditor, Pigg, Krahl and Stern (PKS), presented the County Council last week with the annual audit, including an analysis of the county’s financial performance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, ending on June 30, 2012. The document begins by listing financial highlights, such as the county's government-wide operations showing an...READ MORE

Compromise Reached To Protect Atlantic Menhaden

OCEAN CITY -- Federal fisheries management officials last week took an important first step in protecting the Atlantic menhaden, a vital link in the food chain along the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay, when they compromised on a 20-percent catch reduction. After years of debate about the need for protections for the Atlantic menhaden, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (AMFC) voted 13-3 to reduce the catch limit on the small, silvery species by 20 percent in 2013 with the...READ MORE

Downtown Group Keeps Inlet Lights Goal In Sight

OCEAN CITY – Although the holiday season will come to an end next week, Light Up Downtown will continue its fundraising efforts to reach the goal of having light displays in the Inlet Parking Lot once again. Light Up Downtown kicked off its first year on Nov. 24 with a celebration and the lighting of Sunset Park’s tower into an illuminated tree. Each Friday and Saturday following until this past weekend Santa was on the scene with various entertainment scheduled, including music and...READ MORE

Downtown Restaurant Building Demolition Near

OCEAN CITY – The Fat Daddy’s restaurant building on S. Baltimore Ave. and Dorchester Street in downtown Ocean City received its demolition permit last week and destruction is expected to begin next week. Dave Rainy of Sens Contracting said on Thursday crews are currently in the process of taking a week to remove and dispose of asbestos siding shingles on the building before demolition can take place. Razing efforts are expected to begin next week. According to Ocean City Development...READ MORE

Some Salisbury Boards Struggling With Participation

SALISBURY -- A few commissions in Salisbury have had trouble operating recently due to insufficient members or attendance, resulting in an inability to have a quorum, according to City Administrator John Pick. While some on the council blamed new state-mandated ethics codes for the lack of interest from the public, others argued that the city has struggled to fill many of its boards and commissions for years and that new regulations are a minor factor. “They’re so complicated,”...READ MORE

Spotlight Put On ‘Silent Giants’ At OC Open House

OCEAN CITY -- Residents and visitors are invited to start off the New Year with a visit to the Ocean City Mayor and City Council's 17th Annual Open House, scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. on New Year's Day at City Hall, located at 3rd St. and Baltimore Avenue. The Mayor and City Council’s Open House, which has been a community tradition since 1997, offers a different theme each year. This year's theme focuses on the "The Silent Giants: The men and women of the Public Works...READ MORE

Annual Beach Walk To Honor Trust Founders

ASSATEAGUE- One of the highlights of the start of a new year, the annual Ilia Fehrer-Judy Johnson Memorial Beach Walk on Assateague Island, will be held again on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m.. The Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) next Tuesday will host its 33rd Annual Ilia Fehrer-Judy Johnson Beach Walk honoring the individuals who founded the organization over three decades ago with an entertaining guided tour of the barrier island. The theme for this year’s annual walk is...READ MORE

OC Strategic Plan Process Continues With Council Input

OCEAN CITY – City Manager David Recor’s strategic planning process is rounding the corner as the council met last week to evaluate the priority list moving Ocean City into the future. Earlier this month, a session was held with city staff to work on the Strategic Planning Model, which starts with a vision that will describe the value-based principles that describe the preferred future of Ocean City over the next 15 years. Next is a plan of goals that focus outcome-based objectives...READ MORE

Wicomico Drug Unit Breaks Up Major Cocaine Operation

SALISBURY -- The Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force last week announced the indictments of 71 suspects on various cocaine and other drug distribution charges, including six identified as kingpins, in what is being deemed one of the largest dealer round-ups in the county’s history. Last week, the Wicomico County Narcotics Task Force, a high intensity drug trafficking area unit, announced the results of a multi-year investigation dating back to 2010 that targeted a large-scale drug...READ MORE

Council President Looks Forward To 2013

OCEAN CITY – Although the election brought about significant changes for Ocean City, newly elected Council President Lloyd Martin is refusing to look back at the past but rather ahead in the town’s positive direction. On Nov. 6, the voters returned incumbents Mary Knight, Doug Cymek and Mayor Rick Meehan to the City Council and elected former Councilman Joe Mitrecic and former City Manager Dennis Dare. Mitrecic and Dare replaced former Council President Jim Hall and Councilman Joe...READ MORE

Casino Granted 24-Hour Request

BERLIN -- While it could be several months before the Casino at Ocean Downs formalizes any plans to add table games, significant changes in the hours of operation, such as being open 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays, including New Year’s next week, are already in the offing after the state gaming commission approved several changes last week. In November, Maryland voters approved referendum Question 7 allowing, among other things, an expansion to table games, such as blackjack,...READ MORE

Reassessment Shows North Worcester Property Values Still Declining

BERLIN -- When north-end Worcester County property owners get their reassessment notices in the mail likely next week, most will see their values have continued to decline, but the level of decrease will likely not be as great as once anticipated. Assessments of real estate values in a north end of Worcester County, including Berlin, Ocean Pines and other areas, were officially completed earlier this month, and new notices are expected to be mailed out by the end of the year. While most in the...READ MORE

Business Owners Team Up For VW Bus Drop

OCEAN CITY -- Unsatisfied with a traditional ball-drop to ring in the New Year, Oasis Bar and Grill in Whaleyville will be teaming up with Shorebilly Brewing to lower a holiday-themed Volkswagen bus from the sky on Dec. 31. According to Oasis owner Bobby Riccio, his bar organizes a New Year’s Eve celebration every winter and has finally decided to do something that will make the event an extremely memorable one. There will be no cover for the bus drop, live entertainment, a champagne...READ MORE

Synthetic Drugs, Scooter Changes Top Early Bills Filed In Annapolis

BERLIN -- With the opening of the 2013 Maryland General Assembly now just two weeks away, nearly 150 pieces of legislation of local and state importance have already been pre-filed in advance of the session. The Maryland General Assembly reconvenes on Jan. 9, and before the 90-day session is over, state lawmakers will debate and ultimately vote on thousands of pieces of legislation from the gravely serious to the somewhat mundane. With two weeks to go, already 84 bills have been pre-filed in the...READ MORE

Study Examines Discovery Center

POCOMOKE -- A recent assessment by Salisbury University’s Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network (BEACON) praised the Delmarva Discovery Center (DDC) in Pocomoke for the educational service it provides to the community. However, BEACON also highlighted some areas where the center should look to evolve, especially in regards to continued funding. “While it is clear that DDC is an outstanding educational and cultural asset in our community, it is also clear that the...READ MORE

Sides React To Clean Water Act Lawsuit Verdict

BERLIN -- When the dust settled after a U.S. District Court judge ruled late last week in favor of a Berlin farm family and Perdue over alleged pollution violations dating back to 2009, parties on both sides reacted in a variety of ways from joy and relief to disdain and angst. In March 2010, the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, along with the Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) and the Assateague Coastkeeper, filed suit in U.S. District Court against Perdue and Berlin’s Hudson Farm, a...READ MORE

Main Street Sweets Appeals To Tastes Of All Ages

BERLIN -- Tucked in neatly along the town’s main corridor, Main Street Sweets in Berlin completes a picture that would be at home in any work by Norman Rockwell, but the inside of the store blends everything from the classics to modern chocolates and designs. “It’s a mix: some ‘30s, some ‘40s, some ‘50s, some ‘90s, some 2000s,” said owner Connie Mayers. “So, I’m trying to grasp everybody.” Though Mayers used a “touch of the...READ MORE

Interest In Old Boardwalk Lumber Runs High

OCEAN CITY – Pieces of Ocean City’s old Boardwalk are being spread around the country for all to enjoy as the contractor has been recycling the lumber through interested parties. City Engineer Terry McGean reported last Friday the reconstruction of Ocean City’s famous Boardwalk is going well and is still ahead of schedule. Phase two of the Boardwalk’s reconstruction began in early October and is planned to end in April of 2013. The second phase will finish the entire...READ MORE