Articles

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Assateague Ruled Out As Possible Wind Farm Connection Site

ASSATEAGUE -- With Gov. Martin O’Malley this week introducing his latest attempt at offshore wind energy turbines off the Maryland’s Atlantic coast, it remains uncertain where the eventual transmission line will connect to the mainland, but it will not come across Assateague as was feared earlier. Governor Martin O’Malley this week introduced his Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013, perhaps moving a future offshore wind energy farm as close as 10 miles off the coast of...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Council Votes 5-2 To Add Decorative Lights To St. Louis Ave.

OCEAN CITY – Decorative street lighting was approved Tuesday for the first reconstruction phase of St. Louis Ave. Last week a discussion over installing ornamental lighting along St. Louis Ave. began while the reconstruction is currently in its first phase from 17th to 10th streets. The project is being funded through bonds the city acquired last year to complete several capital projects. St. Louis Ave. runs north and south in Ocean City and is a frequently used corridor on the western...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: County Planners Support Proposed Subdivision Change Spurred By Septic Bill

SNOW Hill -- Since September, Senate Bill 236, also known as the “septic bill,” has been hotly debated across the shore, with opponents arguing that it would be a noose around the neck of development while proponents assert that it is a necessary antidote to sprawling growth. The debate came closer to a conclusion last week when the Worcester County Planning Commission voted 5-2 in favor of recommending that the County Commissioners adopt Senate Bill 236 as well as Bill 12-6, a text...READ MORE

Work Session Public Comments Questioned In OC

OCEAN CITY – The frequency of public comment periods at city government meetings was questioned this week with one councilman wanting to create a consistent policy for all government meetings. During a discussion on the expansion of a bus stop located on Somerset St. between Baltimore and Philadelphia avenues, a citizen asked to speak on the topic and was turned down. Once the vote was taken on the subject, Councilman Brent Ashley interjected that the Town of Ocean City’s code states...READ MORE

Thanos Case Recalled With Death Penalty In Focus

BERLIN -- With the governor’s proposed repeal of the death penalty taking center stage in the General Assembly this week, a brutal murder spree that began in Worcester County over two decades ago dimmed from memory over the years has come back into focus. On Tuesday, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced a renewed effort to repeal the death penalty in Maryland. The Maryland legislature reinstated the death penalty in 1990 and convicted murderer John Frederick Thanos, whose Labor...READ MORE

Shore Officials Oppose Death Penalty Repeal

BERLIN -- As expected, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley this week announced his latest plan to introduce legislation to repeal the death penalty in Maryland and believes he has the votes this time in the General Assembly, but the bill will have little support from lawmakers on the lower shore. On Tuesday, O’Malley held a press conference in Annapolis presenting his plan to introduce legislation to abolish capital punishment in Maryland. A similar effort in 2009 did not pass and resulted...READ MORE

Shore Counties To See More Funding In Governor’s Budget

BERLIN -- Gov. Martin O’Malley this week introduced his proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, and while the weighty document is sprinkled with mixed news, it appears Worcester and Wicomico counties could stand to gain much more in state aid in various departments and for significant capital projects. O’Malley on Wednesday introduced a proposed $37.3 billion fiscal year 2014 budget that includes an estimated $325 million in spending cuts while increasing the state’s rainy day fund...READ MORE

School Budget Process Underway

SNOW HILL -- A preliminary budget for fiscal year 2014 from the Worcester County Board of Education will be about 1 percent, or roughly $1 million, higher than last year and include funding for the county’s popular afterschool programs, several of which lost grant support over the summer. Costs are on the rise across the board, according to Chief Financial Officer Vince Tolbert, which is the main reason the budget has ballooned slightly. “At this time, we are anticipating increases...READ MORE

OC Council, Chamber Ink Guide Accord

OCEAN CITY -- The City Council and the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce inked a two-year contract this week on the distribution of an annual vacation guide. Tourism Director Donna Abbott and Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melanie Pursel requested the council sign a letter of agreement with the chamber for the distribution of the Visitors Guide and to approve a new two-year agreement. Abbott submitted, in 2010 the Department of Tourism and the chamber entered into...READ MORE

OC Council Debates St. Louis Ave. Lighting

OCEAN CITY – Placing ornamental lighting on St. Louis Ave. remains in question this week as city staff is directed to review other alternatives in the height of sidewalks and positioning of light posts. St. Louis Ave. is currently in the first phase of reconstruction from 17th to 10th streets with completion targeted for the end of May. The second phase includes 10th to 4th streets and is scheduled to begin next fall. The third phase will follow in fall of 2014 and will complete the...READ MORE

Measure Seeks Relaxed Business Violation Fines

BERLIN -- With an eye on improving Maryland’s often disparaged business climate, Delegate Mike McDermott has introduced legislation in the General Assembly that would relax the penalties for health and safety violations. McDermott sponsored the legislation, along with around 30 co-sponsors, which would, among other things, reduce hefty fines handed out by the state for first-time health and safety offenses at job sites and businesses if the offenders made a good faith effort to correct the...READ MORE

Md. Coastal Bays To Hold Volunteer Group Meeting

BISHOPVILLE -- The Maryland Coastal Bays Program will be holding a meeting at the Bishopville Firehouse on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. to develop a volunteer group to help steward the Lizard Hill restoration project located on Cemetery Road in Bishopville. MCBP is looking to inform the public about the Lizard Hill restoration site, including what it used to be, what it is now and what the plans are for the site’s future. MCBP is also looking to recruit interested community members to be...READ MORE

Downtown Bus Stop Expansion Moves Forward

OCEAN CITY – A compromise was made this week to have an overcrowded bus stop on Somerset St. expanded to accommodate increasing crowds. Public Works Director Hal Adkins brought forward a request this week to expand a bus stop located on Somerset Street between Baltimore and Philadelphia avenues. According to Adkins, in an effort to address a few privately owned and operated transit buses from the Francis Scott Key Motel, Frontier Town Campground, and the Castaways Campground, the town...READ MORE

Disaster Assistance Deadline Looms Next Month

SALISBURY – The U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding citizens and business owners that assistance is available for those who have been affected by Superstorm Sandy. SBA Public Affairs Specialist Karen Knapik attended both the Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council sessions to inform the public on SBA assistance for victims of Hurricane Sandy. “In times of disaster, we are tasked with being the federal government’s source of long-term funding for...READ MORE

County’s Interest Rates Impress; Shockley Upset Snow Hill High Not Included In Bond

SNOW HILL -- During a bond sale this week, the Worcester County Commissioners agreed they hit a home run in terms of the interest rates secured, but the silver cloud has a dark lining, according to Commissioner Virgil Shockley, who chided his colleagues for not including bonding for Snow Hill High School (SHHS). “We missed an opportunity [Tuesday] to save taxpayers literally millions in interest on Snow Hill High School,” he said. Two sets of bonds were bid out this week -- a Pension...READ MORE

Assateague’s ‘Name That Foal’ Auction Sets Record

ASSATEAGUE -- A wild foal born on Assateague last spring has a new name after a record-setting “Name That Foal” eBay auction late last month. Each year, the Assateague Island Alliance auctions the naming rights to a foal born in the Assateague Island National Seashore and the proceeds support the organization’s management efforts for the herd of wild horses on the barrier island. The latest naming opportunity was auctioned on eBay in late December and brought a new record...READ MORE

Woman Loses $40K In Sweepstakes Scam

BERLIN -- Law enforcement officials this week are warning residents about a telephone scam that convinced an unsuspecting local elderly woman that she had won $2.5 million in a sweepstakes before bilking her out of $40,000 in increments to collect the winnings. In October, an elderly victim who wishes to remain anonymous was contacted by telephone by a person claiming to be from the American Sweepstakes Network. The caller told the victim she had won $2.5 million. The victim had not entered any...READ MORE

Wicomico Council To Update Md. On Tier Map Planning Process

SALISBURY – The Wicomico County Council has announced a public hearing regarding the complex septic bill that could affect the value of many rural properties within the county will be held next month. In its last couple of discussions regarding Senate Bill 236, known as the septic bill, the council has established a public participation program to notify rural property owners about the potential impacts associated with the ongoing legislation. Property owners in the R1 Zoning District that...READ MORE

Purnell House Renovation Gets Early Support

SNOW HILL -- After getting an exterior face lift last year, the Purnell House in Snow Hill is set to enter the next phase for interior renovation. Many on the Worcester County Commission winced when faced with the likely $600,000 eventual cost for interior work, but voted 6-1 in favor of moving forward with $36,245 of funding for continued support. “I want to see where they’re going with it,” said Commissioner Virgil Shockley in defense of his vote to continue renovating the...READ MORE

Ocean City Employees To Show Ravens Support

OCEAN CITY – The Town of Ocean City has committed to show its support by participating in “Purple Friday” today to cheer on the Baltimore Ravens into victory. “I think everybody had a great weekend, especially those who are Ravens fans and I think what the Ravens have done is great for their fans, great for the State of Maryland, and great for Ocean City and all its businesses,” Mayor Rick Meehan said at the conclusion of this week’s Mayor and City Council...READ MORE

Ocean City Clinic Aims To Transform Stress

OCEAN CITY – Dr. Keith Coleman of Ocean City Stress Transformation and Wellness Clinic is revamping his practice as the field of mind/body medicine progresses. “Obviously everyone can relate to stress but the significant difference is when you see a stress clinic generally they talk about stress reduction and stress management and the emphasis here is not on either one of those things, it’s on stress transformation,” Coleman said. Coleman explained it is the sympathetic...READ MORE

Group Again Seeks Support To Clean Up City Park’s Trails

SALISBURY – Local bicycle advocates pushed the Salisbury City Council this week to sanction a plan to rebuild the city park’s trails on the east side. At the conclusion of this week’s City Council meeting, Eastern Shore International Mountain Bicycling Association (ESIMBA) President Tres Denk came before the council to further a discussion that occurred last month. On Dec. 17, 2012, ESIMBA leader and Salisbury resident Jeff Dean came before the council asking the city form an...READ MORE

Greater Urgency Sought On School Security Measures

SNOW HILL -- One month after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the Worcester County Board of Education outlined the status of security in schools and discussed how improvements might be made in the months to come. Several parents in the audience, however, called on the board to implement more security measures immediately no matter the cost. “We are willing to fund raise,” said Jeanne Zender, vice president of the Showell Elementary School (SES) PTA....READ MORE

Downtown Design Guidelines Mark 10 Years

OCEAN CITY – It’s been a decade since downtown design guidelines were instituted in Ocean City, and the success of the program is clearly visible with a ride around the historic area. Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC) Executive Director Glenn Irwin explained the OCDC and Downtown Design Committee came about in 2000 following a report by the International Waterfront Group in 1999 suggesting a “Downtown Village Overlay District” be created in downtown Ocean City, as...READ MORE

Civic Center To Host Large Dental Clinic Next Month

SALISBURY -- According to organizers, the Eastern Shore Mission of Mercy (ESMOM) free dental clinic in March will be a “massive undertaking” that will attempt to provide dental health services to approximately 1,500 visitors over two days. On March 15 and 16, the Wicomico County Youth and Civic Center will be revamped into a 100-station adult dental clinic. “It’s a major event,” said ESMOM Community Chairperson Richard Van Gelder. “It’s going to...READ MORE

Burglary Suspect Jumps In Bay After Trying To Steal Car

OCEAN CITY -- Nine days after being charged in connection with six burglaries in the Montego Bay area, an Ocean City man was arrested again early Saturday morning after allegedly stealing a car in the resort and jumping into the bay in an attempt to avoid capture. On Jan. 3, Ocean City police concluded a nine-month investigation into multiple burglaries with the arrest of Alexander George Ellis, 20, of Ocean City. For nine months, OCPD detectives investigated seven burglaries, all of which...READ MORE

Boardwalk’s Purple Wood Not Connected To Ravens

OCEAN CITY – Placed in a timely manner as the Baltimore Ravens head to the AFC Championship this weekend, a unique purple section of Ocean City’s new Boardwalk was placed this week. While some may think it was placed to show pride in the Baltimore Ravens, the purple wood, called Purple Heart, was a planned marker on the Boardwalk to differentiate where the tram route moves from its own concrete lane and joins the wooden surface. The purple section of the Boardwalk begins on 4th...READ MORE

Berlin Tables Wind Turbine To Further Brief Citizens

BERLIN -- The installation of Berlin’s first wind turbine has been delayed to allow residents in the area around the proposed location more time to study the project. First pitched to the Berlin Town Council a little over a month ago, the turbine would be installed by DDU Magnetics and feature new technology designed by CEO Doug Richards. “It’s a new type of machinery, electro-rotating machinery, and this will be the first commercial application of a wind turbine of this type...READ MORE

Berlin Stormwater Study, Utility Costs Questioned

BERLIN -- The formation of a new stormwater utility in Berlin took another step forward this week with the Mayor and Council officially introducing the ordinance at their meeting Monday. However, one local business person attacked the idea of the utility and called the feasibility study it is based on “disingenuous” and “not worth the paper it is printed on.” “They’ve written this thing so slyly and so disingenuous,” said Jay Bergey of the study....READ MORE

Berlin Approves Restroom Renovation Contract

BERLIN -- Hoping to address what has been labeled the “No. 1 complaint” from visitors to Berlin, the Town Council unanimously approved a $104,528 contract with Joshi Construction Monday for the renovation of the public restrooms at town hall. While Berlin has been experiencing a “renaissance” over the past few years, according to Mayor Gee Williams, that spirit of rebirth has stopped just short of the town’s aging public bathrooms. “The number of people...READ MORE

AGH Installs New Multi-Media Units In All Rooms

BERLIN – As part of a hospital-wide update of all inpatient rooms, Atlantic General Hospital installed last fall new multimedia units that allow patients to watch television, make phone calls and surf the web all on one machine. The units were made available to patients this month after thorough testing. The new technology, called care.connection, offers more than just entertainment value – giving patients an easy way to access health education and important messages from the...READ MORE