March 8, 2013

NEW FOR THURSDAY: OCFD Investigation Complete; City Council To Hear Findings Soon; Dead Cat Incident Not Part Of Inquiry

OCEAN CITY -- The Mayor and Council will soon hear the results of an internal inquiry involving the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD), but the allegation of a dead cat being placed outside the fire chief’s house after a stormy promotion process last year is not part of that probe. Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Larmore confirmed to The Dispatch on Tuesday he discovered a dead cat outside his front door back on Nov. 30, 2012. Larmore stopped short of providing more details, such as whether it...READ MORE

NEW FOR THURSDAY: OCFD Investigation Complete; City Council To Hear Findings Soon; Dead Cat Incident Not Part Of Inquiry

OCEAN CITY -- The Mayor and Council will soon hear the results of an internal inquiry involving the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD), but the allegation of a dead cat being placed outside the fire chief’s house after a stormy promotion process last year is not part of that probe. Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Larmore confirmed to The Dispatch on Tuesday he discovered a dead cat outside his front door back on Nov. 30, 2012. Larmore stopped short of providing more details, such as whether it...READ MORE

NEW FOR THURSDAY: County To Keep Berlin Liquor Store Open For Now

BERLIN -- Worcester County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) officials confirmed this week that contrary to rumors there are currently no immediate plans to close the county Liquor Mart located in Berlin. DLC Director Bob Cowger said Wednesday that the fate of the Berlin location will not be decided until after the upcoming tourism season. “The Berlin store is scheduled to stay open at least through the summer,” he said. “We just want to see what kind of impact the new store...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Senator Helps Nab Alleged Thief

OCEAN CITY -- An Ocean City man was arrested on theft and other charges last weekend after State Senator Jim Mathias observed him acting suspiciously in the Teal Drive area early last Sunday morning. Around 12:30 a.m. last Sunday, Ocean City Police received a call in reference to a suspicious person spotted in the area of Teal Drive. The caller, later identified as Mathias, told police the suspect was acting suspiciously and remained on the phone and reported the location of the suspicious...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: New Walk Smart Program Planned For Ocean City

OCEAN CITY – Following a sharp increase in pedestrian crashes last summer, a new Walk Smart campaign has been initiated to spread pedestrian safety awareness in Ocean City starting this summer. On Tuesday afternoon, Karen Waggoner of the Maryland Highway Safety Office came before the Mayor and City Council to request permission for projects sent forward by the Ocean City Pedestrian Safety Committee (OCPSC). Waggoner has been working with the committee that is made up of representatives of...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: No Misconduct At Fatal Accident Scene, State Probe Confirms

BERLIN -- While the Berlin Fire Company (BFC) was found without fault in the transporting of an accident victim in December that ultimately died, the agency that investigated the incident did warn that “significant underlying tensions” between the company and the town of Berlin are a cause for concern. Mayor Gee Williams made it clear today that he was not happy with the state investigation and accused those involved of “passing the buck.” In January, the Maryland...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Judge Again Dismisses Wrongful Termination Suit Against Berlin

BERLIN -- A visiting Worcester County Circuit Court judge last week dismissed for the second time a lawsuit filed by a former Berlin Fire Department supervisor against the town and its elected officials, alleging wrongful termination and calling into question the town’s authority to fire, suspend or discipline emergency services personnel. The plaintiff’s attorney said today he has filed an appeal with the state’s Court of Special Appeals. In May, the town terminated EMS...READ MORE

Adventures Of Fatherhood

There is nothing quite like the stomach virus sweeping through a house with kids. Although it’s been about two weeks now since our boys have been clear of it, I still can’t shake that distinct and overwhelming smell of Lysol, which engulfed our house while the kids were down for the count.When the stomach virus hits, there is no question what it is and what lies ahead for the child and the parents. That’s why when Carson vomited in his bed a couple weeks ago we knew exactly...READ MORE

10-Year Sentence For Identity Theft

SALISBURY -- A Salisbury man was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week after leading an identity theft scheme targeting at least 100 mental health patients and employees of a program that treated them. U. S. District Judge Catherine Blake last week sentenced Christopher Andre Devine, 34, to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to use the personal information of dozens of...READ MORE

Salisbury Moving Ahead With Business Disclosure Changes

SALISBURY -- A Business Disclosure Ordinance is being advanced by the Salisbury City Council this week with supporters calling it a clear-cut transparency law while opponents argue that there is no need or public demand for the measure. The ordinance would require any vendors who contract with Salisbury for more than $3,000 in a single agreement or $10,000 for the fiscal year to fully reveal all partners or owners with more than a 5 percent stake in the company. It would mean that all parties in...READ MORE

Coast Guard Forced To Suspend Missing Men Search

ASSATEAGUE -- The Coast Guard late Thursday afternoon suspended the search for two men missing from a disabled fishing vessel 15 miles off the coast of Assateague after rescuing via helicopter a third man who was found in a life boat during the storm on Wednesday. Around 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Coast Guard Fifth District watchstanders received an emergency position indicating radio beacon, or EPIRB, from the 67-foot fishing vessel “Seafarer” reporting a position about 15 miles off...READ MORE

Going Bald For A Cause In WOC; Event Benefits Child Cancer Foundation

WEST OCEAN CITY -- The latest batch of freshly shorn heads will be revealed Saturday when the men and women of the Delmarva Emerald Society go under the clippers at a West Ocean City restaurant. At least a dozen members of the Delmarva Emerald Society, an Eastern Shore branch of the historic brotherhood of firefighters and first-responders, will have their heads shaved at the Station 7 restaurant in West Ocean City for the benefit of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which was founded in 2000...READ MORE

School Safety Linked To Mental Health Resources, Director Says

SNOW HILL -- As part of an effort to make schools safer by addressing emotional issues in teens and young adults, the Worcester County Health Department is requesting $112,198 from the County Commission to bolster the current Crisis Response Team as well as add a new clinical social worker who would specialize in the high-risk 14- to 26-year-old age range. “A key factor in school safety is the management of mental health issues,” wrote Health Officer Debbie Goeller in a letter to the...READ MORE

Officials Address Tourism, Liquor Shakeup Concerns

SNOW HILL -- A cooperative effort to promote tourism between Worcester County and its municipalities was the common thread when Berlin, Pocomoke and Ocean Pines presented their grant requests this week to the County Commissioners. In terms of grant money, all three requested similar packages to what they received last year with Ocean Pines showing the only significant deviation by asking for $1,607,733, a roughly $570,000 increase from last year’s $1,034,880. Pocomoke requested $1,421,864,...READ MORE

City Seeking More Details On New Fire Service Accord

SALISBURY -- Greater coordination with administration in renegotiating a Fire Service Agreement (FSA) with Wicomico County would be ideal, according to the Salisbury City Council. At the end of its work session Monday, the council forwarded a number of questions to city administration that they felt will paint them a clear picture of how to move forward. The original FSA between Salisbury and Wicomico was drafted in July 2005. It was terminated in 2007 so the city could re-negotiate terms. With...READ MORE

Murder Accessory Bill Advances

BERLIN -- A bill introduced in the General Assembly that would greatly enhance the penalties for accessory after the fact in a murder case, cruised out the House this week and is on its way to passage by the Senate. Delegate Mike McDermott (R-38B), who represents Worcester County and the lower shore, is among the eight co-sponsors of House Bill 709, which, if approved would increase the maximum sentence for those convicted of being an accessory after the fact in a murder. Now called the...READ MORE

Casino Revenue Drops Slightly

BERLIN -- It was good news, bad news this week when the February revenue figures were released for the Casino at Ocean Downs. The Casino at Ocean Downs grossed just over $3.4 million in February, up from the $2.9 million recorded in January, which was the lowest one-month total in the history of the facility on Route 589 just south of Ocean Pines. The Casino at Ocean Downs’ February 2013 total came in at around $59,000 lower than the same month last year, continuing a trend of decline over...READ MORE

Resort Area Quick To Bounce Back From Strong Winter Storm

OCEAN CITY -- Despite high winds, pouring rain and heavy surf that pounded the region throughout much of Wednesday, the resort area was largely spared widespread damage and was relatively back to normal by Thursday morning. While the storm lived up to its hype in terms of temporary impacts in and around the resort area, it was largely business as usual by Thursday morning with little evidence of the pounding rain and high winds that lashed Ocean City and much of Worcester County throughout...READ MORE

Gun Control Bill Nears Approval; Mathias, McDermott Oppose

BERLIN -- Legislation making Maryland’s gun control laws among the toughest in the nation have moved closer to reality with the passage of the governor’s bill by the Senate and the House expected to soon follow suit. In the wake of the school shooting tragedy in Connecticut last December, Gov. Martin O’Malley introduced legislation in the General Assembly increasing the licensing requirements for handgun purchases, banning the sale of assault-style weapons, limiting gun...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Council Impresses Editor: Earlier this year I had approached the Ocean City Mayor and Council with trepidation on an age-old problem that I had sought for some guidance to rectify. The wariness came not from knowing that the functioning body was made up of a group of professionals that operated your vacation getaway with a high degree of efficiency, but that, as an out-of-state resident who owns a secondary property in the city, my pleas would fall on deaf ears. How wrong was I. I had stated my...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan addressed something that has been around for decades -- a friction between Ocean City and Worcester County officials.Dozens of elected officials have come and gone over the years, but there has always been some sort of odd, yet palpable, disconnect between the county and the resort. Rarely are their differences vocalized, as they were this week, but there’s no question the relationship has been strained over the years and dates back years before any of the...READ MORE

Open Houses Of The Week

OCEAN CITY Lauren’s #1 12008 Assawoman Sat 10-4 Oceanblock 2BR Condo Easy Beach Access Josh Morimoto Prudential PenFed 410-371-2216 OCEAN CITY Atlantis #908 103 Coastal Hwy Sat & Sun 10-4 Oceanfront 2BR/2BA Condo Redone Kit/Baths Josh Morimoto Prudential PenFed 410-371-2216 WEST OCEAN CITY Bay Point Plantation Rt589/Gum Point Rd Daily 10-5 Waterfront Estate Lots in 142 Acre Preserve Kevin Decker The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 443-235-6552 OCEAN CITY Sunset Island 67th St &...READ MORE

OC Transportation Expenses, Grant Requests Outlined

OCEAN CITY – Although the state is struggling with transportation funding, sparking plans of a gas tax increase, the town is following the advice that it doesn’t hurt to ask and approved the application to apply for grants following a public hearing this week. At Monday’s meeting, a public hearing was held in regard to the Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Transportation Grants. Each year the Ocean City Transportation Department requests funding for transit services through the Maryland...READ MORE

Commissioners Hear Proposal On School Resource Officers

SNOW HILL -- Having law enforcement officers in every school will have the “greatest impact on school safety,” according to the Worcester County Board of Education, and officials asked the County Commission this week to consider funding them and several capital improvement projects aimed at evolving school security. While continuing improvements may be suggested in the future, metal detectors are not currently a priority and arming teachers is not “a solution,” said...READ MORE

OC Council Committees Appointed; Ashley, Pillas Refuse To Serve At Group Level

OCEAN CITY – Individual appointments were made to serve on the newly re-established committees and commissions this week, but two City Council members have declined to be involved because they continue to feel all business should be conducted in front of the full Mayor and City Council. At last night’s meeting, Mayor Rick Meehan presented the list of council members and citizens who are appointed to serve on the re-established Mayor and City Council Legislative Committees and...READ MORE

Mayor Asks County To Remove Communication ‘Wall’

SNOW HILL -- The “wall” blocking communication between Ocean City and Worcester County came down, according to officials, when Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan visited the County Commission this week to make requests regarding a tax differential, grant funding and unrestricted tourism funds. Channeling his best impression of President Ronald Reagan, Meehan asked that Commission President Bud Church open up communication channels between the county and the resort town that Meehan...READ MORE

Cheerleaders Commit To Returning To Ocean City

OCEAN CITY -- Although there is no contract in place, the organizers of the annual cheerleading events in Ocean City have confirmed their intentions to return to the resort in 2014. Concerns arose last week after an email circulated by Global JBS, a full-service firm that handles the destination management for the annual conventions, indicated the future of the two cheerleading events in Ocean City was in doubt until more information was learned about the proposed 1,200-seat performing arts...READ MORE

Reminder: Check Detectors When Turning Clocks Forward

OCEAN CITY -- As daylight saving time comes to an end this weekend, the Ocean City Fire Department is reminding the residents and visitors of Ocean City to test their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and to change the batteries in each.Working smoke alarms are vital in the notification of a fire, allowing you and your family adequate time to escape. A report published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) stated that the most common reason for smoke detector failure in the United...READ MORE

Worcester Seeks More School Tech Funding

SNOW HILL -- The Worcester County Commissioners agreed this week to submit a proposal for $400,000 worth of funding to the state with the request it be considered one-time non-recurring and not part of the Maintenance of Effort (MoE) funding the county owes the Board of Education annually. At the same meeting, the commissioners also agreed to at least meet MoE funding for the board next year. Half of the $400,000 proposal will be for new student computer tablets, which will be used in next...READ MORE

Volunteers Restore Kayak Launch

WEST OCEAN CITY -- Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) volunteers braved a brisk Monday morning to begin restoring and repairing the damage at the Lewis Road Kayak Launch in West Ocean City caused by Hurricane Sandy last fall. On Monday, MCBP volunteers cleared brush and debris, planted trees and repaired damage to fences and other man-made structures at the pristine Lewis Rd. Kayak Launch, which opened last August. The nearly 40-acre site off Lewis Rd. was once a dump for the town of Ocean...READ MORE

Resort Fire Dept. Mired In ‘Turmoil’; City Manager To Form Employee Focus Groups; Spouses Form Support Group

OCEAN CITY -- Armed with concerns over hostile workplace conditions for Ocean City career firefighter/paramedics and deteriorating morale, a group of more than a dozen spouses has been formed to provide support and promote an improved direction for the city’s first responders.The creation of the support group is the latest controversy to embroil the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD), leading Chief Chris Larmore in an interview Monday to refer to the current state of affairs as...READ MORE

‘Home Show’ Kicks Off In OC

OCEAN CITY -- The 29th Annual Home, Condo & Outdoor Show will be making its annual appearance in Ocean City and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center this weekend. The event will be held on Friday, March 8, from noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 10, from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The “home show” features all-under-one-roof convenience and will display an exciting array of the latest home improvement products and services for your primary residence...READ MORE

Couples Workshop Geared To Variety Of Relationships

BERLIN -- Partners looking to build a better foundation for their relationship are invited to attend a Couples Enrichment Workshop hosted by Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) in March. The workshop isn’t just for couples in troubled waters, said organizers, but for any pair at any commitment or satisfaction level who would like to grow their partnership. “There are some very basic and simple strategies that can be very effective,” said Dr. Jennifer...READ MORE

Boardwalk Surf Shop Continues To Expand Size, Offerings

OCEAN CITY – Quiet Storm on the Boardwalk has become the largest surf shop in Maryland as it has tripled in size over the last few years to keep up with demand. In April of 2011, a ribbon cutting was held when Quiet Storm opened its doors at its new location on the Boardwalk at North Division Street. The store joined Quiet Storm’s growing list of locations with stores also located in mid-town Ocean City, Rehoboth, and Hilton Head in South Carolina. Quiet Storm Surf Shop has been...READ MORE

Things To Do Around Town

Every Sunday: Morning Worship 8 a.m. & 11 a.m., Traditional Worship; 9:30 a.m., Contemporary Worship; St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A, 10301 Coastal Hwy., O.C. For more information, 410-524-7474. Open Monday-Saturday: Atlantic United Methodist Church Thrift Shop 10 a.m.-2 p.m., AUMC, 105, 4th Street, O.C. For more info, 410-289-4458. Open Wednesday-Saturday: Shepherd’s Nook Thrift Shop 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Community Church at Ocean Pines, Rte. 589 & Racetrack Rd., Berlin....READ MORE

Who's Playing When And Where

19th hole bar & Grille, the 410-213-9204 Corner of Rte. 611 & Sunset Ave., West OC Friday, March 8: Dave Sherman Saturday, March 2: : Geoff Kilian Thursday, March 14: Brenda Golden & Michael Smith 28th Street Pit and Pub 410-289-2020 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Every Thursday: DJ Dance Party Adolfo’s 410-289-4001 13th St. & The Boardwalk, In The Beach Plaza Hotel Friday, March 8: Rhonda Apple & Dale Britt Atlantic Hotel 410-641-3589 2 North Main St., Berlin Every...READ MORE

Best Bites On The Beach

Fruitland-Salisbury Restaurant 213 213 N. Fruitland Blvd., Fruitland 410-677-4880 • www.restaurant213.com Just 20 minutes from Ocean Pines and Berlin, Restaurant 213 is worth the drive! Chef Jim Hughes has been serving celebrities worldwide for 25 years and was named a 2009 inductee to the coveted Distinguished Restaurants of North America awards, one of only 220 in North America and the only one in this region. Serving dinner Tuesday-Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Also offering a 5 course...READ MORE

Utility Pole Struck

BERLIN -- A Salisbury man was listed in stable condition this week after running off the road on Route 346 near Whaleyville early last Sunday morning and striking a utility pole. Around 2:45 a.m. last Sunday, Maryland State Police responded to a reported motor vehicle accident on Route 346 near its intersection with Route 610 in Whaleyville. The investigation revealed a 1996 Toyota Corolla left the roadway and struck a Verizon utility pole, shearing it off. The pole was located in the roadway...READ MORE

Beach Lacrosse Fundraiser Set for Sunday

BERLIN- The Beach Lacrosse program will hold its second fundraiser of the year with an event at DeNovo’s in Ocean Pines this Sunday. DeNovo’s Trattoria in the Pines will host the fundraiser for Beach Lacrosse next Sunday, March 10, from 5-7 p.m. For a $10 donation, attendees will be treated to a buffet complete with pizza, salad and pasta with soft drinks included and a cash bar will be available. Kids four and under can eat for free. Seating times for the dinner buffet at...READ MORE

25th St. Patrick’s Soccer Tourney Continues

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s 25th Annual St. Patrick’s Indoor Soccer Tournament continues this week with the third weekend of the four-weekend event. Roughly 150 teams and hundreds of players from all over the mid-Atlantic region have been converging on the resort area the last two weekends for the annual St. Patrick’s Indoor Soccer Tournament and the event continues this week with two more divisions to be decided. From modest beginnings 25 years...READ MORE

St. Pat’s Boardwalk 5K Set for Next Week

OCEAN CITY- The annual St. Patrick’s Day Boardwalk 5K returns next weekend with hundreds of runners from all over the local area and beyond expected to descend on the resort for the third installment of the annual event. Last year, 1,000 runners from all over the region participated in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Boardwalk 5K, produced by OC Tri Running for the benefit of Diakonia. The course starts on the Boardwalk in the area of 3rd Street not far from the main sponsor...READ MORE

Local Wrestlers Continue to Thrive

WEST OCEAN CITY- Young wrestlers from the Eastern Shore Intensive Wrestling Club, based in West Ocean City, continued to turn in strong performances in recent state and regional matches including a state title in an intermediate level event and several top finishes in an event in Delaware last weekend. The Eastern Shore Intensive Wrestling Club, under the direction of Coach Keith Tobin and his staff, provides young grapplers in the area with training and mentoring all year around in an effort to...READ MORE

Ocean City Elementary PTA Golf Tourney Set

OCEAN CITY- The 2nd Annual Ocean City Elementary PTA Golf Tournament is set for Monday, March 25 with the proceeds dedicated to the school’s technology fund. The Ocean City Elementary School PTA golf tournament will be held at the Ocean City Golf Club with the goal of purchasing 30 more tablets for the school. Last year’s inaugural event raised over $10,000 for the OCES technology fund, which was used to purchase 30 tablets for the students, and organizers hope to duplicate the...READ MORE

Former Chief Throws Out 1st Pitch

OCEAN CITY- Former Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, who became the Chief of Police in Sarasota on January 1, threw out the first pitch of the Baltimore Orioles’ spring training game last weekend. DiPino, who left the position of Ocean City Police Chief late last year after getting appointed to the same position in Sarasota, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Orioles’ spring training home game against the Philadelphia Phillies last Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium....READ MORE

Where Are They Now-Justin Butler

The following is the latest installment in an occasional series about the progress of standout local student-athletes who have gone on to succeed at the next level in their college careers. BERLIN- Former Worcester Prep lacrosse standout Justin Butler had a big impact on a game last week between Randolph-Macon team and Goucher, scoring two late goals to complete a remarkable comeback for his team. Butler, who started all four years at Worcester, is now a junior at Randolph-Macon and continues to...READ MORE

OC Elementary Kindergarten Students Take Virtual Tour Of Atlantic General Hospital

The kindergarten students at Ocean City Elementary School took a virtual tour of Atlantic General Hospital recently. The tour was led by Nurse Denise, who is pictured with student intern Sandy Smith and students Esther Diaz and Cooper Clarke. ...READ MORE

SD High School Acts Of Kindness Club Dontate $3K To Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Set into motion by Stephen Decatur High School Acts of Kindness club founder senior Calvin Garrison, the month of February was filled with a wide assortment of activities, which all culminated in more than $3,000 donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Above, Principal Tom Zimmer poses with students in a sumo wrestling outfit after the school achieved its goal. ...READ MORE

Pre-K Students Dress Up As Dr. Seuss Characters

Students in Jennifer Fohner's and Grace Mitchell's pre-kindergarten classes celebrated Read Across America Day by dressing up as a character from their favorite Dr. Seuss book. Above, Isabella Milite, Kain Crossett, Brody Kendall and Caleb Loring are characters from The Cat in the Hat. ...READ MORE

SD Freshman Brings Home Two Golds, Three Silvers And The Media Specialist Award From Worcester County Tech Fest

Elizabeth Masters, a freshman at Stephen Decatur High School, took home two golds and three silvers as well as the Media Specialist Award for overall achievement at the annual Worcester County Tech Fest. She is pictured with her winning photography entries and Stephen Decatur High School Media Specialist Mary Cosby. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary School Honors February Students Of The Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the February Students of the Month with a luncheon sponsored by the Ocean City-Berlin Optimists and the OCES PTA. Pictured, first row from left, are first grade honorees Kaylee Herrera-Mancinas, Jacob Hicks, Daniel Karcheuski, Kaleb Davis, Lauren Lynch and Raphael Vazquez-Hernandez; second row, second graders Andrew Cummings, Cole Myers, Renee Fohner, Carlie Gates and Mackenzie Cathell; third row, third graders Skylar Cook, Maggie Lackner, Shawn...READ MORE

Showell After School Academy Students Create Mardi Gras Masks

Ms. Curry's second and third grade students in the After School Academy at Showell Elementary School created masks in celebration of Mardi Gras. Pictured, from left, are Alex Navarro, Arianna Foreman, Ruby Murray, Ella Beard, Brittany Williams and Barbara Tejeda. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary School Holds Read Across America Day

Friday was a Read Across America Day and parents were invited to read Dr Seuss' books to the students at Ocean City Elementary School. Above, Mrs. Lieb’s class is pictured with the parents in attendance. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Things I Like

Picking up my kids from school Booking a vacation Browsing through Dick’s Sporting Goods Happy hour with my wife When something really is free The aroma of an Italian restaurant Working on stormy days When politicians break party lines Checking out people’s book shelves Early daffodils Watching dogs walk their owners ...READ MORE

The Changing Face Of Retirement In Today’s World

OCEAN CITY -- Today, working in retirement isn’t a purely financial decision. Americans are living longer, and in a world where the average 65-year-old can expect to live well into his or her 80s, what were once known as the post-work years have become the springboard for new, fulfilling journeys — each different from the other. “Our whole concept of retirement is changing,” says Bill Hunter, director, Personal Retirement Solutions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch....READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You could have some problems with doubters who don't share your enthusiasm for that new project you're supporting. But use the facts to win them over to your side.TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Someone is impressed by how you managed to get your case to the right people, despite attempts to keep you on the outside looking in. Expect to hear more about this.GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Good for you -- your gift for seeing both sides of a dispute helps cool down a...READ MORE

Eastern Shore's Mission Of Mercy Fund Receives $5K From Delmarva Power

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Mission of Mercy Fund received $5,000 from Delmarva Power to support the operational needs of the Eastern Shore’s first Mission of Mercy dental clinic scheduled to be held on March 15-16 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury. Pictured, from left, are Dick Van Gelder, Vice-President, Hebron Savings Bank; John Petito, Public Affairs Manager, Delmarva Power; Dr. Greg Allen, Chairman, Eastern Shore MOM; and Erica Joseph,...READ MORE

WREP Donate Food, Paper Products & Personal Hygiene To HALO Ministry

Wicomico Retired Educational Personnel (WREP) members at their February meeting donated food, paper products and personal hygiene to HALO Ministry, a Christ-centered faith based ministry that provides programs and services for the homeless and people in our community. Pictured, are Amanda Strott, HALO volunteer, center, with WREP Ann Shaheen, Bev Yurek, President, Cheryl Kennedy and Judy Davis, Community Service Coordinator. ...READ MORE

NARFE Chapter 2274 Holds February Meeting

NARFE Chapter 2274 had as its February meeting guest speakers Michelle Parker, an Independent Living Specialist from Holly Community, Inc., and Zach Ironside, Hearing Aid Dispenser from Audio Advantage Hearing Aid Center. Pictured, from left, are Ironside, NARFE Chapter 2274 President Arlene Page and Parker.  ...READ MORE

Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care Thanks Reese F. Cropper, III

Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care thanks Reese F. Cropper, III, owner of Insurance Management Group, who has pledged his support to the Coastal Hospice at the Ocean residence project planned for Berlin. In recognition of his gift, the Bereavement Office will be named for him. He recently presented his donation to Coastal Hospice President Alane K. Capen at his Ocean City office.  ...READ MORE

Community Foundation Commits $25K Toward Mid-Delmarva Family YMCA's Capital Campaign

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Hebron Savings Bank Fund has committed $25,000 toward the Mid-Delmarva Family YMCA’s Capital Campaign. This $5,000 check represents the first of a five year commitment. Pictured, from left, are Tom Evans, Campaign Chairman; Doug Wilson, President, Community Foundation; Craig McConnell, Sr. Vice-President, Hebron Savings Bank; and Rich Stover, Campaign Director. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Banker Recognized BERLIN -- Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company President and CEO Raymond M. Thompson has announced the recognition of Reese F. Cropper Jr. for 50 years of continuing service to the bank. Cropper joined Calvin B. Taylor Bank in 1962. He later became president, succeeding his father, Reese F. Cropper Sr. He is currently chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank and its holding company, Calvin B. Taylor Bankshares, Inc., and chairman of the Executive Committee of the bank....READ MORE