July 20, 2007

Arts in the Area

A spotlight on the local art scene ...READ MORE

American Cancer Society

A meeting was recently held at Seacrets for the committee of the American Cancer Society to organize 'Holiday Wrappings,' an annual event to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4. Pictured, first row from left, are Jackie Friedman, Elaine Jacobs, Michelle Robbins, Cheryl Taustin, Cathy Donovan, Marcia Hirsch and Karen Cramer; second row, form left, Christine Selzer, Karen Bresnahan, Donna Leiner, Pam Buckley, Madalaine How, Stephanie Meehan and Sherry Dare. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Thursday, July 26 - Foreign Worker Foils Robbery Attempt

OCEAN CITY - In a situation that would be comical if it weren't so serious, an attempted armed robbery at a resort department store was thwarted this week when the clerk, a foreign seasonal worker, allegedly could not decipher the suspect's note demanding money. Resort police this week are searching for man who attempted to rob the Rose's department store in the old Ocean Plaza Mall on Monday night. Police responded to the store after receiving a call around 7:15 p.m. According to police...READ MORE

Wednesday, July 25 - Tuesday evening fire snarls traffic on Route 589

BERLIN- A Tuesday evening fire at a plant nursery along Route 589 across from Ocean Downs snarled rush hour traffic as five area fire companies battled the blaze. The fire started around 5 p.m. at the Planted Pleasures nursery on Racetrack Road just south of Ocean Pines. The fire, which destroyed a showroom at the nursery, was brought under control by around 6 p.m., although fire crews remained on the scene to ensure the blaze did not spread to the dry, wooded areas nearby. Maryland State Police...READ MORE

Tuesday, July 24 - Drowning Victim Identified

OCEAN CITY- Tragedy struck last weekend when a Fruitland man died in the ocean near the Inlet while attempting to save his two young sons caught in a rip current. Around 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, Renald Charles, 38, of Fruitland, went into the ocean near the Inlet in an attempt to rescue his two sons, ages 10 and 13, who had become distressed in the water. The father and two sons, now caught in a rip current, drifted around the north jetty and headed toward the Inlet. Witnesses on a nearby...READ MORE

Monday, July 23 - Father Dies Trying To Save Sons

OCEAN CITY - The resort suffered its second fatal drowning of the summer last night. Although emergency personnel know the identity of the man, they were mum on details today. All that's known is a 38-year-old Fruitland man drowned trying to save his two sons, 10 and 13 years old, who were reportedly struggling to stay close to shore near the Inlet. A rip current is likely to blame. A nearby boater rescued the two boys, but their father died trying to save them, according to the U.S. Coast...READ MORE

Drug Raid Nets Two Arrest

OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Police Narcotics Unit and the department's Quick Response Team (QRT) scored a significant drug bust last weekend at a downtown hotel after executing a search and seizure warrant. The narcotics team and the QRT executed the search and seizure warrant at the Buckingham Hotel on 14th Street and Baltimore Ave. around 10:30 p.m. last Friday. Named in the warrant was Lester Brown, Jr., 40, of Bishopville. When the officers entered the room, they found Brown along with his...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Robert Lee Walker BERLIN - Robert Lee Walker, Jr., 45, of Berlin, died Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at his home surrounded by his wife and daughters, after a courageous battle with cancer. Walker was born July 20, 1961 in Baltimore, son of Robert and Dolores Walker of Ocean City. He graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 1979. After attending Salisbury University, he became a Master Plumber and was employed by his family's business, Walker Plumbing in Ocean City. He was a member of Stevenson...READ MORE

My Thoughts

A kid biked by Insider's house the other day in the early afternoon. The know-it-all was punching his fingers furiously into his cell phone with his head down when he ran smack into a sidewalk, flipped over the handlebars and onto the old guy's lush lawn. The boy immediately jumped up, got his cell phone out of harm's way in the street and laid back down on the lawn to apparently gather himself. A few minutes went by and Insider noticed the kid had gotten back up and was now walking his bike...READ MORE

Couple Transforms Catering Hall To Neighborhood Tavern

OCEAN CITY - The charm of the local neighborhood tavern has settled outside of Ocean Pines with last month's grand opening of the Steer Inn Tavern. The Steer Inn Tavern, located on Route 589, made its debut on June 20, bringing what owners Skip and Tracey McGarry consider 'an entertaining neighborhood bar' to the area. Skip and Tracey have been operating in the same location for the past seven years, running the Occasionally Yours catering hall. 'We wanted to change things up and get better use...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Manager Attends Convention OCEAN CITY - Lance Whitlock, manager of Ocean City Gold's Gym, attended the 2007 Gold's Gym International Convention this week, which is being held at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. According to Chris Cope, owner of Ocean City Gold's Gym, the convention is a major event in the fitness center industry. It is the one time each year when the entire Gold's Gym family gathers to celebrate achievements and share experiences. Convention events began with a welcome...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

Let's take a look inside some numbers I came across this week with local relevance as well as elsewhere: - 71 million: The value in dollars of a four-year advertising contract approved by the Board of Public Works last week for the Maryland Lottery. This struck a chord among tourism officials across Maryland because the deal was okayed the same week the governor sliced $870,000 from the next fiscal year's advertising budget. - 75: Cents it now costs to get the Baltimore Sun at a local news stand...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

No To Expansion Editor: The people of West Ocean City are opposed to and united against any form of airport expansion pertaining to longer runways and the re-alignment of Route 611. Our County Commissioners voted 6-1 against it. The Mayor of Ocean City and the powers to be serve the people and should do what the people desire, not what they or the special interests groups want. Commissioner Louise Guylas says the expansion is needed for the area to grow. We don't need the airport for growth....READ MORE

The Little Lady With A Lot Of Clout

A local environmental legend passed away this week. There are many words to describe the contributions of Ilia Fehrer, but the one we like the most is leader. There are many different ways to lead. Some do it vocally, some are quiet and some don't even realize they are subconsciously doing it with just their presence and charm. Fehrer was a leader through and through and most likely falls into the later category. She led by example, seemingly reluctant to do so. She seemed to always have a...READ MORE

Ocean City

OCEAN CITY Seaside Retreat Daily 10-4 3BR, 2.5BA Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 OCEAN CITY Somerset at Second Daily 10 - 3 3BR Boardwalk Condos Eric Cropper ReMax Premier Properties 443-373-9409 OCEAN CITY The Quay Saturday 2 & 3BR Condos Mary McCracken Long & Foster 410-430-7302 OCEAN CITY Pelican Perch Weekends 11-3 4BR, 4.5BA, & Loft Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 OCEAN CITY Bahia Vista Daily 12-4 3 & 4 BR Bayfront Condos Della & Joe Wilson ReMax Premier...READ MORE

West Ocean City - Berlin - Ocean Pines - VA

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Daily 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker OCEAN PINES Points Reach Sat & Sun 10 - 4 3BR Luxury Condos Patty Cummings ReMax Premier Properties 410-520-8134 VIRGINIA Captain's Cove Daily 9 - 5 Resort Community With Amenities Coldwell Banker Eastern Shore 800-258-5843 BERLIN 10344 Carey Rd. Sat 1 - 3 Storybook Home on 1.18 Acres Malia Ricks Sheppard Realty 410-726-2563 OCEAN PINES 11625 Manklin Creek Sat 11 - 3 2BR/2BA/DEN...READ MORE

20th Tuna Tournament One For The Record Books

OCEAN CITY- The 20th Annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament, which wrapped up last Sunday evening at the Ocean City Fishing Center, was one for the books with a record number of boats participating and a record payout to the winners in several categories. The suspense built all weekend as the teams that weighed big fish early in the tournament watched as boat after boat unloaded their catches at the scales. When the drama ended, a mere single pound separated first place from second place in the...READ MORE

Andrew Bunting

Berlin's Andrew Bunting turned in another shutout performance on the mound in Monday's 12-0 title game win. ...READ MORE

Berlin 9-10 All-Stars Win District Title

BERLIN- The Berlin Little League's 9-10 All-Star team won the Maryland District 8 championship on Monday, beating East Wicomico, 12-0, in the title game, making it two years in a row for the local program after a nine-year drought. Last year, the Berlin Little League's 11-year-old All-Star team won the program's first District 8 title in nine years and advanced to the state's Final Four before bowing out. This year, two Berlin teams reached the district championship game with one, the 9-10...READ MORE

The "Instigator"

The 'Instigator' with Captain Dave Wendling took first place in the Heaviest Total Weight category with a two-day total of 790 pounds including 387 pounds on the first day and 403 pounds on the second day. Pictured above, the happy crew collects a check for $134,365 during the awards ceremony last Sunday. ...READ MORE

The "Press Time"

The crew aboard the 'Press Time' with Captain Luke Blume was all smiles at the Ocean City Tuna Tournament awards ceremony last Sunday after collecting a $351,197 check for the event's top cash award. ...READ MORE

"Rhonda's Osprey"

Second-place in the Heaviest Total Weight category went to the crew aboard the 'Rhonda's Osprey,' which finished with 510 total pounds after weighing two big tuna, pictured above, late Sunday that came in around 290 pounds. The team on the 'Rhonda's Osprey' earned over $56,000 for their second-place finish. ...READ MORE

$18.6M Lawsuit Claims Police Brutality

SNOW HILL - Six Ocean City Police Department officers as well as the town of Ocean City this week were named defendants in a 93-count civil lawsuit seeking nearly $19 million in damages for an incident last July alleging assault, battery, excessive force and false imprisonment among others in a bizarre situation that started with a case of mistaken identity and ended with the arrest of the plaintiffs for failing to cooperate with police. The civil suit, filed on Tuesday in Snow Hill by attorney...READ MORE

Ocean City Beach Patrol Vsits Children

Lieutenant Ward Kovacs of the Ocean City Beach Patrol visited with children during storytime at The Children's Book Garden in West Ocean City. Kovacs shared beach safety tips as well as, some of the neat and unusual objects he finds while at work. ...READ MORE

The Del-Mar-Va Council of Boy Scouts of America

The Del-Mar-Va Council, Boy Scouts of America, has been awarded a $5,000 Community Needs Grant by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore to provide support for an alumni identification and re-involvement project.  Pictured, from left, are Spicer Bell, Community Foundation President; and representing the Boy Scouts of America, Patrick Sterrett, Scout Executive and  Janice Payne, Capital Campaign and Major Gifts Director. ...READ MORE

Women's Council of REALTORS

Women's Council of REALTORS® presented the Ocean City Lions Club with donations to help with the drive to raise money to benefit the wounded Military Warriors in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars over the Fourth of July Holiday.  The Lions Club has raised and delivered directly to the soldiers almost $100K to help supplement these wounded men and women who arrived at the military hospitals with nothing except what they came to the hospital with.  Pictured above is Terri Bradford, 2007...READ MORE

Live Bands And DJs

Angler, The: 410-289-7424, Talbot St & the bay; Outside Deck: Saturday & Sunday, July 21 & 22: Drew Stevyns, 4-7 p.m.; Every Sunday night; Funk  Nite with Dj Deogee. Assateague Island Oasis: 410-629-1492, Rt. 611; Friday & Saturday, July 20 & 21: Patrick McAllorum; Sunday, July 22 & Wednesday, July 25: Jon Pheasant; Thursday, July 26: Katie Bragg. All entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m. Blue Ox & Babe's Lounge: 410-250-6440, 127th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Friday...READ MORE

Area Conservation Community Loses A Legend

BERLIN - Conservation giant Ilia Fehrer, one of Worcester County's first true environmental activists and the grand dame of the local movement, has died, leaving a tremendous legacy that includes the Assateague Island state and national parks and the preservation of tens of thousands of wild acres. Fehrer spearheaded the effort to designate the Pocomoke River a 'Wild and Scenic River,' and to prevent the damming of Nassawango Creek. She founded the Committee to Preserve Assateague Island, which...READ MORE

Changes Sought For Dangerous 113 Intersection

SNOW HILL - A public meeting this week on the future of the dangerous intersection of Routes 113 and 12 near Snow Hill was long on questions and short on answers as local residents and elected officially continue to seek solutions for the problem junction. Dozens of local residents attended the public meeting hosted by the Concerned Citizens of Worcester County at the Snow Hill Library on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, most left feeling no better about the situation than when they arrived....READ MORE

Friday, July 20 - Resort Compliance Check Nets Only One Violator

OCEAN CITY - With the summer in full swing, the Ocean City Police Department recently conducted an undercover compliance check and reported only one business out of dozens sold to an underage cadet. Barry Neeb, Ocean City Police spokesman, said he was pleased with the recent compliance check performed in the city. The operation was conducted through the R.A.A.M. Program, which stands for Reducing the Availability of Alcohol to Minors, and works as a community policing initiative to control...READ MORE

Two Del. Inmates Caught Near School

SHOWELL - Two Delaware prison inmates working on a road crew near Selbyville on Wednesday afternoon escaped and fled on foot before being caught near Showell Elementary in Worcester County. Christopher Womach, 27, and Dontay Johnson, 20, both inmates with the Delaware Department of Corrections, were working on a road crew near Selbyville on Wednesday morning picking up trash along Polly Branch Road. Around 11:40 a.m., Womach and Johnson made a sudden run for it and disappeared into some nearby...READ MORE

Ocean City To Fund Convention Center Expansion Study

OCEAN CITY - With recent confusion at the state level over the extended funds for the Convention Center economic study, the Mayor and Council decided Monday to move forward with the economic study, despite the current lack of state funding. City Engineer Terry McGean came before the Mayor and Council on Monday to explain the recent loss of additional funds and also to request that the economic or feasibility study continue regardless. According to McGean, the bond payments used for the city's...READ MORE

Parent Wants To Build Decatur Field House

BERLIN - Builder and parent Michael Stortini plans to give athletes at Stephen Decatur High School (SDHS) a generous gift this year - a field house built at his own expense. The school system will pay Stortini all of $1, a formality that validates the construction contract he will sign with the school. SDHS Principal Lou Taylor said he had wanted to add a field house to provide team locker rooms when the school was renovated several years ago, but realized he would have to work with the private...READ MORE

Sand Sources Sought For Beach Replenishment Project

OCEAN CITY - In the nearly two decades since the first Ocean City beach replenishment project was completed, the identified sources of sand offshore have been nearly depleted, and an effort is now underway to find new sources of material offshore for the remainder of the 50-year economic life of the project through 2044. According to the federal Army Corps of Engineers, the identified sources of sand offshore for the ongoing beach replenishment project in Ocean City are rapidly depleting and...READ MORE

Solid Tourism Reports Found Outside Ocean City

BERLIN - Tourism in Worcester County is doing well this season, business owners say, despite the less sunny picture painted by tourism officials, who see a trend of level or decreasing numbers of visitors to sites outside the resort. 'It's fairly flat or a little on the decline,' said Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger. Tourist numbers in Worcester County, exclusive of Ocean City, can be difficult to determine, she acknowledged. 'It's harder to gauge because we don't have the...READ MORE

Bike Ride Planned To Benefit Erin Drew Foundation

SALISBURY - Erin Drew loved to ride her bicycle. She started out actively training to honor the memory of 4-year-old Ben Layton, who lost the battle to leukemia a few years ago. Not a committed athlete before then, she decided to train for the renowned local 100-mile bike ride known as the Seagull Century in 2004 and raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in remembrance of little Ben. The next several Century rides saw her raising thousands of dollars for charity and mentoring scores...READ MORE

Former Seahawk Hurler Signs Professional Contract

BERLIN - Former Stephen Decatur High School pitching standout David Whigham recently signed to play professional baseball for the Herkimer Trailbusters of the independent New York State League. Whigham, who dominated at times for Decatur during an outstanding high school career, went on the play at the next level, first at Guilford College in North Carolina before transferring to Virginia Wesleyan for his senior season. Whigham pitched in 14 games for the Marlins this spring, posting an...READ MORE

Future Growth Planning Underway Despite Slowdown

NEWARK - The Worcester County school system must plan for further expansion in the future, despite current growth slowdowns, because continued population growth will need renovated and new facilities, according to school board staff. 'This year we will have 49 temporary or portable classrooms, which confirms over and over again our buildings do not have the space to accommodate the programs we are offering our children,' said Ed Barber, assistant superintendent for administration.  ...READ MORE

Mixed Reviews For New Bayside Development Regs

OCEAN CITY - The special bayside development regulations took a step forward on its road to completion this week with the approval of the first reading of the ordinance by the Mayor and Council, but found a mixture of both opposition and support along the way.  For many, this ordinance has been a long time coming. The Mayor and Council and Planning and Zoning Committee have met on numerous occasions to create the ordinance and adjust it to standards that are conducive to the town. Last...READ MORE

OC Cop Finishes 2nd In National Contest

OCEAN CITY - One of Ocean City's finest was recognized as one of the top cops in the nation last week when the national American Legion named him first runner up in its annual National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. OCPD veteran Corporal Sydney Findley last year was nominated by his colleagues in the department for the honor of American Legion Department of Maryland 2006 Law Officer of the Year. In January, Findley was notified he had won the Legion's top honor in Maryland. Findley's...READ MORE

OC Plans To Act Quickly To Purchase Land For Park

OCEAN CITY - In an effort to rectify the situation for all parties involved, the Mayor and Council has approved an emergency ordinance to purchase the Caroline Street property that was destroyed in a fire in April. The house, located at 111 Caroline Street, will be purchased by the city for a price of $235,000. At the City Council meeting Monday, the Mayor and Council approved the ordinance to purchase the property in hopes that the vacated, burnt house could be torn down and replaced with a...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - At the City Council meeting Monday evening, the Mayor and Council met to discuss a variety of issues that included, the extension of the annual concrete contract, the request to purchase bus shelters and the request to submit an unsolicited proposal to sell a terragator to Rehoboth Beach, Del. Concrete Contract Renewed The Mayor and Council voted Monday evening to extend the current concrete contract with Worth Construction for one more year. Ocean City Public Works Director Hal...READ MORE

Progress Leads To Need To Exchange OC Trash Trucks

OCEAN CITY - The Mayor and Council unanimously approved a request from the Solid Waste Department regarding new equipment after the vehicle's necessity was explained. Public Works Director Hal Adkins came before the Mayor and Council Monday evening to request the exchange of a Front End Refuse Collection Truck for an Automated 'long reach' Refuse Collection Vehicle. In the FY 2008 budget deliberations, the Solid Waste Department issued a request for four separate pieces of collection...READ MORE

Route 50 Service Road Project Underway

BERLIN - The preliminary construction work for the Route 50 service road is moving forward as expected this summer.  'Work is progressing. They're concentrating right now on the Route 50 corridor,' said John Tustin, director of Worcester County Public Works. Work can be seen underway east of Holly Grove Rd. on the shoulder of Route 50. Tustin said that work would shortly be moving to the west of Holly Grove Rd. Current construction is building turning lanes on the highway. Crews will then...READ MORE

Route 113 Death Toll Climbs

BERLIN - Route 113 claimed another life last weekend when a man drove off the highway and struck a utility pole and other objects before overturning. Shortly after midnight last Sunday, Maryland State Police troopers from the Berlin barrack responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 113 just south of Lambertson Rd. The first-arriving trooper discovered a Chevrolet Impala was traveling south on Route 113 had left the roadway and flipped before coming to a stop. Witnesses told police the...READ MORE

Sewer Talk Dominates Showell Watershed Meeting

SHOWELL - Wastewater disposal dominated the discussion of the Assawoman Bay watershed plan Wednesday night in Showell. County planning staff held a community meeting at Showell Elementary School to discuss the Assawoman Bay Watershed Restoration Action Strategy, a plan to be written over the next several months detailing how the county will meet water pollution limits. 'This plan hopefully will help to restore and protect water bodies in the Assawoman Bay watershed,' said planner Keota...READ MORE

Things I Like

Getting out of bed before the alarm sounds Eating lunch in a wet bathing suit The ice cream at Chesapeake Bay Farms Assateague on a summer morning Getting corn on the cob at the farmers markets Everything at Smoker's Waking up cold in the middle of the night A house with a flagpole in the front yard Birthday parties for the little ones Seeing the brake lights of a car come on in a crowded parking lot An open bench on the Boardwalk  ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You're wise to let your Arian skepticism question a former adversary's request to let bygones be bygones. Time will tell if he or she is trying to pull the wool over the Lamb's eyes. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Congratulations. Your hard work soon pays off with some well-de-served recognition. Meanwhile, that important personal relationship needs more attention from you. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): That new person in your life seems trustworthy, but don't turn him...READ MORE

"Golfing Buddies and Stepford Wives"

'The inordinate passion for pleasure is the key to remaining young' - Oscar Wilde. I've never heard anyone say that they enjoy the physical aspects of getting older. I've heard people say that they enjoy knowing more than the young whippersnappers of the younger generation, but I've never heard anyone exclaim, 'man, I'm loving all these varicose veins that keep popping up.' Truly, 'Father Time' is a bastard worth deceiving whenever you can. Although, eventually, the toll of his disciplinary...READ MORE

What The Pension Protection Act Means To You

BERLIN - If you are nearing retirement or simply reviewing your financial strategy, provisions in the recently enacted Pension Protection Act of 2006 may hold substantial tax-benefits for you and your beneficiaries. Often referred to as the 'PPA,' the Pension Protection Act makes permanent important parts of the Economic Growth & Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA). These include increased retirement plan contribution limits, as well as, tax-free qualified distributions from 529...READ MORE