November 23, 2007

Thursday, November 29 - Annual Chili Cookoff Benefits County's Needy

OCEAN CITY - Entries are still being accepted for the 9th Annual Ocean City Parrothead Club's Hots for Tots Chili Cookoff, which will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the West Ocean City Greene Turtle from 1-4 p.m. There will be three competitions: Ocean City's Best Restaurant, Ocean City's Best Private Sector and CASI (a national competition). Last year's winners included the Greene Turtle West, Best Restaurant, and Mike Capuano, Best Private Sector. Judging of the cookoff will be done by patron...READ MORE

Wednesday, November 28 - OCPD Seeks Funds To Monitor Cabs

OCEAN CITY - Taxi drivers and companies could be facing stricter rules and enforcement in the near future, after discussion at a recent Police Commission meeting resulted in the unanimous agreement to add more teeth to the current regulations. After noticing an increase in complaints over taxis this past summer, Ocean City Police Sergeant Scott Harner decided to delve further into the ongoing issue and take a closer look at the root of the problem. After keeping a closer eye on taxi cab...READ MORE

Tuesday, November 27 - OC Man Busted For Burglary

OCEAN CITY - Thanks to a tip from alert citizens, Ocean City Police early Monday morning arrested a local man on burglary charges at an unoccupied residence on Robin Drive and have linked the suspect to several other burglaries in the area. Early Monday morning, resort police got a call from alert residents on Robin Drive about a suspicious man believed to have kicked in a door of an unoccupied apartment. Based on the information provided by witnesses as well as the physical evidence observed by...READ MORE

Alleged Drunk Driver Crashes Tractor-Trailer

BISHOPVILLE - A Norfolk, Va. man was issued several traffic citations by both Maryland and Delaware officials this week after crashing the tractor-trailer he was driving on Route 113 near the state line on Monday morning. A Worcester County Sheriff's Deputy on Monday morning observed a tractor-trailer northbound on Route 113 near Route 589 traveling at an estimated 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle as it approached the Maryland-Delaware line when the driver, later...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

As predicted by most insiders, the General Assembly passed the proposed slots referendum, which calls for about 15,000 one-arm bandits spread out over five facilities - one each in Baltimore City and Allegany, Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties. Maryland voters will now decide the issue because an inner circle of cowards unwilling to make the tough decision leads the state's legislature. What a disgrace. When the referendum idea was proposed as a possible piece of legislation earlier...READ MORE

Artificial Reefs Epitomize Logical Recycling

Miles off the coast of Ocean City along the bottom of the Atlantic could soon be the new home for hundreds of used subway cars if the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Ocean City Reef Foundation have their way. At last week's meeting, the Ocean City Mayor and Council threw its support behind the initiative. Although the cost associated with buying the decommissioned cars and the subsequent expense to place them offshore is only an estimate at this point, $700 per car, the council is...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Some Tax Increases Okay, Others Not Editor: I am writing regarding Michael James' letter, 'State Tax Increases Will Hurt Business' in last week's issue. Isn't it strange how tax increases proposed by the hotel-motel owners, etc. are in the interests of the community (added room taxes for advertising)? But when others propose tax increases to keep the state solvent, the story line changes and suddenly increases are all bad. With regard to "slots", why not let the voters decide, despite...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Some Tax Increases Okay, Others Not Editor: I am writing regarding Michael James' letter, 'State Tax Increases Will Hurt Business' in last week's issue. Isn't it strange how tax increases proposed by the hotel-motel owners, etc. are in the interests of the community (added room taxes for advertising)? But when others propose tax increases to keep the state solvent, the story line changes and suddenly increases are all bad. With regard to "slots", why not let the voters decide, despite...READ MORE

Berlin Businesses Ready For Fall Arts Night

BERLIN - One of the most anticipated evenings of the year in the area will take place tonight with Berlin's 13th Annual Fall Arts Night taking place from 6-9 p.m. Berlin shops and galleries will feature the work of the area's finest artists and craftsmen as well as offer their hospitality with complimentary refreshments in most businesses along with entertainment in various shops and on the street. Among the businesses featuring local artwork is JJ Fish Studio, located on Main Street. JJ Fish...READ MORE

County Eyes Three Bills Targeting Adult Businesses

SNOW HILL - Sexually-oriented businesses in Worcester County may soon face permanent regulations governing location, signage and customer behavior, after the County Commissioners introduced three bills this week to cover the adult enterprises. The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the legislation at their Dec. 7 meeting at 11 a.m. and are likely to pass the laws that day to get them on the books before the moratorium enacted in May runs out. The new legislation, generated by consulting...READ MORE

New Rules Put In Place For "Scopers"

OCEAN CITY - Beach franchise operators will now be seeing tighter restrictions on late fees and stronger penalties for failure to meet payment deadlines.  At a regular session of the Mayor and Council Monday night, the City Council unanimously passed, on second reading, the ordinance outlining the changes to beach franchise operations. Several weeks ago, the Beach Mediation Board presented the Mayor and Council with a recommendation to enforce stricter punishments for continuous late...READ MORE

Friday, November 23 - OC Eyes Committee To Help With Outdoor Displays

OCEAN CITY - The issue of outdoor displays of merchandise was revisited this week with the Planning and Zoning Commission making the unanimous decision to table the issue once again until after an upcoming meeting with the Mayor and City Council. A public hearing was held last month to garner thoughts and opinions on outdoor displays of merchandise from both business owners and town officials. The result was numerous business owners protesting against prohibition of outdoor displays and instead...READ MORE

Slots Referendum Approved With Slew Of Tweaks

BERLIN - The reality of slots at Ocean Downs is now closer than it has ever been with the state legislature's approval and Gov. Martin O'Malley's official signing into law a bill that will allow the voters of Maryland to decide the issue once and for all. In a whirlwind finish to the contentious three-week special session of the Maryland General Assembly last weekend, the House of Delegates last Friday narrowly approved a bill authorizing a statewide referendum on slots in the November 2008...READ MORE

Commissioners React To Slots Referendum Passage

SNOW HILL - The slim hope of a referendum letting Worcester County citizens decide for once and all whether to allow slots within county borders was definitively extinguished with last week's General Assembly vote to hold a statewide referendum. The even slimmer chance of seeing the Ocean Downs racetrack removed from the bill as a slot machine site also proved ephemeral, with a decision to take the site out of the bill last week lasting less than a day before it was back in. The General Assembly...READ MORE

Strange Find In City Canal Believed A Religious Offering

OCEAN CITY - A hand-made wooden box emanating a rancid smell and several handwritten notes in Spanish found floating in a canal in Ocean City briefly baffled resort police last weekend before they were able to determine the unusual item was part of a religious offering. Last Saturday morning, Ocean City police officers were called to a residence on Penguin Drive by a resident, who had discovered an unusual item in a canal behind his home. The item appeared to be a hand-made wooden box about the...READ MORE

Sweeping Tax Changes OK'd In Legislature's Special Session

BERLIN - While the slots issue garnered the most attention from local residents during the three-week General Assembly special session that concluded in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, sweeping tax reforms and other measures approved by the state legislature could have an equal or greater impact in the long run. The General Assembly special session adjourned early Monday with the approval for a statewide referendum on slots approved as well as a considerable number of changes in the tax...READ MORE

What They Said On Session …

ANNAPOLIS - With the closure of an exhausting three-week special session called by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to address the state's projected $1.7 billion budget deficit, a session that resulted in sweeping tax reforms and the approval of a statewide referendum on the slots issue, the mood in Annapolis this week covered the full range of emotions from glee and celebration to angst and disgust. The following is a sample of what was said and heard around the state capital this...READ MORE

Approved 'Green Fund' Bill Excludes Coastal Watershed

BERLIN - A not-so-little side note to the completion of the General Assembly session this week was the approval of a plan to spend $50 million per year to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, but conspicuously absent from the legislation was any provision for state funding for the coastal bays in and around the resort area. The General Assembly last week voted to set aside $50 million per year of the revenue generated from several tax increases approved during the special session for clean-up efforts...READ MORE

Assateague Coastal Trust Offers Unique Gift Idea

BERLIN - How about an Assateague Island horse under the tree? Well, not exactly a real horse, but something maybe even better: give the gift of a wild and free Assateague Island Foster Horse membership. The exciting news for 2007 on Assateague Island was the birth of JoJo, a sorrel filly, and JoJo's addition to the Foster Horse Program. 'JoJo is a beautiful foal, and we are using a great photo of her and her mother, Sonya, taken on the beach at Assateague,' said program manager Pat...READ MORE

Beautification Committee About To Expand By 3

OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Beautification Committee could be expanding from seven to 10 members next year. At a regular session of the Mayor and Council Monday night, the ordinance calling for the increase in committee members by three passed unanimously. Each year the Ocean City Beautification Committee works to recognize those members of the community that contribute to the beautification of the town. The committee scours the town from the Inlet to the Delaware state line in an effort to...READ MORE

Berlin To Explore Noise Level Law

BERLIN - Neighbors of noisy businesses in Berlin will get no help from Maryland law, but the town plans to look into adjusting its noise regulations to specify decibel levels. The state does have a noise statute, unlike the town, which limits decibel levels. Such regulations could be applied to loud operations like the ice plant. While both the state of Maryland and Worcester County have noise ordinances laying out permitted decibel strengths, neither law is applicable in Berlin. The Berlin...READ MORE

City Postpones Call On Building Permit Extension

OCEAN CITY - The decision on a building permit extension for a downtown property was postponed this week, due to dissatisfaction from the Mayor and Council over the vacant lots. Bob Warfield, owner of the 1111 Edgewater Ave. property, came before the Mayor and Council two weeks ago in an effort to obtain an extension on the building permit for the project. Warfield explained that with the current status of the real estate market, continuing with the 18-unit condominium project would be a...READ MORE

Coastal Bays Nears Endowment Fund

SNOW HILL - With another $15,000, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) can create a $1 million endowment fund. The program has three weeks left to raise the remaining $15,000 required by an anonymous donor for a two-to-one match that will yield another half million dollars in endowment funds. The unidentified donor started off giving MCBP $500,000 for an endowment fund, no conditions attached last winter, then dangled another half a million in front of the program, if it could raise $250,000...READ MORE

Commissioners May Unveil Meeting Material Beforehand

SNOW HILL - County citizens may soon be allowed a glimpse of the County Commissioners' meeting agenda items on the Worcester County website a few days ahead of the event. Ellie Diegelmann, a frequent commenter at county public hearings who has said in the past that the county does not release enough information about planned discussions, asked the commissioners to consider revealing the contents of their agenda before the Tuesday meetings at the Nov. 20 session. 'The commissioners' packets could...READ MORE

Company Seeks $5M Wrongful Death Lawsuit Dismissal

BERLIN - The defendants in a multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed in Worcester County in June 2006 involving the alleged spraying of a toxic pesticide over a residential area in Berlin filed a motion for summary judgment, essentially asking a U.S. District Court judge to throw out the case. The suit, filed in Worcester County Circuit Court in early June 2006 on behalf of the widow and children of the late Edward Louis Brittingham of Berlin and his estate is seeking $5 million in...READ MORE

Council Agrees To Add Another Airport Hangar

OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Municipal Airport will be seeing the addition of another airport hanger after a six to one vote by the City Council in favor of the project. Public Works Director Hal Adkins, was given permission in March of this year to move forward with the bidding of the 'box-style' aircraft hanger. He came before the Mayor and Council again at a work session last Tuesday to seek approval to continue with the project through a contract with John Salm Engineering, Inc. 'This is the...READ MORE

Process Underway To Find Cathell's Successor On Bench

BERLIN - An effort is underway to find a replacement for retired Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Dale R. Cathell, a Berlin native and Stephen Decatur High School graduate who ascended to the state's highest court in 1998. Cathell officially retired in July having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, but continues to sit on the bench pending the appointment of his replacement. The Maryland Judicial Nominating Committee this week posted a deadline date of Dec. 12 for qualified candidates to...READ MORE

Questions Raised About Project's Early Phases

SNOW HILL - Questions are surrounding the Summerfield project in Snow Hill this week with developer Mark Odachowski apparently preparing to ask the town to let him postpone building the promised wastewater treatment plant, but to allow him to go ahead and build 300 homes. Speaking at a hearing on the water and sewer plan amendment allowing the Summerfield development to use spray irrigation, Harold Scrimgeous, a former County Commissioner candidate, questioned what's happening with the...READ MORE

Resort Christmas Parade Date Set

OCEAN CITY - The 25th Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade marches along Coastal Highway on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. The holiday parade starts at 100th Street and marches northbound in the southbound lanes of Coastal Highway to the Gold Coast Mall at 115th Street. More than 80 units will participate, including high school bands, horses, llamas, antique cars and colorful floats. Professional judges will be on hand to review bands and other marching units in nine categories. Trophies will be...READ MORE

Resort Earns Honors At State Tourism Conference

OCEAN CITY - Ocean City received high honors last week at the Maryland Governor's Tourism Industry Conference, with the receipt of two awards for Ocean City tourism efforts. Deborah Travers, Assistant Executive Director of Tourism in Ocean City, and the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant-Association (OCHMRA) both received distinguished awards this year. This year marked the 27th annual Tourism Industry Conference in Maryland and was held in Solomon's Island. The annual conference, aimed at...READ MORE

Shopper's Fair Marks 25 Years This Weekend

OCEAN CITY - The whole family will enjoy a visit to the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City Friday through Sunday, Nov. 23-25, for the 25th Annual Holiday Shopper's Fair. A visit to this annual shopping extravaganza is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. This year's fair features unique gifts for everyone on your shopping list, including arts and craft items, handmade quilts, leather handbags, candles, a wide selection of jewelry, florals and specialty gift items. Vendors...READ MORE

Black Friday Rockfish Tourney Underway

OCEAN CITY- Local anglers hoping to avoid the crowds and holiday shopping this weekend and perhaps win some money instead of spending it are participating in the first-ever Black Friday 550 Rockfish Tournament out of the Ocean City Fishing Center this weekend. For 36 hours this weekend, local fishing enthusiasts looking for an alternative to holiday shopping will take to the waters in and around the resort area for the first annual Black Friday 550 Rockfish Tournament. The tourney got underway...READ MORE

Four Advance in Flag Playoffs

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's Fall Flag Football League playoffs got underway this week with four of the top seeds earning. Three of the perennial league leaders- Buxy's Salty Dog, Kirby's Pub and Tequila Duffybird- along with a relative newcomer in Gemcraft Homes advanced in the first round of playoffs and move on in the winners bracket while the four teams that lost on Monday head to the loser's bracket where they will have to fight their way back for a shot at...READ MORE

Mallards Pull Away In Second Half for 30-27 Win

BERLIN- After playing Holly Grove just about even through the first two quarters in the season opener on Tuesday, Worcester Prep's boys' varsity basketball team used a strong finish to pull away for the relatively easy 37-20 win over the visiting Eagles in the season opener for both teams. Worcester jumped out to an early lead and led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter. Holly Grove responded in a low scoring quarter for both teams, outscoring the Mallards in the period, 6-5, to cut the lead to...READ MORE

New Era for Worcester Prep Girls Opens with a Win

BERLIN- A new era in Worcester Prep girls' varsity basketball opened on Tuesday with an impressive 38-28 win over a pesky Holly Grove team as the Mallards pulled away for good in the fourth quarter. The Worcester girls team opened its 2007-2008 campaign on Tuesday with new coach Sharon Repass at the helm, and while the Mallards were a little sluggish at the outset, they came away with a satisfying 10 point win over the Eagles. Neither team played all that well at the outset and Worcester led by...READ MORE

What Kind of Goose?

Local hunter Richard Taylor got a bit of a surprise this week when his retriever returned with this rare bird on Monday morning. Taylor was hunting in the Sinepuxent area early Monday morning when he fired into a flock of Canada geese. When his trusty retriever Taylor returned with this odd bird, the long-time hunter noticed the goose had different markings than any other goose he had ever seen. The goose had a white and brown mottled color on its head and neck and its feet were a soft shade of...READ MORE

Worcester Prep

Worcester Prep's Cody Shoemaker (41) and Max DiFillipo (14) work the ball around the perimeter in the fourth quarter of the Mallards 37-20 win over Holly Grove on Tuesday. ...READ MORE

Worcester Girls

The Mallards' Hillary Roughton looks to pass the ball inside against a tough Holly Grove defense in the second half of the Mallards 38-28 win on Tuesday. ...READ MORE

Restaurateurs Kick Off New Shipping Operation

OCEAN CITY - Just in time for the holiday season, Nantuckets Restaurant is expanding its operations and will now be shipping some of its signature menu items. Nantucket's, located on Route 1 in Fenwick Island and owned and operated by David and Janet Twining, has been a favorite restaurant for locals and visitors for the past 17 years. After years of hearing requests from customers to send food to their homes, the Twinings decided to expand on their business and offer a few of their menu items...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Richard Joseph Vach, Sr. BERLIN - Richard Joseph Vach, Sr., age 80, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Jerome Ignatius Vach and Martha May Bevans Vach. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Carroll Vach, in 2003. He is survived by his children, Carroll Vach England of Ocean City, Richard J. Vach, Jr. and Laura Hudson of Ocean City, Martha Vach Redding and her husband Lawrence of Ocean City, Thomas Carville...READ MORE

Ocean City

OCEAN CITY Trout Lane 14th Street Fri-Sun 11-3 Bayside Townhouses Rick Meehan Coldwell Banker 410-723-8778 OCEAN CITY 11609C Windward Dr. Sat 11-2 Contemporary on Canal Debbie Salins Long & Foster 410-250-3858 OCEAN CITY The Meridian Daily 10-4 Oceanfront Residences New Construction Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-520-0072 OCEAN CITY Bella Vista Daily 9-5 3BR Bayside Condos Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 OCEAN CITY Bay 1 Fri-Sun 10-4 3/4BR, 3+ BA Condos Coldwell Banker 410-723-1000 OCEAN...READ MORE

West Ocean City - Ocean Pines - MD - DE

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor\'s Watch Golf Course Road Fri-Sun 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker SELBYVILLE 37556 Leisure Dr The Refuge Fri 11-2 5BR/5BA Single Family Mark Fritschle Remax Premier Properties 410-524-6400 OCEAN PINES 98 Lookout Pt Fri-Sun 12-3 2300sqft Waterfront Greg Erdie Coldwell Banker 410-641-5700 FENWICK ISLAND Bayside Rt. 54 Models Open Daily Classic Beach Resort Town Carl M. Freeman 877-436-9998 BETHANY BEACH Bethany Meadows Sat 11-2 3BR/2.5BA Townhome Lois...READ MORE

My Thoughts

The old guy is right handed but he drinks all of his coffee with his left hand because most people are right handed, especially when traveling. Right-handed coffee guzzlers all drink from the same side of the cup, that's where they leave their lipstick, slobber and anything else their mouth wishes to contribute. He knows they are washed in most places and the possibility of catching anything is nil, but he still feels better taking his ounce of prevention. Hey, no germ is going to keep the old...READ MORE

Live Bands And DJs

Assateague Island Oasis: 410-629-1492, Rt. 611; Friday, Nov. 23: Patrick McAllorum; Saturday, Nov. 24: Closed; Thursday, Nov. 29:TBA; All entertainment 6:30-9:30 p.m. Blue Ox & Babe's Lounge: 410-250-6440, 127th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Call for entertainment. Buxy's Salty Dog: 410-289-0973, 28th St. & Coastal Hwy.; Friday, Nov. 23: Kevin Poole; Saturday, Nov. 24: TBA Castaway's: 410-524-9090, 64th St. Bayfront; Friday, Nov. 23: Can't Hang; Saturday, Nov. 24: TBA; Thursday, Nov. 29:...READ MORE

"The Pre-shopping Meal"

Today must be a big business day for the makers of Tums. Hopefully, you will have awoken from your turkey-induced coma to read this column in some capacity, but if not, enjoy your slumber, as the hectic holiday season has begun. Thanksgiving is my favorite day of gluttony of the year. Being Italian, I like to eat. I do agree that a good home cooked meal can pretty much cure any ailment, or at least make you so full that you don't care that you are feeling below average. I like my meals being...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your work on a recent job assignment is impressive and is sure to be noticed. Meanwhile, expect to re-ceive news about an upcoming holiday event you won't want to miss. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Saving the world one person at a time is what you were born to do. So accept it when people ask you for help, especially during the holiday season. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Now that you've resolved all doubts about an important decision, you can surprise a lot of...READ MORE

Things I Like

Burrito night at LaHacienda Getting fast cash at an ATM Laughing The Chesapeake burger at the Greene Turtle Movies without the 'f' word Arts Night in Berlin The colors of fall along Route 90 Thanksgiving leftovers That a Panera is coming here The Paper Moon Diner in Baltimore Fajita night at Tequila Mockingbird  ...READ MORE

Things We Like

The smell of Thrasher's french fries The sound of the ocean The leaves changing color in autumn Seeing deer run past our patio door Spending time with funny people Relaxing on the beach with a good book Sunsets at Mallory Square in Key West Bar hopping on Bourbon Street in New Orleans A snowstorm on the weekend Snuggling under a heating blanket The convenience of TiVo By Kathy Ware, Timonium, Md.  ...READ MORE

Tying The Financial Knot Can Be Stressful For Some

BERLIN - According to a 2006 Money magazine survey of 1,000 spouses nationwide, 84 percent of respondents cited finances as a cause of tension in their marriage. Yet engaged or newly married couples too often ignore or postpone discussions about important financial issues. It's a mistake, albeit an understandable one. In all the excitement surrounding wedding and honeymoon planning, most couples are not focused on discussing spending, budgeting and saving for the future. Doing so, however, can...READ MORE

The Democratic Women's Club of Worcester County

The Democratic Women's Club of Worcester County will sponsor an elementary school classroom for the Worcester County Commission on Women's McGuffy Bookworm Program, which provides free books for all county children in grades one to four to help them retain their reading levels over the summer. Above, Club President Carolyn Herbert, right, and Treasurer Sandy Miller, left, present check to Women's Commission representative and Club member Marge SeBour, center, as in-coming President Arlene Page,...READ MORE

Ocean City Elementary

County Commissioner Bud Church recently visited Ocean City Elementary School to see the students hard at work and stopped to visit the students in Kelly Seitzer's fourth-grade class. Above, front row from left, are Justin Weber, Michael Tropkoff, Hailey Beswick, Daniel Moyer, Todd Petrella, Eva Fermin, Julian Tomasello, YiNa Dong; and, back, Church, Tess Hutchins, Kandace Scheel, Nick Matha, Scott Devenny, Andrew Simonson, Mrs. Sally Ann Messick, and Seitzer ...READ MORE

The Women's Council of Realtors

The Women's Council of Realtors recently presented a donation to Diakonia's Out Reach Program. Diakonia was able to use the funds to implement a Family Night where all participants will gather and prepare dinner and enjoy a bonding time with games and simple entertainment. Pictured, form left, are Terri Bradford, Hileman Real Estate; Debbie Tingle, First Shore Federal, Claudia Nagle, Diakonia Director; and Patti Feehley of First Shore Federal. ...READ MORE

Art League of Ocean City

More than 125 people attended the Art League of Ocean City (ALOC) Starving Artist Supper earlier this month. Prizes for the holiday show were presented at the dinner. First prize went to James Connolly for his photo; second to Heidi Wetzel for her mixed media; and third to Rina Thaler for her watercolor. Honorable mentions were awarded to Tim Cooper, George Hamaty and Chris Ecker. The coveted People's Choice Ribbon, selected by those who attended the dinner, went to Jerri Miller. Pictured, from...READ MORE

Worcester County Garden Club

The monthly meeting of the Worcester County Garden Club was held at Bethany United Methodist Church Hall off Route 611. The theme was "Be Creative" with guest demonstrator, Patrick Hochmuth of Dried & Crafted Gourds. Pictured with Hochmuth are some of the club members with gourds they painted. ...READ MORE

Stephen Decatur High School

Stephen Decatur High School sophomores Bethany Howe and Annie Mitchell are pictured performing a skit for their final project in their Julius Caesar unit. The project was titled "A Caesar Broadcast". Submitted Photos  ...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary School

Students from Buckingham Elementary School recently participated in Reading Is Fundamental, which aims to encourage reading among students by distributing books to them. Pictured, above from left, are Principal Roger Pacella with first-graders Daeja Tingle, Makeyla Garcia, Darius Smith and Alex Gaddis.  ...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary

Third grade students at Buckingham Elementary recently finished up on their poetry unit. Above, student Ja'Keem Jordan shares his poem with his classmates as his teacher Diane Tolson looks on  ...READ MORE

Berlin Intermediate

American Education Week was held throughout the country last week including at Berlin Intermediate School Parents, friends and other family members visited the classrooms to see just what it is like to be back in school.  Above, fourth grader Owen Dennis shows his parents exactly what he learns in technology education. ...READ MORE

Berlin Intermediate School

To celebrate their American Stories theme in reading, fourth grade students at Berlin Intermediate School took part in a traditional hoe down complete with boots and cowboy hats. Students read a story about the origin of the Stetson hat called "Boss of the Plains" and were encouraged to wear their own cowboy hats. Above, Erin Smith concentrates on getting the right steps and keeping her hat. ...READ MORE

A Week In Business

No. 1 In Region BERLIN - Brian Selzer just recently attended a trip to Key Biscayne, Fla. for Merrill Lynch. The trip was the POA Recognition Trip. POA is the term for first-year trainee's at Merrill Lynch. Selzer completed his first year with Merrill and finished No. 1 in the southeast region. Tourism Awards Announced OCEAN CITY - Deborah Travers, assistant director of the Ocean City Tourism Department, was named recipient of the Maryland Tourism Professional of the Year award, which was...READ MORE