November 7, 2008

Thoughts from the Publisher's Desk

Some reflections on Tuesday's election: -- Although I was never wowed by his charm, eloquence or reform agenda like a majority of the country over the last two years, I felt a tremendous sense of pride in our country for electing Barack Obama as our next president. No matter what happened on Tuesday, it was going to be historic. There was going to be a first either way. There would either be the country's first female vice president or its first black president. For a variety of reasons, this...READ MORE

Wise To Stay Course On Grad Requirement

Lost amidst all the hoopla of this week's election was a decision by the state Board of Education last week to keep to its word that current high school seniors need to pass a series of standardized tests to get their diplomas next spring. A few years ago, Maryland made national news when it announced beginning with the Class of 2009 high school seniors will need to pass standardized tests in algebra, English, American government and biology to graduate. It was praised by some for making...READ MORE

Ugly DUI Bust In WOC

Ugly DUI Bust In WOC WEST OCEAN CITY - An Ocean Pines man tacked assault and disorderly conduct charges on to his driving under the influence problems this week when he allegedly went on an profanity-laced tirade and assaulted an officer during a routine DUI investigation on Monday. Around 2:18 on Sunday morning, a Maryland State Police trooper arrested a suspect, later identified as Rodney E. McGill, 49, of Ocean Pines, for driving under the influence of alcohol on Sunset Avenue just west of...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

James Joseph Clements BERLIN - James Joseph Clements, 86, of Ocean City, formerly of Woodlawn, died Friday, Nov 1, 2008 in Berlin. Son of James Edward Clements Jr. and May Ellen Orndorff, he was born on June 5, 1922 in Baltimore. He was a husband of 62 years to Kathleen Clements. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, sons and daughter-in-law, Garry and Dustie Clements, James Clements III; two grand children, Toni Murray and Chasen Clements; and two great grandchildren, Natalie and Gabriel Murray....READ MORE

Open Houses in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY The Meridian Daily 10-4 Oceanfront Residences New Construction Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-520-0072 OCEAN CITY Bella Vista Daily 10-4 Sat 9-5 3BR Bayside Condos Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Pilot House 4401 Atlantic Ave Open Saturday 4BR/3.5BA Oceanfront Jim White ReMax Premier Properties 410-726-9026 OCEAN CITY Bahia Vista 10th St. Bayside Daily 10-4 3&4BR Condos Dan Clayland Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Bel Mare Somerset Street Daily 11-3 3BR/2BA New...READ MORE

Open Houses in West Ocean City and Berlin

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Fri-Sun 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 WEST OCEAN CITY New Construction West Harbor Village Daily 10-5 11 Townhouses 3BR/2.5BA/Garage Prudential Carruthers 410-524-7000 BERLIN Purnell Crossing Old Ocean Blvd Tues-Sun 11-6 New Contruction 3BR/2.5BA Villas w/ 2-Car Garage Ryan Homes 866-776-9818 ...READ MORE

Open Houses for Surrounding Areas of Ocean City

GREENBACK, VA Captains Cove Daily 9-5 New Bayside Golfing Comm George Ann Way Coldwell Banker Eastern Shore 800-258-5843 POCOMOKE 500 Riverside Dr Sat & Sun 10-5 Waterfront TH w/ many upgrades Christine Murphy Coldwell Banker Eastern Shore 800-258-5843 SWANN COVE, DE Short Sales 36949 Trout Terr 36863 Herring Ct Both Fri 1-4 Josh Morimoto Prudential Carruthers 410-371-2216 WEST FENWICK 38891 & 38887 Verandah Bay Drive Sat & Sun 10-5 4BR/4.5BA Homes Sarah...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Welcome Back To Joe Hall Editor: First I would like to congratulate Councilman Joe Hall on his victory in the past election.  Then I would like to say how refreshing it is to read in this paper how he is upsetting the rest of the council by having the nerve to question the capital expenditures being proposed. How dare he stand up and want to know where and how the money is going to be spent. How dare he actually try and keep those promises he made in the campaign that he was going to try...READ MORE

Chetelat, Witherow Heading to States

Chetelat, Witherow Heading to States BERLIN- Fresh off a strong showing in the Bayside Conference cross-country meet, two Stephen Decatur harriers will compete in the state meet at Hereford High in Baltimore County tomorrow. Stephen Decatur's girls cross-country team won the Bayside Conference meet last week, finishing first among the participating teams with a combined time of 1:46:11, led by Lindsay Chetelat, who finished first at 19:03. In the men's Bayside Championships, the Seahawks...READ MORE

Decatur V-Ball Falls in States

Decatur V-Ball Falls in States BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity volleyball team bowed out of the state playoffs this week, falling to Reservoir, 3-2, on Monday in the Class 3A-East quarterfinals. The Seahawks, seeded third in the state Class 3A-East tournament swept visiting Northeast of Anne Arundel County last Friday in the opening round to advance in the playoffs. Decatur was relatively untested in the first round match with Northeast, sweeping three games by the scores of 25-2, 25-9...READ MORE

Harrington Leading ESA Points Race

OCEAN CITY- With one major contest left on the Eastern Surfing Association- Delmarva calendar next month, young upstart Dillon Harrington is holding on to the lead in the points standings in the open division after a strong showing at Sea Witch Surf Fest last week. Harrington, just 15, of Ocean City, is the leader in the prestigious open division, leading several surfers much older than he is. He came in second at Sea Witch, held at 48th Street on Sunday, October 26, to maintain a slim lead on...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Drop Heartbreaker

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity soccer team lost a heartbreaker last week, falling to Reservoir, 3-2, on penalty kicks after two overtime periods to drop out of the state Class 3A-East playoffs. The Seahawks, seeded third in the tournament, won two playoff games to earn a match-up with second-seeded Reservoir in the Class 3A-East regional semifinals, but could not get over the last hump to reach the state's Final Four last Friday. Decatur's Bradley Janson and Taylor Blazer each scored...READ MORE

Seahawks Rally Past North Caroline

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity football team inched closer to a berth in the state Class 3A-East playoffs last week, beating a scrappy North Caroline team, 37-28, to improve to 6-3 on the season. North Caroline gave the Seahawks everything they could handle last Friday in the second to last game of the season, but Decatur got on a big roll in the second half, scoring on four straight possessions, to pull away and secure the win. With one game remaining on the regular season schedule, the...READ MORE

Wrestling Registration On Tap

BERLIN- The Worcester County Youth Wrestling Program is hosting open registration for young wrestlers in grades K-8 next week at Stephen Decatur High School. With football season winding down, many young area athletes are turning toward inside activities for the winter and the Worcester County Youth Wrestling Program is a great option. Formed seven years ago to create a local youth wrestling feeder program for Stephen Decatur, the team has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years under the...READ MORE

Friday, November 7--Council Seeks More Details From Airline Hopeful

OCEAN CITY - Though a few attempts at running a small commuter airline service out of the Ocean City Municipal Airport never got off the ground, the City Council has agreed to look into the possibility of giving it another go, this time, with a new airline. Gabriel Saveedra of Florida-based Deluge Air, came before the council on Monday with hopes of gaining approval as soon as Thanksgiving to start running 40-minute direct flights from Ocean City to White Plains, N.Y. Saveedra proposed using...READ MORE

Friday, November 7--County Residents Back McCain, Kratovil, Early Voting

BERLIN - Change was the word of the day on Tuesday as American voters overwhelmingly elected Illinois Sen. Barack Obama the 44th president of the United States in what was a record turnout in practically every corner of the nation, but in Worcester, it was business as usual as the county's electorate followed a trend dating back 20 years or more. While Obama cruised to victory in Maryland and nationwide on Tuesday, the first African-American president did not carry Worcester County, continuing a...READ MORE

Friday, November 7--Enforcer Eyed To Monitor Boardwalk Sign Law

OCEAN CITY - Boardwalk merchants beware: there could be a new type of enforcement officer patrolling the Boardwalk next summer. In efforts to combat a growing problem of compliance with the regulations concerning signage placement by Boardwalk merchants, the Boardwalk Development Association (BDA) and the Planning and Zoning Commission are considering hiring a part-time enforcement officer to make sure businesses are following all the rules. At Wednesday's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting,...READ MORE

Friday, November 7--Ocean City Hotel Installs 36 Solar Thermal Panels

OCEAN CITY - Park Place Hotel might look yellow on the outside, but it's getting a whole lot 'greener' on the inside. Park Place became the first hotel in Ocean City to make a major investment in alternate energy, installing 36 solar thermal panels on its 2nd Street roof, which will harness the sun's rays and turn it into solar energy, thus heating up to 50 percent of the building's water supply. In doing so, Park Place will save 'a little over a quarter of a million dollars in energy bills over...READ MORE

Ocean City, County Voters Support Slots

OCEAN CITY - For most, it wasn't surprising Maryland voters heartily endorsed authorizing slots with a passage of a statewide referendum on Tuesday, but few could have seen the sweeping support for the video lottery terminals in practically every corner of every jurisdiction in the state. While the polls, and certainly the rhetoric, leading up to Tuesday's election suggested a clear divide and an anticipated tight race on slots, Marylanders in droves voted for the gaming machines when they got...READ MORE

People Joining Together For Community Causes

See who was out helping causes in the Ocean City area. ...READ MORE

A Look at Who Was Out On the Town This Week

Weekly pictures from the restaurant and bar scene around the Ocean City area.  ...READ MORE

Berlin Murder Trial Hinges On Self-Defense Argument

SNOW HILL - Closing arguments in the first-degree murder trial of an Ocean City man charged with the beating death of a Berlin teen in May wrapped up late yesterday, leaving the 12-member jury with the task of deciding if the defendant maliciously struck and killed the victim with a baseball bat, or if he wielded the bat in self defense in the face of an angry mob. The murder trial of accused killer Dominic Richard Canale, 22, of Ocean City, began on Wednesday with passionate opening statements...READ MORE

Murder Trial Provides Lesson In Jury Selection

SNOW HILL - The trial of an Ocean City man charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of a Berlin teen in May began on Wednesday with an hours-long jury selection phase, providing new insight to the lengthy, but critical process for both the state and the defense. It was standing room only in the historic courtroom in Snow Hill on Wednesday as the trial began for Dominic Richard Canale, 22, of Ocean City, who is charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of Michael Harry...READ MORE

Purnell "Carefully" Mulling Berlin Council Run

BERLIN - Rumors pegging developer Troy Purnell as a candidate for the vacant District One Berlin Town Council seat are almost true, with Purnell saying this week that he is thinking about a town council run but has not made up his mind yet. 'I have not decided,' Purnell said. 'I'm considering it carefully. I think I could do a good job or I wouldn't be considering it.' Questions have been raised over potential conflicts of interest between Purnell's extensive development projects inside and...READ MORE

Tight Times Reiterate Need For Value Dining

OCEAN CITY - 'Foodies' might be sitting pretty when they do decide to dine out, as restaurants from Coastal Highway to California are jockeying for position by offering the best deals to potential diners, despite skyrocketing food costs. The National Restaurant Association is projecting that 2009 will be the 'most challenging for the industry since 1980', citing rising food costs, a tanking economy and the dwindling number of 'eat-out' diners whose finances are getting tighter and tighter. All...READ MORE

Worcester, Nation Set New Voter Turnout Record

OCEAN CITY - A record number of voters turned out both locally and nationally in Tuesday's historic Presidential election, making it the biggest percentage voter turnout in a century. With 88 percent of precincts in on Wednesday, over 136 million people cast votes in Tuesday's Presidential election, which saw Senator Barack Obama of Illinois elected as the country's first African-American President.  That equates to 64.1 percent of registered voters who turned up at the polls, beating the...READ MORE

City Financial Report Details Last Fiscal Year

OCEAN CITY - Local residents looking to see where the money is coming from and just how local government is spending it now can view the 131-page annual Ocean City financial report or the eight-paged 'easy-to-read' version. City Finance Administrator Martha Lucey presented the report, which has earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 19 straight years, to the Mayor and City Council on Monday and was praised by Mayor Rick Meehan for 'giving Ocean City such a...READ MORE

Disease Found In Northern County Soybean Field

BISHOPVILLE - Crop disease soybean rust has been found for the first time in the state of Maryland in a sentinel field in northern Worcester County, but experts say the disease should not affect the 2008 soybean crop. 'It happened at the very end of the growing season, and in fact frost had already damaged the uppermost foliage of this extremely late soybean sentinel plot,' said Dr. Arv Grybauskas, a plant pathologist with the University of Maryland extension service. The sentinel field soybean...READ MORE

Humane Society Supplies Stolen

WEST OCEAN CITY - The Worcester County Humane Society in West Ocean City fell victim to a burglary this week when an unknown suspect or suspects broke into a storage facility and a van on the property and wiped out the facility's supply of pet food and other goods. Worcester County Humane Society staffer Kristy Haley said this week most of the stolen goods had just been brought to the facility by a volunteer who travels to Petco headquarters in New Jersey once a month and purchases a vanload of...READ MORE

Md. Wants County To Address Landfill's Methane Gas Buildup

SNOW HILL - Methane gas is building up at the capped Berlin landfill facility, but the concentrations are small and not harmful, county staff said this week. 'It's not heading to the west,' said Public Works Director John Tustin. 'It's not migrating toward the community.' The two exceedences detected have migrated closer to the southwestern property line, toward a woodland area, Tustin said. The Maryland Department of the Environment has written Worcester County a letter requiring the situation...READ MORE

Rezoning Overview Provides Details Of Future Rules

SNOW HILL - An overview of how the draft rezoning implements provisions of the 2006 Worcester County Comprehensive Plan has essentially provided a preview of the provisions of the anxiously awaited rezoning ordinance. The rewritten zoning and subdivision codes, which are necessary to implement the 31-month old plan, have not yet been released to the public. They are due before the end of the year. However, county staff updated the county commissioners this week on various pieces of the changes...READ MORE

Wind Turbines Hearing Set For OC This Month

OCEAN CITY - Private usage of alternate energy sources, namely small wind turbines, could become a reality in Ocean City by next year. Ocean City Planner Jesse Houston brought an ordinance before the Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday, outlining guidelines and regulations for the permitted usage of small wind turbines as an accessory source of power in Ocean City. The ordinance will be subjected to a public hearing on Nov. 15 and must go through two readings by the Mayor and Council before...READ MORE

My Thoughts

There's really no problem with getting old. In fact, you wouldn't even notice it without a younger generation consistently asking you, 'are you okay?' and 'are you tired, today?' The only difficulty with aging is that your friends and relatives keep dying, resulting in those damn funerals. The next time Insider talks to the Big Guy in the sky he's going to suggest we all just disappear when our time comes. Knock off the funeral crap and all that goes with it. Of course, that wouldn't solve the...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Sales Manager Named OCEAN CITY - Vantage Resort Realty, an international provider of vacation rentals and sales, announced last month the addition of Marianne Ulshafer as sales manager for its Ocean City office. As Sales Manager, Ulshafer will be responsible for recruiting, training and mentoring sales staff for Vantage, as well as assisting with marketing efforts and sales-related activities. 'We are extremely proud to have Marianne join the Vantage team,' said Vantage Resort Realty President...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Homecoming Court

Worcester Prep Homecoming Court was recently elected. Pictured, from left, are Halie Murray-Davis, Lewes, Freshman Princess; Alex Ternahan, Bethany Beach, Freshman Prince; Christina Adkins, Selbyville, Sophomore Princess; Kyle Joseph, Rehoboth Beach, Sophomore Prince; Manali Patel, Berlin, Homecoming Queen; Peter Buas, Ocean City, Homecoming King; Mike Guerrieri, Ocean City, Junior Prince; Taylor Beauchamp, Salisbury, Junior Princess; Parker McIntosh, Berlin, Senior Prince; and Sami Taraila,...READ MORE

4th graders learn about Maryland natural resources

Fourth graders at BIS have been learning about Maryland's natural resources and their importance to the state's economy. Students were to use an artistic technique to show a natural resource found in one of Maryland's three geographic regions and write a descriptive paragraph identifying how it is used and the types of jobs this resource creates for many people. Above are Olivia Bescak with a 3D apple orchard, Christina Romano with a milk jug dairy cow, Allison Cordial with a beachy cake,...READ MORE

Students selected to 2nd annual National English Honor Society

Nineteen Stephen Decatur High School seniors were inducted into the second annual class of the National English Honor Society on Monday, Oct. 27. Among those inducted were, back row, Lauren Freeman, Rachael Pacella, Olivia Turner, Danielle Jones and Maddy Thiel, and, front row, Krysten Wolinski, Taylor Phillips, Shakiyla Shockley, Megan Ott, Catie Bowman, Lindsay Chetelat and Katie Kerns.  ...READ MORE

OC Elementary October Students of the Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the October Students of the Month with a luncheon at Wendy's sponsored by the Ocean City-Berlin Opti-Ms and Optimists. Students are chosen by their classroom teachers because they demonstrate good character daily, as well as, completing their work and being model students. Pictured, first row, are first grade honorees Kaitlyn Ewing, Megan Kearns, William Melgar-Mejia, Katherine Mitchell and McKayla Oates; second grade, second row, are Kevin Beck, Gavin...READ MORE

Worcester Prep 7th graders have Presidential Debate

Geneva Sampson's seventh grade students at Worcester Prep organized a Presidential Debate in which students selected a candidate and presented that candidate's platform. After the formal presentations in a room filled with election decorations, the parties were given the opportunity to ask questions about the presentations. Representing the Obama debate team were, fromi left, Maddie Pilchard, Pocomoke; Meg Lingo, Rehoboth Beach; and Jennifer Karsli, Ocean City. Other members, not pictured, were...READ MORE

Snow Hill Elementary celebrates "Crazy Hat Day"

Snow Hill Elementary School celebrated Red Ribbon Week recently with 'Crazy Hat Day'. This week is celebrated to make students aware of the ongoing importance of Drug and Alcohol Prevention in the schools and community. Shown with their crazy hats are students Brianna Odegaard, Danny Shockley and Hannah Jones along with staff member Patti Hardman. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Kindergarteners learn with apples

Kindergarteners in Elizabeth Engh's class at Ocean City Elementary School used apples to learn about seasons, sorting and healthy resources. Pictured sorting their apples by color are Brittyn Lyra Leonard, Brooke Warthen, Jacelyn Clapsadle, Asher King and Zitlhaly Lopez. ...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Of late, giving my son a bath is one of the highlights of my day. Bath time is typically my department around the house. After my wife has cared for our boy for much, if not all, of the day, the least I can do is give her some free time to work out, read, get out of the house or do absolutely nothing if she chooses. Plus, there's no better bonding opportunity than stripping my boy down to his birthday suit and getting him nice and clean. At one time, Beckett loathed baths. It was a traumatic...READ MORE

Things I Like

Andy Rooney's walnut desk A line of people waiting to vote The electronics department at any store Adding a batch of new songs to my Ipod The surprise of a warm fall morning Watching the election night results come in Taking a nap with my son A bowl of pork barbecue without bread Wearing Uggs for the first time in months Warm corn bread Hitting all the West Ocean City lights ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Decisions involving your finances might seem to be foolproof. But they could have underlying risks you should know about. Don't act on anything until all the facts are in. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): You're attracted to a situation that appeals to your Bovine intellect. And that's good. But don't neglect your passionate side when romance comes calling later in the week. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A recent development enhances that special relationship. Spending...READ MORE

The Outlook For Health Care

OCEAN CITY - Just a few years ago, when the economy was rolling along, investors paid scant attention to the stocks of pharmaceutical makers, health insurers, medical-device makers and related companies. Many of the companies were plagued by waning profitability and the threat of tighter government scrutiny. But in today's ailing economy, the health care sector has revived. The question is, with the huge relief package for the financial services industry under way, how long will the sector...READ MORE

Installation of Dowtown Association 2008-09 Board of Directors held

The installation of the Downtown Association's 2008-2009 Board of Directors was recent held. Pictured, from left, are members Nancy Howard, Tiffany Lowry, Amy Rothermel, Laurie Trice, Vi Candeloro, Carol Amedori-Long, President Danelle Amos, Lauren Taylor, Bruce Kennington, Rebecca Taylor and Jeff Phillips, Jr. Missing members are Peggy Welsh, Benet McCormick and Brooks Trimper. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

707 Sports Bar raises thousands at 2nd annual Golf Tournament

The 707 Sports Bar and Grille in West Ocean City recently raised $3,100 at its second annual Golf Tournament to benefit the Maryland Coastal Bays Program (MCBP) held at Eagles Landing Golf Club. Pictured, from left, are committee members Jimmy Kirkland and Dickie Hafer, 707 owners Matt Rados and Bill Rados, MCBP Director Dave Wilson and MCBP Development Coordinator Karen Lukacs, Committee member John Granite. ...READ MORE

Prudential Carruthers outfitting kids with free winter clothes

Prudential Carruthers in West Ocean City is offering free kids winter hat and gloves through Nov. 21 while supplies last. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Above, agents Claudia Gausepohl and Shirley Johnson of the Moran Team and Clark Kline are pictured with the tree on display on the office ...READ MORE