December 5, 2008

Who's Playing Where and When Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 5: Moodswingers Saturday, Dec. 6: Give N Take Every Tuesday: Open Mic Hosted By Tungsten Groove Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 5: TBA Saturday, Dec. 6: Kevin Poole Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th Street Friday, Dec. 5: DJ Rupe, 7-10 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 , 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Friday-Sunday, Dec. 5-7: Synergy Wednesday, Dec. 10...READ MORE

Thoughts from the Publisher's Desk

Let's take a look inside some numbers making news, locally and nationally, this week: -- 60: Amount of people who attended the Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) District 1 Candidates forum on Tuesday to hear candidates Phil Cropper, Rex Hailey and Troy Purnell talk about town issues. All in all, I thought Cropper, who works in the medical industry and interior design field, and Purnell, a developer of numerous properties in Berlin, did the best job of articulating their views and dealing with...READ MORE

Little Reason To Oppose Fraternal Slots

Little Reason To Oppose Fraternal Slots Some decisions confronting governments are difficult but that cannot be said about the one made by the Ocean City Council to send a letter to legislators supporting slots in fraternal organizations. We have been down this road before as both Ocean City and Worcester County sent letters last year to legislators expressing their support for slots at the various fraternal clubs in the county. The bill passed the House but failed to get the Senate's approval...READ MORE

Voices From the Readers

Why No Discourse? Editor: I am ashamed to admit, but last night I attended my first Ocean City Council meeting after living in Caine Woods for the last eight years. My motivation for attending was to see how the council would respond to a request from the Elks Lodge for support of slots machines for fraternal organizations. The meeting started routine enough with a sectarian invocation and then moved along to honor our town's firefighters who had heroically rescued swimmers under severe...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who Have Passed

Glen Robert •€˜Branch' Kreppel BERLIN - Glen Robert "Branch" Kreppel, 44, beloved son, husband father and brother, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 at his home. Born in Baltimore, he was preceded in death by his father, John F. Kreppel, Sr. He is survived by his mother, Beverly Joan Dorsey Kreppel; his wife, Tammy Lynn Kramer Kreppel; a son, Parker Kreppel; a daughter, Paige Kreppel; a brother, John F. "Tree" Kreppel, Jr. of Delmar; and two sisters, Catherine Louise Crouse of...READ MORE

Truck Starts Warehouse Fire

Truck Starts Warehouse Fire BERLIN - Several local fire companies responded to a business park in Berlin early last Saturday morning in what turned out to be a two-alarm blaze originating in a truck stored there. Shortly before 8 a.m. last Saturday, the Berlin Fire Department was alerted to a reported structure fire at the Northeastern Supply Building on Gray's Corner Rd. in Berlin. Premiere Flooring 2, Inc. was the tenant and occupant of the space involved. First arriving units quickly ordered...READ MORE

Black Friday Tourney a Big Success

OCEAN CITY- The second annual Black Friday 550 Rockfish Tournament held last weekend was a huge success with dozens of anglers earning thousands of dollars in prize money and a large amount of funds raised for a worthy local charity. Promoted as an alternative to avoid holiday shopping and large crowds, the second annual Black Friday 550 Rockfish Tournament was held out of the Ocean City Fishing Center last Friday and Saturday with 16 boats participating. Last year's inaugural event drew just 10...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Open on the Road

BERLIN- With a handful of returning key players and a bunch of new players ready to step up, the season looks bright for Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity basketball team, which hits the road for the 2008-2009 campaign opener against Washington tonight. Under the direction of first-year coach Ron Knerr last year, the Seahawks went just 3-16 on the season and bowed out of the state playoffs in the first round. With his core players back this year, plus a talented group of newcomers, Knerr is...READ MORE

Seahawks Hope to Keep Improving

BERLIN- After taking incremental steps in the restoration of the once-proud Stephen Decatur boys' varsity basketball team last year, Coach Travis Lloyd and his young team are hoping to keep moving in the right direction as they prepare for the 2008-2009 campaign. After bottoming out with just one win two years ago, the Seahawks, under Lloyd made significant strides in improving the program last year, although it wasn't always evident in the box scores or the final standings. Decatur won four...READ MORE

2008 ATP Tough Guys of the Year

Stephen Decatur's varsity football team recently honored all of its Atlantic Physical Therapy 'Tough Guy of the Week' award winners during the 2008 season at an awards banquet at Seacrets in Ocean City. Pictured above, left to right, are the 2008 'Tough Guy' winners including Emanuell Smith, Tim Donnelly, Brandon Chavis, Danny Miller, Bryce Smith, Delonte Tate, Dylan Drew and Danny Kominos, along with Coach Bob Knox (far right) and ATP president Bob Hammond (center). ...READ MORE

Turtle Lax Tryouts Tomorrow

OCEAN CITY- The Greene Turtle Girls' Lacrosse Club is holding open tryouts for the 2009 season tomorrow, Saturday, December 6 at the Crown Sports Center in Salisbury beginning at 10 a.m. The club is looking for girls who are interested in playing competitive tournament lacrosse against some of the best club teams on the east coast. Tryouts will be held for each of the Greene Turtle Lacrosse Club's teams in high school graduation years 2010 to 2015. Open tryouts for players with graduation years...READ MORE

War on the Shore Underway

OCEAN CITY- Stephen Decatur's 7th Annual War on the Shore wrestling tournament gets underway today with some of the best high school wrestling programs in the mid-Atlantic area converging on the resort area for the two-day event. The annual event, which features some of the best high school wrestling programs from Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and even Pennsylvania, has been moved to the Ocean City Convention Center this year after being held at host Stephen Decatur for the first six years....READ MORE

Conflict Issue Looms Over Council Race

BERLIN - One candidate for the vacant Berlin Council District 1 seat is feeling some heat from fellow Berliners over potential conflict of interest issues, but he says that he does not see the same problem. Developer Troy Purnell is running against Phil Cropper and former mayor and town council member Rex Hailey for the open town council seat vacated by Gee Williams, who was elevated from council member to mayor in the recent election. Purnell has run into some opposition based on his...READ MORE

Friday, December 5--County School Board Disputes Exemption Report

BERLIN - Worcester County school officials yesterday resoundingly refuted a published report the Board of Education was seeking an exemption from the County Commissioners' request for all departments to cut their requested budgets for fiscal year 2010 by 3 percent, stating certain comments were taken out of context and blown out of proportion. The Daily Times yesterday reported the Worcester County Board of Education was asking to be exempted from the requested 3-percent budget cut, which would...READ MORE

Friday, December 5--Debit Cards For Unemployed Instead of Checks

BERLIN - In yet another sign of the times, those seeking and qualifying for unemployment insurance benefits this winter will receive payments through prepaid Visa debit cards in an effort to cut the cost of mailing paper checks, a measure state officials claim could save Maryland $400,000 a year. Due largely to the seasonal nature of the job market in the resort area, December is typically a time when the number of laid-off local workers seek unemployment benefits for the winter in what used to...READ MORE

Friday, December 5--Gulyas, Church Take Leadership Of County Board

SNOW HILL - After 10 years as one of the top elected officials in Worcester County, Commissioner Louise Gulyas has achieved the pinnacle of political success in county government after being elected president of the body. Gulyas took over the presidency from Commissioner Virgil Shockley on Tuesday. Commissioner Bud Church was voted into the vice presidency the same day, taking Gulyas' former slot. The vote was not unanimous. Commissioner Judy Boggs voted 'nay' on both elections. 'I just can't...READ MORE

Friday, December 5--New OC Fire Seal Largely Symbolic

OCEAN CITY - The newly merged Ocean City Fire Department will now work under a new seal, which is a throwback of sorts to one used over 40 years ago in Ocean City. The Mayor and Council unanimously approved Fire Department Chief Chris Larmore's recommendation of a new fire department seal on Monday night at City Hall, which will now represent the volunteer, career and fire marshal divisions of the department that joined forces this past summer after a long and arduous debate process. 'To the lay...READ MORE

Fishermen Briefed On Wind Farm Proposal

OCEAN CITY - Maryland anglers this week got an in-depth look a private sector proposal to develop a power generating wind farm 12 miles off the coast of Ocean City, and while they were generally impressed with the presentation, the group is withholding any judgment on the plan until all of the facts are weighed. On Tuesday, Bluewater Wind spokesman Dave Blazer made a formal presentation of the proposal to develop a wind farm 12 miles off the coast of the resort to the Maryland Saltwater...READ MORE

OC Businesses Prepare For Rocky 2009

OCEAN CITY - The jury is likely still out on the success or failure of 2008 in Ocean City as most resort area businesses limp to the finish line, but some town leaders and local elected officials remain hopeful for a productive 2009 campaign. The town's Economic Development Committee (EDC) met on Wednesday for its monthly meeting to discuss all things related to the business climate in the resort and a recurring theme popped up over and over again as members heard from the various departments...READ MORE

OC Council Recognizes Ocean Rescuers

OCEAN CITY - Through dense fog and the black of night, Ocean City Paramedic Firefighters Delbert Baker and Derrick Simpson swam toward the screaming voices as fast as they could. What happened next was truly an act of heroism. Baker and Simpson were honored by Mayor and Council Monday after rescuing three Canadian swimmers from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean late Sept. 28. Mayor Rick Meehan awarded the men with a proclamation deeming the rescue 'heroic and beyond the call of duty.' In the wee...READ MORE

Resort Supports Fraternal Club Slots

OCEAN CITY - Local fraternal organizations are going 'all in' to get slots machines in their clubs, and they now have the City Council cheering them on and a state legislator pledging to go to bat for them again in Annapolis. In efforts to overturn a 22-year-old law that prohibits slot machines in Worcester County fraternal lodges, Jim Flaig of the Ocean City Elks Lodge #2645 came before the council pleading for their blessing as they take another go at getting a bill passed in Annapolis. 'We...READ MORE

State, County Record Decline In Foreclosures

BERLIN - It was good news, bad news this week when state officials announced foreclosure figures for the recently completed third quarter, with the number of properties entering the process across the state and in Worcester County declining during the period, but still up considerably from the same time last year. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) this week released data on new foreclosures in Maryland during the third quarter of 2008, which showed the number of...READ MORE

Berlin Council Candidates Talk Current Events

BERLIN - About 60 people came out on a cold Tuesday evening this week to hear what the Berlin Council candidates for District 1 had to say for themselves at a pre-election forum sponsored by Assateague Coastal Trust. The seat was left vacant by the election of Gee Williams as mayor earlier this fall. The special election will be held Dec. 16. Political newcomers Phil Cropper and Troy Purnell and former mayor and council member Rex Hailey faced questions from ACT and the audience on varied...READ MORE

Berlin Talks Growth Rules

BERLIN - A work session held by the Berlin Mayor and Council this week resulted in some significant changes proposed for a future sewer policy. The changes will only become official when the council votes on the modifications during a general meeting. The original idea to restrict future developments to 50 EDUs per building phase came under fire from the Berlin Utilities Commission (BUC), which contended that developers needed more flexibility. The BUC suggested changing the regulation to allow...READ MORE

Convicted Murderer Sentenced To 30 Years In Jail

SNOW HILL - The first of three men charged in the murder of a local woman in Pocomoke in January 2007 was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in jail after a Worcester County jury in October found him guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree assault. Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Groton yesterday sentenced Kendall I. Northam, 20, of Pocomoke, to 30 years in jail for his role in the beating death of Judy L. Wojcik in a rural area near Pocomoke last Jan. 13. Last month, a...READ MORE

Councilman Misses Meetings For Safari Adventure

OCEAN CITY - Lloyd Martin may have had to regrettably miss a few City Council meetings, but he couldn't miss out on a trip of a lifetime. Anyone who closely follows Mayor and City Council meetings noticed that the seat where Secretary Lloyd Martin sits has been vacant for a number of meetings. One joke heard before the start of a recent work session quipped that maybe Martin had gone fishing. In reality, Martin was on a safari, literally. Martin took a two-week trip to South Africa with...READ MORE

Health Care Industry Eyes Solutions To Existing Problems

OCEAN CITY - Though the need for more doctors in this country is evident, fixing the healthcare system as a whole might be more complicated than just merely more hands on deck. Last week's article touched on the challenges facing local healthcare workers and addressed some of the problems they are facing such as physician shortages, Maryland being amongst the worst in the country for doctor reimbursement and the struggles to recruit and retain physicians to this area. Dr. Thomas Lawrence, Chief...READ MORE

Money At Center Of Handicap Transit Problems

OCEAN CITY - Robert Melvin is not the only one who thinks that it should never take three hours to get back and forth to Berlin. Unfortunately, that's a reality that hundreds of Ocean City elderly and handicapped residents know all too well. Melvin, who is handicapped, has been the loudest and clearest voice trying to get a single door-to-door transport service in and out of Ocean City. The current dual bus transportation service provided to handicapped residents to 'off the island' medical...READ MORE

Old Pro Expansion Plans Okayed

OCEAN CITY - Although Old Pro Golf got the green light from City Council to expand one of its seven themed mini-golf courses, don't expect construction to start straight away. The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Mayor and City Council both approved plans for the expansion of the Old Pro Golf course on 136th Street in Ocean City, passing through plans of the proposed enlarged course, an indoor/outdoor pavilion and an office building on the grounds. After passing through a required public...READ MORE

Various Faiths Come Together To Form Choir

BERLIN - Music is as much a part of the holidays as twinkling lights, boughs of holly and decorated trees and often transcends particular faiths as evidenced by a local group reaching out this season to those seeking the joy of the season through song. The Ecumenical Choir of the Eastern Shore (ECHOES) is a local music group made up of members of all faiths and sects whose musical offerings are brightening the holiday season for many in the community. As the group's name suggests, its membership...READ MORE

Faces in Places

Spotlight on the Regional Restaurant and Bar Scene ...READ MORE

People in Society

Who Was Where and When to Help Out in the Community ...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

My son looks beautiful in a white dress. In my business, we call that a 'hook lead,' which is simply a way to grab and retain the readers' attention to encourage them to proceed to the second paragraph and beyond. Hopefully, it worked. My son's dress was not really that. It was a christening gown my wife had picked out a month or so ago for his baptism last Sunday at Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin. Ever since, the running joke around the house was how 'pretty' my son was going to be...READ MORE

New Board of Directors for Worcester County Veterans Memorial

A new Board of Directors for the Worcester County Veterans Memorial was recently installed. Pictured, from left, are Sharyn O'Hare, Joe Matturro, Carrie Dupuie, Marie Gilmore, Roseann Bridgman, Ron Haslam, Mary Adair, Al Kastner, Arlene Page, Bill Rakow, Bill Killinger and Chip Bertino. Missing from the photo is member John Henglein. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

OC/Berlin Rotary Club get ready for Annual Christmas Tree Sale

The Ocean City/Berlin Rotary Club members and volunteers recently set up for their Annual Christmas Tree Sale. Pictured above are Brandon Chalmers and Paul Kahn on the truck; back row, David Blair, Ed Welch, Stan Kahn, Daniel Harris, Doris and David Taylor and Tom Bickerstaff; and, kneeling, Stefanie McNew and Kenneth Bates. The sale is open Saturdays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and weekdays from 2-8 p.m. on Route 589 across from the Steer Inn ...READ MORE

Local Kids Raise Money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

When Emmi Shockley's cousin, Lilly, was diagnosed with Leukemia in September, she quickly enlisted the help of her brother Tate and two good friends Addie and Glenn Rippin. Together they planned a Halloween fundraiser event in honor of Lilly Hercik. The $701 dollars they collected has been donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Lilly's honor. Pictured are Addie, Tate, Emmi and Glenn. ...READ MORE

5th Annual Herrmann-Freeman Charity Golf Tournament

The 5th Annual Herrmann-Freeman Charity Golf Tournament, held in October at the Ocean City Golf Club, raised over $45,000 for a variety of Hospice organizations. Bill Cook, president of Re/Max Premier Properties, sponsored this golf tournament on behalf of Hospice. Playing on the Re/Max team are, from left, Vice President and General Manager Doug Galloway, Sales Associate Sandy Galloway, Ned Delaney, Sales Manager for Met Life, and Sales Associate Mickey Lobb. ...READ MORE

Girl Scout Service 7 Donates Holiday Gifts for Soldiers

Girl Scout Service Unit 7 has donated holiday gifts for soldiers overseas. Pictured, from left, are Cadette Girl Scout Troop 684 Emily Kate Kolarik, Emily Cashman, Monica McInerney and Brownie Troop 1399 Samantha Wolpin. Also pictured are Service Unit 7 Manager Jennifer Johnson and Carl Foltz ...READ MORE

Christmas Cookie Walk at St. Peter's Lutheran Church

The Baby Boomers Group at St. Peter's Lutheran Church 10301 Coastal Hwy. is sponsoring a Christmas Cookie Walk on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Homemade cookies will be on sale for $7 a pound or you can bring a dozen of your homemade Christmas cookies to exchange for a dozen of their cookies. All proceeds go to Diakonia Homeless Shelter and Food Bank in West Ocean City. Pictured are Diakonia Volunteer Coordinator Susan Blaney, left, church representative Cyndi Gradwell. ...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary receives Excellence in Education Award

Buckingham Elementary School was recently awarded an Excellence in Education Award from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and received money to purchase a SmartBoard. Above with the banner and check are Annette Waters-Carrigan, Principal Roger Pacella and Kim Mourlas. ...READ MORE

A Better Approach To Year-End Charitable Giving

BERLIN - The season of faith, hope, charity •€' and tax planning •€' is upon us. While there are as many ways to channel generosity as there are generous hearts, many donors are discovering that donor-advised funds provide one of the most flexible and effective means of giving back to their communities or cherished causes. Because donors to these funds receive immediate tax deductions, regardless of when their assets are actually distributed to the charities of their choice, they also...READ MORE

My Thoughts

When the old guy dies, he is going to be the most surprised guy on earth. Death is not on his agenda, it's simply a fact of life he has no time for. The old guy has no patience with people who take time away from their precious life to plan (look forward to?) their deaths. Hours, days and weeks are wasted and thousands of dollars wasted drafting a complicated document called a will, picking out the right cemetery plot, changing the will whenever someone upsets you and deciding if you want to be...READ MORE

Annual Thanksgiving Feast at Tidewater School

The Tidewater School by the Sea held its traditional "Thanksgiving Feast" at the home of Nick and Julie Kypreos in Bethany Beach. The upper and lower elementary classes put on a fabulous play about "cooperation" and the pre-kindergarten students sang to all of the parents, grandparents and special friends. The students are pictured with teachers Chrissy Ehrhart and Ken Todd ...READ MORE

SDHS National Honor Society Students Honored by Baltimore Ravens

Stephen Decatur High School National Honor Society and Connections were recognized by the Baltimore Ravens for their outstanding school and community service. The two groups were granted on field passes, free tickets, and presented with a plaque. Students pictured above are Gunner Hughes, Lindsay Chetelat, Jimmy Simons, Emma Newell and Zach Hall. ...READ MORE

Delegate Mathias visits OC Elementary

Delegate Jim Mathias visited Mendy Fiori's fourth grade class at Ocean City Elementary during American Education Week. Above, Mathias shakes hands with Wyatt Church who sent Mathias an invitation to visit the school. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary November Students of the Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the November Students of the Month with a luncheon and special cake sponsored by Bay Sails Motel. Honorees were, first grade, first row from left, Cory Briaca, Lily Castellanos-Avalos, Sarah Engle, Ryan Ethridge and Summer Vorsteg; second grade, second row, Meghan Cummings, Dori Krasner, Madeline McVicker, Skylar Moore, Wesley Powell; third grade, third row, Tara Bowling (not pictured), Hattie Brous, Maggie Bunting, Braeden Dang, Patrick Mumford, Eric Rimel;...READ MORE

BIS Students Make Vocabulary Hats

Students in fifth grade at Berlin Intermediate recently showed off their extensive vocabulary by designing and wearing hats with vocabulary words displayed on them. Christian Beres shows off his "plethora" of decorations with Summer Vinson exhibiting her "'vigilant" hat. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Students Create Audio Podcasts for School

Worcester Prep Sophomores Matt Carey, left, Seaford, and Ty Mayers, Rehoboth Beach, work together to create audio podcasts for Worcester Preparatory School. The students use an Olympus Digital USB Voice Recorder to capture student memories and then put audio clips together using the software GarageBand. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary 3rd Graders Participate in Poetry Reading

Third grade students from Carolyn Mitrecic's class at Ocean City Elementary School participated in a poetry reading. Students selected a favorite poem, practiced and performed it with props. Pictured, from left, are Krystal Hitchens, Parker Wheeler, Candy Anderson, Kevin Williams and Yarden Rafaeli. ...READ MORE

Things I Like

A big bowl of hot soup on a cold day Hearing funny parenting stories A day when the stock market is up The smells of breakfast on a weekend morning Exercising before a Thanksgiving feast A warm scarf on a windy, cold day Watching my son jump furiously Pulling down the Christmas decorations Movies with good young actors A blowout Ravens win Watching someone parallel park ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your Arian penchant for impatience shows, as you consider passing a problem-prone project on to someone else. Best advice: Stay with it and work out those snarls yourself. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Even patient Bovines can be frustrated when carefully made plans go awry. But crank up that "stick-to-it-ivity" you do so well, and you'll soon find that your schedule is back in sync. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Your aspect favors using more resourceful...READ MORE