March 6, 2009

Reserve Fund Not A Factor To Ease Shortfall

BERLIN - Millions of dollars from Worcester County taxpayers sit, essentially untouchable, in the Worcester County reserve fund, a stash that some citizens say should be used to plug holes in the current and next county budget. Tapping the reserve fund is not an option, said President of the County Commissioners Louise Gulyas. The reserve monies are not a rainy day fund, said Commissioner Virgil Shockley. The reserve fund, which stands at $18.9 million this year, or 10 percent of the county...READ MORE

County Hoping To Go Local With Contractor Work

SNOW HILL - Elected officials plan to boost the local economy in a small way by focusing the bid award for a new trash transfer station on county-based contractors. Worcester County Commissioner Bobby Cowger, who represents the Pocomoke area, said Tuesday that he hoped the county could put together its own stimulus package for local industry by selecting a local company, if feasible. He pointed out many contractors are hurting for work and in need of jobs to stay afloat and keep their employees...READ MORE

County Will Not Continue $20K Diakonia Grant

WEST OCEAN CITY - Diakonia homeless shelter will not be assigned any funding from Worcester County in fiscal year 2010. The $20,000 grant offered to the shelter by Worcester County each year for the last several was 15 percent of the shelter's operating budget. 'There just isn't any money,' said County Commission President Louise Gulyas. 'We have to make drastic cuts.' The county is facing an estimated $11 million to $13 million shortfall. The numbers are not yet firm. Last March, Diakonia was...READ MORE

Hall On 'Frustrating' Side of Politics At Times

(Editor's Note: This article is the latest in an ongoing profile series of the current Ocean City Mayor and Council members.) OCEAN CITY - Jim Hall has seen the town come a long way in his 22 years on the City Council, but now he says it's time for Ocean City to start moving in a new direction. Hall, a self-proclaimed 'man on the street' for the people of Ocean City, is amongst the longest tenured elected officials in town, second only to current Mayor Rick Meehan, who has served two years...READ MORE

OC Council News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - Monday night's inclement weather caused many to 'play it safe' and stay home from the weekly City Council meeting at City Hall, perhaps waiting for the broadcast on local cable access television rather than venturing out into the storm that helped kick off the month of March. For those who stayed home, here's a recap of the meeting. Comcast To Raise Rates In these financial times with just enough money in the bank to stay home and watch television comes news this week that even...READ MORE

Ocean City Library Branch Finds Success In First Year

OCEAN CITY - The Worcester County Public Library's new Ocean City branch turns one next week, and if the success of the first year is any indication, year number two won't be terrible. The new, state-of-the-art Ocean City public library opened on 100th Street last March 19 to rave reviews, and despite reservations by some about the closure of the old facility that had been on 14th Street for decades, the first year is considered by most to be an unequivocal success. The facility itself, which...READ MORE

Purnell's Involvement In Town EDU Talks Questioned

BERLIN - Ethics questions first posed during a mid-December election over new Berlin Town Councilman Troy Purnell have resurfaced after a discussion of wastewater allocation payments. The question came up again after the Feb. 23 town council meeting discussion on wastewater capacity fees, when Purnell expressed concern over a wastewater application fee. During that meeting, Purnell said of the application fee, 'It adds on an extra layer of burden.' The ethics question appeared in January during...READ MORE

Resort Campaign Continues To Get Out Clean Message

OCEAN CITY - By coming up with a slogan to inform people about the importance of keeping Ocean City's beaches clean, the Surfrider Foundation inadvertently came up with what has proven to be a lasting brand. 'Please Leave Only Your Footprints' was a campaign started almost five years ago after members of the Ocean City chapter of the Surfrider Foundation felt compelled to do their part to beautify the town's most valuable asset: the beach. 'Five years ago, you couldn't walk from the beach to the...READ MORE

Teen Sentenced In OC Robbery

SNOW HILL - One of three Baltimore teens arrested in August on armed robbery, assault and other serious charges stemming from an incident in mid-July when they bound and gagged a man and threatened to kill him in an Ocean City motel room during an apparent drug deal gone bad pleaded guilty this week to an amended charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to eight years in jail. Marcus Antonio Lennon, 18, of Baltimore, appeared in Worcester County Circuit Court on Wednesday to face...READ MORE

Wallops Internship Program Growing

SNOW HILL - In four years, student participation in NASA internships at Wallops Island Flight Facility has increased, from an initial group of nine interns to 33. 'It has really grown,' said said Goddard Space Flight Center Director of Equal Opportunity Employment Brenda Dingwall, who directs the Step Up internship program, to the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday.           The paid internships were created to give local students valuable...READ MORE

People in Society

See Neighbors Helping One Another Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

See Who Was Where and When

A spotlight on the local and regional bar and restaurant scene ...READ MORE

Friday, March 6--Cop Sues Ocean City Over Job Loss

OCEAN CITY - A long-time member of the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) filed suit this week in federal court, asserting his need to find time to eat while on the job because of his diabetes resulted in his wrongful termination in July 2007 in violation of his Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rights. Former officer David Catrino, through his attorney Robin Cockey, on Wednesday filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking injunctive relief and an undisclosed amount of compensatory and...READ MORE

Friday, March 6--County Plan Stresses More Recycling

SNOW HILL - A state required solid waste planning document, overdue for two years now, is ready for public hearing, staff told the Worcester County Commissioners this week. 'We've been working on this for a couple of years and finally received tentative approval from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE),' Public Works Director John Tustin told the County Comissioners on Tuesday. In March 2007, county staff learned that the lack of a new and approved solid waste plan put the county...READ MORE

Friday, March 6--Making A Living Off The Beach, Literally

OCEAN CITY - The proud owner of 50 percent of the resort's beach stands is also the holder of one of the town's few oligopolies, but he says that doesn't make his job any easier. There are many local businesses that are made and broken by how many people come to the resort, but for Patrick McLaughlin, he literally makes all his money off people being on the beach itself, making him one of Ocean City's most unique businessmen. McLaughlin owns and operates Telescope Pictures and in hopes to make...READ MORE

Friday, March 6--OC Increases Fees For Rec Programs

OCEAN CITY -The Recreation and Parks Committee decided to continue to slightly raise the fees for town programs and events despite fears that participation may decrease this season. In a move that seemingly happens every year in efforts to continue a constant flow of revenue stream, the Recreation and Parks Committee voted unanimously to continue to raise fees by a few dollars. 'Our traditional practice has been to review the prices and fees every year, and pass along small incremental increases...READ MORE

Indicted Couple Defensive About Federal Charges

OCEAN CITY - An Ocean City couple arrested last week on a nine-count federal indictment alleging an eight-year pattern of utilizing credit accounts of deceased relatives to purchase vacations, luxury goods and services and furnishings for their two resort homes totaling tens of thousands of dollars went on the defensive this week as more information about the case began to trickle out. Last week, U.S. District Attorney for Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announced Ocean City resident Joel Swartz, 65,...READ MORE

Jury Sides With Amusement Park In Basketball Lawsuit

SNOW HILL - It took two days last week, but a Worcester County Circuit Court jury returned a verdict in favor of a Boardwalk amusement park sued by a Severn, Md. couple for over $1 million for an alleged errant basketball, called by the victim's husband during his pre-trial deposition a 'one in a million' shot. Last year, a couple sued Jolly Roger Rides, Inc., which operates the amusement park on the Ocean City Pier, seeking over $1 million combined for compensatory and punitive damages,...READ MORE

Local Legislators Support Maintaining Death Penalty

ANNAPOLIS - This week's debate over the proposed repeal of the death penalty in Maryland produced one of the most contentious discussions thus far during the current General Assembly session, but local representatives in Annapolis are clearly of one mind over the passionate issue. Governor Martin O'Malley's push for a complete repeal of the death penalty in Maryland appears to have died this week with the passage of a Senate version of a bill that would keep the sentencing extreme in place under...READ MORE

Mandated Cuts Called Way To Move Schools 'Backward'

NEWARK - Cuts to next year's school budget will send Worcester County schools 'backward,' several Board of Education members said this week during a budget work session, in which staff confirmed that another $1.6 million in cuts still needed to be made. 'We're going backward, not forward,' said Sara Thompson, a member of the Worcester County Board of Education. 'To tell us to make these cuts we've had to make is undermining what we've accomplished and what made us a good school system.' The...READ MORE

Car Crashes Into Bank

BERLIN - Driver error was blamed for an accident last week at a Berlin bank that gave new meaning to the phrase drive-through. Last Thursday morning, Berlin Police responded to a reported accident at the PNC Bank branch on South Main Street. Arriving officers discovered a vehicle had hit the side of the bank facing William Street, causing significant damage to the building. The driver, identified as Shirley Ayers, 49, of Seaford, Del., was transported by ambulance to Peninsula Regional Medical...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Matilda Elizabeth Wilkins OCEAN CITY - Matilda Elizabeth "Betty" Wilkins, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at her granddaughter's home. Born in Ocean City on June 1, 1920, she was the daughter of the late William and Dorothy Gordon. She was the great granddaughter of the late Daniel and Margaret Trimper and served on the Windsor Corporation (Trimpers) Board of Directors. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church, having served on the Alter Guild, St....READ MORE

Who's Playing Where and When Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, March 6: Opposite Directions Saturday, March 7: Pompous Pie Every Wednesday: Open Mic Hosted By Tungsten Groove Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, March 6: DJ BK Saturday, March 7: Crowded Outhouse Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Friday, March 6: DJ Rupe, 7-10 p.m. Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.  Friday, March 6 & Saturday,...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

While numbers can be manipulated to make just about any kind of point, it's also true they can tell an interesting story. Here's some numbers of note that I came across over the last week: -- 3: Inches of snow that fell at my office in Berlin. My scientific way of coming to this number was to take a ruler, stick it in the ground and take the average of five readings in different spots. -- 79: Snow photos either submitted by local residents or by our staff this week. -- 8: Snow photos actually...READ MORE

Flounder Data Explanation Needed

Fishermen, by their nature, are a sensitive and cynical bunch. This is usually the case whether you are a recreational or commercial type. However, the current situation involving proposed flounder restrictions is reason for concern. There are times when fishermen cry foul unnecessarily. There are some who seem to take the proverbial 'us vs. them' mentality too far when it comes to regulatory changes, feeling everyone is out to cut their lines unfairly and impact their livelihood. That's not the...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

City Compensation Worth A Close Look Editor: Last week's letter in your publication by Naomi Dodge commended Ocean City Council member Mary Knight while discrediting Council member Margaret Pillas and Veronica Potter, a letter writer who supported Pillas' efforts to obtain the total compensation paid to various Ocean City employees. Ms. Dodge believed that Pillas' efforts were a waste of time and money because once a year local publications contain this information. However, the annual...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Bow Out of States

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity basketball team's late run of success heading into the post-season came to a screeching halt last weekend with a 69-18 loss to Reservoir in the state Class 3A-East region tournament. The Seahawks were flying high heading into the state playoffs having won four of its last five games and five of seven to finish at 7-15 on the season. The hot streak came to an end last Friday, however, when they were blown out on the road against Reservoir in Howard County....READ MORE

Miller, McGarry Win State Regional Titles

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity wrestling team made a strong showing at the state Class 4A-3A East Region tournament last weekend, finishing second overall and sending six wrestlers on to the state championship meet this weekend. The Seahawks continued their assault on the post-season at the state regional meet last Friday and Saturday, finishing second in the Class 4A-3A East region tournament for the second straight year. Old Mill took first place in the regional meet with 157 total team...READ MORE

Seahawks Win One, Lose One in States

BERLIN- It was win one, lose one for Stephen Decatur's men's varsity basketball team in the state playoffs as the Seahawks rolled past their first-round foe last Friday, beating Northeast of Anne Arundel County, 70-46, before falling to Atholton, 76-36, in the second round on Wednesday. Decatur struggled for a win of any kind early in the season but pulled it all together for a big stretch run heading into the playoffs. The Seahawks won their last three regular season games and four of their...READ MORE

St. Pat's Tourney Off to Fast Start

OCEAN CITY- The first weekend of the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department's St. Patrick's Soccer Tournament was a huge success with dozens of teams and thousands of spectators cramming into Northside Park for the annual event. Many of the top indoor soccer programs in the mid-Atlantic region, including many from the local area, participated in the first full weekend of the annual soccer tournament in Ocean City. All in all, well over 100 boys and girls teams will compete in the tournament...READ MORE

Worcester Doles Out Winter Awards

BERLIN- Worcester Prep recently recognized its winter sports stars with a special ceremony during which several awards were distributed. For the men's varsity basketball team, senior Parker McIntosh was named Most Valuable Player, while Justin Butler was honored with a Coach's Award. Alex Ternahan, the Mallards' soccer goalie and a standout lacrosse player, was named the team's Most Improved. For the women's varsity basketball team, freshman Kelly Chandler made an immediate impact this year and...READ MORE

Mayor Vetoes Wind Turbines Law

OCEAN CITY - Rick Meehan vetoed his first city ordinance as mayor of Ocean City this week, sending a message to the council that its stance on wind turbine usage in Ocean City was a bit too conservative. In a rare occurrence in local government, Meehan flexed his veto power on the recent passage of the ordinance allowing wind turbines in Ocean City after one of the area's most vocal proponents of the alternative energy conduits was finding it difficult to move forward with his planned...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Two days went by this week before Insider spoke to anyone other than his best friend and his dog. Those were two beautiful days. It was Monday and Tuesday of this week when snow, ice and a stiff wind made leaving the house a painful chore. All was quiet around the house. The phone was not ringing, the doorbell was not chiming and nobody was stopping by unexpectedly. Life seemed to have shut down. To make sure he was still alive, the old guy stepped outside late Tuesday afternoon. There was...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

He likes everything. That's what we have discovered in our first week of feeding little Beckett table food. At our recent 9-month well check visit with the pediatrician, we were given the go-ahead to expand his diet to the world of our food, rather than simply relying on the pureed stuff that comes in a jar at the grocery store. My favorite part of any pediatrician appointment is the big weigh-in at the beginning when they put him on the scale and measure his head and length. We learned his...READ MORE

BIS 8th Grader Wins Poetry Contest

Addison Cook, an eighth-grade student at Berlin Intermediate, was the winner of her school's poetry contest, sponsored by the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland. She is pictured with Principal Dr. John Gaddis, Marion Novack Worcester County Garden Club President; and Joan Vetare, club past president ...READ MORE

SDHS Junior ROTC Squad Represents at Area Benefit

Representing Stephen Decatur High School's Jr. ROTC at the Lower Shore American Red Cross Fire and Ice benefit last week are Alyssi Rynalds, Timothy Li, Sean Ford and Chris Everly. ...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Celebrates 100th Day of School Year

The kindergarten class at Most Blessed Sacrament School recently celebrated 100 days of school by dressing up as 100-year-old people. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Honors Students of the Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the February Students of the Month with a T-shirt and a special luncheon and cake sponsored by the Ocean City/Berlin Optimists. First row, first graders are Megan Kearns, Alessia Matha and Benjamin Wilkins (not pictured, Sabrina Berkeridge, German Cordero); second row, second graders Jude Alhamad, Marley Auker, Kennedy Duke and Alyvia Ciurca (not pictured, Sydney Steinberg); third row, third graders Jose Zavala-Huizar, Daniel King, Hannah Stolba, Charlie...READ MORE

BIS Students Contour a Chinese Landscape with Brushstrokes

Students in Mrs. McDowell's class at Berlin Intermediate School used a flat ink wash technique to express the contours of a Chinese landscape. They used thick and thin brushstrokes to convey the details of trees and buildings. Above, Brett Kim and Ashley Atkins work diligently. ...READ MORE

Daughters of American Revolution Present 2009 Historic Essay Awards

The members of the General Levin Winder Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented the 2009 Historic Essay Awards and the Christopher Columbus Award at their February meeting. Pictured, from left, are Lenore Huffer, Education Chairman; Ross Roessler, Christopher Columbus winner; Alexa Conaway, Historic Essay winner for grade 7; Kathryn Lawrence, Historic Essay Winner for grade 8; Derek Wilgus, Historic Essay Winner for grade 6; Victoria Middletown, Historic Essay Winner for...READ MORE

Daughters of American Colonists Host a Competition for Elementary Students

The Hoornskill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Colonists hosted a competition for students in grades 3-5. The students were asked to create a stamp design targeting the theme: "What did Colonial Children 1607-1776 Experience in School". Winners pictured with Daughters of the American Colonists' Regent Lenore Huffer are, from left, Derowin Cutchin, grade 3 winner; Grace Tunis, grade 5 winner; and Allie Van Orden, grade 4 winner. All are of Worcester Prep. ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your efforts in behalf of a colleague do not go unnoticed, let alone unappreciated. Meanwhile, arrange to spend more time investigating that troubling fact you recently uncovered. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Devoting a lot of time to a current career move means having less time for those in your private life. But once you explain the circumstances, they should understand and be supportive. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Organizing your many duties in order of...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Realtors Sponsoring Scholarships BERLIN - The Coastal Delmarva Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors (WCR) has announced it will once again be awarding the Vicki Rinaldi and Betty Chafin Memorial Scholarships in 2009. The scholarship program is open to graduating seniors, college or trade school students from Worcester County, as well as children and grandchildren of current members of the Coastal Delmarva Women's Council of Realtors® who have been in good standing for at least one year...READ MORE

Why Variable Annuities Make Sense In This Market

OCEAN CITY - Last year, many investors in and approaching retirement experienced significant losses in their portfolios. Now seeking ways to safeguard their retirement savings from volatility, they are turning to variable annuities for security and steady income. 'Variable annuities became increasingly popular over the last few years as new options for optimizing retirement income became available,' said Robert Rohrbach, Vice President and Annuity Product Manager for Merrill Lynch. 'The recent...READ MORE

Winner of $100,000 scholarship lottery from Optimist Club Drawn

The Optimist Youth Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization part of the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club, recently announced the $100,000 raffle winner picked at last month's Seaside Boat Show. The scholarship lottery campaign is kicked off each year during Sunfest and concludes at the boat show. Above, Thomas Rice, the $100,000 prizewinner, is pictured with George Balunis, Optimist Youth Foundation Lottery Coordinator. Remaining proceeds of the lottery campaign will be applied to scholarships...READ MORE

OC Factory Outlets Valentine Giveaway Package Winner

Michaelene Kaminski, flanked by two of her sons, Robert, left, and Stephen of West Ocean City, was the lucky winner of the Ocean City Factory Outlets Valentine Give-Away Package. Kaminiski walked away with gift certificates and merchandise from Outback Steakhouse, Francis Scott Key Family Resort, Deer Run Golf Club, Ocean City Factory Outlets and Perfumania. ...READ MORE

Community Church at Ocean Pines Hosts Angel Food Ministries

The Community Church at Ocean Pines is host site for a food ministry called Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief to communities throughout the United States. Distributing boxes last month were Ken Lewis, Madeline and Maurice Wheeler, Joan Ferger, George and Darlene Pierson and Cindy Ayd. ...READ MORE

Things I Like

A warmed up car on a snowy day Wind howling outside while watching a movie Anything made by Radio Flyer My son's long afternoon naps That alive feeling after a great shower Those old Coca-Cola bottles Little League baseball fields When the Terps pull off an upset The movie 'A Mighty Heart' The former 'Look' magazine Making my own pizza at home ...READ MORE

Arts in the Area

Check out the scenes from the local world of art ...READ MORE