April 10, 2009

Benefit Planned To Help Family With Local Roots

OCEAN CITY - The resort area, famous for its generosity in times of crisis and sorrow, will be called on to rally again next weekend, this time for a family with roots in Ocean City that recently suffered a terrible tragedy. Jamie Miller and his wife Renee Roissier Miller lived and worked in the Ocean City area before moving first to Alaska and later to Tennessee. The couple met while attending Salisbury University and made Ocean City their home in the 1980s. Jamie was raised in Ocean City and...READ MORE

Confusion Marks Kite Fest Funding

OCEAN CITY - The City Council made a compromise to fix a mistake that actually was not made on Monday, and now the ball is back in the city's court to reverse that compromise. Jay Knerr, owner of the Kite Loft in Ocean City, came before the council to get the Kite Loft's annual Maryland International Kite Exposition, scheduled for April 24-26, approved, pleading with the council to have his funding restored after reading in a Salisbury newspaper that the $7,000 in seed money that he was slated...READ MORE

County Packet Cites Reasons For School Funding Cuts

SNOW HILL - Penalties for funding less than a Maryland-mandated maintenance of effort (MOE) budget could vary widely depending on interpretation of the untested law. A budget that falls short of MOE would prompt the state to withdraw some funds from that school system, but a successful waiver would allow the local jurisdiction to fund the lower level and retain all state funding. The school budget waiver request filed by Worcester County last week could, if successful, protect at minimum...READ MORE

Developer, Resident Square Off Over Proposed Project

OCEAN CITY - Flubbed verbiage in a town ordinance pertaining to how high buildings can be on Jacqueline Avenue has caused a bit of a stalemate between a developer and a neighboring property owner. The City Council tried to diffuse a situation with compromise created by a town mishap this week, as property owner Chris Tilghman and developer Tom Caulk went back and forth contesting what the allowable height should be for a massive condominium project Caulk is trying to build next to Tilghman's...READ MORE

OC Eyes Social Networks To Help With Promotion

OCEAN CITY - Don't be surprised if you get a 'friend request' from the town of Ocean City on social networking websites like Facebook. Ocean City is getting 'hip' to the popular world of social networking, and in doing so, hopes to maximize their advertising dollars by using free viral services like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to help promote the resort this summer. The town took the first step in catching up with the digital world when it approved a new $178,000 website (currently in the...READ MORE

Council Okays Closing Ocean For Boats

OCEAN CITY - The City Council voted unanimously to allow the Geico Offshore Boat Gran Prix to come a little closer to the shore this year, but the decision will temporarily close the surf to swimmers in a portion of the downtown area for several hours. Though the town technically doesn't have the authority to close the surf under the town's current code, the council decided, upon City Solicitor Guy Ayres' recommendation, to have Mayor Rick Meehan pen a letter giving the town's blessing to the...READ MORE

County Budget Talks Heat Up

SNOW HILL - Elected officials appeared divided in their support for the Worcester County school system budget formally presented this week, with one commissioner saying the schools would cope, while other commissioners worried aloud that the school system would be damaged by budget cuts. The contentious school budget process entered a new phase with presentation of the budget to local elected officials Tuesday. The budget exceeds the 3-percent cut mandated by the county under a state law...READ MORE

Local Bills' Fate Unknown As Session Nears End

ANNAPOLIS - With the clock ticking down on the 2009 Maryland General Assembly session, weighty statewide issues have consumed lawmakers as the days and hours click by, but local lawmakers remain hopeful their bills will make it through before Sine Die on Monday. State lawmakers continued to slog through countless pieces of legislation this week as the clock continues to click on the 2009 session, but larger issues threaten to leave some local interest bills on the table when it expires late...READ MORE

New Venture Aims To Fill Void In Berlin

BERLIN - Berlin's only bookstore came online last month, fulfilling a dream of the owners, when Steve and Suzanne Marcalus added 1,500 books to their Coffee Beanery coffee shop in the James Barrett Medical Building. The Marcalus' decided to reinvent their business recently, getting out of the retail pharmacy trade attached to the coffee operation, and adding bookshelves, thereby filling an empty retail niche in Berlin. Suzanne, an avid reader who favors mystery and action-adventure novels, has...READ MORE

OC Boosts Ad Money, While Md. OKs Cuts

OCEAN CITY - If legislators in Annapolis continue to cut Maryland's tourism advertising budget at the current rate, it won't be long until Ocean City spends about the same as the entire state. Assistant Tourism Director Debbie Travers told the tourism commission last week that the state of Maryland had cut their advertising budget to promote tourism to $4.9 million, leaving those in attendance shaking their heads in wonderment. 'They just don't get it,' said Mayor Rick Meehan. 'It's one thing to...READ MORE

OC To Conduct Nationwide Search For Vacancy

OCEAN CITY - With Mike Noah's exit, the nationwide search has begun to find his replacement. Noah, who worked for 13 years as the town's tourism director and executive director of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, resigned this week, leaving town officials with the task of finding someone to play a role that is extremely important to the town of Ocean City. City Manager Dennis Dare said via email that filling Noah's position is a process that could take up to two months and that the search...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - In the brief this week, the City Council told an uptown construction project to 'keep on rolling' and stressed that they wanted to have the final say on what happens with a new resolution they created. Jamestown Work To Continue Residents of Jamestown Road in north Ocean City have been dealing with construction work for several months, as crews have been working to replace 2,200 lineal feet of sewer line beneath the road and then repaving over the replaced pipe. The project was...READ MORE

Peach Festival Pays Homage To Berlin History

BERLIN - A peach festival, sponsored and hosted by the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, will come to the town of Berlin this summer to honor Berlin's past as home of Harrison nurseries. The Taylor House Museum is now in the planning stages of the festival, to be held the second Sunday in August. 'We're trying to go back to the roots of the town,' said Taylor House Museum board member Marge Coyman at a recent Berlin Mayor and Council meeting. 'It might just remind everyone what a rich agricultural...READ MORE

Residents Put Up Wind Turbine In WOC

WEST OCEAN CITY - A West Ocean City homeowner has pioneered a new approach to energy generation at his Selsey Rd. home with the addition of a wind turbine on his bayside property. Monty and Sara Lewis installed an electricity-generating wind turbine over the winter to defray energy costs. 'It's very exciting. We're quite pleased,' said Sara Lewis. The Lewises have been thinking of adding a wind turbine to their home since the 1970s, when they moved into the property, but costs were too high...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, April 10: TBA Saturday, April 11: Pompous Pie Every Wednesday: Open Mic Hosted By Tungsten Groove Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, April 10: DJ BK Saturday, April 11: Crowded Outhouse Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 410-524-1000 On the beach, 118th St. Friday, April 10: DJ Rupe Castaway's 64th St. On The Bay , 410-524-9090 Friday, April 10: DJ Mike C Saturday, April 11:...READ MORE

Hatchet, Screwdriver Threats

OCEAN CITY - Two men were arrested on assault and deadly weapons charges last weekend after confronting another pair of men with a hatchet and a screwdriver during an altercation. Shortly after 2 a.m. last Friday, an Ocean City police officer responded to the area of 34th Street for a reported assault that had just occurred. Upon arrival, the officer met with two male complainants who told police they were sitting at a red signal at 33rd Street when a late model blue truck pulled up along side...READ MORE

We Remember Those Who We Have Lost

George Edward Shockley SNOW HILL - George Edward Shockley, age 67, died Sunday, April 5, 2009 at his home in Snow Hill. Born in Snow Hill he was the son of the late Base and Hazel White Shockley. Shockley was a master electrician having owned Worcester Refrigeration, Heating and Air, Inc. He was a United States Army Veteran, a member of the Redmens in Fruitland and the Salisbury Moose Club. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He is survived by his wife, Iva Frances Shockley; five daughters,...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

A local couple has made the best of their almost daily walks on Assateague Island, converting most of their daily findings over the last year into an interesting report (see chart). Last week, they shared with me exactly what they spent most of their time picking up between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. Berlin residents Lynne Lockhart and Kirk McBride, perhaps best known as talented artists in the regional culture world, have been walking the same three-mile stretch of Assateague Island...READ MORE

What Others Are Saying

Relay Holds Special Meaning For Survivor Editor: Letters to the editors are usually complaints, opinions and complements. In this case, I want to write a letter of thanks. The American Cancer Society (ACS), Relay for Life has helped me in my fight to overcome cancer. The Relay represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated. As a cancer survivor, the Relay is a time to celebrate...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

A Commendable Act Editor: Our firm was recently engaged to liquidate, via foreclosure, some properties owned by a local developer. This developer was a victim of the real estate boom, like all of us.  Instead of chasing rates he stuck with his local bank, and that is why I thought it important to print a story that is good. The auction format was to start with some investment condos and end with the developer's personal residence. For purpose here I will say 'a handful of property'. The...READ MORE

Tourism, Center Director Moving On

OCEAN CITY - Citing personal reasons including a desire to relocate and explore new opportunities, the town's tourism director and convention center figurehead has resigned less than two months before the peak season begins. 'It's been great. I have enjoyed Ocean City and the people, and I hope I made a difference,' Ocean City Tourism Department Director and Roland E. Powell Convention Center Executive Director Mike Noah said in an interview Wednesday. Noah signed on with Ocean City amidst a...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Rally Past Worcester

BERLIN- For the fourth straight year, Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity lacrosse team got the best of its cross-town rival Worcester Prep last week, beating the Mallards, 7-4, in front of a big bi-partisan crowd at Worcester on Friday. It's always special when Decatur and Worcester face each other in any sport, but lacrosse seems to be the focal point of the old rivalry. The girls on both teams are very familiar with each other and often compete together on summer, fall and winter travel and...READ MORE

Beach Lax Under-11 team Opens with Win

The Beach Lacrosse under-11 boys' team opened the 2009 season last weekend with an 11-3 win over Kent County at home. Pictured at right, Beach Lacrosse's Matthew Adkins moves the ball downfield against Kent County. Photo by John Whaley ...READ MORE

Decatur Nine Remains Unbeaten

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity baseball team remained unbeaten this week after routing visiting James M. Bennett, 13-3, on Tuesday. The Seahawks are now 6-0 on the season after an impressive week that saw them beat two of their biggest rivals in the Bayside South division in successive games. Decatur routed Parkside, 11-1, last Thursday and followed that up with another impressive 10-run win over Bennett, 13-3, on Tuesday. Against Parkside last week, Decatur's Troy Bennett continued his...READ MORE

Mallards Edge Seahawks in OT Thriller

BERLIN- The latest installment in the annual Stephen Decatur-Worcester Prep boys' varsity lacrosse rivalry lived up to the hype with the Mallards edging the Seahawks, 5-4, in an overtime thriller in front of a big, somewhat hostile crowd, at Seahawk Stadium last Friday. After the two teams played to a 4-4 tie through two knock-down, drag out periods of regulation, Worcester Prep's Justin Butler scored a goal just minutes into the first overtime period to lift the Mallards to a 5-4 overtime win...READ MORE

Seahawks Edge Rams, 7-6

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity softball team recovered from its first loss of the season last week with a dramatic 7-6 win over visiting James M. Bennett at home on Tuesday. The Seahawks had breezed through the first part of their season, clobbering their first four opponents by a combined 67-1 including five shutouts. However, Decatur was handed its first loss of the season last Thursday against Parkside, 12-4, and it was uncertain how the Seahawks would respond to their first taste of...READ MORE

Friday, April 10--Berlin Man Killed In Accident

BERLIN - Excessive speed is being blamed for a fatal, single-vehicle accident on Assateague Rd. at its intersection with Route 611 last Sunday that claimed the life of a local man. According to the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, shortly before 8 p.m. last Sunday, a vehicle driven by Robert A. Constant, 45, of Berlin, was traveling east on Assateague Rd. as it approached the intersection with Route 611. Constant was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed when he drove through a stop...READ MORE

Friday, April 10--Future Of Track Slots Tied To Live Racing

BERLIN - The future of slots at Ocean Downs is directly tied to the existence of live racing at the historic track near Berlin, and not the other way around, county officials have determined after reviewing the zoning designation for the property. Last month, Ocean Downs officials reached an agreement with the horsemen guaranteeing live racing for at least three years regardless of what happens with the pending application for a slots venue license at the track. The accord was reached after a...READ MORE

Friday, April 10--Governments Realistic In Fund Requests

SNOW HILL - Towns in Worcester County asked this week for a total of $11.5 million in grants from the county budget, an increase of $800,000 over last year. The municipalities in Worcester County and the community of Ocean Pines made their budget requests formally at Tuesday's County Commissioner meeting. Town representatives acknowledged the tight economic times while still making a case for their own requests. Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan reiterated the resort's request including a 3-percent...READ MORE

Guilty Verdict In Pocomoke Murder Case

SNOW HILL - A Worcester County jury deliberated for a little more than an hour on Wednesday afternoon before returning guilty verdicts on first-degree murder and other charges against a Pittsville man charged in the stabbing death of a Pocomoke man. Charles Robert Phillips, 30, of Pittsville, appeared stoic in court as the 12-member jury returned guilty verdicts on nearly every charge against him including first-degree murder, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, robbery and theft in the stabbing...READ MORE

People in Society 4-10

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

Faces in Places

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

Fatherhood Adventures

He is up. He is down. He is back up. He is back down. That's what it's like around the house these days as my son continues to work on standing on his own. This pretty much means everything to him right now. He is constantly trying to get vertical by pulling on anything and everything. What began as an effort in futility a week or so ago has now become a challenge he looks like he can soon master on his own. Getting upright dominates his attention these days, and it has been wonderful to monitor...READ MORE

OC Elementary Honors March Students of the Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the March Students of the Month with a T-shirt, luncheon and special cake, sponsored by the Ocean City/Berlin OptiMs. Pictured, first row from left, first graders Austin Allen, Julissa Astudillo-Cuevas, Keegan Mitchell, Brianna Wesche, Leslie Zamora-Espinoza and Sabrina Berkeridge; second row, second graders Corinne Krasner, Jack Remmel, Ashley Rosenblatt, Remy Trader, Cassidy VanVonno and Sidney Steinberg; third row, third graders Lacey Eccleston, Denise...READ MORE

Scenes From Worcester Prep's Literary Lunch Club

Some of the members of Worcester Prep's Literary Lunch Club are pictured with Librarian Lisa Petrilli. Pictured, back from left, are Libby Truitt, Madison O'Malley, Gabby Alicia, Amanda Gabriel, Carolyn Dorey, Nina Jacobsen, Mikalah Potvin and, front, Ali Khan. Other members include Mark Wilson, Mark Gee, Razaak Eniola, Lorenzo DeJesus, Cameron DiPerna, Claire Dorey, Brad Mullen and Daniel Rosa ...READ MORE

Berlin Mayor Visits Buckingham Second Graders

Donna Socha's second grade class at Buckingham Elementary recently had a visit from Berlin Mayor Gee Williams. Above, Trevor Smith, Williams and Heather Boley hold up a mural made by the entire class. ...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Kindergarten Students Get Planting Lesson

Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School kindergarten student Riley Rayne waters seeds planted during a planting and growing lesson given by fellow kindergartner Morgan Carlson's poppy, Mr. Phillips. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Students Win State Writer's Contest

Worcester Prep students Dominique Kunciw and Jamie Welch, both of Ocean Pines, were named winners in the Maryland Young Writers' Contest, which was open to students in Grades 3-12 in the State of Maryland. Winners were selected to have their work appear in the May 2009 issue of Baltimore's Child magazine and to participate in the CityLit Festival. Kunciw was a winner in the high school competition and Welch in the middle school competition. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Holds Annual 'Huggable Friends' Drive

First grade students at Ocean City Elementary School are participating in their annual "Huggable Friends" drive. Students have collected new stuffed animals to donate to the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Pictured, from left, are Isabelle Kristick, Ashley Hoffman and Tyler McCombs. ...READ MORE

BIS Students Perform in Washington DC

Last month, 22 fourth grade students from Berlin Intermediate School traveled to Washington, D.C., to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The school received national recognition from the Kennedy Center for excellence in arts education. Students from Mrs. McCracken's homeroom shared a song, a poem and shadow puppet play all related to the life of Harriet Tubman. Mrs. McCracken's class is pictured during a dress rehearsal. ...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Insider is one of those types who asks for a Senior Citizen discount wherever he goes. It's just a habit. It's one of the perks of old age. One place that does not discount is the doctor's office. When the old guy went to the doctor the other day to find out why his foot had been bothering him, Insider was told he had to pay $20 before he was allowed to be graced by the doctor's presence and wisdom. It's called a 'co pay' or something like that. When asked if that included his senior citizen...READ MORE

New AMT Rules Raise Questions

OCEAN CITY - As a result of significant legislative changes in the laws governing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), fewer Americans will be subject to this tax this year, and some will pay less than they would have otherwise. To help you understand what the changes to the AMT rules might mean to you, we spoke with Vinay Navani, CPA, principal at Wilkin & Guttenplan, P.C., a certified public accounting and consulting firm in East Brunswick, N.J. Q. Why has the AMT become such a concern...READ MORE

Things I Like

Not working on a sunny, warm day A field of green grass just cut Vegetables cooked on a grill Birds singing early in the morning Taking my son to the park The Final Four hoops doubleheader Lots of buds on a tree this time of year Slices of apple with peanut butter Watching an Easter egg hunt A fast computer Working on a rainy, cloudy day ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Professional relationships grow stronger. But you might still need to ease some problems with someone in your personal life. One way could be to try to be less rigid in your views. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): You might be too close to that perplexing personal situation to even attempt to make a rational decision about it right now. Stepping back could help you gain a wider perspective. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Being asked to choose between the positions of two...READ MORE

Art League of Ocean City Recognizes its Corporate Sponsors

The Art League of Ocean City recognized its Corporate Sponsors at this month's First Friday reception kickoff for Artist Choice, the current exhibit that runs through May 2. Pictured, from left, are Pam Stansell of Macky's Bar & Grill; John Gehrig of D3Corp; Ruth Waters of Harrison Group; Michael James of the Carousel Hotel; John Grim; Becky Zweigbaum of Bayside Skillet; Jamie Albright of Planet Maze/Laser Storm; Katy Durham and Rick Meehan of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; Colleen...READ MORE

Ocean City VFW Hosts CPR Training Course

VFW Post 8296, in Ocean City, recently hosted a CPR Training Course for Veterans and their families at the VFW Post Hall on 66th Street. Atlantic General Hospital Community Education Coordinator Dawn Denton taught the class Adult, Child, and Infant CPR. In addition to learning CPR, veterans also learned to handle special situations, such as "choking". Above some veterans look the new skills. ...READ MORE

Merrill Lynch in Ocean City Raises Thousands at Bowling Benefit

The families of Merrill Lynch in Ocean City bowled at Ocean Lanes last Sunday to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters Lower Eastern Shore. The event raised over $4,000. Above are the Selzer, Giles, Bergeman and Wilson families gathering together for a good cause. ...READ MORE

OCDC Thanks Sponsor of Memorial Golf Tournament with Artwork

To show its appreciation for sponsoring the OCDC/Art Davis Memorial Golf Tournament for the past seven years, the OCDC provided Fred Lankford, president of Lankford Sysco Food Services, an A. Aubrey Bodine print of Ocean City. Proceeds from the OCDC golf tournament are used toward revitalization efforts in downtown Ocean City. Pictured, from left, are OCDC President Greg Shockley, Past President Jay Knerr, Lankford and OCDC Board Secretary Bob Givarz. ...READ MORE

Certificates of Appreciation Presented to OP Volunteers

Certificates of appreciation from Maryland's Most Beautiful People Award program were recently presented to the volunteers that maintain the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines. Pictured, from left, with Commissioner Louise Gulyas are John Henglein, Dave Smith, Al Bridgman and Bill Lee. ...READ MORE

A Week in Business

Globe Makes Kitchen Changes BERLIN - The Globe has announced the promotion of James Hollenbach to the position of executive chef. Hollenbach has been with The Globe for almost all of the three years it has been open under new ownership of Mitchell and Jennifer Dawicki David and Tim and Jamie Jones. Hollenbach has been an integral part of establishing The Globe's reputation for consistent, quality cuisine in a great atmosphere and will help The Globe continue to evolve, according to...READ MORE