May 8, 2009

Friday, May 8--Alleged Internet Pirate Defaults

OCEAN CITY - Citing a lack of any response whatsoever from the defendant in the case, a federal judge this week issued a notice of default against a Gambrills, Md. man accused of pirating thousands of dollars worth of high-speed Internet service for several condominium buildings in Ocean City. Comcast of the Eastern Shore in March filed suit in U.S. District Court seeking thousands of dollars in lost compensation and other damages against Frank Clark and his fictitious company OceanNet for...READ MORE

Friday, May 8--County Seeks Block Grant To Continue Housing Program

SNOW HILL - A program to rehabilitate houses owned by low-income earners is slated to continue, with the county submitting a Community Development Block Grant request for $300,000 to keep the initiative running for another two years. The funding will be used to rehabilitate 18 owner-occupied homes in Worcester County in need of major repairs or lead paint abatement. The program will also use an additional $651,000 in funding from the Maryland special loans program, USDA rural development money,...READ MORE

Friday, May 8--Funding For WOC Projects OK'd

OCEAN CITY - State officials this week announced a roughly $6 million fiscal shot in the arm for dozens of waterway enhancement projects across Maryland including several in and around the resort area. Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Maryland General Assembly have approved $5 million in state Waterway Improvement Funds and an additional $1 million in anticipated federal funds in the fiscal year 2010 budget to improve public boating access and support boating safety projects in waterways across the...READ MORE

Friday, May 8--Pony Patrol Volunteers Sought

ASSATEAGUE - With the advent of another summer season at Assateague, National Parks officials are gearing up for another battle with tourists over their irresistible urge to interact with the local wild pony population on the barrier island. Assateague Island National Seashore officials this week put out a call for volunteers for the 2009 Pony Patrol, a band of volunteers that assist Park Service rangers each summer with getting the word out about the dangers of touching, petting, feeding or...READ MORE

Thoughts From the Publisher's Desk

Bikers on the Boardwalk will be able to enjoy themselves for an hour longer during the week this summer. As a result of a suggestion by Mayor Rick Meehan, the Ocean City Council voted last week and again this week to scale back a plan to add an hour, from 10 to 11 a.m. of biking throughout the summer and continuing the Boardwalk tram's operating start of 10 a.m. Meehan advised the council this could wreak havoc on the Boardwalk in the busy season, recommending the city add the extra hour during...READ MORE

OC Wise To Limit Boardwalk Performers

The so-called street performers now know their place in Ocean City. The Ocean City Mayor and Council seemed unified this week as it passed a new ordinance refining the rules governing these performers. The main change restricts where these performers, also known as peddlers, can do their thing. The ordinance reads, 'It shall be unlawful for any person engaging in the permitted activity of peddling, soliciting, hawking or street performing on the boardwalk to: (1) exercise or perform such...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Election Challenged Editor: (The following letter was addressed to the Snow Hill Mayor and Council with a copy forwarded to this publication.) On May 4, 2009 at approximately 2:50 p.m., I witnessed Council candidate Rebecca Bowen deliver 11 absentee ballots to the front desk at city hall. Six of those ballots were unsealed, leading me and perhaps others to wonder if they had been tampered with Ms Bowen's above-referenced delivery is a graphic example of a campaign tactic she and Council...READ MORE

City Council Okay With Lone Ranger Firing Blanks

OCEAN CITY - If you hear gunfire coming from behind the Ocean City Library this Saturday, don't be alarmed, it's just the Lone Ranger. In what Councilwoman Mary Knight called 'the most unusual request I've ever seen in my time on the council,' the City Council approved a special request from Susan Todd of the Ocean City branch of the Worcester County Library to allow an impersonator dressed as the Lone Ranger to fire blanks from his .45 caliber pistol during his demonstration May 9 from noon to...READ MORE

Resort Scales Back Employee Take-Home Vehicle Usage

OCEAN CITY - Councilman Jim Hall says he's never heard citizens speak so passionately about an issue like he's heard them talk about cutting some of the city's take-home vehicles. The City Council weighed its options and continued its efforts of trying to determine which employee's take home vehicles were perks or a necessity in order to do their jobs efficiently, and set in place a 15- mile radius in which employees must live in to be eligible for a take home vehicle. 'I think the 15-mile...READ MORE

Resort Unfazed By Ad Study Critical Of Campaign

OCEAN CITY - A new study that calls the town's advertising budget 'amateurish', and the town's advertising company 'ineffective' has many town officials scratching their heads with more wonderment than concern this week. Several days before Ocean City's new website and advertising campaign are to launch on May 11, information about the findings of a new independent, yet 'classified' study was leaked to The Dispatch claiming that the town isn't getting the best 'bang' for their proverbial...READ MORE

Route 50 Bridge Lane Closures Lifted

OCEAN CITY - Despite periodic rain over the last week or so, State Highway Administration (SHA) crews finished the ongoing Route 50 bridge project late yesterday with only the lane markings left to do a few weeks ahead of schedule and just in time for the arrival of Springfest 2009. SHA District Engineer Donnie Drewer said yesterday the re-decking component of the work on the Harry Kelley Memorial Bridge, which has kept the eastbound lanes of the span closed since mid-February, had been...READ MORE

Social Programs Beg For County Funds

SNOW HILL - The hall was packed with education supporters Tuesday night for the Worcester County public budget hearing, but in a reversal of tradition, other areas of the county budget got the most attention, particularly grants to non-profit social services organizations. The budget hearing, held every May at Snow Hill High School, attracted a standing room only crowd. In years past, education supporters, asking for money for teachers, after-school programs and school construction projects,...READ MORE

Berlin Jazz And Blues Bash Returns Saturday

BERLIN - The Berlin Chamber of Commerce will welcome back the 2nd Annual Berlin Jazz & Blues Bash to be held in downtown Berlin on May 9. The live music will begin at 10 a.m. with music on the North Stage by the Stephen Decatur Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of Peter Mundrick. At 11 a.m. the Stephen Decatur High School Jazz Combo, led by J.D. Foel, will perform on the South Stage. Both bands are sponsored by Robert K. McIntosh, P.A. Appearing on the North Stage at 1 p.m. will...READ MORE

County Stays Tight On Costs

SNOW HILL - County elected officials will wait to choose a construction company for an eagerly anticipated trash transfer station in Bishopville until after the fiscal year 2010 (FY10) budget is struck in early June, saying that now might not be the time to build. The lowest bidder proposed a $415,000 price tag to build the Bishopville transfer station. The county would also have to spend another $100,000 for compactors and roll-off containers for the station. Funding for the new transfer...READ MORE

Flu Scare Shows Partnership Importance

BERLIN - While there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in Worcester County, county health officer Debbie Goeller asked the County Commissioners this week to reconsider a previous decision to not buy into a state flu medication partnership. Goeller asked the commissioners, after she presented an extensive report on swine flu facts and county preparations during the Tuesday morning commissioner meeting, to reconsider purchasing anti-viral medications through a Maryland partnership program,...READ MORE

Hit-And-Run Suspect Flees, Breaks Into Resort Home

OCEAN CITY - A Wilmington man sought by resort police for a hit-and-run accident on Coastal Highway last weekend had burglary, eluding police and other charges tacked on after running into a nearby residence and telling police he was not the driver of the vehicle involved. Around 2:30 a.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City police officer responded to the area of 72nd Street and Coastal Highway for a reported accident that had just occurred. The officer arrived on the scene and observed a blue Dodge...READ MORE

Latest CO Suit Charting Similar Course

OCEAN CITY - A flurry of legal wranglings surfaced this week in the multi-million dollar federal civil suit filed early last month by five plaintiffs inflicted with carbon monoxide poisoning in hotel rooms adjacent to a room where two Pennsylvania residents died of CO poisoning in July 2006, as several defendants filed different motions attempting to deflect blame from themselves and onto their co-defendants. On April 2, a total of 10 new plaintiffs filed suit in U.S. District Court against the...READ MORE

Long-Range County Budget Forecast Gloomy

SNOW HILL - Citizens heard a sobering report of Worcester County's budget outlook at the public budget hearing Tuesday night, including drops in revenue that will likely last for the next few years. Budget requests for the next fiscal year now total $181.8 million, while revenue comes in far short of that at $175.6 million. The decline, said county Finance Officer Harold Higgins, is unprecedented in recent history. Saying that the county will see $13.9 million less in revenues next fiscal year,...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY - In 'the brief' this week, two new Boardwalk laws went into effect, and some fowl artists were the first group to request wall space in the to-be-expanded Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Boardwalk Display Guidelines Set Ironically, it was Margaret Pillas, the Boardwalk business owner who sits on the Ocean City Council, and who spoke out most often against the first few drafts, who motioned for the approval of the second reading of the ordinance pertaining to new outdoor display...READ MORE

School Supporters Grateful For County Commitment

SNOW HILL - The education portion of the Worcester County public budget hearing Tuesday was tame compared to years past, with most speakers thanking the Worcester County Commissioners for less cuts than originally mandated, rather than haranguing elected officials for more funding. The education budget for next school year has been the center of controversy since January, when the school system first presented cuts that did not meet a county mandated three percent reduction. In March, the Board...READ MORE

Upgrade For OC Security System

OCEAN CITY - The resort's citywide security system will be getting a much-needed upgrade this summer, by way of a state-of-the-art software program paid for by a Homeland Security grant. The City Council voted unanimously to allow City Engineer Terry McGean to hire Advantech to complete phases one and two of a process that will upgrade the city's outdated security system, installed in 1994. Essentially, what this system will do is enable the town to closely monitor who is going in and out of...READ MORE

Who's Playing When and Where Musically Speaking

Back of the bag 410-250-3337 , 130 St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, May 8: TBA Saturday, May 9: TBA Every Wednesday: Open Mic Hosted By Chris Button Buxy's Salty Dog 410-289-0973 , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, May 8: DJ BK Saturday, May 9: TBA CaribBean bar & grill Just off the Boards on 2nd St. 410-289-0837 Friday, May 8: Dave Sherman, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie Duo, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9: Mike Armstrong Duo, 1-5 p.m.; Wes Davis Duo, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Carousel Resort Hotel &...READ MORE

Decatur Softball a Two-Seed in East

BERLIN- Decatur's varsity softball team closed out its regular season with a couple of wins last weekend to finish 13-4 overall and earn a number-two seed in the state Class 3A-2A East region tournament. Last Saturday, the Seahawks beat county rival Snow Hill, 5-2, behind Maddie Justice, who picked up the win and helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-3 with an RBI. Shae Nottingham pitched in with a homer and two RBIs, while Erika Anders collected two hits. Decatur was back at it on Monday...READ MORE

Decatur to Face Easton in States

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's boys' varsity lacrosse team righted the ship last week, beating Kent Island, 18-5, after losing three straight to gain some momentum heading into the state playoffs. The Seahawks had fallen to Queen Anne's, Parkside and Easton going into last Friday's game with Kent Island. In the regular season finale, Decatur rediscovered its stride and cruised to the relatively easy 18-5 win over the Buccaneers. Calvin Snyder led the offense with five goals, while Tyler Bollinger and...READ MORE

Mallards To Host ESIAC Title Game

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity lacrosse team breezed through its Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament semifinal on a damp, drizzly afternoon on Wednesday, beating visiting Salisbury School, 14-5, to advance to the title game. The Mallards beat the Dragons, 14-5, on Wednesday to return to the ESIAC championship game again after taking a one-year hiatus from the conference. Worcester last won the conference title in 2007, beating Salisbury School, 12-1, in the...READ MORE

Seahawk Nine Wraps Perfect Regular Season

BERLIN- Decatur's varsity baseball team wrapped up a perfect regular season with a 15-1 shellacking of county rival Pocomoke last Thursday and earned the top seed in the state Class 3A East playoffs when the brackets were unveiled on Wednesday. The Seahawks ran the table in the regular season, which concluded last week with a 15-1 win over Pocomoke. Lucan Koenig was strong on the mound for Decatur as the starter and Josh Tyndall came in and struck out five in two innings of relief. Jarrett...READ MORE

Decatur Tops Kent Island for Bayside Title

BERLIN- It took a little while for the Stephen Decatur women's varsity lacrosse team to get the offense cranked up in the rain and slop in the Bayside Conference championship on Tuesday, but the Seahawks found their groove and rolled to a 14-9 win over north division champion Kent Island to claim their fourth straight title and remain unbeaten on the season. Off and on showers all day on Tuesday put the Bayside Conference championship double-header at Wicomico County Stadium in doubt. In the...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Walter B. Brice BERLIN - Walter B. Brice, 89, of Ocean Pines, passed away on Sunday, April 5 at Atlantic General Hospital. He was the son of the late Edna and Roy M. Brice. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Virginia J. Consalvo Brice; daughters Ellynne Brice Davis of Leonardtown, (James J.) and Gail Poist, (Malcolm) of Frederick; and one granddaughter, Genevieve Poist. Also survived by his nephews, Walter Huff, (Daisy), of Martinsburg, W.Va. and Leroy Brice, (Phyllis) of Florida, and...READ MORE

Times Tough For Dealers Too

OCEAN CITY - A local couple was arrested on drug possession and distribution charges last week after getting pulled over for a seatbelt violation in Ocean City. Around 8:15 a.m. last Tuesday, an Ocean City police officer on uniformed school bus patrol observed a green Acura with a female driver and a male passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt. The officer followed the vehicle and activated his emergency lights and siren around 77th Street. The vehicle did not stop initially, but eventually...READ MORE

Street Peddler Limits A Go

OCEAN CITY - While some of Ocean City's street performers gave their best 'song and dance' on Monday in hopes of keeping their current spots on the Boardwalk, the City Council proverbially walked on by without giving them a tip, even though they claimed to be listening. A few members of the 'busking' community, known as street performers, made their way to City Hall on Monday night for the first reading of a new ordinance that would designate the end of each street on the Boardwalk as the only...READ MORE

People in Society

Neighbors Lend a Helping Hand Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

My Thoughts

We are being flooded with fund-raising events for worthwhile causes. Too often these are staged by professional fund raisers who take their cut and whatever is left over goes to the titled charity. A lot of people earn a good living in the name of charity, sometimes too good. We're asked to walk, jog, golf, bounce, run and even dance to benefit a worthwhile cause and we turn out to do what we feel is our duty. Too often the charity we're supporting only receives 10 or 20 percent of the efforts....READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

It never ceases to amaze me how a little 25-pound boy dominates everything. The latest in a growing list of examples revealed itself the other morning, serving as further confirmation I am retreating further away from being the master of my own domain (excuse the Seinfeld reference). My grasp, if you can even call it that, is tenuous at best. It was around 6:30 in the morning, and I had brought my son downstairs after he pulled off a solid 11 hours of sleep (so proud). I sat him down in his play...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Wor-Wic Foundation's New Members BERLIN - The Wor-Wic Community College Foundation recently welcomed Annemarie Dickerson and Anita Ferguson Todd of Berlin and Edwin Lashley and Matthew Maciarello of Salisbury as new members of the board of directors. Dickerson owns and operates the Francis Scott Key Family Resort in Ocean City. She received her bachelor's degree from Roanoke College in Salem, Va. Dickerson is a member of the board of directors of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant...READ MORE

2009 Prom Court for Worcester Prep

The 2009 Prom Court for Worcester Prep's Junior-Senior Prom consisted of, from left, Evan Bauer, Roxana, Senior Prince; Manali Patel, Berlin, Senior Princess; Peter Buas, Ocean City, Prom King; Meegan Jayne Smith, Prom Queen; Theresa Ciletti, Ocean City, Junior Princess; and Taylor Kern, Dagsboro, Junior Prince. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Students Celebrate Arbor Day

Ocean City Elementary second grade students performed music and skits to celebrate Arbor Day at Northside Park on Friday, April 24. Students were able to visit with Smoky the Bear, race a police officer on horseback, watch a canine patrol demonstration and help plant a tree. Above, Cameron Bradshaw and Francesca Wheeler plant a tree ...READ MORE

Muffins with Mom at Buckingham Elementary School

Leiko Flint and Jordyn Flint enjoy a muffin together at the annual Muffins for Mom celebration at Buckingham Elementary School last month ...READ MORE

BIS 5th Graders Visit Owings Mills

Recently 5th grade students at Berlin Intermediate School visited Junior Achievement's "JA BizTown," located in Owings Mills. Students were able to become business operators, taxpayers and lawmakers in a hands-on learning laboratory. Maury Izzett was elected the mayor of Biz Town by her classmates. Above, Alex Ingersoll, Gabe Kim and Jimmy Englishmen were all design engineers, and their job was to instruct the manufacturing engineers in the production of flashlights. ...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Students Participate in Hit the Books Night

Students from Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School recently participated in Hit The Books night with the Delmarva Shorebirds. Showing off their spirit were Matthew Jackson, Ryan Stone, Karsten St.Amant, Reece Stone, Nicole DiAmico, Jessica Delisi, and Emily Selba. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep holds Foreign Language Honor Society Inductions

Worcester Prep recently held Foreign Language Honor Society Induction ceremonies. Above, students inducted into the French National Honor Society were Jackson Berger, Mike Guerrieri, Kelley Chandler and Duncan McIntosh. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Spanish Honor Society Inductees

Worcester Prep Spanish Honor Society inductees were, front, Mary Alex Hudson, Ali Schwartz, Carson Wigley, Lyndsey Odachowski, Haylea Reiner, Devon Zorn, Anna Pavlos; back, Josh Berman, Kyle Joseph, Hunter Harmon, Matt Carey, Billy Tyler, Ty Mayers, Peter Buas and Max Perim. ...READ MORE

Things I Like

A full tank of gas The arrival of palm trees Indulging in pancakes with syrup Packing for a vacation When numbers add up how you want All the sports playoff games this time of year Going a day without hearing the word •€˜recession' A short 'honey do' list When my son sleeps in The first crab feast of the year Derby day ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): This is a good week to look at healing bruised feelings and re-establishing weakened relationships. It's also a good week to start new projects and make new job-linked contacts. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Music and art dominate the week, giving the sensual Bovine a lot to appreciate. On the practical side, deal firmly, but fairly, with those who might try to undermine your work efforts. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Good feelings continue to flow from your recent...READ MORE

Managing Mortgage Debt Strategically

OCEAN CITY - Historically, most Americans have paid for their homes by the time they reach retirement age and leave the full-time workforce. But many of today's baby boomers have a strikingly different attitude when it comes to a mortgage loan. "Homeowners are carrying more housing debt than ever, and are preparing to take much of that debt with them into their retirement," says Rob Mickler, a Vice President and Consumer Finance Specialist with Merrill Lynch. In fact, the Federal...READ MORE

Marathon Team Raises $25,000 for Delmarva Wellness Community

The Strides for Hope Marathon Team recently raised over $25,000 for The Wellness Community of Delmarva. Each participant ran or walked in the 2009 Country Music Marathon held in Nashville, Tenn. Members included Lisa Layton, Rachel Cherrix, Tracy McMenamy, Madison O' Leary, Mark Shipley, Cassie Anderson, Kelly Messick, John Anderson, Ivan Barkley, Harlan Eagle, Tom McMenamy and Bill Harman. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Charity Members Work on Annual Alzheimer's Gala

Members of Star Charities have been working diligently on the Annual Alzheimer's Gala. Above, front from left, are Jim Nooney, Anna Foultz and Imgard Heineke; and, back, Kenneth Lewis, Lee Tilghman, Ginny Reister, Susan Curtis, Eileen Salafia, Stacy Schaffer, Delores Koch and Susanne Palamara. ...READ MORE

AGH Celebrates Earth Day

Associates at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin celebrated Earth Day just a few days late, taking advantage of the warm sunny weather on Saturday to clean up Healthway Drive and the hospital grounds. More than 30 employees and family members turned out. ...READ MORE

Scenes from Democratic Club of Worcester County eeting

Charlotte Cathell, Dave Williams and Joel Todd are pictured last month's Democratic Club of Worcester County wine tasting fundraiser held at the Water's Edge Gallery in Berlin. ...READ MORE

Scenes from Democratic Club of Worcester County Meeting

Charlotte Cathell, Dave Williams and Joel Todd are pictured last month's Democratic Club of Worcester County wine tasting fundraiser held at the Water's Edge Gallery in Berlin. ...READ MORE

Scenes from Democratic Club of Worcester County Meeting

Charlotte Cathell, Dave Williams and Joel Todd are pictured last month's Democratic Club of Worcester County wine tasting fundraiser held at the Water's Edge Gallery in Berlin. ...READ MORE

Carmella's Kids Host Trike-a-Thon

Carmella's Kids Learning Center hosted a St. Judes Trike-a-thon in efforts to help raise money for the children's hospital research department. They raised $143. Students pictured are Christian Anderson, Alisa Ashford, Waylon Hobgood, D'Anthony Harmon, Summer Brenner, Zoe Shockley, Gus Emm, Lexi Walker, Gavin Solito, Mia Lovitt, Renatta Lovitt and Ian Stewart. ...READ MORE

Major Contribution from Salisbury University Social Work Program

Diakonia Support Staff/Case Managers Jaya DeZarn and Katie Dant, pictured with Program Coordinator Lynnea Cannady, show off the major contribution from Salisbury University Social Work Program Students. Students Katie Dant, Chanel Joynes and Heather Adkins organized a community project to collect donations for Diakonia. ...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 Open Daily 10-4 3BR Bayside Condos 45th Street Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 OCEAN CITY Belmont Towers Boardwalk & Talbot Street Mon-Thurs 11-4 Fri-Sun 10-5 Kevin Decker Remax Premier Properties 443-235-6552 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...READ MORE

Open Houses in Berlin, West Ocean City, and Ocean Pines

WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf Course Road Sat-Sun 10-4 New 3BR, 3.5BA Luxury Townhouses Coldwell Banker 410-524-6111 WEST OCEAN CITY New Construction West Harbor Village Daily 11-5 11 Townhouses 3BR/2.5BA/Garage Prudential Carruthers 410-524-7000 BERLIN Purnell Crossing Mon 12-6 Tues-Fri 10-6 Sat & Sun 11-6 3BR/2.5BA Villas New Construction Ryan Homes 410-641-2730 OCEAN PINES 368 Ocean Parkway Sun 12-3 3B/3BA Full Furnished Waterfront Home Debbie Hileman Hileman RE 410-208-9200 ...READ MORE