June 5, 2009

June 11-OC Says Ad Campaign Creating Media Buzz

 OCEAN CITY - Locals in Ocean City may not understand what all the fuss about Rodney the Lifeguard is about, but he's already creating quite a buzz off the island and as hoped, for the island. Ocean City Public Relations Director Donna Abbott has been fielding numerous press inquiries from both regional and national news organizations about the town's new mascot of sorts, and coupled with the 'value' angle that the various media outlets are hoping to showcase this season, Ocean City has...READ MORE

June 10-OC Police Busy Breaking Up Fights, Prostitution

OCEAN CITY - Resort police officers had their hands full last weekend, thanks particularly to another large fight downtown and undercover work that busted a bold prostitution operation. In reference to the fight, on June 7, around 10:20 p.m., police were called to a fight that had occurred in the under-21 nightclub, H2O, and that had spilled out into the street. According to police reports, officers arrived in the area and observed two females involved in a loud argument, which was...READ MORE

June 9-2nd Annual OC Air Show Events Schedule

OCEAN CITY - The 2nd Annual Ocean City Air Show, one of only a dozen shows in the country to feature participants from all branches of the military, kicks off Thursday and continues through the weekend with events planned throughout each day.   Schedule of Events   Thursday, June 11 6 p.m. Performer Welcome Party-Open to the Public at Sunset Grille, Sunset Avenue, West Ocean City, featuring a twilight jump by the Golden Knights   Friday, June 12 8 a.m. Breakfast...READ MORE

June 8-Pedestrian Injured In Late-Night Crash

OCEAN CITY - An 18-year-old was charged with drunk driving over the weekend over striking a pedestrian on Coastal Highway in a late-night accident. On June 7, at about 2:25 a.m., a 2008 Nissan Altima, driven by 18-year-old Russell Charles Mass, Jr. of Essex, Md., was traveling south bound on Coastal Highway at 60th Street when he struck a 44-year-old male pedestrian who was attempting to cross Coastal Highway from west to east. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk and alcohol may be a factor,...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

13th Mako Mania Underway

OCEAN CITY- The 13th Annual Mako Mania shark tournament got underway this morning with dozens of boats and teams of anglers competing in the first significant offshore tournament in the summer-long series of events in Ocean City. With warm water starting to show up in the canyons off the coast of the resort, the early offshore fishing season is starting to heat up just in time for the annual Mako Mania tournament hosted by Bahia Marina. Sharks of all sizes and species are typically the first...READ MORE

Beach Lax Fest Invades Resort

OCEAN CITY- Roughly 100 youth girls' youth lacrosse teams from all over the country have descended on Ocean City this weekend for the 2009 Beach Lax Festival, which got underway this morning with first round games. Hosted by the Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department in conjunction with the local Beach Lacrosse Club, the annual festival has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and this year will welcome a little shy of 100 of the top girls' youth lacrosse programs from all over the east...READ MORE

Decatur's Fledgling Fishing Club Making Strides

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur High School's fledgling fishing club is up and running with roughly 30 members participating in competitions, taking classes and expanding on their love of the sport this summer. Delaware angler Fabian Rodriguez of The Bass Federation approached a group of Decatur faculty members earlier this year about forming a club at the Berlin school to compete with and against similar clubs at neighboring schools in Delaware. Under the direction of faculty members Todd Martinek,...READ MORE

Surfriders Celebrate 10 Years

OCEAN CITY- The 9th Annual Longboard Team Challenge on Saturday on the beach at the Castle in the Sand on 37th Street will be the centerpiece of a host of event all weekend at different venues around the resort celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Ocean City chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. The Ocean City Surfrider Foundation, formed in 1999, turns 10 this year and the local group is celebrating with a variety of events in the ocean and on the land starting today, Friday, June 5, and...READ MORE

New Skate Camp Director Named

OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department this week announced a new director for its annual Ocean Bowl Skate Camps has been named to lead the popular summer events. The recreation and parks department this week announced Gary Smith has been named to lead its skateboarding camps at the skate park on 4th Street in several sessions this summer. Smith has been skating for 18 years including the last seven as a professional. He has been featured in over 60 major skateboarding...READ MORE

OC's Culinary Heights Featured In Promotion

OCEAN CITY - In these economic times where value is king, Ocean City Restaurant Week may be more relevant than ever before. Quantity used to be the main talking point when speaking about restaurants in Ocean City, but lately, many visitors are starting to rave over the quality of food in the resort. As the 3rd Annual Restaurant Week reaches its final days, Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones said that the town's excellent showing at this year's Maryland...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

After months of relief, that nauseating feeling so common last summer is starting to resurface at the gasoline pump. According to the folks at AAA Mid-Atlantic, who track this sort of thing, the average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline as of June 1 was $2.45, a 55-percent increase since the start of the year when it was $1.58. Coincidentally, or more likely not, it comes just in time for the peak summer travel season. If there is a blessing, it's in the prediction by knowledgeable folks...READ MORE

Decision Questionable But Process Disturbing

The County Commissioners have fired 11 employees in the Comprehensive Planning, Development Review and Permitting and Environmental Programs departments. The idea is to cut 'dead weight' in these slow economic and development times and merge the three departments, returning essentially to the way the county operated prior to the most recent real estate boom earlier in the decade. It's always disheartening to hear of employees being moved to the unemployment rolls, but we have more of an issue...READ MORE

Voices From The Readers

Reverse Ad Agency Move Editor: Now, let me see if I have this right. Ocean City has just enjoyed the most successful 'Crusin'' weekend in the event's history. We have just realized the biggest Memorial Day weekend crowd since 1993 and our visitor numbers are higher over last year since early April. Now, here's the part I don't get - we want to ditch our advertising agency? What's wrong with this picture? Seven years ago I was on the Tourism Commission and, after all the presentations, I voted in...READ MORE

Friday, June 5--AGH Coping With Economic Pinch Like Private Industry

OCEAN CITY - Like just about every other sector, healthcare in general and hospitals specifically are feeling the pinch of the ongoing recession, Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) Chief Executive Officer Michael Franklin told a group of Ocean City business leaders on Wednesday, and just like they are, the hospital is adjusting and adapting its programs in an effort to ride out the storm. Franklin addressed the Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) on Wednesday to brief them on how AGH...READ MORE

Friday, June 5--Businessman Plays Big Role In OC Air Show

OCEAN CITY - Somewhere around 80 mph, Larry Layton's custom painted Dodge 'F-16' Viper feels like it could take flight at any moment, and if you look closely at the car itself, that feeling might not be that far off. Layton, whose family has owned and operated Layton's Restaurants on 15th Street since 1959, will provide a ground level spectacle of sorts at the 2nd Annual Ocean City Air Show when he showcases his 2004 'F-16' Viper on the boardwalk at 16th street. What makes the car noteworthy to...READ MORE

Friday, June 5--Judge Rejects Motion To Dismiss Room Tax Lawsuit

BERLIN - A federal judge this week denied a motion to dismiss a civil suit filed in January by the Worcester County Commissioners against a host of internet-based travel booking companies seeking what could be millions of dollars in unpaid hotel room taxes, allowing the case to move forward. In January, attorneys for the County Commissioners filed suit in U.S. District Court naming 14 individual defendants, all under the umbrella of four major Internet travel-booking companies including Expedia,...READ MORE

Friday, June 5--Ocean City Adopts $112M Budget

OCEAN CITY - As the Ocean City budget cruised through the second and final reading unanimously, you could almost hear a communal sigh of relief throughout City Hall. After what was called 'the toughest budget process I've ever dealt with in my 26 years with the town' by City Manager Dennis Dare, the City Council approved a $112.6 million budget for fiscal year 2010, after months of heated deliberation, healthy cuts and departmental sacrifices. 'I think this is a really good budget, and we ground...READ MORE

65 Years Later, Local Vets Remember D-Day

OCEAN CITY - Sixty-five years ago tomorrow, on June 6, 1944, the invasion of Normandy on the northwest coast of France began. Code-named Operation Overlord, the mission included thousands of ships, aircraft and men in perhaps the largest invasion of its kind in history. Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower told the troops before they embarked on the invasion 'you are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we've striven these many months.' Many of those crusaders...READ MORE

Administrator Outlines How Layoffs Came To Be

SNOW HILL - Four inspectors, three license permit clerks, one planner, and three clerical staff lost their jobs Friday after the Worcester County Commissioners voted in closed session last week to consolidate three county departments through layoffs despite having already balanced the budget. 'I was not worried because I knew we were productive employees. I didn't think the county, when the budget was balanced, would eliminate productive employees,' said one of the terminated employees, who did...READ MORE

County Citizens Express Rezoning Concerns

SNOW HILL - The draft rezoning and subdivision regulations must match the award winning 2006 Worcester Comprehensive Plan, citizens emphasized at a public hearing this week. Over 340 people attended the hearing on the draft comprehensive rezoning regulations Tuesday night, packing the standing room only Worcester County Commissioner chambers in Snow Hill, with the majority of the 62 speakers outlining their concern that the draft rules do not follow the 2006 Comprehensive Plan. Speakers...READ MORE

Officials Realistic Despite May Crowd Record

OCEAN CITY - Resort business leaders this week expressed a cautious outlook for a tough road ahead despite what has been, by most accounts, a strong early season, warning the true measure of success for the summer could be found in economic indicators such as the room tax and food and beverage taxes. According to the town's demoflush numbers, Ocean City had three straight record weekends in May, culminating with an estimated 270,000 people in the resort on Memorial Day weekend, the highest total...READ MORE

Trash Move Saves OC $500K

OCEAN CITY - It might be a dirty job, but the town of Ocean City found a way to keep the streets as clean as ever, while saving more than a half-million dollars in the process. Senior Project Manager Dick Malone briefed the Mayor and Council on Monday night on the award of the bid to Pennsylvania-based East Coast Resources (ECR) in the sum of $47.61 per ton that the town will pay for the company to haul the town's trash to a waste-to-energy incinerator plant in Chester, Pa. 'When I started this...READ MORE

Commissioners Debate Budget Issues Before Approving Plan

SNOW HILL - A controversial closed session vote to lay off 11 employees and consolidate three county departments into one turned the official budget approval into a contentious debate Tuesday morning. The vote to consolidate the Comprehensive Planning Department and Environmental Issues Department under the umbrella of the Development Review and Permitting Department took place in a closed meeting during the May 26 budget work session - but after the budget was balanced and all cuts had been...READ MORE

Council Concerned Over New Laser Tag Business

OCEAN CITY - A new laser tag venture that hopes to open in downtown Ocean City got a healthy dose of 'the business' from the City Council, which expressed concerns over safety and its impact to the downtown area. Lisa Conley of Elkton was admittedly 'thrown off a bit' by the number of concerns that several council members vocalized during the discussion, and despite council's eventual approval of the project, albeit with a one-year probationary period of conditional use attached to it, Conley...READ MORE

County Road Work Planned Thanks To Stimulus Funding

SNOW HILL - More stimulus funding will allow Worcester County to resurface portions of three roads in the county. In late May, Worcester County learned from the Maryland State Highway Administration that additional federal stimulus funds were coming its way. 'Worcester County has been allocated $1.39 million for road resurfacing and safety improvements,' Public Works Director John Tustin said. As a result, the county plans to resurface two miles of Seahawk Rd. ($230,000), almost seven miles of...READ MORE

Decatur Graduate Brings Nighthawk To Berlin

BERLIN - Stephen Decatur students witnessed a rare treat this week when one of school's favorite sons, a graduate turned U.S. Navy test pilot landed a Nighthawk helicopter on the football field at Seahawk Stadium on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of students and teachers, along with a large contingent of Decatur's ROTC students, filled the bleachers at Seahawk Stadium shortly after 11 a.m. on Wednesday to watch the display. A short time later, the U.S. Navy MH60 Nighthawk helicopter with Lieutenant...READ MORE

OCPD's Most Wanted Convicted

SNOW HILL - A Berlin man, deemed at a time as one of the Ocean City Police Department's 'most wanted' for a string of burglaries in a resort trailer park in March 2008, appeared in Worcester County Circuit Court to face 32 separate charges and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and was sentenced to five years in jail, most of which was suspended in favor of probation. Last December, Ocean City police were informed a suspect on its most wanted list had been...READ MORE

Questions Cloud County Layoff Decision

SNOW HILL - Confusion reigned Tuesday afternoon when the Worcester County Commissioners were told they should confirm their vote to layoff 11 people and consolidate three county departments into one, with one previous supporter of the move emphatically changing her mind. During the County Commissioners' regular meeting, a visibly irritated Sonny Bloxom, Worcester County attorney, instructed the commissioners to reaffirm the vote they took in a closed session the previous week on the elimination...READ MORE

Resort Trash Decision Helps County, Too

SNOW HILL - The loss of Ocean City's trash could have a positive effect on Worcester County. County staff explained this week that the loss of Ocean City's 32,000 tons of trash a year will delay the need for a fifth cell at the landfill. Ocean City signed a contract this week to have its refuse hauled to Pennsylvania, at a per ton price of $47.61, compared to $65 a ton at the Worcester county landfill. Demolition waste, hazardous waste and other types of refuse from Ocean City that are outside...READ MORE

Schools Seek Compromise On Fund Transfers

SNOW HILL - Just hours after the Worcester County fiscal year 2010 budget was officially approved, the Worcester County Commissioners voted to allow the Board of Education to move money from textbooks and classroom supplies back into instructional salaries. The commissioners are responsible for funding levels in the 13 school budget categories. The Board of Education cannot move funds between categories without commissioner permission. Last week, the commissioners moved $565,000 from the...READ MORE

Accident Closes Baltimore Ave.

OCEAN CITY - An accident on Baltimore Ave. early Wednesday morning caused a utility pole to block the roadway for several hours, snarling rush hour traffic, such as it is in Ocean City, until it could be cleared. Early Monday morning, an accident at 3rd Street and Baltimore Ave. caused a utility pole to fall and block the roadway for several hours. Motorists entering Ocean City via Route 50 on Wednesday morning were detoured west on 1st Street to St. Louis Ave. where they could continue north to...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Ronald William Haslam OCEAN PINES - Retired Ocean City Police Officer Sgt. Ronald William Haslam died quietly in the arms of his wife at their home in Ocean Pines. Kristin and Ron have been married for over nine years, but they first met in 1978 when they were both seasonal officers on the Ocean City Police Department. He was born in Baltimore and graduated from Overlea High School in the class of 1965. The following year, Ron joined the United States Air Force with his fraternity brother, Jerry...READ MORE

People in Society

Scenes from the 20th annual Play it Safe kickoff at Hall's Restaurant ...READ MORE

Things I Like

Sunny Saturdays Watching my son try new foods The movie 'Doubt' When a good book is passed along The first corn on the cob of the season Sunny Sundays A pool lit up at night Vegetables cooked on the grill Sunscreen that sprays on Days with low humidity Watching a dog walk its owner ...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

I love talking about kids. It used to be that politics, the local version of it, and sports in general were my favorite things to discuss. I still enjoy hearing about what's happening in local and regional politics, hence my job, and any kind of sport, particularly the Ravens and Orioles, but talking about children with fellow parents is the best. I relish hearing status updates of kids, and I'm not talking about the Facebook variety either. No matter if it's 25-year-olds or 1-month-olds, it...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Chamber Announces New Board, Officers OCEAN CITY - The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce announced this week its 2009-10 slate of officers. The chamber's nominating committee recently presented a number of individuals for service on the chamber's Board of Directors and slate of officers. All nominated individuals will assume their duties on Sept. 1. Nominated to serve as directors for two-year terms, expiring in August 2011, were Tammy Ditzel, Maryland Institute for Workforce Excellence; Adam...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Try using that Aries charm to warm up the usual set of workplace naysayers, and then back it up with a solid block of facts and figures to sell your idea to your colleagues. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): While nothing can deter a determined Bovine from following a course you believe in, it helps to have some supporting data and statements by trusted colleagues to make your case. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Take advantage of new information that could help make your...READ MORE

My Thoughts

Emotions almost never get the best of the old guy, he's got no time for this needless waste of energy. But this time last year it happened. Insider had noticed a certain Cardinal hard at work building a nest directly out his back door tucked neatly within a large bush. The bird was working hard bringing back branches and leaves to build a nice comfortable nest. Insider kept watching the bird work diligently over the next few days, careful to keep a distance as to allow the work to continue....READ MORE

The Real Value In Gold

OCEAN CITY - As an investment, gold has always stood apart. Once the standard upon which many world monetary systems were based, it now functions as a kind of alternative currency•€'a holding with intrinsic value that can serve as a portfolio anchor during turbulent times. Although it receives greater attention when markets are shaky, even in a bull market there are advantages to holding gold. It adds diversification and generally provides an effective hedge against future inflation. Not...READ MORE

Garden Club Members Donate Trees to Ocean Pines Memorial

Worcester County Federated Garden Club members are pictured standing in front one of two trees they donated to the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines. Pictured, from left, are Marion Novack, Past President of Garden Club; Sharyn O'Hare, Veterans Memorial Board Member; Bozy Markiewicz; Marylou Scott, President of Garden Club; Peggy Cain; Sue Ann Hudson; and, Mary Ellen Jefferson ...READ MORE

Seacrets Owner Gives Generously to Worcester Prep Scholarship Fund

Leighton Moore, left, proprietor of Seacrets in Ocean City, recently pledged a generous gift to the Sara Chase Carlson Scholarship Fund at Worcester Preparatory School. Carlson, Ocean View, together with her father the late Robert L. Edwards, established the scholarship endowment in 2004. The scholarship provides a high school education for a local student interested in a Worcester Prep education. Those interested in obtaining more information about the Sara Chase Carlson Scholarship Fund should...READ MORE

OP Youth Uses Birthday Party to Raise Money for Humane Society

Riley Mears of Ocean Pines recently celebrated her ninth birthday at Twisters Gymnastics. In lieu of gifts, she collected about $400 worth of donations, including food, toys and treats for the Worcester County Humane Society. She is pictured above with a  volunteer and two dogs in need of adoption. ...READ MORE

New Officers for VFW Post 8926 Ladies Auxiliary

Installation of new officers for the VFW Post 8296 Ladies Auxiliary recently took place. Above are Installing Officer and District President, Marcia Elliott and returning Post Auxiliary President June Kelly, who will be joined by Emilie Beall, senior vice president; Karen Overholtzer, treasurer, and Cecelia Edwards, secretary ...READ MORE

Diakonia Executive Director Speaks at Democratic Women's Club

Visiting speaker Claudia Nagle, executive director of Diakonia recently gave a talk on Diakonia at the monthly Democratic Women's Club meeting held at the Yacht Club in Ocean Pines. Pictured, from left, are Diana Gross, vice president, Democratic Wormen's Club; Nagle; and, Arlene Page, president, Democratic Women's Club ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Students of the Month (May)

Ocean City Elementary School honored the May Students of the Month with a T-shirt, luncheon, and cake sponsored by the Berlin-Ocean City Optimists. The students were chosen by their homeroom teachers based on the good choices they make in all areas of school life. The students were, first graders, first row from left, Macy Connors, Macy Layton, David Herbst, Kaela Gilligan and Ross Quilter; second graders, second row from left, Abigail Jager, Faith Murray-Engh, Marissa Wheaton, Chase Porter and...READ MORE

Worcester Prep's Academic Convocation Winners

Top award winners at Worcester Prep's Academic Convocation for Grades 6-11 were, from left, Meredith Soule´, Highest Academic Average for Grades 6-8; Roland Gerachis, Best All-Round Student Grades 6-8; Katie Marshall, Best All-Round Student Grades 9-11; and Megan Rosales, Highest Academic Average, Grade 9-11. The students received bonds and plaques, gifts of honor from the Worcester Preparatory School Board of Trustees. ...READ MORE

SDHS Journalism Students Visit Newseum in DC

The Stephen Decatur High School journalism classes visited the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on April 23. The cost of the trip was funded by an $800 educational grant from Target. Above, near the Capitol are Jeron Hardy, Liz Bowman, teacher Kimberly Patrick, Breanna Rohrer and Rosa Navarra. ...READ MORE

SDHS Recognized by State for Outstanding Contributions to Kids Program

Stephen Decatur High School was recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education in May for its outstanding contributions in the Kids Helping Kids Program. Decatur placed second in the state for total pounds collected during its annual food drive, collecting over 7,000 pounds in one week. Pictured, from left, are Principal Lou Taylor, State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, senior Amanda Pfaff, Harvest for the Hungry founder Larry Adam, senior Caitlin Bowman, Student Government Association...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament 1st Graders Go to Circus

The first grade class from Most Blessed Sacrament School had a wonderful day at the Cole Brother's Circus, which was held at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury. Pictured here is the class standing in front of the circus entrance with teachers Ms. Knerr and Mrs. May. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Student Takes Second Place in National Writing Contest

Worcester Prep third grade student Emilee Dorey was the national second place winner in the Seat Sack Writing Contest. She received an embroidered Seat Sack and a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble. She is in Julie Roughton's class at Worcester Prep. Seat sacks are soft packs that attach to classroom chairs and help students with organization of their materials. ...READ MORE

Most Blessed Sacrament Student Takes Over As P.E. Teacher For a Day

Caroline Pasquariello had the unique distinction of being physical education teacher for the day at Most Blessed Sacrament School. The student, shown here with teacher Kelly McLaughlin, taught four classes during the day. The day was part of a silent auction during a fundraiser for the school. ...READ MORE

SDHS Senior Places in Top Percentile in National Contest

Stephen Decatur High School senior Matt McKinley, above with his winning medallion, placed in the top 1 percent in the National Financial Literacy Challenge. This test is offered by the U.S. Treasury Department. It can be taken on line and consists of 35 multiple choice questions about finance and economics McKinley is only one of 362 students to have won this medal. ...READ MORE