May 14, 2010

Local Arborist Visits BIS

Local arborist Greg Purnell  and other community members from PNC Bank, OC Parks and Rec and the OC Beautification Committee came to Berlin Intermediate School on Saturday, April 24 to help students, parents and staff plant 40 new trees in honor of Arbor Day and Earth Day. PNC Bank and Ocean City Parks and Recreation donated the trees to be planted on school grounds. Above, students Jenna Morlock and Meg McCready work with Jenna's mom Debbie Morlock of the Department of Natural...READ MORE

AGH Leaders Wash Cars of United Way Donors

Atlantic General Hospital's senior leadership washed a slew of vehicles recently, scrubbing tires, windshields and paintjobs for associates who donated to the United Way this year. This is the third year upper management has made a pledge to the hospital and health system - any department that achieves 100 percent participation in the United Way Campaign gets a car wash for all its associates, compliments of senior leadership. This year, the associates of 11 departments qualified. Pictured, from...READ MORE

Methodist Church Members Participate in Relay for Life

Participating in last weekend's Northern Worcester County Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at Frontier Town were Stevenson United Methodist Church team members Wendy Caldwell, Kandi Choisser, Vickie Nock, Jill Gray and Kelly Bowden.  ...READ MORE

Retired Nurses Donate $1000 to AGH

The Retired Nurses of Ocean Pines recently donated $1,000 to Atlantic General Hospital, to benefit the James G. and Nancy W. Barrett Nursing Scholarship Fund. Pictured, from left, are Marge Peake, Hanne Nilsson, Ellie Hewitt and Pam O'Dowd of the Retired Nurses of Ocean Pines with Colleen Wareing, vice president of patient care services at Atlantic General Hospital.   ...READ MORE

Pocomoke Company Donates to Delmarva Discovery Center

Bel-Art Products located in Pocomoke City generously donated a microscope, eye wash station, water quality tests and other scientific products to the Delmarva Discovery Center (DDC) to be used for aquarium maintenance and future outreach programs. Above, DDC Executive Director Brian Garrett is pictured Bel-Art President David Landsberger.   ...READ MORE

SHDS Inducts 81 Students to National Honor Society

Stephen Decatur High School recognized and inducted 81 students into the National Honor Society on April 14. Students' eligibility was evaluated based on scholastic achievement along with involvement in the community and leadership in the classroom. Newly inducted NHS members will work to raise money for Believe in Tomorrow and host numerous school events including Freshman Seahawk Day, parent conference nights, American Education Week and Senior Awards Nights.  Above, current society...READ MORE

Quilter Visits OC Elementary to Teach About Marine Animal Rescues

Dave Quilter recently visited Ocean City Elementary School to teach students about marine animal rescues.  Students learned about the importance of picking up trash so that it doesn't end up in the ocean and harm marine life.  Above, Quilter is pictured with third graders Jude Alhamad, Chad Fischer and Alyvia Ciurca.   ...READ MORE

Worcester Class of 2010 Students

Worcester Prep seniors of the Class of 2010 who started the school in preschool with teacher Jeanie Mancini and will graduate this month include, first row from left, Hunter Marshall, Mike Guerrieri, Fausto DiCarlo, Betsy Desmarais, Carrie Hall, Erin Timmons and Mancini; and, back, Alex Maccari, Justin Butler, Jason Pappas, John Lewis and Austin Cook.  ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Students Dress as Famous Americans

Josie Beachley, Cory Braica, Ross Quilter and Kylie Edgens in Mrs. Linda Brown's second grade class came dressed and prepared to report on famous Americans at Ocean City Elementary School.  ...READ MORE

Pre-K Students at OC Elementary Plant Seeds During "Growing" Unit

Students in Jennifer Fohner's pre-kindergarten class at Ocean City Elementary planted grass seed during their "Growing Things" unit. Above are Willa Novelli, Nate Doerzbach, Destiny Petersam, Savannah McCabe, Brooks Kendall, Shiloh Ponds, Stephanie Sampson, and Ella Truitt.  ...READ MORE

Showell Students Learn About Global Clean Water Crisis

Miss Bobik's second grade students at Showell Elementary learned about the Global Clean Water Crisis. In an effort to help those in need, they wrote to President Obama to express their concerns. Obama returned a letter to the students sharing their concerns and inspiring them to continue to learn and reach their goals. Above are Jacob Sturgill, Symone' Serrano and Jacob Stack.   ...READ MORE

Worcester Boys Claim ESIAC Title

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity lacrosse team capped off a remarkable season last Friday with a 16-5 win over Gunston in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament championship game. The Mallards cruised past Delmarva Christian, 14-1, last Wednesday to reach the tournament final again, while Gunston took out Salisbury School to punch its ticket to the championship game. Playing at home in front of big crowd, Worcester scored first on a goal by Ryan McGuire just...READ MORE

Seahawks Earn Six-Seed in States

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's boys' varsity lacrosse team got an interesting draw when the state Class 3A-East region brackets were announced this week, garnering a six-seed in the tournament which is three spots lower than its first round opponent, Wicomico, which Decatur beat twice during the regular season. Decatur is seeded sixth in the 3A-2A East region's eastern sectional, and faced third-seeded Wicomico in the opening round yesterday in a game played too late to be included in this edition....READ MORE

Seahawks Earn Two-Seed in States

Seahawks Earn Two-Seed in States BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity softball team punctuated its outstanding regular season with a double-header sweep of visiting Crisfield last week to clinch the Bayside South championship and learned three days later it would be the number-two seed in the state's Class 3A-East region tournament. The Seahawks were impressive all season, finishing with a 15-2 record, behind stingy pitching and timely, productive hitting from up and down the line-up. The two games...READ MORE

Mallards Fall to Sabres in Title Game

Mallards Fall to Sabres in Title Game BERLIN- Worcester Prep's girls' varsity lacrosse team fell to old rival Saints Peter and Paul, 9-8, last week in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) championship game in the latest installment of one of the classic rivalries on the shore. Something had to give last week when the Mallards faced the Sabres in the ESIAC title game for the seventh year in a row. Worcester won the previous two meetings in the title game, each time by one...READ MORE

Decatur Nine Seeded Second in 3A-East

Decatur Nine Seeded Second in 3A-East BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's varsity baseball team's path to a potential regional championship became clear on Wednesday, but the Seahawks will likely have to get by an old rival to achieve the goal. The Seahawks were rewarded for a highly successful 15-3 season this week with a number-two seed in the Class 3A-East region tournament and a first-round bye. Decatur will face the winner of the first round game between Reservoir (7) and Northeast (10) at home on...READ MORE

BOC Player of the Week

This week's Bank of Ocean City Player of the Week award for the Worcester Prep girls' varsity lacrosse team went to Austin Coates. Pictured above, from left are Coach Yetive Delaney, Coates, and Bank of Ocean City assistant vice president Earl Conley. Each week, a donation is made by BOC to Worcester Prep's athletic department in the player of the week's name.  ...READ MORE

Thoughts From the Publisher's Desk

For the first time, an official and independent study quantified the impact the White Marlin Open has on the Ocean City area. Although the figures are difficult to put into prospective because they are so huge, the bottom line is the annual billfishing tourney positively impacts everyone in this region. What's most interesting about the study, requested formally by Delegate Jim Mathias and conducted by the state's Department of Business and Economic Development's Division of Marketing &...READ MORE

Voices From the Readers

Taxi Medallion Fallout Editor: When a medallion system was proposed to 'clean up' and regulate the taxi system in Ocean City I, being a driver for four years, was happy. There were too many taxis, mostly driven by unscrupulous characters, ripping people off left and right. The legislation was intended to limit the number of taxis and to add new guidelines such as drug screenings, which was a great idea. But what ended up happening has turned out to be a nightmare for the drivers. The town added...READ MORE

OC Tax Rate Comes With Consequences

Unanimously, the Ocean City Mayor and Council approved a 50-percent increase in the per-day bus fare, starting next January. This was one of many decisions that allowed officials to retain the same property tax rate as last year. It was a huge deal the last time Ocean City raised its all-day bus fare, and this week's decision should result in a similar backlash, although it may be tempered by the fact the increase does not take effect until January. While we were among the few back in 2002 in...READ MORE

Rare Whale Found In Coastal Bays

OCEAN CITY•€' A rare sighting of what has been called the world's most elusive species of whale turned into a failed rescue attempt last Saturday in the Assawoman Bay, as divers tried in vain to save an 11-foot, 1,000-pound Gervais' Beaked Whale that had strayed far from its natural habitat. At approximately 12:30 p.m. last Saturday, a mammal that appeared to be 'a dolphin on steroids' was reported to be in distress and had beached itself on a sand spit 100 yards offshore in the Assawoman...READ MORE

Friday, May 14--City Engineer Pitches Green Projects

OCEAN CITY •€' The town of Ocean City is looking to take significant steps toward the popular green movement as it eyes adding geothermal, solar and even wind technology in or on city-owned facilities. City Engineer Terry McGean was given permission from the Mayor and City Council to move forward with a feasibility study that would determine which city buildings would be good fits for green technologies and the findings of that study were presented on Tuesday. Richard Anderson, of...READ MORE

Friday, May 14--Safety Record Reduces Berlin Insurance Costs

BERLIN - Berlin officials learned this week the town will realize a signficant decrease in its workman's compensation contributions for the coming year, largely because the insurance carriers are satisfied with the town's on the job safety record. The Mayor and Council learned on Monday the town's Injured Workers Insurance Fund (IWIF) workman's compensation contributions for the coming year are coming in at around $14,000, or about 12-percent lower than the current year. As a result, Berlin will...READ MORE

Friday, May 14--Sea Bass Season Extension Relieves Industry

OCEAN CITY - In a move that should provide relief to Ocean City recreational anglers and charter boat captains, federal officials announced last week the black sea bass season for 2010 will be extended by as many as 90 days, re-establishing a late fall, early winter fishery abruptly closed without warning in 2009. Black sea bass, one of the most important recreational fisheries for Ocean City and the entire east coast, was closed without warning in October when federal fisheries management...READ MORE

Friday, May 14--Springfest Tent Killer Gets Review

SNOW HILL - Nearly 11 years after beating a man to death with a tent spike near the set-up for Springfest in the Inlet parking lot in 1999, convicted killer Robert Sutton, Jr., sentenced to life in prison for the crime, has affectively petitioned the court for a post-conviction hearing this August that could lead to a new trial if he successfully argues his case. In mid-April, Sutton filed a petition for post-conviction relief in Worcester County Circuit Court, citing a laundry list of perceived...READ MORE

A Week in Business

Wound Care Recognized BERLIN - Atlantic General Hospital's Wound Care Center has been named a Center of Excellence by Diversified Clinical Services after receiving a second Center of Distinction Award for delivering outstanding results for 12 consecutive months in 2009. Diversified, a firm that manages 300 wound centers nationwide, bestows Center of Distinction Awards in recognition of an affiliated Wound Care Center meeting or exceeding benchmarks in healing outcomes, patient satisfaction, and...READ MORE

Council Approves $3 Bus Fare

OCEAN CITY •€' As of January, the Ocean City bus will still 'get you there' but it's going to cost an extra buck. As part of the revenue increases in the FY2011 Ocean City budget that was voted through to first reading on Wednesday, the City Council voted to increase the fare for both the Ocean city bus to $3 and to raise the fare to use the Park-n-Ride in West Ocean City to $2 and will earn the town six figures of added revenue in the short term and more like seven figures in the long...READ MORE

Council Dismisses Salary Cuts, Holds Tax Rate Steady

OCEAN CITY •€' The Ocean City Mayor and Council found a way to cut a penny from the proposed constant yield tax rate on Wednesday, but it refused to 'kill morale' by cutting town employee salaries further. Depending on perspective, the council either held the line on the tax rate by keeping it the same as last year's 39.5 cents per $100 assessed valuation or it potentially cut taxes for property owners due to declining assessments. Either way you look at it, however, the 6-1 vote, with...READ MORE

Late Changes Help Balance OC Budget

OCEAN CITY •€' En route to finding approximately $1 million in additional savings to trim the proposed tax rate from 40.5 cents per $100 assessed valuation to 39.5 cents, the Ocean City Mayor and Council made a handful of proverbial 11th hour changes this week in the annual budget wrap-up hearings. Among the changes was the raise in the bus fare from $2 to $3 as well as the increase in the fare for the West Ocean City Park-n-Ride from $1 to $2, but there were a number of other notable...READ MORE

Springfest Crowds Up 10%

OCEAN CITY •€' The 20th Annual Springfest celebration in Ocean City posted its highest numbers in five years as far as attendance goes, but according to town officials, the spending habits of those who came and went last weekend was still humble at best. Recreation and Parks Department Director Tom Shuster reported at Tuesday's Recreation and Parks Committee meeting that more than 103,000 people were estimated to have visited Springfest last weekend, exceeding last year's attendance numbers...READ MORE

White Marlin Open Fiscal Impact Exceeds $16 Million

OCEAN CITY - For years, it has been widely speculated the annual White Marlin Open, held each summer during the first week of August, was the peak of the summer season, generates millions in direct and indirect spending, but a study prepared by the state and released last week finally quantifies the economic impact of the event. At the request of tournament organizers, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) this year carefully researched and prepared an...READ MORE

Berlin Cuts Spending By 12%

BERLIN - Despite an overall decline in revenue, driven largely by a continued drop in the town's assessable real estate base, Berlin officials this week introduced a budget for fiscal year 2011 that includes no tax rate increase for local residents. The Berlin Mayor and Council on Monday formally introduced the proposed fiscal year 2011 budget, which comes in at about $12.4 million. The proposed budget declined from the current year by around $1.4 million, or about 12.4 percent less than...READ MORE

Berlin Park Work Ahead As Tourney Looms

BERLIN - Town officials this week approved funding to fix up the dilapidated basketball courts at Henry Park just in time for a two-day tournament slated for the facility over Memorial Day weekend. Two weeks ago, the Berlin Mayor and Council approved a request from a local youth support group Reaching Our Children for a two-day basketball tournament on May 28-29. Reaching Our Children is a local and regional mentoring program that supports troubled area youth through sports, tutoring and life...READ MORE

Berlin Seeking $800K In Fed Water, Sewer Funds

BERLIN - Town officials this week approved an application for state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding totaling $800,000 for the next phase of the town's effort to expand its estimated $9.4 million spray irrigation system expansion project. Each year, the state makes available millions of dollars in federal CDBG grants to towns and counties across Maryland for a wide variety of uses including public works projects. On Monday, the Mayor and Council approved an application for...READ MORE

CASA Holding Pirate Party To Help Fund Services

BERLIN - With a growing and diverse population in Worcester County has come an increase in the number of children needing a support system, and a huge part of the local safety net is holding one of its bigger fundraising events of the year this weekend to help meet the demand for services. The Lower Shore Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, a branch of Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, is asking for the community's support in the effort to 'Help Sink Child Abuse' with...READ MORE

Harbor Seal Released After Rehabilitation

OCEAN CITY - On a gloomy, damp mid-May morning yesterday, a harbor seal found injured on the beach in Ocean City in January somewhat reluctantly returned to the sea near the Inlet after a cushy four-month stint at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Hastings, a juvenile male harbor seal half-heartedly scooted out of a wooden crate on the beach at the Ocean City Inlet yesterday morning, made his way through 100 or more fans and swam into the ocean, lingering for a few minutes before heading...READ MORE

High Grass, Abandoned Houses Spark Debate

BERLIN - A discussion this week during the Berlin Mayor and Council meeting about the growing number of complaints about high grass at vacant or foreclosed houses in the town eventually came around to a debate about the town's policy regarding residences boarded up for an extended period of time. The continued sagging economy and the associated foreclosure crisis in towns like Berlin and all over the country have led to more vacant, unkempt properties throughout town limits. As a result, town...READ MORE

Local Man Gets 55 Years For Heinous Offenses

SNOW HILL - A Snow Hill man convicted in March on rape and child sex abuse charges after interviews with victims, his daughter and niece, last August revealed a long pattern of sexual abuse against them, was sentenced this week in Worcester County Circuit Court to a combined 55 years in prison for his offenses. Andrew Dominick Warrick, 41, of Snow Hill, appeared in Circuit Court on Wednesday for a sentencing hearing after he was convicted in March on several counts related to a continued pattern...READ MORE

Ocean City News in Brief

OCEAN CITY •€' In the brief this week, the City Council elected to change the verbiage in its ordinance dedicated to undomesticated animals, the Police Commission will move forward with its random drug testing for cab drivers and the figurehead of the town's mounted unit is hoping to be ready for action this summer Town To Drug Test All Cabbies Part of the town's new ordinance that requires cab companies to have medallions in order to operate also outlines the town's right to drug test any...READ MORE

Pocomoke Native Wants To Replace Martin As Sheriff

SNOW HILL - Worcester County will have a new sheriff next year, and Carroll Overholt would like to fill that post. Overholt, who describes himself as a fiscally conservative Democrat, officially filed to run for Worcester County Sheriff last week. Long-time incumbent Worcester County Sheriff Chuck Martin will not run for re-election due to health issues. Overholt and Chief Deputy Reggie Mason, a Republican, have filed so far to succeed Martin. A Pocomoke native, Overholt spent 25 years with the...READ MORE

Not The Wild, Wild West

BERLIN - A Texas man was arrested on a weapons charge last week after getting pulled over for speeding on a south Worcester County highway. Around 9:30 a.m. last Thursday, a Maryland State Police trooper on routine patrol pulled over a Hyundai Sonata on Route 13 near Pocomoke for speeding. When the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver, identified as James Duncan Anderson, 52, of Houston, Texas, advised the officer he had a handgun strapped to his ankle. Anderson told the trooper he had a...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

My son played so hard at his second birthday party it took him a couple days to recover. Beckett's big day, which of course means more to his parents than it really does to him at his age, was marked on the same day as Mother's Day. Consequently, we had our family over to celebrate both occasions. As most parents do, we went all out to celebrate our firstborn's birthday. He had no idea what was coming his way, and all in all it was a great weekend for our little guy, who actually turned 2 years...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where and When Musically Speaking

Sports Bar & Grille Old Bridge Road, West OC May 14: Under The Outhouse Saturday: Karaoke With Hey Mick The , Talbot St. On the bay May 22 & Sunday, May 23: Clendenen Salty Dog , 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. May 14: Bryan Russo Trio May 15: Bond & Bentley Sunday: Local's Party with DJ BK May 20: Electric Company bar & Grill off the boards on 2nd St. May 14: TBA, 1-5 p.m.; Pompous Pie, 7:30-11:30 p.m. May 15: Mike Armstrong Duo, 1-5 p.m.; Wes Davis Duo, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Resort...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Joyce Higbee OCEAN CITY - Joyce Higbee, age 70, died on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from Lung Cancer at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury. Born in Salisbury she was the daughter of the late Catherine Hudson. Higbee was a longtime resident of Ocean City where she raised her children and worked at the Cy's City Lunch Restaurant. She is survived by her children, Mike and Cheryl Nottingham of Ocean City, George Nottingham, Henrietta and Michael Drury of Fruitland and William "Bill"...READ MORE

Why Fed Won't Derail Recovery

OCEAN CITY - According to a number of financial commentators, the Federal Reserve's decision-makers will need to exercise split-second timing in the coming months as they attempt to encourage growth and keep inflation at bay. If the Fed tightens monetary policy too quickly by raising interest rates, the argument goes, an economy that's just getting back on its feet could stumble again. But if the Fed waits too long to act, inflation could spike •€' causing a new round of...READ MORE

People in Society

Snapshots of Those Lending a Helping Hand Throughout the Community ...READ MORE

Faces in Places

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

Things I Like

Little League baseball games  Celebrating my kids' birthdays People who proudly wear cowboy hats Women telling me how they were once Resorter cover girls Going to a concert at Springfest  The dad on •€˜Modern Family'  Old shorts that don't look it  Making chocolate milk at home  Finding no bills in the mailbox  Watching a squirrel work a nut  Kids chasing after each other  ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You might be a bit shaken by a friend's request. But before the Lamb leaps to conclusions, insist on a full explanation. You still might say no, but at least you'll know what you're saying no to. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Seeing red over those nasty remarks by someone with an ax to grind? Of course you are. So get out there and give your supporters the facts they need to get the truth out. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A changing situation should get you to...READ MORE

Mallards Cruise to ESIAC Title Game

BERLIN- Worcester Prep's boys' varsity lacrosse team cruised past visiting Delmarva Christian, 14-1, on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) tournament and will play for the conference title this afternoon. The Mallards left little to chance against the Royals, scoring early and often. Worcester led 12-0 at the intermission behind a five-goal first-half performance by Brad Regan. Justin Butler scored three goals in the first half and a flock...READ MORE