December 17, 2010

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Although taking advice isn't always easy for the headstrong Sheep, you might want to consider what someone you respect says about an upcoming decision. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): A new offer is tempting, but don't be bullied into a quick decision. Rely on your keen Bovine business sense to alert you to anything that might be questionable. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Your Gemini Twin nature rallies to help you deal with this week's hectic schedules, both in your...READ MORE

Things I Like

Sugar cookies

Taking my kids to Winterfest

The Palette in Snow Hill

Having a real tree in the house Looking forward, rather than behind Hearing rain from bed Books about dogs Those “big check” presentations People who help strangers Sound of laughter in a house The Ravens’ all black jerseys ...READ MORE

Bank Of Ocean City Helps With New Field House

A $10,000 leadership gift has been made by the Bank of Ocean City to the capital campaign to build a new athletic field house at Stephen Decatur High School’s Seahawk Stadium. The capital campaign is a project of the SDHS Alumni Association. Above, Bank of Ocean City’s Senior Vice President Dot Simpson, President Wayne Benson, Vice President Kathy Drew, Vice President Harry Hammond and Senior Vice President Denise Lane present the bank’s donation to Principal Lou Taylor....READ MORE

United Way Receives Generous Donation From AGH Employees

Peninsula Regional Medical Center recently presented United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore with a check totaling $156,000 representing employee contributions toward United Way’s Annual Community Campaign. Pictured, from left, are Peggy Naleppa, PRMC President/CEO; Tim Feist, PRMC Vice President; Performance Improvement/Patient Safety Officer and United Way Board President; Warner Crumb, PRMC Executive Director of Orthopedics and Neurosciences; Gwyn Kravec, PRMC Director HIM, Privacy...READ MORE

OPAC Presents Awards For Largest Fish Of 2010

The Ocean Pines Anglers Club at its December meeting presented awards for the largest fish in eight categories caught in 2010. Pictured, from left, are winners Don Wilson, Al Kindley, Tom Nelson, Walt Boge and Mo Constant. ...READ MORE

Nason Construction Donates To Penguin Swim

Earl Bethards, project manager with Nason Construction, Inc., presents a $1,000 check for the Atlantic General Hospital 17th Annual Penguin Swim to Chris Anderson, plant operations manager, and Colleen Wareing, vice president of patient care services, in support of the AGH Flapping Flamingos Team. ...READ MORE

Story Time With Mrs. Clause

The Original Smith Island Cake Company hosted Story Time with Mrs. Clause last weekend benefiting the Children's House by the Sea and Diakonia. Above are some of the participants. ...READ MORE

Open Houses This Week

WEST OCEAN CITY Bay Point Plantation Rt589/Gum Point Rd Daily 10-5 Waterfront Estate Lots in 142 Acre Preserve Kevin Decker The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 443-235-6552 OCEAN CITY Coconut Malorie 60th Street Bayfront Open Daily 1BR w/ Views Jim White ReMax Premier Properties 410-726-9026 OCEAN CITY Makai Condominiums 42nd St. Bayside Daily 10-4 New Construction 2BR & Studio Condos Ben Dawson The Fritschle Group/ Condominium Realty 410-603-2205 WEST OCEAN CITY Sailor's Watch Golf...READ MORE

Top Agents Recognized

Top Agents Recognized BERLIN – Shamrock Realty Group named Ron Wesche as top sales agent and Jim Volk as top listing agent for the month of November. Wesche has been with Shamrock from its beginning in 2006. He also works with Shamrock’s affiliate T&G Builders as sales manager and continues to be a top performer.   Volk joined Shamrock Realty Group earlier this year. Office Relocates BERLIN – The office of Christopher D. Hoen, CRPC®, financial advisor with...READ MORE

Giving When Crisis Strikes

OCEAN CITY – Gillian Howell still marvels at her clients' responses to the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake that ravaged the island nation of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. "One family, who had connections with many of the aid organizations that were doing relief work, actually went to Haiti and volunteered for quite a while," says Howell, head of private philanthropy for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. "They were involved in different community...READ MORE

Arrest Made In Vehicle Assault

BERLIN – A Berlin man was arrested on assault charges this week after an investigation connected him to an incident in October during which he intentionally attempted to run a vehicle off the road on Route 50. The Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI) this week charged Marqui D. Henry, 33, with three counts of second-degree assault after concluding an investigation into an incident dating back to late October. On Oct. 21, WCBI detectives were notified of an assault involving a...READ MORE

Adventures In Fatherhood

Thanks largely to Pam, there’s a lot of Christmas spirit flowing through the house these days. That’s why I almost went cross-eyed when last Friday she floated the idea of possibly having two trees this year, the customary fake one along with a real one. It wasn’t so much that I thought it was overkill, although that thought may have slipped into my psyche at one point, but more the fact that we had been waging an ongoing battle of wills with Beckett, our 2 ½-year-old,...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Sally Palmer Shipley BERLIN – Sally Palmer Shipley, 41, died Dec. 9, 2010 at her home. She was born in Salisbury to Rollie and Roberta Willis Palmer. She worked for Atlantic Dental as a patient coordinator and helped out at Angelo's Restaurant. She also sat with patients at Atlantic General Hospital. She was a member of Hope with Support. She is survived by her husband, Mark Shipley, and her parents Rollie and Roberta Palmer. She was predeceased by her son, Trever Rollie Hewitt. Services...READ MORE

BZA Approves LED Sign For Berlin Fire Company

BERLIN – The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) granted the Berlin Fire Department (BFD) a variance this week, allowing the installation of a new LED sign on its property. However, the BZA did attach a few stipulations onto the approval. Representatives of both the BFD and Selby Signs, the company that would be responsible for creating the new sign, addressed the BZA. Berlin Superintendent of Planning and Zoning Chuck Ward informed the assembly that several criteria would have to be met for the...READ MORE

Air Show Dates Finalized For June 11-12

OCEAN CITY – The ongoing battle over what weekend the OC Air Show will be held this summer has come to a rest, but additional concerns surfaced about the event at City Hall this week. The Mayor and City Council had asked the newly formed Tourism Advisory Board to meet with Ocean City Air Show Coordinator Bryan Lilley and poll the business community in deciding on the most effective date to hold the Ocean City Air Show in the approaching summer. “A lot of the feedback did show that...READ MORE

Ocean City Seeks Public Input On New Boardwalk

OCEAN CITY – The re-construction of the Boardwalk has been looming over government leaders for a couple years, and options were presented at this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting on how the town could go about the massive project. Ocean City’s Boardwalk extends from the Inlet to 27th street, reaching 11,850 feet. According to the Boardwalk Summary Report presented this week, most of the structure supporting the Boardwalk is over 50 years old. In the past, Mother Nature has...READ MORE

Fraud Scheme Targets Local Businesses

OCEAN CITY – Resort police this week are alerting area residents about a fraud scheme involving an out-of-country scam artist targeting businesses in the Ocean City area. The OCPD this week issued a warning about a fraud scheme targeting local businesses with the perpetrators utilizing Text Telephone Yoke (TTY) relay operators. One Ocean City business has already been targeted, but contacted the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) before becoming a victim in the scam. According to OCPD...READ MORE

Berlin Mayor Pulls Rank In Atlantic Hotel Dispute

BERLIN – Bob McIntosh resigned as chair of the Berlin Historic District Commission (HDC) Monday after Mayor Gee Williams overturned a ruling the HDC had made regarding the Atlantic Hotel. The original decision made by the HDC was that the hotel would not be allowed to replace its standard wooden windows with vinyl look-a-likes. After the ruling, hotel representatives appealed the decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The case was scheduled for Monday night. However, the appeal was...READ MORE

Guilty Verdict In Pocomoke Shooting Case

SNOW HILL – A Fort Washington, Md. man faces life in prison this week after being found guilty on attempted murder and other charges for a shooting incident in Pocomoke last May. Last Friday, Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Richard Bloxom found Alexander Crippen, 36, of Fort Washington, guilty on attempted first-and second-degree murder charges following a two-day trial in Snow Hill last week. At the close of the trial last Tuesday, Bloxom reserved judgment to further review the...READ MORE

Armed Robber Gets 6 Years

SNOW HILL – A Pocomoke man, one of three arrested in connection with an armed robbery spree in the south end of Worcester County in June, pleaded guilty last week to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in jail, half of which was suspended. Around 11:35 p.m. on June 9, the clerk of the Goose Creek convenience store in Pocomoke was attempting to lock up for the night when she was confronted by three masked men who had just entered the store. One of the men...READ MORE

Coastal Hospice’s Plans To Open In Berlin Advance

BERLIN – Plans for a new Coastal Hospice in Berlin advanced after the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) granted a request for conditional use to the facility. The BZA approval comes a few weeks after the Berlin Mayor and Council granted a similar request from the organization. While the facility is only in the planning stages, the location will be in the area of Ann Drive, to the northerly side of Broad St. Berlin Superintendent of Planning and Zoning Chuck Ward pointed out that...READ MORE

Resort To Buy Disposal Bags For Bedbug-Infested Furniture

OCEAN CITY – Bedbugs have caused heaps of furniture to be piling up around town, leading Ocean City officials to remind property owners how to properly dispose of the infested pieces. The Public Works Department refuses to further collect the furniture until properly wrapped for disposal. Bedbugs have been showing up in increased numbers in international travel and have become a minor problem in town due to Ocean City’s international population. The risk of bedbugs increase in places...READ MORE

SDHS Raises Money For WCDC

Stephen Decatur High School faculty members, administrators and students worked throughout the fall raising money for the completion of the new Worcester County Developmental Center.  The efforts resulted in a grand total of $11,000 donated to the new facility.  On hand for a check presentation were, from left, Special Education Department Chair Amanda Celmer, student James DiBuo, National Honor Society President Bry Bishop, student Leigh Anne Flounlacker, student Sarah Tull,...READ MORE

Hands On Learning At OCES

While engaging in the STEM unit, Magnets, students at Ocean City Elementary in Windy Phillips’ first grade class discovered how iron fillings attract to magnets. STEM is an extensive hands-on learning experience that generates excitement for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Pictured are Emma Carey, Caleb Cody, Dominick Doyle and Maddie Dang. ...READ MORE

WPS Students Help Those Less Fortunate

Worcester Preparatory School students in grades preschool through fifth selected and wrapped presents for children who would not otherwise receive presents during the holiday season. The program was organized through the Worcester Country Sheriff’s Department. With their gifts for other children are, from left, Braedan Lehman, Bo Bischoff, Abby Reynolds, Lauren Cannatelli and, back, Sydney Stebenne, and Fiona Pando. ...READ MORE

Outdoor Learning At Showell

Showell Elementary third grade students Kylie Whittaker and John Karacoulakis and Master Gardeners Barbara Pardee, Ann Fairfield, Debbie List, Cathy Laws, Robin Wolinski and Jill Hudson have invested 40 hours in the field at Showell Elementary’s children’s garden. The garden provides an outdoor learning environment where students combine nature with science and math to explore concepts using tangible dynamics. ...READ MORE

Integrated Reading At SES

First grader Aeriel Zane and teacher Anne Mears are pictured working together on an integrated reading and technology lesson at Buckingham Elementary School. ...READ MORE

Random Acts Of Kindness Club At WPS

Worcester Preparatory School Random Acts of Kindness Club is sending Christmas cards and messages to the wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Pictured, front from left, are Jarad Godwin, Mikalah Potvin, Shea Dowling and Amanda Gabriel; second row, John Meakin, Scott Klug, Kathryn O'Malley and Taylor Zarif; and, third row, Dr. Fred Spurlock, Head of Middle School, Linda Smith, social studies teacher and RAK advisor, and students Conor May, Bennett Truitt, Caleb...READ MORE

Totem Poles At SES

Third grade students from Showell Elementary School learned about the Pueblo tribe's culture and made Totem Poles to describe their inner animal spirits. Pictured, back, are Eliza Siegel, Dylan Langworthy and Kaylyn Cobb, and, front, Adam Smith, Lauren Kennard and Joey Carpenter. ...READ MORE

Where To Eat

West Ocean City- Berlin Ocean Pines 707 Sports bar & grille 12702 Old Bridge Road (Route 707), West Ocean City • 410-213-9507 We may have changed hands, but we are still the same locally known Sports Bar in West Ocean City, and yes we are open everyday 11a.m.-2 a.m. Everything on our menu is made to order from our Homemade Soups, Salads,  new and improved Crab Dip, Mussels, the only place that serves the “Full Wing” Quesadillas, 1/2 lb. Burgers, Crab cakes, Fresh cut...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where And When

707 Sports Bar & Grille 410-213-9507 12702 Old Bridge Road, West OC Friday, Dec. 17: Christmas Party, DJ Bigler, 7 p.m. Every Saturday: Karaoke with Hey Mick, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 17: TBA Saturday, Dec. 18: TBA Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.   Ocean Club: Friday, Dec. 17 & Saturday, Dec. 18: First Class Thursday, Dec. 30: Arizona Dr.Unks Bar & Grille 410-213-7775 9636 Stephen Decatur Hwy., West...READ MORE

Things To Do Around The Area

Dec. 17: Holy Savior/KC Bingo Doors open 6 p.m.; games begin, 7 p.m.; 9901 Coastal Hwy., O.C. Re-freshments will be on sale. For more information, 410-524-7994. Dec. 18: Building Materials Sale 8 a.m.-noon, Habitat for Humanity, Worcester Co., 301 E. Market St., Snow Hill. Every first and third Saturday. Building materials, appliances, doors, windows, cabinets, vanities, fixtures and more. Selec-tion and pricing varies. Cash only. Habitat plans to use all proceeds from warehouse sales to fund...READ MORE

Letters To The Editor

Surprised By Paper’s Lack Of Parade Coverage Editor: I was hugely disappointed in your paper's lack of coverage of the Ocean City Christmas Parade held on Saturday, Dec. 4. You did post color pictures on the cover of this week's Dispatch, but there is no article anywhere in your paper that mentions who participated in the parade, how many floats and what groups those floats represented, etc.  I find it hard to believe that you had no reporter available to interview spectators in...READ MORE

All Wood Makes Most Sense On Boardwalk

Ocean City wants to hear from the public about a number of options available to reconstruct the resort’s famous Boardwalk. Years ago, a similar approach to a Boardwalk decking project was taken, and the citizens overwhelmingly said they want it to be kept wooden. Times change and it’s worthwhile to gauge public sentiment once again. However, we think it’s bound to be the same majority opinion – wooden is the way to go. The Boardwalk is one of Ocean City’s most...READ MORE

Between The Lines

One of the recommendations included in Ocean City Engineer Terry McGean’s proposal to overhaul the Boardwalk surface and support system was the installation of fiber optic cable for security cameras. While this may touch a nerve with some who are bothered by the “big brother” nature of it, I think there are benefits to placing cameras on the Boardwalk, and there’s no better time to apply the infrastructure for them than while the entire Boardwalk is being...READ MORE

Berlin Compromises On Sprinkler Issue

BERLIN – After a month of speculation and debate, a decision has finally been reached on whether Berlin will exempt itself from the state mandate requiring sprinkler systems to be installed in all new one- and two-family dwellings. After input from the public, a suggestion was made by a local resident for a compromise – exempting only single-family dwellings and not duplexes from mandatory sprinkler systems. It was a suggestion the council agreed with, passing it with only one...READ MORE

Casino Preps For Early January Opening

BERLIN – While the new Casino at Ocean Downs will not open in 2010 as planned, preparations are underway for a grand opening just after the start of the new year. Casino at Ocean Downs officials last week announced plans are in place for a Jan. 4, 2011 grand opening complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Governor Martin O’Malley and several other state and local dignitaries. The original target date, Dec. 16, announced earlier this fall came and went yesterday, but the $45...READ MORE

Roller Coaster Now Missing From Downtown Skyline

OCEAN CITY – Residents and visitors to the resort area have likely noticed a decided void in the downtown Ocean City skyline, as a majority of the Tidal Wave roller coaster at Trimper’s Rides was recently taken down for a planned major refurbishment. Earlier this month, a huge crane appeared in the downtown area to begin dismantling the top 75 feet or so of the Tidal Wave, including the familiar V-shape tracks that jut prominently into the south Ocean City skyline. Six large sections...READ MORE

Second Convenience Store Armed Robber Arrested

BERLIN – A second suspect wanted in connection with the armed robberies of convenience stores in Ocean Pines and Pittsville in August was taken into custody this week and remains behind bars in the Worcester County Jail on a $150,000 bond. Around 1 a.m. on Aug. 25, two masked men, one of whom was brandishing a handgun, entered the Shore Stop on Route 589 in the Pines, flashed the gun and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk complied with the demands and the suspects fled the scene with...READ MORE

Shelter Hoping Christmas Wish Rings True For Special Dog

OCEAN CITY – Worcester County Humane Society (WCHS) has sheltered and cared for a dog whose fight for life deserves for her Christmas wish to be answered. According to Meggin McKnight of the Worcester County Humane Society, Jazz was left on the shelter’s doorstep a few months ago. Jazz is the mother of the puppy featured in the beginning of October that was adopted by a family from Baltimore via Facebook. “She was almost starved to death and was skin and bones with the...READ MORE

Berlin To Host New Year’s Eve Event

BERLIN – An extension of Berlin’s Victorian Christmas celebration to encompass an inaugural New Year’s Eve event was among one of several items brought up at Monday’s Mayor and Council meeting. Also included was a church’s request to extend park hours for a Christmas event and a warning for work-related temporary power trouble in Berlin. The Mayor and Council discussed a request for the town’s first New Year’s Eve celebration. Berlin Economic and...READ MORE

County Murder Suspect Sought

SNOW HILL – A new suspect charged in the shooting death of a Pocomoke man in broad daylight in May remains at large this week and is considered armed and “extremely dangerous.” The Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office yesterday morning announced a suspect, identified as Skylor Dupree Harmon, 21, of Pocomoke, has been formally charged with first-degree murder and other related charges in the shooting death of Reginald Handy in Pocomoke on May 26. Harmon remains...READ MORE

New Partnership Keeps Golf Show In Resort Market

OCEAN CITY – The resort area’s golf community nearly lost a regional marketing tool when Endless Golf promoter, producer and on-air talent Bobby Vermillion almost pulled up stakes and moved his operation south, but a late partnership forged with a local marketing group will keep the prolific cable program grounded in Ocean City. For nearly two decades, Vermillion has introduced millions of golfers to Ocean City courses and all the resort has to offer through a couple of local and...READ MORE

Lunch Highlights Critical Need Of Programs

BERLIN – Elected officials and legislators received the opportunity on Monday to meet with the directors and members of several Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) programs. The luncheon, which was sponsored by the Worcester County Local Management Board (LMB) and held in “The Ray” room in Berlin, gave officials the rare chance to meet face-to-face with the young adults and families that depend on WYFCS. “It’s like speed dating for...READ MORE

New Saltwater Fishing License Comes With Fee

OCEAN CITY – For the second time in as many years, local anglers will see another significant change in the licensing requirements to fish in and around the resort and this time around they will have to pay for it. Starting Jan. 1, anglers who fish in Maryland will be required to purchase a single, comprehensive saltwater sportfishing license. For 25 years, recreational anglers fishing in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have been required to purchase and hold a saltwater fishing...READ MORE

Ocean City Shifts More Of Health Costs To Employees

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council returned on Tuesday to a motion made a couple of weeks ago to change health benefit co-shares for new employees in efforts to cut costs. The current rate for the town’s HMO plan is a 90/10 co-share, and for the PPO plan it is an 85/15 co-share. The proposed plan is to shift the HMO to a 90/10 co-share for the employee and to add a 80/20 co-share for their spouse and children. For the PPO plan, the proposal is an 85/15 co-share for the employee...READ MORE

City Officials Spar Over Continuing Hiring Freeze

OCEAN CITY – Elected officials got into a heated debate during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting over the urgency to lift the hiring freeze in the town’s public safety departments. While the council was discussing the town’s health benefits and how it needed to decide on what course of action to take in order to lift a hiring freeze that has been placed for quite some time now, Councilman Joe Hall pointed out there were two department heads in the audience that...READ MORE

Council Moves Forward With Employee Benefit Changes

OCEAN CITY – At this week’s meeting, the Ocean City Mayor and Council reviewed the 11 motions made during a meeting held a couple of weeks ago – to refine newly hired town employees benefits in attempts to cut down on expenses. During the discussion, the retiree’s pension plan was revisited and the council voted to move it one step closer to a 401(a) plan. Human Resources Director Wayne Shelton and Mike Beczowski from Bolton Partners Investment Consulting Group, Inc. were...READ MORE