January 7, 2011

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your batteries should be fully recharged by now, making you more than eager to get back into the swing of things full time. Try to stay focused so that you don't dissipate your energies. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): You're eager to charge straight ahead into your new responsibilities. But you'll have to paw the ground a little longer, until a surprise complication is worked out. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Rival factions are pressuring you to take a stand favoring...READ MORE

Paying For Your Child's Wedding

OCEAN CITY – Weddings can be wonderful, emotional, memorable events — and they're even more so when the apple of your eye is making the vows. On such momentous occasions, you simply want your child to be happy and to support him or her in every way possible — including financially. But as we all know, nuptials aren't exactly inexpensive — the average cost of a wedding today is in the neighborhood of $24,000. A good first step, as you figure...READ MORE

Things I Like

Berlin's ball drop on New Year's

 Warm winter days

 Not making New Year's resolutions 

Long weekends at home

 Old sayings that still ring true Watching my son jump on his trampoline Kids at play in a neighborhood Getting home after a long day Carriage rides around Berlin Stinky cheese that tastes great The last bite of a great dinner 
 ...READ MORE

ESG Receives Plaque From SDHS Alum

Stephen Decatur High School Alumni Association Treasurer Ross Bergey, left, presents a plaque to Jacques Remmell, vice-president of Eastern Shore Gas Company, in appreciation for the firm’s donation of materials and labor in the building of the athletic field house at Stephen Decatur High School’s Seahawk Stadium.  The field house is now under construction. For more information and online giving opportunities to support the field house project, visit  HYPERLINK...READ MORE

Women's Council Of Realtors Holds Holiday Luncheon

The Coastal Delmarva Women’s Council of Realtors® held its annual Holiday Luncheon last month at Lighthouse Sound Restaurant.  In addition to recognizing new members, 2010 Affiliates were recognized and thanked for their continuing efforts on behalf of Coastal Delmarva WCR.   As part of our annual celebration, the chapter is proud to announce that its members and Affiliates raised $1,775 which was donated to Worcester County G.O.L.D.  Chapter members and Worcester...READ MORE

Pine'eer Craft Club Installs New Officers

At the Installation of Officers/Holiday Luncheon last month the Pine'eer Craft Club of Ocean Pines installed 2011 elected officers. Officers are President, Nancy Welsh; Vice President, Jackie Kollar; Recording Secretary, Linda Brindley; Treasurer, Sharon Puser; Assistant Treasurer, Margaret Long; Corresponding Secretary, Janet Rosensteel; Shop Treasurer, Margaret Lamphier; Assistant Shop Treasurer, Joan King; Shop Manager, Midge Powell; and Assistant Shop Manager, June Sassaman. ...READ MORE

OP Anglers Club Donates To Diakonia

Members of the Ocean Pines Anglers Club brought donations for the Diakonia homeless shelter in West Ocean City to a recent meeting. Over $400 in cash, five boxes of food and other supplies were presented to Diakonia Director Claudia Nagel and staff member Tom Wilson who attended the meeting. Above, Angler Board member Walt Boge, center, is pictured with Wilson and Nagel. ...READ MORE

1st Baby Of 2011 Born

Christina Brown and Jason Chituck, parents of Angelina Louise Chituck, Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s first baby of 2011 born at 3:03 a.m. on New Year’s Day. ...READ MORE

BIS Students Win Grow Berlin Green Contest

Berlin Intermediate School students Maggie Bunting and Cole Norman were awarded first place and second place, respectively, from Grow Berlin Green for collecting the most candy wrappers for a recycling contest. The students, pictured here with Principal Tom Zimmer and Grow Berlin Green Project Manager Debbi Colley, were awarded bags and school supplies made out of recycled materials. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

SDHS Drama Perform 34th Annual Children's Theatre

Stephen Decatur High School’s drama department presented its 34th Annual Children’s Theatre Production of "Scrapefoot, Goldilocks, and the Three Very Harry Bears" last month. The production was researched, directed and written by Gwendolyn Lehman. Above are AJ Long as Scrapefoot, Emma Heim as Goldilocks and Matt Matrona as Possum.  ...READ MORE

Santa Visits Showell Elementary School

Stephen Decatur High School’s drama department presented its 34th Annual Children’s Theatre Production of "Scrapefoot, Goldilocks, and the Three Very Harry Bears" last month. The production was researched, directed and written by Gwendolyn Lehman. Above are AJ Long as Scrapefoot, Emma Heim as Goldilocks and Matt Matrona as Possum. C. Stephen Decatur High School Accelerated Biology teacher Jim Krall instructs seniors Lauren Rolleston, Emma Heim and Sara Kessinger in a...READ MORE

American Education Week At SDHS

Stephen Decatur High School Accelerated Biology teacher Jim Krall instructs seniors Lauren Rolleston, Emma Heim and Sara Kessinger in a paper chromatography experiment during American Education Week. Throughout the week, Stephen Decatur High School welcomed parents and community members into the school to witness the instruction and various events taking place. ...READ MORE

NJROTC Awards Freshman

Stephen Decatur High School NJROTC Commander Christopher Deming awards freshman Brandon Alberto during inspection as Ensign junior Cedric Land and Cadet Lieutenant Commander senior Sean Ford look on.  ...READ MORE

DeJesus Involved In Many Aspects Of WPS

Lorenzo DeJesus, a freshman at Worcester Prep, takes charge of the lighting for many of the performances at the Berlin school. Lorenzo also sings in the Upper School Chorus, plays lacrosse and is a speaker and writer in oratorical and essay competitions. ...READ MORE

BIS Student Makes Paper

Kaya Purnell, a fifth grader at Berlin Intermediate School in the Beyond Afterschool program, shows her hand-made paper. He took recycled paper, blended it into slurry and pressed it with natural fibers and flowers to make paper. ...READ MORE

Beyond Afterschool Academy At BIS

Berlin Intermediate fifth grader Grader Montajha Bowen shows her knowledge of painter, Gustav Klimt, in the Beyond Afterschool Academy, Painting 101. Kathi Stevens runs the group twice a week, teaching kids about different painting styles and mediums. ...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

Adventures In Fatherhood

There’s nothing like the discovery of a dairy allergy to get a kid rolling. This seems to be the case with our 14-month-old Carson, who has been battling a nasty case of what was believed to be reflux since he was born. It turns out it wasn’t so much reflux but more a case of an allergic reaction influencing his digestion. It’s been terribly challenging and frustrating for us to watch our little guy consistently spit up whenever he was laid on his back or was crawling around or...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Joseph F. DiRenza BERLIN – Joseph F. DiRenza, 65, of Ocean City and formerly of Newark, Del. died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011 at Coastal Hospice At The Lake in Salisbury. He was born in Philadelphia and was the son of the late Joseph R. and Alice (Pharazyn) DiRenza. He was a purchasing agent for P.N.C. and was a member of St. Luke Catholic Church in Ocean City. He served in the Army during the war in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart.   He is survived by his wife, Katherine M....READ MORE

Roadside Armed Robbery

SNOW HILL – A Snow Hill man was arrested on armed robbery and assault charges last weekend after allegedly beating another man with a baseball bat on a side road off of Route 113. Around noon last Friday, Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI) detectives received information about a victim being transported to PRMC in Salisbury with serious injuries received during an armed robbery. WCBI detectives met with the victim, who told police during the early morning hours on December...READ MORE

Ehere To Eat Around Town

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

Things To Do

Jan. 7: 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. Jan. 7: Longaberger & Vera Bradley Bingo 6 p.m., doors open; 7 p.m., bingo begins; Bishopville Volunteer Fire Dept., main fire station, Bishopville. Sponsored by the Auxiliary with proceeds benefitting the fire dept. There will be 20 games (10 baskets, 10 bags), special games, instant bingo and 50/50. Cost: $20, in advance (9 cards),...READ MORE

Ocean Pines Teen Arrested In Armed Robberies Of Cab Driver

OCEAN CITY – A local man is behind bars this week on armed robbery, assault and other serious charges after a joint investigation by the Ocean City and Ocean Pines Police departments identified him as one of two suspects sought in a pair of strong-armed robberies of taxi cab drivers last week. Around 1:15 a.m. last Thursday, Ocean City police responded to the area of 5th Street and Edgewater Ave. in the resort in reference to an armed robbery that had taken place. The victim, an on-duty...READ MORE

Parrothead Club’s Mardi Gras Campaign To Start

BERLIN – The Ocean City Parrothead Club’s 11th Mardi Gras Kick Off Party, benefiting the PJ Aldridge Foundation and Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, will kick off on Friday, Jan. 14 at Seacrets on 49th Street in Ocean City. This free event will be held from 6-10 p.m. Seacrets will offer an extended happy hour and a great party atmosphere with DJ BK and DJ Batman. The Mardi Gras Kick-Off Party introduces the 2011 Royal Court of Ocean City. This year's King nominees are...READ MORE

Former Councilman Critical Of City Proposals

OCEAN CITY – Former Council President Joe Mitrecic returned during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting to offer his opinions on decreasing employee pay and benefits. Mitrecic approached the council during the discussion over the ordinance to base newly hired town employees pay scales on the 2005 Hendrick’s Study Chart, which would result in an 8.8-percent decrease across all pay levels for new employees. Mitrecic questioned the council on demoralizing current employees...READ MORE

Former County Teacher Joins Peace Corps In Jordan

BERLIN – An Ocean Pines resident and former Worcester County Public Schools teacher began a new chapter in her public service career this week when she was officially sworn in as a member of the Peace Corps in the Middle East nation of Jordan, where she will help those with disabilities. Joanne Evans-O’Neill, an Ocean Pines resident and former Berlin Middle School teacher, was officially sworn in as a member of the Peace Corps on Tuesday and officially began her two-year commitment...READ MORE

Todd Joins Wicomico County State’s Attorney Team

BERLIN – One day after his successor was officially sworn in, former State’s Attorney for Worcester County Joel Todd was sworn in as a deputy state’s attorney in neighboring Wicomico County and immediately began working on cases in that jurisdiction. Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby was officially sworn in on Monday in Snow Hill while his predecessor, Todd, was preparing for a similar ceremony in Wicomico County the following day. In the days and weeks after...READ MORE

The Dispatch Eyes Shore Stars

OCEAN CITY – Do you know of someone who gives of their time to make the community a better place to live and work? If so, The Dispatch wants to hear from you. According to Publisher Steve Green, “The Dispatch’s Shore Stars” has been launched to recognize leading citizens in Wicomico, Worcester and Sussex counties. Green said this week the plan is to hold three different campaigns each year shining a spotlight on a wide range of citizens in the region. The first campaign...READ MORE

Berlin New Year’s Celebration Draws Rave Reviews

BERLIN – The first-ever Berlin New Year’s Eve Celebration drew a crowd three times larger than anticipated last weekend. “I’m very, very pleased with the turnout,” said Mayor Gee Williams, who speculated that more than 1,000 people were on hand to watch the ball drop at midnight. “It’s just a very positive, uplifting way to start the New Year.” Barb Stack, a director with the town’s Chamber of Commerce who spearheaded the celebration, also...READ MORE

Record Blue Marlin Replica to be Unveiled

OCEAN CITY- A replica mount of the Maryland state record 1,062-pound blue marlin caught during the 2009 White Marlin Open will be officially unveiled next week at its new home in the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Angler Robert Farris of Charlotte, N.C. and the crew aboard the “No Problem” caught the massive 1,062-pound blue marlin on Wednesday of White Marlin Open week in 2009, toppling a tournament and state record that had stood for 20 years. Farris and WMO founder and...READ MORE

Pocomoke Routs Decatur Girls, 59-27

BERLIN- For the most of the second half of Tuesday’s home game against Pocomoke, Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team hung with the visiting Warriors, but a sluggish first half doomed the Seahawks to a 59-27 loss in their first game back after the holiday break. Decatur started slow against Pocomoke on Tuesday, falling behind 16-6 at the end of the first quarter. During the second half, the Warriors started to steadily pull away from Decatur as the Seahawks...READ MORE

Annual Super Bowl Scramble on Tap

BERLIN- With the field of teams for the NFL playoffs now set, it’s not too early to start making plans to participate in the annual Super Bowl Scramble at Eagle’s Landing in West Ocean City on February 6. The creative tournament has become a fixture on the winter sports schedule in recent year and this year should be no different. The tournament features a traditional four-player scramble format with a coach (the team’s A player), a quarterback, a wide receiver and a running...READ MORE

Former Mallard Named All American

BERLIN- Former Worcester Prep soccer standout Martin Sanchez last week was named to the freshman All-American team after an outstanding first season as a leader on defense at the U.S. Naval Academy. The accolades keep coming for Sanchez, who made an immediate impact on defense at Navy last fall. Earlier in December, the former Mallard was named to the Division I All-Mid-Atlantic Region team after his remarkable freshman year. Sanchez was named to the All-American team as a freshman last week by...READ MORE

Flounlacker

Decatur forward Leigh Anne Flounlacker brings the ball up court during the first half of the Seahawks’ 59-27 loss to Pocomoke on Tuesday. Photo by shawn soper ...READ MORE

Up and Down Week for Seahawks

BERLIN- It was an up and down week for Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team against a pair of Worcester County rivals, with the Seahawks beating Snow Hill on Monday, 59-46, before falling to Pocomoke, 42-33, in a low scoring game on the road on Tuesday. After competing in the Governor’s Challenge in Salisbury during the holiday break, the Seahawks hit the ground running when schools reopened this week with a pair of games against Snow Hill and Pocomoke on...READ MORE

Wise

One area where the Seahawks had some success during Tuesday’s loss to Pocomoke was the free-throw line. Pictured above, Monique Wise converts a free throw during the first half of the Seahawks’ loss to the Warriors. Photo by shawn soper ...READ MORE

Expanded Casino A Concern For Some

OCEAN CITY – Less than 24 hours after the Casino at Ocean Downs opened on Tuesday, some resort area business leaders and elected officials were already casting a wary eye toward the new slots facility. The Casino at Ocean Downs opened to big crowds on Tuesday afternoon after a ribbon-cutting ceremony and speeches by state and local elected officials, but resort business leaders on Wednesday expressed concern the new slots facility might someday exceed its limitations. For years, Ocean City...READ MORE

Council Rejects Request To Lift Hiring Freeze

OCEAN CITY – The City Council denied this week a request to lift the hiring freeze that has been looming over the town’s public safety departments the last couple years. City Manager Dennis Dare, Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and Fire Chief Chris Larmore have repeatedly expressed to the council their need in hiring officers, fire fighters and paramedics. Currently, the police department is in need of six police officers and the fire department needs six fire...READ MORE

Employee Pay, Benefit Changes Okayed In Split Votes

OCEAN CITY – It’s no secret that the Mayor and City Council have become a split government in regards to the town’s financial position and the council’s responsibilities concerning it. After the municipal elections last October, the addition of Councilman Brent Ashley formed a new majority vote amongst the council that includes Council members Joe Hall, Jim Hall and Margaret Pillas. Leaving the minority of the vote on most decisions to include Doug Cymek, Mary Knight and...READ MORE

State’s 2nd Slots Facility Now Open At Ocean Downs

BERLIN – Amid much fanfare, the highly anticipated Casino at Ocean Downs officially opened for business on Tuesday, completing a long and often arduous trek for the state’s second slots facility near Berlin. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and a large contingent of state and local elected officials and dignitaries officially opened the Casino at Ocean Downs on Route 589 near Ocean Pines on Tuesday with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony while a throng gathered outside for...READ MORE

Ocean City Mayor Urged To Veto Ordinances

OCEAN CITY – The mayor faces a lengthy list of decisions as 11 ordinances, concerning town employee pay scales and benefits, passed second reading during Monday night’s meeting, leaving him deliberating over the power of the veto. “I have to ask the mayor to veto these ordinances … and have them brought back for serious conversations that includes facts and figures,” former Council President Joe Mitrecic said. “Otherwise you might as well throw a dart to the...READ MORE

Oglesby Called Masterful Prosecutor As He Takes Office

SNOW HILL – State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby was sworn into office Monday in front of a crowd of officials, friends and family. “It’s no secret why Beau has ascended,” said Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, who worked with Oglesby when he was a prosecutor for Wicomico County. Lewis pointed out the great working relationship Oglesby had with law enforcement “I could quickly see that he’s what most law enforcement officers call a ‘masterful...READ MORE

Citizens Blast City Council Over Employee Changes

OCEAN CITY – The forceful presence of local citizens and employees did not faze the majority of the City Council this week, as they passed all ordinances to reduce town employee pay and benefits. Throughout the meeting, which resulted in 11 ordinances being passed in 4-3 votes, speakers expressed their views on the new direction the town is headed. Retired town employee and resort resident John Adkins was a frequent speaker. “I would rather chew nails then what you’re doing to...READ MORE

Community Should Be Proud Of Event

Editor: Thanks to the efforts of a handful of people, the Town of Berlin’s Main Street Program successfully hosted about 1,000 residents and guests at Berlin’s first-ever, community-wide New Year’s Eve celebration to welcome 2011. On behalf of the Town Council and the citizens of Berlin, I wish to thank town resident Barb Stack for first suggesting the idea and then following through with a great volunteer effort to ensure its success.  Also, the success of the event owes...READ MORE

The Casino at Ocean Downs opened this week, and it was an occasion I didn’t want to miss. Here are some observations:

-- Overall, the facility seemed to meet or surpass most expectations and its opening certainly created some excitement among area residents. When I arrived at 11:30 a.m. to the opening ceremony, there was a line of 100 people waiting to be the first in the doors at 1 p.m. This was a surprise to me, since the place is going to be open from 8 a.m.-2 a.m. every day, but one resident I spoke to said she wanted to be a “part of local history.” She said she had $100, or a single Ben...READ MORE

Is This The New Normal For Ocean City?

Shortly after the municipal election last October, we heard a lot of nonsense about unity and putting aside differences from some members of the Ocean City Mayor and Council. At the time, it was obvious this was a hopeful load of hogwash and soon after the divide between the voting seven, plus the mayor, became crystal clear. That division has revealed itself repeatedly in the two months since that election and spiked this week during a discussion of changes to employee compensation. It’s...READ MORE

Berlin Building Closed After Snow Damages Roof

BERLIN – Weather damage to a town restaurant required emergency repairs Thursday and is projected to call for additional work next week. The roof above Goobers, a landmark Berlin eatery on Pitt St., began showing signs of caving this week after the heavy snowfall Worcester County received last week. “It’s buckling into the street,” said Chuck Ward, the town’s Superintendent of Planning and Zoning. “The building is not secure right now.” While the damage...READ MORE

Dime-A-Drink Tax Hike Again Proposed

OCEAN CITY – A movement to hike the alcohol tax in Maryland, called the “dime a drink” tax by proponents, appears to be gaining momentum again as the opening of the General Assembly session nears next week. With the support of a vast coalition of advocacy groups, armed with an updated report released this week by Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, an increasing number of state lawmakers are proposing to renew legislation calling for a...READ MORE

New Delegate Previews Legislative Approach

OCEAN CITY – Resort business leaders this week got a formal introduction to their newest representative in the House of Delegates, and if they didn’t know recently elected Mike McDermott before, they certainly got an appreciation of what he is all about. The Ocean City Economic Development Committee (EDC) held its annual legislative breakfast. With Senator-elect Jim Mathias on a pre-session hiatus and Delegate Norman Conway and Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Dennis Rasmussen absent,...READ MORE

Notorious Arsonist Sentenced To 18 Months In Jail

SNOW HILL – A notorious Ocean City arsonist, who over 20 years ago went on a burning spree throughout the resort causing millions of dollars worth of damage, was sentenced this week to 10 years in jail for his latest crime in March. John Edward Cropper, 46, appeared in Circuit Court in Snow Hill on Wednesday for a sentencing hearing for convictions in August on second-degree arson, malicious destruction of property and trespassing charges after being arrested in March for attempting to set...READ MORE

Monthly Rabies Clinics Planned In Worcester County

SNOW HILL – With the increase in rabies cases in Maryland over the last few years, Health Department officials are urging pet owners to keep vaccinations up to date. “We want people to do appropriate things to lessen risk,” said Worcester County Health Department Rabies Coordinator Janet Tull. In an effort to encourage residents to get pets vaccinated, the Health Department, in conjunction with Animal Control, will be offering Rabies Clinics several times over the course of the...READ MORE

Ocean City News In Brief

OCEAN CITY – The Planning and Zoning Commission and Mayor and City Council agendas this week contained a few items of discussion. Here’s a review: Request To Purchase Right-of-Way Adjacent property owners’ request to purchase city land from the Mayor and City Council located at the south end of Mediterranean Dr. was presented in a public hearing. City Engineer Terry McGean also requested that the failing bulkhead, storm drainpipe and outfall also be included in the requirements...READ MORE

Reassessment Shows Most Property Values Decline

BERLIN – The latest batch of reassessment notices hit mailboxes in a vast swath of Worcester County this week, and most in the assessed area saw their property values decline since the last reassessment, but the slope of decrease is far less pronounced than the exaggerated spike upward seen three years ago. Over the last 12 months, assessors with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) have been re-evaluating residential and commercial properties in the southern portion of...READ MORE