February 18, 2011

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Time is on your side in the early part of the week. But anything left undone by midweek will need to be put into rush mode. The weekend offers choices for you and someone special. TAURUS (April 30 to May 20): Finally getting credit for a contribution is nice for all you idea-generating Ferdinands and Fernandas. But don't sit on your laurels under the cork tree. Use it as a first step to a bigger opportunity. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Despite the progress made, a...READ MORE

Outlook 2011: Sluggish Growth, Potentially Stronger Markets

OCEAN CITY -- The top analysts at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research, who gather in December each year to share their thoughts on key trends and opportunities in the year to come, are delivering mixed opinions for 2011. On the downside, a combination of stubbornly high unemployment, cautious spending by consumers and lagging home prices in the U.S. seems likely to keep the domestic economy from gaining much momentum. Yet they are more optimistic about the prospects for financial markets,...READ MORE

Decatur's Tre Foreman

In his first game back after missing a handful with an injury, Decatur’s Tre Foreman goes strong to the basket during Tuesday’s 74-43 loss to Mardela. Foreman finished the game with 10 points. Photo by Shawn Soper ...READ MORE

Decatur's Soghomonian

Decatur’s Johnny Soghomonian gets the Seahawks on the board in the state Class 4A-3A East region tournament with a win in the 160-pound class on Wednesday. ...READ MORE

Decatur's Flounlacker

Decatur’s Leigh Anne Flounlacker goes up strong for a lay-up during the second quarter of Tuesday’s 55-33 loss to Mardela. Photo by Shawn Soper ...READ MORE

Decatur Girls Fall to Mardela, 55-33

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team dropped a tough one to visiting Mardela, 55-33, this week after hanging with the Warriors early in the contest. Mardela jumped out to a quick, 14-3, lead before most of the crowd found their seats for the “Think Pink” double-header that featured both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams in support of breast cancer awareness on Tuesday. Decatur’s players wore pink socks as part of their regular...READ MORE

Seahawks Claim Regional Championship

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team rallied from an early deficit to win the state Class 4A-3A-East Region tournament at home on Wednesday, topping Old Mill, 37-33, in dramatic fashion to advance to the state Final Four. The Seahawks beat South River in the region semifinals at home on Wednesday, while Old Mill took down South River. Against Old Mill in the regional championship match, the Seahawks fell behind early, 6-0, with a pin in the 152 match, but Johnny Soghomonian got...READ MORE

Decatur Track Teams Strong in Regionals

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity indoor track teams made a strong showing at the state Class 3A-East Region meet in Baltimore on Tuesday with the boys finishing fourth overall out of the 14 teams represented and the girls finishing sixth. For the boys’ team, defending state champion pole vaulter Bradley Hollowell took first in the event in the 3A-East regionals on Tuesday, while Dan Cericola finished second. Cordonte Ayres also enjoyed a successful meet with a second place finish in...READ MORE

Seahawks Feeling Blue After Think Pink Loss

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team lost to visiting Mardela, 74-43, on Tuesday as the Seahawks’ current losing streak reached four games. Decatur faced the Warriors at home on Tuesday in the back half of Decatur’s “Think Pink” doubleheader for breast cancer awareness, but the final outcome likely had the Seahawks feeling blue. Mardela got out to a quick 7-2 lead in the first quarter before the Seahawks started getting its offense rolling....READ MORE

Leadership Gift

A leadership gift of $25,000 has been made by the E. Bowen and Frances Hyde Quillin Foundation to the capital campaign for the construction of a new athletic field house at Seahawk Stadium. The fund raising campaign is a project of the SDHS Alumni Association. SDHS Principal Lou Taylor is pictured accepting the donation from three of the Quillin Foundation’s trustees, from left, J.D. Quillin, Mike Quillin and Dot Hudson. For more information and online giving opportunities to the campaign,...READ MORE

New Ravens Roost #44 Officers

The 2011 Officers of Ravens Roost #44, Ocean City were installed in a ceremony conducted by Marlyn Pietruszka at the monthly meeting. The Roost is currently making plans for their annual Golf Scholarship Tournament, Friday June 3, at the Ocean Pines Country Club. All profits will benefit the Annual High School Graduate Scholarship Fund. Above are President Gary Miller, Treasurer Eric Leister, Vice President Tom Maly, Corresponding Secretary Robin Rockwell, Board Member Marlyn...READ MORE

100th Member OCDC

Mike Patchett, owner of Patchett Electric and a downtown Ocean City resident, became the 100th member of the Ocean City Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization charged with revitalizing downtown Ocean City. It started in 2000 with 34 members.  ...READ MORE

SDHS Key Club

Stephen Decatur High School has a very active Key Club, which is the high school club of Kiwanis International. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean Pines-Ocean City is the parent and sponsoring club of the SDHS Key Club and supports their efforts. Pictured, from left, are Key Club Editor Rachel Thompson, Key Club President Taylor Tobak, Key Club Advisor and teacher at SDHS Anna DiGiulian and Kiwanis President Roy Foreman as a check for $500 is presented to the Key Club. ...READ MORE

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore

Jennifer Cannon, left, co-chair of the Perdue United Way fund-raising campaign, presents a check for $317,719 to Kathleen Mommé, second from left, executive director of the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore. Pictured, from left, are Cannon; Tim Feist, President of the United Way Board of Directors; Mommé, Perdue Chairman Jim Perdue; Perdue United Way Campaign Co-Chair Amy Wingate; and Gus Lebois, United Way Board of Directors and Perdue associate. ...READ MORE

OCES Students Of The Month

Ocean City Elementary School honored the January Students of the Month recently. Pictured, front row, are first grade honorees Trystan Duffy, Colby Cascio, Molli Spicer, Lorelei Auker, Grace Williams, Brando and Campechano-Cordero; second row, second graders Zitlhaly Lopez-Camacho, Victoria Mueller, Luke Doerzbach, Eduardo Perpetuo-Filho and Allison Marx; third row, third graders Jamey Gannon, Robert Pinzhoffer, Leslie Zamora-Espinoza, Mae Purnell, Roman Pabach and Deema Hammad; and fourth row,...READ MORE

College Knowledge At WPS

Ocean City Elementary School honored the January Students of the Month recently. Pictured, front row, are first grade honorees Trystan Duffy, Colby Cascio, Molli Spicer, Lorelei Auker, Grace Williams, Brando and Campechano-Cordero; second row, second graders Zitlhaly Lopez-Camacho, Victoria Mueller, Luke Doerzbach, Eduardo Perpetuo-Filho and Allison Marx; third row, third graders Jamey Gannon, Robert Pinzhoffer, Leslie Zamora-Espinoza, Mae Purnell, Roman Pabach and Deema Hammad; and fourth row,...READ MORE

Jump Rope For Heart

Ocean City Elementary School students and staff held their annual Jump Rope for Heart to benefit the American Heart Association last month. This year, 114 first grade students and about 200 second, third and fourth grade students jumped for the cause.  A grand total of $16,847. Above, physical education teacher Tracy Drocella is pictured with fourth grade students. ...READ MORE

Solid Figures At SES

Third grade students at Showell Elementary explored solid figures by discovering the number of edges, faces and vertices of each shape. Pictured, from left, are Devon Ross, Nicholas Angelo and Sam LeKites using a variety of solid figures to learn about the shapes.   ...READ MORE

SDHS Book Drive

The Stephen Decatur High School National English Honor Society (NEHS) is sponsoring a book drive during the month of February. Age appropriate books will be donated to local schools, day care facilities, and Atlantic General Hospital.  Above, National English Honor Society President Garrett Neville looks over a recent collection of donated books with senior Elijah Llinas, junior Arielle Toulotte and seniors Holly Thiel and Kelley Freeman. ...READ MORE

Fiber Arts At BIS

Natalee Palmer’s fiber arts class at Berlin Intermediate School’s after-school program is pictured. Students pictured are Spencer Carbaugh, Ashton Fisher, Savanna Hastings, Jillian and Sara Mitrecic, Darrien and Hailey Ross, Kristin Scherer, Sam Short, Sarah Stansbury, Gabrielle and Hannah Suplee, Amanda Swanton and Autumn Wyatt. ...READ MORE

Essay Winners At WPS

Winners in the Ocean City-Berlin Elks Drug Education Essay Competition were Worcester Prep Middle School students, from left, Lauren Meoli, third place; Kathleen Emche, first; and Caroline Savage, second. Their essays have moved on to judging at a higher level. ...READ MORE

Solid Figures At SES

Third grade students at Showell Elementary explored solid figures by discovering the number of edges, faces and vertices of each shape. Pictured, from left, are Devon Ross, Nicholas Angelo and Sam LeKites using a variety of solid figures to learn about the shapes.   ...READ MORE

New Eye Surgery Center Opens

New Eye Surgery Center Opens BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital announced this week the opening of its new Eye Surgery Center, which utilizes existing hospital space, offers comprehensive surgical services to treat cataracts and glaucoma as well as illnesses and injuries of the retina and vitreous. The Eye Surgery Center required the purchase of specialized surgical equipment to outfit one of the hospital’s operation room suites as well as the recruitment of retina specialists to...READ MORE

SDHS's Roderick

Stephen Decatur wrestling junior varsity call-up Dakota Roderick last week helped propel the Seahawks to a state Class 4A-3A East region championship with his 17-5 major decision over Old Mill’s Mark Lee in the clinching match. Roderick’s victory in the 140-pound class gave the Seahawks an insurmountable lead in the region finals and helped clinch a trip to the state’s Final Four for the Seahawks. ...READ MORE

WPS'S Marshall

Worcester Prep’s Molly Marshall attempts to move the ball against the Delmarva Christian defense during the second quarter on Monday. Marshall later hit the game-tying shot as time ran down in regulation to send the contest into overtime. Photo by shawn soper ...READ MORE

St. Pat’s Soccer Returns Next Week

OCEAN CITY- The 23nd Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s annual St. Patrick’s Soccer Tournament returns next week with 150 teams and hundreds of players from all over the mid-Atlantic region expected to converge on the resort for the four-weekend event. From modest beginnings 23 years ago when competition was held in just four divisions, the annual St. Patrick’s Tournament has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and is now one of the largest events of its kind....READ MORE

Decatur Wrestlers Fall in State Semis

BERLIN- Just three days after winning the East region tournament in dramatic fashion, Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team fell in the state Class 4A-3A dual meet semifinals, dropping a tough match to Urbana, 42-31. The Seahawks rallied to beat Old Mill in the region finals last week to earn a spot in the Class 4A-3A dual meet Final Four, but fell to Urbana in the semifinals. Urbana went on to lose to perennial powerhouse La Plata in the state championship meet. The Seahawks started...READ MORE

Mallards Down Royals in Double OT

BERLIN- It isn’t often a 28-27 girls’ high school basketball game can qualify as a barnburner, but Worcester Prep’s dramatic win over visiting Delmarva Christian in double overtime on Monday did just that. The Mallards’ double overtime win over the Royals on Tuesday had all the drama of a big time high school or even college basketball game despite the relatively low point total after six periods of play. Worcester led early and improved its lead to 12-8 late in the...READ MORE

Worcester Boys Drop Two This Week

BERLIN- After winning its first two games after coming back from a long winter break, Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity basketball team dropped a pair of games this week including a 56-46 loss to Delmarva Christian at home on Monday. The Mallards had off for nearly three week before beating Chincoteague, 65-34, on February 4. Worcester beat the Mallards again, 44-34, on the road last Wednesday and did not show any ill effects from the long layoff. However, the Mallards have since lost...READ MORE

Coastal Lax Club Seeking Players

BERLIN- The Coastal Lacrosse Club is seeking players for its 2011 outdoor spring season, but with limited space for players, the team rosters are filling up quickly and registration is set to soon close. The Coastal Lacrosse Club, founded in 2009, is Worcester County’s only non-profit lacrosse organization serving young players throughout the area and across Delmarva. The club offers organized, instructional teams for both boys and girls. Young players ages 5-14 are invited to participate...READ MORE

Decatur Late Season Skid Hits Six

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team’s late season tailspin continued this week with a 75-57 loss to Kent County on the road on Tuesday. The Seahawks’ skid has now reached six games since their last win over Snow Hill back on January 25. Jesse Engle led Decatur with 14 points in the loss to Kent County on Tuesday. ...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Raymond Joseph Shoemaker DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. -- Raymond Joseph “Ray Joe” Shoemaker, 80, husband of Gloria Shoemaker, of Daniel Island, S.C., passed away on Feb. 10, 2011 at a hospital in Charleston, S.C. A memorial service with military honors will be held on Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 at 2 p.m. in J. Henry Stuhr Inc. Mt. Pleasant Funeral Chapel.  Inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. Born Sept. 2, 1930 in Washington, DC, Ray was the son of Raymond...READ MORE

Deputy Shoots Suspect Attempting To Run Her Over

BERLIN -- A Millsboro, Del. man remained under Maryland State Police guard yesterday at a Baltimore hospital after being shot by a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy while allegedly attempting to run over the law enforcement official on Tuesday night. Matthew N. Collins, 28, was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore on Tuesday after being shot by Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy Katie Edgar on Tuesday night during an apparent robbery attempt at a business in Berlin. Around 10 p.m. on...READ MORE

Regional Digest

Unusually Cold Winter Driving Up Energy Bills BERLIN -- Although it may not seem like it this week, the unusually cold winter has spurred higher-than-usual energy bills for Delmarva Power customers, according to company officials who cited an eight-percent increase from this same time last year in both electricity and natural gas use by residential customers. “Clearly, it’s been a challenging winter and we’ve seen evidence of that in the bills of our customers who are using...READ MORE

Salisbury Elected Officials’ Health Benefits OK’d

SALISBURY – City Council members responded on Monday to residents’ concerns that the council is politically motivated in passing an ordinance to allow elected officials to participate in the city’s health insurance program. The proposed ordinance that approached the council in second reading states that “elected officials shall be permitted to participate in elective employee benefits programs offered by the City to its employees provided that they must pay for the full...READ MORE

Beautiful People Now Sought

BERLIN -- The nomination process for this year’s Maryland’s Most Beautiful (MMB) People Volunteer Awards has begun. The awards honor those who “reside in and represent the volunteer spirit of Worcester County.” “We’ve had youths…seniors, groups, even couples win the award,” said Volunteer Services Manager Cyndy Howell. The award has been going on for many years under different headings, but has remained the same at its core. According to Howell,...READ MORE

From The Publisher’s Desk: We’re Growing

Hello, Wicomico County. In the largest circulation expansion in our 27-year history, The Dispatch today begins distribution throughout Wicomico County, including the towns of Fruitland, Salisbury, Pittsville, Parsonsburg and Willards. For some of you, we have met before, while you have been in the Ocean City or surrounding areas. For the rest of you unfamiliar with our paper, let me introduce us. Since 1984, The Dispatch has been hitting the streets in Worcester County and lower Sussex County...READ MORE

Historic Navy Ship Could Find Home At Indian River

OCEAN CITY -- With one retired U.S. Navy destroyer set to be sunk of the coast of Ocean City this spring as a major addition to the artificial reef system off the coast, plans for finding a home for a second destroyer above the water in the resort area are slowly coming together. The 536-foot U.S.S. Arthur W. Radford is scheduled to be sunk about 25 miles off the coast of Ocean City as part of the vast Del-Jersey-Land reef as soon as this April, but another retired Navy vessel, the U.S.S....READ MORE

Flood Map Update Could Cause Insurance Rate Surge

SNOW HILL -- An updating of Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) may cause some dissatisfaction amongst Worcester County residents in the near future. Ed Tudor, director of Development Review and Permits, informed the Worcester County Commissioners Tuesday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be reevaluating the current maps over the next two to three years. “There will be some people who won’t be happy, and some people that will be happy,” Tudor said. According to a...READ MORE

OCPD K-9 “Delon” Mourned

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) this week is mourning the loss of a member of its patrol and explosives division, K-9 “Delon,” who passed away on Tuesday from a degenerative disk disorder in his spine. Delon came to the OCPD from the Czech Republic in 2005 and became the loyal and courageous partner of Pfc. Freddie Howard. Delon spent 1,000 hours in training as the department’s only explosives K-9. In addition to his work with the OCPD, Delon also trained...READ MORE

Pocomoke Parents Asking For Junior Varsity Football

 A group of concerned individuals petitioned the Worcester County Board of Education Tuesday to bring junior varsity football to Pocomoke High School (PHS). While many board members openly supported the idea, they also cautioned the group that the process of bringing a football team to PHS would likely be long and have to take place in degrees. “They [the kids] all want to play,” said Howard Wilkinson parent of two children currently at Pocomoke Middle School. Wilkinson...READ MORE

Proposed Education Budget Passed Amid Uncertainties

SNOW HILL -- Despite the majority of Worcester County Board of Education members voting in favor of the newly drafted fiscal year 2012 budget, most of them expressed doubts and concerns about a number of issues. One of the school board’s main problems was the early deadline for the budget this year, with the document due Feb. 23. In years past, the Board of Education had until late March to come up with next year’s proposed spending plan. “Basically, I can’t understand...READ MORE

Super Bowl Sales To Assist Diakonia In Difficult Time

BERLIN -- An area business used this month’s Super Bowl as a chance to give back to the community. The Greene Turtle in North Ocean City donated 10 percent of its sales on Sunday, Feb. 6 to the local Diakonia, a nonprofit organization which provides counseling, emergency food and housing and support services to those in need. “They are huge supporters,” said Diakonia Executive Director Claudia Nagle of the Greene Turtle. “They’re very generous.” Just how...READ MORE

Wicomico Accepts Waterfront Land Donation

SALISBURY -- Wicomico County officials this week accepted the donation of a nearly 50-acre parcel of historic property along the Wicomico River after reviewing its potential ecological and historic value. The roughly 48.4-acre track known as Bell Island is situated along the north side of the Wicomico River adjacent to the Harbor Pointe community. It is one of three parcels acquired by the city of Salisbury from the Empire Mortgage Company. Years ago, the parcels were intended to be common areas...READ MORE

Tourism Officials Embrace ‘OC Experience’ Concept

OCEAN CITY – A tractor trailer sporting Ocean City’s brand may become a new site in the regional marketplace as tourism experts and officials brainstorm ideas to expand the town’s unique marketing capabilities in order to put Ocean City ahead of the rest. Spark Productions, which proposed “OC Experience” to the Mayor and City Council, has a 20-year history of event production and event management. It produces the “OC Car and Truck Show” and...READ MORE

Heroin Bust In OC

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Police Department’s (OCPD) Narcotics Division was busy last week with the service of a couple of search and seizure warrants resulting in the arrest of five individuals in the resort on drug charges. Last Wednesday, the OCPD Narcotics Unit, with the assistance of the federal DEA and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Enforcement Team, concluded a three-month heroin distribution investigation with the arrest of Lamont Marvin Smith, 22, of Ocean...READ MORE

Adventures In Fatherhood

Ever since we switched Beckett into a toddler bed, the afternoon naps have become frustratingly inconsistent. It’s been about a month now since Pam took the lead and transitioned Beckett’s crib into a toddler bed. For those who don’t know, this amounted to essentially removing the front of the crib, giving him access to come and go from his bed as desired (gasp). If it was up to me, this change would not have taken place when it did. I feared he would never sleep and worried he...READ MORE

Where To Dine Around Town

West Ocean City- Berlin Ocean Pines Breakfast Cafe Of Ocean City 12736 Ocean Gateway, West Ocean City 410-213-1804 Open seven days a week between Sun-sations & Starbucks, across from Outback, come join us at the “Breakfast Cafe” (formerly Rambler Coffee Shop) we are a family-friendly restaurant that’s been family owned for 30 years passed from mother to son in 2001. We believe that fair pricing, putting out quality food as fresh as we can make it and a nice atmosphere makes...READ MORE

Who's Playing Where And When

Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Feb. 18: TBA Saturday, Feb. 19: DJ BK Charlie’s Bayside Restaurant 302-539-3526 Rte. 1 & Maryland Ave., Fenwick Island   Friday, Feb. 18: Chris Button & Joe Mama, 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19: Randy Lee Ashcraft & Jimmy Rowbottom, 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20: Old School Featuring Linda Sears Clarion Hotel 410-524-3535 10100 Coastal Hwy.   Ocean Club: Friday, Feb. 18-Sunday, Feb. 20: First Class Dr.Unks Bar...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

Things To Do

Feb 18: Chicken Salad & Soup Sale 5-7 p.m., Eden United Methodist Church, Main St., Willards. Pines of chicken salad, homemade soups, bake table and dumpling platters. For more information, 410-749-9204. Feb. 18: 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. Feb 18: Americans For Prosperity Meeting 6:30 p.m., Ocean Pines Community Center. Sponsored by the Worcester County Chapter of...READ MORE

OC Police Commission Stands Firm On Taxi Rules

– The Police Commission is looking to put some teeth in current taxi medallion laws regarding policies on taxi cab companies’ correspondence with the town and random driver drug tests. This time last year the Mayor and City Council passed an ordinance installing a $1,500 medallion as a requirement to operate a taxi in Ocean City including other items regarding taxi laws and fees. Policies included in the ordinance require taxis to keep their cabs clean, random drug tests for drivers...READ MORE

Ocean City Business Fined, Liquor License Suspended

SNOW HILL -- A local business received a severe sanction from the Board of Liquor License Commissioners (BLC) Wednesday after an incident involving underage individuals being hidden in the bar’s kitchen while Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers searched the premises. On Dec. 30, 2010, the OCPD received an anonymous call that underage drinking was taking place at the Pirate’s Den in Ocean City. When officers responded, they discovered a much larger crowd than...READ MORE

Resort, Promoter Joins Forces On New BikeFest

OCEAN CITY – There will be more activities for bikers in Ocean City this September than  last year, despite Delmarva Bike Week moving most of its headline activities closer to Salisbury. In January, Cliff Sutherland proposed “OC Jam” to the Mayor and City Council. The event was an attempt to replace the Delmarva Bike Week Harley Davidson of Berlin location, which attracted thousands of bikers to its Route 50 site. The proposed location of the event was Ocean City’s...READ MORE

Resort Crews Reduce Average Response Time By 4 Minutes

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) officials presented the Mayor and City Council this week with end-of-the-year updates on the department and the water rescue dive team. “We are very fortunate enough to look back and say we had a very busy and safe 2010,” Fire Chief Chris Larmore said. During the summer of 2010, EMS calls were up 13.2 percent and fire calls were up 3.4 percent. The good news was that the average response time improved by four minutes and 10...READ MORE

Dew Tour Eyes Ocean City Or Virginia Beach

OCEAN CITY – The Dew Tour has the Mayor and City Council’s blessings as it considers Ocean City as a destination for this summer’s event. The Dew Tour would be in Ocean City July 21-24, 2011. It is a professional action sports tour, which would encompass BMX, skateboarding and possibly surfing. The world’s best extreme sport athletes compete for prize money, trophies and points on the overall Dew Cup standing. The tour produces over 50 million viewers, and 220,000...READ MORE

Delegate Pitches Toll Concept At Delaware Line

BERLIN -- The Lower Shore’s delegation in Annapolis had a candid sit-down with Gov. Martin O’Malley last week to discuss a wide variety of issues germane to the region, including the eventual completion of Route 113 and the possibility of adding a toll at the Maryland line to help pay for the improvements. Lawmakers from across the Eastern Shore met with O’Malley last week to discuss tourism, agriculture, poultry, small business and the major ongoing road construction projects...READ MORE

Other Resorts Face Boardwalk Decisions, Too

OCEAN CITY -- While the public opinion poll about the future of the Ocean City Boardwalk heads into the home stretch, beachfront communities all over the region continue to wrestle with the same issues, and the types of surfaces being used are as varied and unique as the resorts themselves. Ocean City is about to embark on a major rehabilitation project for its famous Boardwalk and there are a handful of options on the table including a traditional all-wood surface, an all-wood surface with a...READ MORE

Worcester County News Briefs

SNOW HILL -- This week’s Worcester County Commissioners meeting included the awarding of a contract for “Play It Safe” booklet production, the next step being taken in the county’s solar energy evolution, and a request for an increase to the minimum age for pumpers by the Chartered Volunteer Fire Companies in Worcester County. Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon came before the commission with a request asking that the minimum age of pumper trucks be increased from 15 years to...READ MORE

Council Inks Employee Pay Reduction Deal

OCEAN CITY – The tables turned this week as the Mayor and City Council came to a complete agreement on an ordinance to change the pay scale for newly hired town employees. One of the ordinances proposed last year by the council in an attempt to lower costs for the town was to change newly hired town employees’ pay scale to a salary scheduled based on a 2005 Hendricks Study Chart, with no movement in the cap without approval of Mayor and City Council, excluding returning seasonal...READ MORE

Berlin Supports Microbrewery’s License Request

BERLIN -- Changes to state law will be required for Berlin to gain its first microbrewery, and the Mayor and Council threw their support behind the efforts on Monday. Bryan Brushmiller, owner of Burley Oak Brewing Company on Old Ocean City Blvd., appeared before the council to ask for its endorsement of a proposal to adjust state law to allow Class D tavern licenses to be issued in Berlin. Additionally, the law would have to be further tweaked to permit microbreweries to operate in town with...READ MORE

Brewery’s Request Leads To Payment Plan Policy

SALISBURY – A request made by a local brewery stimulated the Mayor and City Council to approve a resolution on a Water and Sewer Capacity Fee Payment Plan. During Monday night’s City Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve a policy proposed by Mayor James Ireton to allow for the payment of water and sewer capacity fees over periods of up two years. Those who will be qualified for the payment plan will be developers who propose new projects that use more than two...READ MORE

Governor’s Septic System Ban Concerns Shore Legislators

BERLIN -- Local legislators and elected officials all over the Eastern Shore this week came out in strong opposition to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s call for a ban on septic systems in new development, citing the potential loss of local control on planning and growth issues and, perhaps more importantly, a serious decline in property values in rural areas. In his State of the State address earlier this month, O’Malley called for a ban on the use of septic systems in new developments,...READ MORE

New Bennett Middle School Funding Viewed As Doubtful

SALISBURY -- A new James M. Bennett Middle School in Salisbury remains on Wicomico’s capital improvement wish list, but county officials warned it doesn’t appear funding will be available for the project any time soon. The Wicomico County Council on Monday reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2012 capital improvement plan, which includes, among numerous other projects, a new Bennett Middle School. A brand new James M. Bennett High School was completed last year and a new middle school...READ MORE

Charges Pending In Assateague Horse Shooting

ASSATEAGUE -- Assateague National Seashore officials this week announced charges are pending against a Maryland man who allegedly shot and killed one of the barrier island’s famed wild horses during a two-day firearm deer season in January. On or about Jan. 16, one of the wild horses inhabiting Assateague Island was shot and killed during a planned, two-day deer hunt on the barrier island. The 28-year-old horse, victim of an apparent gunshot wound, was found dead by a hunter and was...READ MORE

Board Issues Fines For Selling To Underage Cadet

SNOW HILL -- A pair of similar cases received identical sanctions from the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners (BLC) this week. Both involved the selling of alcohol to undercover Ocean City Police Department cadets on Jan. 7 and both resulted in a large fine. The first case discussed was an incident which occurred at the 85th Street Sunoco. John Wilson, the clerk working that night, made a sale of alcohol to an undercover cadet, despite checking her license. “I was...READ MORE

The Publisher's Thoughts

Ocean City’s plan to have an unofficial Bike Week event at the Inlet comes with some understandable concerns, but the Mayor and Council was wise to give it a shot this year. Thanks largely to the closing of the Harley-Davidson store on Route 50, it’s no secret organized Delmarva Bike Week activities are migrating west and north away from Ocean City. Most of the featured activities for September’s event will be held at the Harley store in Seaford and at Winter Place Park off...READ MORE

Unprepared For Local Slots Impact Funds?

Initial revenue numbers for the Casino at Ocean Downs were released last week, and it confirms a lot of money is being spent over on Route 589. That’s surely no surprise, but the sheer volume of dollars flowing through the shore’s first casino did shock some. In 28 days, according to a Maryland Lottery report, more than $3 million was generated by the 750 video lottery terminals, or just about $107,000 per day. The average revenue per machine per day came in at $144. According to...READ MORE

Readers' Thoughts

Opposing View Ignored Editor: I read with great interest the letter in Friday’s paper from Tom Young about rights being denied at a hearing in Annapolis. This is just another glaring example of how the majority party in this state runs things. If you are opposed to their point of view, you might as well talk to a wall because you will not be heard. Who do we have to blame for this? Ourselves. It is we the voters who keep putting the same party in place year and year after year. Until there...READ MORE

Things I Like

A burger with a couple different kinds of cheese melted on top My kids’ excitement for baths The feeling after a hair cut Smell of my wife’s hair Those change counting machines at the bank Calling Berlin home Actress Dakota Fanning Everything bagels Smell of leather furniture Getting in a clean car A smooth flight ...READ MORE

Things I Like

A burger with a couple different kinds of cheese melted on top My kids’ excitement for baths The feeling after a hair cut Smell of my wife’s hair Those change counting machines at the bank Calling Berlin home Actress Dakota Fanning Everything bagels Smell of leather furniture Getting in a clean car A smooth flight ...READ MORE