June 24, 2011

What's Your Sign

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You feel ready to face up to a major change, although it might involve some risks. A once-dubious family member comes around and offers support and encouragement. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Move forward with your plans, despite discouraging words from those who underestimate the Bovine's strong will. Your keen instincts will guide you well. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A misunderstanding is easily cleared up. Then go ahead and enjoy some fun and games this week. A...READ MORE

Things I Like

Fitting in the last piece of a puzzle Swimming in the rain Watching my kids play in the sand Driving in silence every now and again Fried chicken at a cookout Breaking in a new pair of flops Cold pork BBQ When the weather forecast is right on A business that reinvests in itself Building a beach bonfire Leaving the dentist ...READ MORE

Celebrating That Special Day Takes Financial Smarts

Special To The Dispatch
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. And with...READ MORE

PJ Aldridge Foundation Present Check

PJ Aldridge and Vera Vickers-Taylor from the PJ Aldridge Foundation (PJAF) present their first check to Dr. Martin Edelman, Professor of Medicine at University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of the Solid Tumor Oncology Greenebaum Cancer Center. Edelman leads the team in research for lung cancer.  Less than 2% of the dollars donated go to administrative fees, which PJAF firmly believes is critical. PJAF believes in funding ingenious and cutting edge lung cancer...READ MORE

June Meeting Of OC Ravens Roost #44.

At the June meeting of Ocean City Ravens Roost #44, membership celebrated the milestone of $100,000 in donations given to local organizations and causes. The majority, $76,500, has been awarded to local student scholarships. Above, from left, celebrating the accomplishment are from Roost Presidents from 1997 to present, Buddy Miller, Mike Grimes, Lennie Berterman, Ken Taras, Nelson Kelly, Tony Chaplinksi and Gary Miller. ...READ MORE

PKS & Company, P.A., Pledge $10,000

The local accounting and business firm of PKS & Company, P.A., has pledged $10,000 to the Renew the Zoo capital campaign in Salisbury. Pictured, from left, are Campaign Chairman Marty Neat, PKS partner Jeffery Pruitt, CPA, Salisbury Zoo Commission President Ron Alessi, PKS partner Michael Kleger, CPA, PKS partner Andrew Haynie, CPA, CFE, PKS partner John Stern, CPA, PKS partner Jeffery Michalik, CPA, PKS partner Winn Booth, CPA, PFS, Delmarva Zoological Society President J.P. DuBuque, PKS...READ MORE

SHMS Teacher And Students Distribute Food To Worcester County Animal Control

Snow Hill Middle School (SHMS) teacher MaryAnn Cooper and students Heather Bolley, Katlyn Parsons and Ian Whisner distributed food, treats, leashes and other supplies to Worcester County Animal Control. SHMS After School Academy students in grades 4-8 collected the supplies to help care for abused and neglected animals rescued by Animal Control. ...READ MORE

John Rzepkowski, Received The First-Ever Awarded $500 Steve Calloway Scholarship.

At last weekend’s 2nd Annual Steve Calloway Memorial Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, John Rzepkowski, received the first-ever awarded $500 Steve Calloway Scholarship.  Every year the scholarship will be awarded to a Worcester County student to help them continue his or her education to become a Maryland certified paramedic.  Pictured are Ocean Pines Fire and EMS Captain and Chairman of the Scholarship Fund Bill Bounds; Calloway's widow, Jane; Rzepkowski; Calloway's,...READ MORE

National Ad Accords Announced

OCEAN CITY – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage announced this week it has entered into national advertising agreements that will prominently enhance the current placement of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s approximately 3,200 property listings on the top four real estate websites and portals -- Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Yahoo Real Estate and Zillow.com. The agreement was made by NRT LLC, the parent company of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. The agreements give...READ MORE

A look at a smattering of interesting numbers that I came across this week:

A look at a smattering of interesting numbers that I came across this week: 100: Sharks released in the 31st Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament. Breakdown was 46, sandbar or dusky; 16, hammerhead; 13, mako; 13, spinner; 10, tiger; and two, blue. Three: Sharks weighed in during the tourney. 3.56: Average price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline in the resort area, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Fuel Price Finder. Last year at this time the Finder reports it was $2.69. This was truly just a...READ MORE

Aerial Tram A Concept Worthy Of A Shelf

Hypocrisy is everywhere if you look hard enough, and the latest example could be the proposed aerial tram in Ocean City if officials give it a lot of consideration. It’s extremely preliminary and the chances are it will never actually happen, but the fact a gondola-like tram along the Boardwalk was even put on this week’s Mayor and Council agenda has raised some eyebrows. The plan is the $10 million brain child of two entrepreneurs who have proposed a similar concept in...READ MORE

Association Thanks Council For Votes

Association Thanks Council For Votes Editor: The Balmoral Condominium Association wants to extend a special thank you to the following council members for voting to protect our way of life by not voting to allow a para-sailing business to operate in our community. We are so grateful that you care, James Hall Lloyd Martin, Brent Ashley, Margaret Pillas, Doug Cymek and Mary Knight. However, there was one council member, Joseph Hall, who had no intention to protect our community and as a resort...READ MORE

Adventures In Fatherhood

Pediatrician visits with little ones are always interesting, but when both kids go on the same day things are even trickier. In this particular case, taking the efficient route was not the path of least resistance, and we learned a valuable lesson in the process. A while back, Pam had the option of scheduling routine checkups for Beckett, 3, and Carson, 19 months, on the same day and same appointment time. Figuring it was a 30-minute drive to our pediatrician’s office, she figured having...READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Anne McCormack OCEAN CITY -- Anne McCormack, 69, died June 14, 2011.  She was born in Baltimore.  After high school, Anne went into a convent and became a nun.  She then achieved her nursing degree and worked with several hospitals in the Baltimore area. Anne moved to Ocean City in 1968 and helped run her family motel, McCormack’s Burgundy Inn. She decided to return to nursing in 1984 and worked with the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center until 2004 when she...READ MORE

Parker Plant Depot Offers Items For Every Season

PITTSVILLE – Parker Plant Depot is 77 acres of family fun providing a relaxing environment as well as year-round merchandise suited for any season. “The farm had been in the family for almost 200 years,” said owner Tom Bell. “I take a lot of pride in this because it’s not only a business but there’s a lot of heritage here. The Parkers were kind of like pillars for the community of Pittsville. We are very proud of the property and very proud of our...READ MORE

Most Recent Renovation Makes For A Roomier Buxy’s

OCEAN CITY -- One of the resort area’s most well-known restaurants and bars is getting a little bigger. Construction on an addition to Buxy’s Salty Dog Saloon on 28th Street is expected to be complete this week. Owner Doug “Buxy” Buxbaum explained that the extra room will mostly be used to display merchandise and as a waiting area, though there will be some general expansion as well. “It gives us the opportunity to open the kitchen up,” he said. The addition...READ MORE

Ashley Planning Own Gas Giveaway Promotion

OCEAN CITY – Councilman Brent Ashley is carrying on the free gas giveaway in attempts to continue the promotion of Ocean City and to express the town’s appreciation for its visitors. Ashley, the voice behind the free gas giveaway promotion, released a news release on Tuesday morning that was titled “There Will Be Free Gas in Ocean City, Maryland This Summer”, despite the council’s vote to eliminate the free gas promotion last week. The gas promotion was first...READ MORE

Resort Council Unanimously Approves FY12 Budget

OCEAN CITY – The fiscal year 2012’s budget passed in a unanimous vote during Monday evening’s Mayor and City Council meeting after being delayed in recent weeks. “I’m glad we passed the budget and we were able to hold the tax rate at .395 cents, and really that’s because of the work the council has done over the past three and half years to cut back on expenses and to re-size our government and re-evaluate and re-organize how we do things in Ocean City,”...READ MORE

Dew Tour Details Worked Out For OC Stop

OCEAN CITY – The Dew Tour will be here in less than a month and it will be set up under the night sky to prevent any impact on the town’s normal activities. A few weeks ago, Dew Tour representatives and city officials and staff met to hammer out some of the details and concerns surrounding the major event. “I think everybody would agree that we have made significant progress over the past three weeks,” Dew Tour Special Event Coordinator Chris Prybylo said during Monday...READ MORE

Task Force To Tackle Downtown Vacant Properties

Task Force To Tackle Downtown Vacant Properties SALISBURY -- Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton, Jr. this week announced the launch of a pilot program to stimulate the revitalization of several downtown properties. Ireton has formed a Downtown Task Force to work with selected property owners with the objective of making their properties more marketable and more attractive to prospective tenants or buyers. At the outset, the task force will meet with the owners of several businesses, all on Main Street,...READ MORE

Council Votes Again To Spike Golf Co-Op Plan

OCEAN CITY – Two promotions, a free gas giveaway and a golf co-op, were created to endorse Ocean City as a destination but both have now reached a dead end less than a month after being approved. Councilman Brent Ashley requested this week to withdrawal his two-part motion, which was set to activate a free gas giveaway and golf co-op marketing plan. “My understanding is I made one motion for two promotions that was eventually turned down so that killed both of my wishes,” he...READ MORE

Best Bites

West Ocean City- Berlin Ocean Pines-Fruitland Assateague crab house & Carryout Rte. 611, Assateague Island • 410-641-4330 On the way to visit the ponies of Assateague, stop by this rustic crab house. Enjoy Maryland crabs by the dozen or try the all-you-can-eat specials including snow crab legs. Their extensive menu features various appetizers, fresh fish, seafood, steaks, chicken and ribs. The kids can enjoy their own menu along with the great game room. Great for casual dining or...READ MORE

Best Beats

Angler, the 410-289-7424 • 2312 Talbot St. On The Bay Friday, June 24: Time Police, 4-7 p.m. Saturday, June 25 & Sunday, June 26: Alex & Shiloh, 4-7 p.m. Every Sunday: Locals’ Social With DJ Deogee, 10 p.m. Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 • 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, June 24: Dust & Bones Saturday, June 25: Electric Co. Sunday, June 26: DJ Wax, 10 p.m. Every Wednesday: DJ JJ, 10 p.m. Every Thursday: Tim Cyphers Duo, 10 p.m. Caribbean bar &...READ MORE

Things To Do

June 24 & 26: OP Players Present “The Odd Couple, Female Version” Doors open 6 p.m.,; curtain, 7:30 p.m.; Ocean Pines Country Club. Directed by Sammy Barnes. Cost: $19, includes admission, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and dessert. For tickets, 410-208-3491. June 24-25: Yard & Bake Sale Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Rte. 589 & Adkins Rd. Lunch available on Saturday only. For more information, 410-352-5315. June 25: Rummage Sale 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Ocean...READ MORE

Open Houses

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 BERLIN Glen Riddle Open Daily 11-6 Single Family Homes In New Community 2 Golf Courses Owners Clubhouse Private Marina Pulte Homes 410-213-1386 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...READ MORE

OC Recreation and Parks Department’s Summer Beach Volleyball League

The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department’s Summer Beach Volleyball League action continued this week with the second round of games on the beach at Dorchester Street on Monday. Pictured above, an unidentified player prepares for a spike during a league game on Monday evening. Photo by Shawn Soper ...READ MORE

“Nontypical” Sweeps OC Shark Tourney Awards

OCEAN CITY- The 31st Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament held last weekend is in the books, and with a renewed conservation effort including a partnership with renowned artist and conservationist Guy Harvey, the release division was the major focus of the event this year. Just 40 boats participated in the 31st Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament last weekend out of the Ocean City Fishing Center, but there was no shortage of action. Just three makos were actually weighed at the scale over the...READ MORE

Delmarva ESA Contest Set for Saturday

OCEAN CITY- The Delmarva Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) second contest of the summer season is set for tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, with generations of local surfers competing in a wide variety of age and skill categories. The ESA local chapter features some of the East Coast’s premiere surfers competing in 28 divisions with age groups for body board, short board and long board. The age groups begin with the Menehunes, or young surfers under 12, and go up through the Grand Legends, or...READ MORE

Hundreds Compete in Resort Fitness Events

OCEAN CITY- Hundreds of athletes from all over the country descended on the resort area last week for the 2011 Ocean City June Fitness Challenge, a weekend-long series of events that started with a 5-Mile Boardwalk Run on Saturday and concluded with the Assateague Assault Sprint Triathlon on Sunday. Produced and organized be OC Tri-Running Sports, the same outfit that produces the Ocean City Half Marathon along with other significant fitness events throughout the year, the Ocean City June...READ MORE

Turtle Lax Club Hosts Drop-In

OCEAN CITY- The Greene Turtle Lacrosse Club this week hosted the first of a summer-long series of drop-ins for area high school and college players each Wednesday evening at Northside Park that will continue through mid-August. The girls’ lacrosse drop-in is open to all girls’ players entering 10th grade this fall through college. The drop-in will be held at Northside Park in Ocean City each Wednesday through August 11 from 6-8 p.m. The drop-in will include practice drills, simulated...READ MORE

Ocean City Basketball Classic Underway

OCEAN CITY- Dozens of the top AAU basketball programs in the region along with a couple of teams from Denmark are descending on the resort this weekend for the 31st Annual Ocean City Basketball Classic that got underway this morning. Since 1980, Berlin native and former Stephen Decatur High basketball star Lynn Smack has hosted the AAU tournament in the area dubbed “one of the greatest AAU tournaments on the east coast.” From modest roots in the inaugural year for the event in 1980,...READ MORE

Live Racing Returns to Ocean Downs

BERLIN- Live racing returned to Ocean Downs, the historic racetrack turned casino on Route 589 in Berlin, last weekend after essentially the first missed season in six decades last year while the Maryland’s second slots venue was being constructed. Maryland’s only active harness racing track opened its 40-day 2011 season this year after missing last summer for the first time in 61 years. Ocean Downs hosted a four dates of non-betting stakes races last year, the Maryland Fund and Sire...READ MORE

Missing Girl Sought in Resort

OCEAN CITY- Ocean City Police this week continue to search for a teen reported missing earlier this month in Baltimore County who is believed to have traveled at some point to the resort for Senior Week. According to Baltimore County Police, Kirsten L. Ratliff, 16, of Perry Hall, was reported missing by her father shortly before 8 p.m. on June 9. Ratliff had apparently had a dispute with her father, with whom she was living, and ran away. When she did not return, he father reported her missing...READ MORE

Council Votes Again To Spike Golf Co-Op Plan

OCEAN CITY – Two promotions, a free gas giveaway and a golf co-op, were created to endorse Ocean City as a destination but both have now reached a dead end less than a month after being approved. Councilman Brent Ashley requested this week to withdrawal his two-part motion, which was set to activate a free gas giveaway and golf co-op marketing plan. “My understanding is I made one motion for two promotions that was eventually turned down so that killed both of my wishes,” he...READ MORE

County Leery of State Planning Initiative

SNOW HILL- A state move to regulate development has Worcester County officials drawing battle lines. “I think it is fair to say that the more we read, the more we become concerned,” said Director of Review and Permitting Ed Tudor in a memo to the County Commissioners. Tudor explained that “PlanMaryland” as the initiative is being called, “comes perilously close to an outright intrusion into local planning and zoning autonomy.” County Commissioner Virgil...READ MORE

County Council Bucks Up for Failing Perdue Stadium Systems

County Council Bucks Up for Failing Perdue Stadium Systems Shawn J. Soper News Editor SALISBURY- On the day of one of the most important events ever at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, Wicomico officials on Tuesday learned the facility is starting to show its age and needs a major overhaul of its heating and air conditioning systems. On Tuesday morning, just hours before Perdue Stadium was set to host the 2011 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, the Wicomico County Council received a request for a...READ MORE

Worcester School Board Approves Budget Amid Fears for FY2012

SNOW HILL- Even though the Worcester County Board of Education (BoE) just officially accepted their budget this week, representatives are already looking to next year with trepidation. “There is nothing left to cut in the future except programs and services,” said School Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes. “Programs and services in education mean our people. With 81-cents of every dollar going into our classrooms, we would no longer be able to insulate our children from the impact of...READ MORE

Wallops Launch Should Be Visible Across Resort Area, East Coast

OCEAN CITY- Local residents and visitors to the area could get a Fourth of July fireworks preview next week when NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility on the Virginia coast just south of Assateague makes a significant rocket launch expected to be visible across much of the Eastern seaboard. Wallops is scheduled to launch a U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket carrying a critical Department of Defense Operationally Responsive Space office (ORS-1) satellite next Tuesday, June 28, between 8:30...READ MORE

Wild Chase Ends In Worcester

BERLIN- Two Baltimore men were arrested on numerous charges including assaulting a police officer after a high-speed chase through three counties last Friday that began with a traffic stop in Cambridge and ended in a ditch along Friendship Rd. in Berlin. A little before 11 p.m. last Friday, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies received a report from Dorchester County about a high-speed vehicle pursuit heading east on Route 50. According to police reports, a silver Acura, driven by Vernon A....READ MORE

Alleged Boardwalk Scam Targets Teen

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City Police this week are urging visitors to be aware of an alleged scam carried out on as many as three occasions at one Boardwalk store and possibly others. While it remains uncertain just how many naïve young people got caught up in the alleged scam at a Boardwalk clothing store during Senior Week, at least one Pennsylvania teen and possibly two others were allegedly victimized. Lorraine Lee of Royersford, Pa. this week said her daughter, who was in Ocean City...READ MORE

Buskers Bounced from North Division Street

OCEAN CITY- A street performer accused the Ocean City Mayor and Council of retaliation this week as they passed an ordinance to restrict performance of any kind on the Boardwalk at North Division Street due to the street’s key role as an emergency access point. The ordinance prohibits, “exercise or perform such activity or display in any area of the Boardwalk other than within the area encompassed within the extended boundaries of the street ends, except for the area encompassed...READ MORE

Study for Wind Farm at Landfill Approved

Study for Wind Farm at Landfill Approved SNOW HILL- Worcester County might have up to a dozen windmills added to its skyline by 2013. County Commissioners gave National Wind, LLC the go ahead to begin a feasibility study this summer to determine whether or not wind speeds are sufficient for a wind farm to be built on top of the Newark Landfill. “I consider this a very preliminary request,” said Patrick Pelstring, the Co-Chair of National Wind. Pelstring told the commission that his...READ MORE

Council Considers Teleconferencing

SALISBURY- Advances in technology have the Salisbury City Council considering the use of electronic teleconferencing during meetings. With video chat programs like Skype and its equivalents widely available to the public, the boundary between physically being in a location and communicating with that location are shrinking. While the council has required members wishing to take part in discussion to be in the room in the past, they are now considering allowing conference calls and steaming video...READ MORE

Smoke From N.C. Wildfire Drifts Across Worcester

BERLIN- The heavy, acrid smoke that arrived across much of Worcester County this week drifted north from a massive wildfire in North Carolina. By mid-day on Wednesday, much of Worcester County was socked in with heavy smoke and a strong, acrid odor stemming from an active wildfire in Dare County, N.C. hundred of miles away. Smoke from the North Carolina wildfire traveled up the Eastern Shore of Maryland and into Worcester, prompting dozens of calls to the County Fire Marshal’s Office from...READ MORE

Resort Council Unanimously Approves FY12 Budget

OCEAN CITY – The fiscal year 2012’s budget passed in a unanimous vote during Monday evening’s Mayor and City Council meeting after being delayed in recent weeks. “I’m glad we passed the budget and we were able to hold the tax rate at .395 cents, and really that’s because of the work the council has done over the past three and half years to cut back on expenses and to re-size our government and re-evaluate and re-organize how we do things in Ocean City,”...READ MORE

Salisbury Woman Faces 20 Years for Check, Credit Card Fraud

SALISBURY- A Salisbury woman this week pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft after scamming dozens of victims and as many as 13 financial institutions in a check and credit card scam dating back to last spring and summer. Carla Nicole Koester, 38, of Salisbury, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to mail fraud and aggravated theft and now faces as many as 20 years in prison. According to her plea agreement, Koester stole checks and credit...READ MORE

Ashley Planning Own Gas Giveaway Promotion

OCEAN CITY – Councilman Brent Ashley is carrying on the free gas giveaway in attempts to continue the promotion of Ocean City and to express the town’s appreciation for its visitors. Ashley, the voice behind the free gas giveaway promotion, released a news release on Tuesday morning that was titled “There Will Be Free Gas in Ocean City, Maryland This Summer”, despite the council’s vote to eliminate the free gas promotion last week. The gas promotion was first...READ MORE

Septic Task Force Members Named

BERLIN- Worcester County and the Lower Eastern Shore will be represented on Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s task force to study septic system pollution and its impact on the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays, the roster of which was announced this week. Shortly after the Maryland General Assembly session ended in April, O’Malley announced the formation of a task force to study the impact of septic system pollution on the state’s imperiled waterways. During the 2011,...READ MORE

Boat Slip Plan Nears Approval

OCEAN CITY- Controversial plans to extend a pier and add eight new boat slips in a highly congested area of the Little Assawoman Bay appear to be heading for approval by the state’s Board of Public Works despite continued concerns raised by a neighboring homeowner’s association about increased danger on the waterway. About two years ago, the Portofino townhouse community in a little sliver of Worcester County cut off from Ocean City by Delaware along the Little Assawoman Bay just...READ MORE

Health Department Late Fees Debated

SNOW HILL- The decision to change late fees on pool and food service applications has been delayed by one month at the request of the Worcester County Health Department (WCHD). In that time, the WCHD will conduct a cost analysis survey which could lead to the reduction of late fees with a possible increase to base application fees. “I really don’t know what the magic number is,” said Health Officer Debbie Goeller at a County Commissioner meeting Tuesday. Goeller explained that...READ MORE

County Approves Cost-Saving Measures to Offset Solid Waste Losses

SNOW HILL- While a number of options were discussed, the Worcester County Commissioners this week decided to table the debate over yard waste disposal at tipping stations until this fall, but did unanimously pass 11 other money-saving policies suggested by Enterprise Fund Controller Jennifer Savage, all meant to combat the high operating costs of the County’s Solid Waste Division. “We’re trying to serve the homeowner,” said Savage. Solid waste has long been an...READ MORE

Bay Bridge Toll Hike Hearing Set

BERLIN- State Transportation officials announced this week a public hearing to allow local residents to weigh in on a proposal to double the tolls on the William Preston Lane Memorial Bridge, or Chesapeake Bay Bridge, will be held at Stephen Decatur Middle School on July 14. Earlier this month, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) formally proposed a plan to increase rates at toll facilities across the state including the Bay Bridge. According to the proposal, the toll at the Bay Bridge...READ MORE

Wicomico Debates Housing Payments

SALISBURY- An ongoing dispute over which Wicomico Housing Authority residences should make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) payments to the county and which should make similar payments to the various towns including Salisbury essentially ended this week after considerable debate when officials realized there was no hammer for collecting the payments at all. The federally subsidized Housing Authority owns and operates 109 housing units in Wicomico, 19 of which are in the county at large with...READ MORE

Code Amended to Define Parking for Outdoor Dining

OCEAN CITY –The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on an amendment to the code concerning the definition of outdoor dining and how it comes into play with an establishment’s required parking. The commission has been in the process of deliberating how far local businesses can construct outdoor dining until the offered seating takes a toll on the parking spaces provided. The code in the past has exempt parking requirements from outdoor dining areas provided. A couple of...READ MORE

Salisbury Agrees to Adopt Ocean City’s Basic Towing Fee Schedule

SALISBURY- A frustrating delay on setting police tow fees was narrowly avoided when the Salisbury City Council voted to mirror Ocean City rates, despite having already agreed to table the issue. With the adoption of Ocean City police tow fees, a standard tow will be $125. Service calls for things like a jumpstart or gasoline that don’t involve a tow will cost $65. Additionally, a $35 per-day abandoned vehicle fee that isn’t on Ocean City’s books was added. The desire to change...READ MORE

Boardwalk Aerial Tram Plan Withdrawn

OCEAN CITY –Ocean City Skyline is considering proposing an aerial tram to sweep along the skyline of the boardwalk but its presentation was put on hold in order to take more time to work out the details. A proposal for an aerial tram ride adjacent to Ocean City’s Boardwalk was scheduled to be presented to the Mayor and City Council this week. “The people that were proposing it made the decision to withdrawal it,” City Clerk Kathy Mathias said on Tuesday. “There are...READ MORE

Drunk Boating Enforcement Stepped Up

OCEAN CITY- With summer hitting its stride and activities on and around the water in Maryland picking up, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are stepping up drinking and boating patrols as part of national initiative against the often deadly practice. All weekend, starting today through Sunday, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) will participate in Operation Dry Water, a nationally-coordinated program to raise awareness about the dangerous use of alcohol in a boating...READ MORE

WOC Man Sentenced in Child Porn Case

WEST OCEAN CITY- A West Ocean City man, convicted in March on federal child pornography possession charges, was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court to 10 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervision upon his release. U.S. District Court Judge William Nickerson last Thursday sentenced Lawrence Franklin King III, 41, of Ocean City, to 10 years in jail followed by supervised release for life for possession of child pornography. King, a convicted sex offender living in West Ocean...READ MORE