May 11, 2012

NEW FOR THURSDAY: Parent, School Embroiled In Bullying Allegations

BERLIN -- Both sides sought to clear the air this week after an ad published in this newspaper made allegations of misconduct against two Stephen Decatur High School (SDHS) coaches and a cover-up by its principal. Last week, a full-page advertisement in The Dispatch claimed that SDHS baseball coaches Rich Ferro and Garrett Magaha have recently “verbally abused … and degraded” some of their players and invited parents to join a newly formed support group, Parents Against...READ MORE

NEW FOR WEDNESDAY: Q&A With New City Manager David Recor

Eight months after the City Council voted to dismiss long-time City Manager Dennis Dare, David Recor was officially hired this week as Ocean City’s fourth city manager. Before coming to Ft. Pierce in 2005 as its deputy city manager and becoming city manager in 2008, Recor, a credentialed manager with the International City/County Manager Association, was the deputy director of Planning & Community Development from 2003 to 2005 for Fairfax, Va.; planning and land use director for...READ MORE

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Council Vote Makes Recor Official; Mayor Seeks Support For New Manager

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Council remained divided on a new employment agreement with new City Manager David Recor today, but the seven members did commit to a symbolic show of support in an unanimous vote for the resort’s new chief executive. In a closed meeting prior to this afternoon’s work session, the council voted 4-3 -- Brent Ashley, Jim Hall, Joe Hall and Margaret Pillas in support and Doug Cymek, Mary Knight and Lloyd Martin opposed -- to accept an employment agreement...READ MORE

NEW FOR MONDAY: OC Reef Foundation Aims To Bury Fish Hotels, Oyster Castles

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Reef Foundation continues to build artificial reefs throughout Ocean City’s surrounding waters to support local fisheries and the eco system. That effort will be seeking a funding injection on Wednesday when the foundation holds a benefit at Hall’s Restaurant. The Ocean City Reef Foundation was established in 1997. It is dedicated to the Sustained Improvement of Recreational Fishing and Diving in Maryland's Coastal Waters through Habitat Management,...READ MORE

Fatherhood Adventures

Pulling off surprises for the kids is a big deal for me and Pam. Fortunately, I have a wife who has a creative mind for these sorts of things and often hatches some pretty unique plans to wow our boys. We seem to pull off at least a few major surprises each year, mainly around holidays and birthdays. One of my favorites so far took place two Christmases ago when we saved the kids’ biggest gift of all till later on in the big day. It was really more for Beckett, as Carson was just two...READ MORE

NEW FOR FRIDAY: Council To Vote Tuesday On City Manager Contract

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City is in receipt of an employment agreement signed by David Recor, and it will become official as soon as the Mayor and Council votes to approve it on Tuesday. Ocean City Human Resources Director Wayne Evans confirmed this morning that Recor sent an executed agreement last night to the city. It does not become final until the council approves it. A vote on the contract will come Tuesday, according to Council President Jim Hall. Recor could begin work for the city as early...READ MORE

Next City Manager Spotlighted; Ft. Pierce Weighs In On City Pick

OCEAN CITY -- The resort’s new city manager’s experience working with a divided council in Ft. Pierce, Fla. could suit him well in Ocean City where division and tension are the new norm at City Hall.With contract negotiations reportedly nearly complete, David Recor is expected to become Ocean City’s fourth city manager, following Tony Barrett, Joe Braun and Dennis Dare, whose 21-year tenure as the city’s chief executive officer ended last September when the City Council...READ MORE

Beer Can Trail Leads To Burglar

BERLIN -- A Berlin man was arrested on burglary and other charges this week after a trail of beer cans connected him to a break-in at a package goods store near Ocean Pines. Last Friday, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office responded to an activated burglary alarm at the Barley Hops and Grapes convenience store on Route 589 near Ocean Pines. Upon arrival, deputies observed a window on the north side of the building was broken and also observed a case of Miller Lite in the parking...READ MORE

Northside Park Movies Return

OCEAN CITY – The return of movies at Northside Park may be just what the North Ocean City Business Alliance (NOCBA) needs to get business moving in their direction. In the beginning of this year the NOCBA was formed to gather ideas in how to draw more attention to the north end of Ocean City and its businesses. One of the ways suggested to boost business was to hold more special events in that end of town. The Ocean City Recreation and Parks Department has recently announced that it is...READ MORE

OC Escalator Lawsuit Closed Two Years After Settlement

OCEAN CITY -- Nearly three years after a Vermont high school student filed suit against the town of Ocean City and a private manufacturer after suffering serious injuries when an escalator collapsed in the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in 2006, the books were finally closed this week with an undisclosed amount of damages paid to the victim. In May 2006, several members of a high school band from Vermont, in Ocean City for the annual Youth Music Competition at the Convention Center, were...READ MORE

New City Manager Could Start In June; Contract Talks In Final Phase

OCEAN CITY -- Forty-eight hours after stating his intentions to stay in Ft. Pierce, Fla., David Recor resigned as city manager of the coastal town Wednesday and is currently finalizing an agreement to become Ocean City’s next city manager. As of yesterday afternoon, an accord was not official, but all sides are indicating they are close to reaching terms, which includes a reported annual salary of $147,000, three weeks paid vacation, a city vehicle and $10,000 in moving expenses. Recor,...READ MORE

Route 13 Project Underway

SALISBURY -- The State Highway Administration (SHA) this week started a two-year stormwater project to improve drainage along Route 13 Business (North Salisbury Boulevard) from East Church Street to east of London Street and in the Newtown neighborhood of Salisbury.   The $5.3 million project will improve drainage and eliminate flooding along a one-half mile section of Route 13 and on Isabella Street, Park Avenue and William Street. By improving and adding underground drainage pipes, runoff...READ MORE

Skin Cancer Prevention Stressed During Awareness Month

BERLIN -- May is national Skin Cancer Awareness month and with the summer season fast approaching, Worcester County health care officials and Ocean City Beach Patrol representatives are urging residents and visitors alike to protect themselves. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF), 13 million Americans have a history of non-melanoma skin cancer and close to 800,000 have a history of melanoma, which the foundation stresses is “the most dangerous form of skin...READ MORE

Plim Plaza Seeks Lawsuit Dismissal

OCEAN CITY -- Three weeks after a Virginia couple filed a $6 million suit against a historic Boardwalk hotel and its ownership group after one of them allegedly fell ill to Legionnaire’s Disease, the defendants this week denied the allegations and are seeking a dismissal of the case. In October, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Worcester County Health Department confirmed the presence of legionellosis, more commonly known as Legionnaire’s Disease, in the...READ MORE

Expanded Gaming Not Likely Part Of Md. Special Session

BERLIN -- While the Maryland General Assembly will convene early next week for a special session largely devoted to unresolved state budget issues, it appears a debate about an expansion to table games will not be on the agenda. Caught up in the swirl of failed budget negotiations as the 2012 session expired in April were a handful of bills that would have provided for an expansion to table games such as blackjack, poker, craps and roulette, for example, at Maryland’s casinos including...READ MORE

Wicomico Coach Awarded

SALISBURY -- Tommy Bowden, of Sharptown was honored with a Community Volunteer Award by the Maryland Recreation & Parks Association (MRPA) during its annual conference in Ocean City last month. Bowden, nominated by Wicomico Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Civic Center was presented with the MRPA Community Volunteer Award for his work with the Department as a youth soccer coach and volunteer. Bowden’s relationship with the department began over 13 years ago as a coach for the...READ MORE

State Lawmakers Eye Special Session To Resolve Budget

BERLIN -- When state lawmakers return to Annapolis next week for a special session called by Governor Martin O’Malley, their primary objective will be to pick up the budget debate left on the table when the regular session expired last month, but despite the saber rattling and gnashing of teeth, it appears a deal has already been reached. When the 2012 session expired on April 9, the governor’s tax increase package and budget reconciliation plan died on the table with no agreement...READ MORE

Fatal Fall From Ocean City Hotel Balcony

OCEAN CITY -- Ocean City Police this week are investigating a fatal fall from a Boardwalk hotel balcony late Thursday afternoon. Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Ocean City Police and Paramedics responded to the Holiday Inn on the Boardwalk at 17th Street for a report of an individual that had fallen onto the pool deck below on the ocean side of the facility. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene and located an unresponsive individual who appeared to have fallen from a hotel balcony. A source at...READ MORE

Coastal Lax Holding Fundraiser Tonight

OCEAN CITY- The Coastal Lacrosse Club is hosting a fundraising event this evening, Friday, May 11, from 6-9 p.m. at the Reel Inn at Harbor Island on 14th Street in Ocean City. The Coastal Lacrosse Club, founded in 2009, offers organized, instructional teams for both boys and girls ages 5-14. Coastal Lacrosse was founded on the goal of teaching kids the game of lacrosse while having fun at the same time under the direction of a dedicated and committed group of coaches. The event includes happy...READ MORE

Decatur Track Scores Well in Home Meet

BERLIN- Decatur’s outdoor track and field teams scored well with top finishers in nearly every event at the meet they hosted last week. In the boys’ 110 high hurdles, Greg Petersen was second, Spenser Cardenas was fourth and Lucas Duker was fifth. Jakai Woodard finished fourth in the 100. Nick Molitor finished second in the 1,600, while Lance Ward was third and Kevin Herbert was fifth. Christopher David was second in the 400, while Daniel Winters was fifth and Billy Caton was sixth....READ MORE

Decatur Girls to Face Bennett Again

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity lacrosse team will face Bennett for the third time this season after the two teams earned high seeds in the state 3A-2A South regional tournament. When the brackets were released this week, the Decatur girls were awarded a number-two seed in the east sectional of the 3A-2A South region and a first-round bye. The Seahawks will face familiar foe Bennett at home this afternoon. Bennett was awarded a number-three seed in the east sectional and...READ MORE

Seahawks Edge Bucs for Bayside Title

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity lacrosse team won a thriller this week, beating Kent Island, 10-9, on Tuesday to win the Bayside Conference championship at Washington College. The Bayside championship was just the second ever for the Decatur, which won the conference title in 2006, and came after Coach Scott Lathroum’s first season at the helm of the program. The Seahawks finished the regular season with a 10-1 record, their only loss coming to Kent Island, 14-9, back...READ MORE

Decatur Earns 3-Seed in 3A-East Tourney

BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity baseball team drew a number-three seed when the state 3A-East region brackets were released this week and could be on a collision course with season-long nemesis Bennett down the road. The Seahawks lost to the Clippers, 3-2, in an extra inning nail biter in the penultimate regular season game last week before routing Indian River in the finale. Decatur earned a number three seed in the 3A-East tournament and will play the winner of the first round game...READ MORE

Former Seahawk Earns High Honors

BERLIN- Former Stephen Decatur softball standout Alli Justice, now a senior at Catawba College, last month was named the 2012 South Atlantic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  Justice, who led Decatur during her four years at the school, is only the second softball player from Catawba to earn the Scholar-Athlete award, which is voted on by the SAC’s faculty athletic representatives and recognizes a combination of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and...READ MORE

Offshore Season Heating Up

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Views On The News

Scooter Regs Tweaked No matter what level, government is not known for being efficient, but the current controversy surrounding Ocean City’s attempt to better regulate the growing scooter industry in town seems to take that to another level. Somehow, throughout the entire process, nobody brought to the table the fact the stipulated training area in the ordinance is impractical for nearly all operators. In 75 percent of the cases, existing businesses would not be able to comply with the...READ MORE

Thoughts From The Publisher's Desk

To say the events leading to David Recor being hired as Ocean City’s next city manager were not ideal would be the understatement of the year. Dysfunction, mistakes and bizarre turns of events have made this a process to remember. Of course, as of Thursday at 3 p.m., nothing is official, but Recor and the city have agreed in principle to make him the next city manager. That much we know. Recor was certainly on the hot seat in Florida, but he is not going to find the political waters in...READ MORE

Adolfo’s Finds ‘Perfect Home’ On The Ocean

OCEAN CITY – Adolfo’s Italian Restaurant on the Ocean has moved from the Inlet and has settled into its new home, complete with a beautiful view, in the Beach Plaza Hotel on 13th Street. Co-Owner Kimberly Griffin first started working at Adolfo’s as a server in 1991 and became the restaurant’s owner 10 years later just a few months before she was married to her husband, David. The Griffins were initially looking for a new location in West Ocean City with plenty of parking...READ MORE

Offshore Powerboat Season Kicks Off In OC

OCEAN CITY -- The grand spectacle of offshore powerboat racing returns to Ocean City this weekend with the arrival of the first leg of the Offshore Powerboat Association (OPA) summer-long series around the country. The OPA series gets underway this weekend with the Ocean City Grand Prix, the first of seven events at locations all over the country. Dozens of high-powered offshore powerboats will converge on the resort area starting this afternoon for a series of events onshore and off throughout...READ MORE

Stroke Scorecards Offered During Awareness Month

SALISBURY -- A baseball game wouldn't be the same if the teams didn't keep track of the score, and as in any sport, it is important to keep the score when it comes to personal health. Tracking what one is doing well and what improvements or changes are needed can lead to a healthier, more active life. According to the National Stroke Association, in the United States, stroke is the third leading cause of death, killing about 137,000 people each year. Stroke is also a leading cause of serious,...READ MORE

Hats For Hospice Benefit Planned For May 19

BERLIN -- The public is invited to join Coastal Hospice on Saturday, May 19 for its annual party, this year with a new Hats for Hospice theme celebrating the Maryland tradition of the Preakness Stakes, while also honoring a woman who is one of the most generous individuals and successful business owners on the lower shore. The Hats for Hospice Preakness Party will be held at Emma’s Breeze Farm in Eden on the banks of the Wicomico River from 4-8 p.m. Proceeds from the event...READ MORE

Fight Leads To Sister Running Over Brother

OCEAN CITY -- A Washington, D.C. woman was arrested on first-degree assault and other serious charges last weekend after allegedly driving her car onto the sidewalk in the area of 39th Street and deliberately running over her brother with whom she had been fighting. Around 6:30 p.m. last Saturday, Ocean City Police responded to the area of 39th Street and Coastal Highway for a reported motor vehicle accident and assault. When officers arrived on the scene, they observed a 2011 Mazda parked...READ MORE

Council Votes 4-3 To Knock Penny Off Proposed Tax Rate

OCEAN CITY – Property owners may receive a little relief this year as a last-minute amendment was made this week to the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget to decrease property tax by a penny. The proposed budget reached the Mayor and City Council on Monday night on first reading, setting the tax rate in Ocean City at the constant yield, which is $0.4685 per $100 of assessed valuation of real property. Before the council could reach a vote to approve the budget as is, Councilman Joe Hall...READ MORE

Council Grants 2013 Date For Komen Race

OCEAN CITY – Susan G. Komen representatives returned to Ocean City this week to report on last month’s Race for the Cure and were granted a date hold for next year’s event. Eastern Shore Race and Development Coordinator Lydia Wooten reported there were total of 3,662 registrants for the event and 36 percent were from the Eastern Shore. “So the rest of them were traveling and stayed in hotels,” Wooten said. Komen has estimated that the economic impact on Ocean City...READ MORE

Council Drops Specific Training Area Requirement From New Scooter Laws

OCEAN CITY – With scooter rental operators adopting the impression the city wants to put them all out of business, the Mayor and City Council took a step back this week and made a few changes to the proposed law before its final vote. “I don’t think any of us who voted for this did it because we wanted to destroy business. We did it because we want people to be safe,” Councilwoman Mary Knight said during Monday night’s Mayor and City Council meeting. In February,...READ MORE

Berlin Youth Club Seeking Summer Volunteers

BERLIN -- Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (WYFCS) is getting ready to launch into its second Berlin Youth Club summer camp and is looking for volunteers in the community with an interest in helping children. “We’re excited about some things we’ll have going on this summer,” said WYFCS Executive Director Teresa Fields. Hoping to build on the success of last years’ summer camp, WYFCS will be keeping some of the most popular aspects of that program while...READ MORE

Bishopville Pond Funding Secured

BISHOPVILLE -- After years of delays, work on the Bishopville pond project looks like it will finally be getting start late this summer or early next fall, according to Maryland Coastal Bays Program Director (MCBP) Dave Wilson. “We’re really hoping to get things moving,” he said this week. The Bishopville pond project has been in the works for roughly a decade. In 2010, it looked as though shovels were poised to strike dirt, but issues with funding and permitting caused the...READ MORE

Police Remind Teens Of Distracted Driving Dangers

OCEAN CITY -- While drinking and driving continues to be the main threat to young drivers in Maryland and across the country, a fairly new threat, text messaging and cell phone use, are starting to pile up some ominous statistics. With the arrival of high school prom and graduation season in Worcester County and throughout the state, the message about the dangers of drinking and driving continue to be hammered home. However, adding to risk is the growing phenomenon of distracted driving,...READ MORE

Route 589 Property Rezoning Moves Ahead

SNOW HILL -- A requested change to zoning for an Ocean Pines property from agricultural to commercial received a favorable recommendation from the Worcester County Planning Commission last week. The ruling was hard won, however, with the usually unanimous commission split 4-3 on the vote. First appearing before the commissioners in April, the petition for property re-zoning an A-1 Ocean Pines’ lot located near Route 589 was delayed to give the body time to mull over the case. At the time,...READ MORE

Reef Foundation To Hold Annual Benefit May 16

OCEAN CITY -- The Ocean City Reef Foundation next week will hold its annual fundraising dinner at Hall’s Restaurant on Wednesday. Next Wednesday, May 16, Hall’s Restaurant will play host to the reef foundation’s annual Italian Night dinner along with auctions, raffles and other special events. Local businesses have donated prizes for the auction and a 50-50 raffle will also be held, the proceeds of which will help fund the foundation’s reef building efforts off the coast...READ MORE

Italian, Mexican Restaurants Eye Berlin’s Main St.

BERLIN -- Two new restaurants are planning to open on Berlin’s Main Street this June and, while their owners have similar backgrounds and goals, the two experiences offered will be “night and day different,” according to Siculi co-owner Pete Livolsi. Siculi, a rustic Italian kitchen, and Paco’s Tex-Mex and Beyond both plan on opening for business in Berlin in mid-June. Between the two of them, the restaurants represent an overnight boom to the town’s dining...READ MORE

Bennett Middle Students Unveil Mural Collection

SALISBURY -- James M. Bennett Middle School (BMS) art teacher Lavern Harmon revealed this week a collection of murals painted by over 80 students, teachers and parents. The images span a broad-spectrum of education-related topics and will follow students and teachers to a much anticipated new BMS building, hopefully sometime in the near future. Covering subjects like “character counts,” “striving towards success,” and the BMS Viking mascot, the mural was painted onto nine...READ MORE

Plea Deal For Dragging Cop

OCEAN CITY -- A Pennsylvania man, arrested last July on first-degree assault after a wild incident that began with an attempted drug sale to an undercover OCPD officer on the Boardwalk, included the dragging of an OCPD officer alongside a vehicle and ended with the suspect jumping into the bay before being caught hours later, appeared in Circuit Court last week and now awaits his fate pending the outcome of a pre-sentence investigation. Around 1:47 a.m. on July 16, Ocean City narcotics...READ MORE

Who's Playing When And Where

28th Street Pit and Pub 410-289-2020 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, May 11: The Roofshakers, 9 p.m.-1 p.m. Every Thursday: DJ Jeremy 45th Street TapHouse Bar & Grille 443-664-2201 45th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, May 11: Dave Sherman, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 12: Pat O’Brennan, 7-11 p.m. Sunday, May 13: DJ Rupe, 4-7 p.m. Atlantic Hotel 410-641-3589 2 North Main St., Berlin Every Friday: Elsworth Wheatly Every Monday: Earl Beardsley Buxy’s Salty Dog 410-289-0973 28th St....READ MORE

We Remember Those We Have Lost

Clinton Otto ‘Bud’ Worsham OCEAN CITY -- Clinton Otto Worsham “Bud”, age 95, died at his home on Sunday, April 29, 2012. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Benjamin and Margaret Luckan Worsham. Bud was a graduate of Polytechnic High School in 1935. He worked for two years at Western Electric Co., he also had worked as a Plane Assembly Supervisor at the Glenn L. Martin Company during World War II and thereafter for ten years, and in the Accounting Department at...READ MORE

Open Houses Of The 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 Sunset Island 67th St & The Bay Sat & Sun Condos, Townhomes, Single Family Homes Luxury Resort Living Terry Riley Vantage Resort Realty 443-880-0512 SELBYVILLE Lighthouse Crossing 38623 Green Heron Rd Open Daily 11-6 New Construction Large Luxury Homes On Expansive Lots 90-Day...READ MORE

Buckingham Elementary School Announces April Students Of The Month

Buckingham Elementary School recently announced its April Students of the Month. Above left,, first grade honorees were Kaliyah Jones, Isela Barragan-Rodriguez, Oliver King and Victor Geoghean. Above right, third grade honorees were Ambria Cooper, Trovonna Briddell, Zyair Howell, Jaheim Lankford, Amanda Jones and Tavey Wade. Not pictured were second grade honorees Damien Jackson, Marqui Henry, Jourdan Lumpkins and Olivia Morning. ...READ MORE

Pre-K Students At OC Elementary Take Part In Nursery Rhyme Day

All pre-kindergarten students at Ocean City Elementary School took part in a fun day by choosing a nursery rhyme to recite and then bring the rhyme to life using props.  Pictured taking an active role in Nursery Rhyme Day from Jennifer Fohner's class are Jasper Davis, Nicolas Rittersbacher, Lily Olson, Avery Scott and Jackson Fernley. ...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Lacrosse Team Send Get Well Messages To Coach

Worcester Prep Grades 7-8 Lacrosse team sent get well messages to their coach Jim Shreeve, who is recovering from an operation. Team members pictured are, kneeling from left, Trent Marshall, Ross Dickerson, Scott Klug, Luke Buas, Jason Cook, Nate Abercrombie, and Staton Whaley; and, standing, Tate Shockley, Reid Carey, Reece Brown, John Meakin, Wyatt Richins, Jordan Osias, Matt Adkins, Austin Brittingham, Wade Walter, Allen Bross, Rayne Parker, Aria ZiaShakeri, Michael Brittingham, Ryan Shriver,...READ MORE

Showell Elementary Students Collect 65,807 Pennies And Donate To Favorite Community Project

Showell Elementary students collected 65,807 pennies for math study and to donate to a favorite community project. A majority of students chose the Worcester County Humane Society. Estimation winners from various grade levels and administrators are pictured donating $658.07 to Kenille Davies of the Worcester County Humane Society. Pictured, front from left, are Keagan Stever, Trevor Short, Samantha Boger, Emma Johnson and Alyssa Manderach; and, back, Showell Principal Diane Shorts, Worcester...READ MORE

Worcester Prep Holds Art And Media Show

Beautiful oil paintings, photographs, collages, carvings, ceramics, clothing and jewelry designs, digital art, video, and computer programs were all part of the 2012 Worcester Preparatory Upper School Art & Media Show. Above, Hannah Gaskill, left, and Peyton Dickerson, pose by an oil painting by Gaskill.  George Zaiser is Gaskill’s art instructor. ...READ MORE

OC Elementary Students Learn To Compute Division With Remainders

Third grade students in Megan Cooke's class at Ocean City Elementary School are learning to compute division with remainders. Pictured are Lizzie Coates and Anisha Carson sorting jelly beans as an introductory division activity prior to the traditional pen and paper skill practice. ...READ MORE

MAR Commemorate April's Fair Housing Month

To commemorate April’s Fair Housing Month, the Maryland Association of Realtors (MAR) annual Fair Housing Poster Contest winners were announced and recognized at an awards ceremony held at the State House in Annapolis last week. Selected as the first place winner from the local Coastal Association of Realtors (CAR) was Alexander McCullough, a fourth grader at The Salisbury School. Pictured, from left, are Mary C. Antoun, CEO MD Assoc. of Realtors; McCullough; Nancy K. Kopp, State...READ MORE

Decatur Lifesavers Finish Up Year With Friendly Competition

Stephen Decatur's "Decatur Lifesavers" Jr. Red Cross Club finished up the year with some friendly competition at Ocean Lanes last weekend.  Club members, from left, are Andrew Bradshaw, Madi Mitrecic, Amanda Parsons, Katelyn Knowles, Patti Miller, Jake Knopp, Ethan Cowder, Ryan Cowder, Connor Neville, Kelly Cosgriff, Alexis Martinek and Zack Keiser. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

Things To Do Around Town

Open Wed., Thurs. & Sat.: Shepherd’s Nook Thrift Shop 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Community Church at Ocean Pines, Rte. 589 & Racetrack Rd., Berlin. Accepting donations of gently worn clothes and small household items. Open Wednesday-Friday: Stevenson United Methodist Thrift Shop 5 Stevenson Lane, Berlin, across from the Laundromat. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sale days every Friday, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. May 11: Worcester Co. Tea Party Meeting 6:15, doors open; 6:45-8:15 p.m., meeting;...READ MORE

Best Bites On The Beach

Fruitland-Salisbury Restaurant 213 213 N. Fruitland Blvd., Fruitland 410-677-4880 • www.restaurant213.com Just 20 minutes from Ocean Pines and Berlin, Restaurant 213 is worth the drive! Chef Jim Hughes has been serving celebrities worldwide for 25 years and was named a 2009 inductee to the coveted Distin-guished Restaurants of North America awards, one of only 220 in North America and the only one in this region. Serving dinner Tuesday-Sunday starting at 5 p.m. Also offering a 5 course...READ MORE

A Week In Business

Employees Recognized OCEAN CITY -- The Town of Ocean City recently recognized 110 employees for their service to the town. James K. Purnell, Public Works-Solid Waste, was recognized for 40 years of service to the town. Kenneth Jordan, Engineering, was recognized for 35 years of service to the town. Honored for 30 years of service were Elton Bradford, James R. Purnell and Ronald Evans, Public Works-Wastewater; Sandra Hurley, Convention Center-Museum; Beverly Adkins, Finance; and Joshua Long,...READ MORE

Community Foundation Awards $7,500 Community Needs Grant To Lower Shore Enterprises

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore awarded a $7,500 Community Needs Grant to Lower Shore Enterprises to provide office technology skills training to individuals with disabilities by creating an office environment training lab onsite. Pictured, from left, are Spicer Bell, President, Community Foundation; Brenda Malone, Chief Operating Officer, Lower Shore Enterprises; and Jack Heath, Chief Executive Officer, Lower Shore Enterprises. ...READ MORE

5th Annual Tea & Fashion Show Held At Community Church At OP

The Community Church at Ocean Pines held its 5th Annual Tea & Fashion Show on May 1 with a bevy of models, both males and females modeling clothes from the church's Shepherd's Nook. A sell-out crowd enjoyed a noon-time "tea" followed by the fashion show. Pictured above are some of the models. ...READ MORE

Autistic Children Support Group Presented With Check From Buckingham Elementary

Buckingham Elementary School Principal Roger Pacella, Lisa Billings and Sam Lynch are pictured presenting a check to Wendy DiBuo to benefit The Autistic Children Support Group of Worcester County....READ MORE

AGH Volunteers Honored At Auxiliary Awards Luncheon

Atlantic General Hospital and Health System’s volunteers were honored recently at the healthcare organization’s annual auxiliary awards luncheon. Volunteers who donated between 100 and 1,200 hours of service to Atlantic General received recognition. This past year, the AGH Auxiliary donated 38,966 hours of their time, saving the hospital more than $400,000 in wages and benefits. Above, some auxiliary members are pictured at the event. ...READ MORE

Junior Auxiliary Board Presents PRMC With $50,000 Check

The Junior Auxiliary Board held its Spring Volunteer Luncheon on May 2, and presented a check for $50,000 to Peninsula Regional Medical Center during the event. Pictured, from left, are Junior Auxiliary Board President Cynthia Holloway, Peninsula Regional Medical Center President/CEO Peggy Naleppa, Cindy Lunsford, Executive Vice President/COO, Patti Serkes, Director of the PRMC Education Department, and Junior Board Past President Susan Peacock. Submitted Photos ...READ MORE

What's Your Sign?

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): You Ewes and Rams will find your ideas cheered by a mostly receptive flock. Those few dissenters could well be turned around by your charm and powers of persuasion. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): It's time for the bold and beautiful Bovine to shake off the dust of the past and shape up with new ideas for the future. This could surprise some folks, but they'll soon adjust. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Those nagging new doubts about an upcoming decision should alert you...READ MORE

Things I Like

Steam coming off a pile of steamed crabs 
 The last hour of a long flight
 Hearing birds singing from bed
 Goofy baby ducks
 Coming across a bird's nest with an egg in it
 BBQ chicken wings Butterfly wings
 A good dinner followed by a good movie
 Dipping crabmeat in Old Bay
 When my dogs lick my kids Boat rides in the bay ...READ MORE