Park’s Loss Would Impact All Of OC
Editor:
It was with regret that I read about the demise of the Trimper properties located on the southern end of the Boardwalk.
As usual, outlandish taxes is the main culprit, coupled with future plans for the existing properties.
My family has been staying at the Worcester and Boardwalk location (Playland) for 29-plus years enjoying the relaxed, nostalgic location.
The southern end of the Boardwalk has already been scared with the construction of the first high-rise and the destruction of the Southern Boardwalk skyline, and we can not forget the over-development of the back streets.
If the Trimper family does decide to pack up and leave, and the properties are sold to developers, it will have a very negative impact on your town, a loss felt by the local businesses, town residents and all the visitors/vacationers that enjoy the simplicity of the Inlet end of the Boardwalk.
Edward Horn
Mountville, Pa.
Employees Recognized During Hospital Week
Editor:
In this post-9/11 world, hospitals play a pivotal role. In times of need people look to the hospital for assistance and health care. Yet, Maryland hospitals can’t function without the hard work the more than 80,000 hospital employees provide 24-7.
A hospital staffed with caring employees is a wonderful prescription for a community’s good health. While we often take these selfless individuals for granted, these care givers are the unsung heroes in our midst.
As we celebrated Hospital Week (May 6-12), it gave all of us a chance to recognize the many contributions our hospitals and their employees make to our lives and well-being.
Yet, there’s a troubling issue facing health care today— a serious shortage in health care personnel, especially among nurses, imaging technologists, and respiratory therapists. These shortages make it more difficult for hospitals to deliver compassionate and high-caliber care to all Marylanders.
We need to find ways to increase the number of men and women pursuing health care careers.
But first we must address the shortage among the faculty who train these professionals. We need to increase the number of qualified health care teachers in our colleges and universities. Then we can expand enrollment in nursing and other allied health occupations.
Hospitals and their dedicated staff are an important part of every community’s infrastructure which need the continued support of the public and lawmakers. Without them every community in Maryland will face a diminished quality of life.
Calvin M. Pierson
Baltimore
(The writer is president of the Maryland Hospital Association)
A Club’s Farewell
Editor:
Farewell to our Woman’s Club after 68 years, It fills our hearts with sadness and fills our eyes with tears.
We’ve had a long and fruitful history, many good works we have done we’ve met many wonderful women and we still made time for fun.
There’s a library we’ve established and scholarships for the youth,
Wherever a cause needed championed including our Sunfest booth.
We’ve donated trees, benches and wheelchairs and given time, labor and care, to our charities we have been faithful and our presence was felt everywhere.
But now our numbers are shrinking.
We can’t do what we did before, it’s time to step aside gracefully it’s time to close our Club’s door.
We’re all glad what we’ve accomplished and proud of our fruitful past and we hope that we’ve made memories that will forever last
Joan C. Sauer
Berlin
Ocean Pines Needs Responsible Leaders
Editor:
I hate to criticize the Board of Ocean Pines, but they’re like the gift (?) that keeps on giving. It seems every week more questionable actions of the Board are reported.
We now know the mix-up in the first mailing of the referendum ballots was not as the Board first reported, the fault of the Post Office. The Post Office explanation is that when the Board closed the association’s Post Office box, they failed to file a change of address or forwarding address even though they were advised to do so.
Another recent development involved the decision to heat the Swim and Racquet Club pool at a cost of $20,000, $9,000 (81 percent) over estimate. Mr. Sterrett said that’s okay because we purchased a couple of vehicles last August and our cost was $16,000 less than estimated. I can’t believe he said that. Is he implying that two grossly inaccurate estimates cancel each other and somehow result in 2 good estimates? I’m still shaking my head over that statement.
Another instance of twisted logic is the decision to close the Sports Core Pool (the most widely used pool in the community) this summer so we can have a covered pool to use in the winter. There goes swim membership revenue; not that we need it.
Some observations on the Community Center (CC) project.
Based on this history of the board, you know this building will come in considerably over the $5.3 million estimate (this thing was sold to us with a $3.9 million price tag). My guess is that when all the costs are tallied it will be well over $6 million. And why is this building being located at the one scenic location left at the South entrance? This area already has a “honky-tonk” look with a 7-Eleven with two ugly strip malls in back, along with a car wash, tire store and auto supply store. Then we have a McDonalds, real estate offices and a large shopping center. Inside the South entrance are two more shopping centers and a medical office. On the other side of the proposed CC is a bank, post office and a library. The sale of parcels along Route 589 for commercial purposes will only add to this eye sore.
This whole project has the appearance of a seat of the pants operation. A member of the community, with experience in contract negotiations studied the contract and found instance after instance where the board was inept in the preparation of this contract. A question that I have is: was this contract reviewed by our attorney before it was signed?
And I don’t believe for a moment the sale of land along Route 589 and other less desirable parcels inside the Pines will come anywhere near covering the cost of the CC.
Why? 1.The current real estate market. 2. Through due diligence interested parties will be made aware of the proposed widening of Route 589, which in all probability, will result in the State taking some of the land they just purchased. How much and at what price is an unknown. This uncertainty will be reflected in their bid. Has the Board given any thought to this very real scenario? 3. every developer in the tri-state area knows this Board is desperate to sell. Very good for the buyer, poor for the seller (us).
Something else really bothers me. Some months back it was reported that the board tried to suppress the publication of possible IRS action against the community in the area of $1 million in taxes. I think the Board and Mr. Olson owe the community an explanation.
Another troublesome item is the amount of debt we are piling up. A probable $6 million debt for the CC, $1 million to cover the Sports Core pool, millions spent in improving the golf course, a water system that needs to be upgraded and expanded at another $1 million plus, a costly widening and upgrading of Cathell Road, a potential $1 million obligation to the IRS and with just about every amenity in the Pines hemorrhaging money it’ll take years to work out from under this mess.
I don’t care how much money has already been spent on the CC project; I certainly don’t believe what the Board says we are obligated for. Do we really want to throw more money away on this poorly planned and executed project that’s to be built on the one remaining aesthetically pleasing location south of the intersection of Route 90 and Route 589 all the way down to Route 50?
Put this thing on hold; elect a fiscally responsible and qualified Board; a Board that will communicate to the community the true state of our finances including the buried costs of operating the golf course. They can also conduct a bottom up review of the need for a new or remodeled CC and at what location.
Leonard J. Nemec
Ocean Pines
Funding Help Sought For Lacrosse Players
Editor:
This June, for the first time, our community will be sending an extremely talented group of young lady lacrosse players to the prestigious U.S. Lacrosse Festival in Orlando, Fla. During the past three years, the remarkable chemistry and talent of this young team has produced “undefeated” seasons and earned them first place tournament trophies in high caliber competitions along the Eastern Shore and in Baltimore.
In this, their final season together, we will add a few additional players from Talbot County, Kent County and Salisbury and travel to Orlando, in order to represent the entire Eastern Shore in the Girls U-15 division at the U.S. Lacrosse Festival.
Not all of the girls are fortunate enough to be able to afford the tournament fees, travel and lodging (approximately $750 per player). We would like to take the entire team, leaving no one behind. With the help of your publication, we believe that we can find a few businesses or organizations that might sponsor a player with a $750 donation. Of course, any amount that is donated will be greatly appreciated. All money raised will be applied on an “as needed” basis to the players. This competition should be an unforgettable learning experience for these girls and they will no doubt represent the Eastern Shore in upstanding fashion.
We thank you in advance for any help that you are able to provide in our fundraising efforts for these athletes. I look forward to hearing from you. Please call me with any questions or to make a donation at 443-880-7795.
Patti Miller
Ocean City
(The writer is the fundraising committee chair for the U-15 Beach Lax Team.)