OCEAN CITY – Members of the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment, which includes Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, last week issued their final report after months of testimony from those on both sides of the issue and recommended the death penalty be abolished in the state. The Maryland General Assembly created the 23-member commission… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – In just its second year, the Ocean City Air show has booked “the Beatles” of flight demonstration performers: the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.OC Air Show event promoter Brian Lilley officially announced the Thunderbirds would be coming to Ocean City for this summer’s 2009 show to Mayor and City Council Monday night… Read more »

SNOW HILL – A new computer tax system could recoup another $165,000 in tax revenue for Worcester County over four years by identifying improperly filed tax credits. “The comptroller’s office is hopeful there’ll be a substantial increase in revenues mostly from income tax,” Kathy Whited, Worcester County budget officer, informed the County Commissioners Tuesday.The new state-mandated… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – When you are down and you need some love, you turn to your mom. For four local families, this Christmas will be a bit brighter thanks to a group of local moms, known by some as the “hot mom group of Ocean City.”For the fourth straight year, the group of almost 100… Read more »

BERLIN – A lawsuit between an Ocean Pines marina and a contractor who built its allegedly defective boat slips was re-opened in Worcester County Circuit Court this week after the state’s Court of Special Appeals last week overturned the lower court’s ruling to dismiss the case in favor of the defendants.In August 2006, the Pines… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The comprehensive rezoning should be delivered to the County Commissioners by mid-February, according to staff, bringing the final draft text to the public a few weeks shy of the third anniversary of passage of the new county comprehensive plan approved in March 2006.The comprehensive rezoning will implement many of the provisions of… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – All Ocean City employees will pay 5 percent of every paycheck toward their pension until the day they retire, thus easing the burden on city taxpayers to foot the bill to pay for their post-employment benefits.After Finance Administrator Martha Lucey’s recommendation in October to amend a 2004 rule that allows town employees… Read more »

BERLIN – A large parcel of farmland on the border of Ocean Pines that languished unsold for years found a new owner last week by auction, bringing in $700,000 despite the lack of utilities at the site.Developer Palmer Gillis purchased what has been called the Burbage property, just south of the North Gate of Ocean… Read more »

BERLIN – Troy Purnell carried the District 1 special election with 53 percent of the vote Tuesday to step into the District 1 council seat.Berlin newcomer Phil Cropper took 36 percent of the vote, while former mayor and town council member Rex Hailey made a disappointing showing with just 11 percent of vote.Purnell received 120… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The question on whether or not the town of Ocean City needs a performing arts center of any kind seems a bit more complicated than simply “to build or not to build?”Ongoing efforts from both the private and public sector in recent months to bring a performing arts center to the Ocean… Read more »