Ocean
City is about to shutter a million dollar industry. That’s a fact if the
figures reported by the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) are true. The OCPD
says its research has found that about 30,000 green laser pointers have been
sold this summer in the resort area. It was said the laser pointers sell for
anywhere between $30 and $50. Using an average price of $40 per item, this
year’s summer novelty item has generated about $1.2 million in local sales for
merchants.
Although
this entire laser pointer debate seems like nonsense on the surface, it has
become a public safety issue, particularly on the Boardwalk. Clearly, these
laser pointers are inappropriately used by many consumers, most of who are
youngsters and are not being warned of the consequences of misuse. A handful of
incidents have been reported where people, including a couple Boardwalk
merchants, were hit in the eyes with a beam and blurred vision was a result.
The Mayor and Council is acting appropriately with its emergency legislation,
which makes it illegal for minors to buy or possess a laser pointer and expands
the current usage law to not only include people but also all vehicles. Check
out the Boardwalk around dusk this weekend if you don’t believe it’s a safety
issue. These annoyances are everywhere, and you might want to wear a pair of
shades to protect your eyes if you are going to see for yourself.
The
latest issue of “ForteanTimes,” an English magazine that covers the “world’s
weirdest news stories,” contains a local bit of news. Peter Hassall writes for
the magazine and has an ongoing series that deals with mysterious falls from
the sky. Back in December, a local cab driver found what he believed to be a
meteorite on the beach. He could not touch the object because it was too hot and
subsequently buried it and marked it with a stick so he could return the next
day to further examine it. The incident was reported in this paper and picked
up by the magazine.
It
seems Hassall, an expert on this sort of thing, takes issue with the cabbie’s
story. He flat out doesn’t believe the object recovered came from the sky.
Hassall wrote, “The most suspicious part of Miller’s story is his description
of the small meteorite as being too hot to handle and still warm many hours
later. This is incredibly unlikely, as the general consensus among astronomers
is that small, stony meteorites would be cold or barely warm to touch immediate
after impact. Genuine meteorites do not have pitted surface [as was maintained
during discovery]. The most likely explanation would seem to be [he] was
inspired by the Geminid meteor shower to tell a tall tale after he found an odd
rock when walking home.”
The
Ocean City Mayor and Council could soon have a hot potato on their hands. Word
is a private citizen wants the resort to consider making smoking illegal on the
beach as well as the Boardwalk. The resident has reportedly done quite a bit of
research and is serious about this request. He has privately approached at
least one council member, who was not opposed to banning smoking in those
public places but had enforcement concerns. Plans are to get the full council
to weigh in on the matter in the near future.
As of
July 5, there are currently 100 cities that do not permit smoking on the beach.
Additionally, the state of Maine prohibits smoking on all beaches. There are
reportedly many other cities that restrict smoking to certain areas of beach
that are not included on that list.
This is
going to be interesting to see how the elected officials handle this one. It’s
not a new issue, but it’s believed to be the first time it’s been broached
since smoking in most public places was outlawed in Maryland. Enforcement will
be an issue, of course, but it’s ultimately no different than the alcohol on
the beach policy. People drink alcohol on the beach still, despite the current
law prohibiting it. Smoking will still happen on the beach if it’s outlawed,
but it might raise awareness and courtesy levels.
