Offshore Wind PowerHas Immense BenefitsEditor:Having grown up in Rockville, Md., I have many fond memories of family vacations to Ocean City. Riding the waves with my grandfather, playing arcade games on the Boardwalk with cousins, and watching the planes go by with their various advertisements. Now as an adult, I enjoy visiting this quintessential American… Read more »
Monthly Archives: September 2010
Is It Apathy Or Satisfaction In Berlin?
by Steven Green
Thanks to the filing deadline passing on Monday, Berlin Council members Dean Burrell, Paula Lynch and Troy Purnell were re-elected this week.Whenever an elected official faces no opposition in a re-election bid, it raises the question: is it voter apathy or satisfaction?The question was raised earlier this summer when County Commissioner Bud Church was unopposed… Read more »
Thoughts From The Publisher’s Desk
by Steven Green
Some observations about this week’s primary election, which was dominated largely by predictable finishes, easy victories for most incumbents and low voter turnout:— Although there were little surprises in the official results, the low voter turnout (34 percent) did disappoint and was a topic of conversation at the polls throughout the county and state. Primaries… Read more »
Purnell Cruises To 5th Term; Challenger Raises Ethics Concern
BERLIN – Commissioner Jim Purnell easily held onto his commissioner seat in a low turnout primary vote, surpassing challenger Eddie Lee to gain his fifth term in office representing District 2.Purnell has held the minority-majority district seat since it was created in 1995 to address the political imbalance in Worcester County, which had never had… Read more »
LCB Head’s Past Sparks Questions Over Slots License
OCEAN CITY — With the introduction of Worcester County’s first slots parlor reportedly opening in less than three months, local vendors are in the process of going through the required protocol to earn the right to do business at Ocean Downs.Yet, an interesting question was raised this week: whether the Worcester County Liquor Control Board… Read more »
District Delegate Field Narrowed To Four After Primary
BERLIN – There were few surprises this week after voters across Worcester County and the Lower Shore turned out in modest numbers for Tuesday’s primary election, as the field of candidates in the District 38B House of Delegates race and the District 38 State Senate race came into focus.In the District 38B primary on the… Read more »
Defeated Incumbent Planning Write-In Campaign
BERLIN – Single-term incumbent Worcester County Commissioner Linda Busick was toppled from her District 6 seat by challenger and political newcomer Madison “Jimmy” Bunting in this week’s Republican primary race, but Busick vowed this week to fight on as a write-in candidate.“I’ve been on a pretty good high all day,” Bunting said on Wednesday.Bunting received… Read more »
Critical Areas Change Includes All Of Ocean City
OCEAN CITY – Resort officials this week tabled a vote on the pending Critical Areas legislation when it became evident the proposed changes would include the entire town.Several years ago, Maryland adopted stringent Critical Areas legislation pertaining to new development in waterfront areas around the state. The intent was to establish minimum setbacks from the… Read more »
Town Will Not Use Reserves On Debt
BERLIN – Berlin has plenty in the bank, a review of the town’s finances revealed this week, but town officials will not use that cash to pay down debt on the electric plant.The Berlin Mayor and Council held the work session Monday before the regular town council meeting simply to make sure everyone has current… Read more »
Ongoing Hiring Freeze Touches Off Pay Scale Debate
Shawn J. Soper News EditorOCEAN CITY – A seemingly innocuous discussion about replacing a retiring civilian position in the Ocean City Police Department this week touched off a much larger philosophical debate about the town’s ongoing effort to restructure its pay scale and benefits package for new employees and the need to quickly fill vacated… Read more »