OCEAN CITY — The proposed fiscal year 2018 budget of around $128 million was unveiled this week and includes a modest tax cut for resort property owners for the second straight year.City Manager Doug Miller and Budget Manager Jennie Knapp outlined the proposed fiscal year budget on Tuesday, launching a two-week process that will ultimately… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — State lawmakers this week passed Governor Larry Hogan’s fiscal year 2018 capital budget, which includes a significant financial shot in the arm for several major Lower Shore projects including the next major phase of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center expansion.On Wednesday, the House of Delegates passed Hogan’s capital budget with a… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — Continuing a recent trend in the attempt to stem the flow of heroin into Ocean City, resort police officers last week made several arrests at a known open-air drug market in Sussex County.Some Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers are routinely sworn in as fully-vested law enforcement officers with the Worcester County… Read more »
SHOWELL – Community members are spearheading a bone marrow donor registration drive at Showell Elementary School (SES) later this month after a third-grade student was recently diagnosed with cancer.Ed Reid, school counselor at SES and one of the event coordinators for the registration drive, said mother Brandy Terrell approached him with the idea after her… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — Just two days after the Town of Ocean City and its firefighter-paramedic union reached an 11th-hour agreement on a new contract, union officials submitted a petition at City Hall seeking a referendum for binding interest arbitration.Last Tuesday with the clock ticking down on the negotiations deadline, the Mayor and Council and the… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — After being narrowly defeated at the 11th hour last year, a bill requiring businesses in Maryland to provide paid sick leave to most employees has returned largely intact this year, but the local business community is again rallying the troops in opposition.The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, cross-filed in both the House… Read more »
SALISBURY – Approximately 31 percent of households in Worcester County are struggling to afford basic needs, according to a recent United Way report on Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) individuals. But statistics show these percentages are higher in half of the county’s municipalities identified in the data.In a snapshot of six municipalities – Berlin,… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — While most agree the value-added free special events on many nights throughout the summer season are successful in enhancing the visitor experience in Ocean City, a new perspective on their possible detriment for Boardwalk merchants and other businesses in the resort was revealed this week.Ocean City’s Tourism Committee this week got a… Read more »
WEST OCEAN CITY — A local woman, arrested this week after allegedly holding up a West Ocean City bank on Monday, had a busy morning in the hours leading up to the crime including changing clothes before and after in a nearby fast-food restaurant.Shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday, the Maryland State Police (MSP) Berlin… Read more »
SNOW HILL – A study conducted by the Maryland Stadium Authority indicates that while there is a market for an outdoor sports field complex in Worcester County, there’s little demand for an arena or ice rink.On Tuesday Susan Sieger of Crossroads Consulting presented the Worcester County Commissioners with the market and economic impact study relating… Read more »