NEWARK – Worcester County’s public schools continue to gradually return students to classrooms.Worcester County Public Schools remains in Stage Two of its Responsible Return model as COVID-19 continues to be a concern. A third of the county’s public school students are back in their schools for in-person learning and more will return on Monday.“We’ve welcomed… Read more »
BISHOPVILLE – Worcester County launched its new place brand, Maryland’s Coast, at Lighthouse Sound on Wednesday.Elected officials joined county staff and industry partners to share the new brand, which highlights the county’s greatest asset, the ocean.“Our goal was to define a distinct brand to strengthen our county’s destination as a vibrant destination for families, vacationers,… Read more »
BERLIN – County officials approved the creation of an overlay zone to allow Ocean Downs Casino to expand despite objections from Ocean City’s mayor and representatives of the local hospitality industry.The Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday voted 5-2, with Commissioners Jim Bunting and Joe Mitrecic opposed, to approve a casino entertainment district for the A-2… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — The 9th Annual O.C.Toberfest will return this weekend with modifications to adhere to social distance requirements.To kick off the weekend, Friday night, Oct. 23, bring a blanket to the beach near North Division Street, and make sure to sit six feet away from the nearest blanket and watch the fireworks display beginning… Read more »
The Dispatch hosted a virtual town hall forum Tuesday night with the seven candidates for the Ocean City Mayor and Council.The forum featured all the candidates appearing on the municipal election ballot on Nov. 3. Mayor Rick Meehan, who is unopposed, participated in the forum along with the individuals competing for the four open council… Read more »
BERLIN – A jam-packed Oktoberfest resulted in a big day of sales for Berlin’s downtown businesses.Hordes of people descended on Berlin Saturday as the town hosted Oktoberfest, its first event since the arrival of the pandemic. Businesses, who were also participating in the town’s annual sidewalk sale, reported strong sales.“Several people said it was bigger… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — Likely a by-product of restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the beach bonfire program soared this summer in Ocean City with a significant spike in permits.One of the takeaways from Tuesday’s budget update presentation was the growing success of the beach bonfire permit program. Naturally, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, many… Read more »
OCEAN CITY — A takeaway from the recently requested and approved 10 additional full-time officers in Ocean City is the steady decline of interest in the seasonal officer program.Two weeks ago, the Mayor and Council approved the hiring of 10 new full-time OCPD officers at the request of Chief Ross Buzzuro and his command staff…. Read more »
OCEAN CITY — It was good news, bad news this week as the Town of Ocean City closed out fiscal year 2020 with an increase in the general fund balance, but budget shortfalls are already looming through the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.Much of the latter half of fiscal year 2020 was affected by… Read more »
BERLIN – Talk of government overreach and unnecessary law dominated a Berlin Planning Commission discussion of a new resilience element for the town’s comprehensive plan.The commission met Wednesday to review a resilience element proposed as an addition to the town’s comprehensive plan. The majority of the commission expressed concern with the extensive document drafted by… Read more »