SNOW HILL — A first look at Worcester County’s proposed Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget shows an increase of over $800,000 in estimated revenue but an anticipated budget shortfall of $7,374,149.“Based on current tax rates, revenues are estimated to be $166.7 million,” Chief Administrative Officer Gerald Mason explained to the County Commission Tuesday. “Requested operating… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — With more and more beached seal sightings and strandings in and around the resort area, the National Aquarium’s Marine Animal Rescue Program (MARP) coordinator this week briefed the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and other allied agencies on the appropriate response and reinforced the message the public should report sightings but generally leave… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — After three failed attempts in prior sessions, Governor Martin O’Malley’s Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 was officially approved late last week, but it remains to be seen if the legislation is merely symbolic or if a vast wind energy farm off the coast of Ocean City will become a reality.Last Friday,… Read more »

BERLIN — The unsuccessful plaintiffs in a civil suit against a Berlin farm family and Perdue this week filed a motion asking the court not to award the defendants a combined $3 million being sought in legal fees and other costs associated with litigating the case.In March 2010, the New York-based Waterkeeper Alliance, along with… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — Work began this week on the dredging of a navigation channel at the entrance to a West Ocean City marina in a plan that includes depositing the dredged material on Skimmer Island just north of the Route 50 bridge in an effort to restore critical nesting habitat for a handful of threatened… Read more »

SNOW HILL — A trained, active School Resource Officer (SRO) is a necessity in every Worcester County Public School facility, said Worcester County Sheriff Reggie Mason this week, but it will come with a steep cost ranging from $600,000 to $1.6 million depending on the county’s preferred course of action.“No child should feel in danger… Read more »

SNOW HILL — Table games at the Casino at Ocean Downs are under “serious consideration,” according to General Manager Joe Cavilla, but there are no concrete plans in place currently.Cavilla was on hand during this week’s Local Development Council (LDC) meeting to update the group on what’s new with Ocean Downs. He said improvements are… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — As City Manager David Recor holds private talks with members of the Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) this month, Fire Chief Chris Larmore has made it clear he is not worried about what his superior is going to hear from his personnel.With questions continuing to abound about general operations with the OCFD… Read more »

BERLIN — A visiting Worcester County Circuit Court judge this week overturned last year’s controversial property rezoning decision by the Worcester County Commissioners, but an attorney for the property’s owners has confirmed the ruling on the land off Route 589 will be appealed.The roughly 30-acre parcel near Ocean Pines is owned by Jack Burbage through… Read more »