BERLIN — State officials this week announced another landmark in Maryland’s ongoing efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay’s native oyster population after the latest survey showed the highest survival rate in nearly three decades.Governor Martin O’Malley this week released the results of Maryland’s 2011 Fall Oyster Survey show the highest survival rate for oysters since… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) had a number of items scheduled during this week’s Mayor and City Council meeting including the release of the department’s year-end report.“We saw a decrease of 8.9 percent in serious crime, which is a very good number,” OCPD Chief Bernadette DiPino reported. “The men and woman… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The Mayor and City Council approved this week a list of requests to upgrade or replace Information Technology (IT) equipment, as well as Eagles Landing’s irrigation pump station.Golf Course Upgrade PlannedRecreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster explained that the Eagle’s Landing irrigation pump station and narrow band radio system are in need… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) this week announced the finalists for its annual awards gala later this spring and once again the resort area is well represented with nominees in several categories.Ocean City’s restaurant community has brought home more than its share of the annual RAM awards in recent years and… Read more »

OCEAN CITY — Many resort business owners can breathe a collective sigh of relief this week as the unsettled foreign student labor situation has now stabilized.Earlier this month, federal sanctions against the Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA), borne out of a controversy in Pennsylvania last summer, caused quite a stir in the resort business… Read more »

BERLIN — Junior Achievement (JA) held its first ever Adopt A School Dinner last October at the Marlin Club in West Ocean City.  The committee that put on the event, had envisioned an event to raise the necessary funding and bring community awareness for JA Programs. Not only was that vision met, it far exceeded… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The topic of “free gas” has returned as discussions turn toward ways to encourage visitors to come to Ocean City with gas prices predicted to rise once again.During discussions with tourism partners this week, Councilman Brent Ashley re-visited a concept to offer a gas promotion this summer to encourage visitors to Ocean… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The process to create a list of capital improvement projects to be included in an ordinance for a bond sale in April began this week.The list of previously approved projects and their total issuance cost are the reconstruction of the Boardwalk at $6,120,000; the new Art League of Ocean City building at… Read more »

SNOW HILL — After a string of hearings for alcohol sales to undercover police cadets resulted in only reprimands, an Ocean City 7-Eleven owner was agitated this week when he got hit with a heavy fine and suspension.Three Article 2B (alcohol sale to minor) violations came before the Board of License Commissioners (BLC) Wednesday, including… Read more »

BERLIN — In the midst of a major fundraising effort for a new facility in Berlin, the Coastal Hospice at the Ocean residence project is hoping for a fiscal shot in the arm from the state.Coastal Hospice, which provides care, peace and dignity for the seriously or terminally ill, is embarking on a major capital… Read more »