Berlin Announces New Electricity Supply Contract

BERLIN — The Town of Berlin announced this week it has signed an additional two-year electricity supply contract with NextEra Energy Power Marketing, LLC, (NextEra Energy), stabilizing bills for the town’s electric customers starting in June 2013 and continuing through May 2015.A recommendation to apply to the Maryland Public Service Commission for reduced municipal electric… Read more »

Council OKs Voluntary Design Guidelines

OCEAN CITY — The City Council approved an ordinance this week that would add non-binding design guidelines to the site plan approval process for new development in the resort, but not before amending the code change to define just where they would apply.In an effort to gain some conformity for new development in the resort,… Read more »

Assateague Camping Fees Increase

ASSATEAGUE — New camping fees at Assateague National Seashore went into effect last week resulting in significant changes to the fee structure on the barrier island.Assateague officials last week announced an increase in fees for camping at the national seashore went into effect on February 1. Fees for the regular sites in the Oceanside and… Read more »

Fed Probe Shakes Up Foreign Worker Effort

OCEAN CITY — In light of last summer’s controversy in Pennsylvania that led this month to federal sanctions against the Council for Educational Travel, USA (CETUSA), a new organization has stepped forward to represent the approximately 1,100 foreign workers who spend summers in Ocean City.Last week, CETUSA, considered one of the country’s largest international cultural… Read more »

OC Okays Hourly Parking Rate Hike

OCEAN CITY — Ocean City officials this week approved a 50-percent increase in the hourly parking rates at metered spots throughout the downtown area, but there was little discussion about the proposal to add meters at parking spaces throughout other parts of the resort.The City Council on Monday approved an ordinance raising parking spaces covered… Read more »

Charitable Souls Nominees Sought

Charitable Souls Nominees Sought

OCEAN CITY – Do you know of someone who volunteers to make the lower shore community a better place to live, work and play?If so, The Dispatch wants to hear from you.Last year, The Dispatch’s Shore Stars program was launched with the intention of organizing campaigns to recognize leading citizens on the lower shore.The first-ever… Read more »

Businesses Citied In Alcohol Compliance Check

BERLIN — In late January and early February, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office conducted alcohol compliance checks at businesses throughout much of Ocean City and Worcester County, resulting in 11 locations being cited including one that failed twice in two days.On Jan. 24 and Jan. 31, and again on Feb. 2, the Worcester County Sheriff’s… Read more »

OC Buskers No Longer Need To Register

OC Buskers No Longer Need To Register

OCEAN CITY — A federal lawsuit filed by a Boardwalk street performer over alleged First Amendment rights violations officially ended this week with Ocean City agreeing to a consent decree allowing certain performers or vendors to sell their wares and eliminating the registration requirement.Last June, the City Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance requiring all… Read more »