BERLIN – Dire predictions of drastically low sales during the 2008 holiday shopping season appear to not be coming true for local retailers, with several reporting solid sales.Business at the Harry and David store at the Ocean City Factory Outlets is as strong as ever, said store manager Bonnie Oliverio.“Things are going great. It is… Read more »

 BERLIN – Troy Purnell was sworn in at Monday’s Berlin Mayor and Council meeting and took his seat as a councilman, giving the body a full roster of elected officials for the first time since May.“It felt good. Definitely a different view,” said Purnell of his swearing in and first meeting as a sitting council… Read more »

SNOW HILL – Hiring practices, distribution of slots revenue and road impacts need to be clarified in Maryland’s current slot machine legislation, Worcester County staff attorney Sonny Bloxom warned the County Commissioners Tuesday.“I looked at it from the standpoint of things that would really impact our county,” said Bloxom.The attorney identified five items of concern… Read more »

BERLIN – Worcester County’s highly decorated public school system added another feather to its cap yesterday when state education officials named Stephen Decatur Middle School a Maryland Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.With the announcement yesterday, Stephen Decatur Middle joins six other Worcester County public schools that have received the prestigious award including in no particular… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – The question on whether or not the town of Ocean City needs a performing arts center of any kind seems a bit more complicated than simply “to build or not to build?”Ongoing efforts from both the private and public sector in recent months to bring a performing arts center to the Ocean… Read more »

BERLIN – Troy Purnell carried the District 1 special election with 53 percent of the vote Tuesday to step into the District 1 council seat.Berlin newcomer Phil Cropper took 36 percent of the vote, while former mayor and town council member Rex Hailey made a disappointing showing with just 11 percent of vote.Purnell received 120… Read more »

BERLIN – A large parcel of farmland on the border of Ocean Pines that languished unsold for years found a new owner last week by auction, bringing in $700,000 despite the lack of utilities at the site.Developer Palmer Gillis purchased what has been called the Burbage property, just south of the North Gate of Ocean… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – All Ocean City employees will pay 5 percent of every paycheck toward their pension until the day they retire, thus easing the burden on city taxpayers to foot the bill to pay for their post-employment benefits.After Finance Administrator Martha Lucey’s recommendation in October to amend a 2004 rule that allows town employees… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The comprehensive rezoning should be delivered to the County Commissioners by mid-February, according to staff, bringing the final draft text to the public a few weeks shy of the third anniversary of passage of the new county comprehensive plan approved in March 2006.The comprehensive rezoning will implement many of the provisions of… Read more »

BERLIN – A lawsuit between an Ocean Pines marina and a contractor who built its allegedly defective boat slips was re-opened in Worcester County Circuit Court this week after the state’s Court of Special Appeals last week overturned the lower court’s ruling to dismiss the case in favor of the defendants.In August 2006, the Pines… Read more »