SNOW HILL – The State of Maryland will not help Worcester County replace old septic tanks with new pollution reducing technology, the County Commissioners learned recently, despite the great reduction in nitrogen contamination from the enhanced septic systems.Maryland state housing rehabilitation money cannot be used to buy the better, more expensive systems because neither the… Read more »

BERLIN – Growth planning and money matters make it necessary for Berlin to ask for more wastewater capacity, according to town officials, despite the Worcester County Commissioners’ vote to restrict the town’s wastewater capacity late last month.“I don’t want to go back two years from now and upgrade again. That’s what scares me,” Berlin Mayor… Read more »

BERLIN – A number of bills have been introduced in the General Assembly in its first month that could have an impact on Worcester County. Here’s a look at some interesting pieces of legislation being considered in Annapolis.– House Bill (HB) 171: Introduced by Delegates Norm Conway and Jim Mathias, it allows for the County… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – An illegal hobby shared by a mother and daughter from Brooklyn, Md. resulted in criminal charges last week in Ocean City.On Jan. 17, during a routine business check of the Holiday Inn on 17th Street, Ocean City police officers detected an odor of burnt marijuana on the 11th floor of the hotel…. Read more »

BERLIN – The Fresh Pride grocery store at Pines Plaza, a neighborhood institution since the late 1980s, will close its doors on Feb. 4.No reason has been given for the closure. Ed Dery, President, CEO, and CFO of Fresh Pride chain owner Camellia Foods Stores, Inc., refused to provide more information on the move. A… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – One of the two women arrested by resort police for prostitution last September appeared in District Court this week and received a brief reprieve in her ongoing case when the charges were essentially dropped over a few technicalities. The case will not end ther,e however; the alleged working girl will soon be… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A local restaurant manager has been arrested and charged with theft in connection with two separate theft schemes uncovered by the Ocean City Police Department earlier this month.Tracy Lee Owes, 33, of Ocean City, was arrested on Jan. 11 for his alleged connection with a theft scheme at Castaway’s Restaurant. Owes has… Read more »

BERLIN – Twenty million dollars has been dedicated to the next phase of the Route 113 dualization and to more planning funds for Route 589 improvements in the state’s consolidated transportation plan, showing that the highest levels of Maryland government have not forgotten Worcester’s highways.The Maryland consolidated transportation plan calls for $18 million to fund… Read more »

BERLIN – Worcester County’s elected officials kept their thoughts to themselves after Jolly Roger’s Buddy Jenkins presented the case for an Ocean City amusement tax overlay district, which would give two major amusement enterprises tax relief.The measure would freeze property assessments of the Trimper rides properties, Jolly Roger Amusement Park, and Jolly Roger rides at… Read more »

BERLIN – Just one month after his Homeownership Preservation Task Force released its grave final report on the growing foreclosure crisis across the state, Governor Martin O’Malley this week announced proposed emergency regulations and initiatives to help stem the tide of residents across Maryland including Worcester losing their homes.O’Malley on Monday unveiled a multi-faceted plan… Read more »