BERLIN – Hunger is as serious a problem in Worcester County as the lack of affordable housing, local advocates for the poor and needy say, especially in the winter.“Food is probably the greatest need that we fill. A lot of people don’t realize there are hungry people around us,” said Darlene Onley of Worcester County… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City will be increasing its public relations campaign in 2008, reported advertising firm MGH in a Tourism Commission meeting last week. MAGH Public Relations Account Director Chris McMurry presented the commission with a plan for the 2008 public relations campaign, providing some new ways to generate positive buzz about Ocean City.Survey… Read more »

BERLIN – Nearly three years to the day since Berlin Finance Director Ron Bireley was officially fired amid controversy and veiled hints of missing funds, the former mayor and councilman late last month filed suit against the town and Mayor Tom Cardinale seeking an undisclosed amount in compensatory and punitive damages.Bireley, through his attorney Robin… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – In an effort to continue with the Downtown Recreation Complex, the Mayor and Council will be sending another letter to the County Commissioners hoping to find a common ground.Mayor Rick Meehan addressed the issue this week at a regular session of the Mayor and Council, announcing the city is willing to send… Read more »

SNOW HILL – The multi-party lawsuit asking a Worcester County judge to sort out who among the top three finishers in the blue marlin category of last year’s White Marlin Open should receive the hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake got even more complicated late last month when the first-place finisher in the tuna… Read more »

OCEAN CITY – A public hearing was held this week regarding the expansion of an uptown arcade and mini-golf course. Although objections were heard at past public hearings on plans for the property, no objections were heard at Tuesday night’s meeting. Property owner Nolen Graves of Golf Ventures, LLC made his presentation to the Planning… Read more »

BERLIN – Merchants with sidewalk signs may have to make some changes in how they advertise their businesses after the Berlin Historic District Commission (HDC) determined only one of those merchants has the proper permit.“We’re suggesting sidewalk signs not be allowed,” said Bob McIntosh, HDC chair, to the Berlin Planning Commission.Roughly 13 sidewalk signs, also… Read more »

BERLIN – A higher special connection fee for Berlin’s new wastewater customers is inevitable, as is a rate increase for current sewer customers, whether the treatment plant capacity is expanded or merely improved, ratepayers heard at the Jan. 3 meeting on the project financing.“Just to increase the capability, not merely the capacity of the existing… Read more »

BERLIN – After years of false starts and several changes in plan, Berlin’s wastewater expansion and improvements are under way at last, with the Berlin town council voting last week to begin the process of engaging a design engineer.The first step in meeting the County Commissioners’ five-year time limit for the project is a request… Read more »

BERLIN – Berlin’s historic district expansion was put back another month this week after a local developer protested the inclusion of his property in the expanded historic zone.What was originally a short discussion by the Berlin Planning Commission on the expanded historic district map turned into an, at times, acrimonious conversation after developer Troy Purnell… Read more »