Nov. 13

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November 13, 2020

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Schools Weathering Pandemic Times

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Governor Issues Serious Warnings

Season’s Changes:

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Council Leadership Changes Hands

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November 13, 2020

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BERLIN – Stephen Decatur High School and Worcester Technical High School halted in-person instruction this week after individuals at Decatur tested positive for COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Stephen Decatur Principal Thomas Sites announced the Berlin high school would return to distance learning until after Thanksgiving. The announcement came after the school was notified of its third positive case in 24 hours.

“In light of this new case, it has been decided that, out of an abundance of caution, all classes at Stephen Decatur High School will move to distance learning, beginning tomorrow, November 11, 2020, with students anticipated to return on Monday, November 30, 2020,” a letter to parents reads. “This decision was not made lightly, but the health and safety of our students and staff will always remain the highest priority as these decisions are made.”

The decision to close Worcester Tech — which is attended by students from Decatur as well as students from Snow Hill and Pocomoke high schools — came on Wednesday evening. Single classrooms at Cedar Chapel Special School and Showell Elementary School are also closed as a result of COVID-19 cases.

The wave of closures began with a letter to Decatur parents Monday evening. Sites advised parents the school was notified two individuals in the same classroom had tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Maryland Department of Health, that meets the definition of a classroom outbreak. That class was moved to distance learning for the appropriate quarantine period.

“I want to reassure you, however, that because of our commitment to health protocols (including physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and disinfecting surfaces), your child was not exposed while on school property unless you were otherwise notified,” Sites wrote in Monday’s letter. “We have not received any reports of other students outside of this classroom or staff members experiencing illnesses with symptoms resembling those of coronavirus, but as always, we ask that you notify us if your child develops any symptoms.”

Tuesday evening, however, Sites sent parents another letter announcing the third case — outside of the classroom outbreak — and the entire school would transition to distance learning through Thanksgiving.

On Tuesday Showell Elementary also advised parents of a positive case in an early childhood classroom.

“In consultation with the Worcester County Health Department, we have decided out of an abundance of caution to transition this class to distance learning through the appropriate quarantine time period,” Principal Diane Shorts wrote in a letter to parents.

In a call to families Tuesday evening, Superintendent Lou Taylor said that the SEE PAGE 30

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 5

Local Officials React To Tighter Pandemic Guidelines

Page 6

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday issued new directives in an attempt to slow the spread of the pandemic, but what it means locally is not entirely clear.

For seven straight days, the number of new coronavirus cases in Maryland increased by over 1,000 for the first time since early in the pandemic. That trend continued on Wednesday with 1,700plus new cases, 16 more confirmed deaths and 44 new hospitalizations.

Perhaps more alarming has been the increase in positive-testing rate, which exceeded the 5% threshold for the first time since June this week. As of Wednesday, the testing positive ratio increased to 5.6%.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Hogan: Actions Needed To Stay Open

As a result, Hogan on Tuesday announced a series of new directives in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Maryland. Among the new directives is a reduction of indoor dining capacity at restaurants and bars in Maryland from 75% to 50%. Throughout the pandemic, the rules changed for restaurants and bars from carryout and delivery only, to outdoor dining only and gradually from 25% to 50% and ultimately 75% before Hogan backtracked to 50% again on Tuesday.

Other directives announced on Tuesday included reverting back to advised limitations of 25 or less for indoor gath-

erings and stern warnings about out-ofstate travel. Government employees returned to mandatory teleworking and general public employees were urged to work from home where possible. The new directives also expand hospital surge capacity across the state and include new guidelines for nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

“Since last week, most of our key metrics have worsened considerably,” said Hogan. “More people are getting infected with the virus, more people are being hospitalized, more people are going into intensive care, and more Marylanders are dying. The actions we are

November 13, 2020

taking today are absolutely necessary to help us withstand this surge, to save lives, and to keep Maryland on the road to recovery and open for business.”

Locally, members of the hospitality industry in and around the resort on Wednesday were sorting out just what the governor’s new directives mean. Of course, a return to 50% capacity for restaurants and bars is never welcome from a business standpoint, but the timing could be worse. With the calendar hitting mid-November, most local establishments are operating at around 50% anyway on most days with some exceptions, but a backtracking in the state COVID directives could be a bad omen for many, according to Ocean City HotelMotel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones.

“While we never want to see operations going backwards, the reduction from 75% to 50% will not greatly affect our restaurants,” she said. “Because tables must be socially-distanced and there is only so much square-footage inside, most restaurants are really only at 50% currently. In the beginning of the pandemic, many operators were quick to react with reductions in expenses and operational pivots which helped them survive.”

After many months of tight restrictions, many around the state are suffering from COVID fatigue and have started to relax their adherence to the restrictions in place. Hogan on Tuesday made it known in no uncertain terms the new directives would be strictly enforced. Enforcement locally falls on the county health department, the liquor control board and the police.

Ocean City Police Department Deputy Communications Manager Ashley Miller said on Wednesday the OCPD would start with gaining voluntary compliance before taking sterner enforcement action.

“If our department receives a complaint or observes a facility that is not complying with the orders, we will attempt to make contact with the manager or owner to ensure they are aware of the requirements,” she said. “If the manager or owner is not willing to comply with the orders, our department will document it and then contact the Worcester County Health Department, which will then follow their protocol.”

Perhaps more concerning locally than the reduction in indoor restaurant and bar capacity are the strict limitations on out-of-state travel and gathering sizes. Ocean City relies heavily on conventions and other special events during the offseason and those activities will be curtailed by the new travel restrictions, according to Jones.

“With the announcement of the Maryland Department of Health advising indoor gatherings being limited to 25, I foresee additional cancellations,” she said. “The convention cancellations and the loss of rooms from that segment will have a chilling effect this winter. It’s going to be exceptionally quiet, which is SEE NEXT PAGE

… Winter Wellness County Libraries To Offer Browsing Appointments Promotion Planned For Resort Area

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

why we are working on a winter wellness promotion.”

Ocean City Communications Manager and Acting Tourism Director Jessica Waters said city officials are working closely with the county health department to ensure the governor’s new directives are in place here and being enforced.

“We are all taking in the governor’s announcement and making adjustments where needed,” she said. “We spoke to [Worcester County Health Officer] Becky Jones and fortunately, Worcester County’s numbers look good at the moment, which is all the more reason to keep doing the right thing and following all health and safety guidelines.”

Waters agreed the gathering size limitations and the travel restrictions are reason for concern.

“Travel restrictions have been a challenge for us,” she said. “We noticed the first wave of travel restrictions in August when Maryland went on and off the New York and New Jersey travel ban list. Fortunately, Maryland has worked closely with Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia, which has brought visitors from those states. In addition, our Maryland visitors have been very loyal travelers and I think we continue to see people from our state staying local and vacationing on Maryland’s coast.”

Waters elaborated on the winter wellness promotion mentioned by Jones.

“The Winter Wellness idea was something created as a spinoff of Hotel Week,” she said. “Several tourism partners were chatting about ways to promote visitors in January and February and we figured that a new year, when people are generally making health a top priority in their lives, combined with the pandemic was a great opportunity to encourage visitors to nourish their mind, body and soul at the beach. Not only is there something very peaceful about staying near the sea during the winter, but we thought involving hotels, restaurants and wellness studios would be a great promotion for visitors that need to recharge their batteries after a long, trying year.”

Even before Hogan’s announcement on Tuesday, Ocean City officials took action to extend Mayor Rick Meehan’s authority to issue emergency declarations.

That authority expires every 30 days and needed to be renewed with a formal vote by the council. As a result, the mayor’s emergency declaration, which includes requiring the wearing of masks in public areas when social distancing can’t be observed, was renewed on Tuesday.

“At this point, we need to follow the lead of the state of Maryland, including wearing masks when social distancing is not possible,” he said. “I think it’s pertinent that we do this.”

SNOW HILL – A new “Grab and Go” service for browsing library materials will begin next week on a trial basis.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 16, all five branches of the Worcester County Library will pilot a “Grab and Go” service. Appointments to browse the library collection will be available from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

“Last month we talked about when we would let people in to browse the stacks …,” Library Director Jennifer Ranck told board members in a meeting this week. “I think we are ready to have browsing by appointment.”

Library patrons who reserve a time for “Grab and Go” services will be asked to wear a mask, sign a screening form and use hand sanitizer upon entry. The library

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is also asking visitors to refrain from reshelving items.

“Due to physical distancing requirements, library staff will only be able to assist visitors from a safe distance,” a library statement reads.

Ranck said this week the library will continue to offer appointments to access a computer, use the copy machine or register for a library card. Curbside pickup for library materials will also be available.

“If they don’t want to do browsing by appointment, we will still offer curbside pickup and Library-to-go for people who aren’t ready to come in yet,” she said.

The decision to offer “Grab and Go” services comes less than a week after the Worcester County Commissioners voted unanimously to have the library system come up with a plan for reopening.

Ranck told board members the “Grab and Go” program will be offered on a trial basis and will largely depend on the

number of COVID-19 cases in Worcester County. “… we may be forced to return to previous restrictions, and we apologize in advance should this become necessary,” a statement from the library reads. “Libraryto-go service also continues and materials, program kits, and print/copy jobs can be picked up in a contactless manner.”

The Worcester County Library this week also announced its shift to a 48hour quarantine of all returned materials.

In recent months, the library has observed a seven-day quarantine period for returned materials.

“Worcester County Library is moving to a 48-hour quarantine period based on the recommendation from the MD Department of Health,” a statement reads. “This will enable materials to move faster and help keep everyone safe. Library staff and visitors should continue to wear masks and wash hands frequently.”

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Homeowner Incentive Program Grows

Page 8

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s twoyear homeownership incentive pilot program has been so successful thus far, resort officials voted to expand the budget for the initiative.

Earlier this year, the Mayor and Council approved a two-year pilot program to encourage more year-round residents to make Ocean City their permanent home by offering incentives including relaxing some up-front costs such as building fees, for example. The two-pronged incentive program also includes property tax deferrals for the first few years a new resident makes Ocean City his or her home.

Although technically the program is not an expenditure for the town, but rather a reduction in revenue, the pro-

gram is listed as a line item in the budget at $50,000 per year. On Tuesday, Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville, whose department oversees the homeowner incentive program, said nine applications have been approved, tapping out the initiative’s $50,000 budget.

“We’ve had an immediate response,” he said. “The word got out and people are hearing about the program from their Realtor or builder. We’ve reached that $50,000 threshold, so my question is, should we stop taking applications until the next fiscal year or expand the budget. The recommendation is to expand the budget by $25,000 to keep the program rolling through the end of the fiscal year.”

The council ultimately voted unanimously to add the $25,000 to the homeownership incentive program.

November 13, 2020

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The first prong of the incentive program is relief from the various fees the town

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imposes on new construction or the substantial improvement of an existing structure including building permit fees.

The intent of the Mayor and Council throughout the process has been to get the reduction of those fees to around $7,500.

Neville explained the average value of a new single-family home in Ocean City is around $275,000, which is how the $7,500 target was determined for the fee relief package. However, if a newly-constructed home came in under that $275,000 average, the relief from the various fees could come in less. Neville said the intent was not to reduce the fees to a level lower than what the potential homebuilder would be on the hook for already.

Under one scenario, a potential homebuilder could get relief from all or a portion of the town’s impact fees in order to reach the desired $7,500 threshold. For example, if a $200,000 new home was eligible for a relief in building fees at say $5,000, the impact fees could be reduced by $2,500 to get to the $7,500 target.

The second prong of the program is a $2,500 waiver from property tax deferrals over a five-year period. Like the fee relief package, the proposed reduction would only apply if the potential builder or buyer guaranteed their plan was to make their Ocean City home their permanent residence, which is the point of the incentive program.

“The objective of this program is to bring new year-round residents to Ocean City,” said Council Secretary Tony DeLuca. “They expand the tax base, eat at our restaurants and support our local businesses. We want to encourage people to move here instead of West Ocean City, Ocean Pines, Berlin or Sussex County.”

The program is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all approach because of the disparity in value of new homes. In other words, a property owner building a new home valued at $200,000 doesn’t necessarily get the same relief package as someone building a $350,000 home. Similarly, someone substantially improving an existing residence doesn’t get the same relief as a property owner building a new home.

Beach Bonfire Popularity Detailed

November 13, 2020

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s beach bonfire program spiked significantly this year, enhancing the visitor experience while creating some worthwhile enforcement and cleanup headaches.

Because of the ongoing COVID pandemic and the friendly online permit process, the number of beach bonfires jumped from 727 last year to nearly 2,400 this year, according to Ocean City Fire Marshal Josh Bunting. From a low of just 68 beach bonfire permits in 2010, the number grew incrementally for years, reaching 231 in 2016. In 2017, the Fire Marshal’s Office explored the possibility of replacing the cumbersome paper application process with an online version and it was fully implemented in 2018. In that year, the number of beach bonfire permits jumped to 479 and spiked again to 727 in 2019. With an unseasonably warm fall thus far, the number continues to grow. There were 25 more last Saturday and as of mid-week, there were a dozen more permitted for this weekend.

Naturally, COVID concerns are driving the spike somewhat this year, but Bunting credited the streamlined online permit process for the increase in recent years.

“For a long time, the largely paper applications had to be submitted two weeks in advance in order to be processed,” said Bunting. “The paper process was very cumbersome and it began to over-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 9

whelm the staff, so in the interest of good customer service, we decided we needed to go to an online application process.”

Those seeking a permit can apply via their cell phone and the turnaround is practically real-time with text confirmation capabilities. The online permit costs $75 and during the summer, the bonfires are allowed from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the cleanup expected by midnight. From Oct. 1 through March 31, the bonfires are permitted from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. with the same cleanup time expected. No bonfires are allowed south of 30th Street in the Boardwalk area from May 1 to Sept.

30.

“The regulations have remained pretty much unchanged over the years,” said Bunting. “The fires have to be at least 75 feet from the dune line, but the fee hasn’t changed for as long as I can remember.

On many nights this summer, we had permitted bonfires often two per block for as far as the eye can see.”

Bunting said despite nearly 2,400 permitted bonfires thus far this year, his office has received about a dozen complaints. The majority of the complaints have stemmed from the amount of smoke that often reaches beachfront condos and hotel rooms, especially on an east wind. Other complaints have focused on the debris left on the beach.

Bunting said the majority of those who obtain permits do the right thing and extinguish the fires and properly dispose of SEE PAGE 10

Berlin Addresses Merchant Concerns

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Mayor Zack Tyndall expressed his commitment to working with merchants as the pandemic continues.

At a meeting of the town council on Monday, Tyndall said marketing of local shops and promotions like carriage rides could go forward this holiday season.

“Even today we were meeting with merchants trying to make sure that things go off without a hitch and everybody’s safe and able to enjoy the shops because we do want people to come and shop in our small businesses,” Tyndall said. “It’s been a hard time for everyone.

It’s been especially hard for those that make their living with a storefront. The businesses have been great to work with.

I don’t see any reason why that would change moving forward.”

Tyndall’s comments came in the wake of a meeting with merchants last week. It was there that shopkeepers asked Tyndall to reconsider his decision not to allow banners promoting a Nov. 27 ice carving event and to permit carriage rides.

On Monday, Berlin Chamber of Commerce President Steve Frene asked Tyndall if he’d had time to review those requests. Tyndall said he had and that the banners promoting “Ice Ice Berlin” on Nov. 27 could go up. He said the Worcester County Health Department had been consulted regarding carriage rides.

“They said we could do it as long as the carriage company helped enforce distancing along with some criteria as to

who can sit on the carriage at the same time,” Tyndall said.

He added that because there would likely be more people in town than normal on Nov. 27, the carriage rides that evening would be set up on Baker Street.

“Subsequent weekends those carriage rides will be moved back to Pitts Street,” he said.

When Frene asked about the town’s marketing and promotion efforts going forward, Tyndall reiterated what he said last week to the merchants. He said that the town’s economic and community development department would advertise not a specific event but rather the fact that shops were open late on certain evenings.

Frene thanked Tyndall for his attention to the business community’s concerns.

“We look forward to continuing our great working relationship that we’ve had in the past,” he said.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood pointed out that the pandemic was a new situation for everyone in town.

“We hear you loud and clear but please understand, be flexible,” Fleetwood said.” We’re all here to work through this together.”

Ivy Wells, the town’s director of economic and community development, offered similar comments in an interview after the meeting.

“We have to be mindful of the spread of this pandemic,” she said. “We don’t want to shut anything down but we want to make sure everything’s operated in a safe way.”

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… Ocean City Bonfire Permit Requests Tripled In 2020

Page 10

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

FROM PAGE 9 the debris in a timely fashion, but there are times when a group will leave the remains of the fire on the beach, requiring additional work for his office and the public works department.

“We rely on the beach patrol to help with enforcement early in the evening when crews are still out on the beach,” he said. “We do have fire marshals out on the beach, but we don’t have the staff to be out there checking everyone every night. We used to have 10 or 15 a night, but now we have 50 to 60 on most nights.

We were a little lucky this year because we had a handful of interns that helped

monitor the program.”

Bunting said the biggest impact is on the public works department, which is charged with keeping the beach in pristine condition each night. He said the public works department’s beach cleaning equipment heads out around 10 p.m. each night and works throughout the night to restore the beach to its pristine condition.

With no beach bonfires allowed below 30th Street, the beach cleaners can focus their attention on the south end before heading north where most of the bonfires are permitted. However, those efforts are challenged by the growing bonfire pro-

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gram. For example, the heavy equipment operators are instructed to steer clear of ongoing beach bonfires and the groups that surround them. As a result, crews often double back early the next morning to hit those areas where the fires took place and less-than-conscientious groups did not follow the cleanup guidelines.

“I like the bonfires,” said Public Works Maintenance Manager Tom Dy. “It does have some impact on our ability to clean the beach. Our guys are instructed to work around them, but if we could have some more enforcement on the midnight stop time, it would be helpful. We do have some concerns about damage to our equipment, but it has been minimal thus far.”

There is a cost associated with the ever-increasing beach bonfire program.

However, with nearly 2,400 permitted fire this year at $75 a pop, the program is at the very least cost-neutral and even generates revenue. Mayor Rick Meehan said the benefits in terms of enhancing the resident and visitor experience offsets any potential costs and concerns.

“I think it’s terrific,” he said. “It’s kind of a throwback to a different era. With the way people get notices via text about when it’s okay to start and when it’s time to wrap it up, along with notices about potential weather impacts, it’s a great program. With COVID, it’s another outdoor, family-friendly activity for our families to enjoy.”

November 13, 2020

Council Secretary Tony DeLuca agreed.

“I love this program for a bunch of reasons,” he said. “I like the revenue it generates, but I really like the amenity it provides. Our family often has a bonfire on the beach at 48th Street and it’s just a great program.”

Councilman Peter Buas, who was sitting in on his first official work session this week, said he hoped the program wasn’t bogged down by enforcement and cleanup concerns.

“It’s a tremendous activity for the town,” he said. “Is there a ceiling on this or is there room for this program to grow?

It’s a tremendous program and I would hate to see it curtailed by some of these other concerns.”

Bunting said there was room for the program to grow to an extent and he would work with the other departments on solutions to some of the concerns.

“Whatever direction the Mayor and Council want to go, we will make sure the risks are balanced with the benefits,” he said. “I expect we’ll see an even greater increase next year.”

Meehan said any revenue benefit was incidental to the added amenity for residents and visitors.

“I never looked at this as a moneymaker,” he said. “I look at it as another family-friendly activity on the beach that enhances the Ocean City experience.

We can work through some of these other issues.”

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James Elected OC Council President, DeLuca As Secretary

Page 12

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Not only did the makeup of the Ocean City Council change with last week’s municipal election, but the leadership of the elected body changed two days later with an organizational meeting.

It was guaranteed there would be at least two new faces on the council following last week’s municipal election in Ocean City with longtime incumbents Dennis Dare and Mary Knight opting not to throw their hats in the ring. When the ballots were counted, Ocean City attorney Peter Buas was the top vote-getter, followed by incumbents John Gehrig and Tony DeLuca and newcomer Frank Knight earning the four vacant seats.

Mayor Rick Meehan ran unopposed and retained his seat.

Ocean City staggers its municipal elections every two years to avoid a major turnover in a single election cycle. Longtime Council President Lloyd Martin and Councilmen Matt James and Mark Paddack were not up for re-election this year and will round out the reconfigured elected body for the next two years.

The Mayor and Council held the tra-

ditional organizational meeting last Thursday at the convention center’s performing arts facility. Those elected on Tuesday were officially sworn in and there was no shortage of speeches, but the real business of the evening was choosing the leadership of the new council.

Martin was first elected to the council in 2002 and served as council secretary from 2006 to 2012 and a council president from 2012 to the present.

At Thursday’s organizational meeting, there was a symbolic changing of the guard as James was nominated and unanimously selected as the new council president. Similarly, DeLuca was nominated and unanimously chosen as the new council secretary, replacing the outgoing Knight in the position.

Meehan, who was council president when he became mayor in 2006, acknowledged Martin’s several years of service in the council president seat.

“I want to thank Lloyd Martin for his years of service as council president,” he said. “It’s not an easy job. You have to keep the council focused and keep the meetings moving and you did it with aplomb.”

The newly-elected councilmembers

November 13, 2020

Councilman Peter Buas, top votegetter in last week’s municipal election, is pictured being sworn in last week by Clerk of Court Susan Braniecki.

Photo by Shawn Soper

had an opportunity to address the friends, family and voters after being sworn in. Frank Knight recognized his wife, Mary, for her service and her role in his successful campaign.

“I’d like to thank my wife, my best friend and my campaign manager,” he said. “Most of all, I’d like to thank the people of Ocean City for putting their trust in me.”

Buas said he was overwhelmed by the support he received and was prepared to get down to business.

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“I am honored to be here,” he said.

“The support I’ve gotten has been nothing short of overwhelming. I’d like to thank the voters for their confidence in me and now it’s time to get to work.”

DeLuca also thanked his supporters and reiterated the pillars of his campaign.

“Thanks for all of the support,” he said. “I’m truly honored to serve this great town. As always, my top three priorities will be your money, your safety and, of course, your wonderful beach.”

For his part, Martin fondly recalled his service as council president and said he was prepared to continue his service from a different seat on the dais.

“For 18 years I served and I’ve loved every bit of it,” he said. “We have a great council up here and they’re working hard for you. That’s what this is all about. We’re here to serve you. You are the bosses.”

Paddack said he liked the makeup of the new group.

“I look forward to working with this council,” he said. “We have a really good team here and we’re ready to get to work.”

Newly-elected Council President Matt James praised his predecessor and mentor Martin.

“Thanks everyone for being here,” he said. “I want to thank Lloyd for the support he gave me when I was a very young councilman in 2014.”

James said he was ready to lead the new group as council president.

“I’d like to give special thanks to our outgoing councilmembers,” he said.

“Congratulations to Peter and Frank.

You guys are at opposite ends of the experience spectrum, but that’s a good thing. I’m confident as our new team comes together, we can do good work for the city.”

For his part, Meehan said he would be remiss if he did not acknowledge the outgoing councilmembers.

“I echo the thoughts of my colleagues,” he said. “Dennis and Mary will be missed, but their contributions will not be forgotten.”

Although he ran unopposed, Meehan thanked the voters for their support.

“Thank you to the voters for putting your trust in me,” he said. “It’s your seat.

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I’m just filling it.”

Finally, Meehan addressed some of the challenges of the last year, challenges the new Mayor and Council will continue to face.

“This has been a difficult year,” he said. “COVID has changed our lives and the world around us has changed. With Matt’s leadership and this council in place, we will continue to meet those challenges. We will keep our businesses open, our people safe and get our kids back in school.”

Knight was first elected in 2006 and served out the remainder of thenCouncil President Rick Meehan’s term when he replaced Jim Mathias as mayor. Knight was re-elected to her first full term in 2008 and served until last week’s municipal election, including the last several years as Council Secretary. She kept it light for the most part last Thursday when she was invited to recall her years of service.

“As a new member in 2006, I was very excited to talk about the issues,” she said. “Little did I know I would one day be sitting in a room full of men talking about the topless issue on the beach. I later got to testify in federal court about what made me an expert about the sensibilities of the public in Ocean City.”

Knight recalled her many accomplishments and those of her colleagues over the years, including one pet initiative in particular.

“We were able to accomplish many things,” she said. “One very simple campaign I’m very proud of is the ‘no profanity, please,’ on the Boardwalk. So many people said it gave them a reason to talk to their kids about the importance of choosing their words.”

Knight pointed out her departure leaves a gender void on the city council and urged young women in the community to get involved in their municipal government.

“For 14 years, I was the longest-serving councilwoman,” she said. “We need young women to get involved. Get out there and join a committee or one of the associations and get involved.”

Knight’s daughter, Frankie, also took the opportunity to thank her mother for her service and for being a role model to young women in the community.

“For the past 14 years, you have made me overwhelmingly proud,” she said. “As you all know, I am fiercely loyal to my family. She has made public safety, fiscal responsibility and familyfriendly events her top priority.”

Meehan also praised Knight for her years of public service.

“She’s tough as nails,” he said. “Don’t let that small stature fool you. She could stand up to all of us and she often did.

She was a true leader, and when she spoke, she was always clear, concise and well-prepared.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 15

Seal Released After Longest Aquarium Rehab To Date

Page 16

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

ASSATEAGUE – After the longest and perhaps most complicated rehabilitation in the National Aquarium program’s history, a gray seal pup was successfully released back into the ocean at Assateague on Wednesday.

The seal began her journey at the National Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Center nine months ago after being rescued from the beach in Dewey Beach last February in a coordinated effort with the Marine Education Research Rehabilitation Institute (MERR). The juvenile gray seal was estimated by National Aquarium staffers at just about one month old when she was rescued.

Pippi Longstocking, as she was quickly named in keeping with the aquarium’s theme this year of naming rescued seals after beloved children’s book characters, still had a small amount of lanugo, or baby seal fur, on her tail at the time of the rescue. She had multiple symptoms including dehydration and malnourishment along with what appeared to be an infected front flipper.

The animal rescue team immediately began a rehabilitation program for the young patient, and by May, Pippi Longstocking began to eat on her own and doubled her weight to 70 pounds. However, it was learned at that time that the

Members of the National Aquarium’s Animal Health and Rescue Team ushered a grey seal back to the Atlantic from Assateague Island Wednesday.

Photo by National Aquarium photographer Theresa Keil

young seal was suffering from an ear infection, a particularly troubling diagnosis for a seal due to its specific anatomy hindering the ability of treatment.

The aquarium’s Animal Health and Rescue Team treated Pippi’s ear infection to the best of its ability, but additional tests were needed. That proved to be even more complicated because access to advance diagnostics was limited

because of ongoing COVID restrictions at the facility. After working with a veterinary neurology and imaging team in Annapolis, the National Aquarium’s Animal Health and Rescue Team determined Pippi would need a complicated surgery on her ear infection.

On Aug. 22, Dr. Sakthilla Jeyakumar performed surgery on Pippi to remove her ear canal and a portion of the ear’s

November 13, 2020

bony structure. As a result, the young seal’s earhole is now permanently closed.

“The surgery performed on Pippi was the first of its kind on a gray seal,” said Jeyakumar. “We had a great team and worked hard to prepare for all of the possibilities we would encounter during the surgery. I feel very fortunate to be part of this team. I have also enjoyed watching her recover and grow. We hope that now she has healed, she will continue to flourish in her natural habitat.”

Following her surgery, Pippi continued her rehabilitation and the aquarium team carefully tracked her recovery progress until it was deemed she was ready to be released back into the wild. That happened on Wednesday when the National Aquarium team bid her farewell from the beach at Assateague State Park. When her crate was opened, Pippi made a mad dash for the sea and swam away.

“Pippi’s rehabilitation case is the longest seal case we have had since our program began in 1991,” said National Aquarium Animal Rescue Director Jennifer Ditmar. “While we did not anticipate Pippi to be such a complicated case, we are truly thankful for the partners, staff, volunteers and doctors who helped get Pippi to this point. She is a fighter and we are very proud to have made it to the moment of releasing her back into the ocean.”

Fenwick Dock Permit Application Meets Opposition

November 13, 2020

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Citing navigational and safety concerns, bayside residents in Fenwick Island last week called for the relocation of a proposed dock and pier on North Schulz Road.

Last Thursday, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section held a virtual public hearing on a permit application to construct and use a pier, dock and two boatlifts at 1306 N. Schulz Road in Fenwick.

The hearing – held at the request of the Fenwick Island Town Council – comes months after property owners James and Meredith Bruner submitted plans to DNREC to construct a 4-by-28-foot pier, a 6by-35-foot dock and a boat lift to the north of their parcel.

During the public notice period, however, the agency received multiple comments from adjacent neighbors and nearby community members opposed to the

Berlin To Create Stabilization Fund

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The town will use $171,000 in CARES Act funding to establish its much-discussed reserve fund.

The Berlin Town Council this week agreed to use funding it received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to start a stabilization reserve fund.

“I’d like to put that money away so that we can get started on this stabilization reserve that we talked about four or five months ago,” Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood told the council the town had received roughly $171,000 from the CARES Act a little over a week ago. The funding is reimbursement for what the town spent this year related to COVID-19.

The town is being reimbursed for money spent on PPE as well as wages for those, such as the town’s police force, who were working to “mitigate the hazard in itself.”

Fleetwood said the staff recommendation was to put the check in a separate account at the Bank of Ocean City to create the reserve fund officials have discussed in recent months.

Councilman Dean Burrell questioned whether the funding needed to be used to reimburse what was spent already.

“The overwhelming majority were already planned as payroll dollars,” Fleetwood said, “so they were already budgeted.”

Mayor Zack Tyndall added that if the funding was in a reserve account, it could be used when needed.

“If the town incurred any further expenses as a result of COVID-19 this is some funding that once it’s placed in that fund would allow us to have that ability to pull from,” he said.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

application. To that end, the property owners agreed to minimize the project by reducing the pier’s length and bringing the dock closer to land.

“What we found in this case was that there were adequate water depths closer to shore,” Matthew Jones, DNREC environmental scientist, said last week. “So from the feedback provided by the public, as well as the department, the applicant actually redesigned and resubmitted the application.”

In last week’s hearing, James Bruner said he and his wife purchased the vacant lot in 2019 and began a feasibility study for the construction of a house and boatdocking facility, which would jut north into the Little Assawoman Bay. “After the purchase, we began working on a plan for a dock and a pier with our marine contractor. Our initial application filed in March of 2020 proposed a

much larger structure …,” he said. “During the DNREC review process, Mr. Jones helped us better understand the regulations and made recommendations that resulted in a dramatic downsize of the proposed dock and pier so that the environmental and navigational impacts could be minimized.”

Bruner told DNREC last week he and his wife had made substantial investments to have access to the bay.

“Understanding that most waterfront and lagoon lots in Fenwick Island have similar facilities for docking boats, I feel that our current request asks nothing more than the right for waterfront access that many of the landowners of the Fenwick Island community commonly enjoy,” he said.

Several community members, however, took the opportunity last week to share their concerns.

Page 17

Resident Vicki Carmean argued the dock would project into a busy and narrow section of Little Assawoman Bay. She advocated for the dock and pier to be relocated to the west of the property.

“Over the years DNREC has not taken any responsibility to dredge this area so the channel is very limited and limitations are due to the silting and erosion of the existing property we are talking about,” she said. “It’s a very dangerous area to navigate and the existing property owners have a right to ask for a little bit more consideration.”

Neighboring property owner Steve Ross agreed with the suggestion to relocate the structure westward.

“Boaters are not particularly aware of where it’s deep and where it’s shallow … ,” he said. “If it were on the west side it would reduce that concern and increase safety.”

‘No Scam November’ Efforts Target Holiday Gift Card Fraud

Page 18

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

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BERLIN – As if 2020 hasn’t left area residents with enough to worry about, a rash of creative scams often targeting the elderly has arisen recently, but allied local law enforcement agencies are getting out in front of the trend.

The Worcester County Vulnerable Adult Task Force this week announced continued efforts of its multi-disciplinary team to educate and raise awareness about common fraud schemes with a “No-Scam November” initiative.

The focus of the initiative is preventing scams before they cause financial damage to the victim, given the inherent difficulties in the investigation and identification of high-tech scammers and attempts to recover victims’ money.

“We are proud to partner with our allied agencies to help educate our residents about the ongoing scams that victimize them,” said Worcester County Sheriff Matt Crisafulli. “Education is a key component in the reduction of these crimes, and partnering agencies make our residents much safer.”

In 2020, law enforcement has seen a dramatic increase in the number of reported fraud cases and senior citizens are the most frequent target. In Worcester County, the type of fraud seen most frequently are gift card scams. Scammers typically request the code on the back of the gift cards so they can use them online.

Maryland State Police DetectiveSergeant Mike Mann, Assistant Barrack Commander of the Berlin Barrack, said he has seen cases where the scammer claims to be from a computer company and demands thousands of dollars in gift cards in order to remove a virus from the victim’s computer.

“A legitimate computer or software company is never going to demand payment in gift cards,” he said. “Scammers instead actually send a message to your computer making you think it has a virus and that the only solution is to pay them in gift cards. Don’t fall for it.”

Other common schemes include the scammer claiming to be with the IRS, or claiming a family member of the victim has been arrested or needs bail money. In another frequent scam, the victim is told he or she has won a contest or prize money, but in order to collect the winnings, they must buy gift cards totaling a portion of the total prize they will eventually be sent.

In another scheme described locally, a scammer mimicked the victim’s boss’s email address and sent the victim an email instructing the victim to

November 13, 2020

buy gift cards and then text the codes on the backs of the cards to a different phone number because the boss claimed to have lost his phone. The victim did so, believing he was following his boss’s instructions, only to learn it was a scam after speaking to his employer in person.

In many cases, the scammer stays on the phone with the victim while the victim travels to a store to purchase the gift cards. In that way, the scammer ensures the scheme is successful and the victim cannot pause to consider if he or she should actually go through with the purchase. Again, the scams often target the elderly, or those most vulnerable in the community.

“Residents in our community have unfortunately fallen victim to all of the scams being described,” said Ocean Pines Police Department Chief Leo Ehrisman. “Recovering funds after someone is victimized is very difficult, if not impossible, so being aware of these scams and not being a victim is a priority in our community.”

To combat gift card scams, beginning this month local law enforcement agencies have been conducting community outreach efforts and providing local businesses with free signage warning of the schemes. The signs, which are being provided by the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, can be attached to any gift card display and are designed to provide in-the-moment warnings to would-be victims.

The signs encourage would-be victims to pause and consider if they are being scammed before making a purchase. Along with outreach by prosecutors and police officers, the signs also help local businesses educate their staff to know the signs of a gift card scheme before ringing up a potential victim’s purchase, and to contact police when they suspect a scam.

“The Office of the State’s Attorney is thankful for the continued partnership that led to this innovative idea for preventing gift card scams,” said Worcester County State’s Attorney Kris Heiser. “As was our goal last year when we created the task force, we will continue to provide this type of outreach and education to the benefit of our senior citizens and shine a light on the issues and problems affecting them.”

Businesses wishing to participate in “No-Scam November” can request the free gift card scam signage from the MSP Berlin Barrack, the Ocean Pines Police Department or the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone suspecting elder abuse including scams is urged to contact their local law enforcement agencies.

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Wine Sales Could End At Wicomico Liquor Control Stores

Page 20

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – A work session to discuss the sale of wine at county liquor dispensaries has been tentatively scheduled for next month.

At the request of the Wicomico County Council, the county’s Liquor Control Board is tentatively scheduled to meet with the legislative body on Dec. 15 to discuss the termination of wine sales at local liquor dispensaries, according to the council’s office.

The meeting will come more than a month after Council President Larry

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Dodd penned a letter to Liquor Control Board Chairman Donald Ewalt requesting Wicomico liquor dispensaries refrain from selling wine and all malt and winebased products effective Jan. 1, 2021.

In late October, the council agreed to forward its request to the control board at the suggestion of Councilman John Cannon. He argued the move would limit competition with the private sector.

“The idea here is to try and eliminate as much government competition with the private sector,” Cannon said at the time. “It’s just one step toward that. There are many businesses that I’ve talked with that are very concerned

with the fact that they are trying to survive through this COVID crisis … Maybe it’s time for the county not to compete in beer and wine sales.”

By way of background, legislation in 2000 gave dispensaries the legal right to sell beer and wine. But in 2008, the county and the liquor dispensary reached a verbal agreement that its stores would not sell beer moving forward.

Dodd’s letter to Ewalt states as much.

But when asked for input as to whether liquor dispensaries should sell beer and wine, the council in October received a reply from the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.

November 13, 2020

“In response to this inquiry, the County Council received a letter dated October 14, 2020 from William R. Chambers, President/CEO of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce indicating the sale of beer and wine under the dispensing authority of the Liquor Control Board is another intrusion into the free market system,” Dodd wrote to Ewalt last month.

Dodd also cited a 2016 news article, in which Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said government’s removal from the alcohol sales business would lower costs, improve customer service and expand product selection.

In Wicomico, local liquor dispensaries provide the county with a steady revenue stream, which has continued to increase since 2008, according to Dodd. In fiscal year 2020, for example, the county brought in $899,600 from the dispensaries.

But Dodd noted that Wicomico was one of the few Maryland counties to have liquor dispensaries.

“Many of the liquor dispensary systems in Maryland have been replaced over the years with privatized stores,” he wrote to Ewalt. “The Wicomico County Liquor Dispensary system is one of the few still in operation.”

Dodd said the council has tried to schedule meetings with the Liquor Control Board for months. He said the council’s request will be discussed in detail at the future work session.

“As opposed to going to the state of Maryland and changing state law through the Eastern Shore delegation, maybe we just do it amongst ourselves and hopefully we’ll get a compromise from the dispensary where they’ll agree to go along,” Cannon told the council last month.

At that meeting, Councilman Bill McCain said the issue of liquor dispensaries was an ongoing debate in Wicomico.

“It’s been a 15-year discussion to be frank,” he said.

Cannon said the elimination of the county’s liquor dispensary could be a discussion for another year.

“It is an issue every council’s been concerned about, competing with the local sector,” he said. “This is just a small change.”

Berlin Council Extends Tattoo Shop Moratorium By 2 Years

November 13, 2020

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Town officials agreed to extend a moratorium on the establishment of tattoo shops in Berlin for another two years.

On Monday, the Berlin Town Council voted 4-0 to extend the existing moratorium on tattoo shops until Nov. 18, 2022.

Members of the town’s tattoo ordinance committee are hopeful that the time will give them a chance to get the health department involved in tattoo shop inspections.

“We would like to continue to work with the town, continue to have the committee work through the regulations we originally proposed, and hopefully reapproach the health department with renewed vigor,” said Matthew Amey, a member of the committee.

David Gaskill, the town’s attorney, said officials initially passed a moratorium in 2017 when they realized the town had no regulations regarding tattoo establishments. A committee was formed to research options and discuss the issue with the local health department.

“It was determined that the county health department either would not or could not help us ensure that if a person opened a tattoo parlor within town limits that the proper safety protocols would be in place…,” Gaskill said. “To my knowledge nothing has changed as far as the county health department is concerned.”

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

He said the town could extend the moratorium to see if anything changed or could outlaw tattoo establishments.

Amey agreed that the barrier the committee had run into was inspections for tattoo shops. That eventually led the committee to pause its efforts.

“We decided to shelve our efforts at the time because we felt as though it wasn’t necessary for us to push an agenda we didn’t see moving forward,” Amey said.

He added that he and other tattoo artists still believed it was a viable industry but that the moratorium should be extended unless regulations were in place.

“We believe that regulations are necessary,” he said. “Whether or not the health department inspects and verifies that these locations are up to their standards is, in my opinion, an issue with the health department because they should be concerned with the health and safety of everyone within the county regardless of their chosen profession.”

Amey said in Worcester County, towns had to develop their own tattoo regulations. While some towns have adopted regulations that mimic Worcester County’s own, Amey said those were too restrictive because they required a physician on site.

“By overregulating the industry you’re not allowing a viable industry to thrive,” he said.

Amey said that while he didn’t want the town to adopt the county’s overly re-

strictive regulations he also didn’t want the town to have no regulations. What he’d like is for the town to adopt reasonable regulations and have the county’s health department provide inspections.

He said the department already provided inspections for body piercing shops on the Boardwalk.

Gaskill told the council that was what the committee had approached county officials with more than a year ago.

“They would have to amend their ordinance to allow or authorize the county health department to perform inspections of tattoo parlors in the Town of Berlin,” he

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Page 21

said. “They were not interested.”

Amey said he hoped the council would approve the moratorium extension and reconvene the committee to try to approach county officials again. Gaskill agreed that the moratorium was necessary unless the town outlawed tattoo shops outright.

“If we don’t extend this we have to refile that ordinance to prohibit it because you will have shops opening up and people getting hurt,” he said.

The council voted 4-0 to extend the moratorium and agreed to reconvene the tattoo ordinance committee.

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Wicomico Schools To Begin Publishing Positive Cases This Week

Page 22

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – Information on COVID19 cases and outbreaks within school buildings will be posted on Wicomico County’s school system website beginning this week.

In a meeting of the school board Tuesday, Superintendent Donna Hanlin announced the school system would begin posting two dashboards – one for confirmed COVID cases in each of Wicomico County’s public schools and another for reported school outbreaks – on its website this week.

“The good news is in Wicomico County right now we do not have any schools with outbreaks,” she told the board. “But we do have schools where cases have been reported, and then those individuals are quarantined. There’s not many, but there are some.”

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Last week, the Maryland Department of Health began reporting school outbreaks across the state on its coronavirus website. Hanlin said that information will be linked on the Wicomico County Board of Education webpage.

“They are now listing across the state schools that have outbreaks,” she said.

“I want to emphasize that an outbreak is when you have two or more cases – positive, confirmed cases – that are epilinked, which means they are cases that are connected by contact tracing.”

Hanlin added that the school system will also begin listing its positive COVID19 cases by school building.

“What we are also going to be doing is on our website we will be listing, by school, the number of positive adult and student cases,” she said. “That should be coming sometime before the end of the week.”

As the number of COVID-19 cases

increases in Maryland, Hanlin said the school system remains diligent in assessing daily health metrics, including the county’s positivity rate and new case rate.

“You can see it is safe for us to be in limited, in-person programs,” she said.

“So I believe our safe Return to School plan is exactly where we need to be. We will continue to assess. We look at these metrics every day, and we look at what’s happening in our schools in terms of any positive cases reported.”

In October, 68% of prekindergarten students and 53% of kindergarten students returned to school buildings as part of Wicomico County’s Return to School action plan. And this week, 53% of firstgrade students and 48% of second-grade students joined for in-person instruction under the hybrid model.

Hanlin noted that students in grades 35 who choose to return to the classroom will do so on Nov. 30 if health metrics

November 13, 2020

allow. As of now, middle school students are set to return in a hybrid fashion on Jan. 4, with high school students following on Feb. 1.

“We are doing the best we can to bring families back in the same cohort. In other words, on Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday,” she said. “We understand that helps families. But it also helps with physical distancing on buses and allows us, when families come together to school, to seat more students on buses at the same time.”

Hanlin said the school system remains diligent in reminding students and staff to wear a mask, wash their hands and maintain at least six feet of physical distancing.

She also encouraged parents to consult the school system’s recovery plan, which is posted at www.wcboe.org.

Commissioners Grant Rezonings

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – County officials approved rezoning requests in Berlin and Bishopville last week.

The Worcester County Commissioners approved a request to reclassify a Route 611 property as commercial, in line with its use, and a request to rezone a property labeled estate to agricultural.

Both changes were given favorable recommendations by the county’s planning commission.

Attorney Mark Cropper, representing the owner of the Sun Signs property in Berlin, told the commissioners the property had been used commercially since 1988. He said a mistake was made when the property was rezoned A-2 agricultural during the county’s last comprehensive rezoning.

Commissioner Chip Bertino asked how a mistake like that had even been made.

Jennifer Keener, deputy director of development review and permitting, said the comprehensive plan called for a reduction of commercial zoning in that area but acknowledged the possibility of a mistake.

“It was probably an oversight,” she said.

Commissioner Jim Bunting said he’d been involved in the last rezoning and that it had been a massive project.

“There’s probably other things we missed too,” he said.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve that rezoning request as well as the next one, which was also presented by Cropper for YK Enterprise LLC. Cropper said his client was asking to have 2.88 acres of land currently zoned estate reclassified as agricultural. The property is on St. Martin’s Neck Road.

Cropper said the property was originally zoned agricultural before it was labeled E-1. He said that E-1 designation was a mistake, since the county’s comprehensive plan called for the removal of E-1 zoning.

“The estate zoning classification was supposed to be eliminated,” Cropper said.

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 23

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Bong Assault Arrest OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City woman was arrested for assault and malicious destruction of property last weekend after allegedly striking a man with a glass bong, causing it to shatter.

Around 1:05 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to a residence on Colonial Road for a report of disorderly individuals. Upon arrival, the officer found four individuals standing around a pile of broken glass on the ground.

The investigation revealed the group had met at the residence before going to a nearby bar for some drinks. At the bar, one of the suspects, later identified as Brianna Moyer, 21, of Ocean City, got into a verbal argument with one of the male individuals in the group. The male victim later returned to the residence on Colonial Road to pick up some of his belongings, according to police reports.

Moyer reportedly refused to return some of the male victim’s belongings, including a glass bong for smoking marijuana. When the argument escalated, Moyer swung the glass bong at the victim like a baseball bat, hitting him in the upper arm, according to police reports.

As a result, the glass bong shattered on the ground. The victim did not require medical attention, according to police reports.

The officer spoke with Moyer, who essentially corroborated the victim’s account of the incident. Moyer reportedly told police she did not want to return the victim’s backpack and glass bong until he agreed to leave the residence. Moyer reportedly told police the victim threat-

Cops & Courts The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

ened to “curb stomp” her if she did not return his belongings.

Moyer reportedly told police the victim began to chase her around the property, which resulted in her tripping and falling onto the sidewalk. The investigation revealed Moyer was a primary aggressor in the incident and she was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and malicious destruction of property for striking the victim with the bong and causing it to shatter.

Domestic Assault Arrest OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested last week after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend at an uptown residence.

Around 7:55 p.m. last Wednesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to a residence on East Biscayne Drive for a reported domestic assault that had already occurred. Upon arrival, the officer observed a male and a female arguing on Pacific Avenue. The male was later identified as George Ruark, 37, of Ocean City. The officer reportedly told Ruark and the female to sit on the curb.

According to police reports, while the officer was waiting for additional units, Ruark refused to listen to his commands and stood and walked toward the female at a fast pace. At that point, Ruark was detained in handcuffs.

The victim told the officer she was lying on the couch inside the unit when Ruark returned home, reportedly in an intoxicated condition. The victim reportedly told police Ruark placed both of his hands on her face and pushed her face down while she was on the couch. The victim told the officer the only way she could get Ruark off of her was by biting his finger, according to police reports.

The victim reportedly had a red mark under her left eye on her cheekbone consistent with her version of the assault. The victim reportedly told police Ruark hit her multiple times in the back of her head during the struggle. Ruark was interviewed and reportedly told various different stories of the incident.

According to police reports, first Ruark said nothing had happened. Then, he reportedly changed his story and told officers the victim had bitten him and assaulted him by punching him several

November 13, 2020 times. According to police reports, Ruark kept telling officers different versions of the events as if he was trying to get the victim in trouble.

Ruark then told police he was on Suboxone and was going through withdrawal. He also told police he had consumed “molly” and that his neck hurt.

According to police reports, Ruark kept adding reasons why he needed medical assistance. The officer ultimately determined through the investigation Ruark was the primary aggressor and he was arrested and charged with second-degree assault.

Drug Arrest After Traffic Stop OCEAN CITY – A local man was arrested on drug charges last weekend after a routine traffic stop in midtown Ocean City.

Around 1:50 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was patrolling in the area of 36th Street when he observed a vehicle swerving in and out of traffic lanes.

The officer affected a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Ryan Waters, 28, of Snow Hill. According to police reports, Waters told the officer he believed the traffic stop was illegal and took out his phone to begin recording the incident.

Waters allegedly refused to provide his license and registration to the officer.

It was later determined Waters did not have a driver’s license, according to police reports. During the stop, the officer observed loose marijuana scattered SEE NEXT PAGE

... Cops & Courts

November 13, 2020

along the driver’s seat. The officer also located a plastic baggie containing powder cocaine and another wax paper bag containing heroin. Waters was arrested and charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances and traffic violations.

Suspended Sentence For Fire Extinguisher Prank

OCEAN CITY – A Bel Air, Md., man, arrested last May after grabbing a fire extinguisher from a north-end condo parking garage and spraying it in the lobby and on vehicles, pleaded guilty last week and was sentenced to 18 months, all of which was suspended.

Around 10:30 p.m. last May 21, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a condominium at 125th Street for a reported malicious destruction of property that had already occurred. Ocean City Communications advised a caller had witnessed three individuals take a fire extinguisher from the wall of the parking garage and utilize it to damage vehicles.

Communications personnel advised the suspects, identified as three teenagers, had run west toward Northside Park. While heading to the area, the OCPD officer observed three teenagers matching the descriptions provided by communications walking through the parking lot at Northside Park.

The officer detained the individuals and advised them while he was stopping them. Without prompting, one of the suspects identified as Ethan Harding, 20, of Bel Air, Md., reportedly said “It was me,” and explained he did it because he wanted to be “cool” and “show off” for his friends.

When Harding was asked to explain what he did, he reportedly told the officer he took the fire extinguisher off the wall and sprayed its contents onto a car and in the building. Harding apologized and told the officer he was just bored and wanted to have some fun, according to police reports.

The OCPD officer observed the elevator vestibule of the condominium was covered in a dry chemical from the fire extinguisher Harding had sprayed. The officer also observed the fire extinguisher case was broken and also observed a white Ford Explorer covered in the

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

same dry chemical. Harding was arrested and charged with multiple counts of malicious destruction of property. The amount of damage to the condo including cleaning up and replacing the fire extinguisher was estimated at $1,000.

The amount of damage to the Ford Explorer is not known. Last week, Harding pleaded guilty to one count of malicious destruction of property over $1,000 and was sentenced to 18 months, all of which was suspended. He was then placed on probation for three years.

OCEAN CITY – A Hurlock, Md., woman, arrested in July after punching her boyfriend at a downtown pizza parlor during an argument over alleged cheating, pleaded guilty last week to seconddegree assault and was sentenced to six months, all of which was suspended.

Around 10 p.m. on July 16, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to a downtown pizza parlor on Baltimore Avenue for a reported domestic assault that had just occurred. The officer met with a witness who said he observed a female he knew as Stephany Anderson, 24, of Hurlock, screaming at another man with whom the witness was familiar over alleged cheating, according to police reports.

The witness told police when the man attempted to walk past Anderson, she struck him five times in the face with a closed fist. The witness reportedly told police he felt the need to intervene and separate Anderson and the victim. The witness reportedly told police his main concern initially was that Anderson is pregnant.

OCPD officers interviewed the victim, who told police a similar version of the incident. OCPD officers observed swelling and redness, along with a small laceration, on the left side of the victim’s face. When interviewed, Anderson reportedly told police the couple was having relationship issues and he wanted to address them.

Anderson reportedly told police the victim was being overly aggressive while yelling at her, which is why she struck him. The investigation determined Anderson was the primary aggressor and she was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. Last week, she pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to six months, all of which was suspended. She was placed on probation for three years.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Berlin To Pitch In Lobbyist Funds On Electric Effort

November 13, 2020

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The town will continue its efforts to promote legislation that would help keep costs down for Berlin’s electric utility.

On Monday, the Berlin Town Council voted 4-0 to support Mayor Zack Tyndall’s proposal to help pay for a lobbyist to push Senate Bill 677 and House Bill 1392. The bills were cross filed to establish a cap on Maryland’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards as they relate to municipal electric utilities.

“This is a no brainer,” Councilman Dean Burrell said.

Tyndall told the council that because Senate Bill 516 passed last year, the town would be facing increased costs.

The bill, known as the Clean Energy Jobs Act, increased the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Maryland.

“What that bill has done is placed a standard of Renewable Energy Portfolio Credits that need to be satisfied by each electric utility,” Tyndall said. “There are five municipal electric utilities in the state, Berlin being one. If you don’t satisfy the tiered requirements there’s something called an alternative compliance payment that you have to begin to pay.

That’s almost in the form of a penalty on the electric utility.”

The state’s five municipal electric utilities have banded together to support Senate Bill 677 and House Bill 1392, as those would establish caps on RPS, saving the town more than $2 million from 2021 to 2030.

Tyndall said Easton Utilities had taken the lead in the process and hired a lobbyist for $45,000.

“Easton has taken on the initial contract of Old Line Government Affairs but they have said if the other municipalities would like to chip in, you’d have some skin in the game,” Tyndall said.

Berlin’s share would be $2,858. Tyndall said that while that amount didn’t require council approval, he’d wanted to share information about the bills and enlist council support in the process.

“The cost savings is pretty huge,” Tyndall said.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood added that then-Mayor Gee Williams started the process last year and had already written to Senator Mary Beth Carozza regarding the issue.

“What we’ll be doing is updating that letter to reflect the new change in administration, to reflect the change in the council, so our representatives do see a united force if that’s what’s decided,” Tyndall said.

Council members said the initiative had their support and voted 4-0 to spend the money on the lobbyist.

New Accord Keeps Sheriff’s Deputies At County Schools

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – A memorandum of understanding approved last week formalizes the county’s longstanding school deputy program.

Last week the Worcester County Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and Worcester County Public Schools regarding the school deputy program.

“We have a phenomenal working relationship with Worcester County Public Schools,” Sheriff Matt Crisafulli said.

While Crisafulli said this is the first MOU between the school system and the sheriff’s office, the school deputy program has been in place successfully for years.

The MOU outlines the objectives of the program and the responsibilities of school deputies. Commissioner Chip Bertino questioned whether the agreement specified there would be a deputy in every school.

“I didn’t quite see that in here,” Bertino said. “It said more like we will try to or attempt to but that’s something that you well know the commissioners have felt very strongly about for a number of years.”

Crisafulli said his number one passion was keeping the school population safe.

“We will have deputies in the schools,” he said. “I am down a few spots but what I’ve been doing is backfilling with overtime, backfilling with deputies from our field services, so our schools will be covered.”

Commissioner Diana Purnell questioned the language in the agreement regarding duties of deputies in schools. Crisafulli explained that deputies would work in conjunction with school principals and guidance counselors and the like on diagnosing law enforcement related problems.

Crisafulli added that his staff worked well with school and school system officials to ensure the safety of everyone on school grounds. Superintendent Lou Taylor agreed.

“Our relationship with the sheriff’s department is phenomenal,” he said.

The MOU between the sheriff’s office and the school system is expected to be renewed annually.

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Sandra Joan Lange Fennelle OCEAN PINES – Sandra Joan Lange Fennelle was born Sept. 13, 1939 in Stamford, Conn. She attended all Stamford school through high school. After graduating from high school, she worked at Stamford Fidelity Bank. She ended her career as an office manager for the New Canaan Financial Firm.

SANDRA Sandra is survived by her husband, Ger- FENNELLE ald, and two sons, Daniel and Donald.

She has lived in Ocean Pines for the past 21 years. She volunteered at Atlantic General and was a member of a book club the Lioness Club, as well as the Republican Women’s Club.

A funeral service was held at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. The family received friends and visitors prior to the time of the funeral.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home and condolences may be shared with the family via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Herman William Hickman, Jr. WHALEYVILLE – Herman William Hickman, Jr., age 67, died on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, at the Macky & Pam Stansell House of Coastal Hospice in Ocean Pines.

Born in Salisbury, he was the son of Herman W. Hickman, Sr. and the late Grace Hall Hickman. He is survived by his father; son, Jacob Hickman; brother, Dr. Wayne Hickman; and sister, Rev. Terry (Phil) Fort, all of Whaleyville.

HERMAN Also, surviving are his HICKMAN, JR. nieces, Heather (Cameron) McDonough and Erica Fort.

Herman was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School class of 1971 and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1975. Employed by the United States Postal Service, he worked as a mail carrier in the town of Berlin for over 30 years. He was a gold badge member, past president and past treasurer of the Berlin Fire Company; past president of Worcester County Fire Association; and member of Whaleyville United Methodist Church. Herman was an avid baseball fan and coached his son and many kids in a variety of sports. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching Orioles

November 13, 2020

baseball.

A viewing will be held on Friday Nov. 13 at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Berlin Fire Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. Friends may call one hour prior to the service (at the fire hall). Rev. Dale Vroman will officiate. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery in Whaleyville.

A donation in his memory may be made to Berlin Fire Company, 214 N. Main St., Berlin, Md. 21811 or Berlin Little League, P.O. Box 514, Berlin, Md. 21811. Letters of condolences may be sent via www.burbagefuneralhome.com

Walter John Farozic OCEAN PINES – Walter John Farozic, musician and longtime Worcester County resident, died after a long illness on Oct. 25, 2020, at the young age of 51.

Walt is survived by his father, Vincent Farozic (Berlin) and brothWALTER er Vincent John Farozic FAROZIC (Danbury, Conn.).

Walt was born in New York City on April 26, 1969. He grew up in Rockville, attended Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Va.) and Frostburg State University.

Walt was a devoted son, providing much help for his father after his mom, Olga Farozic, passed in 2014. He was a loyal friend, lover of dogs and a practitioner/fan of the martial arts.

Walt loved to perform music with his trademark “acoustical insanity” making sure a good time was had by all at many establishments in and around Ocean City. His sense of humor and showmanship really lit up every venue. The monkey guarded the tip jar and his otter memes informed people of where he would be playing in a given week.

Walt’s passing should serve as a reminder that our time on earth is limited.

We never know when we will be called home; we should live every day with that in mind.

Walt’s funeral is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. at Holy Savior Catholic Church at 1705 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, Md. Rev. John Klevence will officiate. All are welcome to attend.

A donation in his memory may be made to the Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 41, Berlin, Md. 21811, Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Obituaries cost $50 to appear in The Dispatch and photos are no extra charge. Direct all inquiries to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com, fax to 410-641-0966 or mail to P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811.

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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November 13, 2020

FROM PAGE 4 state’s tightening of COVID-19 restrictions didn’t impact school systems and that in-person learning would continue. “…we are staying the course and observing all of our protocols as planned,” Taylor said.

He acknowledged Stephen Decatur High’s return to distance learning and said that decision was made out of an abundance of caution.

“We know that news of this transition is likely to heighten anxieties across the school system, but please rest assured that tonight’s decision and all of our protocols we have in place are further evidence that we remain dedicated to keeping our students and staff safe,” he said. “As we continue moving forward, I want to let you know that we have added additional informational resources regarding our protocols to our website, www.worcesterk12.org. And as always, I want to reiterate the importance of your partnership. We need you to continue reinforcing the proper use of face coverings, maintaining physical distancing whenever possible, and of course screening your child for COVID-19 symptoms and keeping them home when they’re sick.”

Taylor also released an open letter to the school system community online to address concerns about transparency.

“We know the past few weeks have shined a harsh spotlight on our school system, and for many of you, that has meant that the trust we have tried so hard to build with you has been tested like it never has been before,” he wrote.

“Worcester County Public Schools is under this microscope because we find ourselves in the unique situation of remaining open for in-person learning while school systems all around us are closing due to COVID-19 community metrics. This comparison to those around us has led to speculation that we are not being transparent about coronavirus in our schools.”

He wrote that notification procedures had been developed in consultation with health officials and by using guidance from the CDC. “The suggestion that we are not carrying the weight of keeping the thousands of students in our care and the nearly 1,200 employees across our county safe during a pandemic is wholeheartedly not true,” Taylor wrote. “However, we know that it is possible to keep our students and staff safe while still providing our families with the option of inperson learning.”

He said students and parents had to do their part as well.

“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 isn’t just the work of the school system; it is the responsibility of every single person in our community,” Taylor wrote. “To keep one another safe, we all must commit to the four preventative practices that keep our schools and community safe: wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing whenever possible, checking for symptoms each and every day, and staying home when you’re sick.”

THE DISPATCH’S PETS OF THE MONTH

November 13, 2020

Pet’s Name: Olive Pet’s Age/Breed: 19-week-old border collie Pet’s Owner: Diane Simmons

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Pet’s Name: Sunny Pet’s Age/Breed: 3-year-old yellow lab rescue Pet’s Owner: Marie Hopper

Pet’s Name: Tabby Pet’s Age/Breed: 6-month-old tabby Pet’s Owner: Laura Grace White

Page 31

Pet’s Name: Oliver Pet’s Age/Breed: 12-year-old cockapoo Pet’s Owner: Mary Dunn

EDITOR

STEVE GREEN

Pet’s Name: Rocky Balboa Pet’s Age/Breed: 1-year-old domestic short hair Pet’s Owners: Steve & Kim Lamo

The Dispatch presents the latest edition of its Pets of the Month Contest.

Each month one special animal, or two, in some cases, is picked as the cutest photo of the bunch through a private vote of our staff. Here we present this month’s pets, submitted by our readers.

On the front page is last month’s winning entry, Teagan and Tripp, owned

by Caleb Miller.

Those interested in participating in future months’ contests are invited to send their lovable pet photo to us at editor@mdcoastdispatch.com (preferred) or to P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811 or drop it off at our office in Berlin at 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd.

Please be sure it’s a high-quality photo suitable for reproduction and to include your mailing address, the pet’s name, age and breed and the owner’s first and last name. The next series will appear in this space on Dec. 11.

Pet’s Name: Willow Pet’s Age/Breed: 4-year-old golden doodle Pet’s Owner: Danielle Dimichele

Lower Shore Land Trust To Host Virtual Benefit Saturday

Page 32

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – An annual fundraiser to benefit a local nonprofit is going virtual this year.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Lower Shore Land Trust will host its fourth annual Flannel Formal. This year, the fundraiser will be held virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It gives people an opportunity to get a glimpse of who we are as an organization and the people that are involved in the work,” said Executive Director Kate Patton. “What the organization has been able to achieve in the last five years or

so has been really phenomenal. We’ve really grown.”

Each year, the Flannel Formal brings community members together to celebrate recent accomplishments at the Lower Shore Land Trust, highlight new programs and promote conservation.

While the fundraiser is typically held at an outdoor venue, Patton noted staff and volunteers have worked hard to ensure this year’s virtual event is just as special.

“We’d much rather be outside, by a bonfire, enjoying the outdoors,” she said.

“So we are doing our best to recreate that.”

Patton said those who purchase a ticket online through the Lower Shore

November 13, 2020

Land Trust website will receive a Zoom access link to participate in the virtual fundraiser. This year’s event will include live music by the Resto Tribe Band, short films and stories, virtual toasts and an online silent auction, among other things.

“I really think this is a neat way to see what the organization is about,” she said.

Patton explained the Flannel Formal has become the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser. She said money raised through the event is used to support the nonprofit’s mission.

“Most of our grants are program-specific,” she said. “So the board is able to use these funds – which are the most im-

portant funds that allow us to operate – and designate them as needed.”

The 2020 Flannel Formal will be held on Nov. 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets and sponsorships are available at www.lowershorelandtrust.org.

“More than ever, this year has shown us how important it is to get outside and have access to great trails and places where we can enjoy the great outdoors, go birding, spend time with family and be able to really explore what we have on the Lower Shore,” Patton said. “It’s really shown us that this work means so much, and we are continuing to forge ahead to keep those opportunities available for everyone.”

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Business And Real Estate News

November 13, 2020

Insurance Company Acquired

SALISBURY – Avery Hall Insurance Group has announced the recent acquisition of Cooper Insurance Agency, Inc. Since 1922, Cooper Insurance Agency has valued working with people personally and developing loyal and lasting relationships with their clients. As this transition occurs, Avery Hall will provide clients with quality care by building off the foundation of excellent service that Cooper Insurance Agency has been developing for almost a century.

Avery Hall welcomes two Cooper Insurance Agency employees, Donna Cooper and Holly Everhart, to the team.

As of Nov. 1, they will be working in the downtown Salisbury office at 308 E. Main Street in Salisbury. Cooper Insurance clients may reach Cooper and Everhart via phone at 410-742-5111 or via email at dcooper@averyhall.com or heverhart@averyhall.com.

Avery W. Hall Insurance Agency was founded in 1925 by Avery W. Hall. Since then, the agency has grown to over 75 team members, five locations, and offers multiple product lines that cover personal and commercial insurance and benefit solutions.

AGH Offers Mobile Platform Experience

BERLIN – On Nov. 24, Atlantic General Hospital and Health System will roll out a new text-messaging system that will improve patient-provider communication and put important healthcare information right at a patient’s fingertips.

The secure, HIPAA-compliant mobile patient experience platform (MPE) includes features for inpatients as well as patients of Atlantic General Health System that will be rolled out in three phases over the next eight months.

During the first phase, inpatients who furnish their cell phone number at the time of registration with receive a text when they are discharged that includes links to pertinent patient education and the details of their care while in the hospital. They will be texted again 24 hours after discharge to make sure they’re staying on the path to recovery in the critical period between their hospitalization and the follow-up appointment with their physician. In subsequent phases, patients will be able to check in electronically through the MPE platform, and discharged patients will receive texts with secure links to their care plans.

In addition to appointment confirmations and reminders and the ability to cancel appointments via text, patients of Atlantic General Health System will receive texts with secure links to their care summaries and patient education materials during Phase 1. In future phases, health system patients will be able to schedule appointments online, fill our pre-appointment forms, and check in for

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

appointments through text messaging.

Many of these features mirror tools available in the FollowMyHealth (FMH) patient portal, but will be readily accessible to more patients who have provided a cell phone number but have not yet registered for a patient portal account.

Additionally, the platform offers patients an easier way to provide feedback regarding their hospitalization or appointment, with a simple survey texted 24 hours after discharge. Patients will also be able to receive text notifications of closures due to inclement weather and other urgent announcements.

“We’re excited to be moving forward with the MPE program,” said Jonathan Bauer, vice president of information services for Atlantic General Hospital and Health System. “Text messaging is something that a large majority of our patients engage in on a frequent basis, so this is a great way to reach them quickly and provide the information they need to make the best decisions for their health.”

SALISBRY – The Bank of Delmarva President/CEO John W. Breda recently announced April Parkin was promoted within the corporation.

Parkin joined the bank in 2015. She was recently promoted to the role of branch manager and loan officer for the Delmar location. She has served as the senior universal banker at the Delmar location for three years. APRIL PARKIN In addition, she participates in Leadership Delmarva, which is an internal leadership program which provides an opportunity to learn more about the banking industry and challenges participants to grow both personally and professionally.

Bank Announces Promotion

BERLIN – Organizers of the Michael J. Strawley, Sr. Memorial Golf Tournament presented a check for $21,800 to Coastal Hospice for the support of charitable care at the Macky & Pam Stansell House in Ocean Pines. The tournament has donated its proceeds to the organization since 2017, and the $3,000 raised this year contributed to the total amount.

Originally called the Bearded Clam Open, the tournament began in the early 1980s by Michael J. Strawley, Sr., the owner of Bearded Clam in Ocean City.

In 1995, Bearded Clam employee Tommy Riggins passed away and the tournament was renamed the Tommy Riggins/Bearded Clam Memorial Golf Tournament. Upon the passing of Michael J. Strawley, Sr. on Sept. 21, 2016, the tournament was once again renamed in his honor.

Hospice Donation

Page 33

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How Climate Change Could Over Time Impact Economy Wealth Of Knowledge

Page 34

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY COLLIN MACOMBER

SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

BERLIN – Some people believe that climate change is exacerbated by human intervention, while others argue that humans are not a factor.

Regardless of what may or may not influence extreme weather events, economists are predictCOLLIN ing that the long-term results of climate change MACOMBER could affect more than just our homes and possessions.

In fact, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently reported that the effects of climate change will have a dampening effect on U.S. economic growth in the near future. The agency’s research ranged from evaluating the effects of colder climate growing seasons, to crop losses due to drought, to factory storm damage. The combination of climate change and the coronavirus has

reduced the CBO’s projected level of real GDP output in 2050 by 1%.

The recent pandemic has revealed more holes in our business and government “safety nets” than simply an overwrought health care system. Since the first coronavirus case hit the nation in January, we have witnessed problems stemming from inadequate paid sick leave, unemployment benefits and unequal broadband access for students.

Scientists claim these same vulnerabilities will surface in the future as we face escalating and simultaneous climate disasters on a regular basis. For example, we are now seeing hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast in August and September while, at the same time, massive wildfires overtake the West Coast and the Northeast is stifled by heatwaves.

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In the U.S., fossil fuels still account for more than 80% of total energy consumption. While nuclear power is widely considered the most inexpensive and effective substitute to challenge fossil fuels

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for future energy consumption — and produces almost negligible adverse climate effects — the U.S. and many other countries have stopped nuclear expansion due to public safety concerns. In the meantime, green technologies are projected to represent 49% of global energy consumption by 2050.

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Berlin Announces Home Decorating Contest For Holidays

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 35

Prizes For Best Displays Offered

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Residents are invited to light up the town to show off their holiday spirit in the coming weeks.

The town is now seeking entries for the “Berlin Lights up the Town” contest, a home decorating competition for the holiday season. Residents have until Dec. 1 to sign up.

“Berlin has a lot of community spirit,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director.

“It’s time to show it off.”

With the cancellation of Berlin’s annual Christmas parade because of COVID-19, Wells said the town was looking for a way to remain festive despite the pandemic.

When Brian Robertson of the Berlin Printery suggested a house decorating contest, Wells jumped on the idea. With “Berlin Lights up the Town,” residents are invited to show off everything they know about exterior illumination for a chance at a handful of prizes. The George Bailey Award will go to the most classic and traditional display while the Kevin McAllister Award will go to the most creative and original display. The Clark Griswold

Award will go to the brightest house while The Charles Dickens Award will go to the most spirited home.

“We decided to name the awards after our favorite holiday movie characters,” Wells said. “It makes it fun and quirky and interesting.”

Entrants, whose homes must be within town limits, have until Dec. 11 to decorate their houses. Judging will be done Dec.

16 and 17, with awards announced Dec. 18. Helping to spread the word about the campaign as a media sponsor is The Dispatch.

“We’re going to have a variety of prizes, from gift cards to merchandise,” Wells said. “There will be lots of treats because we’ve got a lot of sweets and treats in downtown Berlin. The winners will also each get a yard sign.”

HERE’S MY CARD

Addresses (not names) of participating homes will be listed on a tour map that will be available online and at the Berlin Welcome Center.

“A lot of times people don’t know where the best houses are,” Wells said.

While the cancellation of the parade disappointed many, Wells is hopeful that the contest will provide some holiday fun for local families.

“The holidays bring out the kid in all of us, especially in Berlin,” she said.

To enter, visit www.berlinmainstreet.com/entry/

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Forever In Memory Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005) The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd.

Berlin, Md. 21811 PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 WEBSITES: www.mdcoastdispatch.com www.facebook.com/thedispatchoc J. STEVEN GREEN Publisher/Editor editor@mdcoastdispatch.com

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The Maryland Coast Dispatch (USPS #015125) is an official and legal newspaper for Worcester County. Periodical postage paid at Berlin, Maryland, and additional mailing offices.

The Maryland Coast Dispatch, 10012 Old Ocean City Blvd., Berlin, Md. 21811, is published weekly on Friday mornings, 52 weeks a year.

Subscription rates are $75 per year, $55 for six months.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to Maryland Coast Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Maryland 21811. Maryland Coast Dispatch offices are located at Route 346 and Graham Avenue, Berlin, Maryland.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 13, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Superintendent’s Open Letter To Community Editor: Over this past week, I have felt compelled to reach out to our school system family. To me, that always includes our students and their families, our teachers and staff, their families, and our Worcester County community at large. I also felt this open letter was the best way to do so, as I wanted to be sure you were receiving my whole message, not just a small sound bite, quote, or social media post.

We know the past few weeks have shined a harsh spotlight on our school system, and for many of you, that has meant that the trust we have tried so hard to build with you has been tested like it never has been before.

Worcester County Public Schools is under this microscope because we find ourselves in the unique situation of remaining open for in-person learning while school systems all around us are closing due to COVID-19 community metrics. This comparison to those around us has led to speculation that we are not being transparent about coronavirus in our schools. As a teacher at heart, I believe the best way to address rumors and speculation is with education based on fact, so I want to take this time to explain the protocols and notification procedures we have established in consultation with health officials and by using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

First and foremost, we value the health and safety of our students and staff above all else. Period. The suggestion that we are not carrying the weight of keeping the thousands of students in our care and the nearly 1,200 employees across our county safe during a pandemic is wholeheartedly not true.

However, we know that it is possible to keep our students and staff safe while still providing our families with the option of in-person learning.

To continue to do this, we must rely on everyone to do their part. Stopping the spread of COVID-19 isn’t just the work of the school system; it is the responsibility of every single person in our community. To keep one another safe, we all must commit to the four preventative practices that keep our schools and community safe: wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing whenever possible, checking for symptoms each and every day, and staying home when you’re sick.

These four practices are the pillars that have helped protect our students and staff from being exposed to COVID19 within our schools. We have ensured that all instructional spaces are designed with physical distancing in mind.

This coupled with our daily screening tools for students and staff and the mandatory use of face coverings have largely minimized exposure within our schools.

However, we know we are not immune to this pandemic. As students or staff report COVID-19-like illness or symptoms, we continue to conduct thor-

ough contact tracing. Should a positive test result occur, we can readily assist the Health Department in their tracing efforts with accurate and specific data.

Additionally, by following our contact tracing protocol, we have been able to pinpoint any exposures, enabling our schools to remain open.

As we continue to navigate this new landscape, I want to address what seems to be at the top of everyone’s minds: our notification procedures for COVID-19 or COVID-19-like illness (CLI) in our schools. Just as we protect the health and safety of our students and staff, protecting their privacy is also a top priority. To expand on our contact tracing protocol above, our notification process goes beyond notifying those close contacts. Our protocol calls for us to notify any individuals in the affected cohort of the case. To illustrate with an example, should we have a case in a classroom, the entire class and if the child rode a bus, those groups would be notified of the case, but the communication will differ based on whether they were a close contact or not. This process is one that the Health Department has affirmed as the appropriate way to notify while still respecting the privacy of the ill individual.

If you have any questions about our COVID-19 response protocols, please visit our website homepage, www.worcesterk12.org, which we have redesigned to put information on our protocols right at your fingertips.

Now, I would like to address the concern that has plagued our school system for a significant period of time over the past two weeks: our connectivity. That our internet connectivity experienced outages and slow speeds last week and the week prior was unacceptable, and I genuinely cannot express how sorry we are for the frustration everyone has felt as a result of it. While we believe that this particular outside issue with our provider networkMaryland is near being resolved, this process of investigation has exposed some opportunities for us to further stabilize our technology infrastructure, and we are working hard to design a long-term solution.

Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank our teachers. As I often share with them, I have never been so proud of our educators as I am today. They are working harder than ever; they are bridging the divide between our students in-person and those learning from home. They are investing so much of their personal time to better their professional practice, so our students get the very best education possible. They are a source of comfort and stability for our students. They are a voice of reassurance for families. In a word, the teachers in Worcester County are extraordinary.

Next week is American Education Week, a week when we normally celebrate the incredible work of our public schools and teachers nationwide. It also marks the opening of nominations for our annual Teacher of the Year program.

So while we are not able to physically welcome you into our schools to celebrate American Education Week, you

can show our teachers that you see the challenges before them, that you believe in them, and that you care for and support them. So please, take a moment and celebrate our teachers, during American Education Week, and every day beyond that. They deserve it.

Louis H. Taylor Newark (The writer is the superintendent of schools for Worcester County Public Schools.)

Election Analysis Response Editor: Before I answer Chismar’s personal attacks I want to take a look at what is true about the election, not a jaundice view. Our Ocean City election had a very low turnout of around 23%, with only 1,528 voters this year, and with only 1,300 voting at the poles. This compares to 2,566 in the 2018 election and 2,485 in the 2016 election sporting declines in voter turnout of 40.5% and 38.5%, respectively, since the last two elections. Ocean City seldom if ever gets above 45% turnout while average national voter turnout is a little above 55%, this election was over 60%, unaffected by COVID. An important question should be why was there such a small turnout this election? Why are small turnouts chronic in Ocean City? Mr. Soper dismisses the low turnout on the separation of national from local elections, the unopposed Mayor and of course COVID. But is that correct?

We will get back to this in a moment.

Let’s now take a look at what Chismar’s vituperative attack focused on. He alleges my comments were “troubling,” “liable” and “trashed” certain members.

A. John Gehrig was on a three-person committee that included Dennis Dare and Mary Knight. They spent 18 months behind closed doors carving out the second worst deal in the history of Ocean City, the pier franchise ordinance of 2019, tying up once again the most valuable piece of real-estate in Ocean City for 35 more years. To date there has been no accountability, nor consequence for those that crafted the pier ordinance. B. Telling voters that Matt James was considering running for mayor then cleverly using that fact to negotiate the council presidency with the mayor, allowing the mayor to run unopposed “it was not a meeting; it was a causal conversation.” The presidency of the council members should have been determined by the new council after the election. C. Statements that Pete Buas is from a rich family, wouldn’t commit to open meetings and had a union member as his campaign manager informed voters on his claim “I am independent.” Just for the record I spent 8-9 hours on election day supporting Pete, Dan and Nico, the three young men I voted for. I also predicted in writing, before the election that Pete would be the high vote getter.

Nonetheless, people have a right to know these truthful disclosures. We still don’t know what Pete’s definition of “transparency” is, but we will shortly find SEE NEXT PAGE

November 13, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR out.

The Dispatch’s forum was a good idea but failed to ask members any hard questions about past performance, therefore there was no accountability for their past actions.

Joe Potter has asked the State’s Special Prosecutor to look at the pier ordinance. I have joined his efforts. Vince Gisriel has also been instrumental in producing disclosures of the seamy nature of the 35-year long deal. The mayor was a cheerleader for the pier ordinance. In addition, Lloyd Martin, Matt James, Gehrig, Deluca and Mark Paddack, who came on two months before the vote, were all complicit in adopting the pier franchise ordinance. Why? The voters and taxpayers have a right to know the truth.

Why is Ocean City an anomalous community? Can this help us understand why we have chronic low turnout?

A town where there are some of the most competent and sophisticated private businessmen and women that I have ever met. Maybe because; 1. voters only pay 5% of the taxes, 2. most active voters are retired, on fixed incomes and not dependent on the local economy for their livelihoods and 3. The town is dependent on vacationers and highly sensitive to how things appear.

Often the truth becomes a causality to appearance.

We cannot afford to sacrifice the truth for appearance sake. Particularly when political actions are deleterious, destructive and costly to the future common good for the Town even if unintended, having profound and negative long-term effects on the town’s future. Politicians must bear a cost and a consequence to bad acts. In Ocean City, the political class seldom receives any consequence for their decisions; sadder still the voters are often unaware. Complete disclosure and transparency are necessary requisites for purposeful government, even when they are contrary to our pristine desire to uphold appearance. Maybe this explains chronically low voter turnout. Mr. Chismar, I don’t see you on the voter roll, why?

Had I not supported and had Hagan and Eastman not ran there would have been no election. They came out late and did very well on election day. The larger question should be why were these two young newcomers the only two running? Why was the mayor running unopposed?

If I can help two young men financially and put them on more equal footing with well heeled candidates our town will have a contest and we are all better off. Or would you prefer an ordination of your four candidates? Hopefully both Dan and Nico will stay involved. Maybe Emily Nock will return to run for office too.

Oh well Chismar at least you are upfront with your erroneous vituperative attacks and I applaud you for that. Unlike many that greet you when they pass and can’t wait to talk behind your back or worse yet find others to do their attacking for them. Speaking of which will you say hi to our friend the mayor for me?

Between The Lines

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Tony Christ Ocean City and Falls Church, Va.

Pandemic’s Education Impact Editor: COVID-19 has negatively impacted our students by lowering test scores and increasing racial and socioeconomic disparities, along with exacerbating mental health issues, increasing hunger levels and amplifying financial hardships for families.

While there is no model to precisely gauge how COVID-19 will impact students’ learning, models from absenteeism, teacher strikes and weatherrelated closures can provide insight.

Following teacher protests and Hurricane Katrina, for example, test scores were measurably down, while a Brookings Scholars study showed a dire 40% average loss in reading and mathematics.

This also presents a plethora of issues for students’ mental health, especially when one in five students report issues. Left untreated, they can contribute to difficulty concentrating, higher incarceration rates and lack of job security.

COVID-19 has also exacerbated disparities amongst schools and students, particularly in respects to resources, opportunities and support. Studies show these disparities can unfortunately be inadvertently compounded by parents, where college educated, professionally flexible and financially stable parents are better positioned to counteract accrued learning deficits.

Hunger levels are also rising disproportionality since students are missing school meals, where one in three children are hungry.

Due to the economy and a decline in tax revenue, districts are looking to cut spending by as much as 20% for schools. Regrettably, the majority of these cuts will be targeted towards teachers who make up 85% of public schools’ budget, consequently contributing to larger classes, lower achievement and greater difficulty with social distancing.

Funding will affect low-income districts, as they take into account achievement, district size and location, and are “heavily” reliant on their districts’ and states’ revenue.

The myriad of challenges will require a multi-faceted approach and robust response.

The federal government needs: to simplify Electronic Health Records, leverage initiatives such as ECHO, increase Title I funding and invest in the Individuals with Disability Act. Schools should provide the DOH with daily data on the number of people who have contracted COVID-19, and a maximum 5% positive test rate should be considered.

As citizens, we must thwart COVID’s cataclysmic impact and provide the human, educational and financial capital needed for students to thrive.

Slater Lawrence Berlin

Page 37

By Publisher/Editor Steve Green

Worcester County Public Schools did a solid job this week communicating with the community. After appearing initially to be hesitant to communicate positive COVID-19 tests due to privacy concerns, the system set a solid course this week with its numerous notifications to the individual schools from principals as well as community-wide from the superintendent.

Rumors and speculation are inevitable in these times, but the school system can help control the narrative productively by being transparent to the highest degree possible. Officials clearly get it now and created an online “school status alert dashboard” this week. The dashboard is an excellent resource, as it provides a scale with three different classifications for each school -- red light (transitioned to distance learning), yellow light (open with notification of partial transition to distance learning) and green light (open with no notifications).

Throughout Gov. Larry Hogan’s press conference Tuesday, many were waiting to hear him drop a mandate regarding schools. It never came, and schools were not even discussed until a reporter’s query. When asked his advice to parents and local school systems on whether to go virtual or remain in schools, Gov. Larry Hogan said this week it’s a local call. He said the Maryland State Department of Education has released its guidelines for best practices for schools and each county must evaluate its own metrics to decide the safest path forward. Though he didn’t say it clearly, it appears Hogan will not – at this time – be making statewide decisions on schools. “… The legal authority lies with the school board and they have the right to make these decisions. I think they should continue to follow the advice from the health departments and look at the metrics on the ground where they are,” Hogan said. “In some cases, they have done it very successfully with little or no issues whatsoever. Anytime there’s any kind of an outbreak or a problem they can take quick action.”

This is good news because each school system has different considerations to evaluate with their communities.

It’s been a month since Berlin’s election, the results of which called for a change of leadership at the top with Zack Tyndall receiving 69% of the vote in a five-way race for mayor. It was not a surprise to see Tyndall win the seat, but the decisiveness of the victory was unexpected with Tyndall receiving 846 votes and the second-place finisher – incumbent Gee Williams – getting just 184. It was a resounding vote of confidence for Tyndall.

It’s been a rollercoaster month for Tyndall. He was sworn into office the week after the election and did a wonderful job recognizing Williams for his 12 years of service as mayor after the swearing-in ceremony. He even organized with a local craftsman for a wooden gavel and sound block – carved from a fallen walnut tree in Berlin – to be created as a gift from the town. Tyndall was gracious in victory and thanked Williams for his leadership, telling him he learned a lot serving under him as a councilman.

The next meeting Tyndall presided over was much bumpier, as it was noted by long-time Councilman Dean Burrell the new mayor was now requiring a second for motions (which is not a big deal) and had done away with the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of the meeting. Umbrage was taken mainly because Tyndall made the decisions without consulting with council members or the public. Tyndall said, “the town administrator and I had a discussion and despite our personal beliefs we felt it was time to become more inclusive.

Many more people call Berlin home now than they ever have in the past. … I and the town administrator, in conjunction with our legal department, decided that we would just begin the council meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.”

When asked about that call at a merchants meeting last week, Tyndall elaborating on his position, saying he was also concerned about the fact the ACLU has successfully sued municipalities about prayer in government meetings with towns having to fight a costly legal battle. At that same meeting, Tyndall was also questioned about his decision to remove the “America’s Coolest Small Town” mention from town letterhead and his personal business cards. He said he is fine with the town continuing to use the title for its marketing, but he felt like it was time to move forward in some fashion. Tyndall was also questioned at that meeting about marketing the town’s holiday event coming up on Black Friday. The mayor doesn’t want the town to market events to draw crowds but was fine with promoting the shopping aspect through banners and acquiesced to a request for the carriage rides to resume. Tyndall showed a compromising approach to address concerns from the business community, which has clearly been crippled by the pandemic. At that meeting the mayor was also asked if he was okay being in the paper for negative reasons every week. Tyndall responded, “That’s kind of the job. You’re going to win some, you’re going to lose some, but I’m not here to favor public opinion all the time. I’m here to represent the public, the business community, and I take that job seriously.

But I don’t have all the answers. And I’m sure we’ll stumble along the way.

We’re together in this for four years and we’re three weeks in.”

I think Tyndall is doing a commendable job, but there’s no question it’s been a controversial first month. Berlin voters wanted change. They got just that.

Page 38

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Puzzle Answers

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A

The Adventures Of Fatherhood

By STEVE GREEN

snippet of a routine afternoon conversation with my seventh grader confirms I will never learn. I know better than to seek information from my 12year-old about his school day as soon as he gets in the car after school, but I do it anyway a couple times a week.

Me: How was your day?

Beckett: Good Me: Did you learn anything?

Beckett: No Me: How come?

Beckett: Oh I did, sure, I was confused.

Me: What was the most fun you had today?

Beckett: I don’t know.

Me: Much homework?

Beckett: I don’t know.

Me: What do you mean?

Beckett: I have some. Can I play basketball until dark and then study for my history test?

Me: So you do have homework?

Beckett: Can I play?

Me: Sure, but then you have to get on your work.

Beckett: You want to go one-onone?

Me: I don’t know.

Beckett: What do you mean?

Me: I don’t know.

Beckett: What’s for dinner?

Me: I don’t know.

Beckett: Really?

Me: Yeah, not sure.

Beckett: Want to go one-on-one?

Me: Yes, before it starts raining.

Beckett: Why does it rain as soon as I get out of school all the time?

Me: I know, it’s a bummer.

Beckett: It’s unfair is what it is.

T

hey’re not lazy, but man both my kids like to get their relaxation on these days.

It’s not a bad thing to enjoy some rest and downtime. We

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all need it, but there are times when I flounder between being impressed and repulsed by their abilities to kick back. They have become quite adept at doing nothing for extended periods of time.

Overall, I don’t mind it because they go to school every day and do well for the most part. I also know there is a mental health component to all that has occurred in their lives since March. A brief conversation I had with Beckett one night this week confirmed the distractions of the ongoing pandemic are still on his mind.

Because he loves sports, a lot of his concerns deal with them and whether they will be canceled again. He wants to play basketball for his school this winter. He said there’s a lot of speculation among his classmates on whether they will be able to stay in school or have to do what we did last spring.

I told him I didn’t have the answers, but the best thing may be to just take everything day to day. I told him there’s a lot of uncertainty in everyone’s lives right now. We don’t know what the future holds. We just do our best everyday and go from there.

It’s tough not to feel helpless at times when I think about the vacations canceled and the various experiences lost over the last eight months for my kids. There is a constant want to provide a normal upbringing for our kids.

There are opportunities and I truly believe we can’t let our kids feel like they are being robbed in life, although there may be some truth to it.

A message floating around on social media recently touched this topic. It was written by Jesse Brunette of Sheboygan, Wis. and provided some helpful and hopeful reminders.

The past 6+ months I've heard the phrase "our kids have already lost so much" countless times. And, my friends, I'm over it.

It's a bit pathetic, in my opinion, that as adults we are perpetuating the victim mentality for our kids instead of teaching them the art of grit and pivoting in unexpected or challenging times.

Using a current issue as an example, are kids really going to "suffer" of they don't trick or treat? No. Only if WE (the adults) model a "loss" mindset.

What if, instead, families looked at it as a way to plan a really fun evening?

Maybe doing a family art project, bobbing for apples in mixing bowls, packaging up sweet treats to door drop for neighbors, creating a spooky themed meal together.

I assure you, if WE (the adults) started finding the OPPORTUNITY instead of inflating the perceived losses, we may actually find that we have opportunities to create lasting memories for our children. They'll remember that year they had a SPECIAL Halloween instead of trick or treating like every other year.

Shift your OWN perspective so we can look back at this time and remember how much our kids (and ourselves) LEARNED during the pandemic, not lost.

Opportunities are everywhere. For more quality time. For more exploring. For more conversations. For slowing down.

Mindset matters, friends. And WE are setting the stage for the next generation. Let's do better ... for them and for ourselves.

“Mindset matters” is the right phrase. Kids look to their parents for perspective. Modeling some positivity and lifting our kids up through whatever means we all have individually will be healthy for all of us.

(The writer is the publisher and editor of The Dispatch. He and his wife, Pamela, are proud parents of two boys. This weekly column examines their transition into parenthood and all that goes along with it. E-mail any thoughts to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com.)

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Community

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

News In Photos

The Ocean Pines Ladies Golf Association and the Ocean Pines Men’s Golf Association held their annual Pink Lady Golf Tournament at the Ocean Pines Golf & Country Club in October to raise money for the Eunice Q. Sorin Women’s Diagnostic Center at Atlantic General Hospital (AGH). The $2,310 raised will help provide mammograms for patients unable to afford screening. Pictured, from left, are Ginger Burke, Ocean Pines Pink Lady Committee chair; Dot Waters, Pink Lady co-chair; Susan Morris, Ocean Pines Ladies Golf Association chair; Michael Franklin, president and CEO of AGH; Don McMullen, Ocean Pines Men’s Golf Association president; Toni Keiser, vice president of public relations for AGH; Submitted Photos Brooke Williams, AGH director of imaging.

Members of the Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club recently assisted in building a handicap ramp for the Chesapeake Housing Mission.

The First State Detachment 686 of the Marine Corps League presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Ocean City American Legion Post 166 Color Guard for its sponsorship and presentation of the colors during the Semper Fi Bike Ride. Above, Color Guard members Johan Nyqvist and Glen Reely, left, and Manny Perez, far right, received the recognition from Detachment members Paymaster Bob Broderick, Detachment Commandant Marty Kwesko, and Chaplain Dave Kline.

Page 39

Best Beats

Page 40

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

DISCOUNTED MENU

November 13, 2020

on the beach

EVERY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SUNDAY SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY • ITEMS/PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Try Our Famous Maryland Crab Cakes ... ... No Mumbo, Just Jumbo!

Hand Cut Steaks • Fresh Scallops • Fresh Soft Shell Crabs

NFL Sunday Food & Drink Specials

DINE -IN & CARRYOUT (SPECIALS DINE-IN ONLY)

FULL CIRCLE Seacrets: Saturday, November 14

Happy Hour Daily 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Early Bird Daily 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Food And Drink Specials Special Dinner Menu 28th St. Plaza • 410-289-3100 • www.coinspuboc.com Open Wednesday-Friday 2 p.m. • Saturday & Sunday At Noon

Closing Monday, November 23 Re-opening Friday, November 27 At 2 p.m.

Berlin Liquor Store

Largest Liquor Store In OC Area!

KING’S RANSOM Creawl Street Tavern: Saturday, November 14

Cold & Warm Beer

BEER•LIQUOR•WINE Every Thursday And Sunday Senior Citizens Get

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LAUREN GLICK DUO Downy Oshun: Saturday, November 14

OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Seacrets: Friday, November 13

(On Orders Of $50 Or More) Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Must bring in coupon. Expires 12.06.20 • MCD

10% OFF ALL CASES OF WINE! 7 DAYS A WEEK (Must Be Same Size Bottles 750 ML or 1.5 L)

10818 Ocean Gateway, Berlin, MD 21811 410-973-2873

DJ ROBCEE Fager’s Island: Friday, November 13 Crawl St. Tavern: Tuesdays

BEATS BY WAX Pickles Pub: Tuesdays & Thursday Crawl St. Tavern: Sundays

OTTO GRUNDMAN Downy Oshun: Thursdays

The Dispatch Classifieds

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

$15/Week For Minimum Of Five Lines • $2 Thereafter Per Line Display Classified Ads: $20/Week Per Column Inch (Contract Discounts Available)

HELP WANTED CONDO CLEANER: Looking for independent cleaning person for small midtown condo. Call 443523-4512 and leave message.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

AUTOMOTIVE - GREAT OPPORTUNITIES! Large automotive center with auto parts/marine stores, service centers and used car dealership, is now hiring for: - SERVICE & PARTS ADVISORS - EXPERIENCED TOW TRUCK DRIVERS -TECHNICIANS - MARYLAND STATE INSPECTOR We offer EXCELLENT PAY & BENEFITS!

Call 302-344-9846

REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE BY OWNER: 2BR condo, 12 69th St., 1st floor, one BUILDING off beach. The Wight Clipper. Asking $190,000, negotiable, make offer. 410-467-1362.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Currently hiring manpower for

NOW HIRING - YEAR ROUND EXPERIENCED BARTENDER Call 410-726-7061 for Interview

Experience Preferred. Tools, transportation & a valid driver’s license are a plus. Competitive benefit package available.

Please apply in person at 11935 Hammer Rd, Bishopville, MD, or apply online: http://allstatesconst.com/delmarva-renovations-careers

I NDI AN RIVER MARINA I S NOW HIRING!

•FUEL DOCK SUPERVISOR

Year Round position supervising Fuel Dock Staff. Responsible for inventory of resale items, fuel inventory and other duties assigned.

•NIGHT WATCH 3PM-11PM SHIFT

•GENERAL CLERICAL

Apply Online at Delaware Job Link https://delawarestatejobs.com AA/EOE

WORCESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Community Health Nurse II - Temporary Position

Duties include but not limited to providing community health nursing services in assigned programs to individuals and/or families in the community, using the nursing process. Services provided include, but are not limited to immunization services, HIV AND HCV testing, other clinical services as identified, and providing public health guidance/education.

Must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Maryland Board of Nursing. Valid driver’s license required. Background check & drug screening required.

Please send resume and cover letter by November 20, 2020 to Kristy Kagan, 6040 Public Landing Road, Snow Hill, MD 21863, e-mail kristy.kagan@maryland.gov or fax to 410-632-0064.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or disability. Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling 410-632-1100 ext. 1221

SERVICES

MILLERS CLEANING SERVICE Commercial & Residential Cleaning Covid-19 Expert Construction Clean-Ups

410-831-7815 Ceja’s Landscaping & More!

•YARD MAINTENANCE •PAINTING •POWER WASHING 410-251-3425 410-202-2545

FOR SALE

GOOSE AND DUCK DECOYS: Several dozen of each. Goose shells, 7-8 doz., $4 each. Duck decoys, miscellaneous, several doz., $3 each. Call Bill at 443-831-9898.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DEER TREE STANDS: 2 ladder stands, $75 each. 4 tree stand ladders, $20 each. Call Bill at 443831-9898.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GLASS TOP TABLE: Seats 6 with rattan wood base. Top removable.

Two matching chairs. $100 cash.

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RENTALS

SNOW HILL: Cozy 2BR cottage.

Upscale renovation, central air, W/D, hardwood floors, ceramic.

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WEEKLY RENTALS Poolfront Room $215.

Efficiency Room $245.

2 BR Apartment $350.

3 BR Suite $400.

Burgundy Inn 1210 Philadelphia Ave.

410-289-8581

YARD SALES

STORAGE FACILITY SALE: Sat. Nov. 14 & Sun. Nov. 15, 9am-3pm both days. Delmarva Self Storage, 12059 Industrial Park Road, Bishopville, MD, 21813. Masks req’d.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SAT. 11/14 9AM-2PM: (Rain date 11/15). Outdoor sale. Score big on original artwork, prints, art supplies, pottery, and interesting items we’ve accumulated over the years.

Ocean City Center for the Arts, 502 94th Street Bayside, Ocean City.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Upcoming Yard Sale?

The Dispatch is the best way to get the word out!

Print & Online

COMMERCIAL

WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 1 OfficeRetail and 1 Warehouses. Plenty of Parking. 443-497-4200.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– UPSCALE MIDTOWN OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: 2,130 sq.ft.

No CAM fees. 443-880-2225.

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The Dispatch

Ride the B in OC! •STUCCO & EIFS MECHANICS •CARPENTERS •CONCRETE BLOCK •COATINGS SPECIALISTS •FLAT CONCRETE •CONCRETE REPAIRS •PT WELDER •COMMERCIAL CAULKING •WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLERS •WAREHOUSE HELP (DRIVER’S LICENSE REQ’D)

PUT YOUR LOGO IN COLOR FOR JUST $10

CONTACT INFORMATION Phone: 410-641-4563 • Fax: 410-641-0966 Email: classifieds@mdcoastdispatch.com Mail: P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811

Deadline For Insertions, Cancellations And Payment Is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Pre-Payment Is Required. We Accept Visa & MasterCard.

PHLEBOTOMISTS/PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS/INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS: To complete mobile life insurance exams. Must have approximately 300-blood draws and reliable transportation to travel in 25-miles radius. For addtional info., please contact APPS at 800-814-3788.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Page 41

Legal Notices

LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

THIRD INSERTION WILLIAM M. GATESMAN, ESQ 8209 JONNIE LANE GAITHERSBURG, MD 20882 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 18475 Notice is given that the THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of DONA ANA COUNTY, NM, appointed ANDREW CARROLL, 6715 BRIGHT VIEW ROAD, LAS CRUCES, NM 88007, as the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the Estate of JAMES J. CARROLL, who died on APRIL 05, 2020, domiciled in NEW MEXICO, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is WILLIAM M. GATESMAN, ESQ., whose address is 8209 JONNIE LANE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20882.

At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following MARYLAND counties: WORCESTER. All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates:

(1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 30, 2020 ANDREW CARROLL Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 10-30, 11-6, 11-13

THIRD INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18477 To all persons interested in the estate of VERA ELLEN

The Dispatch

Page 42

Legal Notices

LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

BAKER, ESTATE NO. 18477.

Notice is given that STEVEN WILLIAM BAKER, 30 ANCHOR WAY, BERLIN, MD 21811 AND JOANNE ELLEN BAKER HOWE, 30 ANCHOR WAY, BERLIN, MD 21811 was on, OCTOBER 22, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of VERA ELLEN BAKER, who died on OCTOBER 20, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 22ND day of APRIL, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 30, 2020 STEVEN WILLIAM BAKER Personal Representative JOANNE ELLEN BAKER HOWE Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House

One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 10-30, 11-6, 11-13

THIRD INSERTION

LAWS, INSLEY & BENSON, P.A. VICTOR H. LAWS, ESQ 209 E. MAIN STREET P.O. BOX 75 SALISBURY, MD 21803-0075 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 18479 Notice is given that the REGISTER OF WILLS COURT of CHESTER COUNTY, PA, appointed JENNIFER CONWAY, 821 LINCOLN AVENUE, UNIT 4, WEST CHESTER, PA 19380, as the PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE of the Estate of STEPHEN R. CONWAY, who died on FEBRUARY 02, 2020, domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is VICTOR H. LAWS, III, whose address is 209 E. MAIN STREET, SALISBURY, MD 21801.

At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following MARYLAND counties: WORCESTER. All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 13, 2020

JENNIFER CONWAY Personal Representative

WILLIS WRAY HUDSON JR Personal Representative

CLARKE R. FRANKE Personal Representative

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 10-30, 11-6, 11-13

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 10-30, 11-6, 11-13

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 11-6, 11-13, 11-20

THIRD INSERTION

RAYMOND D. COATES JR., ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES, P.A. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18481 To all persons interested in the estate of DOROTHY PRUITT HUDSON, ESTATE NO. 18481. Notice is given that WILLIS WRAY HUDSON JR, 10504 FRIENDSHIP ROAD, BERLIN, MD 21811 was on, OCTOBER 23, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of DOROTHY PRUITT HUDSON, who died on OCTOBER 04, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 23RD day of APRIL, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or

SECOND INSERTION

MICHAEL B MATHERS ESQ. WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP PO BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET SALISBURY, MD 21803-0910 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18484 To all persons interested in the estate of BETTY EHLERS FRANKE, ESTATE NO. 18484. Notice is given that CLARKE R. FRANKE, 13112 MANOR ROAD, GLEN ARM, MD 21057 was on, OCTOBER 28, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BETTY EHLERS FRANKE, who died on SEPTEMBER 29, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 28TH day of APRIL, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or

(2) Two months after the foreign personal representative mails or delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Claims filed after that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 30, 2020

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication OCTOBER 30, 2020

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 06, 2020

SECOND INSERTION

LINDSEY A. WEST, ESQ. WEST AND WEST, P.A. 12 WILLIAM STREET BERLIN, MD 21811 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18485 To all persons interested in the estate of MIDGE DUFIEF MORAN, ESTATE NO. 18485.

Notice is given that PATRICIA COIT, 11303 WATER POINTE CIRCLE, RESTON, VA 20194 was on, OCTOBER 29, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MIDGE DUFIEF MORAN, who died on SEPTEMBER 14, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 29TH day of APRIL, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 06, 2020 PATRICIA COIT Personal Representative

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 11-6, 11-13, 11-20

FIRST INSERTION

LESLIE LOBOS, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL PINES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-20-000232 BORDERLINKS I TIME INTERVAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 Plaintiff v.

ALEXIS BAXTER FITZPATRICK, ET AL. Defendants TRUSTEE’S SALE OF TIME SHARE INTERVALS IN THE BORDERLINKS I CONDOMINIUM OCEAN PINES, MD By virtue of a certain Claim of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to the Order of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, Case No. C-23-CV-20-000232, the undersigned Trustee, will offer for sale at public auction at the entrance of the Borderlinks I Condominium, located at, 438 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, Maryland, the following described property located in Ocean Pines, Worcester County, Maryland, on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., the following timeshare intervals: Time Condomimium Unit Interval Be31 Bu47 Cb54 Bv48 As19 Ak11 Bz52 As19 Cb54 Bu47 Bj36 Bv48 As19 Aa1 Bz52 As19 Aq17 Bo41 Aq17 Bz52 Be31 Cb54 Be31

20 23 49 34 25 30 3 48 1 18 44 24 34 23 38 31 26 30 22 13 45 18 41

Each time interval being one week per year in the corresponding unit, each unit being part of the Borderlinks I Condominium, including an undivided

The Dispatch

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Legal Notices

Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, as to each condominium unit and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records.

LEGAL RATES Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Declaration of Condominium and Timeshare recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland and subsequent Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, as to each condominium unit and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records.

The property will be sold in an “as is” condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranties and guarantees.

A secured party may bid and shall be excused from deposit requirements. The Trustee reserves the right to withdraw any interval from the sale and/or to reject any and all bids.

Terms of Sale: A deposit in the full amount of the sales price per time interval will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in cash or check. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes, 2020 maintenance fees and all other settlement costs shall be borne by the purchaser. The date of settlement shall be within fifteen (15) days after final ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser.

For more information, call: Leslie Lobos, Esq., Trustee, at 240-449-8862.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 3x 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

FIRST INSERTION

LESLIE LOBOS, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL PINES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-20-000239

VILLAS OF OCEAN PINES BORDERLINKS TIMESHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 Plaintiff v.

ANTHONY FRISBY, ET AL. Defendants TRUSTEE’S SALE OF TIME SHARE INTERVALS IN THE VILLAS OF OCEAN PINES, BORDERLINKS CONDOMINIUM OCEAN PINES, MD By virtue of a certain Claim of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to the Order of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, Case No. C-23-CV-20-000239, the undersigned Trustee, will offer for sale at public auction at the entrance of the Villas of Ocean Pines, located at, 438 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, Maryland, the following described property located in Ocean Pines, Worcester County, Maryland, on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., the following timeshare intervals: Condomimium Time Unit Interval Bf32 Aj10 Bc29 Aj10 Am13 Bc29 Bc29 Bf32 Ad4 Bc29 Bq43 Bq43 Bq43 Bf32 Bq43 Bf32 Bg33 Bb28 Ag7 Am13 Bg33 Am13 Am13

4 8 43 22 32 4 8 16 13 44 49 47 7 7 3 1 24 12 16 51 21 47 48

Each time interval being one week per year in the corresponding unit, each unit being part of the Villas of Ocean Pines, including an undivided interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Declaration of Condominium and Timeshare recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland and subsequent Declarations of

The property will be sold in an “as is” condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranties and guarantees.

A secured party may bid and shall be excused from deposit requirements. The Trustee reserves the right to withdraw any interval from the sale and/or to reject any and all bids.

Terms of Sale: A deposit in the full amount of the sales price per time interval will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in cash or check. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes, 2020 maintenance fees and all other settlement costs shall be borne by the purchaser. The date of settlement shall be within fifteen (15) days after final ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser.

For more information, call: Leslie Lobos, Esq., Trustee, at 240-449-8862.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 3x 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

FIRST INSERTION

LESLIE LOBOS, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL PINES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-20-000250 BORDERLINKS I TIME INTERVAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 Plaintiff v.

STANLEY KROL, ET AL. Defendants TRUSTEE’S SALE OF TIME SHARE INTERVALS IN THE BORDERLINKS I CONDOMINIUM OCEAN PINES, MD By virtue of a certain Claim of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to the Order of the Cir-

cuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, Case No. C-23-CV-20-000250, the undersigned Trustee, will offer for sale at public auction at the entrance of the Borderlinks I Condominium, located at 438 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, Maryland, the following described property located in Ocean Pines, Worcester County, Maryland, on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., the following timeshare intervals: Time Condomimium Unit Interval Bv48 Bz52 Be31 Ak11 Bi35 Bo41 Aq17

7 47 23 17 23 34 2

Each time interval being one week per year in the corresponding unit, each unit being part of the Borderlinks I Condominium, including an undivided interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Declaration of Condominium and Timeshare recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland and subsequent Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, as to each condominium unit and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records.

The property will be sold in an “as is” condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranties and guarantees.

A secured party may bid and shall be excused from deposit requirements. The Trustee reserves the right to withdraw any interval from the sale and/or to reject any and all bids.

Terms of Sale: A deposit in the full amount of the sales price per time interval will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in cash or check. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes, 2020 maintenance fees and all other settlement costs shall be borne by the purchaser. The date of settlement shall be within fifteen (15) days after final ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser.

For more information, call: Leslie Lobos, Esq., Trustee, at 240-449-8862.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 3x 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

Page 43

FIRST INSERTION

County, Maryland and subsequent Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, as to each condominium unit and recorded among the aforesaid Land Records.

LESLIE LOBOS, ESQ. IN-HOUSE COUNSEL PINES PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-20-000252 BORDERLINKS I TIME INTERVAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. 11029 CATHELL ROAD BERLIN, MD 21811 Plaintiff v.

RANDOLPH CRIPPS, ET AL. Defendants TRUSTEE’S SALE OF TIME SHARE INTERVALS IN THE BORDERLINKS I CONDOMINIUM OCEAN PINES, MD By virtue of a certain Claim of Lien recorded among the Land Records of Worcester County, Maryland, and pursuant to the Order of the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, Case No. C-23-CV-20-000252, the undersigned Trustee, will offer for sale at public auction at the entrance of the Borderlinks I Condominium, located at, 438 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines, Maryland, the following described property located in Ocean Pines, Worcester County, Maryland, on Monday, November 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m., the following timeshare intervals: Condomimium Unit Ak11 Ak11 Ak11 Ak11 Ak11 Aq17 Aq17 Aq17 Ar18 Ar18 Ar18 Ar18 As19 As19 As19 As19 As19 As19 As19 Ba27 Ba27 Ba27 Bi35 Bi35

Time Interval 13 20 40 41 44 11 36 50 13 41 47 50 6 9 11 12 42 46 47 8 9 41 10 17

Each time interval being one week per year in the corresponding unit, each unit being part of the Borderlinks I Condominium, including an undivided interest in the common elements thereof, as established pursuant to a Declaration of Condominium and Timeshare recorded among the Land Records of Worcester

The property will be sold in an “as is” condition and subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, and with no warranties and guarantees.

A secured party may bid and shall be excused from deposit requirements. The Trustee reserves the right to withdraw any interval from the sale and/or to reject any and all bids.

Terms of Sale: A deposit in the full amount of the sales price per time interval will be required at the time of sale, such deposit to be in cash or check. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes, 2020 maintenance fees and all other settlement costs shall be borne by the purchaser. The date of settlement shall be within fifteen (15) days after final ratification by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland, time being of the essence; otherwise the deposit will be forfeited and the property will be resold at the risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser, or in any manner designated by the Trustee; or, without forfeiting deposit, the Seller may exercise any of its legal or equitable rights against the defaulting purchaser.

For more information, call: Leslie Lobos, Esq., Trustee, at 240-449-8862.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 3x 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

FIRST INSERTION

MARIANNA BATIE, ESQ LAW OFFICE OF MARIANNA BATIE 9748 STEPHEN DECATUR HIGHWAY, SUITE 112 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18458 To all persons interested in the estate of JOHN STEPHEN CHITWOOD, ESTATE NO. 18458. Notice is given that JOHN CHARLES ECKARDT JR, 999 38TH AVE., ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33704 was on, OCTOBER 13, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JOHN STEPHEN CHITWOOD, who died on JUNE 26, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file

The Dispatch

Page 44

LEGAL RATES: Legal advertising rate is $7 per

column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon. For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 13TH day of APRIL, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 4TH day of MAY, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine

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(2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 JOHN CHARLES ECKARDT JR. Personal Representative

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18491

To all persons interested in the estate of BERNARD R MCALEESE, ESTATE NO. 18491.

Notice is given that DONNA GUTRIDGE, 10342 KEYSER POINT ROAD, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 was on NOVEMBER 04, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BERNARD R MCALEESE, who died on OCTOBER 11, 2020, with a will.

Legal Notices The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 DONNA GUTRIDGE Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18468 To all persons interested in the estate of ANTHONY PAUL THOMAS SR., ESTATE NO. 18468. Notice is given that MICHELLE KNIGHT, 5430 WHITLOCK ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21229 was on, OCTOBER 15, 2020, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ANTHONY PAUL THOMAS SR., who died on JULY 23, 2020, without a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 15TH day of APRIL, 2021.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the

November 13, 2020 decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 13, 2020 MICHELLE KNIGHT Personal Representative

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x, 11-13, 11-20, 11-27

The Dispatch Is On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

November 13, 2020

The Knights of Columbus restarted weekly bingo on Friday Nights with John McDermott, Vincent Sanzone, and Robert Pellenbarg selling game cards on opening night.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

People

By Jeanette Deskiewicz

FEATURING THOSE HELPING CAUSES IN THE RESORT AREA

At the Autumn Home and Condo Show, Marty Kwesko and Bill Russell of the 1st State Detachment Marine Corps League collected donations to support their Semper Fi Fund.

In Society

Page 45

Jackie Burgan, Billie Terrones and Bev Topper of the Ocean City Lioness promoted their Holiday Gift Card Raffle at the Autumn Home and Condo Show.

Barn Hill Preserve’s Sam Prestia, Chelsea West and Rachel Ejzak brought their furry friends to Costa Ventosa last Friday for “Sippin with Sloths.”

Safety was key for the Ocean City Municipal Elections with Pat Oltman and Crystal Heiser taking temperatures and dispensing hand sanitizer at the door.

Charlie and Maureen O’Brien got ready to play some bingo at the Knights of Columbus Hall on 99th Street last Friday Night.

Spreading the word about Kenille’s Kupboard Pet Pantry at the Autumn Home and Condo Show were founder Kenille Davies and volunteer Bob Pisano.

Checking in registered voters for the Ocean City Municipal Elections were Priscilla Zytkowicz and Vicki Barrett at the OC Convention Center.

Come see Costa Ventosa’s Diane Pastello and Jack Lord for one of the “Sippin with Sloths” events being hosted at the winery this fall.

At the Ocean City Municipal Elections, Fiona O’Brien and William Rothermel instructed voters how to scan their completed ballots.

Page 46

Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your ruling planet, Mars, allows you to assume a sense of command that can help you turn a chaotic workplace situation into one that's orderly, productive and, yes, even friendly.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Getting a relationship that's been stuck in a rut up and running again depends on how far you want to run with it. Be honest with yourself as you consider which decision to make.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Be wary of rumors that seem to be coming from everywhere this week. Waiting for the facts before you act means never having to say you're sorry you followed the wrong lead.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): A difficult personal matter might prompt you to turn to a trusted friend to help you sort through a maze of emotional conflicts. The weekend should bring some welcome news.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Some of the new people coming into the Lion's life could play pivotal roles in future personal and professional matters. Meanwhile, an old friend might have an important message.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): A delay in getting things moving on schedule can be a blessing in disguise. Use this extra time to do more research so you can buttress any of the weaker points with solid facts.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): You might need to get involved in a personal

OCEAN CITY vanishing

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

matter before it becomes a serious problem. Also, be wary of someone offering to mediate, unless you can be sure of his or her motives.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): Taking sides in a workplace or domestic dispute could prolong the problem.

Stay out and stay cool. Then you can be friends with both parties when things settle down.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): A friendship has the potential to become something more, and with this week's aspects favoring romance, you might feel that this possibility is worth exploring.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): The new job you want might require you to relocate. If so, keep an open mind and weigh all the positives and negatives before making your decision.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): A new relationship seems to be everything you could have hoped for. Congratulations. Meanwhile, it's not too early to get some feedback on that new project you're working on.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): You might have decided to get out of the fast-moving current and just float around hither and yon for a while. But you might find that the new opportunity is too tempting to turn down.

BORN THIS WEEK: You believe in bringing out the best in people with kind deeds, loving words and recognition of their "special" selves. © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Things I Like ...

November 13, 2020

WITH BUNK MANN

The Plimhimmon was built in 1894 by Rosalie Tilghman Shreve and occupied half a block along the Boardwalk between N. 1st and 2nd streets. Famous for its excellent dining room, guests would spend hours in rocking chairs enjoying the ocean breeze along the hotel’s long shady front porch. In addition to strolls along the Boardwalk, a dance pavilion with a live orchestra provided entertainment for the summer guests.

The Plimhimmon was destroyed in a massive fire on Nov. 21, 1962. At the time of the fire, it was the largest hotel in Ocean City.

In 1963 a new hotel, the Plim Plaza, was built on the site of the original. It included a replica of the Victorian-style tower that had distinguished its venerable predecessor.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann's books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com.

Photo courtesy Bill and Kitt Matthews

The Dispatch Crossword Puzzle

By Steve Green

Hanging holiday lights on a warm day Not using salt when cooking Two dogs pulling on a rope People born on Leap Day

The show, “The Walking Dead” Sleeping with two pillows

When both my kids wake up on their own on a school day A must-watch show referral

Little ones with lots of questions Messy weather football games Being sore from yard work

ANSWERS ON PAGE 38

November 13, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

November 13, 2020