Dec. 2

Report Estimates Sports Complex Cost At $153M

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – A sports complex that features indoor and outdoor facilities on Route 50 in Berlin is estimated to cost at least $153 million in today’s marketplace, according to a report released this week.

The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) on Monday released the muchanticipated study update commissioned by the Town of Ocean City for $49,400 regarding a proposed indoor fieldhouse and outdoor field complex at the Berlin site being considered by Worcester County for a sports complex. The study looks at the costs and impacts of a sports complex consisting of eight to 10 tournamentquality fields and a 125,000-square-foot indoor facility.

“MSA’s role in managing studies is to provide unbiased and objective analysis

which provides information to local officials to assist in the decision-making process about investment and benefits for their communities and constituents,” a synopsis of the study reads.

While a sports complex has been a topic of discussion among local officials since at least 2017, the process took a big step forward this spring when the Worcester County Commissioners voted 4-3 to pursue the purchase of 95 acres adjacent to Stephen Decatur High School for $7.1 million. At that point, the Town of Ocean City approached the MSA to seek an update to a 2020 Crossroads Consulting market and economic analysis related to a sports complex. MSA released the updated study, which looks at the Route 50 site specifically, this week. The new document includes updated market research, existing sports facilities in the region, a conceptual site plan and an es-

timate of related revenues. The MSA lists as key findings:

- Demand exists for both the indoor and outdoor components of the sports complex.

- The indoor fieldhouse would account for 48% of estimated fiscal and economic impacts while the outdoor fields would account for 52%.

- The proposed site has sufficient capacity and “is generally considered to be adequate to excellent” based on “physical site factors, vehicular/pedestrian access and contextual design issues.”

- The sports complex would likely operate at a deficit, “which is not unlike other facilities that are built for their ability to generate economic activity.”

- The sports complex could host tournament activity as well as county sports programs.

As far as economic activity, the report

looks at tournament frequency and potential local revenue generated as a result. With a range of 54 to 64 tournaments a year, the sports complex is projected to generate 93,700 to 111,100 net new local room nights. Number of participants on an annual basis are estimated from 54,110 to 64,070 with spectators varying between 115,220 and 136,540.

“The estimated gross tax revenues generated from ongoing operations of the Sports Complex is estimated to be between $8.5 million to $10.1 million in a stabilized year of operation,” the MSA synopsis reads. “Net new tax revenue is estimated to be between $6.6 million and $7.8 million with $1.7 million to $2.0 million net new to the local and $4.9 million to $5.8 million new to the State.”

According to the report, the gross tax (local and state) could support debt service between $142 million and $169 million of 20-year revenue bonds. The potential contribution amount for the complex is projected at $31 million to $36.5 million from local sources and somewhere between $111 million to $132.5 million from the state.

The report’s findings are based on a variety of assumptions. While one major assumption is the location on Route 50 next to the high school, others include that it’s operated by people who specialize in managing similar facilities and that it’s aggressively marketed.

As far as construction costs, the report shows cost savings if the indoor and outdoor components of the proposed facility are built simultaneously. The outdoor fields are expected to cost $67.6 million while the indoor costs are estimated at $91.2 million. If both are built together, the estimated cost is $153,525,000.

Next steps identified by the MSA include identifying potential funding strategies, which could include both public and private partners. It’s not clear yet what impact the recent referendum question will have on the process. The majority of voters, 51.53%, did not support giving Worcester County the ability to finance the cost of designing and building a sports complex. While those who pushed for the financing question to go to referendum are hopeful the vote was enough to stop the county’s plan to buy the land next to Stephen Decatur, proponents of bringing a sports complex to Worcester County are still committed to the cause.

Worcester County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said last month that the referendum only referred to a bond issue.

“As far as I’m concerned the sports complex continues on,” he said earlier this month. “We just have to find a different way to fund it.”

The settlement date on the property has been moved to Jan. 31. While the vote to begin moving toward buying the land passed last April with a 4-3 vote, two of those who voted for the project and have been staunch supporters — Bud Church and Josh Nordstrom — will be replaced next week with new commissioners — Eric Fiori and Caryn Abbott.

The full study provided by Crossroads Consulting can be found here on the MSA website.

Divided OC Council Approves E-Bike Rentals, Sales

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A divided council this week agreed to drafting an ordinance that would, if approved, allow for the rental of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, in the resort.

For the last couple of months, the Mayor and Council have been wrestling with several issues related to the proliferation of e-bikes. In 2020, the Mayor and Council narrowly passed an ordinance prohibiting all classes of e-bikes on the Boardwalk at all times, including the hours when regular bicycles and other pedal-assisted vehicles are allowed.

After considerable debate, the council voted last month to allow only the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk at times when other bicycles are allowed.

While all agreed the Class 3 e-bikes, potentially the fastest of the three classes of e-bikes, would not be appropriate on the Boardwalk, there was considerable discussion about allowing the Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on the Boardwalk. The council ultimately voted to allow only the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk at times when other bicycles are allowed.

However, left open-ended was the issue of allowing e-bike rentals, sales and repairs of any class of e-bike in the resort.

During the prior debate, there was briefly a motion on the floor to prohibit the rental of any e-bikes in town, but it failed to pass. As a result, there was no clear rules in the code regarding the rental of any class of e-bike.

After consulting with the police department and the Ocean City Police

Commission, City Manager Terry McGean on Tuesday presented a proposal that could potentially allow for the rental of Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes in town, but not the higher-powered Class 3 ebikes.

He said if it was the council’s desire to do so, it would require the city solicitor to craft an ordinance effecting the change. For the record, currently there are no businesses in town renting ebikes.

“Hopefully, this is the last task in the never-ending e-bike saga,” he said. “When the ordinance failed in October, that left us in a gray area where no ebikes can be rented at all in town regardless of the type. If the council desires to allow Class 1, Class 2 or even Class 3 e-bikes to be rented in town, there needs to be an ordinance to correct that.”

McGean said the issue of allowing

certain classes of e-bikes on the Boardwalk was similar but separate from the e-bike rental issue.

“This was intended to be a companion ordinance for the Boardwalk ordinance, but it failed,” he said. “Technically, there is no business license in the code for e-bikes. It would have to come before the Mayor and Council.”

City Solicitor Heather Stansbury agreed e-bike rentals were a separate issue from the Boardwalk and needed to be addressed through the ordinance process if that was what the majority of the council desired.

“We could add e-bikes to the definition in the code,” she said. “It would be a new ordinance with the Boardwalk issue no longer in play. That part is done. The business license office doesn’t know if it can issue a license to rent e-bikes as it stands now.”

Mayor Rick Meehan voiced some concern about the proliferation of e-bikes on Coastal Highway and the town’s other roadways when considering everything else that is currently allowed, including the low-riding scoot coupes, mopeds and scooters.

“Sometimes, we need to look at something from the 20,000-foot view,” he said. “We have seen the scoot coupes and we’ve seen the same thing with the mopeds. Let’s not create our own problems. I know we don’t like to make laws if they are not needed. Hopefully I’m wrong on this one, but I do have concerns.”

However, Councilman John Gehrig pointed out there is no hard evidence available to suggest e-bikes are any more dangerous than the myriad of other vehicles allowed on the town’s roadways.

“We have had zero incidents,” he said. “We have zero data. It’s not our job to make decisions on arbitrary laws. Currently, there is no one renting e-bikes anywhere in town. To regulate at this point is premature.”

Gehrig suggested if a problem with ebike rentals arises, the issue can be addressed at that time.

“Why don’t we wait until we have an incident before we begin to regulate it?” he said. “There are people currently riding e-bikes in town that haven’t caused any harm. We’ve already decided on the Boardwalk issue, but this is different.”

Stansbury reiterated there is currently nothing in the town code to regulate the rental of e-bikes, nor is there a section that defines them.

“They are bicycles in the sense they are not a scooter,” she said. “Your code distinctly separates them. If you want to include e-bikes in the definition, you need to craft an ordinance to do so.”

Councilmember Carol Proctor pointed out allowing any e-bike rentals could create enforcement challenges for the police department in how they differentiate between the different classes of e-bikes.

“I just think it creates a nightmare for our police department,” she said. “These Class 3 e-bikes can go 40 miles per hour. I just don’t think we should have

… Officials Debate Safety Concerns

them in town at all.”

Meehan reiterated his concern about the proliferation of e-bike rentals. Currently, privately-owned e-bikes are allowed essentially where other bicycles are allowed, with the exception of the recently-passed ordinance allowing only the Class 1 e-bikes on the Boardwalk.

“I’m worried about the rentals,” he said. “We’ve had trouble with these other vehicles. We need to keep an eye on the proliferation of these, especially if they are rentals.”

Gehrig said it appears some on the council already had pre-conceived notions about the potential dangers of ebikes on the roadways despite allowing other rental vehicles.

“If we’re focused on a danger, how did we let those little scoot coupes about a foot off the ground to be allowed?” he said. “How many people on those have been hurt or worse? I haven’t heard a single complaint about an e-bike.”

Gehrig said the e-bike rental issue could be revisited if and when a problem arises.

“We can totally revisit this if a problem arises,” he said. “So far, I haven’t heard of any problems. Why are we banning something just because we think we don’t like them?”

Councilman Will Savage, who is a firefighter-paramedic, said he has seen first-hand the dangers of certain classes of e-bikes on the roadways.

“I prefer banning them,” he said. “It’s

just going to cause more problems or intensify the problems we already have.”

He continued, “I witness everyday groups of 10 people zooming up and down Coastal Highway. The police do the best they can. You have to be at least 16 years old to ride them. We’re going to have people zooming up and down the highway fresh out of high school. I’m in favor of banning them all. We don’t need them on the highway.”

Councilman Frank Knight said he had greater concerns about the proliferation of other rental vehicles on the town’s roadways including the low-riding scoot coupes.

“I find the scooters far more dangerous than e-bikes,” he said. “The mopeds and scoot coupes are a lot more dangerous. They can go 40 miles per hour, and they can and do go in and out of traffic. Right now, there is no business model for renting them. I don’t have a problem with the Class 1’s and the Class 2’s, but I do have a problem with the Class 3’s.”

After considerable debate, the council voted 4-3 with Gehrig, Council President Matt James, Knight and Councilman Pet er Buas in favor, and Council Secretary Tony DeLuca, Proctor and Savage opposed to allow for the rental, sales and repairs of all classes of e-bikes in the resort and directed staff to craft an ordinance to effect the change.

The limitation of just the Class 1 ebikes on the Boardwalk was already passed by ordinance.

Miscommunication Between Town, BFC Continues

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Miscommunication mangled a town council work session with the Berlin Fire Company this week.

On Monday, the Berlin Town Council was expected to have a 5 p.m. work session with the Berlin Fire Company (BFC). When fire company leadership requested at the last minute that a closed session meeting be scheduled instead, town officials voiced their frustration with the ongoing communication challenges between the two entities.

“I just don’t want anybody out there to ever feel or get the notion or be misled to believe we as a body do not want to work with Berlin Fire and EMS,” Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols said.

When fire company representatives showed up for Monday’s work session,

they spoke with Mayor Zack Tyndall, the town administrator and the town attorney regarding concerns about having an open meeting to discuss a contractual issue. After a lengthy discussion, Tyndall returned to the council with the news that the fire company would meet with the council privately in a closed session on a date to be determined. He said that he’d advised representatives that the town would be updating its website to include information about the town’s specific funding allocations to both the fire company and the EMS side of operations. In recent weeks BFC officials have objected to the town’s references to a $400,000 grant provided to the organization, as in fact the fire company received a $116,960.82 grant while the EMS company received $283,039.18.

Council members were quick to express their frustration about the change in plans.

“I think this was an opportunity missed,” Councilman Jack Orris said, noting that the meeting had been set for 5 p.m. to accommodate the BFC.

Tyndall said the BFC representatives did not feel comfortable with the public venue.

Nichols said BFC officials had had weeks to let the town know they weren’t comfortable with a public meeting.

“One of the items we were hoping to cover this evening, the fire company felt that was a contractual thing,” Tyndall said.

Councilman Jay Knerr asked when the fire company was going to provide the financial information the town had requested.

David Gaskill, the town’s attorney, said the fire company alleged the town had breached its contract with the agency in not stipulating the breakdown of the grant in terms of fire and EMS. He said that

once the town fixed its budget to show the specific allocations, the fire company would provide financials.

Councilman Dean Burrell echoed his peers’ frustration.

“From my perspective I think it was very disrespectful for you and those folks who we are supposed to be meeting with … to leave this meeting room and go have a meeting, a meeting that we were not a part of,” he said. “I just want it to be known that my time is very important to me. When I rearrange my day to accommodate a group we have met with over and over and over for the last it seems 10 years, I expect to have a meeting. And I am absolutely appalled that I had to sit here a half hour and then to hear this explanation. I don’t understand why we were treated so disrespectfully.”

Councilman Steve Green quoted the town’s contract with the fire company, which states that in public budget records and financial systems the town must show the separation of funds between fire and EMS. He said he didn’t believe changes to the website would satisfy the organization, as the town’s budget document itself referenced $400,000 rather than two distinct allocations as required by the contract.

Burrell said the allocations were determined by the fire company, not the town. Tyndall agreed and said officials had told him tonight they wouldn’t be able to provide the town with the breakdown by the time the council approved the budget.

Orris went back to the issue of the financial documentation the town has repeatedly requested.

“I’d like financials to help us make better decisions with taxpayer dollars,” he said, adding that there was some roadblock every time the town brought it up. “I’m willing to extend a hand if someone else unclenches their fist.”

Burrell said that in his decades on the council he’d found the fire company was one of the most difficult organizations to fund.

“Why are you putting up with this shit?” Gee Williams, the town’s former mayor who is now a reporter, interjected from the audience. “You’re the people providing public money for these services.”

Green said he didn’t see the situation being resolved if timing wouldn’t allow the fire company to provide the funding split before the town’s budget was drafted.

Orris suggested the town send the fire company a letter outlining the budget process and associated timeline. Tyndall agreed.

Burrell said he felt the council was simply trying to keep a close eye on how taxpayer funds were spent.

“Personally, I feel it’s only fitting and proper that the taxpayers know where their money is being spent and how it’s being spent and when it’s being spent,” he said. “It is so disingenuous for us to be called on the carpet for breach of contract with this organization when they have failed to provide us the information we need to comply with the contract. These numbers are supposed to be entered into the Town of Berlin’s budget, but the numbers are provided to us by the fire company … How can we include numbers in our budget that were not provided by the

Town Purchases Cameras, Barricades

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Town officials agreed to move forward with using grant funds to purchase security cameras and modular vehicle barriers.

The Berlin Town Council voted unanimously on Monday to buy security cameras and modular vehicle barriers for the downtown area. Both purchases are being made with a $76,300 Community Safety Works Business District Grant the town received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development this spring.

“It was a very competitive grant last year,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director. “I feel Berlin is very fortunate we have the luxury to get state funding to get these.”

Wells said the town received three bids that ranged from $23,000 to $45,000 for the cameras. She said she and Electric Utility Director Tim Lawrence had reviewed them and after interviews recommended the town go with the bid of $31,098 from B4 Sales.

“They were very attentive,” she said. “They explained everything about what the cameras’ capabilities will be.”

Mayor Zack Tyndall said if the town could open one of the camera feeds it

could be used to provide the public with a glimpse of the town. He said visitors were always checking the live cameras in Ocean City.

“It’s got a commercial component that could be helpful,” he said.

Wells said that idea could be explored. She said the fisheye cameras would be placed on utility poles in the downtown area.

On Monday the town also approved the purchase of 12 mobile vehicle security barriers from Rologard Global Company for $45,000. Wells said the town had received three bids that were very close in price for the barriers. She said the town’s public works staff suggested the Rologard barriers because they were tow-behind units that would not have to be dismantled every time they’re used and can be easily transported by a truck to different areas in town.

Councilman Dean Burrell indicated the appearance of the barriers was rather utilitarian but that he valued their capabilities.

“I’m so glad to hear you say these barriers are designed to stop a vehicle in its tracks,” he said.

Staff said that the appearance of the barriers could be improved with décor or if they were placed behind other objects.

The council voted unanimously to purchase the barriers.

Traumatic Injury

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City paramedics were transported by the U.S. Coast Guard mid-morning on Tuesday to a traumatic injury incident about 12 to 15 miles off the coast of the resort.

Around 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard was alerted to a reported traumatic injury aboard a 50-foot fishing boat about 12 to 15 miles off the coast of Ocean City. A fisherman aboard the vessel reportedly got his arm caught in a winch. The Coast Guard responded with Ocean City EMTs aboard to assist the victim at the scene, which was about one hour from shore.

The victim’s arm was freed from the winch, and he was transported back to shore in Ocean City for treatment of his injuries. A second unit including aviation was not required. The condition or identity of the victim has not been made public.

Turkeys Donated To First Responders

Community members partnered together last week to provide 200 turkeys to members of the Ocean City Fire Department and the Ocean City Police Department. The campaign was coordinated by main sponsor Ropewalk and Alley Oops along with support and promotion from Movement Mortgage, Lakeside Title, the Law Offices of James List and O’Conor, Mooney & Fitzgerald Realtors. Above left, effort representatives are pictured with members of the Ocean City Police Department during the delivery of the turkeys. Above, from left, during the fire house delivery were Fire Chief Richie Bowers, O'Conor, Mooney & Fitzgerald Realtors President Sean O’Conor, Peter Collins, O'Conor, Mooney & Fitzgerald Realtors Office manager Stacy O’Conor and Realtor Nick Elko with OCFD representatives. Submitted Photos

Resort Pension Fund Investment Returns Fall Short

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Economic uncertainties have left the Town of Ocean City’s pension fund investments falling short of the stated goal after thriving for several years, resort officials learned this week.

During Tuesday’s work session, Council President Matt James provided a recap of the Ocean City Pension Committee meeting from last week. Ocean City has two pension plans, one for the general employees and a second one for public safety employees.

While each are currently healthy, a review of the most recent pension committee meeting this week revealed some of the stalwart investments were not performing to the town’s expectations for a variety of reasons. The town, through the

pension committee and its consultants, invests pension funds paid into the account by employee contributions into stocks, mutual funds and other assets in order to grow the funds and ensure they are available when employees retire.

In recent years, the state goal for the return on investment of the pension funds has been set at 7%. However, because of the volatility of the markets, the Mayor and Council earlier this year decided to incrementally reduce the anticipated return on investment in the pension funds to 6.5%. Currently, the town’s return on investment in the pension funds is around 6.9%, which is just around the previous goal of 7%. But there is reason for concern in the flattening of the returns after a couple of less-than-stellar quarters.

James said pension fund consultant David Esham of Morgan Stanley reported

to the committee the current instability of the markets has created challenges in meeting the investment goals for the pension funds.

“The consultant said this year has been difficult for equities both domestically and internationally and the worst year for bonds in over 40 years,” he said. “He discussed inflation and global inflation forecasts. He said Morgan Stanley believes the consensus earning forecasts are too high.”

James said at least two of the pension fund investment groups were underperforming and the committee voted unanimously to look into switching to a different investment group.

“Esham reviewed the third quarter performance reports for the pension plans,” he said. “He discussed the individual fund performance and reviewed the watch list. He discussed the Loomis Large Cap

Growth Fund, which has failed its quarterly review twice in a row and three of the last four quarters, which puts it in the search category. If they were to fail again next quarter, it would make them a candidate for replacement. He thinks that will be unlikely because the fund appears to be outperforming this quarter, so we will continue to monitor it.”

Councilman John Gehrig voiced concern the pension fund investments appear to be flattening, which could ultimately result in a greater contribution from the town’s general fund to keep the pension funds healthy. Of course, having a 100%funded pension plan is ideal, but that is essentially a pipe dream. Ocean City’s pension funds are funded at around 84%, which is better than most jurisdictions. When the investments fall short of the mark set at 7%, the town sometimes has to make a contribution from the general fund to maintain a healthy level.

Earlier this year, the council, anticipating a down cycle in the pension investments, set aside $2.5 million in the general fund balance as a “rainy day” account of sorts if the investments fell short. Gehrig suggested if the pension fund investments were falling short of the expectations, funds could be drawn from that rainy day account to offset the difference and keep the pension funds at healthy levels.

“So, are we still at 6.9%?” he said. “Are we getting the yield on those bonds? You know how I feel. Instead of losing money, let’s use our reserves. I still think the 6.9% is too high. The long-term is flattening. Even when the market was going up 30%, our return was still less than 7%. Even if the markets don’t go down and come in flat, that’s still a loss based on our expectations.”

James said while the pension fund investments were at the very least flat if not growing, the town’s other investments were performing well.

“Our cash has been earning pretty good interest compared to what we’ve been getting with the pension investments,” he said.

Gehrig said he was less concerned about the peaks and valleys in the pension investments than the overall larger picture.

“I’m not worried about a sharp drop and sharp increase after that,” he said. “If it’s just a steady flattening, that’s a big concern for us. Our funding percentage can continue to decline pretty rapidly. I’m not saying let’s reduce our estimates to 4%. During a period of uncertainties, we might have to take the wins where we can get them.”

City Manager Terry McGean said the current pension fund investment returns were not merely a snapshot, but a view of the larger picture.

“We do average the pension returns on a rolling average over five years,” he said. “We were lucky in that we did have extremely high returns. Those are now averaging out with lower returns. We’re at 6.9% but we’ve already agreed to phase that down to 6.5%.”

McGean said because of the volatility in the markets, the town and the pension committee would continue to closely monitor investments.

Council Approves Incentive Plan

To Retain, Recruit Bus, Tram Drivers

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Citing a continued need to recruit seasonal municipal bus drivers and Boardwalk tram drivers and conductors, resort officials last week approved a series of incentives to attract and reward new employees.

Ongoing discussions at the Ocean City Transportation Committee level regarding a series of incentives for municipal bus drivers and Boardwalk tram drivers made their way to the Mayor and Council, which ultimately approved them. Ocean City, like many jurisdictions and private sector companies, has been faced with labor shortages in recent years for a variety of reasons, and the shortage for the town’s transit system has been particularly acute.

For example, prior to the pandemic, Ocean City employed around 150 bus drivers to meet its deployment goals. Last year, the number had dwindled to around 90. The transit system has managed to meet its deployment goals for the most part and ridership numbers have nearly returned to pre-COVID levels, but the department is looking to bolster its recruitment efforts through a series of incentives for new and returning bus and tram drivers.

Mayor Rick Meehan presented a series of recommendations to the council last Monday.

“I want to concentrate on items that need to be brought back to the Mayor and Council for approval,” he said. “As you know, we have been working very diligently to recruit bus drivers and to retain bus drivers and tram drivers. Ever since 2020 we lost a lot of drivers due to COVID issues. We’ve had trouble regaining the number of drivers the need to fully operate the transit system to the level we would like to see it operate.”

For that reason, the transportation committee forwarded to the Mayor and Council a series of incentives aimed at enhancing driver recruitment, according to Meehan.

“We have a number of different incentives to put forth,” he said. “We did have some incentives in the department last year. They have been modified so I wanted to bring them back to the Mayor and Council for support if you choose to do so.”

First on the list of recommendations was a seasonal employee referral bonus set at $500 for any town employee who refers someone to work in the transportation department for the 2023 season. The referred employee must be a new town employee or must not have worked for the town after Dec. 31, 2021.

The referred employee must be hired and complete at least 200 hours of service from the start of Springfest to the end of Sunfest. The initial recommendation for the seasonal employee referral bonus was $300, but Meehan said the department upped the ante to $500 to make it more attractive.

“A $300 bonus in 2023 doesn’t carry the same weight as it did in 1978,” he said. “The recommendation is to really make it something substantial and en-

courage people to stay for the season.”

The second incentive addressed last week was an end-of-season loyalty bonus for bus drivers and tram drivers and conductors. To be eligible, an employee must complete at least 400 hours during the 2023 season and must work 12 hours or more during Labor Day weekend, the Oceans Calling Festival and Sunfest weekend.

Again, the initial recommendation for the loyalty bonus was $300, but the committee’s final recommendation was for $500. Councilman Will Savage asked if the proposed incentives were included in the town’s existing budget. City Manager Terry McGean said the short answer is the drop-off in recruiting new drivers would result in savings that could be applied to the incentive programs.

“The answer is yes and no,” he said. “These bonuses were not included in the budget. However, the amount of part-time bus drivers that were budgeted, because we can’t get the number we’ve been hoping for, the savings will offset the bonuses.”

A third incentive presented last week was a mini-season bonus for eligible bus and tram drivers who are available to work from the start of Springfest through Labor Day weekend. The initial recommendation was for a $150 mini-bonus, but the committee recommended increasing

“VANI SHING OC EAN CI

Makes A Great Christmas Gift

VANISH ING O CEAN CITY

B Y HU NTER “BUNK”

MANN

• The history of Ocean City, Md., from its beginning in the 1870s to the present day. Over 500 photo images.

• A hardbound, 220-page coffee table book featuring cover by noted artist Paul McGehee.

• Over seven years in the making with personal memories of Ocean City’s locals and visitors. Recall your own favorite memories of Maryland’s famous beach resort.

• Revisit the old restaurants and long-vanished hotels, relive summer nights on the Boardwalk, go fishing on the ocean or the bay, and learn about the fires and storms that changed the town forever.

• A “must have” for all who love Ocean City!

Vanishing Ocean City is available for $49.95 at select locations in Ocean City, Berlin, Ocean Pines and Salisbury. It can also be ordered online at vanishingoceancity.com. Visit the website for further information and photos.

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Satisfied the current plan does not represent a departure from what was originally approved, resort planners last week agreed to extend the site plan for the redevelopment of the former Phillips Seafood House property uptown for an additional 18 months.

In April 2021, the Ocean City Planning Commission approved a presented site plan for the redevelopment of the old Phillips Seafood House property at 141st Street and Coastal Highway for a mixeduse residential and commercial project including 36 multi-family dwelling units along with some retail and food service operations on the first level.

The site plan approval expired last month, but because of some anomalies including at least one meeting when the planning commission did not have a quorum, the applicant requested and received permission to have the commission extend the site plan approval for the project for an additional 18 months.

Despite complicated parking requirement issues, the planning commission approved the original site plan for the proposed redevelopment of the former Phillips Seafood House property at 141st Street in 2021. At that time, there were some issues regarding the ownership of certain adjacent parking lots formerly used by the restaurant and how that applied to the proposed new project for the site.

With those issues resolved, the planning commission approved the proposed site plan for the 36 multi-family dwelling units along with the first-floor commercial uses including some food service elements. Last Wednesday, the planning commission unanimously approved an 18-month extension of the site plan for a variety of reasons.

For decades, the site was home to the Phillips Seafood House, an extension of the iconic Ocean City family’s brand. In the several months since, the original Phillips Crab House at 21st Street has closed and the old Phillips Beach Plaza property along the Boardwalk at 13th Street is slated for redevelopment as the vast Margaritaville project. Last week, Zoning Administrator Kay

Gordy explained the original site plan for the 141st Street property had expired, and the applicant was seeking an extension for a variety of reasons.

“This was running out of time,” she said. “It actually expired last month I believe. It’s just that the agenda has been pushed back and pushed back for a variety of reasons. We assured the applicant since he had asked previous to that it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Gordy said the staff was satisfied the parking requirements for the project were being met and recommended an extension of the original site plan approval.

“They’ve already demolished it,” she said. “Parking at 142nd Street has not been added into this. The southerly remote lot is where some of the parking has already been approved. They are not asking to change anything. They are only asking to extend the site plan approval.”

Project architect Keith Iott told the commission the plan as presented met all of the code requirements and represented a good use of the former Phillips Seafood House property. Iott spoke on behalf of project developer Ocean Two LLC and Christos Sarantis.

“It’s the former Phillips site,” he said. “He desired to create a really nice mixed-use development. There are some nice residential properties but also some very nice retail. There will be some food service elements included in the project.”

Attorney Hugh Cropper, representing the developer, said there were a variety of reasons why an extension of the site plan approval was being sought.

“It was well-received and you all approved it unanimously,” he said. “With COVID, as we all know, there have been issues with the economy and supply demands, so we’re just asking for an additional 18 months. Absolutely nothing has changed with the site plan.”

Planning Commission Chair Pam Buckley commiserated with the developer’s need for an extension of the original site plan approval.

“It has been incredibly difficult for people who have started a project during all of this,” she said. “We certainly understand that part of it.”

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – The eighth annual Shore Gives More campaign raised $290,466 for 124 Lower Shore nonprofits this week.

On Tuesday, more than 2,490 donations were made during the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s eighth annual Shore Gives More campaign.

Community Foundation President Erica Joseph said the online giving event gave community members an opportunity to support local organizations. Since its inception, the campaign has raised $1.5 million for Lower Shore nonprofits.

“Nonprofits provide critical services to the local community, and fundraisers like Giving Tuesday help charities connect with donors,” she said. “Giving Tuesday has become its own holiday in the nonprofit world, and the local generosity really shines a spotlight on how wonderful our region is.”

Each year, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) assists nonprofits in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties in their fundraising efforts by providing a 24-hour online donation portal, marketing tools and support to help them reach their goals. The Shore Gives More campaign coincides with Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving that is celebrated each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving.

“As the area’s leading philanthropic resource, the Community Foundation understands the complexities around charitable giving, and we work hard to simplify the giving process for both donors and nonprofits,” Joseph said. “By giving through the Shore Gives More campaign, donors know their gifts will have an impact close to home.”

Out of the 124 organizations participating in this year’s campaign, the Worcester County Education Foundation was the top nonprofit with $10,870 raised and 194 unique donors. The organization was closely followed by Coastal Hospice ($10,050), Art League of Ocean City ($9,710) and the Worcester County Humane Society ($9,070).

Another recipient of Tuesday’s Shore Gives More campaign was Diakonia, which raised $8,520. Executive Director Ken Argot said he was pleased with the results of this year’s campaign, as it provided an opportunity to share information about the organization’s programs and raise funds to support them. He added that support extended beyond the online giving campaign when Jolly Roger Amusements came by the shelter to complete volunteer work.

“Having worked in nonprofits for over 15 years, a $10,000 fundraiser is nothing to sneeze at, especially one that incurred no expenses but our time …,” he said. “There is always someone wanting to give, and while it’s not always money, its usually something pretty useful.”

Director Kate Patton said she was also thrilled with the results of Tuesday’s Shore Gives More campaign. The nonprofit received $3,940 in donations.

“Before the CFES launched Shore Gives More, our organization was very skeptical about how an online fundraising campaign for Giving Tuesday would be able to cut through the noise of the holiday season with Black Friday and Cyber Monday,” she said. “Through the Shore Gives More campaign, our voice is amplified along with other mission-driven organizations making a positive impact on the Lower Shore.”

She added, “We are thrilled with the response and honored by the generous spirit of so many donors.”

We Heart Berlin, the nonprofit working to raise funds for a Berlin skate park, also received support this week through the online giving event.

“We are learning first-hand what it means to be partnered with an amazing organization like the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and we couldn’t be more thankful,” said Tony Weeg, founder. “Having resources in our local area that lend a financial hand to organizations that do good is an integral part of the process of spreading ‘good’ and what a cycle to be a part of.”

To learn more about the Shore Gives More campaign for local nonprofits visit cfes.org or ShoreGivesMore.org to view individual nonprofit participants.

Lower Shore Land Trust Executive

Berlin Officials Discuss Parking Needs, Proposed Impact Fee

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Officials discussed the concept of a parking impact fee in downtown Berlin at a meeting this week.

The Berlin Town Council talked about the need for additional parking in the downtown commercial district during this week’s meeting. While no decisions were made, officials talked about potentially implementing a parking impact fee.

“I think this is a fruitful discussion,” Mayor Zack Tyndall said, adding that officials could also review the parking study done a few years ago. “I think we should come back and revisit that.”

During departmental reports at Monday’s meeting, Planning Director Dave Engelhart was asked for an update on renovations at the Burbage buildings on Main Street. When he shared the news that apartments would be added to the upstairs as part of the improvements, the discussion turned to where the parking for those additional apartments would be.

“It’s a continuing issue for us,” Engelhart said. “The existing parking we have will have to suffice.”

He added, however, that during the past several years he’d shared with town leadership that there was a section of the code that would allow for a parking impact fee.

“We have on the books a section of the code that says in the town center district if you want to add or increase the size of the business and you can’t meet the parking requirements of the code you pay into a fund,” he said.

No movement toward creating a fund has been taken, despite the fact that officials tried to plan for it years ago.

“The whole idea back then is I think they saw the need to have some fund

created solely for parking, whether to acquire a parcel to make a parking lot, or acquire a parcel to put a parking garage or some combination,” he said.

“But that’s never happened since that section of the code was put in.”

He said that if the fee were in place, new businesses that didn’t have sufficient parking would pay a fee, which has never been set, for each parking space they were lacking.

“It’s not supposed to go in the general fund, it’s supposed to be in a parking fund that over time should grow,” he said. “We’re playing a lot of catch up now if it were to start. But if it’s ever going to happen it needs to start. It makes opening or operating a new business, it’s another expense. I understand that. But we generally don’t have to chase economic development like some places on the Eastern Shore.”

Councilmembers indicated they felt further discussion of a parking fee for businesses was merited. Engelhart said the town needed to do something because it received very little funding from the state related to economic development but that new businesses did impact town services.

“The retailers, the merchants, they get a lot of services from the town,” he said, adding that if there was an issue with electricity, water or safety the town’s departments typically responded. “There’s costs associated with that.”

Tyndall said the discussion was one worth having but added that the businesses played a vital role in Berlin.

“I do want to make sure that everybody’s aware, the business community is very important to Berlin’s success,” he said. “I remember a time not too long ago it was quiet… We do need to take a holistic view.”

Discussions regarding additional parking and a proposed impact fee highlighted this week’s meeting of the Berlin Town Council. Above, cars are pictured in parking spots along Main Street. File Photo

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

WEST OCEAN CITY – An overwhelming demand in eviction prevention assistance has forced a local nonprofit to close its program to new clients.

In recent weeks, Diakonia took to social media to announce it will not reopen its eviction prevention assistance program to new clients. Since grant funding for the program began in October, the nonprofit has expended roughly $50,000, or 50%, of its allotment.

“The current state of potential evictions is currently through the roof, largely because many of the COVID subsidies provided are coming to an end,” said Ken Argot, Diakonia’s executive director. “Meanwhile inflation rates of maintaining housing has not kept up with income, especially those on fixed incomes.”

Argot explained the nonprofit’s eviction assistance program is funded through the state-led Homeless Solutions Program, for which the grant year begins on Oct. 1. In less than two months, Diakonia has utilized 50% of its budget to save families from eviction. Program participants include 25 households and 83 individuals across Worcester and Wicomico counties.

“While we could keep accepting applications, helping people with only one month, we would run out of funds before the end of January, leaving another nine months until the new funding cycle,” Argot said. “Unlike some emergency eviction prevention programs, we are less inclined to help someone for only 30 days and drop them. Studies will show, they will probably need help the next month as well.”

Instead, Diakonia has made the decision to close its program to new clients.

“Rather, we would like to prioritize those who have major barriers to rehousing and work with them over the course of the entire year …,” he said. “For that we need to hold back funding so that we don’t run out of funding too quickly and have to drop our clients in the middle of a crisis.”

He added, “For that reason, we have already accepted clients for whom we have made a commitment, and until we have a better idea how much funding it will take to get them through the year, we can’t reopen for other new clients.”

Argot noted, however, that things could change as the weeks progress.

“It is possible, however, that some show no progress on goals, in which case we might have to close our support for one, while seeking a new family to help,” he said. “We posted [on social media] because we were being swarmed with calls and wanted the public to know that at this time we could not provide that service.”

Argot, however, said private donations can be used to support families in need.

“General donations can and many times are used to help some families …,” he said. “We try to reach 50% of funding coming from non-grant income. Many times grants are very specific to what they will cover and our private donations often fill those necessary gaps.”

Ice Ice Berlin, Tree Lighting Event Draws Huge Crowd

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The town kicked off the holiday season with what was likely record attendance at Ice Ice Berlin.

Last Friday, thousands of people descended on downtown Berlin to watch Mayor Zack Tyndall light the town’s tree in front of the Atlantic Hotel. They spent the hours afterward strolling through town to admire the ice sculptures placed in front of local shops.

“It was a spectacular event,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director.

During departmental reports at this week’s council meeting, Wells thanked the town staff that helped make the annual event possible. She said employees from various departments pitched in to ensure the event, which included Santa at Kringle Kottage, 37 ice sculptures in front of town shops as well as live entertainment, went smoothly.

“It was an incredible night,” she said.

Wells told the council that a relatively new resident, a woman who’d moved to town a year ago, had asked to help light the tree. While Mayor Zack Tyndall officially pulled the tree lighting switch, it was the resident who pushed the button to turn on the tree’s lights.

“She was so happy,” Wells said.

Councilman Jay Knerr praised law en-

forcement for their efforts during Ice Ice Berlin.

“They had to deal with car crashers, crowd control, parking nightmares, and they deserve a big thank you,” he said.

Councilman Steve Green said he’d had houseguests for the holiday weekend and they’d loved experiencing the

tree lighting.

“They said they’d never seen so many people in one place at one time,” he said.

Wells acknowledged the huge crowd that had been in town.

“I know there’s a lot of talk ‘it was too crowded,’” she said, referencing a photo

shared on social media that showed a sea of people around the town’s tree. “A picture’s worth 1,000 words and you know 10,000 people. Everyone happened to be gathered in that one spot at that one time for the tree lighting and then they dispersed.”

She said Kringle Kottage had been placed at one end of town while most of the ice sculptures had been at the other. The musicians who performed strolled along Main Street, pausing in various locations to play their pipes and drums.

“People were actually traveling all over town,” she said.

Tyndall said he’d been happy to see the crowd.

“I remember a time not long ago when we couldn’t do that,” he said. “I like seeing all the people together.”

He added, however, that the immense crowd had knocked out cell service in the area and people hadn’t been able to communicate adequately.

“Not everybody was on the same page,” he said, recalling how ambulances had been responding to emergencies that town officials weren’t even aware of.

Tyndall said that for the Christmas parade, he’d be asking Verizon for a cellular system on wheels. He also believes the town should explore purchasing radios for use during situations like Ice Ice Berlin.

A large crowd is pictured gathering near the Christmas tree at last Friday’s Ice Ice Berlin event.

Photo by Sara Hambury

‘King

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The resort community this week is collectively mourning the loss of “King of the Wind” Bill Ochse, who passed away at his home in Berlin last Friday at the age of 85.

Ochse founded the iconic Kite Loft business on the Boardwalk in 1975 and later expanded the operation to include a new location uptown. Through his leadership, the downtown skyline was almost always filled with bright colored kites and flags of various shapes and sizes, earning him the affectionate title of “King of the Wind” in the resort.

Beyond his innovative kite and novelty gift business, Ochse was instrumental in a significant redevelopment of the Boardwalk and downtown area decades ago. He was active and held leadership positions in several resort organizations, most notably the nascent days of the Ocean City Development Corporation (OCDC), a quasi-private organization charged with the ongoing renovation and redevelopment of the downtown area. He was awarded the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Ocean City” honors in 1999.

After eventually selling the Kite Loft business to Jay and Mary Lynn Knerr in 2006, Ochse, an avid sailor, enjoyed traveling with his wife Mary. Among his many accomplishments, Ochse took top

Remembered

honors in the annual Key West Conch Shell Blowing Contest in 2013.

Over the weekend, The Kite Loft coowners Jay and Mary Lynn Knerr posted on the business’s Facebook page, “It is with utmost sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of Bill Ochse. A leader, a teacher, a mentor, a friend to all, Bill was affectionately known as the ‘King of the Wind,’ ‘Two Dollar Bill’ or ‘Bilochse.’ What we all know is that he was larger than life. Always with a smile on his face, always willing to help anyone in need. As founder of The Kite Loft, Bill was instrumental in the formation of the American Kite Flyers Association and the Kite Trade Association. He was the creator of the Boardwalk Development Association which spearheaded the revitalization of the Ocean City Boardwalk. Extremely civic minded, his message to all business owners was simple, being involved in your community affairs is just good business. It was that love of business and community that made The Kite Loft one of the top businesses in Ocean City. We will always miss Bill for the unique character that he was. Somewhere up in heaven kites are flying high and Bill is leading the festival. His message to all is ‘if you're not living on the edge than you're taking up too much space.’ Over the top and under the radar was how he chose to live his life and we're glad he did. Love you Bill.”

founder, Bill Ochse,

Submitted Photo

… Kite Loft Founder Was Civic Minded

Mayor Rick Meehan this week fondly recalled Ochse’s accomplishments as a businessman, ambassador for the resort and a friend for decades.

“Truly the ‘King of the Wind,’ Bill was a great friend for five decades,” he said. “I learned a lot about retail and promotion from Bill and his energy and enthusiasm were contagious.”

Meehan also praised Ochse for his many contributions to the variety of organizations on which he served.

“He played a significant role on the OCDC and lead the way on Boardwalk redevelopment,” he said. “He was always promoting Ocean City. We shared a lot of good times, and I will miss my friend. Our thoughts and prayers to his lovely partner in life Mary and the Ochse family.”

OCDC Executive Director Glenn Irwin said this week Ochse helped lay the groundwork for that organization and others including the Boardwalk redevelopment steering committee.

“Bill, as owner of the Kite Loft business, was a strong advocate for the redesign and overall improvement of the Ocean City Boardwalk in 1999,” he said. “He served on the downtown steering committee that set up the OCDC and then served on the OCDC Board of Directors from 2000 to 2003. His robust and charismatic personality made him such a memorable individual to many people.”

As the “King of the Wind,” Ochse mentored countless employees of the iconic Kite Loft stores over the decades and instilled upon them business lessons, and more importantly, life lessons. Chris Rudolf, who is the Flying Team Manager at the Kite Loft still, this week recalled his early affinity for kiting and the Kite Loft experience at a very young age.

“Bill was actually the reason I got into kites in the first place,” he said. “It all started when I was two years old riding on the back of my dad’s bike on the Boardwalk. The magnificent display of flags in front of the Kite Loft and the huge kites in the area in front of the shop was just mesmerizing. Because of Bill’s dedication and enthusiasm, that drew me into the art of painting the sky with colorful pieces of fabric with the help of the wind.”

Rudolf said he fondly recalls Ochse and his contributions when he is setting out the vast kite displays.

“I always think of him when we’re out flying on the beach,” he said. “He will truly be missed by the Kite Loft family and the community here in Ocean City.”

Another former employee, Jody Palmisano, whose daughter worked at The Kite Loft last summer, also shared fond memories of Ochse and his contributions.

“I was the second employee hired in the original Kite Loft,” she said. “I learned so many things from him that I still use today 40 years later. He was a true Ocean City icon. There are so many stories to tell that no one would believe.”

OCEAN CITY – Jolly Roger Amusement Parks® partnered with local nonprofit organization, Diakonia Inc.® for Giving Tuesday on Tuesday, Nov. 29, to start the season of giving off on the right foot.

“This is our second Giving Tuesday working with Diakonia,” said Steve Pastusak, Vice President of Jolly Roger Amusement Parks®. “We’re bringing our team to give back to the community where we live, work, and play.”

Giving Tuesday is a global giving movement that has been driven by individuals, charities, businesses, and communities across the U.S. and in countries around the world. Giving Tuesday is the world’s largest generosity move-

ment.

The impact of Giving Tuesday goes beyond charitable donations, it inspires giving in all forms. People coast to coast embrace this day as an opportunity to raise money for local charities and nonprofit organizations, donate to food and clothing drives, encourage kindness, help a neighbor, and generally celebrate the power of generosity.

“Although it’s our first year officially participating in Giving Tuesday, Jolly Roger Parks give back throughout the year, and are excited to officially put our feet to the ground on this special day,” said Pastusak. “We encourage other local businesses to participate in making a difference as well.”

Jolly Roger employees are pictured with Diakonia representatives at Tuesday’s giving day.

Submitted Photo

New Wind Lease Areas Identified

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Offshore wind farm designated areas off the mid-Atlantic coast could be expanding in the future after federal officials in November announced eight draft wind energy areas have been identified and are now open to a public comment period.

As part of the Biden administration’s stated goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in November announced eight new draft Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) have been identified off the central U.S Atlantic coast and are now available for public review and comment.

The proposed offshore WEAs would cover roughly 1.7 million acres off the coast from North Carolina to Delaware, including Maryland and the areas off the coast of Ocean City and Assateague, for example. The area’s closest points to the coast range from about 19 to 77 nautical miles.

That the new WEAs proposed by BOEM could be sited as far as 77 nautical miles off the resort coast appears to lend credence to the Town of Ocean City’s argument the wind turbines could be sited further offshore and out of sight from the mid-Atlantic beaches. Two WEAs for projects far along in the planning pipeline or still pending are situated much closer to the resort coast.

From the beginning, Ocean City officials have not opposed offshore wind energy farms off the coast of the resort but have argued on multiple occasions the turbines should be located far enough from the shore that they would not be visible from the coast. Town officials have argued offshore wind turbines sited within Ocean City’s viewshed could have a detrimental impact on tourism and property values, for example.

For their part, the two offshore wind development companies with projects already approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) have asserted their projects are well within the approved WEAs and the turbines would be situated as far off the resort coast as practical.

The eight draft WEAs from North Carolina to Delaware announced last month lie far outside the already approved WEAs for the most part. They represent a subset of a vast 3.9-million-acre call area that BOEM announced for public comment last April. BOEM Director Amanda Lefton said the opening of the public comment period for the eight draft WEAs represented the agency’s commitment to transparency in the process.

“As BOEM moves forward to identify wind energy areas in the central Atlantic, we continue to prioritize a robust and transparent process, including early engagement with tribal gov-

ernments, state and federal agencies and ocean users,” she said. “We want to gather as much information and traditional knowledge as possible to help us identify Wind Energy Areas, the offshore area that are most suitable for commercial wind energy activities while having the fewest environmental and user conflicts.”

BOEM used a comprehensive process to identify potential offshore locations that appear most suitable for renewable energy development, taking into consideration possible impacts to local resources and ocean users, including, presumably, the commercial and recreational fishing industries. BOEM has collaborated with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to use an ocean planning model that seeks to minimize conflicts.

The final WEAs, after the close of the public comment period, may be modified after incorporating feedback from government partners, ocean users, and stakeholders. BOEM is seeking comment on potential conflicts within the draft areas, including with a potential U.S. Coast Guard fairway for transiting vessels, commercial fishing, a NASA danger zone and marine habitat areas, according to a release.

BOEM intends to further explore the proposed WEAs with the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, NASA and other ocean users such as the fishing industry to collect additional information that should be considered before finalizing the WEAs.

The proposed WEAs are separated by call areas with varying eastward and westward boundaries. Closest to home, Call Area A would begin about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Maryland and Delaware and extend eastward to the sea scallop rotational area and the Coast Guard’s port access route studies (PARS) or fairways for transiting vessels. Call Area A is adjacent to two approved lease areas immediately to the west on which multiple offshore wind projects are in the development process. It comprises around 235 acres.

The boundary for Call Area B begins roughly 21 miles of the coast of Maryland and Virginia and extends eastward to the Coast Guard PARS, or fairways. Call Area B comprises approximately 652 acres.

The next step in BOEM’s renewable energy leasing process for the mid-Atlantic coast is a 30-day public comment period that began on Nov. 16. During the comment period, BOEM will hold virtual meetings to engage the fishing community and environmental organizations to gather more information on the WEAs and discuss the next steps.

To comment on the draft WEAs, go to regulations.gov and search for docket number BOEM-2022-0072. Comments will be accepted until midnight on Dec. 16.

Temporary Order Overruled In Fenwick Vehicle Ban

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – A recommendation to enact a temporary restraining order against Fenwick Island’s low-speed vehicle ban was overruled this week.

In an order issued this week, Delaware Court of Chancery Vice Chancellor Morgan Zurn granted the town’s exceptions to a master’s report issued July 6. The report, which recommended that a temporary restraining order be issued to halt Fenwick Island’s enforcement of a lowspeed vehicle (LSV) ban as a lawsuit makes its way through the court system, was ultimately overruled.

“The Town of Fenwick is very pleased with Vice Chancellor Zurn’s ruling,” a statement from the town reads.

In March, the Fenwick Island Town Council voted to approve an ordinance

banning the operation of low-speed vehicles on town streets, with the exception of construction equipment, lawnmowers, emergency and town vehicles and assistive mobility devices. Town officials argued the vehicles posed safety risks.

“Sadly, I feel Fenwick is not built for an increase in LSVs and golf cart traffic,” Councilman Bill Rymer said at the time. “We are a small community, but we have a major highway running right down the middle of it … I think it’s going to get worse if we don’t deal with it now.”

Several residents, however, have since voiced their objections to the low-speed vehicle ban, arguing they posed no safety issues. And in June, Fenwick Island resident Kim Espinosa filed suit against the town seeking injunctive and declaratory relief, arguing the ordinance had restricted her family from using their Moke lowspeed, electric vehicle on town streets.

In a master’s report issued in July, Chancery Master Patricia Griffin issued a recommendation to grant Espinosa’s motion for a temporary restraining order and a motion to expedite. The report argued the town’s ordinance conflicted with state law, which allows for the operation of lowspeed vehicles throughout Delaware on streets with speed limits of not more than 35 mph.

“This Court has remarked that ‘the deprivation of right — whether conferred by constitution or statute’ is sufficient to create actionable irreparable harm,” the report reads. “Because I conclude that the Ordinance colorably conflicts with the Statute, I conclude that there is some quantum of ongoing irreparable harm sufficient to support a temporary restraining order.”

Soon after that report was issued, however, the town filed a Notice of Exception to the master’s opinion, and the matter was

reassigned to Zurn for consideration. In an order issued this week, Zurn opined state law did not establish the right to operate low-speed vehicles.

“Where a state statute does not establish a right, and in the absence of intent to the contrary, the statute sets a regulatory floor and not a ceiling,” the order reads.

“’In Delaware, the State and its political subdivisions are permitted to enact similar provisions and regulations, so long as the two regulations do not conflict.’ Here, the Statute and the Ordinance do not conflict.

The order continues, “It is not impossible to comply with both the Statute and the Ordinance. The Statute does not regulate the field of LSV operation on streets within incorporated cities and towns, other than to establish a necessary condition that any LSV operation ‘shall only be … on roads where the posted speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour.’ The Town enacted the Ordinance to regulate an unregulated gap left by the Statute.”

Zurn ultimately opined Espinosa had no plausible legal claim to her motions.

“In the absence of a colorable claim of preemption, Espinosa has not carried her burden on the Motions,” the order reads. “Consequently, I need not address the elements of irreparable injury or the balance of the hardships. Espinosa’s Motions are Denied, and the Town’s Exceptions are Granted. This matter shall proceed before the Master in Chancery.”

Espinosa did not return requests for comment.

Approved For Berlin Employees

BY CHARLENE SHARPE STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Elected officials this week agreed to give municipal employees a $500 holiday bonus.

The Berlin Town Council on Monday voted 4-1 to use contingency funds to provide each of the town’s 60 employees with a $500 one-time bonus.

“People really appreciate it, especially during the holidays,” Finance Director Natalie Saleh said.

Mayor Zack Tyndall said a discussion of a one-time payment had been added to the council agenda at the request of Councilman Steve Green. Last year, onetime payments of $500 were approved in December at the suggestion of thenCouncilman Troy Purnell, who pointed out that the town had been in the habit of providing them before a two-year lapse.

Saleh this week presented officials with calculations that showed the cost of a $250, $500 and $750 payment. While contingency funds in water, wastewater electric and stormwater were capable of funding a payment, she said the general fund contingency didn’t have quite

enough to fund any more than a $250 payment. She said the council could use potential end-of-year surplus to fund the difference or could reallocate the cost of the salary study underway to cover the difference.

Saleh said the general fund only had a contingency balance of $21,332.

“We can proceed… and leave as is because I’m very confident by the end of the year revenues will exceed what we’ve budgeted,” Saleh said. “Or we can potentially, we have advanced money from reserves to do a salary study. We can split that down to each individual fund which will free up the balance on the general fund side.”

Kelsey Jensen, the town’s human resources director, noted that the projected cost of one-time payments was actually less than the figures Saleh presented, as the town has several vacancies. Based on vacancies, Jensen indicated a $500 bonus for each employee would cost the town not quite $32,000. She said that once the vacancies were taken into account, the general fund contingency was capable of funding $500 one-time payments.

Councilman Jack Orris questioned whether one-time payments might be better at the end of the fiscal year, in June for example, as the town would have a better grasp on the amount of surplus it had by then. He said information provided to the council by staff showed that overtime was increasing substantially.

“People are picking up overtime because we have so many vacancies,” Jensen said. “They’re working later, working more events, than they typically would. People are working hard and they’d appreciate something.”

Green said municipal employees had received a $50 Food Lion gift card before Thanksgiving but that he still felt employees deserved a one-time payment in December.

“I know I’m new to this but I’m not new to managing people…,” he said, adding that he routinely saw town staff doing more than they were required to. “It’s more than a gesture. It’s a commitment from us.”

Councilwoman Shaneka Nichols echoed the timing question voiced by Orris. Councilman Dean Burrell, however,

quoted Shakespeare and said that time was out of joint.

“I just think it would be more appreciated at this time of year during the holidays, when folks are trying to provide for their families,” he said.

Councilman Jay Knerr said he agreed 100%. A motion by Green to approve a $500 one-time payment using contingency funds subsequently passed 4-1, with Orris opposed.

Tyndall said funding for the one-time payments should be included in the budget in the future.

“Coming off of this, I think this body has valued those one-time payments,” he said. “I think it’s important if that continues that it’s a budgeted amount. If it means so much—I think it is meaningful—it needs to be budgeted accordingly.”

Nichols agreed.

“I don’t think anybody wants to keep dipping into contingencies,” she said.

Orris said his vote against the onetime payment was not because he didn’t feel it was deserved.

“The no vote was not a reflection of work or how I feel about anyone,” he said.

“I just had some concerns.”

opens Penguin swim Registration

BERLIN – The 29th Annual Penguin Swim is set for Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 and will take place once again on the beach at The Princess Royale Oceanfront Hotel at 91st Street in Ocean City.

Individuals and teams are invited to join in the fundraising. Participants who register on or before Dec. 10 will receive an official 2023 AGH Penguin Swim shortsleeve T-shirt for their $25 registration fee. Shirts for participants who register after Dec. 10 will be available while supplies last. Individual participants who raise or donate $100 or more will also be eligible to receive an official 2023 AGH Penguin Swim long-sleeve T-shirt while supplies last. Participants can register online now to start collecting donations. To view this year’s shirts, or to register, visit www.aghpenguinswim.org.

All participants are required to register either online or in person and check in on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day to receive a wristband to gain access to the swim area. Advance online registration is recommended.

Participants are encouraged to come to pre-registration and advance checkin at the Princess Royale from 2 - 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Avoid long lines on

event day and pick up wristbands and shirts early.

Event day registration and check-in will begin at 9 a.m., ending promptly at 11:30 a.m., with the main event at noon on the beach at 91st street. The time in between will be chock full of fun activities the whole family will enjoy like costume contests, face painting, mermaids and more. The Bull on the Beach team will parade down the beach at 11:45 a.m. from 94th Street to the swim area in front of the Princess Royale. Spectators are welcome.

The awards ceremony will take place in the atrium immediately following the swim. Special recognition awards will be given to Oldest and Youngest Penguins, and the Penguin who traveled the farthest. Trophies for first, second and third place will be awarded to those who raise the most money in divisions.

The 1 p.m. Ravens-Steelers game will be on a big screen in the atrium. Food and drink specials at the atrium bar may include beer, wine, soda, wings, chicken tenders, pizza, soups, and sandwiches.

If you’re unable to attend, you can still participate in the cyber swim. Register online.

k-9 Visit: Third-grade students at Ocean City Elementary School recently enjoyed a visit from K-9 Dock and his handler, Corporal Jessica Collins of the Berlin Police Department for a presentation about police dogs and the various jobs that the dogs can be trained to do. The presentation was part of the students' science lesson which taught about selection of traits in animals by humans. Pictured with Collins are teacher Eliza Mason-Burt and her students. Submitted Photo

People in Society

by Charlene Sharpe

Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

Chelsea, Charlie and Zack Tyndall were among the many shoppers in Berlin on Small Business Saturday.

Sen. Mary Beth Carozza is pictured with attendees at the Kenny Polk Memorial Poker Tournament, which raises money for scholarships for local kids.

Supporters of the Taylor House Museum sold hot chocolate at Ice Ice Berlin.

Matt Stoehr and Nicky Chavis organized the Kenny Polk Memorial Poker Tournament, which raises money for scholarships for local students.

Al “Hondo” Handy, pictured with his wife Regina, signed copies of his book at an open house at Germantown School.

Donna Main and Karen Prengaman attended a holiday open house hosted by Germantown School Community Heritage Center.

Steve Main and Barbara Purnell are pictured at a holiday open house at Germantown School.

Mary Walsh and Emily Vocke welcomed shoppers to Heart of Gold Kids on Small Business Saturday.

Judy and Ryan Davis attended a holiday open house at Germantown School.

Al “Hondo” Handy and Barry Neeb pose for a photo beside a cutout of Handy.

Fenwick Island Committee Eyes Ordinance Revisions

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Discussions on parking ratios, construction hours and rental tax categories highlighted this week’s meeting of the Fenwick Island Charter and Ordinance Committee.

On Tuesday, officials met to consider potential ordinance amendments referred to the charter and ordinance committee.

Mayor Natalie Magdeburger, committee chair, noted one of the suggestions is to review parking ratios in mixed-use buildings when there is a change of use.

“We need to see if this is even an issue,” she said. “This is something we should dig into a little bit and have a more robust discussion.”

In recent months, members of the Fenwick Island business community have asked the town to reconsider a proposed ordinance on parking ratios in the commercial district. One of the issues brought forth was that the proposed ordinance would prohibit the landlords of mixed-use properties from leasing to restaurants and other businesses that would require additional parking accommodations.

On Tuesday, Magdeburger recommended the committee do more research and revisit the issue at its next meeting.

“When you look at other jurisdictions, strip centers are different from standalone buildings …,” she explained. “That’s the idea. Shared parking ratios are different than what parking ratios would be for a standalone building.”

The committee this week also discussed a change in the hours and days in which construction would be permitted during the summer season.

“I will say this is a reasonable ordinance change,” said Town Manager Pat Schuchman, “because the last few years we’ve had a lot of complaints about construction.”

Magdeburger noted that construction was currently permitted between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and prohibited during major holidays. The recommendation is to limit construction hours between May 15 and Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and to prohibit construction on Saturdays and Sundays during that time.

“I think we also need to define what is construction,” she said. “Not just hammers and nails, but picking up dumpsters, porta-potties, anything that involves the

construction site.”

When asked why the town is considering a change in construction times, Magdeburger noted that it was the result of parking and noise complaints.

“Those are the two issues we heard loud and clear,” she replied.

When asked if the proposed amendment would still allow homeowners to do construction projects at their residence, Schuchman said it would.

“The current ordinance covers that,” she said.

Magdeburger noted construction hours would be extended to 6 p.m. and include Saturday hours once the summer season ended.

Committee members this week also discussed a proposed change to rental tax categories. Magdeburger said the suggestion is to change the wording of rental tax categories from hotel, commer-

cial and residential to hotel, long-term and short-term.

“We thought it would be better to change the names,” she said.

While the names of categories would change, Magdeburger noted that tax rates would not. Hotels tax rates would remain at 3.5% and short-term rental tax rates would be set at 8%.

“Anyone who rents a house year-round and anyone who rents from a commercial property owner would remain at 4%,” Schuchman added.

Committee members this week also agreed to consider an ordinance amendment restoring a requirement that residential plans be reviewed by the Fenwick Island Building Committee prior to issuing permits. Committee members also agreed to review requirements for property owners for once an occupancy permit has been issued.

Meal Delivery

SALISBURY – Perdue Farms and the Harry K Foundation joined the Food Bank of Delaware in its annual “Holidays For All” tradition to deliver more than 400 meal boxes and Perdue chicken roasters to children and families in partnership with local schools ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Perdue’s support is part of the company’s “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors” outreach focused in part on hunger relief and improving quality of life and building strong communities where its associates live and work, and beyond.

“It’s partnerships like this that provide a perfect way to give back to so many of our neighbors who struggle with putting a meal on the table this time of year,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “I am grateful for two valuable partners in the Harry K Foundation and Perdue who share our vision of a community free of hunger.”

The Harry K Foundation’s support of “Holidays for All” is part of a larger yearround commitment to ending hunger.

“For most of us, it’s hard to comprehend how many of our Delaware neighbors, including children go hungry every day,” said Harry Keswani, founder of the Harry K Foundation. “Our partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware and Perdue Farms brings our vision to end childhood hunger to life.”

Perdue, the Food Bank of Delaware and the Harry K Foundation volunteers helped pack and load the food boxes and chicken into vehicles from various school that picked up the boxes at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Milford branch. Boxes were filled with a variety of shelf stable items and a Perdue chicken roaster completed the holiday meal.

“Hunger does not take a break around the holidays, and we know for many Delawareans it’s a daily struggle. It takes all of us as a community to help meet the needs of those struggling to put a meal on the table,” said Bill See, senior manager of community relations for Perdue Farms. “At Perdue, we are thrilled to join the Food Bank of Delaware and the Harry K Foundation to deliver a little hope to our neighbors.”

Property Acquired

SALISBURY – The McClellan Team of SVN Miller Commercial Real Estate have leased 510 West Rd., Salisbury, Md.

John McClellan, CCIM, SIOR, senior advisor, Kelly Jeter, advisor, and Chris Messick, associate advisor, recently worked with Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp. to secure expanded warehouse space. They will begin occupancy once necessary improvements are made to allow Chesapeake to be fully functional in the space.

The former Campbell’s Soup plant on West Road was under contract with an investor seeking to redevelop the warehouse into a multi-tenant industrial facility. The property was in an ideal proximity to their hub on the Wicomico River. Their existing waterfront site on Fitzwater Street has limited expansion opportunities and with their increase in contracts, additional space was imperative.

With over 30 years of direct industry experience, Chesapeake Shipbuilding has become a leading designer and builder of a notable array of commercial ships up to 400 feet in length.

Their vessels operate all over the world and are suited for inland waterway or ocean service. The company has five cruise ships under contract with commitments for another ten of the new luxury cruise ships for their sister company American Cruise Lines.

Chesapeake Shipbuilding will be occupying 24,000 square feet of warehouse space plus some additional outside storage for many of the critical components

required for the new ships.

According to Steve McGee, president of Chesapeake, “This new space is critical to our shipyard’s growth by more than tripling our warehousing space while returning one of our five production buildings back over to steel fabrication. This will enable us to construct the new ships more efficiently while also acquiring larger quan tities of critical components earlier in the build process.”

He continued, “The McClellan Team did an excellent job in uncovering this off market location that is ideally located for quick access to our yard.”

The McClellan Team was pleased to work with Bret Davis of Davis Strategic, the new owner of West Road, in facilitating this lease.

“It was our pleasure to represent Chesapeake Shipbuilding in the lease transaction and we look forward to their continued impact on our community,” said McClellan.

Book Signing

OCEAN PINES – Author and columnist Chip Bertino will host a book signing and reading for his just released book, “It’s All About... Some of My Favorites,” a collection of some of his favorite columns written during the past two decades.

Humorous and poignant, the book chronicles experiences of raising children,

getting older, being (and staying) married and just living life. The stories will resonate with readers who will visualize their own similar experiences.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and can be signed by the author.

The event will take place Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Pines library.

New Location

REHOBOTH BEACH – BSD celebrated the Grand Opening of their new Rehoboth showroom with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Rehoboth BeachDewey Beach Chamber of Commerce in November.

The brand new 4400-square-foot showroom is located at 35603 South St. in Rehoboth Beach, behind Atlantic Liquors, and is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday by appointment.

BSD is a family owned and operated full-service building supply, design, and installation company that caters to builders, architects, and homeowners on the Delmarva Peninsula.

The new Rehoboth Beach showroom beautifully displays windows, doors, trim, siding, cabinetry, stairs, decking, railing, hurricane shutters, and more.

Owner Ethan Rhodes and his wife Tara Rhodes expressed how proud they are to have been in business locally for over 35 years and to be the largest Andersen Windows and Doors dealership on the Delmarva Peninsula and an exclusive Andersen Diamond Dealer. They also own and operate BSD’s boutique showroom located at 61 Atlantic Avenue in Ocean View, Del., and their corporate office in Georgetown, Del.

Santa Visits

REHOBOTH BEACH – Santa’s House is back on the Boardwalk and he has announced his hours.

Santa’s House will be on the Rehoboth Boardwalk at the end of Rehoboth Avenue. Stop by and tell Santa your Christmas wish list, and remember to bring your camera. Donation based.

Santa will be in town (subject to change): Saturday, Dec. 3, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 4, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 10, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 11, 1-3 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 17, 1-3 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, noon-3 p.m. (2-3 p.m., dogs may visit Santa at his house).

Worcester County Tourism and Economic Development (TED) took home the Market Expansion Award for Golf in Maryland’s Coast during the 41st annual Maryland Travel and Tourism Summit in November. Maryland’s Coast earned this year’s award for successfully producing a comprehensive golf advertising campaign to expand an existing demographic and geographic market. Those pictured, from left, include Maryland Department of Commerce (MDC) Tourism, Film, Arts, Marketing and Communications Assistant Secretary Tom Riford, TED Director Melanie Pursel, Advertising and Destination Marketing Specialist Brianna Dix, Oxford-Bellevue Ferry and Maryland Tourism Development Board Chair Judy Bixler, and MDC Tourism and Film Managing Director Liz Fitzsimmons.

Submitted Photo

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

OCEAN PINES – A new contest could assist the Ocean Pines Association in the development of new election signage.

Last Saturday, the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors directed members of the Ocean Pines Communications Committee to develop cost estimates for the replacement of “Vote” signs. The committee is seeking the authorization of staff time and funding to develop 30 new signs.

“The communications committee has raised a desire to spend a small amount of funds for the purposes of having new vote signs available at the time we go to election,” said Director Steve Jacobs, committee liaison.

Jacobs told board members this week the committee was seeking staff time and funding to replace the signs before the next election.

“The signs we’ve used, we’ve used at least twice. They were date specific, and they may have even had some additional information …,” he explained. “After the first election, they had to be recollected and modified so the new date could be put on them. So they’ve certainly surpassed their life use.”

Jacobs told board members last week the communication committee was requesting the purchase of generic “Vote” signs, with the possibility of creating a contest to select a design winner.

“They would like to have generic vote signs and would like to be able to purchase some additional ones,” he said. “There is a discussion about trying to establish some sort of contest for the design of the vote signs and probably even reaching out to the schools to see if they can get the kids involved to come up with something.”

Jacobs noted, however, that the request would require minimal staff time and funds to accomplish.

“There is probably going to be some staff requirement and I believe minimal expense …,” he said. “That’s what the communications committee is interested in pursuing.”

Association President Doug Parks agreed.

“My understanding is the idea would be to solicit designs from folks, saying ‘hey these signs have been dated the last couple of years, maybe it’s time …,’” he said. “It's not an outreach so much as it is a community involvement activity.”

Parks ultimately directed Jacobs to work with the general manager and the committee to develop cost estimates.

“Why don’t we take that from the liaison back to the general manager and see if there is anything we need to help out with on this,” he said. “Perhaps the committee could come up with an expense estimate and keep that line of communication open and see where we go from there if it’s reasonable.”

•

•

COMMUNITY

News In Photos

Members of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in Willards are pictured last week packing Thanksgiving meals. The congregation provided dozens of meals for those in need.

Two long-time members of the American Legion Post 166 Color Guard received service awards during the Veterans Day ceremonies November 11. Glen Reely, Captain of the unit, and Johan Nykvist were recognized.Pictured from left to right are Tom Wengert, Post 166 Commander, Johan Nykvist, Color Guard Captain Glen Reely, and Post 166 member Robert Smith, who presented the awards.

Emily Thompsen, program coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore, spoke at a recent meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean PinesOcean City about the organization and its efforts to help youth. She is pictured with Bob Wolfing, club president.

Submitted Photos

The Worcester County Garden Club recently had a presentation by Lisa Massie, DPT, about her “Evolving with Motion” program. The program promotes physical therapy and wellness and members were given tips on how to prevent injuries when gardening. Pictured from left to right Worcester County Garden Club First Vice President Joan LaHayne, Massie, and Worcester County Garden Club President Deb Young.

Members of the Ocean Pines Players recently kicked off their first full season since 2018. The cast of "A Grand Night for Singing" is pictured before their performance on Nov. 18. From left to right is Chrissy Troup, Jim Ulman, Deb Blanchard, Donna Pasqualino, and Pat Lehnerd.

The First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League recently hosted a bike raffle. Kathy Bielaski of Catonsville and Ocean Pines won the Cheetah electric bike, raffled off for charity on the occasion of the detachment’s third annual Boardwalk Semper Fi Bike, Run or Walk.

Worcester County Health Department

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST TRAINEE- Full Time, State Benefits. Duties include performing inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations. Duties are performed in various programs, which include Public Swimming Pool/Spa Compliance, Food Service Facility Compliance, Rabies Prevention & Vector Borne Disease and Nuisance Complaint Investigation and Abatement.

At the time of hire, the selected applicant must possess a certificate of eligibility to be licensed as an Environmental Health Specialist from the Maryland Board of Environmental Health Specialists. Valid driver’s license and background check required.

APPLY ONLINE at www.jobapscloud.com/md by December 6, 2022.

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.

571-490-4774.

Worcester County Health Department

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST II- Full Time, State Benefits. Duties include performing inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with environmental health laws and regulations. This position performs routine environmental health filed work for public health protection. Duties include animal bite investigations and rabies exposures, as well as performing inspections on food service and public swimming pool facilities to ensure compliance with COMAR regulations. At the time of hire, the selected applicant must possess a current license as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist from the Maryland Board of Environmental Health Specialists. Valid driver’s license and background check required.

APPLY ONLINE at www.jobapscloud.com/md by December 6, 2022.

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.

MONEY TO BE MADE!

Partners wanted for New Amish Themed Bakery / Kitchen / Caterer / Eatery / Franchise or Food Production Facility near Ocean City Maryland Contact: donjonfoods@yahoo.com 443-475-9183

410-726-6387.

COMMERCIAL

Third Insertion

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE 19378

To all persons interested in the estate of ALICE DOUGLAS, AKA: ALICE LEE DOUGLAS, Estate No. 19378. Notice is given that DONNA L. COPES, whose address is 12402 SELKIRK CIRCLE, BRISTOW, VA 20136, was on NOVEMBER 09, 2022 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ALICE DOUGLAS, who died on DECEMBER 14, 2004 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 9th day of MAY, 2023.

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; 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 18,2022

DONNA L. COPES Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD

21863-1074 3x 11-18, 11-25, 12-02

Third Insertion

MICHAEL B. MATHERS, ESQ.

WEBB, CORNBROOKS, WILBER, VORHIS, DOUSE & MATHERS, LLP PO BOX 910 115 BROAD STREET Suite 300 SALISBURY, MD 218030910

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE 19417

To all persons interested in the estate of JAMES R. REINKNECHT, Estate No. 19417. Notice is given that PATRICIA REINKNECHT, whose address is 5 ANNAPOLIS COURT, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on OCTOBER 17, 2022 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JAMES R. REINKNECHT, who died on SEPTEMBER 04, 2022 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 17th day of APRIL, 2023.

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; 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 18,2022

PATRICIA REINKNECT Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

3x 11-18, 11-25, 12-02

Third Insertion

RAYMOND D. COATES, JR., ESQ.

COATES, COATES, & COATES, PA 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 19447

Notice is given that the SURROGATES COURT of NASSAU COUINTY, NY, appointed JENNA R. FERRETTI, 3814 MORTON LANE, SEAFORD, NY 11783, as the ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of ANTHONY CHARLES SORRENTINO, who died on APRIL 21, 2021, domiciled in NEW YORK, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is RAYMOND D. COATES, JR, whose address is 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842. 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 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. Claims filed after

that date or after a date extended by law will be barred.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication NOVEMBER 18, 2022

JENNA R. FERRETTI

Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTOCTT

Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 11-18, 11-25, 12-02

Second Insertion

RAYMOND D. COATES, JR., ESQ.

COATES, COATES, & COATES, PA 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 19457

Notice is given that the REGISTER OF WILLS of CHESTER COUNTY, PA, appointed JOANNA M. PIETRAFITTA, 15245 TANGLEWOOD DRIVE, WEST CHESTER, PA 19380, as the EXECUTRIX of the Estate of HENRY MICHAEL VASIL, who died on SEPTEMBER 02, 2022, domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is RAYMOND D. COATES, JR, whose address is 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842. 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 otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published no- tice or other written notice, notify-

ing the creditor that the claim will be barred un- less the creditor presents the claims 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 NOVEMBER 18, 2022

JOANNA M. PIETRAFITTA Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTOCTT

Register of Wills for Worcester County ROOM 102 - COURT HOUSE ONE W. MARKET STREET SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 11-25, 12-02, 12-09

1) Six 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 25, 2022

KIRK G. SIMPKINS Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

KIRK G. SIMPKINS, ESQ SIMPKINS & SIMPKINS, P.A. P.O. BOX 550 PRINCESS ANNE, MD 21853

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19379

To all persons interested in the estate of JEFFERSON DAVIS TRADER JR Estate No. 19379 Notice is given that KIRK G. SIMPKINS whose address is P O BOX 550, PRINCESS ANNE, MD 21853 was on SEPTEMBER 08, 2022 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JEFFERSON DAVIS TRADER, JR., who died on SEPTEMBER 3, 2022, 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 8th day of MARCH, 2023.

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:

ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 11-25, 12-02, 12-09

RAYMOND D. COATES, JR., ESQ.

COATES, COATES, & COATES, PA 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

ESTATE NO. 19469

To all persons interested in the estate of MICHAEL ANDREW BULKLEY, Estate No. 19469 Notice is given that MARY ELIZABETH HUNTER, 2806 GULL WAY, UNIT A, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on NOVEMBER 21, 2022, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MICHAEL ANDREW BULKLEY, who died on NOVEMBER 2, 2022, 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 21st day of MAY, 2023.

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: Six 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 25, 2022

MARY ELIZABETH HUNTER Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 11-25, 12-02, 12-09

tacting 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 2nd day of MAY, 2023.

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; 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 25, 2022

LOVIE BALLARD Personal Representative True Test Copy

WITTE, whose address is 22484 LAKESHORE DRIVE, GEORGETOWN, DE 19947, were on NOVEMBER 14, 2022, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of BONNIE LEE SCHNEPF, who died on AUGUST 23, 2022, 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 14th day of MAY, 2023.

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:

To all persons interested in the estate of ELSIE MAE HARMON, Estate No. 19466.

Notice is given that ESTHER BLOCKER whose address is 3 RUDLOFF COURT, NEWARK, DE 19702 and EILEEN COOPER HICKS, 8243 NEW SECOND STREET, ELKINS PARK, PA 19027, were on NOVEMBER 21, 2022, appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of ELSIE MAE HARMON, who died on OCTOBER 17, 2022 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice.

SMALL ESTATE NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18811

To all persons interested in the estate of BESSIE HALL WISE MANUEL AKA: BESSIE WISE MANUEL, Estate No. 18811. Notice is given that TERESA WISE, whose address is 10122 BISHOPVILLE ROAD, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813 was on NOVEMBER 21, 2022, appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of BESSIE HALL WISE MANUEL, who died on MAY 31, 2021 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 shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having an objec- tion to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

P.O. BOX 3307

OCEAN CITY, MD 21843-3307

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY, STATE OF MARYLAND CASE NO. C-23-CV-22-000190

BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. BOX 3307 OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND 21843-3307

Plaintiff

vs.

JOVITA BAINO, et al. Defendants

DEBORAH ULLMANN ESQ 203 2ND STREET POCOMOKE CITY, MD 21851

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

ESTATE NO. 19435

To all persons interested in the estate of MILDRED P BRYANT Estate No. 19435 Notice is given that LOVIE BALLARD whose address is 817 SECOND STREET POCOMOKE CITY, MD 21851 was on NOVEMBER 02, 2022 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MILDRED P BRYANT who died on SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 without a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by con-

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 11-25, 12-02, 12-09

1) Six 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 25, 2022

CARROLE ANN WELSH RONALD H WITTE, Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT,

Register of Wills for Worcester County

ONE W MARKET STREET

ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

All persons having an objection to the probate of the will shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within six months after the date of publication of this Notice.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or (2) Thirty days 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 claims will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter.

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them 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; or (2) Thirty days 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 claims will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 29TH day of NOVEMBER, 2022, that the foreclosure sale of the properties mentioned in these proceedings,made and reported by Ayrika Fletcher, Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 2ND day of JANUARY, 2023 provided a copy of this Order be inserted in some daily newspaper printed in Worcester County, Maryland once in each of three successive weeks, before the 26th day of DECEMBER, 2022.

The Report of Sale filed in the above case states the amount of the sales to be as indicated below for the referenced time-share interval:

TIMESHARES SOLD: BC = BAY CLUB TIME SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.

To all persons interested in the estate of BONNIE LEE SCHNEPF. Estate No. 19394 Notice is given that CARROLE ANN WELSH, whose address is 5290 LAKEVIEW ROAD, CHINCOTEAGUE, VA, 23336 and RONALD H

3x 11-25, 12-02, 12-09 SMALL ESTATE

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 19466

AYRIKA

APRIL

Name

ESTHER BLOCKER EILEEN COOPER HICKS Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI

of Wills for

County

Wicomico Reviews Proposed Capital Improvement Plan

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – School renovations, parks projects and civic center improvements highlighted a presentation on this year’s capital planning document.

Last month, Acting County Executive John Psota and Finance Director Pam Oland held a public hearing on Wicomico County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2024-2028. The five-year planning document outlines $94,470,885 in general fund requests and $40,878,800 in enterprise fund requests.

“It’s a five-year plan,” Oland told attendees. “So the intention over the next five years is to provide for the departments as best we can for their requests. For fiscal 2024, the major funding aspects are furniture and fixtures for the new public safety building, funding for some projects at corrections, $2 million for the civic cen-

ter and $12 million for rec and parks.”

This year’s proposed CIP, totaling more than $135 million, includes $2.13 million for the civic center and $12.3 million for recreation and parks requests, though most of those projects would be funded with state and federal grants.

“When the actual CIP is listed with those individual projects, a good majority of those projects, of the $12 million, are actually funded through grants. So that is not $12 million we are either looking for through bond or pay-go …,” Oland explained. “In fiscal 2024, we’re looking at about $13.8 million in general obligation bond money, $10.5 million in pay-go, about $11 million in state grants and $8 million in federal grants to come up to the $45 million in total general fund and enterprise fund projects.”

Oland noted that county staff worked with department leaders over the months of September and October to develop the

proposed CIP. She added that the debt service for the proposed projects totaled 7.96% of the county’s total general fund estimated revenue.

“The county has a debt service policy, and that policy is that we are not to exceed 12% of total general fund estimated revenue for our principal and interest in the general fund,” she said. “For fiscal 2023, the estimated payments are $13.8 million. The budgeted revenue is $173 million, resulting in a P&I of only 7.96%, so well under our policy limit.”

The five-year planning document also proposed more than $10.4 million for school improvement projects, including $950,000 for a new roof at Wicomico High School, $1.3 million for study and planning at Fruitland Primary School and $8.2 million for a renovation and addition at Mardela Middle & High School.

“This is, at this moment, what we feel the county is able to fund in the short

term,” Oland said.

During public comments, Brian Raygor, Wicomico County Public Schools’ chief finance and operations officer, thanked county staff for including school system projects in the CIP.

“We appreciate the capital improvement plan for the county and the work it will allow us to continue doing at Mardela and Wi-Hi and to begin work at Fruitland Primary School …,” he said. “We appreciate you hitting these top three priorities.”

Officials noted the public hearing was a chance for community members to voice their opinions on what capital needs the county should fund. A copy of the proposed CIP is available on the county’s website and will be submitted to the Wicomico County Council in late December.

“The charter calls for the council to adopt the CIP in February …,” Oland said.

“In June, the council adopts the budget, which adopts the capital projects for the first fiscal year of this plan.”

… Referral Bonus, Incentives Discussed

FROM PAGE 13

it to $250. The council unanimously approved each of the incentive programs for bus and tram drivers presented last Monday. Meehan said the approved incentive programs would help the department get a jump on the recruiting efforts for next season.

“The transportation committee feels these incentives and starting salaries will help the department to recruit,” he said.

“We want to have this done now so they can start advertising this right now rather than wait until the spring and play catch up. It’s a very competitive market and we feel this will help us fulfill our mission with the transportation department.”

Meehan said despite the drop-off in the number of seasonal drivers, an increase in the number of articulating buses, essentially buses with double to capacity, will offset the smaller staff numbers and still meet ridership goals.

“We do continue to add to our articulating bus fleet,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have 10 artic buses within the next two years. Again, they help us reduce the number of drivers needed and increase the number of people we can carry.”

Council President Matt James encouraged staff to begin exploring what other departments might be seeking for incentive programs or pay increases for employees.

“Can you encourage human resources to work with all departments on any potential pay increase for seasonal employees that we may need for the upcoming year?” he said. “I’d rather get this taken care of now rather than wait until budget time. If we know what’s coming, we can prepare for it.”

McGean said that process has already begun to some degree.

“Our next big one is the beach and we’ve already had some preliminary meetings,” he said. “The goal is the same. We’d like to be able to advertise now and not wait until the season approaches.”

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City is hosting the 39th Annual Ocean City Christmas Parade along Coastal Highway on Saturday, Dec. 3.

The holiday parade starts at 11 a.m. on Old Landing Road and marches northbound in the southbound lanes of Coastal Highway to the judges’ stand at 120th Street. The event will feature more than 60 units, including high school bands, antique cars, colorful holiday floats and more.

“For more than 35 years, this parade has been an iconic event for Ocean City and we are happy to continue a custom that is loved by so many,” said Ocean City Special Events Director Frank Miller.

47 ABC WMDT Good Morning Delmarva Anchor Jordie Clark and DJ BK from Radio Ocean City will be the Masters of Ceremony, providing a play by play of the parade for spectators. Professional judges will review bands and other units in nine categories, with trophies being awarded after conclusion of the parade.

A post-parade reception is planned at the Carousel Hotel, bringing additional family fun for participants and patrons alike. Festivities at the hotel will begin immediately after the parade conclusion and will include ice skating, a DJ playing continuous holiday music and free photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. In addition, complimentary winter refreshments will be available.

“We are really excited to continue the holiday celebrations and long tradition of the Ocean City Christmas Parade,” Miller said. “An extra special thanks goes out to our parade sponsors at Carousel Oceanfront Hotel and Condos, Jolly Rogers, Coca-Cola, Dunkin Donuts and Food Lion, for helping us to continue this family favorite in Ocean City.”

Spectators will not be permitted to watch the parade from the median area of Coastal Highway. Motorists are reminded that traffic pattern changes will begin at approximately 8 a.m. and traffic

be

pected. Also, due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic, everyone is reminded to Walk Smart by using

Photo by Chris Parypa

9748 Stephen Decatur Hwy. #112 Ocean City, MD 21842 www.batielaw.com 443-856-4676

Who’s Where When

BUXY’S SALTY DOG 410-289-0973 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Dec. 3: TBA

COINS PUB 410-289-3100 28th St. Plaza On Coastal Hwy. Saturday, Dec. 3: TBA

CORK BAR Saturday, Dec. 3: TBA

CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE 302-988-5000 37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54 Selbyville, DE Friday, Dec. 2: Monkee Paw Wednesday, Dec. 7: Employee Party

CRAWL STREET TAVERN 443-373-2756 Wicomico St., Downtown O.C. Friday, Dec. 2: The Quartermen Saturday, Dec. 3: Lennon LaRicci & The Leftovers, Lime Green

FAGER’S ISLAND 410-524-5500 60th St. In The Bay Friday, Dec. 2: DJ RobCee, DJ Greg Saturday, Dec. 3: DJ Hook, DJ Greg

GREENE TURTLE WEST 410-213-1500 Rt. 611, West O.C. Sunday, Dec. 4: DJ Wax

HARBORSIDE 410-213-1846 South Harbor Rd., West O.C. Fridays: DJ Billy T Saturday, Dec. 3: The Dunehounds, DJ Jeremy Sunday, Dec. 4: Opposite Directions Thursdays: DJ Billy T

OC EATERIES

443-252-3700

12849 Ocean Gateway, Rte. 50, West OC Friday, Dec. 2: Karaoke w/Kennedy Wednesdays: Trivia w/ Kennedy

PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891

8th St. & Philadelphia Ave. Fridays: Beats By Deogee Saturday, Dec. 3: The Dunehounds Sundays: Beats By Deogee Mondays: Karaoke with Wood Tuesdays: Beats By Wax Wednesdays: Beats By Deogee Thursdays: Beats By Wax

SEACRETS

410-524-4900

49th St. & Coastal Hwy. Friday, Dec. 2: DJ Tuff, Element K Duo, Party Fowl Saturday, Dec. 3: DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, Late Last Night, Gypsy Wisdom Thursday, Dec. 8: Opposite Directions, DJ Connair

Every Monday: TOPS Meeting

5-6:30 p.m. Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a support group promoting weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Call Rose 443-880-8444.

Every Monday: Acapella Chorus

All ladies who love to sing are invited to the Delmarva Woman’s Acapella Chorus, Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, 6-8 p.m. Contact Mary 410-629-9383 or Carol 302-2427062.

Every Monday: Bridge Games

Are you interested in joining others for a game of Bridge at the Ocean City 50+ Senior Center? If so, please call or text Tish at 410-804-3971.

Every Tuesday: TOPS Meeting

Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a weekly support and education group promoting weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Meetings are held at the Worcester County Berlin Health Department at 9730 Healthway Drive, Berlin from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Tuesday. 410289-4725.

Every Tuesday: Dancing

The Delmarva Hand Dance Club holds dancing at the Selbyville Elks Lodge 2173 from 5:30-9 p.m. delmarvhanddancing.com.

Every Tuesday: Beach Cleanup

Beach Heroes, a volunteer Ocean City group, holds cleanups 9-10 a.m. yearround. Trash bags, grippers and gloves provided. Check the Facebook page "Beach Heroes-OC" for weekly meeting locations. All are welcome.

Every Wednesday: Bingo Elks Lodge 2645, corner of Sinepuxent Avenue and 138th Street in Ocean City. Has bingo all year. Doors open 4:30 p.m. with first game sharply at 6:30 p.m. Kitchen open for light fare. 410-2502645.

Every Thursday: Beach Singles

Join the club, 55 plus, at Harpoon Hanna’s in Fenwick Island, 4-6 p.m. 302436-9577 or BeachSingles.org.

Every Friday: Bingo

Knights of Columbus hosts with doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo beginning promptly at 6:30 p.m. Held at the Columbus Hall at 9901 Coastal Highway, behind St. Luke's Church. Play every game for just $24. Light refreshments available. Call 410-524-7994 with any questions. rain or shine.

Dec. 2-Dec. 31: Winterfest of Lights

The 2022 Winterfest of Lights will be an expanded walking tour that takes you through thousands of sparkling holiday lights and many animated light displays located along a paved path in Northside Park. Sip hot chocolate, take a photo with Santa, visit our gift shop and enjoy the array of holiday exhibits – including many surprises. Come see the 50-foot Christmas tree put on a show for you and soak up all of the holiday spirit at Winterfest of Lights.

Things To Do

Dec. 3: Novel Launch

Local author Diana McDonough will launch her latest novel, Ginger Star, completing the trilogy of the “Stuck in the Onesies” series. The initial release of the book will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Greyhound Indie Bookstore and Fine Art Gallery in Berlin.

Dec. 3: Christmas Bazaar

The Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health located in Berlin will once again hold a Christmas Bazaar to benefit the programs and services they provide for women during their pregnancy and beyond. Event at the Berlin Intermediate School from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. All are welcome to attend and shop from a wide variety of vendors; make selections from a bake sale table; purchase 50/50 tickets; and get lunch to eat on site or carry out. There is still room for additional vendors. 443-513-4124.

Dec. 3: Church Bazaar

A variety of vendors, a silent auction, a white elephant sale, bake table and lunch will be offered at Stevenson United Methodist Church’s Christmas Bazaar, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the fellowship hall.

Dec. 3: Christmas Concert

The Community Church at Ocean Pines is sponsoring a free Christmas season concert featuring the Capital Ringers of Delaware, entitled, "Christmas Reflections." The concert will take place at 3 p.m. at the Community Church at Ocean Pines on Racetrack Road. A free will offering will be collected.

Dec. 5: Holiday Sing Along

The Delmarva Chorus invites everyone to join for its annual Holiday Sing

Along from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Community Center, 239 Ocean Parkway, Ocean Pines. The chorus will be singing all your favorite holiday songs that you know and love. Spend some time listening, singing and enjoying complimentary cookies and beverages.

Dec. 7: Book Signing

Author and columnist Chip Bertino will host a book signing and reading for his just released book, It’s All About...Some of My Favorites, a collection of some of his favorite columns written during the past two decades. The book chronicles experiences of raising children, getting older, being (and staying) married and just living life. The stories will resonate with readers who will visualize their own similar experiences. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at 6 p.m. at the Ocean Pines library.

Dec. 8, 22: Support Group

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers

Support Group meets from 3-4 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Library. Monthly meetings are held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month.

Dec.

9: BFC Carryout Dinner

Berlin Fire Company will do the cooking for you Friday night with a pork chop carryout dinner from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Two pork chops, mashed potatoes, lima beans, corn and roll for $15.

Dec.

10: Santa’s Open Event

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore will be holding its 30th Annual Santa’s Open Charity Event at the Ocean Pines Golf Club. Each holiday season the Eastern Shore comes together to support children facing adversity by golfing in this tournament and bringing an unwrapped gift for a child between the ages of 6-17. Volunteers and attendees will enjoy a round of golf, golfer gift, refreshments, food, silent auction, raffle prizes, and prizes for the top performers. The Hole-in-One contest will be sponsored by Pohanka. BBBSES still has sponsorship and team spots open. Visit www.shorebiglittle.org/events.

Dec. 10: Christmas Cookie Walk

8-2 p.m. Bethany United Methodist Church, 8648 Stephen Decatur Hwy, Berlin, will offer homemade fancy holiday cookies, $8 per pound. Candy, $10 per pound. Make your own selections. 410-641-2186.

Dec. 10: Monthly Meeting

The Ocean Pines Anglers Club will meet 9:30 a.m. in the Ocean Pines Library. The speaker will be U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master/Captain Mark Sampson, a fishing guide for 20 IGFA world records, the founder of the Ocean City Shark Tournament and a leader in shark research, tagging and data collection. Members are asked to bring a food item or donation for Diakonia homeless shelter. All welcome.

Dec. 10: Ocean City Comic Con

From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Ocean City's pop culture extravaganza features an exciting selection of guests and events sure to be a big hit with attendees. Special guests from the worlds of comics, TV, and more will be on hand. Guests will be available to meet attendees and sign au tographs. Along with meeting guests, attendees will have access to anime screenings throughout the day, informative and entertaining panels, video game tournaments, a costume contest with pri zes, and over 300 booths full of geeky goods and independent content creat-

Things To Do activities are printed free of charge. To ensure that an event is listed in a timely manner, please submit information as early as possible, since all items will be listed in advance as space permits. Be sure to include the date, name of event, time, location, address and a contact number. Email to editor@mdcoastdispatch.com; fax to 410-641-0966; or mail to The Dispatch, P.O. Box 467, Berlin, Md. 21811.

ors. Admission is $12, kids 9 years and younger free with paying adult. Tickets at the door, $1 off if in Costume, $1 off with a non-perishable food item for Diakonia. http://www.oceancitycomicon.com.

Dec. 11: Sunday Side Orders Sales

Calvary United Methodist Church, 8607 Ironshire Station Road, Berlin, will offer from 12:30 p.m. until. The 12ounce containers will be offered for $5; 16-ounce containers for $8. Sides include potato salad, mac n cheese, macaroni salad, string beans, greens, etc. Dessert table, rolls, corn bread and cold drinks for sale.

Dec. 11: Church Feast

St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church on Third Street in Ocean City will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 10 a.m. A special bilingual service will begin with the congregation processing around the church building following a statue of the Virgin Mary, while carrying symbolic red roses and singing. After the service, there will be a celebration in the church hall complete with Jarocho Dancers, doing traditional folk dances and Mexican and Salvadoran food that is traditional for the occasion.

Dec. 14: Dinner Theater Trip

The Ocean City 50+ Senior Center plans a trip to see "It's A Wonderful Life" at Toby's Dinner Theater. 410-289-0824.

Dec. 16: Christmas Concert

The Arlene Reichert Memorial Concert Series presents Annual Christmas Concert and Carol Sing-Along at 6:30 p.m. at Stevenson United Methodist Church featuring SUMC Director of Music/Organist Ty Thompson, SUMC Handbell Choir, SUMC Praise Band and singing duo Selah Wilson and Amanda Jones. Free admission. An offering will be taken for HALO (Hope and Life Outreach).

Dec. 24: NOEL Dinner

The N.O.E.L. (Nothing Other than Eating and Loving) Community is excited to be able to provide food for locals for Christmas again this year on Christmas Eve between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon. Hot breakfast food will be provided along with some sweet treats and some festive Christmas music. N.O.E.L. volunteers will distribute bags of nonperishable foods filled with some traditional food items to prepare at home. These bags will be distributed at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church on 3rd Street. In addition to Christmas outreach, N.O.E.L. supports many local social service programs and food pantries throughout the year. If you would like to make a donation to the N.O.E.L. Community, please send donations to The N.O.E.L. Community c/o St. Paul's by the Sea at 302 N. Baltimore Avenue, Oc ean City, Md. 21842.

Jan. 11: AARP Meeting

Ocean City AARP Chapter 1917 will meet at 10 a.m. in the Ocean City Senior Center located on 41st Street and Coastal Highway. Please arrive early at 9:30 for a social half-hour and refreshments. Guest speaker will discuss diabetes. New members are welcome.

In The News

Seahawks’ Magical Run Ends With Late Loss

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team’s magical run to a potential state championship ended last weekend with a 40-33 loss to juggernaut Milford Mill Academy in the semifinals.

Decatur enjoyed a remarkable season, perhaps the best in decades for the Berlin high school and finished with a 10-3 record. The Seahawks cruised through their first two state 2A playoff games at home, beating C. Milton Wright, 45-13, and North Caroline, 4327.

Decatur then went on the road to face a tough Potomac team in the state quarterfinals and rolled to an impressive 36-7 win. That set up last Friday’s highly-anticipated showdown with topseeded Milford Mill Academy and the deck appeared to be stacked against the Seahawks. Milford Mill came in undefeated and had beaten its three opponents in the state playoffs by scores of 67-0, 55-0, and 20-7.

It was clearly a tall task for Decatur but the Seahawks entered the game loose and on a roll of their own. The game ultimately came down to the final minutes and could have gone either way but in the end, Milford Mill prevailed on a late touchdown and two-point conversion. The loss did little to tarnish what was otherwise a remarkable season for the Seahawks.

Decatur took an early 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass from Brycen Coleman to Gavin Solito. Milford Mill answered quickly with a rushing touchdown and the first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie. Coleman then connected with Luke Mergott on a touchdown pass on fourth down to

take a 14-7 lead. Milford Mill answered with another rushing touchdown but missed the extra point and the first half ended with Decatur leading 14-13.

Milford Mill scored first in the third quarter with a touchdown to take a 1914 lead. Decatur responded with 11 straight points, including a field goal by Brogan Eastlack, a rushing touchdown by Mergott and a safety by the special teams on a bad snap on a punt by Milford Mill to take a 25-19 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Milford Mill scored first in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns to take a 32-25 lead. Undaunted, the underdog Seahawks marched right back down the field and scored on a touchdown by Mergott to take a 33-32 lead.

Milford Mill would not be denied, however, and went on a long, time-consuming drive to retake the lead. A twopoint conversion by the Millers put them ahead for good at 40-33. With time running out, the Seahawks tried to patch together one last drive, but the clock, and the magical season by Decatur, timed out with Milford Mill holding on for the 40-33 win.

Coleman completed 26 passes on 53 attempts for 320 yards and two touchdowns. Coleman also ran 16 times for 77 yards. Mergott carried the ball just three times for four yards, but two of his carries resulted in touchdowns. Mergott also caught five passes for 70 yards including a touchdown. He ended the day with three touchdowns.

Gavin Solito caught 10 passes for 125 yards including a touchdown. Logan Bradshaw caught four passes for 70 yards including a 37-yarder, while Evan Copeland caught three passes for 49 yards.

Decatur Soccer Alums To Celebrate Program History

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – On the occasion of Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity soccer team’s 20th anniversary of the 2002 state championship, the school is inviting all who participated in the program over many years of success to join in a celebration later this month.

The brainchild of current coach Jamie Greenwood and former coach Steve Berquist, the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the team’s state championship in 2002 will be held on Decem-

ber 22 at 410 Social in Berlin from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Players from the Decatur soccer program’s decades of success are invited to return and swap stories and remember the many great seasons.

The Decatur boys’ varsity soccer program won the state championship in 2002 and was a state finalist in 2001. The Seahawks reached the state semifinals in 1994 and 1996. In the years between, Decatur has won a handful of Bayside Conference championships and has had more than its share of success.

Jingle Bell 5K At Winterfest Returns Sunday

BY SHAWN J. SOPER MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A holiday tradition will continue this weekend with the annual Jingle Bell 5K race at Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City.

The annual race will take place at the

Winterfest of Lights at Northside Park at 125th Street on Sunday. The race begins at 5 p.m. and winners will be awarded in several age brackets along with prizes for the best costumes. The course will wind its way through the dazzling Winterfest of Lights holiday displays.

Tough Guy Of The Week: This week’s Hammond Family “Tough Guys of the Week” award went to Daegan Risser and A’zavion Manuel for their strong performances in the state playoff game against Potomac. Pictured above, from left is Bobby Hammond, Manuel, Risser and Head Coach Jake Coleman.

Submitted Photo

Decatur’s Gavin Solito turns a corner for a big gain during last week’s game against Milford Mill Academy in the state semifinals. Photo courtesy Bayside Sports-Vince Risser

Decatur quarterback Brycen Coleman follows big guard Da’Martae Purnell through a hole during last weekend’s game against Milford Mill Academy in the state semifinals.

Photo by Bayside Sports-Vince Risser

Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week: Each week staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be featured in this space. Above, a youngster checks out the petting zoo at last month’s Trimper’s Rides’s Christmas Carnival fundraiser for OCDC. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Your work requires increased effort during the next few days. But it all will pay off down the line. Things ease up in time for weekend fun with family and/or friends.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Your genuine concern for others could prompt you to promise more than you can deliver. It's best to modify your plans now before you wind up overcommitted later.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): A situation that seems simple at first glance needs a more thorough assessment before you give it your OK. Dig deeper for information that might be hidden from view.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Careful: Right now, things might not be quite what they appear. Even the intuitive Crab could misread the signs. Get some solid facts before you act on your suspicions.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Your energy levels are high, allowing you to complete those unfinished tasks before you decide to take on a new project. A social invitation could come from an unlikely source.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): You might think you're helping, but unless you're asked for a critique, don't give it. If you are asked, watch what you say. Your words should be helpful, not hurtful.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Your

attempt at mediating disputes might meet some opposition at first. But once you're shown to be fair and impartial, resistance soon gives way to cooperation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): Go ahead. Reward yourself for helping settle a disturbing workplace situation. On another note: A personal relationship might be moving to a higher level.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): A sudden change of heart by a colleague might create some momentary uncertainty. But stay with your original decision and, if necessary, defend it.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 to Jan. 19): Rely on a combination of your sharp instincts along with some really intense information gathering to help you make a possibly life-changing decision.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): Instead of worrying if that new person in your life will stay or leave, spend all that energy on strengthening your relationship so it becomes walkout-resistant.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): A sudden financial dry spell could reduce your cash flow to a trickle. But by conserving more and spending less, you'll get through the crunch in good shape.

BORN THIS WEEK: Your ability to keep secrets makes you the perfect confidante for friends, family and coworkers.

© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

5 Auctions by A&M Auctions!

View

Website for

Parsonsburg, MD!

Selling from several Eastern Shore Estates and Consignors!

more!

40

On-Line

Only

Auction – Ocean City, MD!

THUR. Dec. 15th, 2022 Starting at 5 PM! Auction conducted online at AMauctions.com Items located @ the A&M Auction Facility, 8000 Esham Road, Parsonsburg, MD Auction conducted online at www.AMauctions.com. Via HiBid.com Sty lish F urniture, Collectabl es, House wares & more! Personal Property Preview: Tuesday December 13th, 2022 from 4 PM – 5 PM (2) Onsite Online Only Auction: 4 Jan. 2023 - Large On-Line Only Auction – Salisbury, MD! Personal Property located at: 806 Camden Ave, Salisbury, MD 21801. Auction Held Online Only w/Bidding ending on Wed. Jan. 4th, 2023 at 5 PM. Antique and Modern Furniture, Sterling Silver, Glassware, Collectables, Housewares, Persian Rugs & more! 15 Mar. 2023 – Important Online Only Estate Auction in Onancock, VA. Additional information available soon! (1) Upcoming Auction at 8000 Esham Rd, Parsonsburg, MD: 3 Feb. 2023 - 17th Annual Firearm & Men’s Night Auction! Selling for several local Eastern Shore/Mid Atlantic Estates & Consignors! Live Auction/Live Webcast Bidding – Friday Feb. 3rd, 2023 @ 5:03 PM. A&M Auction Facility - 8000 Esham Road, Parsonsburg, MD 21849. 100+ Firearms including Antique/Modern Rifles, Shotguns & Handguns. Bayonets, Swords, Rifle Scopes, Ammunition & more! View Website for Additional Information, Terms, Directions, Online Bidding & Pictures!

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

Thanksgiving weekend Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

Free stuff through the Dunkin app

vanishing vanishing OCEAN CITY

WITH BUNK MANN

Berlin’s annual tree lighting Old iPads working as good as new Decatur’s playoff football run A laundry and football weekend day

A stacked charcuterie board

New furniture that feels old Berlin’s friendly UPS driver

B.B. Bombers opened in 1980 and quickly became one of Ocean City’s most popular surf shops. Boards, T-shirts, wetsuits and clothing, such as shorts and swimsuits, were sold at the small store on 8th Street.

B.B. Bombers (a “bomb” is surfing slang for a big wave) is best remembered for the surf camps it sponsored from 1985 through 1990. As owner Jack Crosby recalls, “many of the younger kids didn’t know the rules of the road. Our purpose was to teach kids how to surf safely and to respect the rules of surfing.”

The camp was free and held over five continuous days in early August. Over one hundred kids — there was no set age as long as they could swim — would participate each summer with members of the Bombers surf team as instructors. Emphasis was on safety and how to read the ocean, spot rips and use ocean currents for better surfing. A mini-competition would be held on Fridays with prizes for the winners.

B.B. Bombers closed in 1993 but will always be remembered. An authentic “Bombers” T-shirt is a prized collectible today by anyone interested in Ocean City memorabilia.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann’s books, click over to www.vanishingoc.com. Photo courtesy of Jack Crosby

… Future Closed Session Planned

FROM PAGE 8

fundee? It’s just at the point of it’s wearing me down because I have been dealing with the fire company longer than anybody on this dais. It is the same thing over and over and over.”

Green asked if there was a work group that could work to improve the situation.

“How can we be productive in this?” he said.

Tyndall said the county had a committee studying fire funding and that it would be helpful if BFC President David Fitzgerald, who is a member of the committee, shared updates on what was discussed at the county meetings.

“It makes sense for us to all be at the table together rather than having these siloed meetings that feed to a lack of clarity,” Tyndall said.

While fire company representatives left town hall after their initial conversation with Tyndall before the meeting, Joe Moore, the fire company’s attorney, returned when he realized the organization was being criticized for its departure. Moore said he'd been contacted by his clients, who’d seen part of the council’s ongoing discussion via the Facebook livestream.

“I thought we were excused, and you were going to make a brief statement,” Moore said to Tyndall. “I shook hands with your attorney and went home to eat dinner.”

Gaskill said Tyndall had made a statement but then council members had begun speaking.

“I’m hoping that you understand that we thought we were being excused,” Moore said, adding that he wanted the BFC to discuss contractual issues in a closed meeting.

Orris said the discussion was proof that communication between the parties needed to improve.

“I think this is a perfect example of how communication can be improved, and we should have had a meeting altogether,” he said. “We weren’t aware there was a contractual concern.”

Moore stressed that he wanted good communication between the parties but just didn’t want to discuss a legal matter in public. Tyndall expressed the town’s commitment to moving forward in a positive manner.

Moore said the bottom line was the fire company didn’t want the public thinking it received $400,000 for providing fire response when in fact it only received $116,960 for fire company operations.

Burrell said once again that the town couldn’t use the correct number in its budget if it didn’t have it.

“We discussed that with the mayor tonight for the first time…,” Moore said. “We’re going to try to resolve that. That’s a discussion I wanted to hold in private so that a perception of constant disagreement can go away.”

Fitzgerald, who returned to town hall a few minutes after Moore with several other fire company representatives, said the issues could be discussed further in a closed session meeting between the parties.

Investigation Leads To Crack

OCEAN CITY –A local man was arrest ed for possession of cocaine and paraphernalia last week after a controlled danger ous substance investigation was initiated in September.

During the month of September, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers initiated a controlled dangerous substance investigation on a suspect identified as Glenn Deaton, 58, of Ocean City. At the close of the investigation, OCPD detectives obtained a search and seizure warrant for Deaton and his vehicle. Last Tuesday, the OCPD Special Enforcement Unit conducted a stop on Deaton’s vehicle after determining he was driving and the warrants were executed.

During a search of Deaton’s person, OCPD detectives located a clear plastic bag with cocaine residue in it, according to police reports. In addition, officers located a small plastic bag that contained cocaine residue in it in Deaton’s front left pants poc ket. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a small glass smoking pipe with white powder residue in it and a Chore Boy

filter.

In the center console, officers located numerous bits and pieces of a white rock substance consistent with crack cocaine. In the driver’s side door pocket area, officers located additional plastic bags that contained a white powder residue. Deaton was ultimately arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine and paraphernalia.

Replica Handgun Arrest

OCEAN CITY –A Delaware man was arrested last week when resort police loca ted a replica handgun in a vehicle in which he was sitting in the parking lot of an up-

town business that was closed at the time.

Around 11:40 p.m. last Wednesday, Oc ean City Police Department (OCPD) officer observed a vehicle parked in the parking lot of an uptown business in the area of 123rd Street that was closed at the time. OCPD officers observed the vehicle was occupied and no one got out or into the ve hicle during the roughly 20 minutes they monitored it.

OCPD officers approached the vehicle on foot and made contact with the driver, identified as Bashar Amireh, 22, of Rehoboth, Del., in the driver’s seat and a female in the passenger seat. Both said they were just sitting in the vehicle and could provide

no valid reason for being in that location with the stores in the area closed, according to police reports.

One of the OCPD officers observed a handgun in the pocket of the driver’s door. When officers advised Amireh not to reach for the handgun, he informed them it was an airsoft gun, essentially admitting knowledge that the weapon was in the vehicle, according to police reports.

Police collected the black replica handgun which had an appearance similar to a Glock. The officers rendered the gun safe and determined it was a CO2-powered weapon capable of firing projectiles in the form of BBs, according to police reports. Also in the vehicle, officers located a glass jar of suspected marijuana less than 10 grams in the glove compartment. Amireh was arrested and charged with possession of a replica handgun.

Disorderly Conduct Charge

OCEAN CITY –A New Jersey man was arrested last week after allegedly causing a disturbance in an uptown neighborhood and refusing to obey lawful orders from po lice officers.

Around 11:40 p.m. last Wednesday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) of ficer was dispatched to a residence uptown on Laurel Avenue for a reported disorderly individual. The officer arrived and located the suspect, identified as Henryk Jarzabski, 63, of Keansburg, N.J., sitting on the front steps of a residence. According to police reports, Jarzabski told the officer his wife and friends are in the mafia and that they were trying to kill him. Jarzabski reportedly showed signs of intoxication, according to police reports.

The officer reportedly learned Jarzabski did not live at the residence of which he was sitting on the front steps. The officer located the residence’s owner, who advised he had observed Jarzabski stumbling in the street while he was sitting in his back yard. The owner said he followed Jarzabski, who ended up sitting on his front steps. The owner told the officer he was concern ed about the person who randomly came onto his property, according to police reports.

The officer interviewed an apparently in toxicated Jarzabski and had concerns about potential blood sugar complications and called for EMS to respond. EMS did re spond and determined Jarzabski’s blood sugar levels were normal and Jarzabski re fused further EMS treatment.

As OCPD officers were attempting to get Jarzabski safely home, he observed one of his friends and immediately began screaming and ran into the travel portion of the roadway, according to police reports. Officers attempted to get Jarzabski out of the roadway, but he refused to comply and continued to scream, according to police reports.

Jarzabski reportedly continued to not follow the officer’s orders and he was eventually arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, refusing to obey a lawful or der and public intoxication.

Deadly Weapon Arrest

OCEAN CITY –A local woman was arrested last weekend after it was determined the vehicle she was driving had fraudulent license plates attached and a search of the vehicle turned up a concealed deadly weapon.

Around 2:40 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer pa

trolling in the downtown area observed a vehicle with Delaware tags heading south on Philadelphia Avenue before heading west across the Route 50 bridge. The officer ran a background check on the vehicle and located it parked at a gas pump at a West Ocean City convenience store, according to police reports.

Both occupants reportedly got out of the vehicle, including the driver, identified as Tonya Yates, 41, of Ocean City, and her male passenger. Ocean City Communications advised the officer the registration for the vehicle had expired in June.

The officer then observed it appeared the license plates on the vehicle appeared to be fraudulent and displayed an expiration date of December 2022, according to police reports. A closer look revealed the license plates on Yates’ vehicle were fraud ulent and that they had been photocopied on regular card-stock paper, according to police reports.

A background check revealed Yates’ driving privileges in Delaware had been suspended. At that point, Yates was arrested for driving on a suspended license and for using falsified vehicle registration plates. A tow truck arrived to impound the vehicle, the contents of which were inventoried prior to it being towed.

During the search of the vehicle, officers located a large, fixed-blade knife in the driver’s door pocket. The inventory also led to the discovery of an additional fraudulent license plate under the driver’s seat. Yates was charged with numerous traffic offenses along with possession of a

concealed deadly weapon.

Suspended Sentence For Assault

OCEAN CITY –A Virginia man, arrested in October after allegedly striking and choking his girlfriend at a downtown hotel after they had gotten separated at Sunfest, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree assault and was sentenced to three years, all of which was suspended except for the 27 days he served while awaiting trial.

Around 7:10 p.m. on Oct. 22, Ocean Ci ty Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a hotel at 26th Street for a reported domestic assault. Officers met with a female victim, who reported she had been in a physical altercation with her boy friend, later identified as Troy Froemming, 51, of Alexandria, Va., according to police reports.

The victim reportedly told police the incident had initially started as a verbal alter cation. She told officers she and Froemming had gone to Sunfest together earlier in the day and had gotten separated from each other, according to police reports.

The victim reportedly told police when they got separated, Froemming had driven the vehicle back to their hotel room. The victim told police Froemming had her cell phone and her car keys, so when she could not locate him, she made the decision to walk back to their hotel at 26th Street, according to police reports.

The victim told police Froemming was agitated he had been waiting for two hours and began throwing her around the room. The victim reportedly told police she lost her balance and fell to the floor, and Froem ming got on top of her and began striking her in the face with a closed fist. The vic-

tim advised Froemming had struck her in the face at least four times with a closed fist. Officers observed the victim had lacerations on her top and bottom lips, which appeared to be swollen, according to police reports.

The victim told police when Froemming stopped punching her, he put both of his hands around her throat and began choking her, according to police reports. The victim told police she was gasping for air and began seeing stars and had blackness going in and out while Froemming was choking her, according to police reports.

The victim told police Froemming even tually loosened his grip and she was able to get away from him. She reportedly ran downstairs to the front desk and advised staffers to call 911, according to police reports. When questioned, Froemming

corroborated the victim’s version about how they got separated at Sunfest.

However, Froemming told officers when he returned to the hotel, the victim confronted him in a stairwell and struck him in the face. Froemming also told officers he did try to push the victim away, but at no point did they end up on the ground.

Froemming told officer at one point during the altercation, the victim had bitten his pinky finger and he had blood around the nail of that finger, according to the police report.

Based on the investigation, the officer concluded Froemming had been the primary aggressor and he was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault.

Froemming was also placed on supervised probation for three years.

Gina Maria Mollicone

OCEAN CITY – Gina Maria Mollicone, age 63, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2022 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore with her husband Vinnie by her side.

Gina was born in Manhattan, N.Y. to Vito D’Erasmo and Lucille (nee D’Aguillo) D’Erasmo. After vacationing for years in Ocean City, she and her husband moved to West Ocean City permanently in May 2013. She fought a valiant battle against scleroderma for more than 18 years during which she never lost her grace, her dignity and her sense of humor.

Gina enjoyed the beach, cooking for her husband and her friends and spending social time with her lodge brothers and sisters at Sons and Daughters of Italy, Ocean City Lodge 2474. Her passions were decorating her home, sewing, crafting and caring for her beloved cats who truly were her adopted family. In addition to her husband Vincent Mollicone, Gina is survived by her brothers, Frank D’Erasmo of Scarsdale, N.Y. and William D’Erasmo of Yonkers, N.Y.

A memorial service will be held and announced at a later date.

William G.B. Ochse

BERLIN – William G.B. Ochse, age 85, passed away at his home in Berlin on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he was the son of the late Walter Ochse and Gracie Bowers.

Ochse founded The Kite Loft in 1975, helping to make Ocean City become known as the ‘Kite Capital of the World.’ Affectionately known as the ‘King of the Wind’, he was active and held numerous leadership positions in Ocean City organizations. He was named the Ocean City Chamber’s Spirit of Ocean City Award winner in 1999. He was an avid sailor and completed a transatlantic voyage on his sailboat with his wife Mary. He loved laughter, great food and his

dog, Riley.

OBITUARIES

Bill’s favorite quote was “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space!”

He is survived by his wife, Mary Carlson Ochse; four sons, Steve Ochse (Shari), Gregory Ochse (Kathie), Bryan Ochse (Kathy), and Christopher Ochse (Linda); two daughters, Caryn Sullivan (Chris), and Traci Chadbourne (Charlie); and 10 grandchildren, Isabel, Samantha, Caleb, John Mark, Brady, Harrison, Mark, William, Julia and Jack.

A celebration of life will be held at Atlantic United Methodist Church in Ocean City at a later date. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.

Dr. Maurice Francis Kalin

OCEAN CITY – On Nov. 25, 2022, Dr. Maurice F. Kalin, born on August 3, 1940, passed away peacefully at home.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Dorn Kalin, and Nancy's two children, David Esmond Jr and Angela McDowell; daughter-in-law, Kara Esmond; son-in-law, Ryan McDowell; and three grandchildren Emma Esmond, Leah Esmond and Andrew Esmond. He is also survived by two daughters from a previous marriage, Kristi Sturm and Kandace Liberto; two son-inlaws, Lawrence Sturm and Tony Liberto; and four grandchildren, Lawrence Sturm Jr., Sophia Sturm, Alexandra Liberto and Giovanna Liberto.

Mo was born in Cleveland, Ohio and later moved to Jefferson, Ohio. He went to Fairmont State College on a football scholarship and was later recognized as the Football Player of the Decade. Mo taught science at Oberlin High School, coached wrestling and received his Master's Degree and Doctorate in Educational Psychology at West Virginia University. He published works regarding

Learning Theory and Increasing Student Achievement. He was highly regarded as an expert in the field and received offers for employment both in and outside the US.

Mo was recruited from the Cleveland area by the Howard County Public Schools in the early 1970's. He became the Supervisor of Testing and Administration. He was charged with developing plans for increased student achievement and was later promoted to Associate Superintendent. Dr. Kalin was given many responsibilities including developing Long-Range Plans, the Capital Budget, Redistricting, Supervision and Administration of Testing, Computer Technology and Printing and Duplicating. He was a trail blazer for introducing the school system to the Integrated Management System based on the Malcolm Baldridge theory. He became a state examiner, for the Maryland State Quality and Productivity Center, based at the University of Maryland. This program was introduced to the Howard County Public School System and piloted by a feeder system of schools. Bushy Park Elementary was the first school in Maryland to receive the prestigious award and the first organization to receive the award on the first application process. The United States Quality and Productivity Award was presented by US Senators, Barbara Mikulski and Paul Sarbanes in the year 2000.

Dr. Kalin, Mo, retired from the school system in 2001. He and his wife, Nancy, developed a rental business in the Ocean City area. Mo fished his entire life making Ocean City a great place for him to enjoy retirement. As a child, he fished the Lake Erie area with his Dad and, after coming to Maryland, went to crabbing on the Chesapeake or fishing in Crisfield. He moved on to offshore fishing and caught all the bill fish species in the world. Mo enjoyed owning a charter boat and spent many happy hours on the water with friends and family. He was also a member of the Ocean City Marlin Club. Mo traveled extensively with his wife, Nancy, and friends who were able

to share in the joy of seeing him catch these big fish. Mo was a catch and release fisherman.

Mo always said his greatest accomplishment was marrying his wife, Nancy, and he was very involved with his family of 24 years. He was a great husband, son-in-law, stepfather and grandfather. During retirement, he spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren, who fondly referred to him as "Mopa."

A private Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society or to Coastal Hospice.

Scott William Tanner

OCEAN CITY – Scott William Tanner, age 56, suffered a massive heart attack and passed away at home on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022.

Scott was preceded in death by his faithful dog, Ellie Mae, who died on Nov. 2. Scott was born May 5, 1966 in Annapolis and has resided in Ocean City since 1973.

Scott loved spending time with his family, he also enjoyed fishing, camping, NASCAR, game shows and cruising north OC on his bike. Those who knew Scott knew he didn’t speak much but when he did say something, it was usually a pun or a humorous oneliner. Scott was the best father, husband, son and a loyal friend to many but especially Tommy P. He was a hard worker and a great cook. Scott loved working with Slater and the crew at Whisker’s Pub in Ocean City. Over the years he made work families at the Fenwick Inn, Island Café and Mancini’s. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him (along with Scotty’s Cajun Crab Lumps).

Scott is survived by his loving wife, Lori A. Tanner, and two sons, Kyle (Kayla) and Dylan Tanner, all of Ocean City; mother Penny Carley (aka Meems) of Bishopville; one brother Bob Tanner of Bishopville; two sisters, Tammy Bubczyk (Mike) of Westminster and Dail North of Federalsburg; niece Ashely Lazarewicz (Steve); and great -nieces Skylar and Addison of Ellicott City; mother-in-law Lori Schramm and brother-in-law Tim Schramm both of Catonsville and Ocean View, Del.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bob Tanner; stepfather Skip Carley; and father-in-law Buzzy Schramm.

A special thanks to the Shumate’s and our large extended family for your unwavering love and support. Also, a very special thank you to the OCFD, OCPD, Worcester Crisis Response Team and William Cooper, Chaplain. You all treated our family with respect and care. Thank you all for your service.

In honor of Scott, please consider donating to Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company (1409 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City, Md. 21842) or Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services (124 North Main Street Suite C, Berlin, Md. 21811).

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Summer Ready: The calendar may say December, but Ocean City’s public works crews continue to clean the beach this time of year.

Photo by Chris Parypa

DR. MAURICE F. KALIN

GINA M. MOLLICONE

BILL OCHSE

SCOTT W. TANNER

Condolences may be sent by visiting www.bishophastingfh.com.

Steven D. Simone

OCEAN CITY – Steven D. Simone died Oct. 3, 2022, at the age of 43 while in Oregon.

He is survived by his parents, Harry and Susan Simone of Ocean City; daughter Makayla; sister Rachel and her husband Buck; paternal grandmother Addie; numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by brother, Brian Woodall of New Jersey and maternal Aunt Barbara Woodall-Pontano of New Jersey. Steven is preceded in death by brother Christopher Simone, paternal grandfather Harry Sr., his mother Brenda Woodall-Hines of New Jersey and maternal grandparents Woodall of New Jersey.

Steven was born in New Jersey and spent most of his time with his family in Maryland and North Carolina. Steven liked traveling, the outdoors, wildlife, camping, riding his horse "Midnight", baseball, exercise, playing the guitar, and later found purpose sponsoring AA members and spending time in the Oregon mountains.

A graveside service at Sunset Memorial Gardens Route 50, Berlin, will be held Saturday Dec. 3, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. with Father Jennings of St. Luke Catholic Church officiating the service of Christian Burial. Arrangements are through Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Condolences can be sent via mail or email to www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Dr. Patricia J. Graves

BERLIN – Dr. Patricia J. (Fitzgerald) Graves passed away unexpectedly Nov. 21, 2022 at Tidal Health, Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Born in Washington D.C., she was the daughter of the late Wilfred Fitzgerald and Jeanette (Lohofer) Fitzgerald.

Patricia is survived by her husband, Kenneth Graves; son, Bart Talbert; grandchildren Katelin, Alissa and Julie Talbert; brothers Dan Fitzgerald (Susan), and Kevin Fitzgerald (Wendy); daughter-in-law Laura McCoy; Ken-

OBITUARIES

neth’s daughters Donna Hall, Sandy Gene Graves and Margaret Jo Sandifer; and Emily, Zachary, Dilan, and Sheppard.

She truly was a force of nature, always curious and deeply searching, she found ultimate peace in this life through the grace of God. She put her faith into practice. In mid-life she went back to school and earned her MBA from the University of Maryland and was CFO of a nationwide healthcare service in Hilton Head, S.C. for many years. She went on to earn a PhD in faith based psychiatric counseling.

Moving to the Eastern Shore and establishing her own practice, Hope Happens, she devoted herself to helping others in times of darkness, sharing her hard won insights through the love of the Lord. She will be deeply missed and never forgotten by all who knew her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Savior Catholic Church, 1705 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, Md. 21842 at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patricia’s memory to the Worcester Co. Humane Society 12330 Eagles Nest Rd., Berlin, Md. 21811 or to Diakonia 12747 Old Bridge Rd., Ocean City, Md. 21842.

Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Condolences may be shared with the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Elaine Denahan

BERLIN – Elaine Denahan (nee: Menszak), 81, of Red Bank, formerly of Dallas, Texas and Berlin, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022.

Born in Berlin to John and Margaret Menszak, Elaine was one of four children. A graduate of Radford College in Radford, Va., Elaine worked for many years as a Librarian at Brookhaven Community College in Dallas, Texas.

Devoted to her faith, Elaine was a long-time member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Frisco, Texas. Elaine was also an avid bridge player and an enthusiastic reader. Above all, Elaine cherished spending time with her children

and grandchildren. She was a kind, generous and optimistic person who was beloved by her family.

She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph A. Denahan, who predeceased her in 2002. Loving mother of Joseph (Kristen) Denahan and Linda (Jason Rice) Denahan. Cherished grandmother of Celia and Ellie Denahan. Caring sister of Marie (Tom) Hammond, the late John (Connie) Menszak and the late Dorothy (Charleton) Dryden. Elaine is also survived by her brother-in-law, Gene (Angie) Denahan, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held in Shrewsbury, N.J. Burial services to follow at a later date at Trinity Gardens Cemetery, Newark, Md.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Elaine’s love of animals, donations may be made in her memory to either of these rescue organizations: Operation Kindness, 3201 Earhart Drive, Carrollton, Texas 75006 or Monmouth SPCA, 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, N.J. 07724.

Memories and condolences may be shared at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com.

Doug Auer

BERLIN – Doug Auer, 63, of Berlin, passed away in his home following a rapid decline from a combination of longtime health issues.

A life-long resident of Maryland, Doug was born in Annapolis, grew up in the

community of Arden on the Severn in Crownsville. He later lived in Frostburg and Ocean City, finally moving to Berlin.

Though permanently disabled early in his adult life, the result of a motor vehicle accident and something that created lifetime health challenges, Doug had a passion for photography and published volumes of photos on social media. The focus of his imagery was most often the wildlife and scenery around Berlin and the Eastern Shore. He loved driving out to photograph seascapes and scenes around the local ponds and estuaries.

Doug was known for and often amused himself with his own quirky and sometimes wry sense of humor.

Doug was also a member of Berlin’s Stevenson United Methodist Church, where for several years he resided in a cottage on the property. He was always grateful for the home that it provided and to the church congregation for making it possible.

Doug is survived by his brothers, Thomas Auer and John Auer; a daughter Melanie Mallory and her husband Mark Mallory and their children Elliott, Oliver, and Madeleine; and nieces Riley Auer and Samantha Auer.

A graveside service will be held Dec. 9, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, 900 W Central Ave., Davidsonville, Md. 21035. Immediately following the service attendees will be welcomed to lunch at 2403 Fox Creek Lane, Davidsonville, Md. 21035.

DR. PATRICIA J. GRAVES

STEVEN D. SIMONE

DOUG AUER

ELAINE DENAHAN

STUDENTS

In The News

Students

in Andrese Foreman's third grade class at Ocean City Elementary recently completed a fossils unit during reading class. Learning about fossils and how they form, sparked students' interest to learn more about dinosaurs. As a follow up, each student chose a dinosaur and became an expert on it, creating a poster.

Worcester Preparatory School’s first grade class learned about local agriculture and wildlife while on a field trip to Groundworks Farm and Trap Pond State Park. During their time on the farm, the first grade picked and tasted snap peas and harvested carrots. Following their visit to the farm, the first grade stopped at Trap Pond State Park where they visited the nature center and participated in “Tracks and Trace.”

Above, first graders taking a break on the playground at the state park are Sloane Gudelsky, Nuri Ramadan, Camila Doran, Casey Heun, Blakely Absher, Blaise DiFebo, Cullen Kaufman and Carly McCallum. Below, first grader Camden Haley was happy to be picking carrots from Groundworks Farm. Second from bottom, teacher Angela Bunting is pictured with Blakely Absher. Bottom left, Eleanor Brown and Avery Anderson checked out a turtle shell. Bottom right, Carly McCallum was super excited to be picking snap peas.

Ocean City Elementary School students write about or draw something for which they are especially thankful. Above, Lisa Kristick's PreK-4 class is pictured with this year's Thankful Turkey.

Students in Beverley Thompson’s kindergarten class at Ocean City Elementary School have been learning about Thanksgiving traditions. The students read about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and learned how all the parade balloons are made. They demonstrated their learning by becoming balloon designers and creating their own balloons to parade around the school. Pictured, from left, are Olivia Gruppo, Henry Glavitch, Kinsley Wilson and Carter Clifford.

Submitted Photos

Fenwick Parking Ratio Talks Stall

BY BETHANY HOOPER STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – Discussions on proposed commercial parking ratios came to a standstill this week as business owners continue to seek changes to a new ordinance.

Business owners came before the Fenwick Island Ad Hoc Parking Committee Wednesday with a letter of opposition to proposed legislation aimed at parking in the town’s commercial district.

With the Fenwick Island Town Council set to vote on the changes at its next meeting, committee members this week ultimately concluded business owners and town officials had reached an impasse in their negotiations.

“You see it your way and I see it mine,” said committee member Kinsley Hazel, whose family owns commercial property along Coastal Highway. “And I think we are at a crossroads.”

Earlier this year, officials introduced an ordinance amendment that would, among other things, allow for new, more stringent parking ratios on new and redeveloped commercial properties. In September, however, the town council voted to defer a second reading of the proposed ordinance after hearing complaints from members of the business community.

Since that time, business owners have been working with town officials and residents within the parking committee to reach some sort of compromise on parking ratios, delivery zone requirements and more.

In this week’s meeting, however, committee members shared their frustrations over the lack of progress being made.

“I’m disappointed,” said Mayor Natalie Magdeburger, committee chair. “The business community asked us to delay, and we did. They asked us to continue to meet, and we have. But the one issue, the parking ratios, seemed to have stopped all other discussions to find a compromise.”

As written, the proposed ordinance amendment would change, among other things, restaurant parking ratios from one parking space per 100 square feet of patron area to one per 50 square feet of patron area, and retail parking ratios from one per 300 square feet of floor area to one per 250 square feet of floor area. The amendment would also require delivery zones for commercial buildings such as restaurants, retail stores and hotels.

For months, town officials have argued the new parking ratios would address a growing parking problem in Fenwick. Magdeburger noted that changes made in 2013 had eroded the town’s parking space requirements to the point they no longer met the needs of the business community. The proposed ordinance, she said, was meant to restore some of those parking requirements.

“If we don’t have enough parking, our businesses will fail,” she said.

Business owners, however, argue the proposed changes were onerous and limited redevelopment opportunities on commercial lots.

“The business community is simply saying we don’t want this ordinance and we don’t need this ordinance …,” said committee member Scott Mumford, owner of Warren’s Station restaurant. “If this ordinance passes, the business owners will most likely continue to fight.”

Mumford and Hazel said the business community had shared its concerns with committee members and had suggested changes to the proposed ordinance in an effort to reach a compromise. They noted, however, that nothing had been done.

“It is not possible to meet the ratios on these small lots with all of these requirements …,” Hazel said. “It’s just not possible. We don’t have the land mass for it.”

Magdeburger, however, argued that officials were willing to work with business owners to reach a compromise. She said certain issues, including the prohibition of parking in the setbacks and the requirement of established delivery zones, would be reconsidered when the ordinance is brought to the town council in December.

“The town is willing to compromise,” she said. “When this gets to a vote, I think you will hear a lot of that.”

Councilman Ed Bishop, committee member, said he was disappointed that the committee had not reached a compromise and argued that he was willing to revisit the issue of parking in the setbacks. He noted that something needed to be done to address the town’s parking problems.

“These problems haven’t solved themselves,” he said. “There are 9,000 new homes being built off Route 54 … Those people are going to drive here. They aren’t going to walk.”

Business owners at Wednesday’s meeting ultimately argued that the proposed parking ordinance was unreasonable. The letter of opposition they presented to the committee was signed by the owners of 27 commercial properties in town.

“We don’t want to be the bad guys in all of this,” Mumford said. “But we feel like we’ve been dealt a bad hand.”

Magdeburger reiterated that the proposed ordinance amendment would not affect current parking in town but would establish new parking ratios for future commercial projects. She said current parking problems could be solved with a Business to Business program, in which business owners would work together to share unused parking spaces.

“To me there are two issues,” she said. “One is the parking ratios. The second is the Business Helping Business initiative to fix acute issues now.”

Hazel, however, said the business community had not prepared any plans for implementing an initiative at this time.

“Everyone is focused on this ordinance and the proposed ratios,” she said.

Letters To The Editor Between The Lines

opment Corporation, I would like to thank the many businesses and individuals that made our 8th annual craft beer festival held on October 29th at Sunset Park in downtown Ocean City such a big success. At least 1,500 attendees enjoyed this event which continues to get more popular each year. Hotel packages sold for this festival doubled over last year. This success includes our event partners, ShoreCraftBeer.com and the Town of Ocean City, 20 breweries with their seasonal craft beers, Eastern Shore Dis tributing, Carey Distributors, Backup Bev erage, The Other One Brewing, Malibu Beach Eats and Get Baked food trucks, Sessa’s Vending, Dough Roller, retail vendors, FireKite band, and our many volunteers.

Thanks to Worcester County and the Town of Ocean City that sponsored the commemorative metal pint glasses for this event. The Monte Carlo Hotel Group, Bank of Delmarva, and Kite Loft were also event sponsors. We wish to provide a special thanks to the adjacent project owner, Christos Sarantis and Wilde Daug’s On Lost Lady Beach, who allowed this year’s festival to use their waterfront property. In addition to this event that brings many people to the downtown area, it is also a fundraiser for our nonprofit organization. We look forward to seeing everyone next October for our ninth annual craft beer fest in October 2023.

Glenn Irwin (The writer is the executive director of OCDC.)

Incompetence Cited

Editor:

Yeah, I’m going to be outspoken one and say this. The same people who think Ocean City is the greatest is the same people that are profiting and destroying the once safest resort of Maryland.

You cannot have a title of All American city when you have criminals robbing and beating innocent people up in on season or off season, especially when the Baltimore criminals reach its doorstep.

Campaign message is very simple. Residents and businesses that read this. To all the residents of Ocean City, what do you have to lose if you voted for an outsider?

My answer is this. The residents and businesses have everything to gain voting for a younger, brighter and healthier mayor that can take Ocean City by the horns. Plus, to make sure everyone who breaks the law under my watch will feel the bull seeing red.

Fresher ideas, younger Ideas, safety measures, be outspoken about any decisions made by the City Council, take Ocean City from 1978 to 2022 and beyond. Work with local communities and event planners. But first, making sure that criminals don’t come to my town and hurt anyone.

Making Ocean City safe and secure again. Working with the police, attorneys and whoever I need to make criminals pay for every crime they commit. I

would protect families and residents once again without using tons of taxpayer funds.

It’s very clear that the current administration of Ocean City is not doing a very good job on keeping the locked and sealed illusion that Ocean City is a safe place.

Residents of Ocean City, how many more people have to get hurt or potentially be brutally attacked before you realize that the illusion you are being shown and told is false? That this illusion of statistics is nothing more but a devil playing God given the apple away lullaby. A Band-aid on a surgical wound? A volcano looking overlooking Pompeii? How many more law enforcement officers and their families have to suffer because of your ignorance and incompetence?

DT Hagan Chincoteague

Thanksgiving Help Provided

Editor:

I want to thank the community of Ocean City for their continued support of Thanksgiving Dinner at Ocean City Baptist Church. For the last 43 years, Ocean City Baptist Church has hosted and served a free dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Every year I am amazed to see the community come together to make sure that nobody is hungry or alone on Thanksgiving Day. This year Ocean City Elks Lodge 2645 and Humphreys Foundation made sure that we had enough donations to buy all the food and paper goods to support this ministry.

Also, there were over 100 volunteers from in the Ocean City community that came to help set-up, serve, cook, clean up, bus tables, deliver meals, and do whatever it took to make sure that everyone was happy and fed. In a world that seems so divided on every issue, it was an amazing thing to experience.

This year we served 452 meals to those who came in or carried out. In addition, we delivered 215 meals to our amazing first responders who were working on Thanksgiving as well as shut-ins and a few businesses that were opened on Thanksgiving. Making the total number of meals served 677! These meals consisted of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, sauerkraut (for those who asked) and a piece of apple or pumpkin pie. I want to give a special thank you to Paul deHuarte and Melanie Corbin (members of Ocean City Baptist Church) for their hard work in making sure everything went smoothly.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday where we count our blessings, and this meal reminds me every year of the blessing it is to live in Ocean City. It truly is an amazing city full of great people who love God and love one another. I am thankful to live in such an amazing place.

God Bless.

Pastor Sean Davis Ocean City Baptist Church

by Publisher/Editor Steve Green

The Maryland Stadium Authority’s updated “market and economic analysis” for the proposed sports complex in northern Worcester County was released this week. The scope of the work was carried out with the concept of the facility including eight to 10 outdoor athletic fields and an 125,000-squarefoot indoor facility. The report serves as a current market analysis, includes new cost estimates and follows up the 2019 study that was non-site specific.

The report is a valuable document as far as research and providing an estimated cost to develop the project. Unfortunately, the report’s credibility took a hit when without any supporting documents it concludes “The proposed site has the capacity to accommodate the new Sports Complex and is generally considered to be adequate to excellent based on evaluation of physical site factors, vehicular/pedestrian access and contextual design issues.” A rendering of the project shows two entrances and exits – one at the easternmost point of Old Ocean City Boulevard and another off Route 50 close to the entrance to Stephen Decatur High School. The report’s rendering shows the indoor facility at the northeast corner of the property with eight typical sports fields surrounding it and two more fields capable of being used for baseball or softball as well as soccer or lacrosse, for example.

It’s challenging to know at this point whether the cost and usage estimates are realistic. Once operational, it was predicted between 54 and 64 annual tournament events (more than one a week) will be held, resulting in as many as 111,100 direct net new room nights locally. The report states “in addition to tournament activity, the proposed new sports complex could host additional activities such as county sports programs, clinics, leagues, etc.” While the report expects the facility to operate at a deficit, it concludes in a stabilized year of operation approximately $10.1 million in gross tax revenue is possible. The report also states between 830 and 980 net new jobs will be created locally.

Perhaps the most important part of the study aside from the conclusion of “the proposed sports complex is estimated to generate significant economic impacts at the local and state levels” is an updated look at how much it will cost to develop the site. The estimates do not include the $7 million price tag to buy the private property. The cost of construction was put at a total of $153.5 million –$67.6 million for outdoor fields and $91.2 million for an indoor facility. This is a shocking figure, but the report recommends the next steps be researching “potential operating and programing partnership with various public and/or private organizations,” developing policies, rates and an extensive financial plan and creating a funding plan “that covers development costs, which may include both public and private sector partners.”

Before any of those steps can be weighed is a looming vote at the Worcester County Commissioner level on how the site will be purchased. It seems likely the funding will have to come from the county’s reserves. The extended contract for the property lists a new settlement date of Jan. 31, 2023. Based on public positions and comments made, the votes do not appear to be there to proceed once the new slate of commissioners is in office.

There were several noteworthy deaths of well-known individuals in the area over the last week. No passings should be minimized, but the passing of 18-year-old Joshua Alton on Tuesday has been on my mind all week. Josh’s death comes about seven weeks after he was surprised with the honor of being named Stephen Decatur Homecoming King. In a Facebook post, the school posted, “Today #DecaturNation lost a family member, not just a Seahawk, a Seahawk warrior. Josh Alton, your courage, spirit, and brave battle was an inspiration to us all. You are, and forever will be, our King. May you soar in peace.” Alton was also on hand last Saturday for the lighting of the Autistic Children’s Support Group of Worcester County’s tree in Ocean Pines. He would die just three days later, confirming his spirit and will remained strong till the end.

I never met Josh but watched him from a distance last August during the annual Surfers Healing event when an unforgettable moment unfolded. A team of volunteers worked together to give him a lift on a special board into the ocean followed by a nice ride. At this point, Josh, who has Autism, had lost the use of his legs following complications from a surgery associated with his diagnosis of Stage IV Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma. He and his family’s health journey since his diagnosis has been difficult. While the outcome may have been expected after a series of setbacks, the suddenness of his death is shocking. Numerous touching Facebook posts were made in the days following his passing. Josh loved Christmas and it was especially fitting now that a special celebration was held in August near his home in Ocean Pines.

An excerpt from Josh’s obituary, “Joshua was a Senior at Stephen Decatur High School and until his diagnosis worked at Baja Amusements in West Ocean City … Joshua loved to play basketball, skateboard, and play the drums with friends and the worship team. He has always had the best sense of humor and was quite literally a walking party wherever he went. He had fierce friends who loved him as much as he loved them back. Joshua in the past 18 months was truly transformed into the image of God. He was loving, thoughtful, cared about the feelings of others, was kindhearted and wanted to pitch in wherever he could to lend a hand. Most importantly, he loved Jesus and made sure everyone knew it by his actions, thoughts, and words.

Puzzle Answers

PUZZLE ON PAGE 47

The Adventures of Fatherhood

by Steve Green

It says a lot when newspaper deadline pressure is easier than being off work.

It’s how I felt this week after having Beckett home from boarding school with two exchange students from Guatemala for 11 days (and nights).

In mid-August, as we left Beckett at his new home in Virginia, the concept of our son not laying his head at home each night was unimaginable. A new normal full of emotions was a-head. The house was quiet. Life slowed down a lot. The typical shuttling of the teen to and from different places grinded to a halt. The frustrating conversations about bedtime, hygiene and respect were less frequent. Parenting changed without question, but there’s plenty of it still on multiple levels each day, as we migrate through this adjustment period without him home.

Since we have become accustomed to him not being in the house a lot over the past three-plus months, it’s now an adjustment when he is home. Due to travel, boarding school schedules include longer breaks around holidays than most schools. Thanksgiving would be an example, as he was out of school for 11 days and the dorms closed.

The length of the break was our only concern when Beckett asked if two foreign exchange students from Guatemala, Diego, 16, and Eduardo, 17, could stay with us. In the end, any concerns were muted by word these two may not spend Thanksgiving with a family. We were excited to show them our area, and these boys turned out to be a blessing. This year’s Thanksgiving will always be remembered as the year we had the two Guatemalan foreign exchange students with us.

We had many memorable conversations with Diego and Eduardo during their stay with us. I learned a lot about Guatemala culture and education. Diego and Eduardo were excited to be in the

states and study at Beckett’s school. In fact, Diego particularly wants to return on scholarship and finish high school in the states. He wants to go to college in this country and he says the best way to ensure that’s affordable and possible is to be an existing high school student in the states.

On the way home from school, I told Diego and Eduardo about Beckett’s little brother, Carson. The boys were not familiar with Autism or special needs. I did my best to explain Carson in simplest forms. It was interesting to observe throughout their stay how interested they were in Carson and seemed to enjoy his sense of humor. Though Carson is incredibly shy and introverted around just about everyone, he’s especially reserved around people he doesn’t know. Over the course of the Guatemalans staying with us, he became more comfortable, even watching some of a World Cup game with them in the living room.

A nice moment occurred the last night they were with us. Carson likes Sriracha hot sauce on spaghetti. Carson got up, went to the fridge and put it on his spaghetti. Before he did, he faked like he was guzzling it at the table. Diego was giggling while watching him. Carson was returning it to the fridge when he made me fake it too, like he was squeezing it in my mouth. We had a good laugh, and he went back to his dinner. Diego thought it was hilarious. Before he left, Diego told Pam, “I really enjoyed getting to know Carson.” It was so great to hear they connected with Carson being nonverbal.

When it came time to head back to school on Monday morning, Pam was emotional. It’s always sad for Beckett to go back, but this was more so about the exchange students who expressed their gratitude in meaningful ways. A strong English speaker, Diego had no trouble conveying his appreciation. A man of few words while he was with us be-

cause of his English struggles, Eduardo clearly prepared some remarks. Eduardo spoke more on this occasion than any other time combined during his stay with us. A line that stands out, “I know what this meant for you, I will be forever grateful.” In his blunt fashion, Beckett, putting his arm around his friend, said, “man, Eduardo, how long did you practice that? I am serious. You did great.”

After some pictures, we were on our way back to school. It had to be with mixed emotions for Diego and Eduardo because they were to leave the states a few days later to return home. It was a quiet ride with all three teens doing their own thing.

Once we got to school and unpacked, it was time for me to hit the road home. It surprised me Diego and Eduardo wanted to get a few pictures with me before I left. They did the same thing with Pam, but I figured it was just because she was the pretty American mom who doted over them during their stay. It hit me at this point. Both boys expressed their gratitude again. I told them we would never forget them and thanked them for making new Thanksgiving memories.

After hugs with the boys, I was about to get on my way when Beckett dropped in the room to walk me out. As he’s prone to do, Beckett prides himself on keeping things real. He evidently has made summer plans to travel to Guatemala to visit with his new friends. He questioned why everyone was so sad, saying, “It’s not like you all will never see each other again.” As an adult with some perspective, the reality is we will likely never see Diego and Eduardo again.

If that’s the case, I know we will never forget them.

(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.)