December 26

The Dispatch December 27, 2019

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Serving Greater Delmarva Since 1984

Festive In OC:

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The Christmas spirit is alive and well at this home on Sunset Drive in Ocean City, as the owners once again put a lot of time and energy to dressing up their home for the season.

Photo by Chris Parypa

Ocean City Asking For Judgment In Ongoing Battle Over Female Toplessness

Atlantic General’s 26th Annual Penguin Swim Eyes Return On New Year’s Day

Incoming State Senate President Meets With Carozza, Local Stakeholders

Berlin Mayor Looks Ahead To 2020 Issues Including Finances, Rentals, Growth

See Page 4 • Photo by Chris Parypa

See Page 6 • Photo by Bethany Hooper

See Page 12 • Photo by Chris Parypa

See Page 8 • Photo by Charlene Sharpe

INSIDE PAGES

Cops & Courts PAGE 24

Editorial PAGE 42

Business PAGE 44

Sports

PAGE 46

Fatherhood PAGE 48

Community

PAGE 49

Music

PAGE 52

Faces In Places PAGE 54

Things I Like PAGE 55

People In Society PAGE 60

Things To Do PAGE 61

Classifieds PAGE 62

Crossword PAGE 70

Vanishing OC PAGE 70

Page 2

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

SERVING DELMARVA FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS

December 27, 2019

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Ocean City Seeks Summary Judgment In Topless Case

Page 4

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Three years of legal positioning over the issue of female toplessness on the beach in Ocean City could be coming to an end soon, as the town has filed a motion for summary judgment in the high-profile civil suit filed in 2018.

The motion for summary judgment, and the accompanying memorandum in support, if approved, would effectively end the case, which was filed by local resident and female toplessness advocate Chelsea Eline and four other named plaintiffs. The plaintiffs will likely file a similar motion for summary judgment on their behalf, leaving a federal judge to decide what

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

2017 Emergency Ordinance At Issue

could be an end-game of sorts in the long-standing case. In fact, the memorandum in support of the town’s motion for summary judgment suggests an awareness the opposition in the case will essentially seek the same action.

“Both sides believe the case is now in a posture to be decided on crossmotions for summary judgment,” the memorandum in support reads.

In 2016, Eline sought an opinion from the Town of Ocean City and its police department on the legality of female toplessness. The town and the

Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) then sought the opinion of the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office.

In turn, the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, uncertain of the interpretation of Maryland’s indecency statutes, sought the opinion of the state’s Attorney General on the issue.

For several months, Eline and her advocates, along with the town of Ocean City and the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, eagerly awaited the Attorney General’s opinion.

In June 2017, with the Attorney General’s Office guidance still pend-

December 27, 2019

ing, and amid a backlash from concerned residents and visitors over the potential for Ocean City to allow women to go topless on its beaches and Boardwalk, the Mayor and Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the practice. The ordinance was passed as emergency legislation, making it effective immediately.

From the beginning, Ocean City officials have claimed a desire to be respectful of the rights of all residents and visitors to the resort and the passage of the emergency ordinance in June 2017 merely protects the town’s image as a family resort.

However, the complaint filed in January 2018 dismisses the perceived loss in tourism numbers and the associated economic gains for the town as a reason for which to violate individual protections under the 14th Amendment.

Shortly after the town passed its topless ordinance, Eline and other named plaintiffs retained the services of noted civil rights attorney Devon Jacob to begin preparing a challenge.

In January 2018, the formal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court.

Last December, Mayor Rick Meehan, City Council Secretary Mary Knight and Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and CEO Melanie Pursel testified during a hearing on a requested preliminary injunction asserting female toplessness in public areas such as the beach and Boardwalk went against the public’s sensibilities.

The plaintiff’s lone witness at that hearing was noted University of Indiana professor Dr. Debra Herbenick, who testified at length about the changing public sensibilities regarding female bare-chestedness in public.

Last Dec. 20, U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar ruled against the preliminary injunction that would have, if approved, allowed women to go topless in the same areas of the resort where men are allowed to go shirtless while the larger case runs its course.

Those are the essential facts in the case, facts that have not been disputed by either party, according to the motion filed on Friday.

“There are no material facts in dispute and Ocean City is entitled to judgment as a matter of law as to the constitutionality of the ordinance,” the memorandum in support reads. “The undisputed facts as described above make clear that the subject ordinance promotes and protects the prevailing sensibilities of Ocean City visitors and residents vis-à-vis public exposure of the female breast as gauged thoughtfully and in good faith by Ocean City duly-elected officials and leaders.”

From the beginning, Ocean City officials have contended the notion of allowing female toplessness offends the sensibilities of most residents and visitors to the family-oriented resort. At SEE NEXT PAGE

… Plaintiffs Argue Male, Female Chests Deserve Same Treatment

December 27, 2019

the preliminary injunction hearing last December, resort officials presented evidence of hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls bearing out that sentiment. Ocean City has contended the Mayor and Council, as leaders and residents of the resort, have an innate understanding of the public’s sensibilities regarding the female topless issue.

“The ordinance was adopted to advance Ocean City’s legitimate interests in promoting decency, protecting morals and prevailing sensibilities, and protecting the order, health, safety and well-being of the populace by prohibiting public nudity,” the memorandum in support of the motion reads.

“Advancing these interests constitutes an important governmental objective for the town of Ocean City, as it does for any city or municipality, but in particular in light of Ocean City’s longstanding and highly valued identity as a family-oriented vacation, recreation and travel destination.”

The memorandum in support of the motion for summary judgment suggests the notion of female toplessness in public areas rails against the familyfriendly character of the resort.

“This identity and character of Ocean City is the bedrock of its tourism-based economy and must be preserved and protected by the Ocean City government for the benefit of taxpayers, residents and visitors,” the memorandum in support reads. “The subject ordinance, in the view of the Mayor and Council, advances such important governmental objectives and it is directly related to and formulated and intended to accomplish those objectives.”

The memorandum goes into great detail on at least a dozen prior cases when courts have ruled against female toplessness in public areas. It also points out the plaintiffs in the Ocean City case hang their collective hats on a fairly recent case in Fort Collins, Colo., that went the other way.

In that case, the court conceded it was “going out on a lonely limb.”

“Legally speaking, the plaintiffs continue to rely on the razor-thin reed that the Fort Collins case constitutes - a case in which both the trial and appellate court admittedly deviated from direct and well-settled precedent throughout so many jurisdictions and struck out in a novel and previously uncharted direction,” the memorandum in support reads.

The memorandum suggests the plaintiffs have hinged their case on the notion there should be no differences in the laws regarding toplessness for men and women under the Equal Protection Clause.

“The plaintiffs’ argument, in essence, is that any differing treatment of men and women preserves gender

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

stereotypes and constitutes the sexualization of women, consequently an ordinance that defines nudity to include the exposure of the female breasts but not to include exposure of the male breast is impermissible and in contravention of the Equal Protection Clause as an absolute matter,” the memorandum reads.

The memorandum also suggests overturning Ocean City’s ordinance regarding female toplessness would disrupt the resort’s wholesome family image.

“The plaintiffs have taken an activist stance in this case and are advocating for a dramatic and fundamental change to existing law and jurisprudence, which would deviate from the Fourth Circuit precedent and the officially-stated view of the Maryland Attorney General,” the memorandum reads. “They seek to disrupt the character and moral balance of a historically family-oriented tourist destination, visited and enjoyed by so many people whose expectations and sensibilities do not contemplate and will not tolerate female exposure of the breast in such a densely-populated and family-oriented setting such as Ocean City and its beaches. They seek to do so base on nothing more than cherrypicked and self-serving published materials discussing a range of loosely-related societal topics and a single case out of Colorado that has no binding effect here.”

The memorandum disputes the testimony of Herbenick. During the preliminary injunction hearing last year, Herbenick testified her research suggested public sentiment toward female toplessness in public areas has changed to the point it is widely considered acceptable. However, her testimony was based largely on broad generalizations and was not specific to Ocean City or like-minded communities.

“Dr. Herbenick offers no reliable or credible expert opinions that could properly assist a fact-finder,” the memorandum reads. “She has conducted no study, survey or analysis of any kind on the subject of sensibilities toward public nudity in Ocean City or anywhere else. She has conducted no interview of any Ocean City residents or visitors or officials on the subject. She had done virtually nothing at all to reach any finding or conclusion as to the sensibilities of Ocean City visitors and residents on the matter at hand.”

It remains to be seen if the town’s motion for summary judgment will be approved and it appears likely the plaintiffs will file a similar motion on their behalf, leaving the issue for a federal judge to decide sometime in 2020.

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Page 5

Next Md. Senate President Meets With Local Officials

Page 6

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

WEST OCEAN CITY – Unsanctioned special events, farming regulations and education funding were among the many concerns highlighted at a community stakeholder meeting with incoming Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson last week.

Last Friday, Senator Mary Beth Carozza hosted a meeting with Ferguson and representatives from key industries in Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset counties.

“The purpose of this meeting is to give the new incoming senate president, Senator Bill Ferguson, the opportunity to see the true cross section of my district, District 38 …,” Carozza said. “In order to do that, I am giving my key constituencies the opportunity to give brief presentations with their priorities and their challenges.”

Carozza said Ferguson was busy visiting senators and constituents from each district before he is officially sworn in as senate president.

“Some opted for one-on-ones, but I saw this as an opportunity to allow my

December 27, 2019

constituents, the key economic drivers in this area, to tell their stories – how we are economic drivers, how we do contribute to the entire state of Maryland’s economy – and their challenges,” she said.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said he wanted to highlight issues threatening the resort community.

“I think we play a significant role in tourism throughout our state,” he said.

“But it doesn’t come without a price and it doesn’t come without its challenges.”

Meehan said one of those challenges was the presence of the unofficial H20

International car show, an unsanctioned motorized special event that wreaked havoc in Ocean City in late September.

Two years ago, the town’s elected officials came before the state legislature to establish a special event zone – featuring reduced speeds and greater enforcement – for motorized events. Last week, however, Meehan shared the town’s intension to ask for additional provisions.

“We are going to be coming back and asking for some additional provisions to be added to that legislation,” he SEE NEXT PAGE

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December 27, 2019

said, “just for the special event zone, just for those time periods and just for Ocean City.”

Meehan also highlighted efforts to have a proposed offshore wind farm moved farther off the coast.

“We have one chance to get it right,” he said. “Build the project, move it 33 miles off our coast … Let’s make it the poster child for wind farms.”

Those in the tourism industry also shared their concerns last week.

Melanie Pursel, president and CEO of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, advocated for small businesses and the continuation of the J1 Summer Work and Travel program, but called for changes to the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, or the paid sick leave bill.

Ferguson also heard from Fish Tales owner Shawn Harmon, who highlighted the rising costs associated with the $15 minimum wage bill, and representatives from Atlantic General Hospital and Peninsula Regional Medical Center, who elaborated on health care challenges.

Representatives from the poultry industry also shared their concerns as Maryland prepares to move into the next phase of Phosphorous Management Tool (PMT) regulations, which were implemented as a way to identify the risk of phosphorous loss and prevent additional buildup of phosphorous in soils already saturated.

“I think there needs to be more science done that proves that PMT actually works,” Worcester County Farm Bureau President Alan Hudson said.

Wicomico County poultry farmer Michelle Chesnick said farmers have made significant strides to become environmentally conscious, but highlighted the financial implications of PMT regulations.

“When you do things like this you are impacting rural communities, you are impacting lives …,” she said.

Representatives with the commercial fishing industry told Ferguson a more permanent solution was needed for shoaling problems at the Ocean City Inlet and harbor.

“Several vessels have left us and relocated to New Jersey,” Southern Connection Seafood’s Merrill Campbell said. “This has resulted in a loss of millions of dollars in revenue.”

Commercial fisherman Sonny Gwin also highlighted the impacts of allocations and reallocations of various fish species.

“Allocations are the amount or quota that each state gets,” he said. “This is then divided among the commercial fishermen of Maryland. When the issue of reallocation is revisited, we want the reallocation to be fair and equitable for the commercial fishermen of Maryland, so we can continue to make a living and provide seafood to Maryland.”

Somerset County Commission President Craig Mathies, Wicomico County Council President Larry Dodd and Worcester County Commission President Joe Mitrecic were also present at last week’s meeting.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Senator Mary Beth Carozza hosted a roundtable discussion with Incoming Senate President Bill Ferguson last Friday.

Photo by Bethany Hooper

In Worcester County, Mitrecic said statewide sprinkler requirements in new single-family homes have hurt home construction.

“It has hurt building in Worcester County …,” he said. “I believe in Sussex County they had 13 times as many permits for new homes last year as

Worcester County.”

Mitrecic also shared concerns regarding the Kirwan Commission’s recommendations for improving the state public education system. He asked that any local funding changes go into effect in fiscal year 2022, giving county governments time to prepare their budgets.

“Kirwan scares us to death,” he said.

“We look at it as an unfunded mandate.

Unfortunately, we aren’t going to find out how much funding we have to put in until possibly March.”

Ferguson thanked the stakeholders for their input.

“At the end of the day, there’s so much more that binds us together than separates us …,” he said. “Despite some of our competitive disadvantages, which I know are very real, we do have an amazing state and we have unbelievable assets. Our best assets are our

Page 7

people. That’s been proven even more so here today.”

Ferguson noted the challenges that lie ahead in his tenure as senate president, but he said he was encouraged by the discussions.

“Following a senate president who’s been there for 33 years and has been the longest serving senate president in the history of the United States is no small task, but I have unbelievable confidence in folks like Mary Beth Carozza and my colleagues who care passionately about their communities,” he said. “… Our number one job next year is to prove that stability will remain, and we need to deliver a body that solves problems in thoughtful, meaningful ways that’s not about politics but solutions. That’s my hope moving forward, and that will only happen with your continued engagement.”

Berlin Mayor Looks Ahead To Next Year’s Major Issues

Page 8

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Finances, growth and short-term rentals are among the topics to be tackled by Berlin’s elected officials in the coming year.

As 2020 approaches, Mayor Gee Williams shared what he expects to be the key issues facing the town in the next 12 months. While Berlin’s financial situation remains a primary concern, Williams says there are plenty of other issues that will keep town leaders busy.

“There’s this responsibility we have to prepare for the future,” he said.

Williams acknowledged the “excruciating” budget process the town went through in 2019, when officials approved an 18% property tax increase after months of heated discussion. In light of the difficult process, officials ap-

proved a tax rate review policy last summer that requires regular reviews of financial projections that will ensure future tax rate increases are discussed early on in budget deliberations.

Williams expects budget talks to begin early in 2020.

“First, we’ll need to establish a reserve policy for the Town of Berlin so we know how much money we’ll be setting aside,” he said. “Next we need to take another look at raising stormwater fees for residential and commercial.”

He said that while the town was making progress with stormwater improvements, it still needed grants to accomplish the work yet to come.

“The amount of money we put up is critical to getting grant support,” he said.

While several stormwater projects have been completed, Williams said there was at least $3.3 million more in

improvements that needed to be done.

“That’s a lot more than what the town was told it would take almost a decade ago,” he said. “But it’s no different than what other governments are finding.”

He said he thought the town needed to press forward, however, and that by doing at least one project a year it would remain competitive in getting grants.

“The worst thing we could do is throw our hands up and expect it to cost less,” he said. GEE WILLIAMS Williams said officials would revisit the property tax rate again in 2020 and would give “serious consideration” to a minimal increase.

“That’s something we’ll have to talk about,” he said.

Williams said another financial issue

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on the horizon was EMS funding.

“It’s not just Berlin,” he said. “It’s not just Ocean City. The cost of providing really good, timely EMS services has gone up significantly in the last few years. It’s just the way it is. We don’t want the level of service to be diminished. It’s not something that can be solved unless municipalities, fire companies and Worcester County all sit down and work together.”

Williams expected a tax differential to be a point of discussion among county officials in 2020.

“This may be the year a tax differential seriously has to be considered between the municipalities and Worcester County,” he said.

Williams is hopeful another longdiscussed idea that will come to fruition in the coming months is the excursion train. The concept of a tourist train utilizing the freight track that goes through Worcester County was initially brought up five years ago.

“I anticipate this’ll be the year for an excursion train,” Williams said. “I think this is the year it comes together or fades away.”

He believes an excursion train would fit in with historic Berlin and provide tourists with another reason to visit.

“It complements what we’ve been doing for a decade in making the town an attractive destination community,” he said. “We don’t want to change the nature of the town.”

Along the lines of not changing the nature of the town, Williams wants citizens to readdress the concept of a greenbelt around the town next year.

The idea of limiting the town’s growth to some extent is mentioned in Berlin’s comprehensive plan, which is set to be reviewed in 2020.

“All the change the community’s gone through, and the greater awareness property owners have, I expect them to be supportive,” Williams said.

“We have to decide what’s right for us.”

Another zoning hurdle the town is expected to address in the near future is short-term rentals. The growing popularity of Airbnb has prompted the town’s planning commission to begin drafting an ordinance limiting shortterm rentals in Berlin. A proposed ordinance is expected to be reviewed by the commission early next year.

“I think having nothing (in the code) is not responsible,” Williams said. “We want to accommodate Airbnb because it’s part of the 21st century hospitality environment but I think we need to have these operations in the right places.”

He said that while short-term rentals could change the nature of a residential neighborhood, he felt Berlin should make some effort to accommodate them in certain areas.

“Due to our proximity to Assateague and Ocean City we need to do this very thoughtfully,” he said.

Other issues town leaders are likely to address include cleanup at Heron Park, transfer of ownership of the Flower Street Multi-Purpose Building and revisions to the bulk waste policy.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Fatal House Fire In Berlin: An 81-year-old woman died Sunday night

in a residential fire on Trappe Road in Berlin. The Berlin Fire Company arrived on the scene to a working fire. The victim was rescued from the burning home. The woman’s identity has not been released.

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First Degree Assault In West OC

Page 10

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

A Maryland State Police helicopter is pictured awaiting a patient to transport Dec. 19.

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WEST OCEAN CITY – A homeless man is in critical condition at Shock Trauma in Baltimore and another has been charged with first-degree assault after an incident in West Ocean City last week.

Shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers from the Berlin barrack were dispatched to assist emergency medical services at an apartment on Golf Course Road in West Ocean City. When troopers arrived, they found an EMS team attending to an unconscious man later identified as George L. Stinnet, 58, of no fixed address, who was in the apartment.

An ambulance crew transported Stinnet from the scene, but a Maryland State Police helicopter was soon called and the victim was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. Stinnet remained in critical condition at Shock Trauma as of Friday evening with unknown injuries.

The suspect has been identified as Eric J. Jarrett, 48, of no fixed address. After consultation with the Worcester County State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police have charged Jarrett with first- and second-degree assault and reckless en-

December 27, 2019

dangerment. Jarrett is being held in the Worcester County Detention Center.

MSP troopers called for criminal investigators and personnel from the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) and the MSP Criminal Enforcement Division and Homicide Unit responded to the scene.

The preliminary investigation indicates both the victim and the suspect are homeless and were in the West Ocean City apartment with other individuals on Wednesday night.

Information developed during the investigation indicates sometime Wednesday night, Jarrett allegedly assaulted Stinnet while they were both in the apartment. Details of that assault are still being investigated.

When another individual could not wake Stinnet on Thursday afternoon, they called for an ambulance to respond.

Detectives developed additional information about the suspect and requested assistance from the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD). Jarrett was taken into custody by the OCPD on Thursday evening for another unrelated assault.

A motive for the assault has not yet been identified. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 11

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26th Annual Penguin Swim Set For New Year’s Day In OC

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

OCEAN CITY – Event organizers say registration is still open for the 26th Annual Penguin Swim.

On Wednesday, Jan. 1, Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) will host its 26th Annual Penguin Swim at the Princess Royale Oceanfront Hotel in Ocean City. There, swimmers will brave the chilly conditions and frigid ocean waters to raise money for health care services.

Special Events Coordinator Joy Stokes said the fundraiser has grown to include hundreds of participants each year. Just last year, for example,

more than 650 “penguins” jumped into the 46-degree ocean to raise $92,482 for the hospital.

Since its inception, the Penguin Swim has grossed $1.4 million.

“This fun event encourages residents, vacationers, businesses and community to get involve to raise money as individuals or teams for our local community hospital,” she said. “In addition, AGH’s Annual Penguin Swim can become a tradition for family and friends, old and young to ring in the New Year.”

Stokes said it is not too late to participate in this year’s fundraising activities. As of this week, 125 “penguins” and 21 teams have registered.

“If you cannot participate we wel-

Representatives of the Bull on the Beach fundraising team are pictured leaving the ocean during last year’s event.

Photo by Chris Parypa

come donations and cash sponsors,” she said.

All participants will receive an official 2020 AGH Penguin Swim shortsleeve T-shirt for their registration fee.

Additional incentive prizes can be

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earned based on individual fundraising efforts.

Individual and team participants can register online to start collecting donations. To register, visit www.aghpenguinswim.org or text PENGUIN to 51555.

Event day registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with the main event at 1:00 p.m. on the beach.

The time in between will feature carnival games, face painting, mermaids and more. The Bull on the Beach team will parade down the beach at 12:45 p.m. from 94th Street to the swim area in front of the Princess Royale.

Participants are encouraged to come to pre-registration and advance check-in at the Princess Royale in the Premier Lobby from 2-4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. 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.

Special recognition awards will be given to oldest and youngest Penguins.

Trophies for first, second, and third place will be awarded to those who raise the most money in divisions for Individuals – Adults and 18 & under, and Teams – Businesses, Community Groups/Organizations, and Youth/Family.

There will also be prizes awarded for the best costumes.

“Proceeds from the event, gathered through corporate sponsorships and participant fundraising, support the strategic plans undertaken by Atlantic General Hospital to uphold their mission to improve individual and community health,” Stokes said.

For more information, visit www.aghpenguinswim.org or the “Penguin Swim – Atlantic General Hospital” Facebook page, or call the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation office at 410-641-9671.

That same day, the Town of Fenwick Island will also host its 16th Annual Fenwick Freeze, which will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Bayard Street Beach.

Registration is $20 per person through Dec. 31 and $25 per person on Jan. 1.

Pre-registration will be held at Town Hall on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and event-day registration will be held at the Bayard Street Beach from 9-11 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Author Donates Books To Schools

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Pictured, from left, are Berlin Intermediate School Principal Ryan Cowder, student Sophia Ferrante, Board of Education member Todd Ferrante, student Caitlyn Crockett, author Hunter "Bunk" Mann and Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor.

Submitted Photo

BERLIN – Local author Hunter "Bunk" Mann visited Berlin Intermediate School last Friday to donate copies of his books to several schools in Worcester County.

Mann has authored two coffee table books, Vanishing Ocean City, and its companion book Ghosts in the Surf. Both titles will be available at Berlin Intermediate School, as well as each middle and high school in the county.

"We are so grateful to Bunk for his generosity in sharing his work with our secondary students," Superintendent of Schools Lou Taylor said. "The incredible stories he shares in “Vanishing Ocean City” and “Ghosts in the Surf” are great retellings of our local history.

Our students will learn so much about our own community through reading his books."

More information about these books can be found at www.vanishingoc.com.

Page 13

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

New Year’s Day Event To Celebrate Convention Center

December 27, 2019

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Ocean City’s Roland E. Powell Convention Center turns 50 this year and the town is celebrating the birthday with a special event on New Year’s Day. The original Ocean City Convention Center was completed in 1970. On New Year’s Day, as part of the larger celebration of the arrival of the new year, resort officials are welcoming residents and visitors to share in the birthday celebration with a special concert and open house.

For years, Ocean City’s mayors have hosted an open house on New Year’s Day. The open house was traditionally held at City Hall and included meet-and-greets with city officials and displays of Ocean City’s history. In recent years, the annual New Year’s Day open house has been moved to the much larger convention center.

Next Wednesday, the annual event will take on an even greater significance with the celebration of the convention center’s 50th anniversary.

“Under the mayor’s advice, we’ve changed the event from the typical 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. so it won’t conflict with the penguin swim,” said Convention Center Director Larry Noccolino. “From 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., we’re going to have a 65-inch television in the lobby with a slide show of pictures of how the convention center began, where it is today and where it’s headed in the future. It will be kind of an open house, so people can walk around the convention center and check out all of the great things it has to offer.”

At 4:30 p.m. on New Year’s Day, the annual concert will be held in the performing arts center featuring local musician Bryan Russo as host and the tribute band Beatlegacy as the main event.

Throughout the evening, special events and activities will focus on the history of the convention center and its many expansions over the last 50 years.

The original Ocean City Convention Center was built in 1970 with 40,000 square feet of exhibit space on two levels with seven meeting rooms and breakout rooms and other areas.

Longtime residents and visitors will likely recall the long ramp extending from the front of the building.

In 1990, a market and economic impact study found the facility captured a significant amount of convention activity within the state and throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

The study recommended the facility be renovated and expanded to 80,000 square feet of exhibit space along with 30,000 square feet of meeting space and 20,000 to 25,000 square feet of ballroom or swing space.

To that end, the convention center was expanded in 1997 and renamed the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, although not to the extent the study seven years earlier recommended. The convention center has been expanded since, including a roughly 19,000-

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square-foot ballroom in 2012 and the new 1,200-seat performing arts center, which opened in late 2014. The expansions increased the total exhibit space to around 60,000 square feet.

Sometime in April, ground will be broken on the convention center’s latest expansion. The expansion was approved after a feasibility study commissioned by the town revealed there was a demand for increased convention and trade show space in the state and throughout the mid-Atlantic region and Ocean City’s Convention Center should be expanded to remain competitive.

Last spring, the Maryland General Assembly approved the state’s share of funding for the third phase of the convention center expansion. The Town of Ocean City partners with the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) on the convention center and the bill

passed by the state legislature authorizes the MSA to issue up to $24.5 million in bonds to help pay for the third phase of the expansion.

The total cost of the project is $34 million, of which the state is requested to fund 60 percent, or $20.4 million.

The town’s share would be 40 percent, or roughly $13.6 million, which would be funded by the one cent added to the food tax in Ocean City. Several years ago, state lawmakers allowed one cent to be added to the food tax in Ocean City which is earmarked for convention center expansions.

The expansion will add 30,000 square-feet of exhibit space on the north side of the facility that would tie into the existing Exhibit Halls A and B. The expanded space could be used alone for a single event, or opened up with the other adjacent exhibit halls to

Page 15

create a larger space.

The bill passed last spring changed the funding formula for the convention center expansion from a 50-50 split between the state and the city to a 60% share for the state and a 40% share for the city.

Fifty years later, the Roland E. Powell Convention Center remains a vibrant centerpiece of activity in the resort with the space filled all year long with conventions, trade shows, sports tournaments and all manner of events. While it is a vital part of Ocean City all year, it is especially important in the shoulder seasons and in winter.

“It’s an important economic engine for the town,” said Noccolino. “Especially from say October to April when it really helps keep the town going during the offseason with events practically every week.”

Page 16

Sports Complex Study Completed

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OCEAN CITY – The highly anticipated study to determine the feasibility of a sports complex to help rebrand Ocean City as a major youth sports destination has been completed, but resort officials have not yet seen it.

Throughout much of the last year, resort officials have expressed a desire to pursue the growing youth sports market as a means to expand tourism throughout the year. To that end, the Mayor and Council in March commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of developing a potential sports complex, either indoor or outdoor, or a combination of both, to attract more youth sports leagues and tournaments.

It’s no secret the youth sports market, including tournaments, camps and clinics all over the country, has become a multi-billion-dollar industry growing seemingly every day and Ocean City has been exploring ways to tap into it. Some analysis has shown youth sports is now taking a major bite out of the tourism and travel market and Ocean City, with its vast lodging and hospitality resources, could be-

come an even bigger destination outside of its peak summer season.

There has been considerable debate about maximizing the resources the town already has at its disposal and an even larger debate about developing a sports complex either on the island or out in the county somewhere to further exploit the growing market. To that end, the Mayor and Council commissioned the private sector consulting firm Crossroads to conduct a feasibility study of a sports complex in or around the resort area.

During a review of last week’s Tourism Commission meeting on Monday, Councilman Matt James told his colleagues the study has been completed, but resort officials have not yet been privy to the results. Instead, the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA), which partners with the town on the convention center and would likely be a state partner on any future sports complex in the resort area, has a first crack at it.

“The sports study is done and the MSA has it,” he said. “I’m not sure why we don’t have it since we paid for it.”

Indeed, Ocean City did pay for the study to the tune of around $49,000, but the MSA contracts with Crossroads on other studies and facilitated the arrangement with the private sector consultant. Councilman Mark Paddack questioned why the state got a first look at it and why it took so many months.

“How did it end up at MSA?” he said. “Here it is December 16 and we still haven’t seen it.”

City Manager Doug Miller explained it was part of the formal agreement between the town, the MSA and Crossroads.

“It’s part of the contractual agreement with MSA,” he said. “They’re working through their process and we’ll get it when they complete that.

They want to come down in January and discuss it with you.”

Councilman Dennis Dare questioned if resort officials were going to go into that meeting with the MSA cold. However, it is uncertain when city officials will get their first look at the final study.

“Are we going to get that ahead of time?” he said. “I’d like to be able to read it over and get up to speed before that meeting.”

For the record, Crossroads conducted a similar sports study for Worcester County although any proposed project got little traction. The county never acted on its own Crossroads study for a variety of reasons, so Ocean City moved forward with its own study specific to the resort. The potential exists for a partnership between the town and the county on a sports complex somewhere off the island, likely in the north end of Worcester, but for now, Ocean City is moving forward on its own path.

improvements approved For 3 county parks

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 17

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – Several Worcester County parks will see some improvements in the new year.

County officials have agreed to purchase new lighting for John Walter Smith Park and new fencing for that park as well as Northern Worcester Athletic Complex and Showell Park.

The Worcester County Commissioners approved plans to move forward with both at a meeting last week.

Tom Perlozzo, director of recreation and parks, presented the commissioners with three bids for fencing at Northern Worcester Athletic Complex, John Walter Smith Park and Showell Park. He recommended the commissioners award the work to low bidder Long Fence at a price of $138,120.

“Please keep in mind 90% of the funding is from Program Open Space reimbursed to the county,” Perlozzo said.

Following the commissioners’ approval of the fencing, Perlozzo asked them to give his department permission to waive bidding requirements and buy lighting for John Walter Smith Park through a cooperative purchasing agreement.

The county wants to install a new LED light system consisting of four 70-foot poles with 28 fixtures rated for 125 mph winds. Perlozzo said that his research had found that the county could get the best price on lighting by going through a cooperative purchasing agreement. A quote from MUSCO came in at $232,000 while a quote from Qualite — the option available through cooperative purchasing — was $160,710 as long as the county ordered by Jan. 15.

The county has $200,000 in Program Open Space funds budgeted for the project.

“Although MUSCO seems to be the staple in the industry, I cannot justify the price difference based on our anticipated usage,” Perlozzo wrote in a report to the commissioners. “As you know, cooperative purchasing requires venders provide their best pricing which are bid for state, county and local levels of purchasing.”

He said the Qualite system was bid through The Interlocal Purchasing Systems (TIPS) in Texas. He asked the commissioners to waive local bidding requirements and piggyback on the cooperative purchasing agreement through TIPS. The commissioners approved the request unanimously.

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Page 18

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Winter Break Meals Offered For Students

December 27, 2019

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

POCOMOKE – Students in the south end of the county will have access to free meals at Pocomoke Middle School during winter break.

The school system will offer nutritious meals Dec. 23, 26, 27, 30 and Jan. 2 and 3 at Pocomoke Middle School. The meals, which will be available between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., are available to any Pocomoke area students in need.

Superintendent Lou Taylor told the school board the service was critical in a county with 42% of its students coming from households of poverty.

“My staff and this board knows that every Christmas, I’m as excited as anybody to go home and take a break but I worry about it, they worry about it, because I know we’re going to be out 16 days and some of our kids will not get a nutritious meal,” he said.

The meal program is being funded by a contribution from Worcester County. The Worcester County Commissioners approved the funding earlier this month as they also agreed to provide funding for summer meals in 2020.

“As we talk about ensuring our students’ wellbeing over the upcoming winter break I have to again express my gratitude to our county commissioners for $10,000 in funds for a pilot feeding program in Pocomoke during this winter break,” Taylor said.

At the meals on Dec. 23, 27 and 30, students will also be able to request a backpack of food to take home with them thanks to the school system’s partnership with the Maryland Food Bank.

“That’s going to be huge,” said Matthew Record, principal of Pocomoke Middle School. “We’ve got six days where we can guarantee kids get a hot meal. With these bags we can extend that food option beyond the hours we’re open.”

He said Pocomoke area schools had the highest percentage of students that lived in poverty and that the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced meals program had increased each of the last four years.

“That creates a really strong need,” he said. “Combine that with the fact that we’ve got a very long break the way the calendar falls.”

He said that while the meals were being served at Pocomoke Middle, they were available to Pocomoke students of any age. He said the program wouldn’t have been possible without the collaborative efforts of Pocomoke Middle, Pocomoke Elementary and Pocomoke High School.

Record said he was grateful that the commissioners had acted quickly to address concerns that children would be left hungry while schools were closed.

“Determining the need and taking immediate action is just good government,” he said. “We’re fortunate the commissioners allocated the funding.”

December 27, 2019

Sheriff’s K-9 Picked For Bulletproof Vest SNOW HILL – Worcester County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Leo will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from the nonprofit organization “Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.” K-9 Leo’s vest will be embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of William Patrick”. Delivery is expected within eight to 10 weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a charity, located in East Taunton, Mass., whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the U.S. The nonprofit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially-lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K-9 officers.

Since its inception, Vested Interest in K-9s, Inc. has provided over 3,500 U.S. made, custom-fitted, NIJ-certified protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K-9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

Health Initiative Launched SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) is encouraging residents to have a Vision for Your Health in 2020.

The new awareness campaign will highlight the importance of eating well, physical activity, screenings and prevention. The campaign will also put a spotlight on the variety of health and prevention resources, classes and tools available in Worcester County. A public service announcement for Vision will begin airing locally later this winter.

“The Worcester County Health Department provides prevention, support and education for residents looking for tips on eating healthy, physical activity, smoking cessation, and health screenings,” said Mimi Dean, Director of Prevention Services for WCHD. “We can connect individuals to trained wellness coaches, a registered dietitian, information about local parks and trails, and we offer a number of important health screenings at little or no charge.”

For more information or to register call 410-632-1100 option 4 or visit WorcesterHealth.org.

First Day Hike Turns 40 ASSATEAGUE – One of the highlights of the start of a new year, the annual Ilia Fehrer-Judy Johnson Memorial Beach Walk on Assateague Island, will be held again on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m.

The Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) next Tuesday will host its 33rd Annual Ilia Fehrer-Judy Johnson Beach Walk honoring the individuals who founded the organization over three decades ago with an entertaining guided tour of the barrier island.

Regional Digest The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

The Assateague Coastal Trust has been sponsoring the annual First Day Walk on the barrier island since 1980 and the event turns 40 this year. Participants will meet at the concession area of the state park for a brief talk about the tradition walk that has become a part of the Maryland State Parks First Day Hikes.

The first Assateague Beach Walk was held on Jan. 1, 1980. The newly formed Committee to Preserve Assateague Island hosted the inaugural event to draw attention to Assateague’s wild beauty. The committee was created by Ilia Fehrer, Judy Johnson and a few friends who had organized to rally against early plans for development of Assateague Island, which included a 25-mile highway and

a number of commercial enterprises, and the Ocean Beach Resort, much like Ocean City.

Deer Harvest Numbers Down BERLIN – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week announced the deer harvest during the two-week firearms season declined by about 14% this year compared to last.

According to DNR, hunters across Maryland reported taking nearly 28,000 deer during the two-week firearms season, the state’s most popular hunt. The total harvest was about 14% lower than last year’s official firearms season count of nearly 32,000.

Page 19 Worcester County followed the statewide trend with its total harvest during the two-week firearms season down about 5%. A total of 1,739 whitetail deer were taken during the season in Worcester, down from the 1,841 reported last year. Over in Wicomico, the harvest was down over 7%, with 1,334 taken in 2019 compared to 1,437 last year.

Bad weather on some key dates during the two-week season contributed to the decline, according to DNR officials. More than 2,000 deer were taken on the two Sundays during the firearms season, representing 8% of the total harvest.

“Rain, ice and fog once again hampered parts of the firearms season this year,” said DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto. “Fortunately, deer hunters in Maryland have additional opportunities to fill their freezer with venison during the remaining hunting dates in December and January.”

School Officials Address Incidents With County Council

Page 20

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – A discussion with county leaders last week highlighted the school systems efforts to address student behavior.

Last week, Superintendent Donna Hanlin, school system administrators and members of the Wicomico County Board of Education met with the Wicomico County Council to share several initiatives aimed at improving school climate and student conduct after an uptick in violent incidents earlier this fall.

“I don’t think I need to remind everyone that we had a busy fall in terms of discipline issues, conduct issues in our schools,” Hanlin said. “It is very unusual.”

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Beginning in October, for example, school system officials witnessed several student altercations at Salisbury Middle School. That same month, a 13-year-old student was charged with threat of mass violence for her involvement in a bomb threat at James M. Bennett High School.

“I do have to say in some cases – while I’m not minimizing at all what’s happening in the schools – the presence of social media is never our friend,” she said. “It appears there’s a lot of exaggeration, which makes it very difficult to us. It’s distracting to us when we have to put out those fires, those rumors, but we have been steadfast in trying to work with the facts and deal with the situations.”

Hanlin highlighted a recent incident at Parkside High School to prove her

point. In November, three teachers at Parkside sustained minor injuries following a fight between students.

“The rumors that were out in the community were not at all accurate,” she said. “That’s what led us to a press conference.”

Despite recent incidents, Hanlin said school system officials have take proactive measures to address school climate and student conduct. In addition to working with community groups and parents, officials at Wicomico County Public Schools joined together with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Juvenile Services and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County to form a Youth Safety Task Force.

“The issues occurring in our schools, while they are very serious,

December 27, 2019

they really only represent 1% or 2% of our population,” she said, “and I’m always reminding myself and others of the great things, the great students and staff, in our schools. We can’t lose sight of that.”

When asked what the school system was doing to discipline its most egregious students, school officials noted they followed the state’s guidelines for student discipline. They said exclusionary discipline, such as expulsion, was the last resort.

“As educators, we can’t lose sight of our responsibility to teach students, to try and teach them appropriate behavior, and try and intervene when we can with supports,” Hanlin said.

Officials noted that many community members have pointed to expulsion as a method of addressing recent incidents. Hanlin, however, said the school system must follow a framework for discipline.

“We will often hear individuals say, ‘Just kick them out, just expel them,’” she said. “Expulsion is not what it was when you and I were in school. Expulsion means 46 days or more and more than likely for the remainder of the school year or for a full school year, and we must educate them while they are expelled.”

Surprised to hear that no students were currently expelled in the school system, some council members questioned how recent incidents were being handled. Kim Miles, assistant superintendent of student and family services, said some cases for expulsion were under consideration.

“They are not in the school while awaiting that process,” she said.

In addition to the Youth Safety Task Force, the school system is also evaluating its social, emotional and behavioral supports within the schools.

Officials are also considering plans to expand its Choices Academy – an alternative school – and implement intermediary steps before removing students from traditional school settings.

Hanlin added that officials has had conversations with Senator Mary Beth Carozza and other members of the Eastern Shore delegation on potential legislation.

“I’m not one to believes that legislation is necessarily the answer,” she said. “But if there’s something that comes about as a result of our work, then certainly we’ll be in touch with the delegation.”

Hanlin told the council the discussion on student conduct and school climate includes not only holding students accountable, but holding parents accountable as well.

“I can’t tell you the number of times that we’ve had an incident in the school and we call the parent and their response is ‘that’s your problem,’” she said. “That is a real concern and we have to have parent buy-in. Where we do, we are most successful.”

Training Planned At OC Buildings Before Planned Razing

December 27, 2019

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Two buildings in Ocean City recently vacated for different reasons will be repurposed in the next couple of weeks by the Ocean City Fire Department for training before being demolished.

The former World Gym building at 67th Street has now been vacated after the gym owner’s temporary lease expired. The town of Ocean City purchased the property earlier this year and negotiated a lease with the gym owner to keep the health care facility open until such time as the city needed it.

In addition, the Whiteside facility at South 1st Street, used for decades by the town’s Public Works department as a sort of public works south complex that housed the Boardwalk tram operation among other things, has outlived its useful life and is ready for demolition. The Whiteside facility has been replaced by the town’s sparkling new public works facility at 2nd Street and St. Louis Avenue, for which the ribbon was cut two weeks ago.

Both the 67th Street gym building and the Whiteside building will soon be demolished, but before that happens, the Ocean City Fire Department will use the facilities for some specialized training opportunities. Assistant Fire Chief Eric Peterson said this week at

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

67th Street, the department will be utilizing the gym building to large area search training, forcible entry training, deployment of large diameter hand line training for commercial structures and flat roof ventilation. At the Whiteside facility, the department will be working on breaching roll-up doors and breaching metal structures.

Last year, the town of Ocean City purchased the 67th Street gym property for a little over $1.2 million. The 18,000 square-foot property is one piece of a larger puzzle of properties needed for a future water treatment plant.

The existing water treatment plant at 44th Street has been in service for over six decades and has outlived its useful life. To that end, the town has been piecemeal purchasing parcels in the area of 67th Street for the purpose of planning and ultimately building a new water treatment plant.

The property went into foreclosure in 2018 when it became apparent the former owner had fallen into arrears on state and local taxes. As a result, the property was offered at public auction and ultimately purchased by Wells Fargo.

However, because the town, as a municipality, was not eligible to participate in the public auction during a trustee sale, Ocean City officials took the pre-emptive step to begin the condemnation process for the property.

Once Wells Fargo bought the parcel at auction, the town of Ocean City was free to negotiate a fair market price for the property, which has led to the proposed purchase for $1.2 million. However, left in limbo through the process was the gym business itself and its roughly 400 members.

After impassioned pleas to negotiate a lease with the owner to keep the gym open until the town needed it for the water treatment plant, resort officials negotiated a temporary lease with the property owner last year. The lease began in March and expired on Dec.

Page 21

20. The gym ceased operations in late November and the remaining time on the lease has been utilized to remove equipment and prep for demolition.

As far as the Whiteside facility downtown goes, the facility was built around 1972 and consisted in the early days of just the five bays for the Boardwalk trams. It was later expanded to the south with the addition of two more bays. Interestingly, the name has nothing to do with the color of the facility. Back in 1972, the staff casually began calling the facility Whiteside because the property was purchased from a Mr. Whiteside.

Berlin Adds New Wrinkles To Annual Ball Drop Celebration

Page 22

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The town will celebrate the arrival of 2020 with special events for both children and adults next week.

On Dec. 31, Berlin will host a New Year’s Eve ball drop for kids at 6 p.m. followed by a second ball drop at midnight as the town rings in the new year.

“Come experience what it’s like to be

December 27, 2019

surrounded by the funnest people on the planet,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director.

Wells said the festivities for the younger crowd would begin downtown shortly after 5 p.m., highlighted by the kids ball drop at 6 p.m. Though children at last year’s event celebrated the new year by noisily stomping on bubble wrap, Wells said the town had

changed tactics this year in an effort to be more environmentally friendly.

Kids will be given miniature cowbells, which were sponsored by Main Street shop Heart of Gold Kids, to celebrate.

“The kids are going to love us that night but the parents won’t the rest of the year,” Wells joked.

After the children clear out, the town will set up for a second ball drop geared toward adults. At 10 p.m., vis-

Wells said Main Street America asked all the Main Street programs in the country for contest submissions.

She said her submission on behalf of Berlin outlined the Small Business Saturday promotions the town always offers, such as carriage rides and holiday activities, as well as things that were new this year.

“Small Business Saturday is one of our busiest days here,” she said. “We try to offer something for everyone and something unique that sets Berlin apart from everyone else.”

In addition to the always-popular free carriage rides, Wells told Main Street America about the glass ornaments shoppers could make at Jeffrey Auxer Designs and the antique printing press Garrett Neeb had set up for

Christmas card making as well as the North Pole mailbox where children can mail their letters to Santa and the merchants’ gingerbread house contest. She also described the array of made-in-Berlin products featured at local shops.

“You can find something made here in almost all of our shops,” she said.

“You can’t find that on Amazon.”

Main Street America named Tybee Island’s Main Street program the overall winner in the Small Business Saturday contest but named Berlin as one of the 15 programs that won a $500 gift card in recognition of their efforts.

“They just liked our whole package,” Wells said. “We were very flattered we received this national recognition.”

Small Business Saturday Effort Recognized

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The town received a nationwide recognition for its efforts to promote Small Business Saturday.

Berlin was one of 16 municipalities recognized on Dec. 19 through Main Street America’s Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion Innovation Contest. The contest aimed to celebrate towns with the most creative efforts to bring in business on Small Business Saturday, the November initiative that encourages shoppers to buy local.

“They really liked what we were doing,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director.

Mary McCracken REALTOR®, AGENT, OFFICE TOP PRODUCER

itors can gather downtown to enjoy music and entertainment from DJs Big Al Reno and Schwab. They’ll be set up on the town’s portable stage, which will be transformed into what Wells described as a “disco dance area.”

The event will be served by two food trucks while drinks will be available at the full bar outside the Atlantic Hotel as well as from the Burley Oak beer truck.

In a slight change in layout, the Burley truck will be parked on Broad Street, where an area of high-top tables will be set up for patrons to use.

“It’ll create more of an intimate atmosphere over there,” Wells said.

Wells said another new addition to this year’s event was a projector — sponsored by Danny King — that will display a light show on the side of one of the downtown buildings throughout the evening.

Wells pointed out the town has an array of bars and restaurants that will be in full swing New Year’s Eve. She encourages folks to come to Berlin and dine before the festivities begin.

“If people are coming to Berlin for the evening they can eat and then stay for the party,” she said.

She added, however, that the ball drop was always well attended by Berlin residents.

“It’s definitely something for the locals,” she said. “That way nobody has to worry about drinking and driving.”

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December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 23

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Thank You To Our Loyal Buyers, Sellers and Talented Sales Agents For a Prosperous 2019.

Have A Happy, Healthy New Year!

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Page 24

Christmas Tree Assault OCEAN CITY – An Ocean City man was arrested for assault last week after allegedly pushing over a Christmas tree and knocking over a female victim.

Around 2 a.m. last Thursday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a residence on 142nd Street for a reported domestic assault. Upon arrival, the officer met with a female victim outside the unit. The officer also observed the suspect, identified as Peter Kasmarek, 52, of Ocean City, standing in the doorway. The officer was familiar with Kasmarek and the victim from previous encounters with police.

According to police reports, the victim told the officer she and Kasmarek had been arguing because he believed she had been with a different man and the argument escalated when Kasmarek knocked over the Christmas tree. The tree then fell on the victim, knocking her to the ground.

The victim told police Kasmarek then grabbed her by the throat and threw her on the couch, according to police reports. The victim was able to escape Kasmarek’s grasp, which is when she called the police.

The officer spoke with Kasmarek, who told police he had just broken up with the victim that night and acknowledged an argument had ensued, but de-

cops & courts The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

nied there had been any physical altercation. For the record, the victim reportedly told police she and Kasmarek had been in an altercation two nights earlier.

The victim said during that incident, Kasmarek struck her and the couple wrestled on the ground. According to police reports, the victim had bruises on her upper legs, elbows and lower back allegedly caused by Kasmarek during the altercation. The victim also told police the couple had a third physical altercation about a week earlier during which the OCPD responded. There was an incident report on file for that incident.

Based on evidence and testimony from the incident last Thursday, along with the on-file information from the previous two incidents, Kasmarek was

arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree assault. He was released the next day after posting a $10,000 bond.

Scrapping Brothers Found Guilty OCEAN CITY – Two Pennsylvania brothers, arrested in August after scrapping with security at a midtown bar after being told to leave, were each found guilty this week of resisting arrest and each was placed on probation.

Around 11:20 p.m. on Aug. 15, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a bar at 53rd Street for a reported disorderly male.

Upon arrival, the officer observed bar

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December 27, 2019 security holding a suspect later identified as Jonathan Robertson, 34, of York, Pa. on the ground.

Bar security advised the officer Robertson had been asked to leave the establishment and had assaulted a security guard and thrown a drink he had left the bar with. According to police reports, bar security issued a trespass warning to Robertson for life and he was told to leave the property or run the risk of being arrested. According to police reports, Robertson indicated he understood the orders and began exiting the property when his brother alleged approached the police and was quickly detained for disorderly conduct.

At that point, Robertson returned and aggressively questioned why the officers were detaining his brother.

Again, Robertson was told to leave the property and not interfere with the arrest of his brother, but he continued to scream expletives at the officers, who ultimately advised him he was under arrest and to present his hands for handcuffing.

According to police reports, Robertson resisted, tensed his body and pulled away from the officers attempting to take him into custody. Once police had Robertson on the ground, he reportedly took a swing at an OCPD officer.

He was eventually subdued and charged with assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Christopher Robertson, 26, also of York, was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and failure to obey a lawful order.

On Tuesday, each brother was found guilty of resisting arrest and each was placed on probation for one year.

Charges Dropped In Theft Case SNOW HILL – One of three men arrested in June after allegedly swiping a vehicle and fleeing from police in Ocean City had all of the charges against him dropped last week in Worcester County Circuit Court.

Around 4:30 p.m. on June 8, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers were conducting surveillance at a hotel on 27th Street after discovering a stolen vehicle at a downtown convenience store parking lot. The OCPD officers were watching the hotel because of information that at least one of the suspects involved in the motor vehicle SEE NEXT PAGE

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... cops & courts

December 27, 2019

theft was believed to be staying there.

While on surveillance at the hotel, OCPD detectives observed an AfricanAmerican male matching the description of the suspect involved in the stolen vehicle at North Division Street walking with three other males in an alley behind the hotel. OCPD detectives observed the four men, later identified as Davonn Parson, 19; Dalonte Myers, 20; Amir Turner, 18; and a juvenile, all from Edgewood, Md., get into a green Honda Odyssey with Maryland tags.

A background check revealed the Honda had been reported stolen in Harford County the day before. While OCPD observed, the four suspects drove south on Baltimore Avenue.

OCPD officers followed as the vehicle turned south on Philadelphia Avenue and accelerated into the bus lane.

When the trailing officer activated his emergency lights, the vehicle appeared as if it was going to stop in a motel parking lot. The OCPD officer initiated a high-risk stop and yelled to the occupants in the vehicle to stop and turn the car off, according to police reports.

When the officer approached, the vehicle sped south again on Herring Way. With OCPD vehicles in pursuit, the stolen Honda turned west on Dolphin Street and then north on Marlin Drive, which comes to a dead end at the bay.

With the vehicle still in motion, the suspect got out and fled on foot. The vehicle rolled into the front yard of a

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch residence on Marlin Drive and drove over some bushes and flower beds.

A witness grilling on his porch observed the suspects running south on Marlin Drive. OCPD officers set up a perimeter near the dead-end street.

Myers was located quickly and taken into custody. Turner and the juvenile jumped into the bay and were found clinging to pillars to stay afloat. Several minutes later, Parson was located hiding under a gazebo behind a residence.

During the roundup, OCPD officers located a black backpack that had been in possession of both Turner and the juvenile at different times during the pursuit and had been discarded before the pair had jumped in the bay.

Inside the backpack, OCPD officers located amounts of heroin and cocaine packaged in a manner consistent with distribution.

Each of the four suspects was charged with motor vehicle theft. Parson later admitted being the driver of the stolen vehicle and was also charged with reckless driving. Turner and the juvenile also face charges related to the discovery of narcotics in the backpack each of them had possessed at different times during the incident.

Last week, Turner had all of the charges against him dropped. In November, Parson pleaded guilty to attempting to flee police and was sentenced to one year with all but 30 days suspended. Also in November, Myers had the charges against him placed on the stet, or inactive, docket.

The disposition of the case against the juvenile are not known.

Page 25

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Page 26

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Wicomico deputies earn valor medals

December 27, 2019

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – County officials recognized four deputies and one emergency services employee last week for their professionalism and dedication during three separate incidents.

In a meeting of the Wicomico County Council last week, elected leaders recognized deputies Howard Bowden, Christian Pecoraro, Dylan Miller and Ben Parsons for receiving medals of valor from the National Sheriff’s Association.

“It’s always a pleasure when we can recognize our deputies for some of the heroic efforts that they do on a daily basis here in Wicomico County,” Sheriff Mike Lewis said. “Last year, like any other year, was a very busy year for us.

But there were two particular instances that stand out, which caused us to petition the National Sheriff’s Association, for the efforts of four Wicomico County sheriff’s deputies here in Wicomico County.”

On Nov. 10, 2018, deputies were dispatched to a residence on the west side of Salisbury for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies located one stabbing victim in the front yard and another a block away. One victim later succumbed to injuries.

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Lewis said it was the actions of Bowden and Pecoraro that led to the arrest of the murder suspect.

“They were able to secure the scene, provide lifesaving measures to the critically injured victims, all while soliciting invaluable information for the case from the victims themselves and from nearby witnesses …,” Lewis said. “The suspect was safely arrested and charged with first degree murder.

The quick and decisive actions of both these deputies had saved the life of at least one victim, quickly identifying the murder suspect and helping to secure a solid case for prosecution.”

Lewis also recognized Miller and Parsons last week for their efforts to retrieve and revive a driver involved in a car accident.

“Believe it or not, on that same month approximately 20 days later, deputies were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision involving entrapment,” he said. “Upon arrival deputies saw that a van was overturned on its driver’s side lying in a muddy roadside ditch. The work van was full of construction equipment that had violently shifted during the crash. The deputies could not see if anyone was inside the vehicle, and deputies discovered that all the vehicle doors were locked and badly damaged from the collision.”

Lewis said both Miller and Parsons had entered the van and found the driver, whose upper torso was buried in mud, water and construction equipment. After noticing the driver was not breathing, the two deputies attempted to remove him from the vehicle and began life-saving efforts.

“Fire and rescue arrived on the scene and it took them an additional 30 minutes to fully extricate the driver from the vehicle,” he said. “Because of the quick and decisive actions of these two deputies to enter the vehicle, they located the victim and established an airway. The driver has now made a full recovery and has been reunited with his family.”

Officials last week also recognized Tammy Croswell, a 31-year employee of Wicomico County’s emergency services department. Lewis said Croswell’s actions had helped to dispel a threat of mass violence at James M. Bennett High School in October.

“During a proceeding investigation, contact was made with operator Tammy Croswell at the Wicomico County Emergency Management Center,” he said. “A request was made to Croswell to assist us in attempting to trace or track the origin of the phone call that generated this threat. Without hesitation, Tammy Croswell immediately assisted by providing tracking information from the cellular provider and other important information to investigators.”

Croswell was presented with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office 2019 Sheriff’s Salute.

“Tammy Croswell is to be commended for her efforts, her dedication and professionalism,” Lewis said.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 27

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Page 28

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

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Appreciation Luncheon: The Town of Berlin expressed appreciation for the hard work of its 72 employees with a holiday luncheon Dec. 13. The meal, which was provided by Delaware Crossroads, was sponsored by donations from businesses the town works with throughout the year, including Bank of Ocean City, PKS and Company, Goody Hill Groundworks, Booth and Associates, Cards Technology, First Service and Davis, Bowen & Friedel.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

Commissioners Agree To Support Choptank’s Broadband Legislation

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioners agreed to express support for Choptank Electric Cooperative’s broadband initiative.

Full Service Real Estate Settlements For 30 Years

At the request of Worcester County Economic Development Director Kathryn Gordon, the commissioners last week agreed to write a letter in support of a bill proposed by the electric cooperative that would give it more regulatory flexibility.

“Choptank Electric Cooperative will be introducing a local bill, the Rural Broadband for the Eastern Shore Act of 2020, to the General Assembly in January that will allow their electric cooperative to become a member regulated cooperative that will eliminate duplicative regulation and cost and allow their members to control their use of assets and staff to deliver broadband efficiently to their homes,” Gordon said.

She told the commissioners the company had asked attendees of the most recent Maryland Association of Counties conference to submit letters in support of the bill. Gordon said that Choptank wanted to use the same delivery model it used to bring rural families electric in the 1930s to bring rural residents reliable internet service.

“Choptank Electric states 36% of Maryland residents lack internet service that meets Federal Communication Commission s3tandards and most of those residents are in rural areas like the Eastern Shore,” Gordon wrote in a memo to the commissioners. “In 2019, the Maryland General Assembly authorized the use of existing electric service easements and right-of-way to deliver broadband fiber.”

She said that in order to use its existing assets and staff, Choptank would be requesting member regulation through the Rural Broadband for the Eastern Shore Act of 2020 The commissioners voted unanimously to write a letter in support of the bill.

Salisbury Teacher Facing Two Charges

December 27, 2019

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

SALISBURY – A Bennett High School teacher was charged with attempting to possess a controlled dangerous substance and contributing to the condition of a child this month after allegedly attempting to purchase ADHD medication from a student.

On Dec. 9, deputies from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division began an investigation into a reported CDS violation involving a teacher soliciting a student for prescribed medication.

The investigation revealed Elizabeth Day, 30, who is the wife of Salisbury Mayor Jake Day, allegedly solicited a 16-year-old student to purchase two ADHD pills for $20.

Day is a teacher at James M. Bennett High School in Wicomico County, and the student is enrolled at the high school. An arrest warrant was obtained for Day and she turned herself in to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office last Friday. Wicomico County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Donna Hanlin issued a stateELIZABETH ment last Friday anDAY nouncing Day has been placed on administrative leave.

“Today, we learned that Elizabeth Day, a physical education teacher at James M. Bennett High School, has been charged in connection with a criminal investigation,” the superintendent’s statement reads. “Day is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Wicomico County Public Schools is working in full cooperation with the legal system in this matter. Our first priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. As this is an ongoing investigation, Wicomico County Public Schools cannot provide any additional information.”

Meanwhile, Day’s attorney John Phoebus issued his own statement on behalf of his client.

“After meeting with a district court commissioner, she was released on her own recognizance based on the relatively minor nature of these charges and the fact she has never been in trouble her entire life,” the statement read.

In the statement, Phoebus said Day is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

“Mrs. Day is committed to her family, her children and the Salisbury community,” the statement reads. “… she is presumed innocent of these charges. We intend to litigate this matter only in the courts and we will have no further statements concerning these charges until her trial in February.”

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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OC Restaurant Earns Award

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

Families Supported: The Ocean City Lodge of the Sons and Daugh-

ters of Italy in America helped four Worcester County families by donating gifts collected at the organization’s annual Christmas party. Lodge 2474 worked with Worcester County G.O.L.D. (Giving Other Lives Dignity) to find the families in need of help this season. Pictured with G.O.L.D. Executive Director Sandy Sipes, center, are lodge members who delivered five SUVs full of gifts to the families.

Submitted Photo

OCEAN CITY – Local business owners Ryan and Neely James of Mother’s Cantina in Ocean City were honored last week with the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund with the third annual Theodore Roosevelt Award.

The James were recognized by the Maryland LCVEF with the Theodore Roosevelt Award. The award recognizes the individual, group or organization in Maryland which, through a specific action, event, or body of work, leaves a positive conservation legacy that mirrors the ethos of President Theodore Roosevelt.

In recent years, Ryan and Neely James and Mother’s Cantina have been

December 27, 2019

out front of the local movement toward environmentally-friendly and sustainable business practices, from taking an active role in the town’s Adopt Your Beach program to leading the way on the attempt to ban, or at least reduce, the use of plastic straws. Most recently, Ryan and Neely James advocated in Annapolis during the effort to ban potentially harmful polystyrene, or Styrofoam, containers.

“Ryan and Neely James are small business owners who practice sustainability, preach sustainability and take pride in operating their business in a sustainable manner,” said Maryland LCVEF Board Chair Chuck Porcari.

“Their work in Annapolis played a key role in convincing our elected state legislators that sustainable practices are part of a successful business model, no matter what size the business is.”

Maryland LCVEF Executive Director Kim Coble particularly applauded Ryan and Neely James for their work on the statewide Styrofoam ban and for their active leadership in advancing sustainability.

“It is an honor to give the Maryland LCVEF’s Roosevelt Award to Ryan and Neely James,” said LCVEF Executive Director Kim Coble. “Not only did their actions secure the passage of a styrofoam ban, but they also exemplify the power of speaking out and engaging in the political process.”

For their part, Ryan and Neely James said collectively the Roosevelt Award will only redouble their efforts.

“With this award, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund has gifted us with a new opportunity to reach a wider community with our message of smart spending for the environment,” the couple said in a statement. “The Theodore Roosevelt Award will encourage us to do better, to raise the bar in business, in our family and for our community. In honor of this award, we will continue to put our future generations first by advocating for the preservation of our beautiful and bountiful coastal community.”

Ryan and Neely James said their stewardship has been inspired by the beautiful area in which they live and work.

“We choose to live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the natural beauty and resources it offers our community, Ocean City, Maryland,” the statement reads. “The Chesapeake Bay, which has the potential to be a positive example for all estuaries in our great nation, provides rich surrounding lands and waterways that supply our locally-sourced menus.”

Beyond the business aspect of their sustainable habits, the James’ said they were driven by leaving the environment better than they found it.

“We believe it is not only our obligation to use our platform to inform other businesses about transitioning to environmentally-friendly practices, but our duty as parents to do the best we can for our children and future generations,” the statement reads.

December 27, 2019

Hotel Hosts Christmas Fun:

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

For the past 20 years, the Dunes Manor Hotel has hosted the Worcester County Developmental Center for a Christmas concert, lunch and meet and greet with Santa Claus. The Ocean City Lioness Club provides music director June Todd to teach the songs and Evone Lee as pianist. The club provides gifts from Santa for each of the attendees as well.

Submitted Photos

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Students Embrace Holiday Spirit

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

To help make the holidays a little warmer for those less fortunate in the community, Worcester Prep’s Student Government Association and National Honor Society sponsored a “Pajama Drive” for the Pajama Program Eastern Shore Chapter. Students collected and donated more than 200 pairs of pajamas to be distributed in the tri-county area by the Pajama Program. Pictured, front from left, are Brooke Phillips, Anna Williams, Quinn McColgan, Maddy Shanahan, WPS English teacher/NHS advisor Kathleen Otway and Pajama Program volunteer Cathie Thomas; and, back, Hayes Peterson, Alex Bunting and Gavin Henschel.

Submitted Photos

All WPS students collected more than 7,500 canned goods/non-perishable food and monetary donations to purchase meat products for the Annual Food Drive sponsored by the Student Government Association. The donations were presented to local distribution centers in Maryland and Delaware that feed those in need during the holiday season. Pictured with donated food items are Lower, Middle and Upper School students with a few faculty/staff members.

WPS Volunteers sponsored a gift drive to collect presents for Worcester County G.O.L.D. (Giving Other Lives Dignity), a non-profit organization that provides financial aid to families in crisis, vulnerable adults and children in foster care. Pictured, front from left, are Ian Betterson, Kate Abbott, McKenzie Blake, Alessia Matha, Ellie Todorov, Madison Van Orden and Mesa Cammackl and, back, Brice Richins, Anika Larsen, Gavin Carmody, Grace Baeurle, Anderson Taylor, Carter McCabe, Arusa Islam, Jack Tucker, Lily Baeurle, Audrey Stearns, Acting Head of School/Head of Upper School Mike Grosso and Spanish teacher Bianca Perez.

Budget Transfer To Fund Three Project Shortfalls

December 27, 2019

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – Officials in Wicomico County voted unanimously last week to introduce emergency legislation to fund budget shortfalls for three capital projects.

Last week, the Wicomico County Council voted unanimously to introduce an emergency legislative bill transferring roughly $2.5 million in prior year funds to continue work on three capital projects.

“Essentially, they are new expenses to go into the budget,” council attorney Bob Taylor said. “They total about $2,516,000 and change.”

In early November, county staff came before the council in an open work session to discuss budget shortfalls for three capital projects – the Morris Mill Dam construction project, the Salisbury airport water main extension, and the Wicomico County Detention Center roof replacement.

Officials said shortfalls in the budget for the Morris Mill Dam project occurred when crews were forced to revise their design to address a leak that was found in the dam. At the detention center, officials had to increase construction costs after learning the costsaving method for replacing the roof would not adhere to the surface.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

ditional funds would be needed to hire an inspector for the water main extension project.

To that end, emergency legislation was presented to the council last week for introduction. The bill would amend the fiscal year 2020 budget to include roughly $2.5 million from the prior year’s unassigned fund balance to pay for unanticipated project expenses.

“The county executive has certified that these are all emergency-type appropriations …,” Taylor said, adding that the county’s charter provides for emergency appropriations during the budget year. “There is a cap on that. It cannot exceed 5% of all appropriations in the budget. This $2.5 million … it doesn’t even come close to the 5%.”

Members of the county council said they supported emergency legislation

to fund unanticipated expenses at Morris Mill Dam. Councilman John Cannon, however, questioned if the remaining two projects were considered emergencies.

“I’m trying not to fly too loose with this,” he said. “We set some very careless precedents in the past. I understand where Morris Mill might be an emergency. I don’t know that the airport or the detention center could be considered emergency legislation.”

Assistant Director of Administration Weston Young, however, said the failing roof at the detention center had contributed to leaks throughout the building.

And at the airport, the money was needed to hire an inspector before construction began on the water main extension project.

“The risk with drinking water is that

Page 33

if there’s any sort of contamination in the process of installation you could cause bacterial issues that could cause illnesses and such …,” Young said. “On Jan. 6 or 7, we plan to issue a notice to proceed with the project. It’s right around the corner, and we really want an inspector there on day one.”

Director of Administration Wayne Strausburg said higher revenues, combined with lower-than-anticipated spending, had produced a $4.1 million surplus last fiscal year.

“Essentially, what we are saying is instead of putting $4.1 million in our fund balance, which is already very strong, we’ve got this need,” he said.

With no further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to introduce the emergency legislative bill. A public hearing will be held on Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.

Page 34

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December 27, 2019

Towns In Support Of 911 Initiative

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – County officials officially agreed to take part in a regional procurement of the Next Generation 911 service.

The Worcester County Commissioners last week voted to sign a commitment letter regarding the regional procurement and implementation of Next Generation 911. Billy Birch, the county’s director of emergency services, said all participating jurisdictions had been asked to formally commit to the process.

Birch initially approached the commissioners in October about plans to join the other Eastern Shore counties to issue a request for proposals for Next Generation 911 infrastructure.

Next Generation 911 is an initiative aimed at updating the nation’s 911 service to better perform in what is an increasingly wireless society.

The RFP process as well as the ultimate procurement of services is expected to be funded by the state’s Emergency Number Systems Board (ENSB). Birch said the ENSB now wanted formal commitment letters from the participating jurisdictions.

He said the regional procurement was meant to make the process smoother.

“Because of our geographic area they want to have one solution and one provider for these services,” Birch said.

Commissioner Chip Bertino expressed concern about the possibility of Worcester being overlooked as one of nine counties.

“I just want to ensure that when this is implemented Worcester County is not seventh, eighth or ninth when it’s in need of service or anything having to do with this system,” he said.

Birch said he didn’t think that would be a problem.

“We would basically be treated as one unit, all the counties,” he said.

“There wouldn’t be like a layer system put toward it. That’s why they want one solution with one vender so that we all have the same equal service.”

Bertino stressed he didn’t want Worcester County to call in for service only to find itself in line behind Talbot or Dorchester, for example.

“I want us to have that opportunity and right to be dealt with when we need help,” he said.

Birch said he had no reason to believe the situation Bertino described would occur.

The commissioners voted unanimously to sign and submit the letter of commitment.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Students

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

In The News

After reading the story “Snowmen at Christmas,” Lisa Kristick's afternoon PreK-3 class students at Ocean City Elementary utilized their counting skills to place eight buttons on each of their snowmen.

Worcester Prep Lower School students, from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5, eagerly lined up Dec. 16 to visit with Santa and give gifts to those in need at Diakonia. Hundreds of gifts were donated to Diakonia’s two homeless shelters that provide emergency and transitional housing, food services and counseling for their guests. Pictured with Santa are first graders Olivia Mason, Maximus Farrell, Darius Jones and Sloane Smith.

Submitted Photos

Stephen Decatur High School National Honor Society members certainly presented $3,000 to Believe in Tomorrow after raising money from their annual gift card raffle fundraiser. Since 2005, the group has adopted the Believe in Tomorrow organization and has given nearly $40,000 to the charity. Pictured, from left, are Ellie Dutton, Mikayla Denault, Ella Peters, Believe in Tomorrow representative Wayne Littleton, NHS President Richard Poist and NHS officer Kiley Hamby.

Students in Mrs. Hill's class at Berlin Intermediate School were surprised Dec. 11 when they were presented with a check for $1,000 from The Hertrich Automotive Group of Pocomoke City. They entered the Cash for Class contest by creating a video showing a need in the classroom. Their winnings will be used to purchase subscriptions to an online site called BrainPop.

Stephen Decatur High School junior Cole Woodland finished first in the region and sixth in the state in the fall session of the SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game. He netted over 17% on a virtual $100,000 investment. Woodland is pictured with Principal Tom Sites and Business and Economics Teacher Kurt Marx.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 37

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Decatur Students Complete Financial Literacy Program

Page 38

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

Stephen Decatur High School Principal Tom Sites, Bank of Ocean City Vice President Earl Conley and teacher Kurt Marx are pictured with students who completed the EverFi program.

Photo by Bethany Hooper

BERLIN – Several students at Stephen Decatur High School were recognized last week for completing a financial literacy program.

This fall, 35 students at Stephen Decatur High School completed the EverFi Financial Literacy program, a digital education tool that teaches students how to make wise financial decisions with interactive lessons.

The Bank of Ocean City sponsors the EverFi program as a way to teach students fiscal responsibility and fulfill the state’s standards on personal finance curriculum.

“Eight years ago, the Bank of Ocean City came to Decatur and said, ‘We believe that financial literacy is so important, we’re willing to pay for a program that would be interactive …,’ teacher Kurt Marx told his students. “It would not be possible for you guys to have the program if the Bank of Ocean City didn’t pay for it.”

Students in Marx’s class spent several hours both inside and outside the classroom completing online, interactive lessons designed to cover a variety of financial topics, including credit and debt, banking basics, budgeting and diversification.

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December 27, 2019

Principal Tom Sites said the EverFi program was a valuable resource as the students – many of whom were juniors and seniors – prepare for life after high school.

“There are things I had no clue about when I was a student in high school, but I quickly learned,” he said.

“Financial literacy is so important, and it’s going to help you so much when you get out into the real world.”

Bank of Ocean City Vice President Earl Conley said the financial literacy program is sponsored at several area schools, including Stephen Decatur High School, Stephen Decatur Middle School, Worcester Prep, Most Blessed Sacrament and Sussex Central High School, to name a few.

“People don’t really learn this stuff anymore,” Conley said. “In school there aren’t really any classes that go into the details of budgeting, planning for retirement and instilling in students the differences between needs and wants.”

Conley encouraged the students to make sound financial decisions using lessons learned from the EverFi program. He told them to invest wisely, plan for retirement and set aside savings.

“There’s so many things out there you will want and need,” he said. “Hopefully you understand you need to start itemizing tasks and setting a little bit of money aside for those rainy days.”

Junior Cole Woodland – who was recently named a regional champion in the Maryland Stock Market Game – said the financial literacy program taught him about the responsibilities of adulthood.

“It’s a good program to learn about what I’ll be dealing with later on in life …,” he said. “In school they don’t really teach you about things that deal with money or things that are business-related. But this course really prepares you for adult life.”

Freshman Amella Mehan said the EverFi program has prepared her to make financial decisions of her own.

“What I want to do is start a business, and getting a loan is going to be very important,” she said. “So knowing that information is going to be very helpful.”

Mehan added that she enjoyed the interactive program.

“We’ve never done anything like this in school,” she said. “It’s a good program. It taught me in a way that I was able to learn.”

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Page 39

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OC Offering Free Bus Rides On NYE

December 27, 2019

BY MARK RICKARDS

SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

OCEAN CITY – The Town of Ocean City and Ocean City Transportation would like to thank the public for a great 2019 by offering free bus service on New Year’s Eve from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m.

Buses will run every 15 minutes from 6 p.m. through the night and into the early morning, Jan. 1. The bus service during the day will be 30- minute frequency, which is an increase of 10 minutes from the normal 40-minute service.

On New Year’s Eve, all buses will be accepting United Way donations in their fareboxes.

In 2019, Ocean City Transportation served over 2.3 million customers in the calendar year. The best month was June for ridership and the busiest day for Ocean City buses was the 4th of July. Ocean City loves its holidays and so does Ocean City Transportation. The first big day of the year is St. Patrick’s Day in March followed by Springfest, Cruisin and Memorial Day weekend in May. Other busy days we would like to thank our customers for riding the bus include Sunfest, fall Cruisin, Labor Day weekend, the White Marlin Open and the most popular event for transit use, the annual Air Show in June. We would also like to thank the recent high school graduates for using the buses when they arrive to celebrate.

How do the buses benefit everyone even if you don’t ride the bus? For one thing, Coastal Highway is less congested than it could be if no buses were around to transport the millions of visitors and seasonal residents. The use of the dedicated bus-bike lane for most of the north-south route is also highly effective in creating good travel times for our buses on Coastal Highway, despite heavy traffic on busy days and nights.

The buses can’t do it alone. Ocean City has great sidewalks for walking and accessing the buses with all accessible stops and shelters. Ocean City has the infrastructure of support that is needed to provide a successful transit system.

There are big plans for the new year 2020. But first enjoy the ringing out the old year with some fireworks at Northside Park at midnight New Year’s Eve. Buses serve the area from 130th Street south to 123rd Street with all stops a short walk from the park. No worries about catching a bus back, either, they will be stopping every 15 minutes until 6 a.m.

Another annual event that one can take the bus to is the penguin swim on 94th Street. In addition to pre-registration opportunities on Dec. 31, the day of the swim, Jan. 1, we can promise a warm bus for the ride home.

From all of us here at Ocean City Transportation, have a wonderful 2020 and thank you again for a great 2019.

(The writer is the transit manager for the Town of Ocean City’s Department of Public Works.)

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 41

Page 42

The Dispatch

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

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

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

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

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

Topless Issue A Simple Morality Challenge HOW WE SEE IT

Do most people think women should be able to go topless where men can?

We think the answer is clearly no.

It’s a fundamental question at the heart of the ongoing case involving a challenge to the Town of Ocean City’s 2017 ordinance clarifying the government’s position topless women in public places is illegal. Though legal issues cloud the challenge to the town’s law, it’s actually a simple matter to consider.

Should females be able to be barechested on the beach since men can?

Believing women should not expose their breasts in public places where men can does not make us old-fashioned or conservative. We believe it’s a practical view shared by most rational folks.

Plaintiffs in the case disagree and believe it’s an out-of-touch view. In their legal challenge, the women point to the testimony of Dr. Debra Herbenick, a professor and director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University-Bloomington, as sufficient evidence to support their cause in court.

“The ordinance fails to acknowledge important similarities between the fe-

male and male breasts and the ordinance overstates differences between female and male breasts,” the report reads. “The notion that females baring their breasts in public ‘is still seen by society as unpalatable’ is not supported by peer-reviewed scientific research.

Peer-reviewed scientific research supports the conclusion that by not treating females and males equally in regard to their ability to appear bare-chested may contribute to harmful secondary effects such as promoting a culture that oversexualizes girls and women, thus harming and not protecting the public.”

Despite this testimony, we believe a federal judge will rule the town’s ordinance next year is suitable and not unconstitutional. There’s little legal or moral grounds to support the plaintiffs’ assertions. We think this legal challenge was simply an exercise to bring publicity and awareness to the “topfreedom” crusade of “gender equality.” Topfreedom, according to its Wikipedia page, “a cultural and political movement seeking changes in laws to allow women to be topless in public places where men are permitted to be barechested, as a form of gender equality. Specifically, the

movement seeks the repeal or overturning of laws which restrict a woman's right not to have her chest covered at all times in public. In addition, topfreedom advocates seek allowing nursing mothers to openly breastfeed in public.”

We argue Ocean City’s beach is not ready for topless women because society is not. U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar’s ruling on the requested preliminary injunction last year confirms this opinion. In his order rejecting the injunction, Bredar wrote, “Although the plaintiffs believe public sensibilities have changed to the point of ready acceptance by the public of bare-breasted females in public, other than for breastfeeding infants, they failed to counter the quite convincing evidence presented by Ocean City to the contrary.

That does not mean the public sensibilities recognized today will always be regarded as inappropriate, but for now, the court has seen no evidence that the public sensibilities are not what Ocean City’s representatives say they are in the ordinance.”

We expect the ruling on last week’s request for summary judgment will be consistent with this finding.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Wind Farm Position, Coverage Inaccurate Editor: Both the Ocean City government and the Ocean City press are derelict in their duty to inform the public accurately on the visual impact of the Ocean City wind turbines. Renderings of the wind turbines can be found at the following two websites: https://ibb.co/pwLW4J5 https://oceancitymd.gov/pdf/OCWi ndFarmRenderings.pdf The latter website was presumably put together by money the OC council paid to a lobbyist with a felony conviction. The web page clearly has several inaccuracies, including showing 70 turbines rather than 32, showing turbines at 12.8 miles rather than the true value of 17 or more miles and making no attempt to account for visibility which is typically never more than 10 miles in a humid ocean environment.

Visibility information is readily available from weather information services including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

If either the Ocean City Council or the Ocean City press wanted to provide accurate information, it is no more difficult than taking pictures of the Ocean City Ferris Wheel from 17 or more miles out and making these photos publicly available. However, the will to provide accurate information from either source has so far

been lacking.

Doug Miller Jessup

Fundraiser Best Ever Editor: Happy Holidays. It is with gratitude and appreciation that I send this message. On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation (QRCF) hosted our annual Caribbean Christmas fundraiser. Our signature festive event was held at Mango’s and raised funds the Center for Inland Bays, plus QRCF grant-giving and scholarship programs. We also collected clothes for the Dagsboro Boys and Girls Club.

I am delighted to preliminarily report that we predict that raised our largest number yet and we look forward to financially helping the Center, and other local organizations and individuals, and continue to do our good work.

This gift was made possible by the many sponsors, volunteers and guests who attended the event. Thanks to our sponsors: Bethany Blues, Beach Liquors, Cottage Café, Harpoon Hannah’s, The Heidaway, Joost Wafle Co., Local Coffee, Mango’s, Matt’s Fish Camp, Off the Hook, Ropewalk, Summer Salts Beach Grill, Three Blonde Bakers, and Zoca.

We also had many auction item donors, too many, in fact, to list here.

Know that your support is most appre-

ciated!

Our thanks also to the over 250 attendees who supported the event as guests, bought raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items. As a representative of the QRCF and on behalf of the dedicated board, my thanks for this extensive effort executed in the people and programs in Sussex County.

Our community efforts this holiday season continue. On Jan. 1, 2020, New Year’s Day, in downtown Bethany Beach, we, along with the Bethany Fenwick-Area Chamber of Commerce, will host the Hair of the Dog Run and Leo Brady Exercise Like the Eskimos Swim. Participants can run or walk the course and may also choose to plunge. Proceeds from the Run and Swim benefit the many individuals, groups, clubs, and organizations that are served by the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation and the BethanyFenwick Area Chamber of Commerce.

We hope that residents and guests will join us kick off the new decade with us.

Billy Scott Bethany Beach (The writer is the president of the Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation.)

Appreciation Expressed Editor: I’m not sure there are any who can understand or even would want to unSEE NEXT PAGE

December 27, 2019

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR derstand, but it needs to be said and cannot be said enough.

Folks that deal with darkness, despair and crime everyday are not really appreciated. Oh, people say they appreciate them but do they really?

Dealing with those that cause so much hurt and trouble in our society make you change at some point. This happens because of all that they see and have to do over their careers to protect others. Several lose some of the innocence and all lose a piece of their humanity. What makes it so much worse today is that people no longer see these men and women as heroes but see them as villains. People are quick to point fingers and find fault with all that they do. You see to survive in their career they take on some of the traits of those they are dealing with. They have to think like a criminal, look like the criminal and at times even do things like a criminal.

There is one major fundamental difference with these professionals. They only use those traits as tools so they can catch the criminal. They never use them in the sick crazy way criminals use them to inflict harm on others.

There is a cost for living in this upside-down world of darkness, despair and violence. You see it creates a great deal of stress; it causes guilt, isolation, depression and strains or ruins relationships. You see the work they do is not normal.

Those that go about serving and protecting our communities know one thing that the majority of the public does not seem to understand. All the negative that is placed upon our society would be far greater without those who are willing to fight against it. They willingly take on daily abuse and being second guessed at every turn so that others can live peaceably.

So before you stand in judgement of any law enforcement officer or first responders consider the following: They witness things no person is meant to see and they see it on a regular basis.

They perform duties that many would feel is beneath them to do.

They solve your problems, even the ones they are not responsible for like telling you what the traffic is like on route 50 and why are the streets flooding after a large storm.

They are the people running towards things you run away from or are only willing to video but not willing to take any action or even call 911.

They willingly stand between you and those wanting to cause trouble or cause harm to you or your property.

These professionals do the things that the vast majority are to weak or soft or cowardly to do.

Our lives are more peaceful and better because of them. Our society has become one where it is just too easy to throw things way, where things and people are said to be inferior or that people are to mean or forceful.

We know this is an asinine mind set, but it’s out there just the same.

There are things worth fighting for

Between The Lines

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

even dying for. We know that every problem cannot be solved in a rational discourse. Some things need people who are willing to get the job done while others ridicule you and mock what you are doing.

Law enforcement officer believe that doing what other fear is honorable, noble and just. They pay the price in so many ways that people have no idea about. They just try and keep and hold on to the belief that every person should be able to live in a peaceful and safe community.

To all the law enforcement officers and first responders that are on the line everyday doing the job, stay in the fight.

Bob Luckett Selbyville

Stand Up Against Trump Editor: Are we no longer fighting to preserve Democracy? Has Trump created such fear in Republican leaders and within his own administration that they are willing to swear allegiance to Trump the man, rather than to the Constitution?

Really, Could they fear that “bad things” will happen to them? Trump believes he is friends with Putin. I don’t believe we should antagonize Russia but Trump is confusing his personal relationship with Putin, with a foreign policy that benefits Russia at the expense of our Democracy. Trump has systematically alienated and demeaned our democratic Allies under the guise of wanting more money contributed to their defense. Trump has befriended and sided with Putin despite dire warnings from the U.S. Intelligence Community. We have heard him with our own ears in Helsinki and seen his actions. He delays implementing sanctions against Russia. He welcomes Russian interference in our election rather than notify authorities. Trump takes no major action to invest in cybersecurity that would prevent further foreign interference in our elections.

He spreads baseless allegations manufactured by Putin. He demands that Ukranian leader Zelensky announce an investigation into a debunked conspiracy that absolves Putin of responsibility. He without explanation delays urgent military aid from Ukraine which is fighting Russian expansion.

It does not matter whether you love Trump or you hate him. Trump has abused his power and obstructed justice. He has endangered our national security by inviting foreign interference in our elections and by disbanding crucial Democratic alliances. We cannot wait for elections because Trump gets more brazen in undermining them each day.

Congress, please remember that Russia is our Enemy. Please do not forfeit your powers. Do not turn considerable presidential power into absolute power. Stand united against tyranny or I might someday be prosecuted for exercising my right of free speech.

Jan Adamchak Berlin

Page 43

By Publisher/Editor Steve Green

It’s that time of year to look back on the predictions I made this time last year for 2019. As is typically the case, I whiffed on some and nailed some.

On The Mark •I was right when I predicted governments in Berlin and Ocean Pines would both lose their top appointed officials this year. Berlin fired Town Administrator Laura Allen in September “due to multiple issues,” according to Mayor Gee Williams. The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors and former General Manager John Bailey agreed to part ways in February. At this point, both Berlin and Ocean Pines appear satisfied with promoting from within to fill their vacancies.

•As is usually the case in the first budget after an election year, the Worcester County Commissioners approved increases to the property and income tax rates. The property tax rate increased by a penny and the income tax rate jumped by half of a percent.

•Ocean City did exhaust all legal options in the Rapoport Boardwalk property case, asking the Maryland Court of Appeals to hear the case. The high court ultimately did not decide to review the Court of Special Appeals verdict, which ruled for the family.

•After a stormy 2018 on the geese front in Ocean Pines, there was little news at all to report during this calendar year. Last year hundreds of geese routinely seen around the Ocean Pines North Gate area were euthanized.

•As I thought, the petition effort, which was underway at the end of 2018, fell short of the required signature mark to put Ocean City’s 67th Street land buy to referendum.

•It was predicted the Town of Berlin would not pursue a potential YMCA study for the new Heron Park. That was true, but I had no idea there would be a chemical spill in the year that would leave the entire outlook for the park’s future in doubt.

•Historian Bunk Mann’s second book, “Ghosts in the Surf,” was released this calendar year.

•As I predicted, two Worcester County public schools earned five-star ratings in the second year of the Maryland Report Card accountability system.

•I was right when I surmised Ocean City Elementary would be named a National Blue Ribbon School for the second time.

•As expected, Worcester County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic did replace Diana Purnell as board president before year’s end.

•The year came and went without any plans being announced for the property at the corner of Talbot Street and Baltimore Avenue in Ocean City.

•Though they didn’t like the news, Ocean City officials were told there are no funds available in the immediate future to continue the median fence project. I figured that project would not get further state funding for many years.

I suspect now it may never happen.

What Was I Thinking?

•Ground was not broken on a new convenience store across from the Casino at Ocean Downs. I thought it would happen after the County Commissioners allowed the properties to be rezoned commercial. It might still happen, but no indications at this point.

•Worcester County did fill its vacant economic development director post, naming Kathryn Gordon to the post in June. In my defense, it did take 18 months to fill the vacancy left when Merry Mears joined a private sector firm.

•Though there were some minor delays with retrofitting the space, the Flagship Cinema operation in West Ocean City opened in early summer. I thought construction delays might slow it until mid-summer.

•In summing up the early Democratic challengers to President Trump in 2020, I wrongly predicted Beto O’Rourke of Texas would be the Democratic frontrunner. It would seem that honor goes to former Vice President Joe Biden. O’Rourke dropped out in November.

•Unlike what I predicted – paid parking would be added to Main Street – the first phase of the study on Berlin’s parking situation resulted in no significant changes.

•The first Jellyfish Festival in Ocean City was able to land “at least one national act” despite a date conflict with Firefly Festival in Dover. The concert’s most well-known act was arguably Styx.

•Berlin did not annex property at the intersection of Routes 50 and 346 for a future redevelopment project. However, the town did agree to annex property near the Routes 50 and 818 intersection for a mixed-use project.

•I thought the Alamo Motel in West Ocean City would follow the same wrecking ball fate as the Sands Motel in Fenwick Island. The motel was open and operating this summer with a new lease on life in the restaurant and bar along Route 50.

•I thought it would be the Ravens beating the Saints in the Super Bowl. It was actually the Patriots winning over the Rams.

Still Unclear •It’s unknown at this point whether my prediction a U.S. District Court judge would rule for the Town of Ocean City in the topless battle will be correct. The case has not been decided at year’s end.

Business

Page 44

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

And Real Estate News Branch Manager Named

BERLIN – Shore United Bank announced Lynn Hancock has joined the company as a branch manager for new location in Ocean City scheduled to open next March.

Hancock joins Shore LYNN United Bank with prior HANCOCK experience in consumer and business

banking and knowledge of the Ocean City market area.

“We are excited to have Lynn on our team. Her knowledge of banking and experience in the Ocean City market will be an asset to our expansion.

She has a passion for helping customers reach their financial goals,” said Jennifer Joseph, executive vice president and chief retail banking officer.

“I am proud to work for a bank that

truly cares about the community.

Shore United Bank offers on-the-go banking options with a focus on security, along with personalized service that you would expect from a local, community bank,” says Ms. Hancock.

Firm Announces New Staff SALISBURY – Becker Morgan Group has welcomed three new members to its staff.

“We are excited to welcome these individuals to our team. We look forward to their contributions to help up-hold the exceptional customer service we BETH A. BELL aim to provide our clients as we continue to grow,” said Brad A. Hastings, vice president of Becker Morgan Group.

Beth A. Bell joins the firm as CFO and Associate. She has extensive ex-

December 27, 2019 perience in implementing best-operating practices,efficiencies and structure to organizations. She is passionate about collaborative workplaces and committed to the community.

Meagan G. Bittner is a 2016 graduate of Mercyhurst University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Pre-Architecture.

Since joining the firm as an interior designer, Meagan has played a role in a variety of MEAGAN G. BITTNER projects, including The Ross, a 13-story apartment building coming to downtown Salisbury.

Adam C. Faulkner joins the team as a civil engineering technician. In May, he graduated with an Associate Degree in Architecture Engineering Technologies from ADAM C. Delaware Technical FAULKNER Community College. He has contributed to a variety of projects in Delaware, including conceptual work for two prospective Royal Farms locations.

President Completes Program BERLIN – Michael Franklin, president and chief executive officer of Atlantic General Hospital, has completed Leadership Maryland, a professional development program dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders.

Franklin, who has over 35 years of healthcare management experience, joined Atlantic General Hospital and Health System as its CEO in 2005. During his tenure, Atlantic General Health System’s network of primary care and specialty physician practices has more than doubled in size and the hospital has expanded to incorporate much-needed services.

Franklin was one of 50 applicants chosen MICHAEL by committee to com- FRANKLIN plete Leadership Maryland’s eightmonth hands-on learning program, focused on the state’s most vital social, economic and environmental issues.

“The healthcare industry has experienced a dramatic evolution over the past decade, and it continues to transform as hospitals learn to grapple with factors affecting patient health that fall outside their traditional roles,” said Franklin. “Being a part of Leadership Maryland has provided additional insights into how I can help Atlantic General shape our future to be the best healthcare partner for our residents and visitors.”

Do You Know 15,000 People Read The Dispatch’s Daily Buzz Every Week?

Sign Up At www.mdcoastdispatch.com And Get Local News Each Day.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 45

Page 46

Sports

Seahawks Rout Warriors, Remain Unbeaten

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

In The News

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team routed county rival Pocomoke, 80-21, last Thursday to improve to a perfect 5-0 before the holiday break.

The Seahawks jumped all over Pocomoke early and cruised to the 8021 win. With the win, the Decatur girls are a perfect 5-0 heading into the break.

During the streak, the Seahawks have beaten Kent Island, Snow Hill, Washington, Crisfield and now Pocomoke.

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

Mallards Win In Overtime, End Skid

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity basketball team beat visiting Sussex Academy last week in overtime, 44-35, to end a four-game skid.

After opening the season with an 83-40 win over St. Thomas More, the Mallards had dropped four straight including a pair in the Tip-Off Classic.

Worcester faced Sussex Academy at home last Wednesday on Holiday Sweater Night during a fundraiser for Worcester GOLD and ended the skid with a 44-35 win in overtime.

The Mallards got off to a quick start and led by 10 at the half. However, Worcester went on a scoring drought

in the second half, scoring only five points in the last two quarters. Sussex Academy battled back in the second half and the scored was tied at 32-32 at the end of regulation.

In the overtime period, Ryan Cronin knocked down back-to-back threepointers to give the Mallards a little cushion. Worcester was able to maintain control through the rest of the extra period and cruised to the 44-35 win.

With the win, the Mallards improved to 2-4 on the season. After the holiday break, Worcester opens the second half of the season with a roadgame rematch with St. Thomas More on January 8, followed by a home game against Salisbury School on January 10.

Worcester Girls Rebound With Home Win

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – After suffering its first loss of the season, Worcester Prep’s girls’ varsity basketball team rebounded last week with a 36-25 win over Sussex Academy.

The Mallards started the season in impressive fashion, reeling off five straight including a sweep in the TipOff Classic. Worcester outscored their opponents during the win streak by a combined 263-71. Last Monday, how-

ever, the season-opening streak ended with a 66-47 loss to Delmarva Christian in a key early Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) game.

Back in action last Wednesday at home on Holiday Sweater Night during a fundraiser for Worcester GOLD, the Mallards rebounded with a 36-25 win over Sussex Academy. Worcester led 83 after the first quarter and 14-8 at the half on its way to a fast 6-1 start to the season. After the long holiday break, the Mallards will take on St. Thomas More on the road on January 7.

The Decatur girls have outscored their opponents 300-108 during the five-game streak. They are averaging 60 points a game during the run, while their opponents are mustering a measly 21 points per game.

The Seahawks faced host North Caroline in the North Caroline Holiday Tournament on Thursday and were scheduled to play a second game in the tourney on Friday. After the holiday break, Decatur will face Wicomico on the road on January 7, followed by games against Mardela and Bennett.

Decatur Boys Drop Two, Fall To 3-2

MANAGING EDITOR

Worcester Prep’s Mason Brown goes strong to the hole during the Mallards’ 44-35 overtime win over Sussex Academy last week.

Photo by Steve Green

December 27, 2019

BERLIN – After starting the season with three straight wins, Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team has now dropped two straight to close out the first portion of the season with a 3-2 mark.

The Seahawks were perfect through the first three games, beating Kent Island in overtime in the opener, followed by wins over Snow Hill and Washington. Last week, however, the tables turned somewhat against Decatur with a pair of losses to tough Bayside South teams.

The Seahawks fell to Crisfield,

78-53, at home last Tuesday. Decatur then lost a tough one to Worcester County rival Pocomoke on Thursday by nearly the same score at 79-56. The Seahawks played its opener on Thursday in the Governor’s Challenge holiday tournament against Georgetown Day in a game played to late to be included in this edition.

Decatur will play its second game in the Governor’s Challenge on Friday. After that, the schedule really ramps up after the holiday break with a home game against Wicomico on January 7, followed by other conference games against Mardela and Bennett.

Decatur Wrestlers Stay Undefeated

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling stayed on an early season roll last week, sweeping Kent County and Cambridge-South Dorchester in a dual meet on Wednesday to improve to 3-0.

The Seahawks started the season with a big win in the prestigious Rough Rider Tournament, followed by a rout of Mardela, 83-0, in their conference opener. Last week, Decatur swept two in a dual meet, beating Kent County, 77-6, and CambridgeSouth Dorchester 75-4.

In the Kent County match, at 106, Teddy Sites won by forfeit, but Kent County’s Alex Bellarin defeated Logan Intrieri and the match was tied at 6-6. Decatur then ran the table to close out the 77-6 win. The run started with a win by Shamar Baines over Nathaniel Hickman at 120.

Jagger Clapsadle then beat Aron Pinder at 126, followed by Dustin Morrow’s victory over Alystair McKenzie at 132. Nico D’Amico beat Gabe Yiannakis at 138, followed by a win by Kyle Elliott over Kevin Mallory at 145.

Noah Reho kept the run going

with a win over Brandon Cannon at 152 and Alex Koulikov beat Will Ashmore at 160. Darren Taylor beat Kregg Walton at 170, Micah Bourne kept it going with a win at 182, John Hoffman beat Brandon Crouch at 195, Jonathan Church won by forfeit at 220 and T.D. Ortega beat Rick Townsend at 285.

A similar result played out in the Seahawks’ match with CambridgeSouth Dorchester. Sites won by forfeit at 106 and Baines beat David Willis at 113. After Clapsadle won by forfeit at 126, Jayden Kriner beat Trejan King at 132.

D’Amico beat Davion Stafford at 138 before Elliott won by forfeit at 145 and Reho won by forfeit at 152.

Koulikov beat Anthony Weiss at 160 and Taylor beat Javant Rolle at 170.

Bourne won by forfeit at 182, Hoffman won by forfeit at 195, Church beat Troy Wongus at 220 and Ortega beat Kiambre Taylor at 285.

Next up for the Seahawks are the Iron Horse Duals at C. Milton Wright where Decatur has enjoyed success recently. Last year, the Seahawks went 7-1 as a team and finished third overall. Five Seahawks went unbeaten during the tournament. The Iron Horse Duals are set for next weekend.

Decatur Girls Sweep Nandua, Easton December 27, 2019

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity swim team swept two meets last week to improve to 3-0 on the season.

After beating Pocomoke in the season opener two weeks ago, the Decatur girls beat Nandua, 129-34, last Tuesday, followed by a tough 52-42 win over a strong Easton team last Thursday. In the Nandua meet, the Decatur girls took first place in every single event.

In the 200-yard freestyle, Natalie Canham finished first, while Emma Coyman was first in the 200-yard individual medley. Gracie Coker was first in the 50-yard freestyle and Emma Sperry was first in the 100-yard butterfly.

Farrah Brown finished first in the 100-yard freestyle, while Katelyn Pizlo won the 500-yard freestyle. Canham

Seahawks Solid In 7th Pat Russo Meet

SNOW HILL – Stephen Decatur’s varsity indoor track teams turned in solid performances last week in the Pat Russo Invitational, an annual holiday meet featuring teams from across Delmarva named for the program’s longtime coach.

This year marked the seventh annual Pat Russo Invitational, named for the Decatur track coach and legend who ran the program for 41 years before retiring. On the boys’ side, Jaden Holland finished 43rd in the 50-meter dash. Raul Gault finished 20th in the 300, while Garrett Herr was 36th.

Gault finished 12th in the 500 and Gavin McCabe came in 23rd. Sam Rakowski was 15th in the 800, while Tristan Dutton was 21st and Philip Becnel was 22nd.

Samuel Woodley was 10th in the 1,600, while George Cheynet came in 11th. Liam Foley was ninth in the 3,200 and Dutton was 19th. Samuel Oates came in 17th in the 55-meter hurdles, while Zachary Fuchsluger was 28th. In the relays, the Decatur boys finished 16th in the 4x200 and eighth in the 4x800. Zach Hickman finished 23rd in the shot put.

On the girls’ side, Jabria Lewis finished 31st in the 50-meter dash.

Amelia Kemp was 22nd in the 300, while Audrey Grace-Mumford was 29th. Alyssa Romano finished 12th in the 500 and Caroline Gardner finished 17th. Mary Mergott came in eighth in the 800, while Devon Kramer was 13th.

Mergott also finished 10th in the 1,600, while Julia Carson was 20th.

Alexandria Urbanski was 21st in the 55-meter hurdles, while Lewis was 23rd and Summer Brenner was 25th.

In the relays, the Decatur girls finished 14th in the 4x200, 11th in the 4x400 and fifth in the 4x800. Taya Price was 14th in the high jump and Zoriah Shockley was 11th in the shot put.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

was first in the 100-yard backstroke and Coyman finished first in the 100yard breaststroke.

In the relays, the team of Mikayla Denault, Coyman, Kennedy Hamby and Kiley Hamby finished first in the 200-yard freestyle relay. In the 400yard freestyle relay, the team including Sperry, Canham, Pizlo and Coker took first place.

“I’m very proud of the girls’ performances tonight,” said Coach Kristina Watts. “Our newcomers are really strengthening the depth of the girls’ team. Our returners are finding new favorite events that they excel in.

Since our team is so well-rounded, they’re able to swim most any event.”

Back in action last Wednesday, the Decatur girls found themselves in a tough meet with Easton, but pulled out the 52-42 win. In the 100-yard butterfly, Sperry took first, while Brown took first in the 100-yard freestyle and Canham took first in the 100-yard backstroke. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the team including Coyman, Sperry, Pizlo and Brown took first place.

“Easton has strong swimmers on their team that had amazing performances, but our depth allowed us to pull out the win,” said Watts. “Our girls pushed themselves in some close races that showed the fire for competition they have. These girls’ work ethic and positive attitude are really showing in the meets.”

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Puzzle Answers

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A

The Adventures Of Fatherhood

By STEVE GREEN

(Editor’s Note: Due to early deadlines this week, I dusted off an archive from Christmas week 2009 for republication.) morning spent in the emergency room will surely make this a Christmas I will never forget.

My oldest son, Beckett, is a “bruiser.” I find him hilarious, particularly during meals of late when he consistently points to the high-chair tray and says “down, down, down,” meaning he wants the food put down in front of him now or at least at a quicker clip. He continued to live up to his nickname on Christmas Day when a mishap involving a box, containing a Diego toilet, and a wall led us to the ER. Christmas morning was a wonderful time, and, although Beckett is just 19 months old, he seemed to be enthralled with what transpired in the house from the time he went to bed on Christmas Eve to the next morning. The transformation was not lost on him. Carson, the 7-week-old, on the other hand, slept through all the excitement nearby.

Pam had Christmas morning all planned out in her head. The idea was to provide a wonderland of sorts for our unsuspecting toddler. Although he does not get the entire Santa Claus and Christmas thing yet, we figured we could still have some fun with him this year.

The plan was to simply let Beckett walk into the Christmas tree room like it was any other morning and capture his reaction on video. It was priceless. He was obviously overwhelmed by it all, repeating in his cute kid voice “wow” and “whoa,” while looking all around the room and clapping his hands in excitement.

After he rummaged through some of the bigger toys and some of his new and cherished board books, we

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decided to open some gifts ourselves.

There we were enjoying the excitement of Christmas morning when we spotted Beckett standing atop the box, which was about eight inches off the floor. This was nothing new and situations like this play out repeatedly around our house.

However, as luck would have it, just before I could get to him to bring him off the box, he clumsily fell backwards, hitting the wall with his head.

The only unusual aspect of this tumble was the fact he hit the corner of the wall. It was a direct hit, splitting open his head with a sizable gash. I was initially unaware how serious it was because he quickly stopped crying. A few minutes later, we were on our way to AGH when we noticed blood in his hair.

As you may recall, this marked the second ER visit for Beckett in the last two months. That initial stop was a completely different experience from the one on Christmas. The previous encounter was highly concerning because he was vomiting and suffering from extreme dehydration. We were worried and troubled over his welfare at the time.

The Christmas day visit was not quite as disturbing. Perhaps it was Beckett’s silly demeanor in the hospital or maybe just the fact it was the second experience.

There was not as much stress this time because we knew this was just a minor injury, one that we would later discover needed only two stitches to heal. Some sizable gash, huh?

It’s simple after a few days to make light of the situation, but there were certainly some uncomfortable moments at the time. It tore me up on that first ER visit to watch Beckett be physically restrained to have some tests run as well as to have an IV put in. This second experience was not any easier when it came to that. It will

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

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always be tortuous to witness my kid be manhandled by strangers, even if it’s for his own good. It’s extremely difficult to watch and I do not see myself ever being able to handle that well.

In this latest round in the ER, my son had to be placed face first on the bed because the cut was on the back of his head. While a burly male nurse pinned him down, the physician stitched him up. Beckett, of course, wailed the entire time, while Pam sang a rendition of “Wheels on the Bus” to try and distract him. Meanwhile, I watched the procedure intently to fight off those silly fatherhood emotions.

Pam and I later wondered if his crying fit was a result of him being restrained or actually the pain, which was supposed to be addressed by a topical anesthetic. I think most of his agitation was because he was immobilized despite his objections.

The entire ER experience lasted less than two hours, and it was a small blip on a busy Christmas day.

In reflecting on the incident, what made the situation so easy to handle, on what could have been a bear of a day, was Beckett’s resilience. I often marvel at kids’ short attention spans and their ability to move past things.

As quickly as they get worked up over something, they are soon relaxed, distracted and interested in something else. They have an uncanny ability to bounce back from something troubling at the time.

As quickly as this incident happened, my kid was over it. He had no problem putting the incident behind him. In fact, he went straight for that Diego box when we walked in the door.

That box was soon out of the house.

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December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 49

News In Photos

The Dunes Manor Hotel hosted the Worcester County Developmental Center for lunch and a Christmas choral performance last week. The arrangements were made by the Ocean City Lioness Club and member June Todd directed the choir.

The Ocean Pines Ladies Golf Association (OPLGA) held its Annual Pink Lady Golf Tournament at the Ocean Pines Golf & Country Club in October to raise money to help provide mammogram screenings through the Eunice Q. Sorin Women’s Diagnostics Center at Atlantic General Hospital. The association raised $1,608 this year, bringing total contributions over six years to more than $8,400 raised for the center. Pictured, from left, are Susan Morris, OPLGA; Colleen Wareing, vice president of patient care services at AGH; Carolyn Neal, OPGLA; Michael Franklin, hospital president and CEO; Ann Shockley, OPLGA; and Don McMullen, OPMGA. Submitted Photos

The Ocean Pines Anglers Club presented its 2019 Angler of the Year Awards at the December meeting. Winners were Bruce Polley, bluefish 24 ½ inches; Budd Heim and Kevin Welkner, tie, tautog 17 inches; Budd Heim, flounder, 24 inches; Dave Rippy, weakfish, 21 inches; Tom Nelson, black drum, 27 ¾ inches; Budd Heim, sheepshead, 22 ¾ inches; Becky Clark, large-mouth bass, 29 inches; and Walter Klein, freshwater trout, 15 inches. Pictured, from, left, are Rippy, Nelson and Heim.

Members from the Surfrider Foundation of Ocean City gave a presentation at a recent meeting of the Democratic Women's Club of Worcester County (DWC).

The next meeting will be on Jan. 20, 2020 at the Ocean Pines Community Center at 9:30 a.m. Pictured, from left, are Surfrider Foundation's Jane Robinson, Leah Fuller and Bonnie Preziosi and DWC VP Harriet Batis.

Maryland, Delaware and DC State Association President John Loftus visited Ocean City Elks Lodge 2645 this month to build bridges between the lodge and the state association. Loftus is shown with local lodge officers as well as other state association dignitaries.

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Page 50

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1 On eligible fixed-rate and adjustable rate first mortgages, PenFed will give a promotional credit of .50% of the loan amount not to exceed $20,000. To receive the maximum amount offered of $20,000, the loan amount must be $4 million. The average promo savings is $1,416 as a lender credit. Available when obtaining an eligible mortgage through PenFed, using a network real estate agent and using our affiliated title providers. In states where PenFed does not have an affiliated title company, and in Florida, New York and Texas, members can choose their own title company and still be eligible for the promotion. The application of additional loan level pricing adjustment will be determined by various loan attributes to include but not limited to the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, credit score, transaction type, property type, product type, occupancy, and subordinate financing. Promotion available for the purchase of a primary residence, second home or investment property only. The promotional credit cannot be used for the downpayment. Other restrictions may apply.On eligible fixed rate VA mortgages, PenFed will give a promotional credit of 0.50% of the total loan amount. Loan amounts available up to Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) 2019 loan limits for the One-Unit Limit. While a veteran may use the promotion to acquire a property up to 2-units in size, the total loan amount will be based on the One-Unit (single-family residence) limit for the county in which the collateral is located. Veteran may finance the funding fee and still be eligible for the promotional credit even if the addition of the financed funding fee exceeds the county loan limit. Available when obtaining an eligible mortgage through PenFed, using a network real estate agent and using our affiliate title providers. In states where PenFed does not have an affiliated title company, and in Florida, New York and Texas, members can choose their own title company and still be eligible for the promotion. Promotion available for the purchase of a primary residence. Applicant is responsible for VA funding fee. Lender credit cannot be used for downpayment. Other restrictions may apply.

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December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 51

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Page 52

Best Beats

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

on the beach

Who’s Where When 28th/127th st. Pit & Pub 410-289-2020 • 443-664-7482 28th st. & coastaL hWy. & 127th st. & coastaL hWy. Wednesdays: DJ Wax (28th St.) atLantic hoteL 410-641-3589 2 north Main st., berLin Mondays: Earl Beardsley Tuesdays: Bob Miller on Piano

otto grundMan crabcake Factory: thursdays

everett sPeLLs Fager’s island: sunday, dec. 29, tuesday, dec. 31, nye & Wednesday Jan. 1

buxy’s saLty dog/ dry dock 28 410-289-0973 28th st. & coastaL hWy. Friday, Dec. 27: Darin Engh

cLarion hoteL 410-524-3535 10100 coastaL hWy. Ocean Club: Monday, Dec. 30: First Class Tuesday, Dec. 31: First Class, On The Edge Fridays & Saturdays: DJ Dusty

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greene turtLe north 410-723-2120 11601 coastaL hWy. Friday, Dec. 27: The Rockoholics, 3 p.m., DJ BK, 10 p.m.

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December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 53

Who’s Where When Chuck D, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 31: NYE: DJ Billy T, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 1: Dust N Bones, 2 p.m.

Thursdays: Opposite Directions

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IV STONE Fager’s Island: Tuesday, Dec. 31, NYE

HARPOON HANNA’S 302-539-3095 • RT. 54 & THE BAY, FENWICK ISLAND, DE Friday, Dec. 27: Dave Hawkins, Saturday, Dec. 28: Dave Sherman, Glass Onion Tuesday, Dec. 31: NYE: DJ Jon Boi Thursday, Jan. 2: Kevin Poole HOOTERS 410-213-1841 12513 OCEAN GATEWAY, RTE. 50, WEST OC Friday, Dec. 27: TBA

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JOHNNY’S PIZZA & PUB 410-723-5600 RT. 54 FENWICK ISLAND, DE Tuesday, Dec. 31: NYE: & Wednesdays: Randy Lee Ashcraft & The Saltwater Cowboys PICKLES PUB 410-289-4891 8TH ST. & PHILADELPHIA AVE. Friday, Dec. 27: Beats By Jeremy Saturday, Dec. 28: Beats By Adam Dutch Mondays: Karaoke W/ Jeremy Tuesday, Dec. 31: NYE: Beats By Crop Top Wednesdays: Beats By Styler Thursdays: Beats By Wax

LIME GREEN BAND Greene Turtle West: Tuesday, Dec. 31, NYE

THE ROCKOHOLICS Greene Turtle North: Friday, Dec. 27

LAUREN GLICK DUO Crabcake Factory Bayside: Tuesday, Dec. 31, NYE

GLASS ONION Harpoon Hanna’s: Saturday, Dec. 28

NOW TAKING TRANSFER STUDENTS INSTITUTE OF COSMETOLOGY

SMITTY MCGEE’S 302-436-4716 37234 LIGHTHOUSE RD., WEST FENWICK IRELAND, DE Thursdays & Fridays: Randy Lee Ashcraft & The Saltwater Cowboys SEACRETS 410-524-4900 49TH ST. & COASTAL HWY. Friday, Dec. 27: DJ Tuff, JJ Rupp Band Saturday, Dec. 28: Whiskeyhickon Boys, Stellar Mojo Tuesday, Dec. 31: NYE: Nowhere Slow, Lima Bean Riot, Full Circle, JJ Rupp Band, Garden State Radio, 4 DJs Wednesday, January 1: JJ Rupp Band, DJ Bobby O

Page 54

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019

Some more photos this week from local customer appreciation parties and holiday gatherings, including Pickles Pub, Fager’s Island and the Greene Turtle West.

Pickles Pub: John Schinault, Tom Zinkand, Julie McCabe, Chuck Zeffiro, Sarah Cooley, Colin Topping and Zeppelin

By Terri French

Faces

SPOTLIGHT ON THE REGIONAL RESTAURANT AND BAR SCENE

Pickles Pub: Owners Brittney & Justin Acita and boys Hendrix, Quincy & Zeppelin

In Places

Fager’s Island: General Manager Kevin Myers (right) & Family, Eliza, Cole, Sage & Sasha

Greene Turtle West: Ron & Pat Frommeyer, Bean & Boz Jefferson

Fager’s Island: Dining Room Maitre D Tasty & Sally Borman

Fager’s Island Bartenders: Mike Stienen, Morgan Blasko and Jeff Kauffman

Fager’s Island: Owner John & Brother Raymond Fager

Greene Turtle West: Managers Chad & Kelly and daughter Kaelyn Rogers

Pickles Pub: Paula Gulla, Gary Crouthamel and Kate Gray

Greene Turtle West: Ugly Sweaters Winners, Tammy & Dale Miller

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Things I Like ...

By Steve Green

Not working the day after Christmas

Pulling off huge surprises on my kids NFL on Saturdays

Catered office lunches

Joe Burrow’s Heisman speech Checking out the new stuff with a phone upgrade

Amazon Prime’s quick and free shipping to the rescue

A positive end to an up-and-down day Short work weeks

Christmas chorus concerts

When cheap seats have good views

Page 55

Continuous Bike Route Through OC Remains A Goal

Page 56

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

OCEAN CITY – Efforts to seek easements for the use of a bike route could move forward in Ocean City.

Earlier this month, Councilman Tony DeLuca presented the Ocean City Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) with a plan to seek license of use easements from hotels in the downtown and midtown areas of the resort.

DeLuca, a liaison to the committee, said the easements would allow the

town to establish a continual bike route from one end the resort to the other without using Coastal Highway and other busy thoroughfares.

“License of use was an obscure law that Guy Ayres found, that if a hotel grants and signs an easement for recreational use of bikes they are not held liable,” he said.

DeLuca explained the town had worked with the owners of a hotel on 29th Street to place a bike route through the hotel’s parking lot. He said he’d hoped the same could be done at other

December 27, 2019

locations.

“I’m thinking the next step here is we just get a list of hotels downtown and midtown … and we just go after each one, go talk to whoever is in charge,” he said. “We explain it to them.”

Using GIS mapping of the resort, DeLuca said committee members could identify hotels and seek easements to allow people to bike through the properties.

“Let’s do some easy stuff first …,” he said. “We’ll talk to people we know

and if they say, ‘no way,’ so be it.”

DeLuca said efforts to secure hotel easements would be low-hanging fruit for the town as it tries to develop a bike route along the side streets of Ocean City. He said the biggest challenge would be establishing a bike route near resort condominiums.

“Everyone knows condos are just about impossible. You’ll never get the right to go through a condo …,” he said. “They can always use Coastal Highway, but that’s what we’re trying to avoid. So if they are trying to avoid it, they can dismount and walk the condo blocks.”

Committee President Paul Mauser agreed to revisit the issue at the next meeting in January.

“This is what I call really, really heavy lifting,” DeLuca said. “It’s about as heavy as we can get.”

The committee this month also agreed to plans for a BPAC webpage.

Officials said the page would feature information on the group, as well as links to other websites.

“It’s to have more of an online presence for our committee,” Mauser said.

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SU Senior Interned With Football Team’s Fan Relations

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

SALISBURY – While some students spend their summers cheering their favorite team at sports games or dancing next to the stage at concerts, Salisbury University senior Hailey Dougherty, of Nazareth, Pa., got experience on the other side of the ticket booth.

The marketing major and communications minor interned in ticket office fan relations at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, working such major events as an Eagles preseason football game and Rolling Stones concert. The internship was part of the Applied Business Learning Experience (ABLE) that is required of all students graduating from SU’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business.

On regular days, Dougherty would answer questions from fans at the ticket office, but she also helped plan and organize activities for big events. Although she liked the regular routine in the ticket office, she said event days were her favorite.

“It was fun having all the fans come to the stadium,” Dougherty said. “The normal schedule was nice because I could just go in and get tasks done, but even though event days were busy, interacting with the

SU’s Hailey Dougherty, who will graduate next spring, is pictured at the Eagles’ home stadium.

Submitted Photo

fans was always such a great time.”

More than anything else, Dougherty

Page 57

said her communication skills were honed through her internship. She answered phone calls and emails from fans, and each day brought new challenges and experiences. In a digital age, many stadiums are moving to electronic tickets, so she said she often had to help attendees who had been using printed tickets their entire life get used to the mobile platform.

“There were a lot of frustrated people sometimes, but I always had to find a happy medium no matter who the customer was or what problem they had,”

HERE’S MY CARD

Dougherty said.

In addition to the interpersonal skills she gained, she said one of the most valuable aspects of her internship was the opportunity to network with people in the sports community, including the social media director for the Eagles.

“A lot of people working for the Eagles know other people with NFL teams, so it was a lot of networking in a smallknit community,” Dougherty said.

Dougherty, who plays volleyball for SU, said her dream job is to work in marketing or social media for an NFL team.

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Page 58

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Horoscopes

December 27, 2019

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): The New Year brings challenges that can change many things in your life.

You need to be prepared not only to confront them, but also to deal with what happens afterward.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): You have what it takes to set your goals quite a bit higher this year. Learn what you need to know and put what you learn into your efforts. A partner offers loving support.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): In true Gemini Twin fashion, you're conflicted about a decision you know you'll have to make in this New Year. Best advice: Get the facts before you make any commitment.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): A friend offers you an exciting opportunity for this New Year. Although your positive aspects are strong in most respects, caution is advised. Investigate before you invest.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): You can make this New Year a roaring success. Start by readjusting your goals to reflect the changes in the economy.

Your den mate offers both wise and loving support.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): The New Year brings new opportunities for change. But you need to be ready to move from the comfortable status quo to the challenging unknown. It's up to you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Your most important New Year's resolution should be to work out problems with a family member in order to avoid continuing misunderstandings. Do it soon, for both of your sakes.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): The New Year has much to offer the intensely determined Scorpian, who isn't afraid to take on challenges and stay with them until they surrender their rewards.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): You'll have many fine opportunities in this New Year. But be warned: Reject offers of "help." You work best when you're free to be your own creative self.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): The New Year offers changes that you might feel you're not quite ready for.

Best advice: Deal with them one step at a time, until you've built up your self-confidence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): Travel is a dominant aspect of the New Year. This could mean relocating to another city (or even another country) in connection with your education or your career.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): This New Year brings news about a change you've been anticipating. You might have a problem persuading a loved one about your new plans, but he or she will soon go along with them.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for making people feel safe and protected. You would make an excellent youth counselor. Š 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Dave Leiderman

MD & DE BEACHES REALTOR®, ABR, SRS, SFR Mobile: 443-235-3828 •ocledo@gmail.com DE Office: 302-360-0300

PANORAMIC WATER VIEWS!

Page 59

6200 Coastal Highway, Suite 101 Ocean City, Maryland 21842 410-524-6400

Lauren A. Smith Realtor Licensed MD and DE • 410-245-9915 • LaurenASmith@KW.com ®

DIRECT BAYFRONT!

Coral Seas #110 • 7601 Coastal Highway, OC

34895 Alda Lane Bethany Beach

39670 Baltimore Street Bethany Beach

Custom built 5BR/5.5BA home on large lot overlooking Jefferson Creek and "Rabbit Island", an unbuildable 12 acre island rife with shorebirds of all kinds! Almost 200' of bulkhead including private boat ramp. Perfect for boaters of all kinds!

Open floor plan with lots of windows for plenty of natural light and water views. Every bedroom has own full bathroom. 3472 sf plus two unfinished areas upstairs that can be used to expand the home. Lots of storage. $1,395,000

2-story 4BR/2.5BA cottage has views for miles!

Facing due south, you can enjoy the sun all day long, along with some of the best sunsets you'll ever see! Lounge on your large deck as your loved ones play in the backyard. Features remodeled bathrooms, new HVAC, new vinyl siding, new flooring and much, much more! All within a walk to the beach. If you're looking for waterfront this is the one - the only bayfront property for sale in Bethany Beach! $949,000

WOW!

CHARMING!

Large 3 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath Beach Home with Bay View from Balcony, only 1 Block East of Ocean. Shows like a Model! Beautifully Furnished and Decorated. Rooftop Pool with Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Bay, Fully Equipped Work-Out Room, Secured Elevator, Under Building Parking, Storage Locker. Located Midtown, Walking Distance to Shops and Restaurants. $379,900

Aronimink #7B • 306 13th St, OC

2BR/2BA Canal Waterfront Condo with Deeded 23’ Boat Slip with Easy Access to Bay. Watch the famous White Marlin Open WeighIns from your dock area. Spacious Balcony with Storage Unit overlooks Canal and Boat Slip. Beach just a short distance away, along with boardwalk, shopping, great restaurants. Fully Furnished. New HVAC 2019 In/Out. Building recently painted. $240,000

Ready To Help You Achieve Your Real Estate Goals in 2020.

Let’s make the New Year, an extraordinary one!

Brenda Friesen, Associate Broker

Cell: 410.935.1665 • Email: bfriesen76@comcast.net

39665 Baltimore Street Bethany Beach

12 Moby Dick Drive Ocean Pines

6BR/3.5BA on the water in Bayview Park! The perfect retreat for buyer who craves space and water views! Tucked away off Route 1, home overlooks Cedar Pond and can access Little Assawoman Bay in mere minutes! Remodeled bathrooms, outside shower, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, outdoor fireplace and more! You must see inside! Looking for a place to tie your boat up to? This is the one! $929,000

3BR/2BA home in North Gate. Come relax on your front deck or on the screened porch to take in the natural beauty of the wooded landscape!

Well maintained and cared for, this home also features cathedral ceilings and wood stove!

Affordably priced and waiting for its new owner.

Whether looking for a beach home or a year round residence, this property is the one to consider! $199,999

IDEAL MIDTOWN LOCATION!

NO TOWN TAXES!

15 45th Street #102 Ocean City

31619 Wilmington Street Ocean View

Large 3BR/2BA oceanblock condo. New HVAC, flooring, carpet, paint, and refrigerator! Unit has been meticulously maintained and upgraded over the years! Other features include fireplace, large balcony, Jacuzzi tub, ceramic tile, wainscoting and more! Outdoor pool. Just steps to ocean, shopping, restaurants! Excellent rental history! $379,900

Large Class C home with no town taxes, lot rent or HOA! Plenty of room in this 3BR/2BA home only minutes from the beach! Use as a summer retreat or as a primary residence! Close to lots of shopping and restaurants! Outside shower, eat in kitchen, full size laundry room and more! $185,000

Ben Dawson

410-603-2205 • BenDawson@beachin.net

Makai

www.makaicondos.com 4201 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD Fully Furnished Condos with Bay Views in an Almost New Building! Located next to Convention Center just 1 Block to Beach. Indoor Tropical Pool, Sauna, Fitness Center, Sun Deck, TV Lounge, Billiards Room, Activity Room, Security, Bike & Beach Storage and Much More.

Great Building Amenities + Great Management = Great Rental Potential!

Several Units to Choose From! Ocean and/or Bay Views!

Studio #303 - $129,900 • Studio #209 - $137,000 • 2BR/2BA #602 - $274,900

Sunrise Sea

Spacious, exceptionally well maintained 2BR/2BA ocean side condo. Double wide balcony allows for ocean and bay views. Fully furnished, 1000 sf, steps to beach, restaurants.

Pool, elevator, under-building parking, easy access in and out of town. $299,900

Page 60

Tending bar and shucking oysters was the marching orders for this motley crew of Kevin Hughes, Chuck Burnett and Dick Cooke at the Holy Savior Parish Annual Christmas Bazaar.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

People

By Jeanette Deskiewicz

FEATURING THOSE HELPING CAUSES IN THE RESORT AREA

Looking festive at the West OC Dough Roller were Gail Butler and Debbie Ruby for the Downtown Association December After Dark.

In Society

December 27, 2019

Happy to share their new Dough Boy’s Bar with OC Downtown Association Members during the December After Dark, were Kevin Gibbs, Bekah Link, Jean Borysowski, Crystal Jennings, and Keith Melvin of the West OC Dough Roller.

Pouring hot chocolate on Winterfest of Lights opening night were Ellen Tsakalas, Laura Hill, Mike Luboff, Diane Wormann and Arthur Thomas of the OC Recreation Boosters.

Birthday Boy Danny Hicks celebrated with his wife, Anita, at the Ocean Pines Chamber Holiday Party before heading out to watch football.

Dressed in their holiday best at the Ocean Pines Chamber Office were Marlene Ott and State Senator Mary Beth Carozza for the Ugly Sweater Holiday Party.

Find all those last minute gifts in the Winterfest Village Pavilion with Darlene Woodside and Wendy Mindte at the checkout booth on opening night.

Ringing up purchases in the “dollar store” of the Holy Savior Parish Annual Christmas Bazaar were Rich Brown and Lucy Lunnen.

At the Holy Savior Parish Annual Christmas Bazaar, Mary Jock and Linda Foster sold a variety of plants and flowers in the greenhouse corner.

You can always count on Carole Royce and Judy Fallon to light up your night, during opening night of the Winterfest of Lights each year.

December 27, 2019

Every Monday: TOPS Meeting 5:30-6:30 p.m. Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a support group promoting weight loss and maintaining a healthy life-style.410-641-0157.

Every Monday: Delmarva Chorus Meeting 7 p.m. Ocean Pines Community Center.

Women of all ages invited to sing with the group. 410-641-6876.

Second Monday Of Month: Ocean Pines Camera Club 7 p.m. Ocean Pines branch library. Monthly get-together to share photos, tips, programs. Group goes on a photo shoot the Saturday following meeting and hosts a hands-on workshop the last Thursday of each month. Professional and amateur photographers and new members welcome.

Meets second Monday of each month.

Every Tuesday: TOPS Meeting 5:30-7 p.m. Worcester County Health Center, 9730 Healthway Dr., Berlin. Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a support and educational group promoting weight loss and healthy lifestyle. jeanduck47@gmail.com.

Second Tuesday of Month: Eastern Shore Stamp Club Meeting 6 p.m. Salisbury branch, Wicomico County Library. Meetings held in basement.

Every Wednesday: Delmarva Hand Dance Club Dance To Sounds of ’50s And ’60s Music 5:30-9 p.m. Ocean City Elks Lodge, 13708

Things To Do The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Sinepuxent Ave. $5 donation per person to benefit veterans and local charities in the Delmarva region. Members and guests welcome. dance@delmarvahanddancing.com or http://delmarvahanddancing.com.

410-208-1151.

Every Wednesday: Rotary Club The Ocean City-Berlin Rotary Club meets Wednesdays on a weekly basis at the Residence Inn in Ocean City at 6 p.m.

Second Wednesday: Polish American Club Of Delmarva Meeting 2-4 p.m. Columbus Hall. Anyone of Polish or Slavic descent is welcome. No meetings June, July, August. 410-723-2639 or 410250-2548.

Every Thursday: Beach Singles 45 Plus, happy hour 4-7 p.m., Clarion Hotel, 10100 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City. 302-4369577, 410-524-0649, beachsingles.org.

Second Thursday: Ocean Pines Garden Club 10 a.m. Ocean Pines Community Center.

Visitors and new members welcome.

Every Friday: Knights Of Columbus #9053 Bingo Doors open at 5 p.m., bingo at 6:30 p.m. 9901 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City. Possible to win the $1,000 big jackpot each week. 410-524-7994.

Every Friday: FORGE Contemporary Youth And Family Ministry 6:30-8:30 p.m. FORGE Center, 7804 Gumboro Rd., Pittsville. Designed for kids ages 5-65, the program provides a meal, music, games, activities and a life lesson that can be of use to anyone. Christian-based program but does not require the practice of faith to attend. 443-366-2813.

First Saturday Of Month: Writers Group 10 a.m.-noon. Berlin branch, Worcester County Library. Anyone interested in writing is invited to join the group and share a story, poem or essay or just come and enjoy listening to others. This is a free activity. New members are always welcome.

The group is comprised of amateur as well as professional, published writers willing to

Page 61 share their knowledge and offer tips on being creative with words.

December 28: Breakfast Buffet Whaleyville United Methodist Church will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 7-10 a.m. Adult, $8; child, $4.

December 31: New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Berlin hosting two NYE ball drop events, first for the kids from 5-6 p.m. (ball drop 6 p.m. outside Heart of Gold) with adult event from 10 p.m.-12:30 with DJs Big Al Reno and Schwab with dancing, beer and food vendors (ball drop midnight).

January 1: New Year’s Day Walk Public invited to join Assateague Coastal Trust to celebrate Assateague Island’s legacy at 1 p.m. at Assateague State Park.

Event will be held rain, snow or shine. Meet at the concession building.

January 3: Cash Bingo The Bishopville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will host with doors opening 5 p.m. and early birds beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Regular games begin at 7 p.m. Food and beverages available for purchase. 619922-9950 to reserve tickets.

January 11: Spaghetti Dinner ABATE of Sussex County is hosting an allyou-can-eat spaghetti dinner 3-7 p.m. at East Sussex Moose Lodge in Frankford.

Door prizes available every hour. Cost is $10 per person; $5 for children (ages 4-12).

The Dispatch Classifieds

Page 62

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch PUT YOUR LOGO IN COLOR FOR JUST $10

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

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

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

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

December 27, 2019

LACROSSE COACHES Worcester Preparatory School, a coeducational college preparatory day school serving over 500 students in grades PK-12, is currently seeking an Assistant Coach for Boys Varsity and Head Coach for Boys Middle School. Minimum of 2 yrs. experience and CJIS Background Screening required.

EOE

Contact: Matt McGinnis 410-641-3575 or mmcginnis@worcesterprep.org Work With the Best Ocean City has to Offer ...

We Invite You to be a Part of our Family!

Year Round - Full/Part time ~HOST/HOSTESS ~BANQUET SERVER ~SERVER ~BARTENDER ~BUSSER ~FOOD RUNNER ~LINE COOKS ~FRONT DESK ~LOBBY ATTENDANT ~POOL ATTENDANTS ~MAINTENANCE ~SECURITY GUARDS ~WASH ROOM ~HOUSESTAFF ~ROOM ATTENDANTS

HELP WANTED YR MAINTENANCE: 32-40 hrs/week. Handy in all areas. Must be dependable. Have own tools and trans. Send resume to: fred@paradiseoc.com or call 410250-1111.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CENTURY TAXI: Now hiring Taxi Driver. 443-235-5664.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– RENTAL ASSISTANT: Must have good customer service skills. Good benefits. Knowledge of Ccean City a must. Send resume to: keti@shorepro.com.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SOUTHSIDE GRILL WOC: Hiring Line Cooks, Kitchen Help, Dishwashers. YR, FT or PT. Ambitious, willing to work individuals only. Pay neg. based on performance. 9923 Stephen Decatur Hy. 410-2131572.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GO-CART SMALL ENGINE MECHANIC NEEDED: FT/YR. Call 410-289-4902 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

FREE EMPLOYEE MEALS AND EXCELLENT BENEFITS!

Selbyville Goose Creek Fenwick Goose Creek Hiring for all positions.

For Both Locations Apply Online www.mygcjob.com

Assawoman Ale Shoppe Hiring for all positions.

Apply within store.

52nd Street, Bayside, OC.

Currently hiring manpower for

sales & DesIGn COnsUltant

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

FAX RESUME & SALARY REQ. to: 410-723-9109 Online at www.clarionoc.com APPLY IN PERSON Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

CLARION RESORT FONTAINEBLEAU HOTEL 10100 COASTAL HWY. OCEAN CITY, MD. 21842 EOE M/F/D/V

FT Administrative Assistant / GlenRiddle Community, $15 hr.

Must be well-spoken, customer service-oriented, reliable and able to multi-task at a quick pace. Off Season hrs are 8:30am to 5:00pm, Mon–Fri. Week prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day, hrs are 10:00am to 8:00pm Wed – Sat. Call 410.213.1554 to schedule an interview.

Visit legumnorman.com/careers/job #3219 to download resume.Background check and drug screen required.

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Rentals

YEAR ROUND TOWNHOUSE: 3BR 2.5 BA, Furn. Modern appl’s, W/D, 117th ST. Bayside on canal. $1500. per mo. No pets, call 410-848-1767. dougherty35@aol.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NORTH OC: Spacious 4BR, 2BA. Unfurn. Lrg. Kitch., LR, florida Rm. New Appl’s. On water. $1600 per mo. + util.’s No pets. 443-856-5693 (text only) or 718-986-7382.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FURNISHED WINTER RENTALS 2BR, 1BA Bayshore Dr. $900 per mo.

3BR, 2BA Jamestown Rd. $1,100 per mo. Tenant pays elec. & cable. 410202-2632 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

WEEKLY RENTAL:4BR, 2 1/2BA. Fully furnished. W/D, Pool, Tennis court. Quiet community. 7 miles from the beach. $2,500 per wk. Call Mike for details. 410-877-3894.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

WEEKLY RENTALS Pool Front Room $199 Family Room $235 2 BR Apartment $315.

3 BR Suite $400.

Burgundy Inn 1210 Philadelphia Ave.

410-289-8581

The Dispatch Classifieds

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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

WINTER-SHORT TERM RENTALS until April 15, 2020

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

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

OCEANFRONT STORE FOR LEASE 1,100 sq. ft. with patio Space is immaculate!

7th St. & Bdwlk.

443-880-5323

The Dispatch REAL ESTATE

YR OR SEASONAL ROOMMATES: North OC. Looking for female roommates to share 3BR, 2BA Condo. Call Tricia 443-6104665.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

FSBO-LOT-FENWICK AREAKEENWICK SOUND: Lot on Roy Creek, adjacent to golf course.

Water & sewer. $89,900. Call 302270-1894.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18078 To all persons interested in the estate of JOSEPH H. MAYCOCK, ESTATE NO. 18078. Notice is given that WILLIAM E. MAYCOCK, 31901 SHAVOX RD, SALISBURY, MD 21804, was on NOVEMBER 25, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of JOSEPH H. MAYCOCK, who died on OCTOBER 26, 2019, 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 25th day of MAY, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the

SERVICES J-N-J PAINTING: Free estimates.

Residential and light commercial.

Joe 443-610-4644.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Ceja’s Landscaping & More!

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

VINTAGE MAGAZINES: 50’s & 60’s magazines. Great/good condition. Most kept in sleeves. Life, Look, Womans Day, Good Housekeeping, Playboy and many more.

Call for more info. 410-251-1098.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

A/C WINDOW UNITS : 3 available (2 5000 BTU, 1 8000 BTU). GE Brand. Good working condition. $50/each. Will make deal on all 3.

302-270-3653.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FIREWOOD: Seasoned, split hardwood. $150/cord + delivery.

410-726-2887. Please lv. message –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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THIRD INSERTION

FOR SALE

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Avail. now or for 2020 season

ROOMMATES

PUT YOUR LOGO IN COLOR FOR JUST $10

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

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

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

SUNSET Dr: 2BR 1.5BA, Apt $700.mo TIBURON 139 St: 3BR, 2BA, Condo $900.mo GOLF COURSE Rd, WOC: 2BR, 1BA, Apt $600.mo SILVERPOINT LANE, WOC: 3BR, 2BA, Hm. $950.mo ALL units are fully furnished, include cable & TV, Wi-Fi, washer/dryer ALL units require: Sec. dep., electric, references 410 213-8090 email: events@oceanpromotions.info

Page 63

mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 06, 2019 WILLIAM E. MAYCOCK Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-13, 12-20, 12-27

THIRD INSERTION

B. RANDALL COATES, ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES P.O. BOX 293

SNOW HILL, MD 21863 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18095 To all persons interested in the estate of KATHLEEN GAIL BEEBE, ESTATE NO. 18095. Notice is given that MATTHEW ROBERT BEEBE, 303 COULBOURNE LANE, SNOW HILL, MD 21863 , was on DECEMBER 10, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of KATHLEEN GAIL BEEBE, who died on AUGUST 14, 2019, 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

Week Week of of Fri Fri 1/03 1/03 Deadline Deadline Monday Monday (12/30) (12/30) 33 p.m. p.m.

decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 10th day of JUNE, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the

mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER13, 2019 MATTHEW ROBERT BEEBE Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-13, 12-20, 12-27

THIRD INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS

The Dispatch

Page 64

LEGAL RATES: Legal advertising rate is $7 per column

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

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18086 To all persons interested in the estate of JEANETTE ELLA MCCULLEN, ESTATE NO. 18086. Notice is given that TIMOTHY WALTER MCCULLEN, 3311 ALLEN ROAD, EDEN, MD 21822, was on DECEMBER 02, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of JEANETTE ELLA MCCULLEN, who died on NOVEMBER 14, 2019, 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 2ND day of JUNE, 2020.

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

Legal Notices

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-13, 12-20, 12-27

THIRD INSERTION

B. RANDALL COATES, ESQ COATES, COATES, & COATES P.O. BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 18088 Notice is given that the SUPERIOR COURT of OCEAN COUNTY, NJ, appointed ROSANNE O'DONNELL, 1746 WHITCOMB ROAD, FORKED RIVER, NJ 08731, as the EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARIE G. TAGLIALAVORE, who died on JULY 21, 2019, domiciled in NEW JERSEY, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is B. RANDALL COATES, whose address is PO BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863. 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

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication DECEMBER 13, 2019

(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.

TIMOTHY WALTER MCCULLEN Personal Representative

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication DECEMBER 13, 2019

ROSANNE O'DONNELL Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-13, 12-20, 12-27

THIRD INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18092 To all persons interested in the estate of MARIAN M. DORE, ESTATE NO. 18092.

Notice is given that PATRICIA LYNN DUNKLIN, 413 LYNCH DRIVE, BULLARD, TX 75757, was on DECEMBER 09, 2019, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARIAN M. DORE, who died on NOVEMBER 30, 2019, 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 9TH day of JUNE, 2020.

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

sented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 13, 2019 PATRICIA LYNN DUNKLIN Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-13, 12-20, 12-27

SECOND INSERTION

ROBERT A. BENSON 209 EAST MAIN STREET SALISBURY, MD 21801 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE ESTATE NO. 18098 Notice is given that the COMMONWEALTH COURT of YORK COUNTY, PA, appointed ELIZABETH P. EDELEN, 110 N. CONSTITUTION DRIVE, NEW FREEDOM, PA 17349, as the EXECUTRIX of the Estate of ELEANOR C. EDELEN, who died on JULY 29, 2019, domiciled in PENNSYLVANIA, USA. The Maryland resident agent for service of process is ROBERT A. BENSON, whose address is 209 E. MAIN STREET, SALISBURY, MD 21801. At the time of death, the decedent owned real or leasehold property in the following MARYLAND counties: WORCESTER. All persons having claims against the decedent must file their claims with the Register of Wills for Worcester County with a copy to the foreign personal representative on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (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

December 27, 2019

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 DECEMBER 20, 2019 ELIZABETH P. EDELEN Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-20, 12-27, 1-03

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18103 To all persons interested in the estate of KIRK DOUGLAS CAREY, ESTATE NO. 18103. Notice is given that ALEXANDER WILSON CAREY, 6112 LAWS ROAD, SNOW HILL, MD 21863, was on DECEMBER 12, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of KIRK DOUGLAS CAREY, who died on DECEMBER 07, 2019, 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 12TH day of JUNE, 2020.

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

decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 20, 2019 ALEXANDER WILSON CAREY Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-20, 12-27, 1-03

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18094 To all persons interested in the estate of RUTH ELIZABETH PRUITT MURRAY, ESTATE NO. 18094. Notice is given that GAYLE AUGUST RATAJCZYK, 4043 SHERWOOD LANE, VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 23455, was on DECEMBER 12, 2019, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RUTH ELIZABETH PRUITT MURRAY, who died on DECEMBER 06, 2019, 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 12TH day of JUNE, 2020.

The Dispatch

December 27, 2019

LEGAL RATES: Legal advertising rate is $7 per column

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

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 20, 2019 GAYLE AUGUST RATAJCZYK Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-20, 12-27, 1-03

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18099 To all persons interested in the estate of GLENN A. HALL, ESTATE NO. 18099.

Notice is given that GLENN A. HALL, JR., 12427 CAMPBELLTOWN ROAD, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813 and GREG A. HALL, 12519 CAMPBELLTOWN ROAD, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813 and SUSAN R. HOLLOWAY, 8951 LIBERTYTOWN ROAD, BERLIN, MD 21811 were on DECEMBER 12, 2019, appointed Personal Represen-

Legal Notices

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

tative of the estate of GLENN A. HALL, who died on AUGUST 12, 2013, 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 12TH day of JUNE, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 20, 2019 GLENN A. HALL, JR. GREG A. HALL SUSAN R. HOLLOWAY Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-20, 12-27, 1-03

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN

HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18102 To all persons interested in the estate of ARTHUR HANCOCK, ESTATE NO. 18102.

Notice is given that VICKI HANCOCK DREWER, 219 E. FEDERAL STREET, SNOW HILL, MD 21863, was on DECEMBER 10, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of ARTHUR HANCOCK, who died on DECEMBER 06, 2019, 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 10TH day of JUNE, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 20, 2019 VICKI HANCOCK DREWER Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT

Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-20, 12-27, 1-03

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18100 To all persons interested in the estate of DARLENE MAE HALL, ESTATE NO. 18100.

Notice is given that GREG A. HALL, 12519 CAMPBELLTOWN ROAD, BISHOPVILLE, MD 21813, was on DECEMBER 12, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of DARLENE MAE HALL, who died on NOVEMBER 12, 2019, 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 12TH day of JUNE, 2020.

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

Page 65

the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication DECEMBER 20, 2019 GREG A. HALL Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-20, 12-27, 1-03

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18101 To all persons interested in the estate of EDWARD JOSEPH SMITH, ESTATE NO. 18101. Notice is given that DEBORAH STANLEYMAPHIS, 9917 SETPHEN DECATUR HIGHWAY, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on DECEMBER 16, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of EDWARD JOSEPH SMITH, who died on NOVEMBER 5, 2019, 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 16TH day of JUNE, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers

to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 27, 2019 DEBORAH STANLEYMAPHIS Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-27, 1-03, 1-10

FIRST INSERTION

BRIAN P. COSBY, ESQ. PO BOX 600 OCEAN CITY, MD 21843 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18104 To all persons interested in the estate of KATHERINE MARIE LITTLETON, ESTATE NO. 18104. Notice is given that KENNETH NELSON LITTLETON, JR, 8270 LIBERTYTOWN ROAD, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on DECEMBER 17, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of KATHERINE MARIE LITTLETON, who died on DECEMBER 1, 2019, 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 JUNE, 2020.

Any person having a claim

The Dispatch

Page 66

Legal Notices

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

LEGAL RATES: Legal advertising rate is $7 per column

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

against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: (1) Six months from the date of the decedent's death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent's death; or (2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of

the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha 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 DECEMBER 27, 2019 KENNETH NELSON LITTLETON, JR. Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-27, 1-03, 1-10

FIRST INSERTION

B. RANDALL COATES, ESQ. COATES, COATES & COATES PO BOX 293 SNOW HILL, MD 21863 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18107 To all persons interested in the estate of NETTIE YVONNE BAILEY, ESTATE NO. 18107. Notice is given that JAMES MICHAEL BAILEY, 1702 CRESTWOOD CIRCLE, SALISBURY, MD

21804, was on DECEMBER 18, 2019, appointed Personal Representatives of the estate of NETTIE YVONNE BAILEY, who died on SEPTEMBER 18, 2019, 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 18TH day of JUNE, 2020.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must

December 27, 2019

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:

the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before tha date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

(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

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication DECEMBER 27, 2019

(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

JAMES MICHAEL BAILEY Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT Register of Wills for Worcester County Room 102 - Court House One W. Market Street Snow Hill, MD 21863-1074 3x 12-27, 1-03, 1-10

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OCPD Reminds Property Owners About Free Program

December 27, 2019

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – In the midst of the holiday travel season and with many seeking warmer climates to ride out the winter, there are countless vacant properties in the resort, but the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) has a residential security check program in place to prevent burglaries.

Through the program, homeowners and business owners can register their properties with the OCPD’s residential security check program and officers will randomly go around at different times of the day to ensure the properties are secure. During the registration, homeowners provide information about how long they are going to be away, what interior and exterior lights are on timers, who might be visiting the property, what vehicles might be in the driveway and any other pertinent information.

Vacant properties throughout the resort in the winter months provide opportunities for would-be criminals. Some are intent on clearing vacant properties out of valuables. In other cases, wouldbe criminals are looking for a warm place to crash for a few days. In either case, registering a property with the OCPD’s residential security check program can prevent winter break-ins and ensure properties remain secure while the owners are on vacation or have simply moved away from the winter solitude in the resort to warmer climates.

“If a home that is broken into is on our residential security check list, our officers will notice that the burglary occurred,” said Ocean City Deputy Communications Director Ashley Miller.

“They will be able to determine a better time frame of when it could have happened based on the residential check logs. This will help to increase the chances that we’ll find a suspect and possibly recover stolen items.”

Many resort property owners winterize their second homes in Ocean City. Unfortunately, some return in the spring or early summer and find their property has been burglarized. The OCPD’s residential check program is an effective way to prevent that from happening in many cases and it’s free and easy to register.

“After answering a few simple questions, the homeowner’s information will be added to our database and officers will begin checking on the home multiple times each week,” she said. “If the officer sees anything that varies from the information that the homeowner provided, they will investigate further and contact the homeowner.”

In some cases, local residents come home from prolonged vacations to learn their property has been burglarized, vandalized or otherwise tampered with.

In others, those who have second homes in the resort return for the first time in the spring to find the same result. Registering with the residential security check program can prevent that.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

“In Ocean City, we typically see a spike in reports of burglary in the late spring and early summer months,” she said. “During the investigation, it is sometimes determined that the incident actually occurred over the winter and went unnoticed until the homeowner returned for the summer months. Signing up for our residential security check program is a proactive measure the homeowner can take to help reduce the possibility of a burglary occurring.”

In addition to crime-related activity, the residential security check program allows the OCPD to alert homeowners to natural occurrences such as broken pipes or storm damage, for example.

“With heavy winds and freezing temperatures, officers are able to note storm damage to the property quicker,” said Miller. “Last spring, there was a lot

of places that had busted water pipes during the spring time. If we are checking on your place, we are able to notice the possibility of water damage from broken pipes. Those are a couple additional things I have been telling people when they inquire about the program.

No one ever thinks about the issues mother nature causes.”

The OCPD’s residential security check module is used to track residential and commercial addresses that require special monitoring. As officers patrol Ocean City, their observations and comments for the locations are captured in the department’s CAD system. When a special watch expires, a detailed report can be generated that outlines the frequency of the officer checks and any observations or unique circumstances experienced by

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officers for a specific address. More importantly, the security check system provides officers with enough information to quickly contact residents about their property in an emergency.

Miller advised citizens to be careful about how much information they make public, including pictures of them on social media platforms such as Facebook, for example. Beyond that, a handful of common sense tips can prevent resort property owners from becoming victims of crime while they are away from home.

The program is completely free and available to anyone with property within the corporate limits of Ocean City. To sign up, homeowners can visit oceancitymd.gov/police and click on the Residential Checks link on the left side of the webpage.

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WeSt OCeaN City-BerliN-OCeaN PiNeS aSSateague DiNer rte. 611 & Sunset ave., West Ocean City 443-664-8158 www.assateaguedinerandbar.com Inspired by a classic diner culture, this new hotspot offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu here features classic comfort foods prepared and executed with a modern coastal trust.

Be sure to check out the exceptional coffee program and the Westside Bar within features delicious craft cocktails throughout the day.

BlaCKSmitH reStauraNt & Bar 104 Pitts St., Berlin • 410-973-2102 Located in the heart of America’s Coolest Small Town, Berlin, Md., Blacksmith has established itself as one the area’s most loved dining and drinking destinations for foodies and wine, spirt and craft beer enthusiasts. Chef owned and locally sourced, Blacksmith keeps the main focus on Eastern Shore tradition. Everything here is homemade and handmade. Cakes and baked goods are delivered daily from down the street.

Cozy and modern, traditional and on trend; Blacksmith has risen to the ranks of the area’s finest casual eating and drinking establishments.

Visit and see why folks from Baltimore, D.C., Chincoteague and locals alike think Blacksmith is worth the trip. Open daily at 11:30 a.m. for lunch, dinner and bar snacks. Closed Sunday.

BreaKfaSt Cafe Of OCeaN City 12736 Ocean gateway, West Ocean City 410-213-1804 Open 7 days a week between Sunsations & Starbucks, across from Outback, come join us at the “Breakfast Cafe” (formerly Rambler Coffee Shop) we are a family-friendly restaurant that’s been family owned for 30 years passed from mother to son in 2001. We believe that fair pricing, putting out quality food as fresh as we can make it and a nice atmosphere makes a meal. I like to think we have many “House Specialties” which include our Crab Omelet, real crab meat, cheddar cheese and mushrooms, our Sunfest Omelet, Swiss cheese, ham and mushrooms; Cafe or French Sampler, pancakes or French toast, with eggs, bacon and sausage.

Homemade creamed chipped beef on toast and sausage gravy on biscuits with browned potato home fries, with onion, excellent cheesesteak subs and fries and more! We use Rapa Scrapple fried on the grill the way you like it for all our breakfasts, sandwiches and sides. Summer hours, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Come enjoy!

CariBBeaN jOe’S Bar & grille 12614 Ocean gateway Next to alamo Hotel 443-664-8509 Completely renovated and under new ownership, we are proudly located at the first ever motel in Ocean City, “The Alamo.” You truly will not believe what we’ve done! Thursday we have fresh 1/2-lb. burgers served on a delicious Hawaiian Roll for only $5. Wash it down with a natural light for only $1. We also have tender pulled-pork sandwiches and unique chicken salad to die for. We’re open 7 days a week when the season kicks in. Come see our Caribbean atmosphere, 7 flat-screen TVs and the coolest pool bar in Ocean City.

CraB alley golf Course rd., West Ocean City Head Of Commercial fishing Harbor 410-213-7800 • www.craballey.com Just close enough to be out of the way-located at the head of the commercial fishing harbor in West Ocean City, Crab Alley has it all! Spectacular view, casual and fun atmosphere, super service and mouth-watering food combine to make “The Alley” a true locals’ favorite. Enjoy our light fare and full menu of unbelievably fresh seafood, chicken and steaks indoors or on our upper deck. We offer appetizers, sandwiches and a children’s menu too. Our name says it all -”crack’em and attack ‘em”. Big Fat Crabs both by the dozen and all you can enjoy specials. Check out our website for our fantastic happy hour food and drink specials or find us on Facebook. Having a special affair? We can handle your group, large party or special occasion. Make Crab Alley your first stop! tHe DOugH rOller West Ocean City, 410-213-7655 S. Division St. & Boardwalk, 410-289-3501

Dining Out The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

3rd St. & Boardwalk 410-289-2599 41st St. & Coastal Hwy • 410-524-9254 70th St. & Coastal Hwy • 410-524-7981 Ocean City’s favorite family restaurant for 40 years! Open 8 a.m. breakfast, lunch and dinner, great kid’s menu. Breakfast and lunch specials offered during the week at WOC, 41st Street and 70th Street locations. At same locations, Tuesdays are half-price pizza nights; Wednesdays are Dollar Days with special offers for breakfast and dinner. Thursdays are half-price Italian dinner nights. Order online DoughRollerRestaurants.com

DumSer’S DairylaND West Ocean City, Boardwalk locations, 501 S. Philadelphia ave., 49th St. & 123rd St. www.dumsersdairyland.com This classic ice cream shop is a tradition for many families. Voted O.C.'s “Best Ice Cream” for the past 20 years, Dumser's is celebrating 80 years of serving the shore, and the ‘40sstyle décor takes you back in time. With locations throughout Ocean City, treating your tastebuds to this signature homemade ice cream is easy. The 49th and 124th streets locations offer vast lunch and dinner menus (breakfast too at 124th) in addition to a wide variety of ice cream treats. You’ll find an impressive array of kid-favorites, along with fried chicken and seafood options, wraps, subs, sandwiches, salads and sides like sweet potato fries and mac-and-cheese wedges. fOx’S Pizza DeN 11328 Samuel Bowen Blvd., West Ocean City 410-600-1020 • www.foxpizzamd.com Enjoy a brand new, spacious dining room.

Happy hour every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with $5 food specials and awesome drink specials. Enjoy incredible weekly chef specials along with our extensive regular menu. Check out foxspizzamd.com for a list of our regular menu items

full mOON SalOON 12702 Old Bridge rd., West Ocean City 443-664-5317 Locally owned and operated, this moderately priced casual restaurant/bar has freshly caught seafood, BBQ, and pork entrees, giant sandwiches as well as a variety of homemade soups.

Locally we are known for our jumbo lump crab cakes, pork and beef BBQ, cream of crab soup, and 100% angus burgers as well as a variety of other sandwiches and entrees that are cooked with a local flair. Open daily at 11 a.m. for lunch and open until midnight. Sundays breakfast offered 8 a.m.-noon. Fifteen televisions and a big screen available for all sports events.

greeNe turtle-WeSt rte. 611, West Ocean City • 410-213-1500 Visit Maryland’s No. 1 Sports Pub and Rest-aurant, the World-Famous Greene Turtle. Proudly serving West Ocean City since January 1999, The Greene Turtle features a beautiful 80-seat dining room, large bar area with 54 TVs with stereo sound and game room with pool tables.

With an exciting menu, The Greene Turtle is sure to please with delicious sizzling steaks, jumbo lump crab cakes, raw bar, homemade salads and more. Live entertainment, Keno, Turtle apparel, kids menu, carry-out. Something for everyone! Voted best sports bar, wings and burgers in West OC. Great happy hour and plenty of parking.

HarBOrSiDe Bar & grill South Harbor rd. • 410-213-1846 They take their mantra, “Where You Always Get Your Money’s Worth,” seriously here with daily food and drink specials during happy hour as you watch the boats come in from a day offshore. Delicious daily chef specials are always worth a try or stay with any of the house favorites, such as the calamari and ahi bruschetta for appetizers or any of the homemade tacos and fresh off the dock seafood selections as

sandwiches or entrees. It’s the home of the original fresh-squeezed orange crush, of course.

HOOterS reStauraNt rt. 50 & Keyser Point rd., West Ocean City 410-213-1841 • www.hootersofoc.com New mouthwatering smoked wings with half the calories. Traditional wings and boneless wings with 12 sauce selections. Burgers, quesadillas, tacos, and healthy salads. Extensive seafood selections with raw bar and Alaskan crab legs.

Children's menu and game room. Apparel and souvenir shop. Sports packages on a ton of TVs and live entertainment. Wing-fest every Tuesday from 6 to 8 with 50 cent wings. And of course, the world famous Hooters Girls. Large parties welcome. Call for private party planning.

ligHtHOuSe SOuND St. martin’s Neck rd. • 410-352-5250 Enjoy the best views of Ocean City at the newly renovated, Lighthouse Sound. Come relax and dine overlooking the bay and the beautiful Ocean City skyline. Savor entrees such as local rockfish, tempura-battered soft shell crabs, char-grilled filet mignon and jumbo lump crabcakes. Open to the public, we serve Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner. One mile west of Ocean City, Md., just off Route 90 on St. Martin’s Neck Road. Reservations recommended. rutH’S CHriS Within the glenriddle Community 410-213-9444 • www.ruthschris.com Ruth’s Chris specializes in the finest customaged Midwestern beef. We broil it exactly the way you like it at 1,800 degrees to lock in the corn-fed flavor. Then we serve your steak sizzling on a heated plate so that it stays hot throughout your meal. Many of our recipes were developed by Ruth, favorites such as shrimp Remoulade, Crabtini and Ruth’s chop salad. Located five miles west of Ocean City in the GlenRiddle Golf clubhouse. Extensive wine list. Reservations recommended.

tHe SHarK ON tHe HarBOr 12924 Sunset ave., West Ocean City 410-213-0924 • ocshark.com We make real food from scratch. We believe that great food and healthful ingredients are not mutually exclusive of each other. Featuring local organic produce and seafood. All natural products – clear of preservatives and antibiotics. Whole grains and whole foods are used in the preparation of our menu – which our chefs write twice daily, based on what's fresh, available and delicious. Fresh. Local. Organic.

Taste the difference. Open Daily Year Round, Monday through Saturday for Lunch & Dinner and Sundays for Brunch, Lunch & Dinner.

Reservations suggested. iNlet tO 94tH Street

28tH St. Pit & PuB 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. 410-289-2020 • www.pitandpub.com Ocean City’s home of Pulled Pork and the finest barbecue, the legendary 28th Street Pit & Pub is known for serving up delicious smokehouse specialties. Grab a brew and enjoy the live sports action on one of the big screen TVs. Happy Hour daily, 3-6 p.m. Family friendly atmosphere. Weekend entertainment.

32 Palm 32nd St. Oceanside in the Hilton 410-289-2525 • www.32palm.com Executive Chef Rick Goodwin has introduced an exciting new menu. A favorite among many is the Bermuda Triangle, featuring cinnamon seared scallops finished with an ancho mango coulis along with house broiled crabcake with a sweet chili remoulade and finally, applewood smoked bacon wrapped around jumbo shrimp, grilled to perfection with jalapeno barbecue

December 27, 2019 sauce. Other wonderfully delicious dishes cover the land and sea as well and each have a special touch that makes this restaurant unique among its peers. Children’s menu available.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

45tH Street taPHOuSe 45th St. & the Bay • 443-664-2201 At the newly remodeled 45th Street Taphouse, the best views of bayside Ocean City, MD are the backdrop where craft beer meets Maryland cuisine. This is vacation done right, all year long.

Wash down a Crabby Pretzel or homemade crabcakes with one of our 35+ craft beers on tap, all made right here in the USA. Not feeling crabby?

Pair your craft brew with our award-winning wings or even our brand new breakfast menu. Anyway it’s served, come get tapped with us.

BONfire 71st St. & Coastal Hwy. • 410-524-7171 www.thebonfirerestaurant.com 150 ft. Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet. A famous Ocean City Restaurant for 37 years. It’s all here.

The service, the atmosphere and the finest, freshest food available. Fresh seafood, snow crab legs, prime rib, BBQ ribs, raw oysters, raw clams, steamed shrimp, fish, homemade soups & salads. Decadent dessert selection – homemade donuts & bread pudding, soft serve ice cream with hot fudge topping and lots more!

Large selection of children’s favorites – chicken tenders, hot dogs, burgers, macaroni & cheese and pizza. A la carte menu available featuring fresh cut steaks and seafood. Open Friday, December 27 through Tuesday, December 31 Plenty of free parking.

Buxy’S Salty DOg 28th St. • 410-289-0973 • www.buxys.com Destiny has a new home in Ocean City. From the ‘burgh to the beach, Buxy’s is your home away from Pittsburgh. Come see what all the locals already know and have known – Buxy’s is the place to come to meet friends, relax and be social with no attitudes. House specialties include “The” Cheesesteak Sub, Primanti-styled sandwiches, piero-gis,egg-rolls and homemade crab dip. Don’t miss our daily specials.

COiNS PuB & reStauraNt 28th St. Plaza • 410-289-3100 Great mid-town location offering a complete dinner menu, lunch and lite fare. Coins features the freshest seafood, shrimp, scallops, clams, fresh catch and lobster plus the best crab cake in Maryland, hand cut steaks cook-ed to your liking, succulent veal and chicken dishes. Also authentic pasta selections. Enjoy live entertainment and dancing in the lounge nightly. Happy hour daily 3-6 p.m. Casual dining in a relaxed atmosphere.

Special kids menu. Lots of free parking.

Dry 85 OC 12 48th St. • 443-664-8989 • dry85.com Steps from the beach. Gourmet "stick to your ribs" Lowcountry cuisine. A made-from-scratch kitchen with every sauce and every dressing hand crafted. It's that attention to detail that takes the concept of burgers, fries, ribs and wings and turns them completely on their head. Charcuterie boards. Late night bar. 120+ Whiskies. Craft beer. Artisanal craft cocktails. Seasonal outdoor seating. Named one of the Top 40 Whiskey Bars in America by Whiskey Advocate.

Dry DOCK 28 28th St. & Coastal Hwy. • 410-289-0973 The new kid on the dining scene in Ocean City features eclectic pizzas, delicious sandwiches, soups, salads and hot steamers in a modern, nautical themed atmosphere. A beautiful boat bar is featured inside and features craft cocktails and brews. Outdoor seating is available. Carry out available and beer and wine to go. Live music is also offered in this kid-friendly establishment. fager’S iSlaND reStauraNt & Bar 201 60th St. On the Bay 410-524-5500 • www.fagers.com Fager’s Island is an award-winning popular bay-front restaurant where lunch is a forgivable habit, dinner an event and sunsets unforgettable. Lite fare lunch served from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m., famous raw bar, festive Sunday Jazz Brunch, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and children’s menu. Complete house wine list and award-winning proprietor’s list available upon request. Outdoor decks and bar. Nightly enterSee Next Page

December 27, 2019

tainment in-season, Friday-Saturday, off-season. Open every day, year-round. A Fun Place!

HOOTERS RESTAURANT 5th St. & The Boardwalk Ocean City 410-289-2690 • www.hootersofoc.com Mouthwatering traditional and boneless wings with 12 sauce selections. Burgers, quesadillas, tacos, and healthy salads. Extensive seafood selections with Alaskan snow crab legs and Maryland steam pots. Kids’ menu. Pet-friendly oceanfront patio. Official Hooters merchandise and of course, the world-famous Hooters Girls.

JOHNNY'S PIZZA & SPORTS PUB 56th St. & Coastal Hwy. 410-723-5600 • www.johnnyspizzapub.com The Official Pizza of OC, Johnny's Pizza & Sports Pub serves families throughout Ocean City and its surrounding communities 365 days a year. Eat in, carry out or have it delivered right to your doorstep. Our comfortable dining room features ample seating for small groups or large parties and our speedy delivery service will deliver your hot, delicious pizza right to your home, hotel or condo for your added convenience. From steaming homemade pizzas to lightly tossed salads and fiery hot wings, we have something for everyone. Live entertainment every weekend all winter and live entertainment four nights in the summer.

MARLIN MOON RESTAURANT 33rd St. in the DoubleTree Oceanfront 410-289-1201 • www.marlinmoonocmd.com Eat where the locals eat. Marlin Moon is back in town with the talented Executive Chef, Gary Beach, creating his legendary food magic. Marlin Moon combines an eclectic atmosphere of ocean views and a fresh vibe with creative seafood and steak dishes you won’t forget. Winner of the Maryland People’s Choice Award, Marlin Moon delivers the culinary combinations you’re craving and uses only locally sourced seafood, meats and vegetables. Some of the original classics, such as Mom’s Shrimp and Freddy’s Seafood Pasta, are back as well as a raw bar, small plate appetizers, fresh salads and entrees sure to satisfy any food mood. Open daily serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7 a.m.-11 p.m.

RED RED WINE BAR OC 12 48th St. • 443-664-6801 • redredwinebar.com Steps from the beach. Fresh coastal cuisine with a focus on locally sourced seafood and hand tossed pizzas. Artisanal cheeseboards. 35+ Wines By the Glass. Full bar. Craft beer. Late night bar. Luxurious colors and custom built couches. Casual atmosphere. Seasonal outdoor seating. Named Best Wine and Beverage Program in Maryland by the Restaurant Association.

PICKLES PUB 8th St., Ocean City • 410-289-4891 It’s pub food with a twist and a special emphasis put on quality and large portions. The big juicy burgers and oven baked wedge sandwiches are locals’ favorites as are the pub wings (in a variety of styles) and tacos (choose from thai pulled pork, grilled chicken and blacked ahi avocado).

There are numerous unique craft pizza options to choose from as well with the house favorite here being the blackened shrimp and arugula.

SEACRETS • On The Bay At 49th St.

1 OFF

$ 00

Dining Out The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

410-524-4900 • www.seacrets.com We are Jamaica USA! Serving our world famous jerk chicken, along with a full menu of appetizers, soups, sandwiches, salads, entrees, desserts and a children's menu. Enjoy happy hour drink prices everyday until 7 p.m.and live entertainment in a tropical atmosphere. Please check our website www.sea-crets.com for a complete list of live bands and daily food and drink specials or call 410-524-4900. Find us and get lost!

94TH ST. NORTH-FENWICK-BETHANY

ABBEY BURGER BISTRO 410-250-2333 • 12601 Coastal Hiwy.

An enticing selection of flavors are offered for any burger palate, from rotating exotic meats like antelope to locally raised Dry Aged Black Angus to Delicious Handmade Vegetarians and even Vegan options. All are hand-pattied and made to order. If you’re feeling creative, you can build your own using our signature ‘Build A Burger’ checklist, or simply choose one of the tested and proven classics and leave it to the chef. A wide selection of local, domestic, and imported beers and micro-brews as well as an expansive bar are featured. Also offered are adult and children’s arcade games as well as a children’s play area.

CAROUSEL OCEANFRONT HOTEL & CONDOS 118th St. & the Beach • 410-524-1000 Reef 118 Oceanfront Restaurant located in the Carousel Hotel offers beautiful oceanfront dining in a casual atmosphere. Enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet or try one of our specialty omelets including lump crab and asparagus. Our menu offers a wide variety of Succulent Seafood along with steaks, pastas & ribs. $5.95 kids’ menu available. Stop by the Bamboo Lounge serving happy hour daily 4-6 p.m. with super drink prices and $4.95 food specials. Visit the Carousel and get served by the friendliest staff in OC! THE CRABCAKE FACTORY USA 120th St./Beachside (Serene Hotel) 410-250-4900 Voted “Best Crabcakes in Maryland, DC and Virginia” by The Washington Post. Full-service family restaurant, carry-out and sports bar.

Outside seating available. Menu selections include prime rib, chicken Chesapeake, steamed shrimp, beer battered fish, real Philly cheesesteaks, burgers, and a kids menu. Casual attire, full liquor bar, no reservations. Open Year Round. The Crabcake Factory started out as a breakfast house in 1996 and still serves one of the best and most creative breakfast menus in Ocean City. Try Eastern Shore favorites prepared daily by Chef-Owner John Brooks including a chipped beef, skillets, omelettes and their famous lump crab creations. World-Famous

Crabcakes are served all day starting at 8 a.m. and can be packed on ice for you while you are eating breakfast. Try Sue’s Spicy Bloody Marys to start the day with a kick. Full breakfast menu available for carry-out. Online at: www.CrabcakeFactory-USA.com. See other listing (Crabcake Factory USA). Open year-round.

CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE Rt. 54, Selbyville, DE • 302-988-5000 Under new ownership but SAME award-winning crab cakes and bloody marys! Enjoy WATERFRONT dining. Full-service family restaurant, carry-out & sports bar. Outside seating available.

Open daily at 9 a.m. YEAR ROUND. Menu selections include crab cakes, prime rib, Philly-style cheese steaks, various seafood, kids menu plus full breakfast menu. visit us online at crabcakefactory-online.com or on our Facebook page. Casual dress, full liquor bar, no reservations.

FENWICK CRAB HOUSE 100 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, DE 302-539-2500 Along with all-you-can-eat crabs every day, the full menu is available daily for eating in or eating out. Daily dinner specials are offered along with favorites such as fried chicken and baby back ribs. Check out the new lunch menu, which is available until 3 p.m. daily. A fun and popular happy hour is also offered daily until 6 p.m. with food and drink specials.

GREENE TURTLE-NORTH 116th St. & Coastal Hwy • 410-723-2120 www.facebook.com/OriginalGreeneTurtle This is the Original Greene Turtle, an Ocean City Tradition, since 1976! A fun and friendly Sports Bar & Grille, where every seat is a great spot to watch sports with 50+ High Def. TVs up & downstairs! Menu favorites include homemade crab cakes, kids’ menu, salads, burgers, wings and more! Join them for weekday lunch specials 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and happy hour 3-7 p.m. Popular features are game room, gift shop, carry-out, party trays, nightly drink specials, MD Lottery-Keno, Powerball and DJs with dance floor. Something for everyone! Open 11 a.m-2 a.m., year-round.

HARPOON HANNA’S RESTAURANT & BAR Rte. 54 & The Bay, Fenwick Island, DE www.harpoonhannasrestaurant.com 302-539-3095 No reservations required. Harpoon Hanna’s features a children’s menu & full bar. We are a casual waterfront restaurant serving lunch & dinner including fesh fish, seafood, steaks, sandwiches and all-you-can-eat Alaskan crab legs. Open year-round.

HORIZONS OCEANFRONT RESTAURANT Located Inside The Clarion Resort 101st St., Ocean City • 410-524-3535

15% OFF Any Case Of Wine

Not Valid With Other Offers Or Discounts Exp. 1-31-20 • MCD

10% OFF

750 ml/1.5 L Bottle Of Wine Not Valid With Other Offers Or Discounts Exp. 1-31-20 • MCD

Horizons Oceanfront Restaurant is proud to have Chef Rob Sosnovich creating beach-inspired dishes in both our oceanfront restaurants, Horizons and Breaker’s Pub. Our new all day menu, available 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., features many of your favorites and some exciting new creations with a local flare – from Lite Bites to Big Bites and everything in between. Our deluxe Sunday breakfast buffet is open year-round and our “famous” all-you-can-eat prime rib, crab legs and seafood buffet is available most weekends throughout the year and daily in season. The Ocean Club Nightclub features top-40 dance music every weekend and nightly this summer. We’ve added some popular local bands to our lineup, so come join us “where the big kids play!” Lenny’s Beach Bar & Grill: enjoy surf, sun and live entertainment 7 days a week on the deck, from Memorial day through Labor Day during our afternoon beach parties. Enjoy something to eat or drink from our extensive menu. Try our “Bucket of Fun”, or a fresh “Orange Crush”–two of our favorites!

LIGHTHOUSE SOUND RESTAURANT 12723 St. Martin’s Neck Road, Bishopville, MD • 410-641-1199 Join us for dinner tonight and enjoy the best views of Ocean City, overlooking the Assawoman Bay and the Ocean City skyline. We feature our signature crab cakes, sizzling steaks and fresh fish entrees. Join us for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch. Specializing in weddings and banquets. For more info visit www.lighthousesoundrestaurant.com or call 410-641-1199.

NANTUCKETS Rte. 1, Fenwick Island • 302-539-2607 Serving the beach great food and spirits for over 20 years. David and Janet Twining will wow you with the finest foods and drinks in the area. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what one of the coast’s finest dining establishments has in store for guests. Everything here is a house specialty. There’s the memorable steaks, fresh seafood, famous quahog chowder and the chef’s daily specials, just to name a few.

SMITTY MCGEE’S Rte. 54-West Fenwick Ireland 302-436-4716 • www.smittymcgees.com Smitty McGee’s is the place to be for fun. Best wings on the beach for 28 years and counting.

Enjoy great food and drink specials in a casual atmosphere. Happy hour daily. Come enjoy the live entertainment Thursday and Friday. Full menu served unil 1 a.m. Banquet facilities available. Open seven days a week. We never close!

SURF’S EDGE DELI & PIZZERIA 100 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island 302-537-5565 Best Salads award by Coastal Style 4 years in a row. Healthy, casual dining featuring homemade salads, fresh salads, subs, paninis, sandwiches and pizza. Open for lunch and dinner.

Children’s menu, take-out and delivery available.

TWINING’S LOBSTER SHANTY Rte. 54, Fenwick Island • 302-436-2305 www.twiningshanty.com “A funky little place at the edge of town.” Classic New England Fare, Lobsters, Steaks & Burgers, Children’s menu. Bird watching, magical sunsets await. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are suggested.

“Your Friends At The Beach”

Any 3-, 4-, 5-Litre Wine

Not Valid With Other Offers Or Discounts Exp. 1-31-20 • MCD

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Cheers!

BEER • WINE • SODA Open 7 Days A Week

Mon.-Thurs., 7 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 7 a.m.-10 p.m. & Sun., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Gas • Ice Cigarettes

410-641-2366 • Main St. & Old O.C. Blvd., Berlin, Md.

Resort Property Management

DCMA PCAM® AMS® CMCA Certified MHIC #68055

•Administrative Management •Financial Management •Building Maintenance Service •Custodial Services •Pool Services •24-Hour Emergency Service

410-213-7144 9923 Stephen Decatur Hwy., Suite D-6, Ocean City, Md. 21842 Steve@OceanPointLtd.com • www.OceanPointLtd.com

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

The Dispatch Crossword Puzzle

ANSWERS ON PAGE 48

OCEAN CITY vanishing

December 27, 2019

WITH BUNK MANN

Surfing became popular in Ocean City in the mid-1960s. George Pittman and Bill Wise opened Ocean City’s first surf shop (called the Eastern Surfer) in 1964 in the basement of the Sandy Hill Motel.

The less crowded beaches of north Ocean City quickly became the favorite surfing areas in the days before the high-rise condominiums.

This 1965 photo shows the famous “Surfer Bus” on 94th Street and Coastal Highway. Surf boards were rented for $2 an hour or $10 for the day.

To purchase one of Bunk Mann's books, click over to www.vanishinPhoto courtesy of George Pittman goc.com.

December 27, 2019

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

December 27, 2019