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See Page 7 • Photo by Chris Parypa

Congressman Backs More Openings

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See Page 16 • Photo by Charlene Sharpe

County Budget Supports Hospital

See Page 8 • Photo by Charlene Sharpe

Boardwalk Tram Decision Postponed

See page 6 • File Photo

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Restaurant Changes Not Included In Hogan’s Announcement

Page 4

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – As expected, Gov. Larry Hogan late Wednesday announced the state was prepared to enter stage two of his phased recovery plan, but unexpected was his continued reluctance to ease the struggles of the restaurant and hospitality industries.

Hogan announced on Wednesday stage two of his Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery would take effect at 5 p.m. on Friday. Stage two of the recovery plan includes, among other things, the reopening of a wide array of businesses, religious facilities, retail establishments and certain personal services such as beauty salons, barber shops and nail salons.

Hogan never mentioned the word

“restaurant” at any point during his roughly 40-minute press conference, nor was he even asked about what stage two meant for the hospitality industry during the ensuing questionand-answer period.

While the governor did not mention restaurants or indoor and outdoor seating during his press conference, language in his official executive order clearly spells out there are no significant changes for the hospitality or amusement industries.

“Restaurants, bars and other similar establishments that sell food or beverages for consumption on-premises in Maryland and social and fraternal clubs with dining facilities may, to the extent by applicable law serve food and beverages for consumption in outdoor seating areas; sell food and beverages

June 5, 2020

that are promptly taken from the premises, for example on a carryout or drive-through basis; or deliver food and beverages to customers off the premises.”

Many resort business owners have been waiting for the governor to ease restrictions on certain amusements including, for example, miniature golf courses, go-kart tracks and arcades, all of which are staples in the local summertime tourism economy.

While he didn’t ease those restrictions in his executive order on Wednesday, he at least mentioned them as a possibility in the next segment of the recovery plan.

“Looking ahead, the next step will be considering the reopening of some outdoor activities and amusements,” he said. “That could coincide with the

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Shortly after the press conference, the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association implored the governor to ease restrictions on the hospitality industry.

“What a disappointment to not even acknowledge tourism or the restaurant industry,” the statement reads. “Governor Hogan, restaurants and tourism are economic engines of Maryland, not to mention our only job base. Our business community hangs on a thread weekly for the slow trickle of information, or lack thereof. It is salt in the wound. Visitors are going to Delaware and Virginia and tax dollars are gone.”

The Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce issued an email to its membership, saying, “you may have seen, the governor announced that as of Friday, June 5th at 5 pm, we will move into Stage Two of the Roadmap to Recovery.

However, unfortunately, the Executive Order does not allow for indoor dining or attractions to open at this time.”

In a broad sense, phase two represents a return to normal for most businesses including retail establishments large and small, religious facilities, manufacturing, offices including real estate offices, travel agencies and the like.

Stage two also continues many of the current restrictions and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines including physical distancing, the wearing of masks and, in some cases, capacity limitations. For example, retail establishments and religious institutions are limited to 50% of their rated capacity.

The conventional thinking all week was stage two would also include indoor seating at restaurants with a similar capacity limitation. For the record, neighboring Delaware this week entered stage one of its recovery plan including 30% indoor seating capacity at restaurants with a 60% capacity limitation beginning June 15.

Nonetheless, Hogan’s implementation of stage two continues to inch Maryland along in its phased recovery plan. The announcement comes as the state continues to see certain key metrics such as the number of hospitalizations, the number of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and the number of deaths in Maryland. Hogan praised Marylanders for their resilience during the crisis, praise that likely fell on deaf ears for many in the hospitality industry.

“Moving to stage two is an important step for our state after what has been a very difficult period,” he said.

“The people of our great state of endured so many significant personal, medical and economic challenges, but in the face of the most daunting challenge in our lifetime, the people of Maryland have been resilient, they’ve never lost hope and they are showing what it truly means to by Maryland strong.”

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 5

Late July Start Targeted For Boardwalk Tram

Page 6

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The future of the Boardwalk tram this summer remains in limbo this week after the Transportation Committee again deferred a decision until the pandemic picture becomes clearer.

During its meeting in early May, the Transportation Committee debated the merits of running the Boardwalk tram at all this summer, regardless of what stage the state’s recovery plan had been reached. It was quite literally almost a million-dollar question as the committee weighed the balance of social distancing and public safety against significant revenue losses for shutting down the quaint feature on the

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Boardwalk for generations.

At that early May meeting, the committee chose to table the debate and revisit the tram issue at its June meeting when the picture became clearer and the state’s recovery plan had moved into its early stages. The plan was to meet again in early June, which happened this week, and possibly get the training started in mid-June with a target deployment date for the Boardwalk tram at the end of June.

This week, after more debate, the same schedule has been moved back a month with a mid-July target date for training and soft opening with full deployment by the end of July. The committee will meet again in early July to make a recommendation on salvaging at least two of the biggest months of

the summer season in August and September.

When the committee met in May, Gov. Larry Hogan had not yet lifted stay-at-home orders and instituted early phases of stage one of his recovery plan. In the weeks since, Hogan has moved the state into stage one and then a hybrid form of stage one with stage two in the offing as Maryland’s numbers continue to go down.

Under the current recovery stage, Hogan is still discouraging the use of public transportation, although the Boardwalk tram falls more under the definition of an amusement. In either case, both public transportation and amusements do not fall under the current recovery stage, making a decision on the Boardwalk tram for this sum-

June 5, 2020

mer even more challenging, according to Mayor Rick Meehan.

Meehan said on Tuesday that Ocean City, fairly or not, has already taken some public perception hits on its social distancing efforts including pictures of a crowded Boardwalk picked up on by national media.

“Right now, the governor is discouraging people from using public transportation and there are no clear guidelines on amusements, so it’s kind of in limbo,” he said. “I don’t think we want a picture of a crowded tram riding down a crowded Boardwalk on the cover of the New York Times right now.”

City Manager Doug Miller said the tram does not fit easily into any one definition in Hogan’s recovery plan.

“It’s a gray area,” he said. “We consider it an amusement for our purposes, but it could fall under transportation. If it’s an amusement, that doesn’t come until stage three.”

Another issue is getting the staff trained and tested if and when tram gets the green light to resume operations. Operations Manager Steve Bartlett said in a normal year it takes 50 or so crewmembers to run the tram on a daily basis.

Bartlett said he currently has 44 operators on hand, some new and some returning, but none of them are trained and certified today.

“At this moment, we have zero drivers and zero conductors,” he said. “We have 44 waiting, but everybody would have to get drug tested again because their old tests expired. I do have the people, just not any people ready to go.”

Beyond the ongoing social distancing and physical distancing issues is the financial side of the tram. Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said if the Boardwalk tram is lost for July, August and September, the city stands to lose an estimated $800,000 in revenue. If the proposed plan on the table for a late July start for the tram can be achieved, about $500,000 of that potential loss could be avoided.

Councilman Tony DeLuca voiced concern about the perceived slow pace of the state’s recovery and laid out a plan to salvage part of the season based on Knapp’s estimates.

“I really thought we’d be in stage two by now and that has kind of thrown us off,” he said. “To be on the safe side, we should plan on training in mid-July and deploy on July 29. We could still salvage August and September.”

Councilman Dennis Dare agreed with the potential public perception hit the city could take for running the tram on an already crowded Boardwalk.

In the end, the committee voted unanimously to revisit the issue at its meeting next month, which will be moved ahead to July 7. The committee could then forward a recommendation to the Mayor and Council for the July 14 work session, which could then jumpstart the training and soft opening phase by mid-July with a target reopening date of July 29.

Quick Outdoor Dining Reviews Eyed

June 5, 2020

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – It took considerable debate, but resort officials this week decided to meet virtually every day if necessary to expedite the approval process for local businesses seeking to use public property for outdoor seating.

Last week, Gov. Larry Hogan announced a relaxation of some of the restrictions under stage one of his recovery plan including an allowance for outdoor dining at businesses with all other current directives in place including proper distancing of tables, the wearing of masks and other sanitation and hygiene measures effective 5 p.m. last Friday. As a result, those businesses with existing outdoor seating capabilities were allowed to immediately open those areas with the other directives in place for the weekend.

Another group of resort businesses without pre-existing outdoor seating areas were also allowed to creatively find ways to accommodate outdoor seating on their own private property, in parking areas or other outdoor areas, for example. Those businesses were required to submit multi-layered, multi-agency applications to use their private property for outdoor seating, but essentially got the green light to open at 5 p.m. last Friday while their applications were being processed.

Those layers include the town’s zoning department, the Ocean City Fire Marshal’s Office, the Worcester County Health Department and the Worcester County Board of License Commissioners. Essentially, if the business had submitted an application, it was give the go-ahead to open its modified outdoor seating area last weekend. For the record, 44 of those businesses have submitted applications and are up and running with outdoor seating.

A third and more complicated group are those businesses seeking to utilize public property to accommodate outdoor seating such as public sidewalks or portions of the public right-of-way. Because those situations come with insurance and liability issues, public access, ADA compliance and fire safety issues among others, the Mayor and Council late last week decided not to rubberstamp those applications and promised to revisit the issue during Monday’s regular meeting to expedite the process.

On Monday, City Manager Doug Miller outlined some guidelines and criteria for allowing private businesses to utilize public property to accommodate outside seating. For example, no alcohol would be allowed on the beach or Boardwalk and no commerce could be conducted on the beach. Public sidewalks could be used as long as ADA access is maintained. Businesses could not use the travel portion of a street, but some parallel parking spaces could be used under certain circumstances.

Miller also outlined a handful of requirements that had to be met before an application could be considered. For

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example, the restaurant owner would have to provide proof of insurance and indemnify the town from any liability for business conducted on public property.

Access to fire lanes and hydrants have to be maintained. The business operation, including tables and chairs, for example, would have to be removed each night at the close of business and other activities such as normal deliveries cannot be impeded.

With the guidelines and requirements laid out, Miller said the big remaining question is who would have the final say on approvals. He pointed out the multiagency application process for those businesses utilizing their own private property were already being handled by staff, but questioned if the Mayor and Council wanted final approval for those seeking to use public property.

“These are our concerns,” he said.

“The direction we’re seeking from you tonight is if the Mayor and Council review and approve each application, or if the staff should follow the guidelines and make decisions.”

Councilman Dennis Dare suggested the Mayor and Council hold the final decision on approvals for using public property after a recommendation from the staff.

“I think the staff should develop the criteria and review the applications, then forward a recommendation to the Mayor and Council for approval,” he said. “Let the policy makers make these approvals. Each application will be different and there are probably exceptions to each and every one of them.”

Councilman Tony DeLuca said there should be a sense of urgency to get the public property applications approved.

“Everything we can do right now, we should do,” he said. “Sussex County opened indoor seating today and people can walk across Route 54 and sit down and eat at a restaurant, and Sussex County’s numbers are higher than ours. We should do everything we can to support the businesses.”

Councilman Matt James agreed and said staff can review and approve the applications faster than a weighty full Mayor and Council approval process.

“We should help people out as much as possible right now,” he said. “We should continue to do that until they get back to full capacity. I think staff level approval is fine with the criteria spelled out. If we see something we don’t like, we can address it. It takes us as a group so long to get things done sometimes.”

Council Secretary Mary Knight agreed, pointing out the success of those businesses that reopened last weekend with modified outdoor seating on private property.

“I agree with staff review,” she said.

“People are ready and willing to do this now. By 5 p.m. last Friday, there were so many doing outside dining and they were doing a great job with it.”

However, some on the council reSEE PAGE 40

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Worcester Passes Budget With Hospital Funding

Page 8

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – A $100,000 grant to Atlantic General Hospital was the deciding factor in this week’s approval of Worcester County’s $204 million budget.

Though an initial motion for the Worcester County Commissioners to approve the county’s fiscal year 2021 budget failed with a 3-4 vote, Commissioner Bud Church reversed his position against the budget once it was amended to include a $100,000 grant for Atlantic General Hospital (AGH).

“I just can’t understand why the commissioners wouldn’t want to support an industry that takes care of us,” Church said.

As the commissioners prepared to

vote on the proposed budget Tuesday, several last-minute funding reconsiderations were brought up by individual commissioners. Church said he wanted to ask for reconsideration of a grant for AGH after the commissioners voted 43 to cut it last month. He stressed the hospital was one of the largest employers in the county and provided key health care services to local citizens.

Commissioner Josh Nordstrom, who said his wife worked at the hospital, also advocated on behalf of the $100,000 grant Church proposed for AGH. “I understand the dedication of the people who work there,” he said.

Nordstrom said the hospital was currently working with the health department to provide free COVID-19 testing in Pocomoke.

“It’s absolutely the wrong move to de-

fund the hospital in the middle of a pandemic,” he said.

Commissioner Diana Purnell said the hospital was important to the area’s growing senior population.

“I appreciate AGH and what they’re doing in the community,” she said.

Commissioner Joe Mitrecic, one of those who voted against providing the hospital funding last month, said he’d shared his own hospital experience during the commissioners’ meeting with AGH CEO and President Michael Franklin to illustrate his concern.

“I don’t think he took it the right way and many people out in the community didn’t take it the right way …,” he said, adding that he’d spoken to hospital board members in the weeks since.

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tal, the county commissioners and possibly the community as a whole.”

He said he wanted to see AGH approach Sussex County for funding, as many of the hospital’s patients came from Delaware. He maintains that the hospital is trying to grow too fast.

“They’re more concerned with fundraising and building buildings than they are with taking care of the people in this community,” he said.

Mitrecic said he’d shared his own experience at AGH to point out the failures of the facility. He added that the county was supporting medical services through other areas of its budget, such as through fire and EMS funding.

“I’ve been maligned in the paper about this, that I’m withholding, personally withholding, the funds from AGH because I got bad service,” he said.

“That is not the truth. I just used my experience to point out what went on.”

Mitrecic added that since voting against the funding, he’d received more calls from people who supported his decision than those who did not.

Church said Mitrecic appeared to have a personal grievance with Franklin and that his stance against funding the hospital was shortsighted.

“Atlantic General Hospital goes out of its way to raise its own funds and it seems like they’re being criticized for that,” Church said. “I think we’re being very shortsighted and I think it’ll show up in the election coming down the road.

With the people I’ve talked to that have called me I said I’m not running again for office. Now I might reconsider it.”

Commissioner Jim Bunting said he agreed with Mitrecic. He also referenced criticism of the commissioners’ decision not to provide AGH funding in an editorial in The Dispatch.

“If you’re making a decision about a threat by an editor from a paper that four commissioners should be ripped or whatever he meant, I’ve never made a vote in nine years whether it was going to get me reelected or not and I’m not worried about what effect it will have on any election,” Bunting said.

Church’s motion to give the hospital $100,000 failed with a 3-4 vote, with Mitrecic, Bunting, Commissioner Chip Bertino and Commissioner Ted Elder opposed.

The commissioners went on to increase grants to the Maryland Food Bank, Furnace Town and the towns of Pocomoke and Snow Hill. When Nordstrom eventually made a motion to approve the overall budget, however, Bunting, Bertino and Elder indicated they would not be supporting it. Elder said revenue projections were too high and that he didn’t appreciate the “money grab” at the end for last minute grants.

Bertino expressed frustration over the county’s piecemeal approach to EMS funding and said he also had major concerns about revenue in the coming year.

Bunting agreed and said Gov. Larry Hogan had mentioned the possibility of as much as a 30% reduction in revSEE NEXT PAGE

Female Juvenile Critically Hurt In Weekend PWC Collision

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

OCEAN CITY – Two juvenile females were injured including one flown to Shock Trauma when a personal watercraft collided with another vessel in the Assawoman Bay on Saturday afternoon.

Around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the Ocean City Fire Department were dispatched to a reported personal watercraft accident in the bay. The caller was unable to provide a detailed location for the collision, but advised there were two juvenile females in the water including one with serious injuries.

Three NRP patrol vessels responded and were able to locate the accident scene in the bay. A Good Samaritan had pulled the two female juveniles from the water, one of whom had serious injuries

to her lower extremities. An NRP officer was able to quickly board the vessel and apply a tourniquet to the victim’s leg in an effort to control the bleeding.

NRP officers determined the victim’s injuries were critical and took control of the vessel that had picked her up and utilized it to transport her to a rendezvous point where her care was transferred to Ocean City EMS. Maryland State Police Aviation then transported the victim to a local hospital and she was eventually transported to Shock Trauma in Baltimore.

The investigation revealed the two female juveniles were on a personal watercraft that collided with a center-console vessel. The critically injured female juvenile was struck multiple times by the vessel’s propeller, according to the NRP report. The investigation is ongoing and the status of the victim is unknown.

enues related to COVID-19.

“I hope he’s wrong,” Bunting said. “I hope I’m wrong. If I am wrong I’ll be happy but I think we’re going to be in bad trouble.”

Mitrecic said he would support the budget because it provided the Town of Ocean City with funding for providing EMS coverage in West Ocean City.

“Although I’ve sworn to never vote for a budget that doesn’t reach Ocean City’s tax setoff or whatever they’ve asked for, I feel it necessary to support this because I think that the money that we’re paying for the West Ocean City fire and EMS protection is a step in the right direction and is much needed,” he said.

When the vote was called, just three commissioners voted to pass the budget. Church, Elder, Bunting and Bertino voted against the budget.

Staff reminded the commissioners that they were required by local law to pass a budget by the first Tuesday in June.

Bunting said he was not changing his vote.

“And I don’t think two other commissioners are, so I don’t know what Commissioner Church’s issue is,” Bunting said.

When asked for input, Church simply said he’d already cast his vote.

“I don’t want to speak for Commissioner Church however I believe if we did fund AGH at $100,000 this budget would pass,” Nordstrom said.

Bunting said the board just couldn’t keep voting over the same issue.

“We can vote all day,” Mitrecic said.

The county attorney indicated that

at this point the commissioners had to negotiate until they could pass a budget. Nordstrom again made a motion to provide AGH with the funding.

“I appreciate everything they do,” he said. “I’m in awe of what they’re able to accomplish.”

Church said that in his decades as a realtor, he’d seen the importance of schools and health care to the community.

“Having lived here for almost 50 years, I can see where the health care has grown,” he said. “It’s bringing people to our community.”

Purnell said the county had found a way to accommodate all the school system’s requests to support the county’s younger generation and so should do what it could to support the area’s senior population.

Mitrecic said he still didn’t support the grant but did support the budget.

“There’s a lot of good that was done in this budget this year,” he said, noting the funding for EMS in West Ocean City.

“Even some of the items that were added this morning I felt strongly about ... I don’t support the grant to AGH. But with that said I’m not willing to hold up this entire budget for that. I would hope that somebody would reconsider. More than one of us could reconsider the vote on this.”

The motion to provide the hospital funding passed 4-3 (with Bunting, Bertino and Elder opposed), as did the subsequent motion to approve the fiscal year 2021 budget. The approved budget maintains the real property tax rate of $.845 per $100 of assessed value and an income tax rate of 2.25%.

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

… Mitrecic ‘Not Willing To Hold Up This Entire Budget For That’

Page 9

Evidentiary Hearing On Wind Turbine Size Underway

Page 10

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) evidentiary hearing on the proposed change in the size of the turbines for one offshore wind farm began in earnest on Thursday with both sides firing salvos in their opening remarks.

Last year, Ørsted, the developer of the Skipjack project, announced it was committed to using the GE-Haliade 12-megwatt turbines, described as the “world’s largest offshore wind turbine,”

for its Skipjack project off the north end of Ocean City. The 12-megawatt turbines are significantly larger than turbines originally envisioned for the project off the resort coast.

Because of the drastic change in the proposed turbine size, the PSC in January held a five-hour-plus public hearing in Ocean City attended by hundreds to determine if a further evidentiary hearing was warranted. In February, the PSC granted the town of Ocean City’s request for an evidentiary hearing and it got underway on Thursday morning. The hearing is ex-

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pected to continue for two days, and the PSC will, at some point, make a determination on the turbine size change.

In his opening statement on Thursday, Ørsted attorney Joseph Curran III said the 12-megawatt turbines now being proposed for the Skipjack project represented the “best available technology,” a concession placed on the PSC’s original approval for the project in 2017.

“We contend the principle impact of this selection is we’re going with a much more advanced turbine,” he said. “It provides a higher average output, which increases the ability to meet Maryland’s clean energy goals.”

Curran said the larger turbines would reduce the number needed to meet the project’s energy production goals and reduce its footprint off the coast of Ocean City.

“It will result in the need for fewer turbines,” he said. “Not only will there be fewer turbines, but they will be further away from the shore than the eight-megawatt outlay we discussed in 2017. They will actually utilize less of the visual horizon.”

Speaking on behalf of Ocean City, attorney Tim Maloney in his opening statement reiterated the town is not opposed to offshore wind projects off its coast. Instead, Ocean City merely wants the turbines to not be visible from

shore.

“Ocean City supports renewable energy and is not opposed to wind turbines,” he said. “Ocean City has consistently stated the right steps and the right measures need to be taken and the right location needs to selected.”

Maloney said the 12-megawatt turbines as close as 21 miles from the shore could negatively and permanently impact the viewshed enjoyed by the residents and the town’s eight million visitors each year. He pointed out the distance of the turbines has been a bit of a moving target throughout the process.

“These wind turbines will be off the coast of Ocean City for decades if not generations,” he said. “Ocean City is requesting the turbines be moved farther out from the shoreline and out of its viewshed. There needs to be certainty here. This cannot be a game of constantly shifting locations.”

When COVID-19 emerged, what had been planned as an in-person hearing akin to a court proceeding was changed to a virtual hearing in the interest of public safety. However, the town of Ocean City filed a motion seeking a continuance of the hearing, believing an in-person hearing would allow visuals to be better represented, but the PSC denied the motion.

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Berlin Renovation Project Approved After Changes Agreed Upon

Page 12

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Officials approved plans for a major renovation of a downtown property after developers agreed to tweak the design to better fit the historic district.

The Berlin Historic District Commission (HDC) approved renovation plans for the Burbage properties, which include storefronts on Pitts Street and Main Street. The approval came after lengthy discussion and after the developers’ agreement to decrease the height of the Pitts Street portion of the project and add some Victorian detail.

“I’m extremely pleased that the Heart of Berlin LLC is going to do the revitalization,” said Carol Rose, HDC chair, after the meeting. “I’m confident that the historic nature of our downtown is very important to them.”

Chris Davis and Frank Willing told the commission that they wanted to partner to renovate the extensive property and wanted to get HDC approval before moving forward.

“We haven’t bought the building,” Davis said. “It’s under contract. We’re going through the due diligence, this being the biggest part of it.”

Keith Fisher of Fisher Architecture told the commission the developers wanted to renovate the building in a

Demolition work continued this week on the interior sections of the property at Pitts and William streets.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

way that would keep the town’s positive momentum going. Davis said he’d met with Jack Burbage, the current property owner, and discussed their plans, as Burbage wanted to be sure whatever was done with the buildings would be an asset to the town.

“We’re excited about it,” Davis said.

“I really think this building is the heart of Berlin.”

Willing said he was also looking for-

ward to the project.

“Quite honestly it’s on my bucket list to do a project like this in a town like this,” he said. “Not that I’m riding off into the sunset but this is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

Though HDC members had extensive praise for the renovations planned to the Main Street portion of the project, they expressed concern about the look proposed for the corner of Pitts

June 5, 2020

Street and William Street.

“There’s something about just this corner that’s got too much of a modern look to me,” HDC member Nornie Bunting said.

Commission member Laura Stearns agreed and said she didn’t like the look of the “tower” proposed.

“I don’t want to take away something that would be phenomenal for this town but it has to fit,” she said.

A few members of the public submitted written comments to the commission asking for adjustments to the proposed corner building and commission member Robert Poli said that the majority of citizens he’d discussed the rendering with hadn’t liked it. Commission member Mary Moore said she thought the proposed structure needed some adjustment so it didn’t look like Barnes and Noble. She added that she wanted to be sure the HDC liked the structure before the board signed off on it.

“Unfortunately we’ve had some bad experiences — people who live here stood in front of us and said this is how it’s going to be and it wasn’t at all,” she said, referencing the Purnell Building.

“It’s a real eyesore.”

Davis said that while he wanted to appease the commission, he also had to make sure the building would be appealing to potential tenants.

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Charging Station Decision Delayed

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Four Parking Spots Eyed By Utility

BY BETHANY HOOPER

SALISBURY – County officials this week agreed to postpone a resolution allowing Delmarva Power to install and maintain car charging stations at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council voted unanimously to postpone a resolution approving a right of way agreement between the county and Delmarva Power and Light Company.

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Director Steve Miller told officials this week his department had been approached by Delmarva Power and Light Company to install four electric vehicle charging stations in the Civic Center parking lot. By approving a right of way agreement, he said the company would use four parking spots at the corner of North Park Drive and Memorial Plaza.

“The intent is to increase the footprint for electric vehicle charging stations, so they are looking for places with 24-7 access,” he said. “They’ve identified a few places, but the one we are talking about today is at the Civic Center, where we would dedicate four spots in the back corner lot. It would come at no cost to the county. They would install signage, install the stations. It would just be a convenience for folks who have electric vehicles.”

Councilman Larry Dodd questioned if the company would charge individuals for use of the stations. Miller said he didn’t know.

“I’d have to double check,” he said.

Councilman Joe Holloway questioned why they county would enter into the right of way agreement.

“Are we going to do another corner for a Wawa so people can get gas?” he

said. “I don’t get the point of this, why the county is supplying this property.”

Holloway pointed out that the county had increased parking at the Civic Center years ago. He said adding the charging stations would be counterintuitive.

“One of the big problems then was we didn’t have the parking space, and now we are trying to give up some parking …,” he said. “I have a problem with this.”

When asked if the spaces would be restricted to those with electric cars, Miller said it would not.

“We would not police that …,” he said. “If we have a sold-out concert or any event, our focus would be on running the event. That’s not something we would block off.”

Councilwoman Nicole Acle and Councilman Josh Hastings said they supported the proposal.

“If we really wanted folks to come from out of town to go to a show – and many of them come from cities and have long rides – they might be able to charge while they’re at the concert,” Hastings said. “It’s certainly not space that we’re using, so I’m actually excited to see this.”

Councilman John Cannon questioned if the county could lease the space to Delmarva Power.

“Due to the fact that the Civic Center is in need of revenue, I think this might be a good revenue stream,” he said.

Miller agreed.

“We could explore those options if there’s opportunity for revenue, he said.

Cannon then made a motion to postpone a vote on the resolution by a month, which passed unanimously.

“I think it’s a little premature to vote on this now,” he said.

“We can have an empty historic building or we can have something in between that’s viable,” he said.

Fisher explained that the corner was two feet higher than the existing building, and that was primarily because the current roofline was compromised and needed a cap to secure it. In response to concerns about the white paneling shown on the structure, Willing said that was because his team said much of the existing brick wasn’t salvageable. He said he did believe that he could eliminate the majority of the Azek however, so that just the upper portion of the building needed it.

Fisher said he could secure the roofline with just one foot of extra height rather than the two initially proposed. He said he could also add detail to the cornice to give the building more of a Vic-

torian look.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the project as long as the Pitts Street corner included as much brick as possible, was reduced one foot in height and included more cornice detail. The HDC will review building signage in the future once tenants are ready to move in.

Rose said she appreciated the members of the public who had provided input on the project.

“I’m also grateful to the members of the board for studying the plans and making sure that everything was taken care of,” she said.

She also thanked the applicants, as well as the others who had cases before the board, for dealing with adjustments related to minimizing crowds and ensuring physical distancing.

STAFF WRITER

… HDC Advances Renovation Effort

Page 13

Page 14

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 15

Congressman Tours Shore Operations

Page 16

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

Pictured, from left, are Old Pro Golf's Scott Schoelkopf, State's Attorney Kris Heiser, Congressman Andy Harris, Delegate Wayne Hartman and Senator Mary Beth Carozza.

Photos by Charlene Sharpe

OCEAN CITY – Local businesses not yet allowed to reopen showcased their efforts to ensure safety and enforce physical distancing to Congressman Andy Harris this week.

On Monday, Harris visited a handful of businesses between Delmar and Ocean City to view the changes proprietors have made as they eagerly await permission to reopen.

He’s hopeful that more Eastern Shore businesses will be allowed to reopen as protocols to ensure customers remain safe have been put in place. He pointed out that many of the same industries that remain closed in Maryland resumed operations in neighboring Delaware on June 1.

“It does not make a lot of sense,” he said. “We’re sending revenue to Delaware.”

Harris on Monday visited Kylan Barn in Delmar, Ocean Downs Casino, Baja Amusements, the Bay Bee headboat, Old Pro Golf and The Hobbit Restaurant. Proprietors showed him the safety improvements they’d made to ensure physical distancing and shared their frustration from watching their competitors just across the state line open. Old Pro Golf’s Scott

June 5, 2020

Schoellkopf said he was eager to get the state’s permission to open, especially since some of his competitors were already accepting customers.

“Some have gone rogue,” he said.

“I’m trying to do the right thing.”

In addition to disinfecting club handles and golf balls, Old Pro Golf has put together procedures to ensure people keep their distance while playing. The game is also outside for the most part and is played by groups that visit the establishment together. If the course is too busy, clerks can adjust the influx of players.

“We can control it from the point of sale,” Schoellkopf said. “We can slow it down.”

Senator Mary Beth Carozza, who along with Delegate Wayne Hartman and State’s Attorney Kris Heiser, accompanied Harris on his visits Monday, said she was hopeful miniature golf would be allowed to open this week.

“This is an outdoor activity with very strong health, safety, sanitation and social distancing protocols in place,” she said, adding that she wished it had been able to open Memorial Day weekend. “If you could break up the congregation on the Boardwalk and give visitors addiSEE NEXT PAGE

Wicomico Increases Tipping Fees To Near Counties

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

SALISBURY – Wicomico officials voted this week to increase the tipping fees for a county landfill.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council approved a resolution increasing the tipping fee at the Newland Park landfill from $60 per ton to $65 per ton.

Public Works Deputy Director Mark Whitelock said Wicomico had the lowest tipping fees of any county on the Lower Shore. Dorchester had a tipping fee of $62, while Somerset and Worcester had a tipping fee of $66 and $70, respectively.

The resolution presented to the council this week also included an increase in transfer station permit – or

household permit – fees from $60 to $65. Councilman Joe Holloway, however, told Whitelock he disagreed with the recommendation.

“When we were talking earlier you said that you thought our tipping fee ought to be increased because we were getting people from other counties because we were less expensive.

I agree with that,” he said. “But I don’t

tional activities like outdoor restaurant seating and outdoor miniature golf that’s a far healthier scenario than having the congregation on the Boardwalk.”

Hartman said he was hopeful that Gov. Larry Hogan would allow indoor dining and outdoor entertainment activities to resume this week.

“All the businesses on the tour today are businesses we feel can be opened safely,” he said.

Like Harris, he stressed that similar businesses just over the state line were now open in Delaware.

“If Governor Hogan doesn’t open these businesses, Marylanders are going to partake of these same venues in Delaware without us having

any of the financial gain which makes no sense,” Hartman said. “People have been compliant, they did what the governor asked, and now I think it’s time that these businesses are given the ability to open and salvage what’s left of their business and season.”

At the Hobbit, owner Garvey Heiderman has installed plexiglas between booths and rearranged tables to ensure that patrons don’t get too close to one another. Because the state is now allowing outdoor dining, he’s also set up temporary tables outside the restaurant. Last weekend, with 21 tables outside, Heiderman said the restaurant did 65% of the business it did during the same week-

end last year with its 35 indoor tables.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” he said.

Heiderman said he even purchased face masks so the restaurant could provide them to diners who arrived without them.

“I expected people not to know,” he said. “People are still extremely confused.”

Heiderman believes businesses in Ocean City need to be vigilant with face covering so that visitors feel safe when they come to the resort. He says if people who do come to Ocean City feel uncomfortable they won’t be coming back.

“It’s worth it for me to make it feel safe,” he said.

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

… Harris Pushing For Expanded Openings

Page 17

agree with the increase in the permitting fee … Every year we raise these fees – and we haven’t raised them in a while – we see an increase in trash along the roads.”

Councilman Bill McCain questioned if a $5 increase would change people’s behaviors. While he said he didn’t know, Holloway argued maintaining the permit fee at $60 would also help those financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know when we started this back in the early 90s, the fee was $20 or $25, something like that, and the higher it goes the less people you have applying for permits,” he said. “Also, you have the issue of income this year …

People are going to have less money to spend.”

A motion to amend the resolution by keeping transfer station permits at $60 passed 4-3, with Councilmen John Cannon, Josh Hastings and Bill McCain opposed.

When asked his opinions on the motion, Whitelock noted that transfer station permits constituted a small portion of solid waste fees that are collected. On average, he said, the department sells 8,100 household permits each year.

With no further discussion, the council then voted unanimously to approve the amended resolution, which increased tipping fees to $65 and maintained transfer station permit fees at $60.

All Quiet On Fenwick State Park Project, Officials Say

Page 18

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – The mayor of Fenwick Island said local officials have yet to hear from a state agency regarding proposed plans for a nearby beach park.

In a Fenwick Island Town Council meeting late last month, Mayor Gene Langan said the town had yet to receive a response from Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Shawn Garvin regarding a pro-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Mayor: ‘Their Tactic Is To Ignore Us’

posal that would bring roughly $18 million in capital improvements to Fenwick Island State Park in exchange for the placement of an onshore interconnection facility.

“I asked Ray Bivens, the head of parks, face to face on a Zoom call what was happening,” he said. “He said Garvin has not made up his mi-

nd yet.”

Last October, the DNREC Division of Parks & Recreation announced a proposal which, if approved, would allow the wind farm developer Ørsted to construct an onshore power transmission state at Fenwick Island State Park in exchange for millions of dollars in park improvements, including a new nature center, new bathrooms, a pedestrian overpass and additional parking. Ørsted is one of the two companies holding permits for offshore wind energy farms off the coast. While its Skipjack wind farm project is considered a Maryland project – going through the Maryland Public Service Commission for regulatory approval – Ørsted must bring its transmission lines ashore and has targeted the state park as a future home for the interconnection facility.

Since the state’s announcement on the proposed partnership, Fenwick officials have been vocal with their objections to the interconnection facility. In December, for example, the town council approved a resolution opposing the project.

“It is important the park project and the offshore wind project be thoroughly reviewed and studied to ensure it is in the best interest of the environment, our economic vitality, and the quality of life we cherish,” the resolution reads. “The Council is concerned with the substation location in an environmentally sensitive area and with the distance of the wind turbines to Fenwick Island shores. The Town Council requests and desires input into any future revisions of the park plans, substation plans and windfarm plans. The Town Council requests that all windfarms be located so they are not visible from the Town of Fenwick Island shorelines.”

In January, DNREC closed the com-

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June 5, 2020

ment period for the proposed state park improvements. Having received more than 2,300 responses from the public, discussions on the project stalled while DNREC reviewed those comments.

“We have not set a deadline on reviewing survey feedback, as we want to thoroughly research answers to frequently asked questions,” Delaware State Parks Community Relations Coordinator Shauna McVey said at the time.

Officials said it would ultimately be up to DNREC as to whether the state agrees to the proposed partnership.

Langan said last month’s discussion with Bivens was the first he had had with a state official in some time regarding the project.

“That’s all I can tell you,” he said.

“That’s the only contact we’ve had with them. To give you an example, ACT (the Association of Coastal Towns) wrote a letter to them in October and we never got a response. We wrote to DNREC and Garvin to let us know because we all have objections, and their tactic is to ignore us.”

Langan’s comments came weeks after Ørsted announced the timeline for its Skipjack wind farm project would be moved from late 2022 to late 2023.

A statement from Ørsted reads, “As the federal permitting timeline evolves, Ørsted is now receiving its federal Notice of Intent for the Skipjack Wind Farm later than originally anticipated.

As a result, Ørsted has determined that moving Skipjack Wind Farm's anticipated completion date from late 2022 to the new target of the end of 2023 puts us in the strongest position possible to deliver a successful project.”

The statement continues the delay should not be perceived as a change of course with the overall project. “Ørsted remains firmly committed to working with our federal partners to complete Skipjack and provide clean, reliable offshore wind energy to 35,000 homes in the Delmarva region,” the statement said.

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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Page 20

Resort To Offer Drive-In Movies

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – In an effort to fill the void of many special events canceled because of the ongoing health crisis, the Town of Ocean City this week announced it is offering a free drive-in movie each week at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.

Starting Monday, June 15, the town of Ocean City is offering a free drivein movie at the convention center parking lot.

The family-friendly movie series will be shown on a 27-foot wide by 15-foot high LED screen, which will be raised off the ground to improve visibility. The town’s special events department coordinated with private events promoter TEAM Productions on the concept.

The LED screen will allow the movies to begin before dusk at 8 p.m. each Monday from mid-June through the end of August. Sound for the movie will be provided through a localized FM transmitter so patrons will be able to listen through their vehicle’s audio system. In the interest of limiting guest interactions to the greatest extent possible, vehicles will be spaced roughly by a car’s width. With the distancing, the convention center lot will be able to accommodate a little less than 100 vehicles.

June 5, 2020

Special Events Director Frank Miller said the town was looking for a safe, family-friendly alternative after so many events that did not accommodate physical distancing have been canceled or delayed.

“Our free family fun events offer special experiences for residents and visitors in Ocean City,” he said. “With the current concerns of coronavirus and the abundance of caution we are taking throughout Ocean City, this event seemed like a perfect fit for family fun as it provides entertainment while being mindful of physical distancing.”

The list of movies in the series will be released soon and follow the same family-friendly genre as the Movies on the Beach series, which are still planned at the Carousel on Wednesday nights and 27th Street on Friday nights whenever the state COVID-19 directives allow them. In addition, the town has teamed up with the Ocean City Art League to showcase independent films at the convention center one Tuesday each month during the summer. Miller said the town coordinated with the Worcester County Health Department on the project.

“Safety is our top priority,” he said.

“We want families to come here, relax and know that we have taken every precaution to protect them so they will feel safe enough to return.”

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 21

The Globe Renovation Nearly Complete, July Opening Eyed

Page 22

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

June 5, 2020

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – The months-long restoration of an iconic Berlin business is finally nearing completion.

The Globe, which has been undergoing a massive renovation since being purchased by Burley Oak Brewing’s Bryan Brushmiller, is in the final stages of construction. Brushmiller hopes to welcome the public back to The Globe in July, pending the lifting of state restrictions.

“For the last six months we have been working diligently to bring back this 100-year-old theater to its former glory,” Brushmiller said. “We’re excited to show everyone a space that will host barbecue, craft beer and live entertainment.”

Brushmiller bought the property last fall and has spent the months since reimagining the interior of the historic building. Though the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the project somewhat, Brushmiller says it’s 80% complete. On a tour of the building this week, Brushmiller highlighted the changes to the structure. Those who frequented the restaurant in recent years will be surprised by the open floor plan, as Brush-

Owner Bryan Brushmiller stands in the open floorplan of the new Globe.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

miller has removed the wall enclosing the kitchen and expanded the bar. While the kitchen remains on the left side of the building, it’s visible to patrons, who will be able to sit in the back by the stage, outside in a new seating area, or at the bar — 50 feet of live edge maple built by Brushmiller’s father Tim. The second floor of The Globe will feature

overflow seating and will, as it was in the past, be available for private parties.

While finishing work is still underway, Brushmiller said The Globe’s interior would pay homage to its roots. A wood floor, steel paneling, exposed beams and brick walls will give the space a historic feel, according to Brushmiller.

“We want you to walk in and feel

like you walked into 1910,” he said.

He’s paid particular attention to the brick, as it fits in well with the historic downtown. Brushmiller said it took six days to remove the epoxy from all the brick behind the bar, which was then repointed and sealed.

“For me the historic preservation of the building is of the utmost importance,” he said.

Once the interior is finished, Brushmiller will add picnic style seating to fit with the fast casual barbecue menu he’s got planned. When The Globe opens, patrons will be able to walk in and sit at the bar or walk up to the kitchen counter and order their food. They’ll be given a number and told to sit wherever they like as their meal is prepared.

Brushmiller said he’d reconnected with former employee Aaron Miller, who has worked at The Buttery and Dogfish Head in the past, and that Miller would be overseeing his food operations.

The stage, which is located at the back of the restaurant, is now visible from the bar and will feature live entertainment regularly.

While COVID-19 closures impacted much of the economy this spring, Brushmiller said the situation gave his team more time to focus on their work at The Globe. The restoration project has also helped Brushmiller keep his staff employed, as bartenders unable to work at the brewery while it is closed are instead helping Brushmiller’s father with the restoration work.

“We love restoring old buildings,” he said. “I was super excited to work with my dad on another project.”

When asked about the cost of the project, Brushmiller said he estimated it at close to $250,000. Though the work has been extensive, he said he recognized the potential of the building the first time he ever visited it and was eager to reinvest in the town. The Globe will join a growing list of Brushmiller properties in Berlin, including Burley Oak Brewing Co., Viking Tree Trading Co. and Burley Café.

“I love this town,” Brushmiller said.

“This town is awesome. I hope other people reinvest in the town, whether it’s taking time to pick up a piece of trash off the street or buying an old building to rehab.”

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Bear Crawling to Help a Friend

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

exercise Goal turns into Fundraiser

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – A competitive swimmer is turning his exercise regimen into a fundraiser for a girl battling cancer.

Most days, you can find Adam Diehl – a 15-year-old Ocean Pines resident – in the pool. As a competitive swimmer and member of the Ocean Pines Swim Team, he typically trains six days a week, two hours a day throughout the year.

However, Diehl’s practices were interrupted earlier this year as pools closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with the help of his trainer, he has devel- ADAM DIEHL oped a new goal – to bear crawl for a mile.

“With the pandemic going around, I was out of the water and had to make a new goal for myself, so my trainer and I decided to bear crawl for a mile,” he said. “To make it interesting, we know this girl named Addie who has cancer, and we decided to raise money for her.”

In April, 9-year-old Addie Lapinski was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Within weeks, doctors also learned Addie had a ge-

netic mutation called the Philadelphia chromosome, an abnormality of the leukemia cells.

Diehl, whose parents are friends of the Lapinski family, said he was eager to offer his support.

“Cancer, especially for a little girl, is something hard and painful, and the toll it takes on the family is astronomical,” he said.

Last week, the Diehl family created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Addie and her family. And within days, the campaign had exceeded its $1,000 goal.

But Diehl said he is not stopping there. On June 12, he will bear crawl for one mile in the grass of Berlin First Baptist Church, where Diehl’s father is the lead pastor. A bear crawl – similar to a baby crawl – requires a person to bear weight on the hands and toes instead of the knees.

“I will be bear crawling for a mile, and that is nothing compared to what she is going to be battling for the next couple of years,” Diehl said in a video message to donors.

Diehl encouraged everyone to support Addie through his fundraising efforts.

For more information, or to donate, visit Diehl’s GoFundMe page, “Crawling for Cancer.”

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Addie Lapinski is 9 years old and battling B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

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Wicomico Council Passes $153 Million Budget In 4-3 Vote

Page 24

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – Officials in Wicomico County this week adopted a budget for the coming fiscal year.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council voted 4-3, with Councilman John Cannon, Councilman Joe Holloway and Council President Larry Dodd opposed, to adopt the annual budget for fiscal year 2021.

The $153 million spending plan presented to the council in April was amended this week to include $1.05 million in reductions and $1.03 million in recommended reallocations.

Officials said any recommended increases not supported by the executive would be placed in the county’s contingency fund.

In a recap session last month, the Wicomico County Council discussed cutting $2,908,200 and reassigning $1,147,921 to other line items in the coming year’s budget. The remaining $1,760,279 would be moved to the county’s contingency account.

“The engine behind this whole thing is the fact that we are trying to be as

conservative as possible,” Cannon said at the time. “We have some counties cutting 5% to 10% of their budget. Baltimore is cutting more than our entire budget from theirs. So we are trying to be as conservative as possible in anticipation of what may develop here.”

In this week’s council meeting, however, Councilman Bill McCain made a motion to amend the proposed budget by making $1,057,912 in total reductions and $1,033,139 in recommended reallocations, leaving $24,773 to be added to the county’s contingency account.

The amendment eliminated the assistant internal auditor position and a new chief financial officer position and included a $25,000 reduction in contractual services, an $80,000 reduction in new auto leases and a $783,810 reduction from transfer reserves to the airport, among other things.

“The reason for that reduction is we are assuming the CARES Act funds will be available from the FAA,” he said. “So that we not be needed. We can reallocate that.”

Of the $1,057,912 in proposed cuts, McCain suggested $1,033,139 be reallocated to other line items, including

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a $265,000 increase for prosecutor and investigator positions within the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office, a $200,000 increase for Shore Transit, a $25,000 increase for the Meals on Wheels program and a $500,000 increase for roads, maintenance and blacktop.

Although the council last month had suggested a $480,635 cut in the proposed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the coming year, McCain’s motion included a 5% COLA that was initially proposed by the county executive.

“This amendment is very straight forward, very simple,” he said. “It’s a proposal that’s a positive message to the executive office, it’s a positive message to our county employees that are very dedicated and work hard for this county, and it’s a positive message to our community.”

Cannon, however, disagreed with the proposed changes, which were presented to council members in writing prior to McCain’s motion.

“I’ve had about one minute to look at this,” he said. “I’m more prepared to go through the process of each individual cut as reviewed at the last meeting.”

June 5, 2020

Holloway also disagreed with the amendment. He said the county should better prepare for coming financial difficulties.

“This is going to be an easy budget this year compared to what we are going to see next year …,” he said.

“We need to be conservative with this budget and putting the money we cut into reserves.”

McCain’s motion passed 4-3. A subsequent motion to adopt the budget as amended also passed 4-3, with Cannon, Holloway and Dodd opposed.

The council on Tuesday also voted unanimously to approve the fiscal year 2021-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The five-year capital planning document included amendments restoring funds for three board of education projects.

The council voted 7-0 to restore $7 million in funding for the Beaver Run school construction project in fiscal year 2021 and $281,000 in funding for the Westside Intermediate roof replacement project. The council on Tuesday also voted to restore $2.5 million in funding for the Mardela Middle and High School renovation and addition in fiscal year 2021, but not without some concerns.

“If we were to make this adjustment, my concern would be this would begin the wheels rolling,” Cannon said. “This $2.5 million for 2021 is going to commit us to another $6 million in 2022, $8.5 million in 2023, $9 million in 2024 and $8.98 million in 2025.”

McCain, however, noted that the project would only get more expensive the longer the county waits.

“This project is not going away,” he said. “That’s what the bond market is for .... It’s only going to cost us more money the more we continue to kick this project down the road.”

Cannon agreed, adding that the CIP was a planning document.

“It doesn’t mean we are going to go out and spend this money next month …,” he said. “I agree with Councilman McCain. Let’s put it in there and let’s see if we can’t move this ball forward.”

The council this week also set a tax rate of $.9286 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2021.

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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First-Degree Assault Charge In OC Attack OCEAN CITY – A Bishopville man has been charged with first-degree assault for allegedly beating another man and knocking him unconscious in north Ocean City late last month.

Around 11:50 p.m. on May 20, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was dispatched to a residence on Assawoman Drive to follow up on an assault that had already occurred. The officer met with a male victim who reportedly had a laceration on his forehead, another cut on his elbow and a broken bone in his hand.

The victim reportedly told police around midnight on May 18 he was riding his bike in north Ocean City when he was confronted by Joseph Lantzer, 20, of Bishopville, who was waiting for him.

According to police reports, Lantzer walked up to the victim, grabbed his bike and said “we are going to fight.”

Lantzer reported reared back to throw a punch, but the victim defended himself and struck Lantzer first.

According to police reports, a fight ensued, and another man joined the fray, knocking the victim to the ground.

The victim told police Lantzer kicked him repeatedly in the head to the point he lost consciousness and was unable to remember what happened thereafter. The juvenile victim provided police with pictures of himself after the attack. OCPD officers also obtained a seven-second video of the incident during which bystanders repeatedly told Lantzer to let the victim up. At the end of the video, one of the bystanders was heard saying, “Is he dead?” according to police reports.

Based on the victim’s testimony and the evidence, Lantzer has been charged with first- and second-degree assault. At a bail review hearing last Friday, Lantzer was ordered to be held without bond.

Indecent Exposure Arrest OCEAN CITY – A Pennsylvania man was arrested for indecent exposure last weekend after allegedly exposing himself to a woman and her daughters from a hotel room window at 4th Street.

Around 3:45 p.m. last Saturday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to the ocean block at 4th Street for a reported indecent exposure incident. The officer met with the fe-

Cops & Courts The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

male victim who reportedly told police she was leaving the beach with her three juvenile daughters and the girls were changing out of their bathing suits between the victim’s vehicle and another unattended vehicle with the doors open.

The victim was reportedly approached by a couple who told her a man was watching her and her kids from a second-floor unit of the hotel adjacent to where they were parked. The victim looked up and saw a naked man later identified as Michael McKinley, 40, of Mount Wolf, Pa., standing near an open window.

According to police reports, McKinley was pleasuring himself as he watched the victim and her daughters on the street below. OCPD officers arrived and observed McKinley had stopped his behavior and had closed the window to the point only a portion of it was visible from the street.

OCPD officers identified the hotel room number and went to the room and knocked on the door for several minutes. A female occupant opened the door and the officers observed McKinley standing by the window wearing only a towel. McKinley admitted he had been pleasuring himself while sitting on the bed and acknowledged someone may have seen him, but denied masturbating in front of the window.

However, based on the victim’s testimony and the testimony of the couple passing by, OCPD officers determined McKinley had purposely exposed himself to the individuals on the street below. He was arrested and charged with indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.

Barking Up Wrong Tree OCEAN CITY – A Bel Air, Md., man was arrested last week for harassing

a police animal after allegedly barking at a K-9 in a closed police cruiser.

Around 2:25 a.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was in a marked police K-9 vehicle in a parking lot at 68th Street when he was approached by a male identified as Tyler Dameron, 25, of Bel Air, Md., who asked for assistance. According to police reports, Dameron approached the vehicle, knocked on the window and asked the officer if he could give him a ride to where he was staying because he had been walking for a while.

The officer reportedly told Dameron he could not give him a ride because he did not have a free seat open in his vehicle. Dameron became agitated and began raising his voice as he questioned why the officer could not give him a ride. The officer’s K-9 partner began barking because Dameron was reportedly yelling at the officer through the vehicle’s window.

Dameron reportedly told the officer the front seat of his vehicle was open, but the officer explained he had all of his gear on the front seat and there was nowhere else to put it, to which Dameron reportedly said “I don’t give a [expletive deleted], give me a ride,” according to police reports.

At that point, Dameron reportedly moved toward the open rear driver’s side window near the enclosed K-9 kennel. According to police reports, Dameron raised his shoulders, stuck out his chest and moved his face close to the K-9 kennel and barked loudly at the officer’s K-9 partner. The caused the K-9 to lunge toward Dameron and bark.

The officer told Dameron to walk away and ordered him to stop tormenting and harassing his K-9 partner. The

June 5, 2020 officer reportedly told Dameron if he continued, he would be arrested for harassing a police animal. Nonetheless, Dameron allegedly continued to curse at the officer and the police dog, causing the dog to become agitated and bark at the suspect. Dam-eron was finally arrested and charged with harassing and tormenting a police animal.

Officer Assaulted On Boardwalk OCEAN CITY – A Pennsylvania woman was arrested on multiple charges last weekend after allegedly stumbling down the Boardwalk and knocking over police bicycles before assaulting an officer.

Around 6:20 p.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer was on bicycle patrol on the Boardwalk when he was approached by a citizen who pointed out a woman later identified as Juliris Morales, 19, of Lancaster, Pa., stumbling on the Boardwalk and running into people.

The witness told police he observed Morales throw a punch at a man on the Boardwalk.

The officer approached Morales, who was upset and crying hysterically, according to police reports. When Morales stood up, she fell backward, knocking over two OCPD officers’ bicycles. OCPD officers reportedly carried Morales off the Boardwalk and she screamed loudly at them with phrases including “Don’t kill me,” and “I don’t want to die,” and “It’s people like you who kill people like me,” for example.

By now, a large crowd gathered on the Boardwalk at 6th Street to watch the scene unfold. The officer calmed Morales down to the point they had a peaceful conversation using each other’s first names, according to police reports. However, Morales brief period of calm ended when she became hysterical again and accused the officer of being just like a police officer in North Carolina who had killed her brother, according to police reports.

At that point, Morales reportedly reached out toward the officer, striking him in the chin and made a motion as if attempting to choke him. Morales was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, intoxicated endangerment and disorderly conduct.

Driver Faces Robbery, Assault In Hit-And-Run Incident

June 5, 2020

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A New Castle, Del., man faces 20 charges this week after allegedly being part of a group that jumped and robbed a man in downtown Ocean City last Sunday and then ran over one of his alleged co-conspirators with a vehicle in an attempt to get away.

Dominick Mendez-Powell, 20, of New Castle, was charged with robbery, assault and theft after allegedly being part of a group of suspects that attacked and robbed a man at a downtown Ocean City motel parking lot last Sunday. After the alleged robbery when the suspects were attempting to leave the scene when they learned police were on the way, Mendez-Powell allegedly ran over one of his co-conspirators, sending the suspect to Shock Trauma, and numerous other charges were added including leaving the scene of an accident involving bodily injury or death.

Around 11:40 p.m. last Sunday, an Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officer responded to a hotel at 26th Street for a reported vehicle crash involving injuries. Ocean City Communications advised a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle that left the scene and life-saving measures were being implemented on the victim.

Upon arrival, the OCPD officer observed a vehicle matching the description heading east on 26th Street and effected a traffic stop. The officer detained the driver, later identified as Mendez-Powell, who reportedly told police he had just left the hotel where he had been in an altercation with a male who had made rude comments to females outside his room.

Another OCPD officer arrived on the scene and found a male victim laying on the ground near the parking lot at 26th Street with the Ocean City Fire Department treating him for facial injuries. Meanwhile, Mendez-Powell exhibited signs of being under the influence when questioned by police and did not complete field sobriety tests to the officers’ satisfaction. According to police reports, Mendez-Powell told police he had smoked marijuana before the incident and left the scene because he did not want anything to do with the incident, according to police reports.

Another OCPD officer reviewed available video surveillance footage of the vehicle-pedestrian footage, which reportedly showed Mendez-Powell’s vehicle backing out of a parking space with the passenger door open and the male victim standing nearby. The surveillance footage reportedly showed the victim getting knocked to the ground by the open car door and then the front end of Mendez-Powell’s vehicle move up and down abruptly as it ran over the head and chest area of the victim.

The victim, John Sarmousakis, 20, of Newark, Del., was flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore where he remained in stable but serious condition

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

as of mid-week.

While still on the scene, OCPD officers observed another male victim sitting near the hotel parking lot with injuries to his face and body. The victim told police he had just been jumped by a group of individuals and robbed of his belongings. Officers on the scene identified several people in the parking lot including Logan Lewis, 20, of Wilmington, and Trumye Shackelford, 21, of Newark, Del. A witness told police a group of five people including Mendez-Powell, Lewis, Shackelford and a juvenile had attacked the male victim in the parking lot and continued to kick the victim while he was on the ground. The witness told police members of the group were taking items out of the victim’s pockets while he was on the ground.

Page 27

OCPD officers interviewed Lewis, who reportedly told police all members of her group were involved in a fight with the male victim because he had made some comments about asking Lewis to have sex for money. Lewis said those comments by the victim incited the members of her group to attack the victim and rob him of his belongings.

Hotel video surveillance showed Mendez-Powell, Sarmousakis, Lewis, Shackelford and the juvenile chasing the victim through the parking lot before a fight broke out. The video surveillance also reportedly showed Shac kelford and Lewis walking back toward their hotel room with the victim’s property and Lewis discarding the victim’s wallet.

OCPD officers interviewed the juve-

nile, who reportedly told police MendezPowell, Lewis, Shackelford and Sarmousakis were all in the hotel room following the alleged attack and had spread the victim’s belongings out on a bed to determine who was going to keep what. When members of the group learned the police had been called, they reportedly scattered in an attempt to flee, which is when Mendez-Powell allegedly ran over Sarmousakis and fled the scene.

Mendez-Powell, Lewis and Shackelford were each charged with robbery, theft and second-degree assault and each was being held without bond this week. Mendez-Powell also faces 17 other serious traffic-related counts including driving while impaired and leaving the scene related to the hitand-run incident.

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The new Fenwick Shores hotel property is pictured. The outdoor food and beverage area on the second floor patio is pictured on the left side of the building.

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BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

FENWICK ISLAND – As a resort developer awaits approval for a hotel liquor license that would allow for an outdoor bar, a group of property owners are calling on Fenwick Island officials to enforce the town code.

On May 22, attorney William Rhodunda of the law firm Rhodunda Williams & Kondraschow issued a letter to the Fenwick Island Town Council on behalf of a growing list of property owners concerned about an outdoor bar with the potential for live or recorded music at the new Fenwick Shores hotel on Coastal Highway.

“At this time there are 133 Fenwick residents, representing 89 Fenwick properties, and growing daily, who demand enforcement of the Fenwick Code,” Rhodunda writes. “While my firm does not represent all of these property owners at this time, I do represent numerous Fenwick residents who are ready to commence legal action, if necessary, to enforce the Fenwick Code and maintain the ‘quiet beach town’ of Fenwick Island. My clients hope legal action is not necessary, and the Town changes its position to one that is consistent with the Code.”

In 2018, developer Spiro Buas demolished the aging Sands Motel – which he purchased in 2015 – and began building a new hotel in its place.

Fenwick Shores, a Tapestry Collection

by Hilton, will be a 65-room boutique hotel.

To allow alcohol service for hotel guests, Buas applied with the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner (ABCC) for a hotel liquor license back in March. The application also seeks a patio permit and a variance to permit live entertainment, external speakers, a paging system and a wet bar on the second-floor patio of his property.

Since that time, however, several property owners have voiced their objections to the developer’s variance request and questioned if the town code allowed for an outdoor bar.

“Your house might not be close to this

hotel, but if you let this exception pass, it will only encourage much of the same just like Dewey Beach and Ocean City,” Patricia Westwater, whose family owns property in Fenwick, said in a council meeting late last month. “It’s quite a disappointment to know that instead of protecting the property owners, the town seems to be bending over backwards for this hotel. What’s worse, the council doesn’t seem to be interested in enforcing the town ordinances that already exist.”

Property owner Natalie Magdeburger – daughter of Councilwoman Vicki Carmean – agreed.

“Ordinances are only as effective as the enforcement of them,” she said.

“If there’s no enforcement of ordinances on the books, then any commercial establishment can ask for the same treatment or the same variance.”

Officials Say Outdoor Bar, Speakers Permitted Use While many property owners believe the code prohibits outdoor bars, town officials have taken the opposite position for the hotel.

According to the town code, “no bar … shall be allowed in any outside service area.” Town officials, however, have pointed out that the town code specifically addresses bars and bar areas under the section heading “restaurants,” not “hotels,” making Buas’ variance request a permitted use.

“As the bar is an amenity of the hotel, the town has no control over where that bar would be located …,” Councilman Bill Weistling said in March.

“Everything that has come up on this hotel we have passed it by our town attorney, and as councilmembers we might not agree with the town attorney, but we accept her guidance and interpretation of the town code.”

While the town has no jurisdiction over the issuance of liquor licenses, officials in recent months acknowledged that Buas had agreed to add a restriction to his license and seek permission from the council for any live outdoor entertainment at Fenwick Shores. A letter sent to the ABCC on SEE PAGE 33

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 31

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Waterfront Events Bill Approved By County

Page 32

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – County officials approved changes last month that will permit special events to be held in more waterfront areas.

The Worcester County Commissioners last week approved a change to the county’s natural resources article and a text amendment that will allow special events in the Resource Protection District. The changes, according to the attorney who submitted the amendments, will allow special events such as weddings and parties to be held on more waterfront properties throughout the county. Similar text amendments were approved in the past to allow special events in other zoning districts.

“The language of this text amend-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

ment mirrors exactly text amendments for what’s allowed in the A-1, A-2 and E-1 zoning districts,” attorney Mark Cropper said. “This would again allow the same types of uses, which are functions such wedding receptions, family reunions, birthday parties and the like.”

Cropper told the commissioners he thought the proposed amendment was appropriate because it would allow for special events on large waterfront properties throughout the county. He said the Rackliffe House was in a resource protection area and had hosted many special events in the past.

“The Rackliffe House is probably the most popular location for a lot of the charitable and celebratory events such as those identified in this text amendment that’s resource protection,” he said. “To my knowledge I’ve

never heard anybody complain or be concerned about the impact on that property.”

In discussion of the related change to the natural resource article, staff said that amendment would allow special events on lands designated as resource conservation areas. Properties would have to be at least 25 acres in size.

“This amendment merely allows a temporary use within this designation and affords visitors to these events the enjoyment and appreciation of the environment in an undeveloped setting,” said Bob Mitchell, the county’s director of environmental programs.

The commissioners approved both the text amendment and the amendment to the natural resources code unanimously.

Extensive Dam Rehabilitation Project Nears End

June 5, 2020

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – Officials announced this week that construction on a Wicomico County dam is nearly finished after years of rehabilitation work.

On June 4, the area near the Morris Mill Dam will reopen to traffic as a years-long project to rehabilitate the dam concludes.

“The County Executive is pleased to announce that the Morris Mill Dam Project is very near completion and will open for traffic on Thursday, June 4, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.,” a statement from County Executive Bob Culver’s office reads. “We want to thank everyone for their patience.”

Work on the Morris Mill Dam began in September of 2018 and was initially scheduled to be completed in a year. However, water found seeping through the dam shortly after construction began required crews to halt work and redesign the project.

It was that redesign and subsequent permitting process, officials say, that first delayed the completion date for the project.

“The redesign required a lengthy re-permitting process by the Maryland Department of the Environment Dam Safety Division to ensure the High Hazard Dam met current federal and state dam safety requirements,” a statement from last year reads. “When work resumed in late spring 2019 the estimated construction completion date was late fall/end of December.”

Last November, however, the county’s public works department announced the contractor had again revised its schedule to complete work in late March. And with weeks remaining until the projected completion date, officials in March said the dam project would not be completed until late May. “The contactor cited errors in developing the original schedules, which incorrectly identified Dec. 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020 as previous completion dates,” a March statement from the executive’s office reads.

Since 2018, traffic from a portion of South Division Street has been rerouted because of the dam project, causing several county officials and residents to voice their frustrations with the ongoing construction work.

The executive’s announcement this week means the road could now reopen.

The dam, originally constructed in 1946 and later updated in the 1960s, is classified as a high hazard dam based on the downstream damage – including loss of life, property damage and highway flooding – that would result if the dam were to fail.

… Property Owners Maintain Fenwick Not Enforcing Code

June 5, 2020

FROM PAGE 30 March 20 even acknowledges the agreed-upon restriction.

“Although the Town has previously confirmed that a hotel is a permitted use of the above-referenced property according to the Town’s Zoning Code and takes no position either in favor of or in opposition to the pending application, the Town finds that it is prudent and necessary to clarify that certain types of outdoor entertainment events requires the advance approval of the Town Council,” Town Manager Terry Tieman wrote.

That letter, however, has now been called into question by property owners opposed to the variance request.

Andrew Bellwoar, whose family owns a home in Fenwick, told the council last month he had concerns regarding Tieman’s letter.

“The basic tenet of municipal law is that municipalities act only by a majority of its elected officials …,” he said.

“Did the town council approve this letter to the ABC before it was sent? If so, point me to the minutes of a meeting where that occurred. If you can’t identify such a vote, under whose authority was the March 20 letter transmitted?”

In the letter to the council, property owners requested that the town withdraw its letter to the ABCC. In an interview this week, Magdeburger said the hope is withdrawing the letter would demonstrate to the ABCC that the hotel is not in compliance with the town code.

“There’s two levels to this,” she said. “One is the ABC hearing. The other is for the town to say, ‘Yes, having an outside bar would be in violation of our ordinances.’”

When contacted about the letter this week, both Tieman and Mayor Gene Langan declined to comment.

Developer Addresses Concerns From the outset, Buas said he has tried to address property owners’ concerns. For years, he said, he and his wife have worked hard to develop an upscale hotel that included better amenities. He noted the old Sands Motel housed seven year-round guests and an undercover drug dealer before he purchased the property in 2015.

“When I bought the Sands with my family back in April 2015, it was run year-round and it was a crack house … ,” he told property owners in a town council meeting last month. “This is going to be something that everybody in Fenwick can look at and be proud of.

I wish everybody would take a breath, relax and give this thing a chance.”

In an interview this week, Buas said he believes many property owners support a new hotel being built, but disagreed with the process the town took.

“I think a lot of them think the hotel is great,” he said. “It’s the process done through the city they are not happy with.”

Buas acknowledged some statutory language in a public notice for his liquor license application had caused some concerns and misconceptions among property owners in recent months. While

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

he is requesting the ABCC grant his application, he noted he had voluntarily placed a restriction on his license for outdoor live entertainment.

“I have voluntarily removed any outdoor live music from being used without the city council’s prior approval,” he said.

Buas also made it clear the hotel’s amenities, including the outdoor bar, would be available only to hotel guests.

“My food and beverage operation is there to support the hotel, period …,” he said. “We will not be advertising those features separate from the hotel. This will not a be a $2 Natty Boh place. That’s not what I want. Even if that is what I wanted, the brand wouldn’t allow it.”

Buas noted that the ABCC has yet to schedule a public hearing on his liquor license application. But he ex-

pects construction to conclude on Fenwick Shores in the coming month.

When asked if he could open and operate his hotel without a liquor license, Buas said it was a subject he had yet to discuss with the Tapestry brand.

“I don’t think [the property owners] oppose the liquor license,” he said. “I think the opposition is that there would be the feel of a spring break atmosphere, which doesn’t happen with a five-star hotel …. It’s unfortunate because this is probably the hotel their friends and family would want to stay at while visiting.”

Residents Want Communication Magdeburger said the group of property owners sought legal representation in an effort to open a line of communication with town officials, but have yet to hear a response from the council

Page 33

in reference to their letter. She noted, however, that their counsel has talked to the town attorney.

“We are trying to create dialogue,” she said. “We are trying to have pathways to success for everyone, but they’ve just decided this is the way it is going to be. It’s just contrary to the plain meaning of the ordinances.”

When asked about the property owners’ next steps, Magdeburger declined to comment.

“I can’t get into the details of that, but we are prepared to move forward,” she said. “We are hoping they take the high road and do what government is supposed to do, which is to have dialogue and transparency in an attempt to listen and work with constituents toward a consensus and a right answer.

But we have heard nothing.”

Orris Wants ‘To Make A Difference And Serve’ At-Large District

Page 34

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – Four years after his first foray into the political arena, resident Jack Orris became the first candidate to file in this year’s town election.

Orris, who ran against Councilman Zack Tyndall in the 2016 election, filed in February to once again seek the District 2 seat.

“I’m ready to go,” Orris said. “I dusted myself off and got back into it and I’m still ready to make a difference and serve the people of Berlin.”

Orris, a Worcester County Health Department employee who has lived in Berlin since 2006, says the key issues in town four years ago remain concerns now.

“The big issues then were more transparency and less annexation,” he said. “In the four years since then, not a whole lot has changed in that area.”

As far as transparency, Orris said he wanted to really look at the way the town operated.

“As you know we had the biggest tax increase in Berlin’s history last year,” he said. “I’m very curious to see why we operate the way we do and work with the mayor and council to change things.”

A major change he’d like to see involves the budget process.

“Currently we set our tax rate and

then we do the budget,” Orris said.

“My plan is to change that—reverse it basically—to set the budget by a specific process of looking for opportunities to save first, reassessing fees second… To me it makes more sense to see where you can save first instead of setting the tax rate and trying to aim for it.”

Orris said taxes would always be an issue but he also thought Berlin would need to work on parking and growth.

Orris believes officials should take a look at the parking study done in 2018 to review it and see if any improveJACK ORRIS ments could be implemented. He thinks the town’s recent growth will likely continue.

“I think we should continue to grow steadily, responsibly, but not at the expense of our charm,” Orris said. “I think with the recent coronavirus developments we have seen the community come together in regards to the schools closing and children’s needs. I think that just solidifies the fact that the biggest and best part of our charm are in fact Berliners, the people of Berlin.”

Orris, one of a handful of citizens regularly in attendance at town council meetings, is vice chair of the Heron Park Advisory Committee. Aware

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that some residents repeatedly suggest the town sell the property, he acknowledged that there were options to explore in that regard.

“Obviously that is not where we envisioned that property to be right now when we started with that committee,” he said. “I will say I’m willing to discuss revenue generating opportunities for the front part of the property.”

In addition to the revenue generating opportunities, Orris said he’d also be open to considering selling a portion of the property.

When asked why voters should consider him this year when he didn’t win in 2016, Orris said he’d learned a lot in four years.

“I’ve grown in my knowledge of the town and I think what I have to offer is someone who would scrutinize the budget line by line,” he said.

“We have to rein in spending, we have to address the budget.”

He added that he didn’t plan to simply criticize spending but wanted to help come up with better practices.

“It’s one thing to just talk about problems, it’s another thing to come up with the solutions,” he said.

Orris suggests anyone who wants to learn more about his views visit his website, orrisforoffice.com.

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Filings Ensure A Berlin Election

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

BERLIN – There will officially be an election in town this fall as two candidates have already filed for the at-large council seat.

With three months to go before the filing deadline, candidates Jay Knerr and Tony Weeg filed for the atlarge council seat in the wake of Councilman Thom Gulyas’ anouncement that he’d be stepping down.

Gulyas announced May 26 that he would resign his council seat after the Sept. 28 meeting because his family was moving to South Point. He said he was sharing the news this spring so the town could use the Oct. 6 election to fill his seat.

Whoever is elected will serve the two years remaining in Gulyas’ term.

Just days after Gulyas shared the news, two candidates announced via social media they’d be seeking the position.

“It's official,” Knerr posted on June 1. “I have filed for the Town Council At-Large seat in Berlin. I am looking forward to an exciting campaign and discussing the issues with all of the residents in our town. Living in Berlin for the past 20 years has truly been a blessing. We are all fortunate to live in such a wonderful community so now it is time for me to give back.”

Weeg also made his announcement June 1.

“Friends, Berliners, and country people,” he said, “I would love to take this opportunity to let you know that I am officially running for the ‘atlarge’ position on the Town of Berlin Maryland's town council. I look forward to the opportunity of not only running in this race but moving forward and continuing in Berlin's successes.”

The at-large seat is the first in this year’s election to feature a contest.

Other seats up for grabs include District 2, District 3 and mayor. Resident Jack Orris has filed for the District 2 seat. Councilman Zack Tyndall, the District 2 incumbent, said he would be running in this year’s election but didn’t specify for which seat.

“I will be running in this year’s election,” he said. “A formal announcement will be made in the upcoming weeks.”

Mayor Gee Williams also expects to make an announcement regarding his plans in the near future.

“I will make my decision and make a public announcement later this month,” he said.

Pocomoke Teacher Earns County Award

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Eastern Shore Physical Therapy Rotator Cuff/Shoulder Workshop Find Out The Answers To The Following:

BY CHARLENE SHARPE

STAFF WRITER

SNOW HILL – Education officials announced this week that Pocomoke Middle School’s Christina McQuaid is the 2020 Worcester County Teacher of the Year.

Though COVID-19 prevented the traditional Teacher of the Year banquet, Worcester County Public Schools hosted a special virtual program June 1 to celebrate this year’s nominees. After finalists McQuaid, Maureen Brittingham, Mackenzie Keyser and Michelle Boyle were identified, Superintendent Lou Taylor named McQuaid as the 2020 Worcester County Teacher of the Year.

“Christina will go on to the state level competition where she will be honored by the state board of education at its meeting in July, then she will be recognized CHRISTINA with her state teacher MCQUAID of the year cohort at a gala in Baltimore later this fall,” Superintendent Lou Taylor said. “Congratulations Christina. I know you will represent all of us well.”

Taylor said the video shown on social media this week, which included glimpses of each of this year’s candidates in the classroom, illustrated the professionalism and enthusiasm of local educators.

“This evening more than anything the focus is on exemplary teachers… ,” he said. “To all of our educators tuning in tonight, we are so grateful for each of you.”

McQuaid, who is in her 17th year of teaching, has taught fifth grade English language arts at Pocomoke Middle School for the past eight years.

“She believes in setting high expectations, giving every student a voice, and celebrating every success in order to encourage a positive learning relationship with her students,” her Teacher of the Year biography reads. “As a lifetime learner, she strives to make life-long readers, writers, and thinkers of her students both in the classroom and the community.”

Pocomoke Middle School Principal Matthew Record called McQuaid a “natural born educator.” He said her ability to connect with students and provide culturally relevant literature in her classroom was a key to her success.

“Her ability to personalize each student’s learning and give them a voice in their instruction has been key,” he said.

“She meets the needs of all of her students regardless of their background.”

He said that McQuaid truly cared about her students and deserved the recognition as Worcester County Teacher of the Year.

“We’re just so excited,” he said.

“The distinction is very deserving.

Christine McQuaid is an outstanding educator.”

Page 35

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Frank Sharkey: An Irish Import

Page 36

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

June 5, 2020

OCBP ALUMNI OF THE WEEK

(Editor’s Note: The following is an ongoing series on the men and women who have spent their summers protecting all those who came to Ocean City for fun and safe vacation.)

OCEAN CITY – Frank Sharkey grew up in Belfast in Northern Ireland and was at university there between 1979 and 1983. He had worked in 1981 in Wildwood, N.J., and when he went back to the U.S. the following summer, he decided to go a bit further south.

Sharkey said he literally just picked Ocean City on the map, because it looked like a good-sized town and that there should be work available. On his second day, he got a job at Angelo’s Italian restaurant on 28th Street working as a dishwasher. He could get a meal each night he worked as well. Life was good.

“I lived with my friend Eamon, who was a runner just like me,” he said. “We heard about a try-out for the lifeguards in a few days’ time, so we thought we’d have a go. My swimming was reasonable; his was better. There was probably

about 20 trying-out that day at the Inlet.

Our first task was to swim from the rocks to the pier and then into the beach. It couldn’t be that hard, I thought.”

An officer with a mildly southern drawl, (who turned out to be Captain Schoepf) announced that he didn’t like earrings or any kind of jewelry.

"There’s fish out there, that would just love a bit of gold to nip on,” he recalled Schoepf saying. “And some of them are bigger than you are."

There was a strong current that was unfortunately going against us, but that didn't stop the test. Off we went, and after about five minutes of swimming, Sharkey could still see the rockpile to his left, after another 10 minutes it was now, actually in front on his left.

“I was going backwards towards the Inlet,” Sharkey said. “The last thing I remember was that there was about 15 of us picked up by the Coast Guard. Apparently only five people broke the current to complete the swim and got to move onto the next stage. The rest of us were

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told to come back again if we wanted to have another go.”

Eamon passed, and on his first day of work, he arrived home with a suntan kit in a box, sweats, gear and revealed that he would be getting paid about twice what Sharkey was earning. Sharkey trained twice a day for swimming for the next week, re-did the test and got it.

“The OCBP was a wonderful adventure in my life,” he said. “I met lots of great people, and had some fantastic summers there. We were paid to train and be in the best shape possible while doing our job. This was also the time that Captain Schoepf was gearing the patrol for national and international guarding competitions. He wanted to show the world that the OCBP was a major force. As a runner, I was able to compete for the patrol and it only added to the adventure. We got to travel and race in both Beach lifeguard competitions and open running events.

There were phenomenal athletes of all sorts on the patrol, as well as a range of characters that would make a playwright jealous. I made many friends, and stories to tell. There is no doubt that it has profoundly influenced my life. I just smile when I think about it.”

Sharkey is now back in Belfast with his wife Geraldine ("who spent a summer in Ocean City too, working at Trimper’s," he said.) and his three children.

He's still running and enjoying life.

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No Alcohol Means No Alcohol

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

GUARDING THE BEACH

BY DAMIEN SANZOTTI

SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

OCEAN CITY – It is against the law to have alcohol on the beach in Ocean City. Our lifeguards are required to enforce the city ordinance that makes it unlawful to have an open container anywhere in Ocean City including the beach.

If people do not comply with the law or present any resistance we immediately contact the Ocean City Police Department. It amazes me that drinking still occurs on the beaches of Ocean City. I have to say though there is some irony to a 40-year-old beach patron hiding his beer from an 18-year-old lifeguard. The fact is that our guards do see you hiding it, and are going to ask you to take it off the beach. Trying to cover it up with a cozy or pour it into a red solo cup is unacceptable (It is the alcohol that is illegal not the container it is in). No alcohol means no alcohol.

Not only is consuming alcohol unlaw-

ful on the beach, but there are numerous safety issues that arise. We deal with a high number of heat related illnesses on the beach that are alcohol related. The fact is that alcohol dehydrates you, and having only a beer or two on a hot day increases the risk of heat related illness.

Alcohol increases the loss of body fluids, accelerates dehydration, and leads to heat exhaustion. If untreated it may result in heat stroke which is almost al-

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Furthermore, swimming in the ocean after consuming alcohol is extremely dangerous. Salt water and alcohol make the worst cocktail, and we rescue numerous people every summer that probably would not have gotten into trouble if they were not drinking. It is a known fact that alcohol impairs your judgment.

This can lead to serious incidents like near drownings or other serious DAMIEN SANZOTTI injuries.

On the open water, alcohol is very easy to smell on someone’s breath. I tell all my guards that if they rescue someone that has been drinking they should

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Captain’s Note: With changes in how restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol in to-go cups, we are seeing even more drinking on our beaches than we typically do in the summer. The idea is that people purchase the drinks and then return to their residence before consuming it. However, many people go to the nearest establishment that uses straws (the restaurant is not allowed to give straws) and ask for one so they may begin drinking. This is illegal and is spilling onto our beaches with more drinking that we have seen in the past.

(The writer has been with the beach patrol for 17 years and is currently a sergeant. He is a physical education teacher at Berlin Intermediate School.)

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Wicomico Seeks $1M In Federal Funds For Three Nonprofits

Page 38

BY BETHANY HOOPER

STAFF WRITER

SALISBURY – County agencies called on officials this week to support an application for $1.03 million in federal grant funding.

On Tuesday, the Wicomico County Council held a public hearing on an application that would put the county in the running for $1,039,017 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “The funding we are applying for is part of the $5 billion allotted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the

Obituaries

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

CARES Act,” County Planner Jesse Drewer said. “This funding will be dispersed through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, who will be awarding this through three funding rounds.”

Drewer said $4.4 million has been allocated to the state in the first round of the grant. With the council’s support, the county will apply to receive more than $1 million of that funding for activities that prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus crisis.

“To evaluate the need here in Wicomico, we reached out to local agencies and organizations with a survey to gauge the effect of COVID-19 and

Richard Allen Baker OCEAN CITY – Richard Allen Baker, age 78, passed away on Friday, May 29, 2020, at Atlantic General Hospital, with his loving family by his side.

Born in Whaleyville, he was the son of the late William Paul and Nadine Truitt Baker.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Joyce Knott Baker, and what they would do should they be awarded funding through this grant,” he said. “To be eligible for funding through the Community Development Block Grant, the uses must be in direct prevention, preparation or response to COVID-19 and fall into a category of use for low- and moder-

June 5, 2020

daughter, Sonya Baker Bounds and her husband Bill, of Berlin. He was an adored “Poppie” to grandchildren Kirby, Ryan and Zachary Bounds. He was a wonderful “Uncle Rich” to his many nieces and nephews, whom he treasured. Richard was preceded in death by his brothers, Kenny and Jimmy Baker, and sisters, Bertha Johnson and Joann Johnson.

SEE NEXT PAGE ate-income people to prevent or eliminate conditions of slum or blight, or to meet an urgent need.”

Drewer said three county organizations – MAC, Inc., Wicomico County Local Management Board, and the Humane Society of Wicomico County – would be the sub-recipients should the county receive the grant funding.

Molly Hilligoss, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, encouraged the council to support the grant funding application. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, she said the organization would use the money to support its rental assistance program.

“We are in complete support of the county applying for this funding,” she said. “Before COVID-19, there was already a housing crisis with 40% of Wicomico citizens paying more than 35% of their income toward rent. Our application as sub-recipient would serve 200 tenants with emergency rental assistance, up to $1,200 per month, and the total request is $772,904.”

Hilligoss added that Habitat for Humanity would use its existing staff to administer the program. She said she expected the organization to use the grant funding within six months.

“Over the course of COVID-19, the economic impact to the community is going to be enormous,” she said. “This grant application is critical to the success of so many low-income families that are just barely getting by.”

With the county’s support, Drewer said his department would apply for funding next week. He expects the grant to be awarded in July.

“This is just for round one of this,” he said. “We are still waiting for more information for future funding rounds.”

Council Administrator Laura Hurley said the grant will come before the council for approval should the county receive the $1.03 million in funding requests.

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... Obituaries

June 5, 2020

Mr. Baker and his wife Joyce owned and operated the Western Auto in Ocean City for 40 years.

He was a United States Army (101st Airborne Division) Veteran, and a member of the Atlantic United Methodist Church. He loved old cars and the “Cruisin’ OC” weekends.

Baker was an avid fan of the Orioles and the University of Maryland Terrapins. He enjoyed working in his yard, and spent much time sitting in his outdoor swings RICHARD watching his grandchil- ALLEN BAKER dren and neighbor’s children play. Richard loved to watch his granddaughter Kirby play lacrosse, basketball, and softball…he was her biggest fan. A family man first, he will be dearly missed by his loved ones.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, June 4 at 11 a.m. at Atlantic United Methodist Church on 4th Street in Ocean City. The Rev. Joseph Barth and Pastor Sean Davis (a dear friend) presided. A viewing was held on Tuesday, June 3 at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Interment followed the service in Sunset Memorial Park near Berlin.

A donation in his memory may be made to the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, 1409 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, Md. 21842. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Madge Berdella Kidd Barrett OCEAN PINES – Mrs. Madge Berdella Kidd Barrett of Ocean Pines passed away on May 29 following a lengthy health decline.

Just two months shy of her 95th birthday, Mrs. Barrett was born in Newport News, Va. on July 30, 1925.

Her husband Francis Josiah Barrett passed away in 1985.

She worked in the hospitality industry and various retail businesses in the Baltimore area while raising three of her children in the Baltimore and Bowie areas. She and her husband moved to Ocean Pines in the early 1980s.

Madge is survived by her daughter, Susan Barrett Satterfield and husband, Bill of Salisbury; daughter Mary Dorthea Hanssen and husband Ronald of Waldorf, Md.; and son Michael Francis Barrett of Ocean Pines, plus numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her son, John Kinsey Jacobs, and her daughter, Madge Berdella Jenkins, preceded her in death.

Services will be private. Burial of her ashes will be next to her husband Francis in Jersey Shore, Pa. The family expresses many thanks to Mary Gillian of Berlin who provided Madge with loving care and friendship for nearly 10 years.

Gifts in honor of Mrs. Barrett can be made to Coastal Hospice (PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802), which provided exceptional care during her final days.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 39

… Council To Make Calls On Outdoor Seating Questions

Page 40

FROM PAGE 7 mained adamant about final approval coming from the Mayor and Council.

Mayor Rick Meehan pointed out the elected officials were responsible for what happens on public property in the resort.

“I think the final decision should be made by the Mayor and Council,” he said. “Public officials tend to look at things a little differently than maybe staff would. The public areas are our domain and that’s our responsibility. We’re going to be the ones getting the calls like ‘who let that happen?’ or ‘who approved that?’ because there will inevitably be some complaints.”

However, James continued to push for an expedited staff review and approval for the applications.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

“If we set the guidelines, I don’t understand why we don’t let the staff approve them,” he said. “Most of these things are cut and dried.”

Council President Lloyd Martin said however the applications were approved, they would still be subject to strict review.

“It’s basically a conditional use,” he said. “The permit can be pulled if they aren’t policing their areas. I think 99% will do the right thing. They are getting the opportunity to get open and start making money.”

Councilman Mark Paddack made a motion for amended outdoor seating permits on private property to be handled by staff as has been the case thus far, with requests to use public property reviewed and approved by the Mayor

and Council.

James continued to object to Mayor and Council approval, citing turnaround time issues. He also said it appeared to be an ego issue for some with the Mayor and Council holding sway over every application.

“The amount of time it’s going to take to get this body to review and approve these things is going to be too long,” he said. “People are losing their livelihoods. We should let staff do it. If there are any problems, we’ll hear about it quickly.”

Another issue was the timing for the approval process. Reviews and approvals by the Mayor and Council would be conducted in a public, albeit virtual, forum and there are time limitations for advertising public meetings. Knight quest-

June 5, 2020

ioned if those limitations could be waived under the current circumstances.

“Can’t we waive the 24-hour requirement under these challenging times?” she said. “With these virtual meetings, we can pull things together quickly if a request came in.”

City Solicitor Heather Stansbury cautioned against deviating from the 24hour advertising period. Dare said the council could meet virtually on Thursday to review the current applications, then schedule to meet every business day if necessary as a means to get around the 24-hour requirement.

“What if we meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday to handle this first batch, then schedule to meet every business day at 4 p.m. to handle new requests,” he said. “Just schedule the meetings. If there aren’t any applications, then the meeting can be cancelled.”

For the record, as of Monday, only three applications for utilizing public property had been received including two requesting to use a portion of the sidewalk on Wicomico Street and one requesting to use part of the right-of-way on 16th Street. James said that number will almost certainly go up and continued to push for staff review and approval.

“These first three will significantly increase when the public finds out this is an option,” he said. “People need to plan and they need to order and staff appropriately. The staff is more than capable to make these decisions with the guidelines we provide.”

Paddack took exception to James’ earlier comments about it being an ego issue and stuck to his original motion.

“It has nothing to do with egos,” he said. “We all want everybody to get open. “I agree we need to move this forward. If the request is on private property, let it roll. If it’s on public property, it should come back to the Mayor and Council.”

Miller said the town’s approval for modified outdoor seating was only part of a larger approval equation.

“Remember, it’s not just us,” he said.

“We have to coordinate with the health department and the liquor board. There are a lot of moving parts to this.”

After considerable debate, the council voted 5-2 with James and DeLuca opposed to have applications for outdoor seating on public property come before the full Mayor and Council for approval with the first batch being heard during a meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m., which would allow those businesses, if approved, to get up and running immediately.

The council also voted to schedule a meeting each business day at 4 p.m. to consider new applications for the use of public property for outdoor seating until such time as they are no longer needed. If there isn’t an application scheduled for review on any given day, that meeting would be cancelled.

Business

June 5, 2020

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And Real Estate News Services Return At Hospital

BERLIN – Atlantic General Hospital will be offering outpatient laboratory services, including walk-ins for routine bloodwork, on its campus once again on Monday, June 8. This announcement comes with a move to a new location, which will allow the organization to utilize the current laboratory space for other services that must remain within the main hospital.

The Atlantic General Outpatient Center will be located in the James G. Barrett Medical Office Building. The center will be open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and on Saturday, 7 a.m.noon.

Laboratory testing and EKGs will be offered, with additional services coming soon. No testing for COVID-19 will be provided at this location.

Although no appointment is necessary for lab work, officials ask for the public’s understanding with any potential delays caused by social distancing requirements. In addition to maintaining distance from others, patients are asked to wear a mask that covers nose and mouth when entering the facility.

“We look forward to opening the Atlantic General Outpatient Center to our community in June,” said Kim Justice, vice president of planning and operations. “We thank you in advance for your patience as we observe proper social distancing and disinfecting protocols to protect the health of patients and staff alike.”

Stores Donate To Schools SALISBURY – Cato Gas & Oil Co. and Goose Creek convenience stores has announced the award of $500 checks to 19 area local schools to support science, technology, engineering and math programs.

“Supporting the next generation of scientists and engineers is something Cato Gas & Oil Co. and Goose Creek are proud to do, both for the kids in our communities, and for our industry whose future will rely so heavily on their expertise,” said Cato Oil & Gas Co. President Michael G. Abercrombie, Jr. The Salisbury-based company plans to support even more S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs in the coming weeks, Abercrombie said, the latest example of the company’s longtime mission to support the communities in which it operates.

The company’s donations were made in partnership with the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance, which has committed more than $34 million nationwide to fund math and science programs at schools in need.

So far, Cato’s donations have supported math and science departments at the following schools: Berlin

Intermediate School, Crisfield High School and Academy, Kiptopeke Elementary School, North Salisbury Elementary School, Pemberton Elementary School, Parkside High School, Delmar Elementary School, Phillip C. Showell Elementary School, Cape Charles Christian School, James M. Bennett High School, Lord Baltimore Elementary School, Chesapeake City Elementary School, N. Caroline High School, Milford High School, Worcester Prep. School, Mardella Middle and High School, Wicomico Day School, Salisbury Christian School, and Lake Forest High School.

Page 41

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Medical Center Recognized SALISBURY – Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) has again been designated by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery.

Peninsula Regional is one of just four hospitals in Maryland to hold the distinction in 2020 and the only on the Eastern Shore.

PRMC announced earlier this year that it had also earned the same distinction for Hip and Knee Replacement surgery. Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, a sister facility to PRMC in the Peninsula Regional Health System, was also named a Blue Distinction Center+ for Hip and Knee Replacement surgery in 2020.

Peninsula Regional is one of only two hospitals in Maryland to be designated as a Blue Distinction Center+ in both Hip and Knee Replacement and Spine Surgery in this latest reporting cycle, and is the only Delmarva Peninsula hospital to earn both honors.

The Salisbury, Maryland based hospital has held Blue Distinction Center designations for both Hip and Knee Replacement and Spine Surgery continuously since 2009.

“Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s Orthopedic and Neuroscience division is committed to focusing on the core elements of excellence,” stated Warner Crumb, Executive Director of Orthopedics and Neurosciences. “Through collaboration among surgeons, administration, and nursing, we are continuing a culture of performance improvement that leads to an exceptional patient experience and exceptional patient outcomes. We’re proud to have met the rigorous selection criteria that have been set by the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program, and believe these designations will serve as a catalyst, driving strong programs like ours to become even better.”

Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers+ are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other hospitals.

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June 5, 2020

June 5, 2020

Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week:

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Each week staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be featured in this space. Above was the scene at the Inlet near the jetty last Sunday evening. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

Page 44

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June 5, 2020

Governor’s Recovery Plan Difficult To Understand HOW WE SEE IT

Will he talk? If so, when? What will he allow to open? Why doesn’t he keep a regular public schedule? Why only hours’ notice for new Executive Orders?

These are questions Marylanders face each week. This is no way for government to operate. Gov. Larry Hogan is misleading Maryland. We need him to stay off national television, refrain from touting how many conference calls he has led as head of the National Governors Association and focus on Maryland. We need him to revamp his entire communications strategy. The Republican governor is out of touch with his own state. Amid a firestorm of criticism, at least around these parts, the governor continues to post silly stories touting his actions on his Facebook page multiple times a day. Hogan’s unprofessional conduct, poor communication skills, elitist attitude, indecisive judgment and poor leadership in recent weeks has now become malfeasance.

What Hogan has created across the state is disgraceful. It’s an impossible process to successfully navigate through with no evidence of a clear process or plan being followed. Hogan likes to refer to his “Roadmap to Recovery” as the outline to follow, but he contradicts it repeatedly. There appears to be no rational approach behind these decisions.

His greatest weakness now has become his communication policy. He announces his press conferences on Facebook mere hours before they are to be held with no hint of what he will announce. Residents and businesses must tune in and see what their almighty leader will decide is now safe to reopen and what industries – such as tourism -- must continue to suffer through economic devastation.

These weekly press conferences are ripe for mockery. The problem here is these are serious times. Desperation has set in. Some businesses are faring better than others, but most are at least 35% off their normal revenue

pace and having to work incredibly hard to achieve that. Operators who are at half their sales are much more common while facing rising costs and personnel troubles. It’s a nightmare with no end in sight.

The concept at this point for businesses in this area is do whatever it takes to survive, not thrive. The latter would be unrealistic. To think too big would be foolish and only lead to disappointment because faith is lost in the governor’s strategy for economic recovery.

Equally appalling to his poor communication is the lack of coordination between Maryland and Delaware.

Restaurants a couple miles apart are on opposite extremes of the survival spectrum and it makes no sense from a science or logic perspective. The marquee at Liquid Assets this week said it all – “Indoor seating 7 days a week at Our Harvest 5 minutes north.”

Maryland is being misled and it’s a crying shame. The governor must change before it’s too late.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A Travel Industry Depression Editor: (The following letter was sent to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan this week.)

Thank you for the thorough planning during this crisis and for taking the necessary proactive measures to protect Marylanders health. While the economy is in the midst of a recession, the travel industry is in a depression.

On behalf of the Ocean City hospitality businesses, I feel I must make a final attempt at saving our community. The sensationalized media portrayal of Ocean City tourism has been unfair, I certainly would not want it influencing any re-opening decision making.

Please allow me to opine on the reality of life in Ocean City. The Memorial Day weekend Reuters photo (see attached) which was circulated on many media platforms inaccurately depicted the activity in Ocean City. Through the use of compression and telephoto lens, the photo made it look like visitors were on top of one another, however, there was plenty of social distancing over the last couple of weekends. Additionally, in the most recent New York Times now being circulated through other newspapers, the reporter never contacted any official person, or the business whose photograph was used. Media sensationalism is ruining our country.

Tourism is our city’s only economic engine, and those businesses trickle down to the plumbers, electricians and so forth. While I realize your Roadmap to Recovery is a guiding document and not based on a calendar, I firmly

believe that without a summer season, the number of bankrupt families and suicides will be alarming. Isolation and economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic are already resulting in a sharp spike in people seeking mental health help.

Tourism’s core values are to make people feel welcome, comfortable and safe. The nature of our industry has always been to embrace challenges and persevere in stormy weather. Our protocols are in place, we need to open other activities and indoor dining or we will continue to force visitors to choose other destinations and/or crowd those businesses that are open.

Back in April, given our seasonality, we knew we had to take a proactive approach the minute the pandemic hit.

We created an Ocean City Recovery team to develop our own guidelines on how we could safely re-open for our employees and visitors. This team includes private business owners, our health community, Mayor Meehan and government staff. Through collaboration, protocols are in place; I’m sure you’ve seen those outlined in Senator Carozza’s detailed memo.

Additionally, we have also worked with Mike Haynie of the Md. Center for Hospitality Training, who collaborated with DuPont, in the development of a training video for seasonal employees.

Sanitation and social distancing protocols have been instituted all around town, employees wearing masks and businesses operating under capacity limits will be the norm. CDC guidelines have become a part of the daily discus-

sion. Sadly, also in the daily discussion is who will not make it out of this, what business has gone under, or who can’t afford to put food on the table because unemployment kinks remain.

Just yesterday, our next-door neighbor, Fenwick Island, opened (with capacity limits) indoor dining, mini-golf, go-karts, casinos, gyms, wedding venues and outdoor gatherings for up to 250 people. It is very difficult to watch revenue cross the street.

We respect all that has gone into your planning; the science and data have shown numbers declining. Now is the time to allow our community to move forward with a local, community based approach to re-opening. Please allow us to do so. Thank you for your consideration.

Susan L. Jones Ocean City (The writer is the executive director of the Ocean City Hotel-MotelRestaurant Association.)

A Sad Trip Planned Editor: For the first time in 20 years we have enough money to bring our entire family down to OC for vacation.

We accepted that the Air Show was postponed but now we will need to adjust our meal planning and now the tram is not opening to ride the Boardwalk, limiting our elderly from riding the length.

We will be there next week but with a lot of sadness. Our little one will not be able to experience the arcades or SEE NEXT PAGE

June 5, 2020

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

go karts or golf. So very sad.

Darlene Etchberger Chambersburg, Pa.

Graduation Support Recognized

Editor: As we are all too aware these days, the world as we know it is constantly changing. For the members of the Stephen Decatur High School Class of 2020, the world changed for the better on May 27 when school and community members came together to create one of the most extraordinary events the town of Ocean City has ever sponsored, our boardwalk graduation procession.

This event was both unique and memorable and it would not have been possible without the help of numerous people who reached out with kind words, offers of support, and creative ideas that ultimately allowed us to celebrate our 294 graduating seniors in a spectacular way. Words can hardly express our appreciation, but we would like to start by thanking families, friends, community, business, and religious leaders, and all of the other members of our amazingly supportive village.

Specifically, we would like to recognize the following individuals and organizations, without whose support this event would not have been possible: Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Frank Miller, Lieutenant Scott Harner, Ocean City Police Department, Ocean City Public Works Department, Dave Messick and crew from Unscene Productions, Bob Rothermel and crew from Team Productions, Sergeant Robert Trautman and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department, Bill Baker and Power 101.7 Radio Station, Bob Bunting of Ocean Aerial Ads, Meeghan and Jake Robinson of The Seaboard, Coastal Community Church, Susan Jones of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, Ocean City Jeep Club, Ocean City Fire Department, Ocean City businesses and restaurants, School Resource Officer Kenny Reed, Stephen Decatur High School faculty and staff and Worcester County Public Schools administrative staff.

Certainly, during these unprecedented times, our graduates are facing new challenges. Hopefully, this tremendous display of community support will empower them and serve as a reminder that great things are possible when people work together.

Thomas Sites Berlin (The writer is the principal of Stephen Decatur High School.)

Essential Heroes Appreciated

Editor: Today, June 3 was my first visit to Ocean City since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. We have been following the Governor’s recommendations as well as ones from the CDC with the motto “Stay Home – Save

Between The Lines

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Lives” becoming our way of life for the last three months. Not a day would pass without the desire to head over the bridge to the home away from home. As the restrictions began to lift I knew I was closer to getting there.

After a tense week of following the murder of George Floyd and the protests that ensued, I was pretty sure it was time. Then I watched news coverage of the protests and saw my place of employment have its windows broken out on live television. I checked the weather forecast and it was to be 80 degrees and sunny. It had become time to escape to the oasis of Ocean City.

As I navigated crossing the Boardwalk crowd and social distanced myself down to a spot along the water’s edge, I immediately felt a sense of peace at being at the place I have loved for a half a century. I was decompressing and taking in the sounds of crashing waves and soaking up the sunshine when I noticed that something was amiss. There was a rather large group about 10-15 yards from me and the kids were having a ball.

Yet, one little girl who had been having fun with the others just seemed to turn quiet and stare off into space. As I was wondering if she was ok, I quickly learned she was not. She began to suffer from a seizure. To say I was terrified would not be adequate. Her little body went limp and stiff and her eyes were in the back of her head. I immediately called 911 and hoped for the best.

Almost instantaneously, a few young folks from the OCBP came to her side to offer comfort. Her situation would clearly call for more immediate and intense care than they could provide. As they held her, I could hear the sirens of the OCFD ambulance. They parked on the street’s end at the boardwalk and a member of the OCFD was brought down on a four-wheeler to tend to the little girl. As the hero began administering aid, he was quickly joined by a few of his co-workers. The girl was placed on a stretcher, then onto the fourwheeler and whisked away to the ambulance and off to get good care.

While this traumatic scene may have felt like it took forever to unfurl, I am absolutely amazed at the professionalism and proficiency of the first line essential heroes. The OCBP gang was with the ailing girl literally within seconds. Even though we were on the widest part of the beach, the OCFD managed to be on scene within 4 minutes of my call to 911. I cannot say enough positive things about the professional cohesive team that I saw in action. While I do not know the outcome of the little girl, I can say with absolute confidence that the Ocean City first responders did everything they could and as quickly as they could to help save this child. My thoughts go out to the girl and her family and a big well-deserved thanks go to the first responders.

M. Scott Chismar Crofton and Ocean City

Page 45

By Publisher/Editor Steve Green

Dozens of local businesses and officials have reportedly reached out to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan for more guidance and insights on his intentions for this summer. Though the requests stem from various individuals, there seems to be a common theme from each – they are ready to offer services to the public in a safe and healthy way and want to when their day may come.

A letter from the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association seeks the opportunity for a “community based approach to reopening.”

Another letter that caught my attention this week was from Trimper’s Rides. After a major investment in the park this offseason, ownership has grown weary of waiting for word on the state’s intentions with amusements without any insights. The letter was posted to the amusement park’s Facebook page on Wednesday and tagged the governor because he’s so active on social media.

“We are reaching out to you on Facebook as we don’t know how us to get our message heard. We’ve written every one of representatives, our congressman and women, our mayor, our city council, everyone we can think of. Governor we’ve played by the rules. We watched our city open up while we at Trimper’s Rides of Ocean City and Marty’s Playland have stayed closed. We applied for and received the PPP loan and used it to employ 102 Marylanders, half of the staff we need,” the letter reads. “We’ve cleaned, we’ve scrubbed, we’ve polished every ride car and animal in the amusement park. We took apart the skeeball and pinballs machines and scrubbed them clean. We’ve painted every surface and repaved the park with new blacktop. We’ve renovated our apts and replaced all the lightbulbs throughout the park with LED’s.

When the SBA came out with new guidelines for seasonal businesses, we reapplied for new funds. However, the SBA left Ocean City small businesses out of the program by not allowing our seasonal businesses to use J1’s in the payroll calculations for 2019 even though in 2020 we are all ONLY hiring Americans as the economic disaster relief program was designed. In 2020, Trimper’s has not employed J1 students and pursuant to the goal and original intention of the PPP loan, Trimper’s has been putting Americans back to work!

Governor, our PPP loan runs out this Friday and we’ve got nothing left to do!

We drafted and submitted a thoughtful plan to reopen keeping both our employees and our guests safe.”

The letter continues, “Governor - we can do our part and help put smiles back on Marylander’s faces. I know it’s not much but perhaps it can help ease some of the unrest. The pandemic has been hard on everyone. Please help our 126-year-old historic iconic American amusement park stay open for business and not end up in the coronavirus graveyard.”

It took the possibility of Worcester County violating law this week to get Atlantic General Hospital funding included in the county’s budget. Commissioner Bud Church stood his ground, insisting the hospital funds be included in the budget or he would not vote for it. Commissioner Josh Nordstrom was key in getting the dialogue going, saying, “I don’t want to speak for Commissioner Church however I believe if we did fund AGH at $100,000 this budget would pass.”

Nordstrom was mostly right on that assertion, motioning to include $100,000 in the budget for the hospital. After a lot of talk, the motion passed 4-3 (as well as did the subsequent budget vote by the same tally) because County Commission President Joe Mitrecic opted to see the greater good in the budget. Though Mitrecic was outspoken about not providing the hospital funding because, “They’re more concerned with fundraising and building buildings than they are with taking care of the people in this community,” he said, he opted to support giving the hospital the funds to ensure the budget passed at this week’s meeting as mandated by state law.

I applaud Church, Nordstrom, Mitrecic and Diana Purnell for their stances on the budget and hospital funding. Mitrecic explained changing his vote on the hospital was important to ensure a mostly solid budget in his opinion moves forward.

“There’s a lot of good that was done in this budget this year,” he said, spotlighting the county sending money to Ocean City to fund West Ocean City ambulance service. “Even some of the items that were added this morning I felt strongly about … I don’t support the grant to AGH. But with that said I’m not willing to hold up this entire budget for that. I would hope that somebody would reconsider. More than one of us could reconsider the vote on this.”

One month ago, it seemed implausible Delaware would be further along on its reopening plan than Maryland. It’s exactly the reality currently, as Delaware Gov. John Carney has led the first state through the pandemic well of late while Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has been inconsistent and aloof.

Delaware began its first phase of recovery on Monday with hotels able to open, restaurants and retail stores allowed indoor capacity of 30% and outdoor gatherings of up to 250 permitted. Two weeks later, on June 15, restaurants and retail stores will be allowed 60% capacity and personal care services will be opened at 30% allowance.

This is the sort of deliberate, phased reopening Hogan promised in Maryland.

Page 46

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B

The Adventures Of Fatherhood

By STEVE GREEN

eckett finished sixth grade this week. It’s certainly a school year he will never forget.

For our 12-year-old kid, life as he knew it came to a screeching halt Thursday, March 12, the night before we were to leave for Universal in Orlando. Pam received a message from her son who is a doctor in New York about the severity of the coronavirus and how everything was about to change. He had studied the science and knew what he was talking about.

Canceling our trip was a difficult decision at that moment. Looking back on it now, it was a no-brainer, but the severity of the global pandemic and the imminent shutdown were not known at that time. A few hours after we decided to cancel our trip, the NBA put a halt to its season followed by other professional sports leagues. Disney and Universal also announced their intentions to shutter their parks on Sunday, March 15. All restaurants and bars were then closed in most states the next week. It had gotten real.

There were initial thoughts of feeling sorry for ourselves after canceling what was to be our only trip of the year. We didn’t unpack our suitcases with our summer clothes for a couple months due to the disappointment.

Those feelings quickly abated when the magnitude of what was taking place across the country was realized.

For Beckett, a busy life of school, music lessons, travel soccer practices and games, gatherings with friends and playing middle school lacrosse were all abruptly ended. He went from living a diverse life full of activities to home schooling, which he transitioned to well at first and enjoyed it. After about a month of continuous learning and school work, he started to realize he was missing a

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lot about his former life.

With school winding down last month, Worcester Prep decided to not have finals this year for students and instead laid out an end-of-the-year, cross-curricular time capsule project. Each subject – Math, English, Science, American History, Art, Music, Computer and Physical Education – gave individual assignments. There were many unique aspects to the project, which we all had a love-hate relationship by the end of it.

The concept was appropriate for this time of his life, but it was also a tremendous amount of work. These time capsules would be uncovered their senior year, and we wanted him to put a lot of effort into it. Six years from now, it will be wonderful to reflect on the year when life stopped in many ways.

There were several special aspects with the time capsule, including letters from parents to their student and a letter from the student to his future self.

Beckett’s letter as a sixth grader to himself as graduating senior will be something to remember forever.

He wrote the following: “Dear Future Me, Everything as you know now was not the same when you were twelve.

Let’s begin on March 12, 2020. Me and my family were leaving to go to Universal the next day, when my mom got a text from my older brother, who happens to be a doctor. He told my mom to cancel our trip due to COVID19 getting a lot worse. She thought he was crazy at first but after we looked into it more, we decided to cancel and were very sad about it.

About a week later, all sports were canceled, and school is out for the year due to COVID. We are taking online schooling on an app called Zoom.

Everyone was wearing masks and staying six feet apart during this pan-

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demic. Me and my brother started to hang out more while doctors tried to find a cure.

For my birthday, my parents threw me a surprise party. Some friends came over with signs and we had snow cones. But we had to stay six feet apart and wear masks. They also all made posters for me with their own message.

I am currently writing this on May 30 and there has been no cure yet, but my hopes are high. We are waiting on a vaccine so life can return to normal. So, future me, appreciate what you have, it could all change tomorrow!”

It was interesting this week talking with Beckett about the last few months.

At first, he was excited about home school. Doing his work in his pajamas was a novel concept. Zoom video lessons with his teachers in his bedroom were cool. Best was not being on a morning schedule and a little bit more relaxation.

A recent conversation showed the major shift in his feelings about quarantine and homeschooling. We were looking over all his subjects and making sure there were no missed assignments before the end of the term when he started asking questions about summer camps and next year, specifically the seventh-grade work load and the fall soccer season. He clearly wants to return to his normal life.

It was a tough talk because nobody knows when we will be normal.

It’s difficult for a 12-year-old to understand the uncertainty of it all. For him, his life is black and white, but we are living in a sea of gray right now. It’s difficult to understand. It’s tough on his parents, too.

(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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Page 47

with Scott Lenox Hello all and Happy June. It doesn’t quite feel like June for more than one reason, but things, including weather and fishing, are looking up so I’m confident that we are looking toward a more “normal” summer season. Businesses are opening up all around us, folks are getting outside and word from the fishing community is that the major fishing tournaments scheduled for this summer are a go. We’ll see if we have restrictions on spectators and that sort of thing, but the tournaments are going to happen come hell or high water and I for one am glad to hear it.

The Hooked on OC crew and I will be bringing several of the Ocean Citybased fishing tournaments to you live through our live broadcast software so that they can be viewed on the internet around the world. That way if spectators are limited interested viewers will still be able to see the action at the scales as it unfolds. It’s definitely not the same as watching in person at the event, but it just might have to do for this year. We are currently scheduled to live broadcast the Ocean City Tuna Tournament, the Big Fish Classic, the

Mid Atlantic and the White Marlin Open and we are greatly looking forward to it.

Offshore fishing picked up nicely this past week just in time to get anglers excited about the upcoming tournament season. The bite was a little further than we’d like it, but for this time of year it is well worth the trip. Yellowfin tuna have shown up in good numbers outside of the Baltimore Canyon and in between the Washington and Norfolk Canyons.

The best bite this past week was from 900 to 1,200 fathoms where a 69-degree patch of water had made its way in from the Gulf Stream. Boats trolling ballyhoo, spreader bars and squid daisy chains were catching yellowfin tuna in the 30-50-pound class with some larger fish pushing 60 pounds. The first bigeye tuna of the season was also caught in canyons last week when the crew of the “Spritzer” landed some 70 pounders while fishing the Norfolk Canyon.

The very next day Captain Brendan Barbey and his crew landed a big 213pound bigeye in the same area. There are also a hand full of white marlin being caught in the canyons by anglers SEE PAGE 48

Captain Brendan Barbey, Jim Barbey, Jeff Rosenkilde, Ryan Turner and Todd Sauerwald caught the biggest bigeye tuna that I’ve seen this year when they landed this beautiful 213-pounder.

Submitted Photos

Page 48

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

June 5, 2020

Top left, local fishing legend Big Bird Cropper used his Roy Rig outside the south jetty to catch and release this big 53-inch rockfish, his all-time best.

Top middle, this submission by Yanni Harris shows the first bigeye tuna of the season that were caught on board his families “Spritzer.” Top right, Anglers on the Fish Bound with Captain Kane Bounds have been enjoying awesome sea bass fishing like this jumbo double header. Bottom left, this masked marauder jigged up a jumbo sea bass while fishing with Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler. Bottom right, Captain Jason Mumford of Lucky Break Charters put this crew on a nice catch of six keeper flounder.

Next page top row, left, Captain Victor Bunting of the Ocean Princess put this crew and others on limits of sea bass that totaled 15 per person. Top row, right, usually found in good numbers well to our north, this tasty pollock was caught on board the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins. Second row, left, the crew of Fish On with Captain Andrew Dotterweich out of Sunset Marina boxed four yellowfin tuna and released two white marlin. Second row, right, Captain Mark Hoos of the MARLI put this crew on a box full of 13 nice yellowfin tuna. Third row, bottom left, 10 yellowfin tuna ended up on the deck for this crew who fished with Captain Jeremy Blunt of the Wrecker out of the Ocean City Fishing Center. Third row, right, bottom right, Lance Crampton was fishing with Captain John Prather of Ocean City Guide Service when he caught and released this 39-inch rockfish.

... Fish In OC

FROM PAGE 47 that are targeting tuna fish. I don’t know of anyone specifically targeting white marlin yet, but they are opportunistic feeders and will eat a ballyhoo trolled by at the right speed. Some mahi have also been caught offshore by tuna fishermen with most fish falling into the 5-10-pound range with just a few fish over 20 pounds so far. This is great early season canyon action and we should see the water and the fish move closer to the beach as the season moves on.

Bottom fishing for sea bass over ocean structure continues to be stellar thanks to cooler than usual water temperatures inshore. Sea bass anglers are seeing fish to over 4 pounds from the wrecks and reefs of Ocean

City with very good numbers for most boats. The inshore charter and party boat fleet have seen several boat limits of sea bass over the past few weeks with every angler on board catching their 15 fish limit of fish over the 12 ½inch size limit. The best baits for sea bass are squid, clams, crab baits and Gulp, but Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star saw sea bass caught on empty hooks last week.

Mixed in with the sea bass, I’ve seen at least four pollock from anglers that have caught them dropping squid or clams over ocean structure in the past two weeks. Pollock are commonly found in cooler waters in the northern part of the Atlantic off the coast of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts and are highly sought out member of the cod family. They are not unheard of in our area, but four fish in less than two weeks is rare. Nobody is complaining though as pollock are a good fighter with very tasty meat.

Flounder fishing in the back bays of Ocean City has slowed a little since it’s awesome start in April and May. There are still fish to be caught, but they have definitely spread out around the bay and have started to move into deeper water.

The Fish in OC Dale Timmons’ Deadly Double has been the hot rig this spring and I would recommend it moving into the summer as well. Gulp baits in white, pink and “salmon” red have been terrific and some larger fish are being caught on large live minnows. We should start to see some bunker move into the area sometime in June and that will become a flounder slayer if you know how to catch and keep them alive. Until then shiners, minnows and Gulp in 4- or 5inch swimming mullet is the way to go.

Fish anywhere from 6’ down to 25’ and either drift or slow troll until you find some fish.

The 11th Annual Memorial Day Tournament at the Ocean City Marlin Club was canceled due to low participation

that was spurred by a terrible weather forecast and we don’t have another fishing tournament on the schedule for a couple of weeks. The Mako Mania at Bahia Marina originally scheduled for this weekend was canceled months ago thanks to Covid-19 so the next tournament on the schedule is the Small Boat Tournament with the Ocean City Marlin Club.

Don’t forget, if you’d like to be considered for my column here in The Dispatch or for my nightly fishing report the Daily Angle you just need to email a photo and some details on your catch to info@fishinoc.com. Send the photo at the highest resolution with angler’s name and any details you want included. Until next week, tight lines.

(The writer is the owner of Fish in OC and host of Ocean City’s fishing television show Hooked on OC. He has worked in the fishing industry and been fishing the waters in and around Ocean City for over 25 years.)

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 49

The Dispatch Classifieds

Page 50

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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

HELP WANTED 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.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SUMMER CLEANERS: Now hiring Summer cleaners for 2 condo’s. 2x wk or more, min.

Must be dependale & have own trans. 267-254-0111.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CLEANERS: Looking for weekend help for condo cleaning. Friday-Sunday. Must have own transportation. 410-7232610/410-463-1541.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FT DENTAL ASSISTANT: For family dental practice. X-ray certification preferred, will consider new graduates. Please fax resume to 410-208-9009 or email: dentistryinthepines@gmail.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––

THE SPINNAKER NOW HIRING!

•FULL TIME HOUSEKEEPING APPLY IN PERSON

10am-4pm 18th St & Baltimore Ave

CARPENTERS & CARPENTERS HELPERS

THE ATLANTIC HOTEL

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.

P/T ASSISTANT: for Association Site Office in OC. 2-3 days per week during off season. In season Saturdays & Sundays are mandatory with additional 2 days during week. Will also need to be able to cover office when Manager is off.

Starting pay depends on experience.

Send resumes to: dwilson@legumnorman.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GENERAL’S KITCHEN: Now Hiring Cook, Bussers, Dishwasher.

Call 443-859-7790.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– EXPERIENCED CLEANERS: Must have cell phone and own transportation. Great opportunity and pay! 443-880-0525 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––– HANDIMAN: Looking for all purpose person w/ exp. in drywall repair, painting, light carpentry, cleaning. YR, FT, pay based on experience. Call 410-213-4035.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OCEAN CITY CONDOMINIUM: Seasonal Buidling Attendant, Day Shifts, Monday-Friday. Call 410524-1331.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MAINTENANCE PERSON: Light duty. Tools supplied. Family atmosphere. Seatime Condo, 135th Street. 410-250-2262.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

June 5, 2020

AUTOMOTIVE - GREAT OPPORTUNITIES!

We are an automotive group with parts stores, service centers, and used car dealership...and still growing!

We have locations in the Ocean City, Bethany, and Rehoboth areas. We have openings for:

-TECHNICIANS - SERVICE ADVISORS - MARYLAND STATE INSPECTOR We offer GREAT PAY & Benefits!

Plenty of room for advancement.

Call 302-228-2353

Coconuts at Castle in the Sand Hotel is Hiring for Immediate Start.

LINE COOKS, PREP COOKS, AREA ATTENDANTS, DISHWASHERS Outstanding Working Environment. Come Join Our Family. Apply in Person. Ask for Jeff or Paulie.

Storm Shutter & Window Installers

Local specialty contractor seeking individuals for our storm shutter division and window division. Experience in storm shutters, windows & doors, and garage doors is a plus, but training is available. Driver’s license and transportation required.

Please forward resume to: paola@masterjackwindows.com.

Applications available on site at 11935 Hammer Road, Bishopville, MD

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS in OCEAN CITY!

25 year + Exterior Restoration Building Company is now hiring FT/YR employees who are able to: Caulk, Point & Patch, building exteriors.

Must have Swing Stage experience.

Excellent pay!

Call 443-507-5096

NOW HIRING!

NowAccepting Applications: YEAR ROUND / DAYTIME:

•COOKS

HOUSEKEEPER 2 North Main Street, Berlin, MD

Please Apply in Person

Must have : Tools, Trans, Driver’s License

Exp. Required!

PATTERSON & SONS BUILDERS Call 410-641-9530

Currently hiring manpower for

•STUCCO & EIFS MECHANICS • CARPENTERS •CONCRETE BLOCK •COATINGS SPECIALISTS •FLAT CONCRETE •CONCRETE REPAIRS •PT WELDER •COMMERCIAL CAULKING •WINDOW & DOOR INSTALLERS Experience Preferred. Tools, transportation & a valid driver’s license are a plus. Competitive benefit package available.

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

Come Join Our Winning Team!

HOUSEKEEPING ROOM ATTENDANTS

Now accepting applications for the following full-time positions:

FRONT DESK ASSOCIATE ROOM ATTENDANT HOUSEPERSON Apply in person or email resume to duran.showell@marriott.com No phone calls, please All candidates must go through a satisfactory background check.

2 15th Street, Ocean City, Maryland

www.courtyardoceancity.com

We are looking for motivated and dependable candidates to work in our diverse housekeeping operations. The candidate should possess a solid attention to detail and dedication to high standards. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Prior housekeeping experience a plus but not required. Excellent starting pay for beginners with higher compensation for experience.

•DRIVERS

TOP PAY PLUS TIPS. MEAL PLAN & UNIFORM. Apply Within. Interviews Tuesdays & Fridays at 11am.

Johnny’s Pizza & Pub, Bayside, 56th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Come Join Our Winning Team!

Now accepting applications for the following positions!

Over Night Front Desk Front Desk Agent Recreation Attendant Room Attendant Houseperson Laundry Attendant Maintenance Server Line Cook Kitchen Utility Cashier Barista

Email resume to: jobs@carouselhotel.com or come in and complete an application at the front desk. We require satisfactory pre-employment drug testing and background check.

Looking for experienced personnel with customer service skills. Must be flexible with hours. Email resume to jobs@carouselhotel.com or stop by and complete an application at the Front Desk.

We require satisfactory pre-employment drug testing and background check.

Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 11700 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 EOE

Carousel Resort Hotel & Condominiums 11700 Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 EOE

The Dispatch

June 5, 2020

Classifieds

CLASSIFIED RATES Line Ads $15/week for 5 lines. Display ads $20/week per column inch.

Deadline for insertions, cancellations, and payment is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966.

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Now Hiring

Immediate openings: KITCHEN STAFF SERVERS

Page 51 SUN N FUN MOTEL NOW HIRING PT FRONT DESK CLERKS APPLY IN PERSON Mon-Fri 9am-4pm 29th St & Baltimore Ave.

Apply in Person or Online www.smittymcgees.com 302-436-4716

SERVICES

Worcester County Government

Ceja’s Landscaping & More!

Is Currently Hiring For The Following Full-Time Postions:

Correctional Officer Trainee

Transfer Station Attendant

Roads Worker

Maintenance Mechanic

Plant Operator

Building Maintenance

Vehicle & Equipment Mechanic

Landfill Operator

EOE/AA

Job descriptions and application available: http://www.co.worcester.md.us/departments/hr/jobs Excellent Benefits. Call 410-632-0090 or fax applications to 410-632-5614. e-mail to Ann Hankins- ahankins@co.worcester.md.us

Hiring All Positions

SERVERS BUSSERS COOKS HOSTESSES BARTENDERS Apply Within 31st St. Coastal Hwy. 410-289-2581 128th St. Coastal Hwy. 410-250-2304

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

LIBRARY DIRECTOR, FRANKFORD DE.

The Frankford Public Library is seeking experienced applicants for the position of Library Director. MLS preferred.

Job description and application information can be found at https://frankford.lib.de.us/about-us/job-opening/

Position closes 6/19/2020.

FULL-TIME PERSONAL BANKER Farmers Bank of Willards has a Full-Time Personal Banker position available at the North Ocean City location. Looking for professional and motivated individuals with extraordinary customer service skills. Cash handling experience & excellent computer skills a must.

Please email your resume to kelly.drexel@fbwbank.com or call Kelly Drexel at 410-250-1512 Application cut off is 6-19-2020 “Equal Employment Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer”

COMMERCIAL

CASHIER/ SALES ASSOCIATE Must be friendly & dependable FT/PT-Year Round Various shifts Competitive hourly wage Benefits available Temporary $2 extra per hour until further notice

To Apply-go online www.petromg.com *Employment *Retail *OC MD *Cashier Wine Rack *Search *Cashier Sales Assoc.-Wine Rack Rt. 50 Wine Rack 12827 Ocean Gateway West OC, MD HOUSEKEEPING ROOM ATTENDANTS Ocean City Hotels Hilton, Holiday Inn, Doubletree & more.

Competitive Pay and Benefits Available.

Contact HR at 410-289-4444 or HR@Harrisongp.com

Ride the B in OC!

We continue to grow!

Immediate Start For 30-35 Hours Per Week. Mon-Fri. (June Through Sept.)

Start At $13/Hour.

Must Have Reliable Transportation.

(We Reimburse .40/mile)

$1,000 Bonus & Crab Feast At End Of Season Text or Call 443-640-7983

LEO’S RESTAURANT NOW HIRING:

COOKS SERVERS TOP PAY SELECT HOUSING Apply in person.

139th St. & Coastal Hwy.

$1000 SIGNING BONUS FOR PLUMBERS with POSEIDON PLUMBING HOME SERVICES! We offer paid training, vacation and personal days. We also offer a quality benefits package including health, dental, vision and life ins. Wage is BOE from $15-$30.

Based in the Berlin/OC area.

What we require: -Min. 4 years experience -Valid Driver's License -Reliable form of contact -Background Check -Ability to pass a drug test -Positive attitude and willingness to learn If you feel that you can fill this position call us to set up an interview.

We can be reached at 410-251-1096.

POSEIDON PLUMBING & HOME SERVICES

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

––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 12X24 SHOP FOR RENT: Near Ocean Pines. Includes electric. $150/month. Call Steve and leave message. 410-251-3412.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RENTALS SEASONAL WEST OC: Avail. until mid-Sept. 2020. 10028 Silver Point Ln. 3BR/2BA home w/sunroom, W&D, Cable, WiFi, A/C, Trash Pick-Up. $10,000 sleeps 10. 410 213-8090 or events@oceanpromotions.info –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SEASONAL BAYSIDE RENTAL: Sleeps 4-6, 2BR 2BA W/D/ fully furn. $13,500. +sec.dep & utils. Call Mike 410-603-6120 avail May-Sept 12th. www.mbjcproperties.com –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SEASONAL UNTIL MID-SEPT. 2020: TIBURON 13908-B, North Ocean Rd. 3BR/2BA condo, 2nd floor, balcony, tennis, pool, cable, Wi-Fi, A/C, W/D. $10,000 sleeps 10. 410-520-4507.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– WATERFRONT WEST OC: 4BR/2BA cottage. Screened in porch. Call for details 443-831-9898.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– YR WEST OC: $1350/mo+Sec.Dep. 10028 Silver Point Ln. 3BR/2BA home w/sunroom. Furnished/unfurnished, W&D, A/C, Trash. 410 213-8090 or events@oceanpromotions.info –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– YR CONDO: $1400/mo+Sec.Dep. TIBURON 13908-B N. Ocean Rd. 3BR/2BA, 2nd flr, balcony, tennis, pool. Furnished/unfurnished, Cable, Wi-Fi, A/C. 410-213-8090 or events@oceanpromotions.info ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

WEEKLY RENTALS

DOWNTOWN OC 2BR Apartment for $750/week.

Burgundy Inn

The Dispatch

1210 Philadelphia Ave.

410-289-8581

Legal Notices

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

THIRD INSERTION

WILLIAM E. ESHAM III ESQ. AYRES, JENKINS, GORDY & ALMAND, PA 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 200 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18285 To all persons interested in the estate of RICHARD D. MOSTROM, ESTATE NO. 18285. Notice is given that JOEL K. MOSTROM, 45 SEA LANE, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928, was on, MAY 18, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of RICHARD D. MOSTROM, who died on MARCH 14, 2020, with a will.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the

Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 18th day of NOVEMBER, 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

The Dispatch

Page 52

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Legal Notices

LEGAL RATES

Legal advertising rate is $7 per column inch. Deadline for all legal advertising is Tuesday at noon.

For more information, call 410-641-4563 or fax 410-641-0966. published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claims within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication MAY 22, 2020 JOEL K. MOSTROM 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, 5-22, 5-29, 6-5

SECOND INSERTION

RAYMOND D. COATES JR. ESQ. COATES, COATES & COATES, P.A. 6200 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 300 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18138 To all persons interested in the estate of MARY H. BUFFINGTON, ESTATE NO. 18138. Notice is given that KIMBERLY M. ZARIF, 8708 CYPRESS COURT, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on, MAY 22, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MARY H. BUFFINGTON, who died on OCTOBER 24, 2019, with a will.

VEMBER, 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 that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication MAY 29, 2020 KIMBERLY M. ZARIF 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, 5-29, 6-5, 6-12

SECOND INSERTION

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS

APRIL 14, 2020, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 18th day of NOVEMBER, 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 that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication MAY 29, 2020 KENNETH V. LOHMEYER Personal Representative

ESTATE NO. 18283 Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 22nd day of NO-

To all persons interested in the estate of LOIS MCCLOSKEY LOHMEYER AKA LOIS M. LOHMEYER, ESTATE NO. 18283. Notice is given that KENNETH V. LOHMEYER, 980 S. BREEZY WAY, POST FALLS, ID 83854, was on, MAY 18, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of LOIS MCCLOSKEY LOHMEYER, who died on

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, 5-29, 6-5, 6-12

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18284 To all persons interested in the estate of ROBERT HALL BALLARD III, ESTATE NO. 18284. Notice is given that LINDA MONIGLE GUERRIERI, 10552 SUSSEX ROAD, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on, MAY 18, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ROBERT HALL BALLARD III, who died on NOVEMBER 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 NOVEMBER, 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 that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication

June 5, 2020

MAY 29, 2020 LINDA MONIGLE GUERRIERI 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, 5-29, 6-5, 6-12

SECOND INSERTION

FUREY, DOOLAN & ABELL, LLP 7600 WISCONSIN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BETHESDA, MD 20814 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF A SETTLOR OF A REVOCABLE TRUST To all persons interested in the WILLIAM H. SEWARD AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST. This is to give notice that WILLIAM H. SEWARD died on MARCH 23, 2020. Before the decedent’s death, the decedent created a revocable trust for which the undersigned, JAMES K. SEWARD, whose address is 819 MARYLAND AVENUE, SYRACUSE, NY 13210 is now trustee.

To have a claim satisfied from the property of this trust, a person who has a claim against the decedent must present the claim on or before the date that is 6 months after the date of the first publicatIon of this notice to the undersigned trustee at the address stated above. The claim must include the following information: A verified written statement of the claim indicating its basis; The name and address of the claimant; If the claim is not yet due, the date on which it will become due; If the claim is contingent, the nature of the contingency; If the claim is secured, a description of the security; and The specific amount claimed.

Any claim not presented to the trustee on or before that date or any extension provided by law is unenforceable.

JAMES K. SEWARD Trustee Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication MAY 29, 2020 3x, 5-29, 6-5, 6-12

FIRST INSERTION

JOHN P. CUSTIS,ESQ. LONG, BADGER AND SHELLER, LLP 124 E. MAIN STREET SALISBURY, MD 21801 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE NO. 18292 To all persons interested in the estate of SHIRLEY W PILCHARD, ESTATE NO. 18292. Notice is given that GARY PILCHARD, 3203 BETH EDEN CHURCH ROAD, POCOMOKE CITY, MD 21851, was on, MAY 27, 2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SHIRLEY W PILCHARD, who died on MARCH 1, 2020, with a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 27th day of NOVEMBER, 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 that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills.

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication JUNE 5, 2020 GARY PILCHARD 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, 6-5, 6-12, 6-19

June 5, 2020

Sports

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

Page 53

Five Join Worcester Prep’s 12-Letter Club In The News

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

BERLIN – Five standout studentathletes were recently inducted to Worcester Prep’s prestigious 12-letter Club, continuing a long tradition at the Berlin school.

The five student-athletes were inducted to the 12-letter club for lettering in three varsity sports in each of

their four upper-school years at Worcester Prep. The students participated in a fall, winter and spring varsity sport in each of their four high school years.

The newest inductees were celebrated as part of Worcester Prep’s drive-through graduation celebration.

Joining the prestigious 12-Letter Club this year were Emily Copeland, Alessia Matha, Hana Miller, Maddy Shanahan and Madison Van Orden.

Madison Van Orden

Maddy Shanahan

A Look At Local Sports This Week In Years Past Hana Miller

BY SHAWN J. SOPER

MANAGING EDITOR

With spring high school sports seasons on indefinite hiatus, The Dispatch thought it might be interesting and fun to take a look back at what was making local sports headlines this same week in years past.

Many of the players went on to do great things in college both athletically and academically and some now even have kids of their own in local youth sports programs.

The following is a look back at the last five, 10 and 20 years.

The following is a brief glimpse of what was making headlines on the sports pages of The Dispatch this week five years ago: •Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity lacrosse team dominated the Bayside South awards announced this week, sweeping the coach of the year award, the offensive player of the year award and the defensive player of the year honors. Coach Scott Lathroum was named Bayside South Coach of the

Photos submitted

Year, while Corey Gwin was named Offensive Player of the Year and goalkeeper Will Hastings was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Joining Gwin on the first-team allconference midfield was Jackson Mumford. Dryden Brous was named the conference’s top face-off man, while R.J. Hayman was named top long-stick middie and Dalton Warren was named top defensive midfielder. Craig Snyder was named first-team all-defense, and Jake Lathroum and Shane Moore were named first-team all-offense. The Seahawks went 10-2 on the season and won the Bayside South championship.

•Two local youth lacrosse teams made a strong showing at the prestigious Lax Splash tournament in Baltimore, winning the championship in their respective divisions. The K-Coast Dolphins coached by Fred Yesko won the girls’ 11-12A championship, sweeping four games. The OC Warriors also won the championship in the boys’ 9-10C division, sweeping six

Emily Copeland

Alessia Matha

games over the weekend to claim the title.

•Stephen Decatur senior Jenna Reimer was honored by the MPSSAA and the Allstate Foundation as one of 14 recipients of the 2015 Minds in Motion Scholar-Athlete scholarships at a special ceremony at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Reimer, a three-sport athlete who competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, was the only one of the 14 recipients of the Minds in Motion $1,000 scholarship from the Eastern Shore. The program selects recipients from a field of candidates who maintained an unweighted GPA of 3.25 while participating in interscholastic sports during their high school careers.

The following are some of the highlights of The Dispatch sports pages from this week 10 years ago: •Former Worcester Prep lacrosse standout Travis Gregory, now a rising junior at Haverford College near Ph-

iladelphia, was named to the NCAA Division III All-America team. Gregory enjoyed a successful 2010 season at Haverford, scoring 30 goals and dishing out 11 assists. His 41 total points landed him in third place overall at Haverford for the season, including a second-place finish in goals and the fourth-place finish in assists.

•The crew on the “Doc’s Boat” took first place in the inaugural Ocean City Marlin Club Memorial Day Bluefish tournament with an impressive string that included a 12-pounder caught by angler Kathleen Prather.

The following is a little snippet of the top sports stories in The Dispatch this week 20 years ago: •The 4th Annual Mako Mania Tournament was held this week with the crew on the “Lisa” taking first place.

Angler Mike Tarbutton caught the firstplace winning 255-pound mako worth $5,000. The crew on the “MoJo” took second with a 256-pound mako and earned $3,000.

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Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Still operating under a full head of self-esteem makes you want to tackle a matter you had shied away from. OK. But be sure to arm yourself with facts before you make a move.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): That smart move you recently made caught the attention of a lot of people, including some with financial deals to offer. Use your Taurean wariness to check them out thoroughly.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Shyness might keep you from asking for more information on a potentially important matter. But your curiosity grows stronger by midweek and gives you the impetus for data-gathering.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Taking on too many tasks may not be the wise thing to do at this time. You might overspend both your physical and emotional energy reserves, and have to miss out on some upcoming events.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): Try to keep your spending at an affordable level. Splurging now -- especially on credit -- could create a problem if your finances are too low for you to take advantage of a possible opportunity.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): You might not approve of a colleague's behavior during much of the week. But don't play the judgmental Virgo card here. As always, check the facts before you assume the worst.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Coping with an old issue that has sud-

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

denly re-emerged could take a big toll on your emotional energies. Decide whether you really want to pursue the possibilities here.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): For all your skill in keeping your secrets safe, you could be unwittingly letting one slip out by the way you're behaving in that new relationship. Are congratulations soon to be in order?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): Good old-fashioned horse sense could help you get around those who unknowingly or deliberately put obstacles in your way. Ignore the confusion and follow your own lead.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): A puzzling attitude change in a colleague from friendly to chilly might stem from a long-hidden resentment suddenly bubbling up. An open and honest talk should resolve the problem.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): This week, many ever-generous Aquarians might find themselves feeling an acquisitive urge. If so, indulge it. You've earned the right to treat yourself to wonderful things.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): Expect to get a lot of advice on how to go about implementing your plans. But once you've sorted it all out, you'll probably find that, once again, your way will be the best way.

BORN THIS WEEK: You enjoy the quiet times of your life, but when you're in the mood, you can throw a party everyone will want to go to. © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Things I Like ...

OCEAN CITY vanishing

June 5, 2020

WITH BUNK MANN

The Dew Tour was an “extreme sports” competition held in Ocean City for several days each June from 2011-2014. Sponsored by the popular soft drink Mountain Dew, it featured athletes, such as Shaun White and Bucky Lasek, exhibiting skills in skateboarding and BMX events. Billed as a family styled event, the Dew Tour brought thousands of spectators to town and culminated in a thenrecord crowd of 105,000 in 2014.

A section of the beach between Somerset and Caroline streets was turned into a sports village with special arenas built for the competition, various vendor booths and a live music stage. The large complex went up in just a few days and was quickly dismantled after the tour moved on.

The publicity generated put Ocean City in the national spotlight and several events were televised live on NBC. For several years, the water tower on Worcester Street was painted with the Dew Tour’s logo and the words, “Welcome to Ocean City, Md. Proud home of the Dew Tour.” The tour moved to other cities in 2015 but the memories live on for all who attended.

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

Photo by Allen Sklar

The Dispatch Crossword Puzzle

By Steve Green

Hearing my son sing in the shower Fish stories around a marina

A pool dip after working in the yard Smell of a pencil after sharpening

Big puffy clouds and a bright blue sky Sea glass art

Getting home right before a storm

When every crab in a dozen is solid Lights with dimmer switches

Cleaning out sand from my truck A bright red watermelon

ANSWERS ON PAGE 46

June 5, 2020

The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

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The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch

June 5, 2020