Aug. 11

See Page 21 • Rendering by Becker Morgan

See Page 30 • Photo by Charlene Sharpe

SERVING DELMARVA FOR 60 YEARS

Local Agencies Air Concerns Over Balloon Festival

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

SNOW HILL – Promoters of the resort’s new hot air balloon festival will have to address a variety of concerns if the event is going to take place this month.

Law enforcement, emergency personnel, county staff and Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) officials told representatives of the American Farm Foundation this week that various planning issues needed to be addressed before the Ocean City Balloon Festival can take place Aug. 25-27.

“You have a lot of people here to please,” said Matt Laick, the county’s deputy director of development review and permitting. “If you want to make it happen everybody in this room you need

to satisfy.”

Representatives from numerous local agencies gathered in Snow Hill this week to discuss logistics of the Ocean City Ballon Festival, which is set to take place at Seaside Christian Academy later this month. The Town of Ocean City has been advertising the event, which was approved by resort officials in March, and tickets are being sold online at the event’s website.

“It was formerly the Chesapeake Balloon Festival in Easton,” Ocean City Tourism and Business Development Director Tom Perlozzo told officials at the time. “We did a bit of a recruiting effort. They were looking to find a new location, and we thought Ocean City was it.”

Kristen Tremblay, the county’s zoning administrator, said there had been limited information presented by the event’s or-

ganizers but they had asked to meet with officials. She said she’d advised them early on in the process the festival would require approval from numerous agencies and that they needed one project manager to serve as a contact point.

Maryland State Police Lt. Earl Starner, commander of the Berlin Barrack, said promoters had not reached out to him. He said the last event permit that had involved troopers had taken six months to get signed by the necessary agencies.

Tremblay said the promoter hadn’t even provided information regarding how many people were expected to attend the festival.

“We’ve made good faith efforts to talk to them,” she said, adding that the only site plan the county had been presented was a screenshot from a cell phone. “I don’t know if this is going to happen to be

honest.”

Emergency services representatives said they had major concerns with the event, as they had not been presented any safety or emergency plans to review. Tremblay said the event also needed approval from the Worcester County Board of Zoning Appeals. She said the promoter had been slated to hold an event earlier this month in Harford County but that it had been moved to a fairgrounds location after the county cited safety concerns.

Doug Dods of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office said he’d talked to law enforcement in Talbot County, where the promoter held an event last year, and said action plans hadn’t been followed and the promoter had yet to pay the fees associated with last year’s event.

American Farm Foundation’s Alex Spies, who arrived late to the meeting, told officials the festival simply consisted of some tethered hot air balloons and music and vendors.

“You’re required to have an approved SHA permit,” Starner said. “Normally that’s a lengthy process.”

Spies said organizers planned to have attendees enter the festival via the stoplight in front of the outlets in West Ocean City.

“We’re not asking for any shutdowns,” he said, adding that they planned to let traffic flow as it normally did.

When asked what projected attendance was and what the hours of the festival were, Spies said it would run from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and could attract 3,000 visitors a day.

Starner said he wasn’t sure what the best traffic plan for that number of visitors was but that his officers would have provided input if organizers had met with them in the months leading up to the festival.

“I’m not saying it’s impossible but there is a process,” Starner said. “You’re going to impact traffic in a negative way therefore you need an approved permit.”

Dods said the light Spies referenced had traffic challenges on a normal day.

“If something happens we’re not going to be able to get emergency services down there,” he said.

Spies said his company had hired buses to move people from the West Ocean City Park and Ride to the festival grounds.

Dods said issues his office wanted to see addressed included crowd control plans, information about the propane tanks that would be on site and security being that the event also included alcohol and live music. He added the Spies needed to create a bus plan showing drop-off and pick-up locations.

“Emergency response is what we’re worried about,” he said.

Worcester County Fire Marshal Matt Owens said his office needed information regarding parking, emergency medical services and a first aid plan from organizers. He said vendors, tents, stages and generators also needed to be approved. He said his office typically received a site plan showing all of this information.

Staff from the Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs

Record-Breaking White Marlin Open

The 50th Anniversary White Mar-lin Open attracted 400 boats with a world record $10.3 million in prize money up for grabs this week. The first few days of the tourney had a bit of everything except billfish. As it always does, the weather has played a part this week with the majority of the fleet expected to fish on Friday when all the prize money will be decided. At left, some of the 300-plus boats that fished Monday are pictured coming back to port.

Without a billfish on the leaderboard, the major storyline after three days of fishing was the big tuna carrying most of the big paydays. Below, as of Thursday morning, the 203.5-pound tuna caught by Jack Roesner aboard the Full Service is in second place in the division and worth $95,000. Bottom, the fourth-place tuna – a 178pounder hooked by Dante Soriente on the MJ’s – stands to make $220,000 for the team.

Photos by Moses Cohen, left, and WMO, below.

The massive 247.5-pound big eye tuna caught by Chris Mentlik aboard the Fishlik of Chincoteague could win the team $1.2 million. If no billfish are caught on Thursday or Friday, the tuna could be worth $7 million. Photo

“OCEAN CITY CHRO NICLES”

OCEAN CITY CHRONICLES

BUNK MANN’S NEWEST BOOK ON OC EAN CITY HI STORY

“Ocean City Chronicles” is the final book in Bunk Mann’s 3 volume historical series which began with “Vanishing Ocean City’ in 2014 and continued with ‘Ghosts In The Surf” in 2019. Centered around his articles in Ocean city’s awardwinning newspaper the Maryland Coast Dispatch , his latest book features 285 of the most popular ones over the past 11 years. It includes hundreds of photos of long vanished hotels & restaurants, the great storms & fires, deep sea fishing, boardwalk attractions & amusements, and stories of the people who turned a small 19th-century fishing village into a modern, year-round destination. “Ocean City Chronicles” is a comprehensive history of Maryland’s famous oceanfront resort in a hardbound coffee table book featuring cover art by noted artist, Paul McGehee. Supplies are limited so order your copy today!

Ocean City Chronicles can be ordered online at vanishingoceancity.com. Visit the website for further information and photos.

courtesy of WMO

BY HUNTER “BUNK” MANN Reminiscing Maryland’s Beach Resort

A new first-place dolphin – a 31pounder worth $34,000 as of Thursday morning – was weighed Wednesday by Will McAteer and the Maverick of Ocean City.

The heaviest wahoo weighed after three days in the White Marlin Open was a 57-pounder caught by John Harris aboard the Shooting Star. The fish was worth $2,000 as of Thursday morning.

Thanks to being entered into added entry levels, a 55-pound wahoo caught by Chad Jackson aboard the Captain Deadly of Ocean City stands to make the team $32,000. The third place wahoo – a 40 pounder caught by Francis Johnson aboard the SeaFix – is also worth $32,000 as of Thursday morning.

Photos courtesy of WMO

On Wednesday, 383 of the 400 boats fished in the White Marlin Open. Above, some horses are pictured walking along the Assateague Island shoreline Wednesday unfazed by the sportfishing vessels approaching the Inlet. Photo by OCYachtShots.com

Worcester County Seeks Expansion Of Rural Legacy Area

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

SNOW HILL – In an effort to slow the fragmentation of local farmland, Worcester County officials are exploring the possibility of expanding a conservation program.

Worcester County’s Department of Environmental Programs hosted a public meeting this week to gauge interest in establishing a third Rural Legacy Area (RLA) in the northern part of the county. The creation of another Rural Legacy Area would give the county access to more funding to encourage agricultural

preservation on large properties in the Showell and Bishopville areas.

“With the immense pressure from Sussex County development north of the border, there is an urgent need to protect these lands from fragmentation due to potential subdivision of these lands for dwelling units,” said Bob Mitchell, the county’s director of environmental programs.

In July, Mitchell’s department mailed owners of large parcels in northern Worcester County information about the RLA land conservation program and an interest form to gauge whether expanding the RLA program was something prop-

erty owners in the area would support.

“The Bishopville/Showell area contains important, highly productive farmland, some in family ownership for generations,” the letter reads. “Although most of the area is zoned for agricultural use, encroachments including small residential subdivisions and other non-agricultural uses, could eventually erode the rural character of this area, making farming more difficult and less profitable, leading to significant permanent loss of this industry in the area.”

While the county has two Rural Legacy Areas already, designating a third would mean more properties could be eligible for easements.

“This would allow the county to apply for state program funds for purchase of voluntary conservation easements from landowners on rural lands in this area,” the letter reads. “A conservation easement protects the property in perpetuity from most non-agricultural uses, but allows the landowner to continue to use their land for agricultural purposes including farming, timber harvest and hunting.”

In order to designate a third RLA, the county would need demonstrated support from landowners in the proposed area. Mitchell said the county was targeting the Showell and Bishopville areas for the expanded conservation efforts because of the quality farmland in the area as well as the proximity to Sussex County, where development is underway at a

rapid pace.

“This area has some of the highest quality farmland soils in the county, has been farmed for over a century, and if the owners continue to develop at max density it would fragment farmland to the point that farming would not be viable anymore,” he said.

Mitchell said that while there was some interest in small-scale, boutiquestyle farming operations, there was still a need for farms that grew traditional feed crops.

“Whether hay or corn/soybeans, it is needed for feed for poultry and cows/horses,” he said, adding that the most recent agricultural census showed a market value of $20 million for products sold from county farms. “These smaller farms are plowed in concert with the neighboring properties the same as larger farms. Many were the daughters/sons of older farmers that left lands to their kids and they typically rent out their lands for farming if they don’t farm themselves.”

Property owners in the Showell and Bishopville areas who received the letter from the Worcester County Department of Environmental Programs are asked to return the attached interest form. Those who would like more information can call 410-632-1220.

Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program was created in 1997 to protect large, contiguous tracts of land to support natural resource, agricultural, forestry and environmental protection.

Town Hall Water Damage Leads To Meeting Changes

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

BERLIN – Municipal meetings in Berlin have been postponed as crews address water damage discovered at town hall.

Town officials announced this week that several town meetings meant to take place this week and next week were postponed because of water damage found at town hall. The damage is being repaired and the council chambers, Berlin’s primary public meeting space, is expected to be usable after Aug. 16.

“The council chambers is a construction zone right now and we are waiting for the contractors to begin rebuilding the areas that were affected,” Mayor Zack Tyndall said on Wednesday.

On Aug. 3, water damage and mold were discovered within the north-facing wall of the council chambers at town hall during routine maintenance. An announcement from the town this week said that out of an abundance of caution, work was stopped immediately to allow for further testing and evaluation of the area.

“After it was determined there were no safety and/or environmental risks present following the results of testing, town staff worked with external contractors to carry out necessary demolition and remediation of the area,” a news release from the town reads. “As work continues, residents may notice several contractor vehicles parked at town hall during and after normal business hours.”

Tyndall said the restoration work in the council chambers was expected to be completed by Aug. 16. The Town of Berlin is planning to host a field meeting for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship on Aug. 17. The committee is chaired by Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin.

According to this week’s release, Town of Berlin staff continue to work inside the building and town hall remains open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow residents to pay their utility bills. Due to the location of the water damage, however, meetings typically held in the council chambers have been postponed. The Berlin Planning Commission and Berlin Board of Appeals meetings scheduled for Aug. 9 have been postponed to Aug. 23. The town council meeting scheduled for Monday, Aug. 14, has also been moved and will now take place on Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. While there was a work session to discuss the future of Heron Park initially scheduled to take place before the Aug. 14 meeting, that work session is now listed on the town calendar for Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. Representatives of We Heart Berlin, the nonprofit working toward bringing a skate park to Berlin, are also expecting elected officials to vote on a location for the skate park at one of the upcoming meetings.

WMO Week: A horse on Assateague island is pictured along the shoreline while hundreds of boats return through the Inlet Wednesday from offshore fishing in the White Marlin Open.

Photo by OCYachtShots.com

Hooper’s Crab House Reopens Following Fire

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

WEST OCEAN CITY – The connections of a West Ocean City crab house are recognizing firefighters, contractors, staff and patrons for their support following a kitchen fire.

Last Thursday at around 7:30 p.m., the Ocean City Fire Department was dispatched to Hooper’s Crab House in West Ocean City for an appliance fire.

Upon arrival, crews located a fire in the kitchen behind a cooking appliance and worked to contain the blaze, which had extended into the walls for approximately three hours. The restaurant was at full capacity at the time of the fire, and an orderly evacuation led by restaurant staff resulted in no injuries being reported.

The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and conducted a fire scene examination. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental, originating in the area near the cooking appliance that was involved.

Hooper’s Crab House remained closed last Friday as management worked with local contractors and staff to clean up and repair. And last Saturday, the restaurant reopened for business.

“Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our local heroes in red and the tireless efforts of our incredible staff, we have successfully overcome the challenges posed by the recent fire,” a Facebook post from Hooper’s reads. “Your support and encour-

agement have been the driving force behind our swift recovery, and we are immensely grateful for it.”

In a statement issued this week, the restaurant’s operators shared their gratitude to the firefighters, government officials, staff and businesses who helped in their recovery efforts.

“The fire at Hooper’s on Thursday evening, Aug. 3 was a setback, but blessings were with us for it could have turned into a major tragedy,” the statement reads.

“The overwhelming support and love we received from our family, friends, community, loyal customers, purveyors, Matt Owens and his team of firefighters, Ed Potez and Worcester County government and all the contractors truly touched our hearts.”

The statement continues, “Our dedicated staff members definitely were incredible as they helped to evacuate the entire building calmly and waited two hours to be able to get back in and clean up. We were back in business in 24 hours and it would

never have happened without all the loyal help from all involved working, literally, 24/7. A very special kudos to our management team – they are a force like none other. They will not accept ‘no’ and climb every mountain that comes their way. There are not enough words to express our appreciation and gratefulness for the love, support and dedication. We are truly blessed beyond measure. From our hearts, THANK YOU!” Hooper’s Crab House was rebuilt following a devastating fire in January of 2002.

Crews with the Ocean City Fire Department are pictured on the scene of a structure fire at Hooper’s Crab House last Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Ocean City Fire Department

Delays Expected As Rt. 90 Project Nears

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Officials report that motorists can expect travel delays in the coming weeks as work begins on a portion of the Route 90 bridge.

On Wednesday, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration announced it will begin a project to clean and paint the structural steel beams on the Route 90 bridge over the Norfolk-Southern Railroad, near the Route 113 interchange in Berlin.

Work will begin Monday, Aug. 14, and conclude by mid-September, weather permitting.

“This project is part of the State Highway Administration’s bridge preservation program and will help to preserve and extend the service life of State Highway Administration bridges,” a news release states. “Cleaning and painting the bridges preserves existing steel sections and protects them from corrosion which could cause expensive and time-consuming repairs and bridge closures in the future.”

Beginning Monday, work will start on the westbound side of Route 90. All cleaning and painting equipment will be staged on the 11-foot westbound shoulder on the bridge.

Crews will work Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and full traffic will be restored at the end of each workday.  Portable message signs to alert motorists will be in place to alert drivers to the narrowed shoulder area.

“The State Highway Administration understands the closures will inconvenience some travelers and asks all motorists to please stay alert and be patient as you pass through the work zone,” the news release reads.

The project is just one of several highway projects taking place in Worcester County and around Ocean City this summer.

In June, for example, the State Highway Administration began a milling and patching project on the Route 90 bridge, which resulted in detours and lane closures through the overnight hours.

Work temporarily stopped in late June as a result of poor weather conditions and restarted in mid-July.

The State Highway Administration this summer also began a resurfacing project along Route 611 between the Verrazano Bridge and Assateague Road, resulting in lane closures and significant delays during work hours.

For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, visit the agency’s project portal or the homepage at roads.maryland.gov.

Real-time traffic conditions can also be found by visiting md511.maryland.gov.

Police Investigate Thefts From Cars

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

BERLIN – Residents are reminded to lock their vehicles as police are investigating several recent thefts from unlocked cars.

Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing said his department this week is investigating more than a dozen thefts from vehicles that occurred during the last two weekends. While the police have leads, he encourages anyone who thinks their vehicle might have been tampered with to reach out to police.

“We’re quite certain there are some people that did not report it because the items taken were not of great value or because nothing was taken,” Downing said. “We ask everyone to call the police, even now, so we can track where the individuals have been.”

According to Downing there were thefts from vehicles in Berlin in the areas of Bay Street and Maple Avenue in the early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 5, and July 29. The department shared images from home security cameras on Facebook this week after police interviewed about 20 victims, some of whom had multiple vehicles entered. Downing said there were 14 to 18 reported thefts from vehicles and five reported tampering with vehicle cases. In those instances, residents noticed things like a car light on or door open but didn’t find anything missing.

The items taken included money, purses, credit cards and other valuables.

“All the vehicles we’re talking about we presume to be unlocked,” Downing said.

He said video footage shows the suspects glancing into cars and quickly opening doors. During the incidents, no damage was reported to the exterior of the cars, as the suspects were simply pulling handles looking for unlocked doors.

“It’s really quick,” Downing said. “Many of the items were readily available inside these vehicles.”

He said the footage from home cameras has been helpful and police have leads.

“We have several persons of interest,” he said.

As the investigation continues Downing urges residents to lock their vehicles and not to leave anything valuable in their vehicles.

“We’re also advising them to keep their homes well lit, especially where their cars are,” the chief said.

And while several victims told police they didn’t expect crime in Berlin, police remind residents that crimes like thefts from vehicles happen everywhere in the country.

Citizens are urged to call police anytime they see anything suspicious.

The Berlin Police Department this week shared photos, like the one above, of subjects entering unlocked vehicles.

Photo courtesy of the Berlin Police Department

More Cabins Eyed For Frontier Town Expansion Project

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

SNOW HILL – County officials approved plans for a campground expansion at Frontier Town.

The Worcester County Planning Commission last week approved a 107-unit expansion at Frontier Town. The park will add cabins in a new cluster design.

“I think it’s very well thought out,” commission member Ken Church said.

The commission was presented last Thursday with a site plan for 107 park unit sites with a swimming pool and recreational areas. Attorney Hugh Cropper told the commission that the expansion would be built on the old drain field at Frontier Town, which is no longer being used now that the campground has connected to public sewer. He explained that while the campground had initially gotten approval for the typical cookie cutter campsite layout, Sun TRS Frontier, the company that owns Frontier Town, came up with an innovative idea for a new layout. In it, cabins would be clustered together and parking would be situated away from the cabins.

“Where the cabins would be located, there would be green space around them instead of gravel and parking,” Cropper said.

Because the design wasn’t in the code, Cropper had to write a text amendment, which was approved by the Worcester County Commissioners last year, to allow for the new layout. He presented the planning commission last week with a site plan featuring the new layout. He said the cabins would look like the existing ones at the campground but would be situated in clusters. He said the proposed bathhouse for the new section would mimic the existing ones at Frontier Town.

Cropper said the layout represented a modern approach that would allow for a better facility with less impervious surface.

“This is not an old-fashioned campground…,” he said. “It’s going to be innovative. It’s going to take people that are going to park, and either take a golf cart or walk to the unit, but when you’re in these units rather than looking at your neighbor’s pickup truck you’re going to look at the wooded area.”

Commission members asked when the expansion would be built.

Cropper noted campground officials had been working on the project for the past five years.

“The sooner the better,” the project’s engineer said.

Though there was a question about lighting on the site plan, officials said various lighting options were still being evaluated. They stressed however that they were trying to keep the lighting down so it wouldn’t be disruptive.

The commission voted 6-0 to approve the site plan.

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FENWICK ISLAND – Another public workshop will be held next week as design and planning moves forward for a bridge replacement project near Fenwick Island.

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is inviting community members to a public workshop on Aug. 15 regarding the replacement of Bridge 3-437 on Lighthouse Road. The agency reports the primary purpose of the meeting is to gain feedback from the public on architectural enhancements being considered for the bridge replacement project.

“The workshop will also include a brief presentation providing updates on the planned construction method for the bridge replacement project,” a notice reads. “Presentations will begin at 4:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. and will be followed by an open forum allowing the public to ask questions and provide feedback on the project.”

In February, DelDOT held its first public workshop to present plans and timelines for a bridge replacement project along Route 54. While work is expected to take place over the course of two years, officials say travelers should expect minimal disruptions.

“The way we’re going to handle it is instead of full detours, we’re going to build it in phases …,” Project Manager Nick Dean said at the time. “So in theory, you won’t feel the effects too much.”

The existing bridge, located next to Catch 54 and Harpoon Hanna’s, is nearing the end of its useful service life. And with several large cracks and exposed reinforcement, officials are looking to replace the bridge entirely.

To that end, DelDOT representatives in February presented community members with plans for a construction project that would start in the fall of 2024 and end in May of 2026. Dean reported that construction would pause during the summer months.

“We’re going to eliminate half the spans and double the span length, so it’s going to go from 40 feet to 80 feet,” he said in February. “It will open up that waterway a little bit, so it should be better for navigation and recreation.”

During the first phase of construction, Dean said crews will construct a temporary sidewalk and modify the existing layout to support two lanes of traffic before starting demolition and construction of the first half of the bridge. During the second phase, traffic will shift to the newly built portion of the bridge while the second half is demolished and rebuilt.

The upcoming workshop will be held Tuesday, Aug. 15 from 4-7 p.m. at the Roxana Volunteer Fire Company. The location is accessible to persons having disabilities. Persons who require auxiliary aids and services such as qualified interpreters are requested to contact DelDOT by phone or mail one week in advance.

Margaritaville Hearing Scheduled

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A public hearing to consider the abandonment of a portion of Washington Lane has been set for next month.

On Sept. 5, the Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on the abandonment of Washington Lane between 13th and 14th streets, or the alleyway that bisects the planned Margaritaville project.

Hugh Cropper, attorney for the developer, said his client hopes to purchase the alleyway in an effort to secure a planned overlay district (POD) designation.

“At the public hearing for the purchase of Washington Lane, we hope to prove Washington Lane is no longer needed for a public purpose because the alley ends at the next lot, at the Commander Hotel, and there’s been a long history of the Mayor and City Council abandoning alleys up and down Baltimore Avenue,” he said this week.

As proposed, the Margaritaville resort will take the place of the old Phillips Beach Plaza property and will feature hotel rooms, conference space, restaurants and retail. But to make that project a reality, the developer needs to meet a 90,000-square-foot site requirement to qualify for a POD zoning designation.

To that end, the Mayor and Council last year passed an ordinance to abandon a narrow strip of right-of-way along Baltimore Avenue to accommodate the Margaritaville project’s POD requirements. In January, however, resort officials rescinded their decision after Ocean City resident Margaret Pillas submitted a successful petition for referendum challenging the legislation.

Cropper then came before the Mayor and Council in May on behalf of his client with a request to hold a public hearing to purchase a portion of the right-of-way. During that meeting, the council voted 4-3 to deny the public hearing request, with those in opposition sharing concerns that a potential conveyance of right-of-way would impact the eventual redevelopment of the Baltimore Avenue corridor.

“The issue for me is you are asking us to take a hunk out of the Baltimore Avenue project for the future …,” Councilman Will Savage said at the time. “If we give it away now, a council 50 years from now isn’t going to have that opportunity and we don’t know what the town’s needs will be then.”

In yet another effort to build a POD development, Cropper came back to the Mayor and Council last week with a request to hold a public hearing for the abandonment of Washington Lane. He said his client was willing to pay for any appraiser the town selects and purchase the alleyway at fair market value.

“This is a request to ask you to

schedule a public hearing to accept comment on our request to purchase Washington Avenue, 16 feet wide, at fair market value,” he said. “We will hire and pay for an appraisal of your choice and offer to pay fair market value to purchase Washington Lane.”

After a lengthy discussion, the council voted 4-3 to move the request to a public hearing.

On Sept. 5, at 6 p.m., the Mayor and Council will hear testimony from community members to determine if the alleyway continues to serve a public purpose.

It should be noted that while they continue to seek a POD project, the connections of the Margaritaville development have concurrently submitted a new plan to the town that includes fewer amenities, less square footage and a different configuration.

Cropper said this week the second plan, which would be built under the height-by-right statute if a POD designation is not secured, also includes a request to convey air rights to the developer.

“As a separate issue, earlier this week we requested that in the event we do not move forward with conveyance, we have separately asked that they would convey to us air rights, which is connected to the height-by-right plan,” he said.

Trespassing, Cop Assault

OCEAN CITY – An officer was assaulted by a reportedly intoxicated man wandering around the downtown area last weekend.

On Aug. 8, an Ocean City police bike officer responded to a condominium on Wicomico Street to assist another officer with an allegedly intoxicated man, later identified as Kamil Hakov, 32, of Boyds, trespassing on private properties in the area.

Hakov was uncooperative with police, refused to provide identification and unsteady on his feet. As Hakov was about to be transported to police headquarters inside the marked patrol vehicle, an officer noticed the man had unbuckled himself and “lunged himself out of the marked police vehicle,” according to police reports, falling to the ground. Hakov was pinned to the ground by an officer, but the suspect began kicking and grabbing at the officer’s private parts. Hakov, who stole the officer’s Sharpie pen at some point, continued to be combative, kicking the officer in the feet and shins. Police uti-

lized a Violent Person Restraining Device to secure Hakov’s feet.

Hakov has been charged with trespassing, second-degree assault, resisting arrest and obstructing and hindering an officer.

Speeding, Weapon

OCEAN CITY – A noise violation from a speeding vehicle last week led to charges of drunk driving as well as a loaded gun.

On Aug. 4, shortly after midnight, an Ocean City bike officer observed a Chrysler 300S accelerate from a stationary position south through the Inlet parking lot. Police noted the sound of the acceleration was so excessive it could be heard from 200 yards away.

Police observed the vehicle speed out of the Inlet lot north on Baltimore Avenue and come to a stop. A traffic stop ensued

and the driver, Declan Ickes, 21, of Altoona, Pa., was unable to provide police with a driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance.

During the stop, a Worcester County Sheriff’s deputy arrived on the scene to let police know an early attempt to pull Ickes over was unsuccessful. Ickes was ordered out of the vehicle and the odor of alcoholic beverages was noted on him. Ickes did not pass field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for driving while impaired. A breath test confirmed Ickes was beyond the legal alcohol concentration level.

A police search of the vehicle located a loaded 9 mm handgun with a magazine fully inserted in the trunk. Ickes did not have a Maryland concealed carry permit.

Along with multiple traffic offenses, Ickes was charged with knowingly transporting a handgun in a vehicle on a public

road and driving a vehicle while impaired.

Hit-And-Run Charges

OCEAN CITY – A Maryland man faces multiples traffic charges as well as a weapons violation after leaving the scene of an accident in a downtown convenience store parking lot.

On Aug. 6 about 7 a.m., Ocean City police were alerted to a hit-and-run vehicle crash in the 7-Eleven convenience store parking lot. The victims told police while inside the store they observed a 2015 Chevy Equinox, driven by Brolin Alduvi Madrid Portillo, 18, of Dundalk, strike their vehicle in the rear before leaving the scene. One individual inside the vehicle told police Portillo’s vehicle struck the vehicle twice. Before the driver left the area, the individual inside the vehicle was able to get a picture of the license plate.

Ocean City police soon located Portillo and the Equinox heading west across the Route 50 Bridge. Portillo was identified by his Honduras passport and admitted to not having a valid driver’s license. Police noticed scrapes and paint marks on the vehicle consistent with the collision at the convenience store.

An inventory of the vehicle revealed a boxcutter concealed in the center console. Portillo was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon for the box cutter as well as failure to stop after accident involving damage, failure to return to and remain at the scene of accident, driving a motor vehicle without a license and other traffic charges.

Speeding With A Gun

OCEAN CITY – A Delaware man driving his vehicle well above the posted speed limit has been charged with driving under the influence and carrying a gun without a permit.

Around 11:25 p.m. on Aug. 5, Ocean City police were on routine patrol when a Ford Bronco was observed speeding and making continuous lane changes on southbound Coastal Highway. The vehicle was tracked driving 55 mph in a 40-mph zone.

The vehicle was pulled over on 139th Street and the driver was identified as Christopher Nowell, 57, of Wilmington. When police spoke with Nowell, who showed signs of intoxication, he told police he had a handgun concealed under his driver’s seat. Police located “a loaded Beretta PX4 storm 9mm semi-automatic handgun concealed underneath the driver’s seat wrapped in a pair of men’s underwear” with “one 9mm round chambered in the slide of the handgun” and 12 rounds in the gun, according to the police report.

Along with the charges related to driving while impaired, Nowell was charged with knowingly transporting a loaded handgun in a vehicle on a public road.

Residential Structure Fire

SNOW HILL –The Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office investigated a residential structure fire at 413 West Market Street in Snow Hill last week.

On Wednesday Aug. 2, at 7:20 p.m., the Snow Hill Volunteer Fire Company was dispatched to a reported house fire. Upon arrival, crews observed a two-story, single-family home with fire showing on several sides. Firefighters were able to locate and extinguish the fire quickly and ensure all occupants of the home had evac-

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uated.

Deputies from the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene and conducted a fire scene examination. The exact cause of the fire is considered accidental originating in a bedroom where improperly discarded smoking materials in bed was reported.

Crews remained on scene for approximately two hours ensuring the fire had been completely extinguished. Snow Hill was assisted by Pocomoke, Stockton, Newark and Girdletree Volunteer Fire Companies. The American Red Cross assisted the occupants with being displaced after the fire. No injuries were reported.

Two Arrested In Shooting

SALISBURY –Maryland State Police have two suspects in connection with last week’s fatal shooting of a man in Wicomico County.

Antonio Lamont Oliver, 24, of Salisbury, is being charged with first-degree murder and related charges. The Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Area U.S. Marshal’s Office, arrested Oliver Aug. 4 in Philadelphia. Oliver is currently being held at a local detention center in Philadelphia pending extradition back to Maryland.

His arrest came two days after the arrest of another suspect, Bisheri Damond Jacobs, 19, of Salisbury. Jacobs is charged with first- and second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first- and second-

degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and accessory after the fact to first- and seconddegree murder.

Maryland State Police, with assistance of the Salisbury City Police Department, arrested Jacobs Wednesday at his residence. He was transported to the Wicomico County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on July 31, officers from the Salisbury Police Department responded to Pemberton Manor Apartments after receiving a 911 call for a reported shooting. Responding officers found the victim, Keith Lamont Chaney, 34, of Salisbury, lying on the ground in front of the apartment complex with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Chaney was transported by ambulance to Tidal Health Medical Center where he was declared deceased.

The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. Salisbury Police Department and Wicomico County Narcotics are assisting in the case. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on the homicide is asked to contact Maryland State Police investigators at 443-366-5072. Callers can remain anonymous.

The case remains under investigation.

Assault Charges Filed

OCEAN CITY – A violent late-night domestic dispute led to charges against both individuals.

On Aug. 5 around 3 a.m., Ocean City police were advised of a domestic dispute involving Jade Jordan, 27, and Travis Brown, 35, both of Monroeville, Pa., out-

side of a Boardwalk hotel. The late-night incident was the second time in the same night police had been informed of a dispute between Jordan and Brown, who have been in a relationship for many years. Both individuals were noted as intoxicated in police reports on both incidents. In the earlier incident, Brown had to be placed in handcuffs due to being confrontational with officers.

In the late-night incident, Jordan told police she was asleep in a hotel room she shared with Brown, who came into the room and slammed Jordan’s cell phone when she tried to make a call. Jordan told police Brown was intoxicated and used force to shatter the phone. Jordan told police Brown was physical with her in their hotel room and admitted he had been in the past. She admitted that she

had become physical with him in the past as well. Police observed, “that it was likely that Jordan had struck Brown’s face and that Brown had struck Jordan’s neck during a mutual physical altercation.”

After Brown was arrested, Jordan told police she was leaving town and heading home to Pittsburgh. Police advised Jordan not to drive to Pennsylvania due to her alcohol intake. Minutes later, Jordan was observed driving a 2020 MercedesBenz C-Class in her hotel parking lot. When she saw police, she exited her vehicle.

Jordan was charged with second-degree assault, while Brown was charged with second-degree assault, theft between $100 and $1,500 for stealing Jordan’s phone and malicious destruction for damaging the phone.

Pocomoke Fair Racing:

The Great Pocomoke Fair hosted its annual day of harness racing Aug. 5. The fair, one of just two in the state that offers live harness racing, gives young drivers a chance to gain racing experience.

Above, Shane Griffith, 17, of Houston, Del., steers Mary Puffins while William Carter, 18, of Salisbury, handles the lines of Buzzer Beater during the ninth race.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

Fenwick Voters Elect 4 To Council

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FENWICK ISLAND – Three incumbents and one newcomer were elected to the Fenwick Island Town Council last week.

On Monday, the Fenwick Island Board of Elections voted unanimously to certify the results of last Saturday’s municipal election.

Tabulations show Kurt Zanelotti received 372 votes, Janice Bortner received 365 votes, Natalie Magdeburger received 362 votes, Jacque Napolitano received 358 votes, John Gary Burch received 316 votes, Bernie Merritt received 315 votes Kristina Clark received 312 votes and James Simpson received 296 votes.

Vote totals included 408 in-person votes and 311 absentee votes, which

represents a voter turnout of 77%.

“Our 2023 election is now certified,” said board member Susan Brennan.

This year, eight candidates vied for four council seats held by Bortner, Magdeburger, Napolitano and Councilman Paul Breger, who did not seek reelection.

Zanelotti, the top vote-getter in last Saturday’s election, said he is excited to join the three incumbents on the dais.

“I am looking forward to continuing the great work the council accomplished over the past two years and building on the effort to preserve and protect Fenwick Island's reputation as a family friendly community,” he said. “We will be focused on engaging our police force to maintain pedestrian safety, and continuing our efforts in getting the dredging completed. Most importantly I would like to get our community back into a cohesive state and look forward to working with our local businesses to make sure they have their voices heard and represented.”

Magdeburger said she was also eager to continue the work she and her fellow council members started.

“We are very pleased with the election results and very thankful for all of the Fenwick Islanders who, once again, came out in historic high numbers to cast their ballots,” she said. “Our town is a special place and one in which the people who live here want to preserve for the future. We are grateful for all the support of the voters and will continue to work hard for all of Fenwick. We hope that with the election over, we can focus on the positive and find ways to be good neighbors and friends. Fenwick deserves the best version of all of us and we are committed to leading the way.”

For her part, Bortner said she was grateful for the voters who came out to support her platform.

“I am grateful for the Fenwick Island residents who supported our protect and preserve Fenwick Island platform with their votes,” she said. “This is the third election that validates the current council’s platform to keep Fenwick a quiet residential family oriented community. I am so relieved that our community came together to help mitigate the pressure from outside influences who want to change the character and culture of Fenwick for their own monetary gain.”

She continued, “Over the next two years, I look forward to continuing to serve on the residential concerns committee with its focus on listening to and advocating for residents to further enhance the residential quality of life in Fenwick Island. I’m so honored to serve the community with such talented and dedicated council members and committee members for the next two years.”

All council members serve two-year terms and are tasked with adopting ordinances and resolutions and determining the general goals and policies of Fenwick Island. Burch, Merritt and Simpson declined to comment, and Clark and Napolitano did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Three incumbents and one newcomer will take their seats on the dais following the town’s municipal election, held on Aug. 5. Above, top vote-getters Jacque Napolitano, Kurt Zanelotti, Natalie Magdeburger and Janice Bortner are pictured in front of town hall on election day. Submitted Photo

Fenwick Group Questions Town Stormwater System

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

FENWICK ISLAND – Officials say more work is needed to understand the town’s stormwater system.

On Tuesday, members of the Fenwick Island Infrastructure Committee initiated a discussion on the town’s stormwater system. As flooding issues continue to plague bayside residents, committee member Jay Ryan said more information on drainage infrastructure was needed.

“Until we get a handle of everything in our system, to figure out where the water is coming from and how to get rid of it, it’s never going to work,” he said.

Ryan told the committee this week the town had conducted a stormwater infrastructure inventory – which maps out manholes, drainage pipes and more – in 2013. He noted, however, that the schematic was no longer accurate.

“I think it wasn’t accurate in 2013, and I know it’s not accurate in 2023,” he said. “To get a handle on our drainage system, we need to know what we have.”

Committee Chair Richard Benn agreed. Officials noted that the public works department had recently found a reinforced concrete pipe that led to the bay.

“Nobody knew it existed,” he said. “It was below another pipe that was depicted in the survey.”

Officials said they also wanted the town to address the lack of bulkheads on Bora Bora Street and update a list of residences

where rain gutters connect to drainage pipes.

“I’ve already done that inventory and there’s a lot of residents on the bayside that run their gutters into a pipe that runs into the canal,” Public Works Manager Mike Locke added.

Ryan told committee members this week that the first step in addressing the town’s flooding issues is getting a better understanding of the stormwater system.

“That’s our step one,” he said, “gathering the different pieces of information that’s available and ascertain what our existing system is and go from there.”

Officials noted that the town’s stormwater issues would also be addressed at an information session scheduled for Aug. 31. That day, committee members will present the results and recommendations of a resiliency study conducted by AECOM.

“We are hoping to provide information to the community and have a discussion,” said committee member Tim Leahy.

In December 2021, the town selected AECOM to complete GIS mapping of Fenwick Island and develop short- and long-term solutions to sea level rise and flooding. And in March, the infrastructure committee received its first presentation of the resiliency study, which not only identified recent and ongoing resiliency initiatives, but proposed actions to alleviate flooding.

Leahy told committee members last week the upcoming session would give community members an opportunity to

share their thoughts on potential resiliency projects.

“This is a community wide problem that requires a community wide response,” he said.

Officials noted the recommended solutions to sea level rise and flooding would likely cost the town tens of millions of dollars. Resident Ann Riley questioned if the town had reached out to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

“At what point do you get DNREC involved?” she asked.

Leahy pointed out that town officials

were already working with DNREC and the Delaware Department of Transportation as it seeks solutions to flooding.

“Engaging with the state is already underway and we will be continuing that in a more active way,” he replied.

Benn agreed.

“We anticipate this to be the first of many meetings because we as a community have to decide how we are going to do this,” he said.

An information and discussion session on the town’s resiliency study will be held Aug. 31 at 2:30 p.m. at Fenwick Island Town Hall.

Peach Festival ‘Enormous

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

BERLIN – Thousands of visitors descended on Berlin last weekend as the town celebrated all things peach with a festival on the lawn of the Taylor House Museum.

The 15th Annual Berlin Peach Festival kept people streaming through downtown Berlin throughout the day Saturday. With a record number of peaches sold out by 1 p.m., organizers said the event was by far the biggest one they’ve had yet.

“It was a huge day at the museum,” said Melissa Reid, president of the Taylor House Museum. “It was incredible.”

With an array of nonprofits and local vendors set up on the museum lawn, visitors were welcomed at 10 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the importance of the peach to Berlin’s history. While the event was meant to run until 3 p.m., attendance was so strong that most vendors were sold out by early afternoon. The museum went through 100 crates of peaches—30 more crates than it had last year—by 1 p.m. Volunteers served up more than 900 peach slushies. Buckingham Presbyterian Church sold 400 peach pies on the museum lawn, while just down the street Stevenson United Methodist Church sold more than 700 crabcakes along with peach cobbler. They went through 18 gallons of peach tea.

Baked Dessert Café, creator of Berlin’s peach dumpling, initially set up on

the lawn but had to move back to the shop when it sold out.

“The Taylor House Museum Peach Festival has always, historically, been one of the best days of our year and this year was no exception,” said Robin Tomaselli. “We reached and exceeded our goal to bake more than 1,000 peach dumplings, which have been the official dessert of Berlin, Maryland since 2010.”

She said the crowd seemed larger than it had in years past and that even once her crew returned to the shop on Bay Street, they stayed busy throughout the day.

“In our opinion, and I am sure my neighboring businesses would agree, the Peach Festival is the very best celebration Berlin and its visitors enjoy,” she said. “We simply applaud Melissa Reid, her board and the Taylor House Museum volunteers who worked so very hard to make this year’s festival an enormous success.”

Reid estimates the festival attracted between 4,000 and 5,000 people. She said the perfect weather and the fact that the festival was bringing back some popular events such as the peach cupcake contest both contributed to attendance.

“I think it was a perfect storm,” she said.

Andrea Weeg’s Bay Street Blooms was a first-time vendor at this year’s festival. Weeg sold out of fresh flowers by 11 a.m. She noted that most of her cus-

About 100 bushels of peaches were sold in the first three hours of the event last Saturday.

Photo by Charlene Sharpe

New Zoning Designations Sought Commercial Classifications Eyed

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

SNOW HILL – Two rezoning requests will be forwarded to the Worcester County Commissioners with favorable recommendations.

The Worcester County Planning Commission last week voted 6-0 to support commercial rezoning requests for a parcel on Route 113 in Berlin and a parcel on Market Street in Snow Hill.

Attorney Hugh Cropper told the commission that his client in Berlin was seeking to rezone 5.5 acres on the east side of Route 113, which is less than a mile from Atlantic General Hospital, from C-1 commercial to C-2 commercial based on a mistake in the current designation. He said across the highway were municipal and industrial uses and that a C-2 zoning classification would be more suitable for the property. According to Cropper, the property had been zoned general business in the 1960s and in 2009 was designated C-1, which is neighborhood commercial. He noted, however, that there were large contractor shops on the property at the time.

“It’s the policy of the comprehensive plan and the commissioners in doing a

comprehensive rezoning to bring things into compliance,” he said. “If you look at C-1, the neighborhood commercial district, it’s a pretty strict district. It’s not very permissive. It’s intended to provide for convenient commercial areas strategically based to serve day to day shopping and service needs of the local neighborhood. This property doesn’t do that.”

He said it was on a busy highway and was across the street from a public works yard.

“Neighborhood commercial is supposed to be on the corner to be where people go to get their milk and their paper,” he said.

He said he believed the C-1 designation had been a mistake and C-2 would be more appropriate.

“We believe the C-2 is more desirable in terms of the comprehensive plan, if for no other reason it’ll take what’s a nonconformity now and make it conforming,” he said.

He pointed out the property had small septic systems, not access to public sewer, and as a result its uses were limited. Contractor shops and storage facilities would be feasible.

The commission voted unanimously to provide the request with a favorable recommendation. The commission also supported a second rezoning request, this one presented by Cropper for property owners Howard and Amy Kelly. He said they owned Black Water Relics, a Pocomoke antique store.

“It’s been very successful and well received and they want to bring that to the Snow Hill community,” he said.

Cropper told the commission the land was zoned for agricultural use but that he was asking that the not-quite one-acre piece of land be rezoned commercial. He said it had been zoned for commercial use until the 1990s when it was classified as agricultural. He said he believed that was a mistake because the property was in the growth area shown in the comprehensive plan. He said there was nothing that could be done with the small property under the agricultural designation.

“It’s simply not a usable property,” he said.

While there were concerns voiced regarding parking and traffic circulation on the small site, Cropper said his clients owned the adjacent parcel as well and could use that if needed.

Commission member Phyllis Wimbrow said it bothered her that the property had been downzoned and agreed the current zoning was likely a mistake. Commission member Ken Church said he supported the concept and the fact that an existing business was trying to expand.

The commission voted 6-0 to give the request a favorable recommendation as it is forwarded to the Worcester County Commissioners for consideration.

Commission Approves Solar Projects

BY CHARLENE SHARPE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

SNOW HILL – County officials reviewed plans for two new solar arrays in Snow Hill.

The Worcester County Planning Commission last week looked at plans for solar arrays on Timmons Road and Nassawango Road. While the system proposed for Nassawango Road is a small project that will power a farm, the Timmons Road project could one day serve 1,000 homes.

“There is a third-party processor and purchaser that after this goes live is in charge of potentially distributing contracts to neighbors and community members,” said Natalie Castro of Chaberton Energy.

ARM Group’s Andrew Reese told the commission during a concept plan review last Thursday about Chaberton Energy’s plans for a 4.0 MW AC utility scale solar energy system to be located at 6217 Timmons Rd. in Snow Hill. He said developers were aware of what was involved in solar development and were addressing the various minor concerns noted during a staff review of the project. He added that there would also be multiple opportunities for review of the project.

“A third-party engineering inspection will be completed prior to construction,” he said.

Reese added that there would be ad-

equate screening around the solar panels, particularly in areas closest to residential properties.

“It’ll be screened pretty well,” Reese said, adding that Chaberton Energy tried to use native plants around solar arrays.

When commission members asked about the size of the project, Castro said it was small in the realm of industrial solar but was considered average size to serve a community. She said it could eventually serve 1,000 homes.

Commission member Ken Church said he’d been seeing solar projects pop up all over the place.

“It’s everywhere I go,” he said.

Reese agreed that the projects were prevalent.

“It’s because of the investment tax credit,” he said.

The commission voted 6-0 to approve the concept plan.

On Thursday the planning commission also approved plans for a 240 kW ground mounted solar energy system at 4629 Nassawango Rd. Applicants said the Sunrise Solar project would be significantly smaller than the Chaberton Energy project and would be used by the farm.

“This project is much much smaller, about one twentieth of the size,” the application said. “All the power stays on the property and is used totally by the farm.”

Resort Code Amendments Advance To Public Hearing

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Code amendments pertaining to off-street parking and habitable attic space will advance to a public hearing with the support of a resort commission.

Last week, Planning and Community Development Director Bill Neville presented the Ocean City Planning and Zoning Commission with two draft ordinances. One, he noted, would amend offstreet parking design standards, while the other would define and allow habitable attics.

“Commissioners, tonight we have two of the three potential code amendments that we discussed at the last meeting,” he said. “It took longer than expected to settle in and edit back and forth on what

we felt was the minimum necessary to move forward with the ideas you had on two topics.”

Last month, staff presented the commission with three code amendments involving residential parking spaces, habitable attics and building heights in designated flood zones.

Based on those discussions, Neville told officials last week that staff had drafted ordinances for the first two items.

“I’m just going to point out a few of the changes that are being proposed,” he said.

The first ordinance, Neville said, would amend off-street parking design standards in residential zones. As proposed, the change would raise the requirement from two-and-a-half parking spaces to three parking spaces for each three-bedroom multifamily unit or townhouse.

“That’s a change we may get comment on,” he said. “It was a concern that there wasn’t enough off-street parking being provided, and that’s where the idea of upping the standard came from.”

Neville said the ordinance would also require multifamily dwellings and townhouses to have one unenclosed parking space if more than two spaces are required.

“That was the goal of making sure that at least some parking for multi-family projects would in fact have guest parking, extra parking, available,” he said.

Neville told the commission the ordinance also included changes that addressed storage. In recent years, officials have argued the use of garage space for storage has necessitated more parking on the town’s public streets.

“If there’s only garage parking and no

extra unenclosed parking on a site, then there would be a requirement for minimum enclosed storage area that’s basically half the size of a parking space …,” he explained. “The intent is to get some criteria started to encourage designers of new projects to plan ahead for storage.”

Lastly, the ordinance would establish new minimum parking space dimensions for residential garages. For his part, Commissioner Palmer Gillis praised the changes, as it addressed his concerns about the lack of sufficient off-street parking.

“I think this is unbelievably awesome and I think it really goes a long way to address what I have seen and witnessed and photographed and talked about for a few years,” he said. “I think everything you’ve put in here is what I would suggest or hope to present to a public hearing.”

Commissioner Joel Brous, however, said he took issue with the new storage requirement, as it could result in more storage sheds being built on a property.

“I like the idea, the intent of it, but I’m not sure I’m crazy about it,” he said. After further discussion, the commission agreed to advance the changes to a public hearing.

Commission members last week also had before them an ordinance that would allow habitable attics throughout town.

Neville said the code amendment would permit habitable floor area above the maximum building height, so long as it doesn’t exceed more than 50% of the building’s upper floor footprint.

“And an additional 25% of the building’s upper floor footprint may be used for other non-habitable purposes such as bathroom closets, storage, utility space and an open, unenclosed deck,” he added.

Neville also told commission members the ordinance provided new definitions for attics, habitable attics and dormers and amended the definition for building height.

“It used to say [attics] shall not be used for living purposes,” he explained. “We’re changing the code so it will say attics may be used as a habitable attic, subject to applicable provisions of the code. So we are opening the door.”

Neville noted, however, that the use of attic space for living purposes would also require a change in off-street parking regulations.

“One additional space will be required for any additional loft or habitable attic,” he said.

After further discussion, the commission also agreed to send the second ordinance to a public hearing.

“I think it matches up with a lot of what we’ve seen come through and clarifies everything on the zoning side to match up with the building code,” Chair Joe Wilson said.

A hearing on both ordinances will be set for the commission’s first meeting in October.

Staff also agreed to start drafting an ordinance that would allow building height for structures located within flood zones to be measured from above ground level parking located beneath a structure.

Repaving, Design Work Eyed For Eagle’s Landing Golf Course

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – Resort officials last week agreed to an expenditure request of up to $200,000 for improvements at Eagle’s Landing Golf Course.

Last week, the Mayor and Council voted unanimously to authorize staff to spend up to $200,000 for improvements at Eagle’s Landing, including a repaving project at the course’s main parking lot and design work for renovations to the clubhouse. Recreation and Parks Director Susan Petito told officials the design work would allow for construction on the building’s kitchen and restrooms to commence in late 2023 or early 2024.

“To be clear, what we are asking for now is the funding to be able to do the design work for that project, with the hopes of being able to come back once that’s completed and ask for funding to move forward with that project,” she explained, “hopefully this year or the beginning of next year, during the wintertime.”

During last week’s presentation, Golf Manager Bob Croll told council members that $200,000 in golf course fund balance was needed for facility improvements. A portion of that money, he said, would be used to repave the Eagle’s Landing parking lot.

“The parking lot is the original parking lot from 1991,” he said. “It has cracks throughout with grass growing through the cracks. It’s something that needs to be done. It’s probably past time for that. We had it evaluated by public works, and they said it’s outlived its lifecycle. So that’s something we’d really like to do.”

As part of that project, Croll said crews would include a planting area to cover up a septic tank that had been installed before the facility connected to the county’s sewer system.

“It actually creates a bump in the parking lot, which is a hazard,” he said. “It would be a beautification thing too

for the area where people arrive to play golf.”

Another portion of the requested funds, Croll said, would be used for design work for the proposed clubhouse kitchen and restroom renovation. Officials noted the kitchen was too small and the clubhouse restrooms required a complete reorganization and renovation, which would allow space for storage.

“The clubhouse renovation is something that’s been talked about since my first day here in 2001,” Croll said. “We really didn’t have the money, and we had some tight budgets through the years, so we made do with what we had. It’s something that could really help our operations and improve storage space.”

Croll said plans call for building an addition to the east of the clubhouse, which will feature a new walk-in cooler, as well as an addition to the south. There, a new men’s restroom will be constructed to better serve patrons.

“The lady’s room would be renovated as well in the same place,” he added. “Then what would formerly be the men’s room will become a muchneeded storage area.”

In the kitchen, Croll said new appliances would be added. The project also includes plans for a new bar area.

“It would also include a bar area on the north side,” he said. “We’d turn that one little room into more of a hangout area for golfers afterwards.”

Petito also recognized the town’s engineering department, which worked with staff to develop a plan for the clubhouse.

“We want to thank the engineering department and Joe Santos,” she said. “He worked with the staff to really come up with a plan we thought was workable with the space we had within the clubhouse.”

After further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to approve up to $200,000 for improvements at Eagle’s Landing.

A group of 100 volunteers partnered with the Assateague Coastal Trust, Beach Heros-OC, Maryland Coastal Bays Program, Ocean City Surf Club, Go Green OC, Restore the Shore, Surfrider Foundation, and the Town of Ocean City through the Ocean City Green Team on a community beach cleanup last week. About 358 pounds of trash was collected from the beach, streets and bays. Submitted Photos

People in Society

by

Featuring Those Helping Causes In The Resort Area

Spirit Kitchen volunteers Cheryl Holland, Charlotte Powell and Linda Mitchell paused for a photo at Henry Park.

Berlin Fire Company’s David Fitzgerald is pictured with members of the Worcester County Fire Marshal’s Office at National Night Out.

Deputy Scott Nicholas and Sgt. Merle Bragg were among the numerous law enforcement officers at National Night Out.

Police Chief Arnold Downing is pictured with Robin Tomaselli at National Night Out.

Mayor Zack Tyndall and his wife Chelsea attended National Night Out at Henry Park.

Maryland State Police Trooper Cody Shubert and Jimmy Charles paused for a photo at National Night Out.

Kate Riley and Bernita Downing are pictured at the Berlin Police Department table at National Night Out.

The Town of Berlin’s Kate Daub and Jimmy Charles are pictured at Henry Park during National Night Out.

Councilmen Jack Orris and Jay Knerr are pictured with Matt Laick, center, at Henry Park.

Charlene Sharpe

Melissa Henderson and Jez King helped represent Buckingham Elementary at National Night Out.

OC Council Approves Beach Tennis Tourney

BY BETHANY HOOPER ASSOCIATE EDITOR

OCEAN CITY – A new beach tennis tournament will take place on the sand between 2nd and 4th streets this month.

Last week, Beach Tennis Maryland LLC representative Chip MacLeod came before the Mayor and Council with a request to hold an inaugural Beach Tennis Maryland Open, which will take place Aug. 1720 in Ocean City. While the tournament was originally scheduled to take place last year, it was ultimately canceled because of poor weather conditions.

“I’ve been looking forward to a chance to get in front of you to talk about beach tennis and what we’re trying to do here in Ocean City,” MacLeod told the council last week.

As proposed, the Beach Tennis Maryland Open will be held on the beach between 2nd and 4th Streets from 8 a.m. until dusk. Described as a hybrid of beach volleyball and tennis, with some influence of badminton, MacLeod said the sport has attracted registrants from other countries and territories, including Brazil, Japan, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Aruba.

“They’re going to come to Ocean City in a couple weeks to play beach tennis,” he said. “These are professionals.”

MacLeod said the Beach Tennis Maryland Open will also feature amateur divisions, in which people of all ages can play. He said the event will have 12 courts on the downtown beach.

“These are the size of volleyball courts, played on the same size and the nets are lower,” he said. “It’s easy to set up, and Ocean City is perfect for this.”

MacLeod said he had spent his formative years working in Ocean City, including at the town’s 60th Street tennis courts. He told the council he believed the Beach Tennis Maryland Open would bring a fun, family friendly sporting event to Ocean City.

“I feel like I’m here for a reason, to bring something fun,” he said. “It’s a diversion from everything else you all have been worried about.”

MacLeod told the council this week he was requesting the use of two portable bleachers, as well as promotional support from the town. He said he had also approached the beach stand vendors between 2nd and 4th streets.

“They are great guys,” he said. “They are very cooperative, and we won’t have issues there. In fact, I think we’ll be getting a discount for chairs and umbrellas before it’s all over.”

MacLeod also recognized town staff for their support. He said with the help of the town’s recreation and parks department, one sand court at 4th Street has already been designated as a beach tennis court.

“I want to thank especially your parks and rec department so far,” he said.

After further discussion, the council voted 7-0 to approve the Beach Tennis Maryland Open.

“Come out and watch this,” MacLeod told the council. “You are going to see what we mean. We’ll have many more of these, I predict, in Ocean City.”

‘Artists Paint OC’ Festival Returns This Weekend

OCEAN CITY –The Art League of Ocean City’s annual outdoor painting festival, “Artists Paint OC,” began this week and continues through the weekend, giving the public the opportunity to select from hundreds of just-created original landscape paintings of iconic coastal scenes.

The “Artists Paint OC” event is an annual art competition now in its 18th year. For five days, 50 artists compete for the top prizes of cash and prestige as they spread out across the area to paint famous vistas. These “plein air” artists are professionals; many are award winners in multiple competitions.

There are two opportunities to buy the original art. The public is invited to the “Wet Paint Sales” on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 5-7 p.m. and on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 1-3 p.m. Both sales are held at the waterfront Ocean City Center for the Arts, 502 94th St. bayside, and both are free to attend. Every painting is one-of-a-kind and ready to hang.

“If you’re looking for a permanent and unique memory of your time in Ocean City, this is an opportunity to find a treasure no one else but you will have,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League, said. “This event only happens once

a year, and our Arts Center is the only place you’ll find literally hundreds of original paintings to choose from.”

The “Wet Paint Sales” at the Arts Center are a chance to mix and mingle with the artists, and enjoy light refreshments, live music, and a cash bar. The juror for this year’s Artists Paint OC event is Laura Era, owner of Easton’s Troika Gallery and an award-winning painter herself. Era will jury the artwork and award the cash prizes to the winning artists. She has donated a custom-painted portrait for a raffle to benefit the nonprofit Art League. Raffle tickets are available at the Arts Center anytime as well as during the Wet Paint Sales.

A new addition to this year’s festival is the “Kids Paint OC” plein air competition. Youth ages 6 to 17 painted outdoors during the month of July, and their art will be on exhibit at the Arts Center on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 12-3 p.m. Judges Tamara Mills, David Simpson, and Sarah Hancock will select the winners and award $500 in cash prizes sponsored by the Worcester County Arts Council.

The easiest time and place to watch the artists paint is on the Boardwalk on Sunday morning, when they’re concentrat-

ed in the immediate area near South Division Street. The artists will be wearing grey shirts and have handouts available. In two hours, from 9-11 a.m., the artists race to complete a painting of an iconic Boardwalk scene, frame it, and run it to the Arts Center on 94th Street. Era will judge

the paintings, with cash prizes awarded by the Ocean City Development Corp. The art goes up for sale to the public at 1 p.m., while the paint is still wet.

The Artists Paint OC Festival awards $6,500 in cash prizes to the plein air artists

Jim Rehak of Seaford, Del. is pictured during last year’s plein air event.

Wilde Foundation continues atlantic General Hospital support

BERLIN – The Atlantic General Hospital Foundation recently received a generous donation of $25,000 from the Wilde Charitable Foundation to be used for the programs and services offered by the hospital and health system. The Wilde Charitable Foundation’s giving to Atlantic General Hospital now totals over $75,000.

“Hugh F. Wilde, Sr. started the Wilde Charitable Foundation to support organizations that greatly impact the communities they serve,” said Ryan Wilde. “We support and recognize the value of having a local hospital and health system in Worcester County. With our additional pledge, we hope to aid the hospital in continuing their vital work in the community, including their expansion of facilities, updating and replacing much needed equipment and adding state of the art practices and technology.”

The Wilde family has a long-standing history in Berlin and Ocean City and continues to operate commercial property in the Ocean City area.

Donations to Atlantic General Hospital and Health System assure the continued provision of a coordinated health care system with access to quality care, personalized service and education for the residents and visitors of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Accomack, and Sussex counties.

Pictured, from left, are Ryan Wilde; Cheryl Nottingham, AGH vice president of finance; Steve Green, AGH Foundation board chair; Steven Tyson, AGH donor relations officer; J.T. Wilde; and Dean Lewis, AGH Foundation board treasurer. Submitted

Venue Recognized

OCEAN PINES – The Ocean Pines Yacht Club has once again secured the prestigious title of “Best Wedding Venue” in Worcester County, as declared by the readers of Coastal Style magazine.

This marks the third time in four years that the Yacht Club has received such recognition from Coastal Style readers. Ocean Pines’ venues were also honored for four consecutive years, from 2015 to 2018.

The consistent recognition of excellence underscores the dedication of Ocean Pines to provide unmatched experiences for couples on their special day.

The Yacht Club features a spacious ballroom with draped ceilings, a private bar, bridal suite, and a stunning waterfront view of the Ocean City skyline, Katie Krynitsky, general manager of the Yacht Club, said.

“We are so humbled and honored to be recognized as the best wedding venue in Worcester County,” events manager Lia Isel said. “Our chef and staff truly enjoy creating fantastic food and atmosphere and providing great service for the perfect wedding day for each and every couple.”

“From all of us at Ocean Pines Yacht Club, thank you again!” Krynitsky added.

New Board Members

SELBYVILLE – Joshua M. Freeman Foundation recently announced the addition of three new members of its Board of Directors.

The Foundation, the nonprofit behind the Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville, welcomed Jeff Tribble, Dennis Diaz and Eli Modlin. Tribble, Diaz and Modlin join the established Board of Directors and act as fiduciaries to guide the Foundation and its mission toward sustainability while maintaining best practices in governance and financial management.

“I am delighted to have these incredible individuals join our Board of Directors. We know it takes widespread support, innovative thinking, and creativity to help build an arts movement,” said Michelle Freeman, chairwoman and president. “Collectively their experience and skills along with their passion for the arts, and personal mission to serve

BUSINESS And Real Estate News

others will make a direct impact on our organization, and our mission of advancing arts access for all.”

Tribble is the president and CEO of Levine Music, a 47-yearold music education institution with six campuses across Washington, D.C, Maryland, and Virginia. After graduating magna cum laude from Howard University, Tribble was accepted to The George Washington University Law School, where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2011. While in law school, he founded The MusicianShip, a nonprofit organization that facilitates music lessons, experiences, and opportunities to benefit those who need it most. He currently sits on the Board of Governors for The Recording Academy’s Washington D.C, Chapter, is an honorary trustee for the Washington National Opera, and is board co-chair for Equity Arc, a national organization that levels the playing for BIPOC classical musicians. Additionally, he is a member of Leadership Greater Washington’s Class of 2023.

Tribble said the nonprofit’s mission of advancing arts access for all resonated with him as someone who not only has professionally dedicated his life to arts education, but also as a beneficiary of arts education.

“Research demonstrates the positive impact the arts can have on people’s lives,” he said, adding everyone deserves access. “Beyond the many non-arts outcomes that come from exposure … art in and of itself is fun and a source of joy. As the world faces a myriad of challenges, we could all use an increased dose of joy!”

Diaz is an energetic and innovative entrepreneur passionate about helping people in underserved communities. He is the founder of SPYNR, a digital marketing company seeking to revolu-

tionize the way commercial laundromats operate in their communities, and currently serves as executive marketing director for EVI Industries. Diaz's dedication to the laundry sector has earned him a spot on both the National Board of Directors for the Coin Laundry Association and LaundryCares Foundation, affording him a unique opportunity to promote literacy in laundromats throughout America.

While Diaz serves on the boards of other nonprofit organizations, he felt his passion for service was incomplete without the addition of the arts. Growing up as a Puerto Rican child in the South Bronx, N.Y., he was immersed in the vibrant culture of music, he said.

“The arts, with their universal language, have the power to unite people from all walks of life,” he said. “(Freeman Arts) stands out as a beacon of inclusivity, going beyond the confines of its stage to bring the arts to those who may not otherwise have access. It is truly gratifying to know (it) allows so many individuals to explore the transformative power of the arts.”

Modlin is the chief of staff and vice president of Public Affairs & Strategic Initiatives of Salisbury University. He serves as deputy chief of staff and director of government and community relations since February 2017 and held the position in an interim capacity since December 2016. Prior to joining Salisbury University, Modlin served as the public affairs officer for the Comptroller of Maryland as well as the special liaison officer for the Comptroller in Baltimore City, Baltimore, Howard and Wicomico counties. Beyond the university, Modlin serves on

the Board of Leadership Maryland, a statewide leadership program that aligns public and private sector professionals to build a better Maryland. He also serves on the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a member of the National Folk Festival Executive Committee.

“The (Joshua M.) Freeman Foundation recognizes how the arts enrich our lives and build a sense of community,” he said, adding the passion of the organization and its Board is contagious. “A critical part of the mission is to break down the barriers to access so that young people, in particular, can experience various forms of art. I am excited to be a small part of such a wonderful organization.”

Leadership Program

REHOBOTH BEACH – Christopher

Parks, corporate chef for Highwater Management, recently completed the Transformative Dynamics Leadership Program.

Parks graduated with a culinary degree from the Restaurant School in Philadelphia in 2002 and has been working in the industry ever since. He spent twelve years in Washington, D.C., and New York City working under some celebrity chefs such as Tom Colicchio and Andrew Carmellini. Chris moved to Sussex County in 2014 and in 2022 was promoted to corporate chef for Highwater Management.

“Chris is the perfect example of a talented Chef who continues to invest in his career and his teams. Taking a full day to invest in your growth and development as a leader isn’t always easy to do and we are really proud he took this opportunity.” said Dan Levin, vice president of Highwater Management.

The leadership program is a 10month program that is meant to advance great leaders beyond what they already know.

Leaders are given tools and encouraged to experiment with new ways of thinking that foster growth, creativity and innovation both in their professional and personal lives. Leaders commit to creating, implementing and executing initiatives that maximize growth

JEFF TRIBBLE

CHRISTOPHER PARKS

DENNIS DIAZ

ELI MODLIN

... BUSINESS NEWS

and profitability through great leadership.

“The leadership program provided me with new skills that took my leadership to the next level. We learned different ways to process information that create a positive environment for our teams that encourages growth. I’ve enjoyed implementing these skills into my professional life, as well as my personal,” said Parks.

Grant Award

SALISBURY – Chesapeake Health Care (CHC), a leading nonprofit community healthcare organization serving Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, has announced the receipt of a two-year, $2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

This significant funding will support HRSA’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program, aimed at enhancing access to maternal and obstetrics care in rural areas.

The United States currently faces a maternal mortality rate that surpasses that of any other developed nation, with a rate more than double that of peer countries. CHC’s dedicated efforts will use these funds to implement innovative approaches, improve maternal health outcomes, and reduce disparities among patients at the highest risk. Alarmingly, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. Today’s announcement reinforces the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, a strategic plan targeting improved maternal health, especially in medically underserved communities.

Secretary Xavier Becerra of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated, “The BidenHarris Administration is taking significant steps to address our country’s maternal health crisis. This support for HRSA-funded health centers will help ensure healthier pregnancy and postpartum outcomes for all and help address health disparities among women of color and women in rural and medically underserved areas.”

In 2022, Chesapeake Health Care provided care for more than 3,000 expectant mothers and delivered more than 2,100 babies. Acknowledging the existing disparities in maternal health outcomes within the community, Brian Holland, CEO of Chesapeake Health Care, expressed gratitude for the grant, stating, “This funding will empower us to create innovative initiatives that cater to the unique needs of our maternal patients.”

One of the most important initiatives undertaken by CHC through this grant is the establishment of the Centering Pregnancy Program. This Centering Program revolutionizes the provision of

prenatal care and childbirth education for expectant women by replacing individual consultations with doctors or midwives with a group-based approach. Its primary objective is to promote the well-being of underprivileged women and their infants throughout the stages of pregnancy and postpartum. Notably, this innovative program marks the first time this transformative initiative will be introduced in our local region and stands as one of the first of its kind within the state of Maryland.

Additionally, CHC will be using a portion of the funds to develop its utilization of Community Health Workers (CHWs), who are integral members of the CHC staff. These CHWs, often referred to as “frontline public health workers,” possess an intimate understanding of the community they serve. Acting as liaisons between health and social services and the community, CHWs facilitate access to crucial services while enhancing the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.

Each week during the season the Freeman Arts Pavilion submits a photo of the week from the Selbyville, Del. venue. Above, nine-time Grammy Award winner Brandi Carlile played “A Very

4. Live music continues all summer long at the open-air outdoor venue located four miles from Ocean City.

15th Annual Peach Festival Brings Thousands To Berlin

FROM PAGE 30

tomers were visitors to town.

“The Taylor House Museum did an amazing job marketing and getting all those people here and we had great weather which helped,” she said. “We’ll definitely be a vendor again next year, we’ve just got to plant more flowers.”

Reid said being able to include nonprofit organizations and cottage businesses like Bay Street Blooms was one of the aspects of the Peach Festival organizers loved. She pointed out that the Great Maryland Recipe Hunt, a project to preserve the state’s culinary history, had collected more recipes at the Peach Festival than at any previous events elsewhere.

“The Peach Festival has become such an established event it’s given us the opportunity to provide a platform for other nonprofits,” Reid said.

She and other museum volunteers are already thinking about ways to expand on this year’s success in 2024.

“The 15th anniversary of the Peach Festival was definitely not ‘the pits,’” Councilman Jack Orris, who is also a museum board member, said. “Records were broken and goals were set — it was a great day for all of Berlin. We can’t thank the residents and visitors who came as well as our town businesses enough for making the festival a true community event.”

Organizers are grateful for the businesses that donated a portion of the day’s proceeds to the museum. They’re also appreciative of the variety of residents and visitors who attended the event and supported the museum and vendors selling merchandise. The Peach Festival is the museum’s largest fundraiser.

“It allows us to keep working on new exhibits and new programming,” Reid said.

She said the success of the festival also showed the volunteers behind the museum just how much the community appreciated the facility dedicated to preserving Berlin’s history.

“This shows us the community thinks we’re worth supporting,” Reid said.

Above left, Participants in the youth peach cupcake eating contest are pictured listening to instructions. Above right, the grounds of the Taylor House Museum are pictured during the 15th Annual Berlin Peach Festival. Photos by Steve Green

What To Know About Jellyfish, How To Treat A Sting

BY DAMIEN SANZOTTI SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH

OCEAN CITY – Shark Week returned to the Discovery Channel on July 23 and several additional weeks on other networks. While the show is highly informational, it is also quite sensationalized and does a tremendous job of frightening the public to the point where shark sightings (which are actually dolphin, skate and dead horseshoe crab sightings), really seem to rise around Ocean City. However, after working for the beach patrol for 20 years I do know of one menacing ocean creature that can cause problems for our vacationers, the jellyfish.

The number of jellyfish in the water this summer has not been an issue, and we have only had a few reports in the past

several weeks but no severe reactions.

In reality, shark attacks are highly unlikely; statistically speaking there is an array of accidents that are much more likely than a shark attack, such as being hit by a flying beach umbrella (although this is also a very rare occurrence), being struck by lightning or suffocating in a sand hole. A jellyfish sting is more likely to happen than any of these incidents. People will show some discomfort after being stung by jellyfish. I myself was just stung last summer and the mark on my arm from the sting was present for about a week. The type of jelly that we typically see in this area is known as the sea nettle.

The sea nettle jellyfish is saucer-shaped with brown or red pigment and usually 6-12 inches in diameter. Long tentacles hang from the bell shape of the jellyfish and can

extend several feet. These long tentacles can have thousands of nematocysts or stinging cells that act like harpoons and fire into the victim. This all sounds quite scary, but the fact is that the sting from a sea nettle or any other jellyfish encountered in Ocean City is generally harmless. There are about four different species in Maryland that can sting. There are also several species that cannot sting. The sea nettle is the most prevalent of the stinging jellyfish. While causing moderate to severe discomfort, the pain and irritation will generally go away in about 15-30 minutes. There is a slight chance that a person can have a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic reaction

similar to the reaction some people have to a bee sting, which requires immediate medical treatment, but this is very rare.

Sea nettles are native to these waters meaning that stings are inevitable. One of the most frequent questions that beach lifeguards get is, “When do the jellyfish come?” This is actually a rather difficult question to answer, however there are some scientific variables that do play a role. Two of the most crucial pieces to this puzzle are water temperature and level of salinity. Warmer water increases the likelihood of a jellyfish invasion, which is why we typically see more of them in the latter part of the summer, although this summer the water temperature has been much warmer than usual.

The salinity (saltiness) of the water is affected by the amount of rain and freshwater runoff that occurs. If the water has a high salt content caused by little fresh water mixing with the salt water, or it has a lower than normal salinity caused by large amounts of fresh water runoff mixing then the jellyfish population will be lower than normal. Jellyfish thrive when the salinity is in a normal range and the other factors are conducive (water temperature, wave action and wind direction). Jellyfish also rely on the ocean currents to move them around, so just because another beach has a high number of jellyfish it does not indicate that they will be coming to Ocean City. Considering the prevention of being stung, the best thing one could do is stay out of the water. But that’s not really fun, is it? One could also wear a rash guard, wetsuit or shirt while the jellyfish population is high. The sting of a sea nettle is typically not potent enough to go through clothing. The sting is even not strong enough to pierce tougher skin on the body. That is why we almost rarely see a sting on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Swimmers can also do what many lifeguards, surfers and I do. Just deal with it and realize the sting is not so bad and will probably go away in a short amount of time. In a recent nine-mile ocean swim competition we had no reports of anyone encountering any jellyfish.

By this point everyone is thinking, “What is the best medicine if I am stung?” I have literally heard the entire spectrum of responses over the years, including vinegar, baking soda, meat tenderizer, sand, urine (popularized on the TV show “Friends”), etc. I typically tell people, “time” is the best medicine. Removal of the sting cell or when the cell dies off is when the pain will be alleviated. Our lifeguards do typically carry a “sting-kill” wipe in their medical kits that will help to alleviate some of the pain. The only home remedy that is generally considered effective is vinegar. If you feel that you have been stung, please seek assistance from our surf rescue technicians. As always, remember to “Keep your feet in the sand until the lifeguard’s in the stand.” As added protection for you and your friends, always locate the nearest stand with a guard and swim on that beach.

(The writer has been with the beach patrol for 19 years and is currently a sergeant. He is a physical education teacher for the Worcester County Public School system.)

DAMIEN SANZOTTI

with Scott Lenox

Greetings all and welcome to the busiest fishing month of the entire year. As I’m writing this on Monday morning, the 50th Anniversary of the White Marlin Open is just getting started and it is going to be a good one. Exactly 400 boats are fishing this week for a world record purse of over $10.3 million. As you’re reading this on Friday, boats are finishing up with their final day of fishing and we are going to find out just who wins all that money. I’ll have all of the big winners right here next week. Offshore fishing has picked up slightly thanks to the arrival of some marlin over the past week or so. There have been some good catches of white marlin with a few blue marlin and sailfish mixed in and offshore anglers are enjoying it.

The first ever Marlins for Mason Tournament was held this past weekend and the winning boat had 10 white marlin releases for their day of fishing. The big winner however was the Dravet Syndrome Foundation who will receive over $300,000 thanks to tournament directors and generous participants and donors. Awesome stuff.

Ocean bottom fishing is about the same this week with slow sea bass fishing and good flounder fishing. The sea bass that are being caught are usually of

pretty good quality, but the bite can be picky at best some trips. Flounder fishing over ocean structure can be very productive right now if you know what you’re doing with some of the largest fish in the seven and eight pound range. Captain Kane Bounds of the Fish Bound is limiting his customers out on his 8 hour flounder trips and he’s seen several fish close to or over 7 pounds. Back bay flounder fishing has been pretty good the past week, but you definitely have to fish the high tide. Rain and wind over the past few weeks have caused bay water to be dirty on the low tide so fishing clean water on the last part of incoming water is crucial. There are plenty of throwback sized fish under the 16” minimum being caught on Gulp, Otter Tails and live minnows, but the larger fish are being caught on live spot, bunker and mullet.

The busy fishing month continues next week with the Poor Girls Open at Bahia Marina and Fish Tales in Ocean City. Scales action will take place Aug. 1719 from 5 until 9 p.m. at Bahia Marina on 22nd Street in town. I’ll be the emcee for the Poor Girls Open and the Hooked on OC crew and I will be bringing it to you live all three days. Until next week, tight lines.

SEE PAGES 54-55

The crew of the Wrecker with Captain Bobby Layton had a great day with a nice yellowfin tuna, some mahi and some tilefish. Submitted Photos

(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.)

Above top left, it was a thumbs up and a limit of flounder for this lucky angler on board the Angler with Captain Chris Mizurak. Above left, the crew of the private boat Gypsy Danger caught this big 200-pound bigeye last week. Above top right, top honors and top money in the OP Flounder Tournament went to Ty Hubicki with his 24.25”, 5.04-pound flounder. Above right, middle, Captain Kane Bounds of the Fish Bound has been putting just about every flounder charter on a limit of fish recently. Above right, bottom, Louden Swain caught his personal best flounder of 6.4 pounds fishing over ocean structure with his dad Randy. Opposite page, top left, John Wittmyer of Crabs to Go caught and released this nice 35” rockfish with Big Bird Cropper. Opposite page, top right, Mark Debinski of Bluewater Advisory did some deep dropping this week and landed a beautiful red belly rosefish. Opposite page, middle left, this doormat flounder ended up in the net of Chasin’ Tides with Captain Chase Eberle. Opposite page, middle right, Captain Alex Beane of the Boss Hogg put this group on a huge 65-pound bull mahi. Opposite page, bottom left, this stud sea bass came over the rail of the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins. Opposite page, bottom right, Chase Neumayer caught a 21.75” flounder that weighed 3.92 pounds and won first place junior angler in the OP Flounder Tournament.

COMMUNITY News In Photos

For years Tom Wengert has been known as the commandant of Ocean City American Legion Post 166. Now he has taken on an additional title and responsibility. He has been sworn in as the Compliance Officer of the Marine Corps League’s First State Detachment. Wengert is pictured taking the oath

Dr. Clara Small, a professor of history for 36 years at Salisbury University, and Barbara Purnell, president of the Germantown School Community Heritage Center, recently spoke to the members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ocean PinesOcean City. Pictured from left to right are Kiwanis Club President Bob Wolfing, Purnell, Small and Lynne McAllorum, the club’s speakers chair.

Thrasher's French Fries is a sponsor of the Art League of Ocean City's annual "Artists Paint OC" Plein Air Festival that runs Aug. 9-13 in the resort and beyond. Shown are festival chairperson Laura Jenkins, Thrasher's General Manager Les Morris, and Art League Executive Director Rina Thaler.

The Kiwanis Crew is pictured at National Night Out in Ocean Pines on Aug. 1. From left to right are Kiwanians Dave Landis, Mark Page, Bob Wolfing, Sue Wineke, Kitty Wrench, Tim Hill and Mike Castoro. Submitted Photos

of office from Al Soto.

A $500 donation from American Legion Post 166 in Ocean City was presented by Donation Committee Chair Bo Spicer, left, and Post Treasurer George Barstis, right, to Ocean Pines Players President Frank Pasqualino, center, on July 26 prior to the post’s monthly meeting.

The Ocean City Lions Club awarded four scholarships this school year. Pictured from left to right are scholarship chair Lion Sean Williams with recipients Marian Hanna and Katie Pizlo. Not pictured are recipients Ashley Carcamo-Diaz and Sophia Krasner.

Blessing Scenes: The 23rd Annual Snow Hill Blessing of the Combines was held last Saturday to celebrate the agricultural roots of the town and surrounding area. Pictured are scenes from the parade to Green Street. Submitted Photos

Chris Parypa’s Photo Of The Week: Each week staff photographer Chris Parypa is tasked with submitting a photo from his vast library to be featured in this space. Above is a dusk scene from the Boardwalk taken June 2020. To purchase any of Parypa’s photos, click over to www.chrisparypa.com.

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PROGRAMS

Monday: History of our Surfmen

Tuesday: Beach Safety (OC Beach Patrol)

Wednesday: Knot Tying (Coast Guard)

Thursday: All About Sharks

Friday: Land, Sky, & Sea

Saturday: Aquarium Feeding

Daily Aquarium Feeding

Through August 31, 2023 At 11:30 a.m.

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (March 21 to April 19): Mars, your ruling planet, helps you deal with career challenges in a way that reflects some of your own hidden strengths. This impresses some important decision-makers.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): Your strong Bovine will, combined with your romantic nature (you are ruled by Venus), helps turn a romance with a potential for problems into one with more positive possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Mercury's influence creates some unsettling moments, but nothing that you can't live with. You'll soon learn more about a major change that is about to be revealed.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Opportunities for you are like the phases of the Moon – constantly appearing and reappearing. So, cheer up. The opportunity you thought slipped by will be replaced by another.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22): An opportunity that you hoped would open up for you remains closed. Stop wasting time scratching at it. Something else you'll like will soon make itself apparent and accessible.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22): Congratulations. You'll soon hear some positive feedback for all of the hard work you recently put into a project. Meanwhile, a Pisces could soon swim into your personal life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22): Someone whose friendship you felt you had to write off will try to revive it. What you

do is up to you, but don't do it without giving it considerable thought.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21): A job-related plan might need to be reworked to allow for changes. Lucky for you, there's strong planetary influences that can help you focus on getting it done right.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21): This is a good time to move into areas of self-discovery. You might be surprised about who you really are and how you really relate to those around you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19): Expect to confront someone who will make an unwelcome request. Stand by your resolve to do the right thing, no matter what "persuasion" might be offered.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18): A friendly competition could become more contentious than you expected. Take time out to discuss the reasons behind this unexpected change and act accordingly.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20): You have a wonderful mind for solving mysteries, so you should feel confident about solving the one that develops very close to you. An unlikely source offers help.

BORN THIS WEEK: You're a great host or hostess. You love being with people, and you're very good about planning all sorts of social events that bring folks together.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Things I Like...

By Steve Green

Funny

CITY

St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church has occupied the northeast corner of 3rd Street and Baltimore Avenue for over 120 years. The first service in the historic building was held on June 7, 1901.

The earliest Episcopal service in Ocean City was held in the former Congress Hall Hotel in the summer of 1878 and a small chapel was built on Philadelphia Avenue near today’s Inlet three years later. Following the gift of two lots on 3rd Street by Washington, DC resident John Waggaman in 1898, the cornerstone of the existing church was laid on June 6, 1900.

The wood-shingled Gothic Revival church has survived innumerable hurricane and Nor’easters including the famous March Storm of 1962. A tragic fire in 2013 damaged the attached rectory and claimed the life of the rector, the Rev. David Dingwall. A quick response by the Ocean City Fire Department saved the church and its beautiful stain glass windows.

The church today remains one of the most historic buildings in downtown Ocean City.

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

PT CHURCH ORGANIST/ PIANIST: Fenwick Island. For information, call 302-537-1402.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: GlenRiddle Community FT, M – F 8:30am – 5:00pm. Send Res. to: tmacintosh@legumnorman.com

PT COOK: Ocean City Elks Lodge. Seeking PT Cook. Contact Bernie Huster, 410-627-1144.

PT MAINTENANCE TECH: GlenRiddle Community. 3 days a week Great Team Environment. tmacintosh@legumnorman.com

CLEANERS/VACATION

RENTALS: Needed for Ocean City and Ocean Pines. Experience preferred but not necessary. Text or call 443-397-1189.

HYGIENIST/ASSISTANT

Friendly boutique dental practice, with great patients, looking for a PART TIME HYGIENIST and a PT/FT DENTAL ASSISTANT

Please send resume to dentistryinthepines@gmail.com

RENTALS

RENT W/OPTION TO BUY: 5BR, 3 1/2BA. 2 Decks. 3 car garage. Fenced yard. Updated. West OC. Avail. 9/1. $5,000 per mo. YR. No Pets. 443-521-3202.

CAREGIVER

CAREGIVER IN YOUR HOME: Honest, dependable, trustworthy & compassionate care. Hospital & home health exp. Exc. Ref.’s Call Debbie Bell 302-339-7162.

TRAVEL/SALE

• FULL TIME COOK ( Experience Required )

•PART TIME CLEANING HELP

Flexible schedule, clean kitchen, new equipment. Weekly pay checks. Friendly work environment. If interested apply in person. Open daily 12:00 p.m. American Legion Post #166, 2308 Philadelphia Avenue, OC, MD

WEST O.C. OFFICE/RETAIL SPACES AVAILABLE: 1 Office or Retail Space for Lease. 1,656. Sq. feet. Plenty of Parking. 443-4974200.

INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE

SPACE: 2,100 Sq. Ft., 1,500 Sq. Ft., and 1,867 Sq. Ft. Masonry construction. 18’ high ceilings, large garage door & bathroom. Rt. 90/Bishopville. Call 443-497-4200.

COMMERCIAL SERVICES

CLEANING SERVICE: We clean homes & offices at very reasonable rates and leave you spotless, unlike other cleaning services that charge you an arm and a leg and you still have to clean behind them when they are gone! Try Us Out! Give us a call, I guarantee we will leave you with a smile! 908-266-9112.

AMTRAK TRAVEL VOUCHER : Original purchase price $501. Ok to transfer. Unable to travel. Price may be nego. $450. Call 443-235-4337.

YARD SALE

RIVER RUN COMMUNITY YARD SALE: Sat, 8/12 (rain/shine) 7am-11am. Off 589 Racetrack Rd. Turn at Beauchamp, .8 mile River Run on your left.

Another clay pot Pushed out of the waste of time Back into Love’s kiln!

Check Here First!

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Close to Rts 113 & 50. Located on Rt. 610 Fiber Optic Internet available on property to work from home. Minutes to Everything, Yet Secluded!

The Dispatch Legal Notices

LEGAL RATES

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

Third Insertion

JAMES A. LIST, ESQ.

THE LAW OFFICES OF JAMES A. LIST

5700 COASTAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 100 OCEAN CITY, MD 21842

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE 19827

To all persons interested in the estate of FRANCES

SUZANNE VAN DER VALK, Estate No. 19827. Notice is given that H.G. UBBO VAN DER VALK, 616 OSPREY ROAD, UNIT A, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on JULY 20, 2023, appointed

Personal Representative of the estate of FRANCES SUZANNE VAN DER VALK who died on MAY 3, 2023, 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 20TH day of JANUARY, 2024.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

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

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch

JULY 28, 2023

H.G. UBBO VAN DER VALK

Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102

COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

3x 7-28, 8-4, 8-11

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR WORCESTER COUNTY

STATE OF MARYLAND CASE N0. C-23-CV-22-000005

BAY CLUB TIME-SHARE OWNERS ASSOCIATES, INC. P.O. Box 3307 Ocean City, Maryland 21842-3307

Plaintiff v. SANDRA M. ANDERSONBROWN, et al Defendants

NOTICE

ORDERED, by the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland this 19th day of JULY, that the foreclosure sale of the properties mentioned in these proceedings, made and reported by Ayrika Fletcher, Trustee, be RATIFIED AND CONFIRMED, unless cause to the contrary thereof be shown on or before the 21st day of August, 2023, provided a copy of this Order be inserted in some daily newspaper printed in Worcester County, Maryland once in each of three successive weeks, before the 14th day of August, 2023

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

BC=BAY CLUB TIME SHARE OWNERSASSOCIATES, INC.

DBC=DELMARVA BEACH CLUB, LLC

Worcester County, MD 3x , 7-28, 8-4, 8-11

PHILIP C. WIDDOWSON ESQ.

PHILIP C. WIDDOWSON, P.A.

11791 SOMERSET AVENUE PRINCESS ANNE, MD 21853

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE 19826

To all persons interested in the estate of ALMA B BAYLIS, Estate No. 19826. Notice is given that VERNON BROOKS BAYLIS III whose address is 2652 STOCKTON ROAD POCOMOKE CITY, MD 21851, was on JULY 19, 2023, appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ALMA B BAYLIS who died on MAY 30, 2023, 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 19TH day of JANUARY, 2024.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

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

VERNON BROOKS BAYLIS, III

Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 8-4, 8-11, 8-18

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

August 4, 2023

dersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

SUSAN R. BRANIECKI Clerk of the Circuit Court for

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 19839

To all persons interested in the estate of JO ANN C ROSELLINI Estate No. 19839

Notice is given that KIMBERLY A COFFEY whose address is 5331 KENWOOD AVENUE BALTIMORE, MD 21206 and RITA M MORSBERGER whose address is 2896 HUNT VALLEY DRIVE GLENWOOD, MD 21738 were on AUGUST 02, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JO ANN C ROSELLINI who died on JUNE 25, 2023 with a will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney.

All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 2nd day of FEBRUARY, 2024.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

KIMBERLY A. COFFEY RITA M. MORSBERGER Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 8-11, 8-18, 8-25

(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 August 11, 2023

MARJORIE M. HARMS

JOHN B. ROBINS, IV, ESQ. ROBINS & ROBINS, PA 128 EAST MAIN STREET PO BOX 506 SALISBURY, MD 218030506

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE 19840

To all persons interested in the estate of GLENN A. MUMBAUER, AKA: GLENN ARTHUR MUMBAUER, Estate No. 19840 Notice is given that MARJORIE M. HARMS, whose address is 6401 ATLANTIC AVENUE UNIT 106, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on AUGUST 02, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of GLENN A. MUMBAUER, who died on JULY 19, 2023 with a will.

Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074 3x 8-11, 8-18, 8-25

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN

HEIRS ESTATE 19841

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication AUGUST 4, 2023

(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

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney. All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent's will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 2ND day of FEBRUARY, 2024. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the un-

To all persons interested in the estate of MELISSA DENISE FEHRER, Estate No. 19841. Notice is given that DAMIEN C. FEHRER, whose address is 188 FARMVILLE LAKE ROAD, FARMVILLE, VA 23901, was on AUGUST 03, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MELISSA DENISE FEHRER, who died on JUNE 16, 2023 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

The Dispatch Legal Notices

LEGAL RATES

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

Register of Wills on or before the 3RD day of FEBRUARY, 2024.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

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

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch

Date of Publication August 11, 2023

DAMIEN C. FEHRER

Personal Representative True Test Copy

TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County

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

3x 8-11, 8-18, 8-25

PHILIP C. WIDDOWSON ESQ.

PHILIP C. WIDDOWSON, P.A.

11791 SOMERSET AVENUE

PRINCESS ANNE, MD 21853

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS ESTATE 19838

To all persons interested in the estate of RUTH S. WIDDOWSON, Estate No. 19838. Notice is given that JEAN W. MAHEW, whose address is 10 DOGWOOD PLACE, BERLIN, MD 21811, was on AUGUST 07, 2023 appointed Personal Representative of

the estate of RUTH S. WIDDOWSON, who died on JULY 11, 2023 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 7th day of FEBRUARY, 2024.

Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

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

Name of Newspaper: Maryland Coast Dispatch Date of Publication August 11, 2023

JEAN W. MAHEW Personal Representative True Test Copy TERRI WESTCOTT, Register of Wills for Worcester County ONE W MARKET STREET ROOM 102 COURT HOUSE SNOW HILL, MD 21863-1074

CRAIGHEAD, Estate No. 19783. Notice is given that FRANCES CRAIGHEAD, whose address is 511 HARBOUR DRIVE, OCEAN CITY, MD 21842, was on AUGUST 02, 2023 appointed personal representative(s) of the small estate of JENNIFER CRAIGHEAD, who died on APRIL 26, 2023 without a will.

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

All persons having any objection to the appointment shall file their objections with the Register of Wills within 30 days after the date of publication of this Notice.

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

All persons having claims against the decedent must serve their claims on the undersigned personal representative or file them with the Register of Wills with a

copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates:

Six months from the date of the decedent's death; or

(2) Thirty days after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claims will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within thirty days from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. Any claim not served or filed within that time, or any extension provided by law,

To all persons interested in the estate of JENNIFER

‘Don’t Smoke, Don’t Drink, But Dance All You Want … Be Yourself’

OCEAN PINES – Ocean Pines resident Vivian Mumford celebrated a huge milestone on Friday, when she turned 101.

Mumford was born on Aug. 4, 1922, on a farm in a town called “Friendship” that today is known as Pittsville.

She said the farm grew various crops and had one cow and a few chickens. She remembers picking strawberries.

“I loved it because I didn’t have to work on it!” she said.

Mumford went to high school in her hometown, where she was an honor stu-

dent and was crowned May queen her senior year. She earned a partial scholarship to attend college, but said the family at the time couldn’t afford the rest of tuition.

“Instead, I worked at Woolworth's dime store. That was my first job,” she

said. “And then I worked at JCPenney's and Benjamin’s. I worked all over the place.”

Mumford did everything from running the jewelry counter, to serving as a buyer for a sporting department.

Her eyes lit up when asked about meeting her late husband, Jack.

“You know, we met in Ocean City, at the Pier Club,” she said. “I was there with some friends that I worked with, and I was dancing with another fella and he cut in,” Mumford said. “I found out later he worked in the dime store across from Woolworth’s called McCrory’s.”

Jack was drafted into the Army during World War II. After basic training he returned home, and the couple were married.

Around 1942, he was discharged and went to work for the electric company, then called Eastern Shore Public Service. Today, it’s Delmarva Power.

“He was a linesman when he first started, and he climbed poles,” Mumford said. “He put those spikes on his legs and climbed up those poles – they don’t do that now! They have a truck with a bucket.”

The couple had four children: Susan, Jay, Cynthia and Mike. She said Mike is the youngest and was born on her 46th birthday. Susan is the oldest.

“I have four children and four grandchildren – and I might have four great grandchildren,” Mumford said, pausing to count them off by name.

The family lived on Truitt Street in Salisbury for 38 years, and later nearby on Beaglin Park Drive.

Jack suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and passed away at Deer’s Head Hospital in Salisbury in 2006.

Mumford, on doctor’s orders not to drive any more, moved into the Gull Creek senior care facility in Berlin about eight years ago, at age 93.

Her daughter, Susan Blanton, often “ran back and forth” from Ocean Pines to help care for her.

“I lived there for four-and-half years, and then Susan said would it just be easier if you came and lived with me?” Mumford said.

That was four years ago in 2019, when Mumford moved in with Blanton on Ivanhoe Court in Ocean Pines.

Blanton said it was good timing, with the pandemic coming a year later and cutting off access to senior centers.

She said her mom was strict growing up.

“You didn’t mess with mother,” she said.

“But I always stuck up for you!” Mumford added. “She was seven months old before [her father] ever saw her,” because of his service.

Mumford said her children helped out with small chores, like doing dishes and clearing the table.

“She didn’t make us do too much around the house, because we couldn’t do it to suit her,” Blanton said with a laugh. “But everyone always thought my mother was the nicest and the prettiest.”

Now, Blanton is the caretaker for her

SEE PAGE 66

FROM PAGE 64

mother – when she’ll let her be.

“She can still take care of herself. She does her own laundry and makes the bed. She does let me cook, because she can’t really remember recipes,” Blanton said.

“She doesn’t want me to turn the stove on, that’s what it is!” Mumford added. “But she does the cooking and I eat it –whatever it is.”

Mumford said she enjoys being in Ocean Pines with her daughter.

“I’ve got my own bedroom, and there’s a sitting room and I read a lot,” she said. “I’ve read the same books over and over again.”

They also take frequent trips to the local library.

“I like books that were written back in the time when there were dukes and princes and things like that, like ‘Gone with the Wind.’ And I've read a lot of Nicholas Sparks books,” Mumford said.

One Sparks series that she’s read many times frustrates her to no end.

“He wrote these two books [in a series] and this guy was so much in love with this girl, and then she died. If you want to read a book about how somebody mourned, that will really hurt you,” Mumford said. “I said I’d never read another one of his books. He killed that girl. But anyway, I have read many more of them.”

The most recent, she said, was “The Last Song.”

She’s also read “With Every Breath I Take” by Celia Martin at least three times.

“Every time, you find something different,” she said.

Mumford celebrated her birthday on Friday at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club with family and friends.

She said the milestone “just means I’m getting older.”

Asked for words of wisdom on living to 101, Mumford said, “don’t smoke, don’t drink, but dance all you want.”

“Just be yourself,” she said. “And be honest.”

Vivian Mumford turned 101 years old last Friday. Submitted Photo

Who’s Where When

BUXY’S/DRY DOCK 28

410-289-BUXY

28th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Saturday, Aug. 12: Uprizing

CAPTAIN’S TABLE

410-289-7192

15th & Boardwalk

In The Courtyard Marriott

Fridays: Phil Perdue on Piano

COCONUTS BEACH BAR & GRILL

410-289-6846

37th & 38th St. Oceanside at Castle In The Sand Hotel

Friday, Aug. 11: Darin Engh, Colossal Fossil Sauce

Saturday, Aug. 12: The Everafter, The Bills

Sunday, Aug. 13: Hurricane Kevin, The Lauren Glick Band

Monday, Aug. 14: Nate Clendenen, Remy & Lyons

Tuesday, Aug. 15: Ben Davis, Homeskool Dropouts

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Jack Bannon, Chris Diller Duo

Thursday, Aug. 17: Josh Pryor Duo, On The Edge

COINS PUB

410-289-3100

28th St. Plaza On Coastal Hwy.

Friday, Aug. 11: Beach Bandits

Saturday, Aug. 12: Jim Long & OHO

Wednesdays: DJ Wax

CORK BAR

Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.

Saturday, Aug. 12: Calebfolks

Sunday, Aug. 13: Danny & Brian

CRABCAKE FACTORY BAYSIDE

302-988-5000

37314 Lighthouse Rd., Rte. 54 Selbyville, DE

Sunday, Aug. 13: Rick & Regina

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Jack & T Lutz

CRAWL STREET TAVERN

443-373-2756

Wicomico St., Downtown O.C.

Friday, Aug. 11: Tyler Greene & Friends

Saturday, Aug. 12: Risky Business

Sunday, Aug. 13: DJ Wax

FAGER’S ISLAND

410-524-5500

60th St. In The Bay

Friday, Aug. 11: DJ RobCee, The Heat & The Cold Sweat Horns, In Too Deep

Saturday, Aug. 12: DJ Groove, The Heat & The Cold Sweat Horns, The Loop

Sunday, Aug. 13:

DJ Andrew Hugh, 70’s Flashback

Monday, Aug. 14: DJ Smooth,

70’s Flashback, HydraFX

Tuesday, Aug. 15: DJ RobCee,

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Latin Night w/DJ Patana

Thursday, Aug. 17: DJ Groove

FISHTALES

410-289-0990

22nd St. & Bay

Friday, Aug. 11: Conair

Saturday, Aug. 12: Hook

TURTLE WEST 410-213-1500 Rt. 611, West O.C.

Saturday, Aug. 12: TBA

Best Beats On The Beach

Who’s Where When

HARBORSIDE

410-213-1846

South Harbor Rd., West O.C.

Friday, Aug. 11: DJ Bigler

Saturday, Aug. 12:

Rogue Citizens, DJ Bigler

Sunday, Aug. 13:

Opposite Directions

Thursday, Aug. 17: Dust N Bones Duo

PICKLES PUB

410-289-4891

8th St. & Philadelphia Ave.

Fridays: Beats By Deogee

Saturday, Aug. 12: Rogue Citizens

Sunday, Aug. 13: Beats By Deogee

Mondays: Karaoke w/Wood

Tuesdays: Beats By Wax

Wednesdays: Beats By Deogee

Thursdays: Beats By Wax

PIER 23

410-289-3323

12817 Harbor Rd. West O.C.

Friday, Aug. 11: Cool Change

Saturday, Aug. 12: Kevin Poole, Rick & Regina

Sunday, Aug. 13: Bryan Russo, Low Tide Lovers

Monday, Aug. 14: Carley Twigg

Tuesday, Aug. 15: Full Circle Duo

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Cup Of Joe

Thursday, Aug. 17: Shortcut Sunny

PURPLE MOOSE SALOON

410-289-6953

Between Caroline & Talbot Sts. On The Boards

Friday & Saturday, Aug. 11 & 12

Tripwire

Sunday & Monday, Aug. 13 & 14: SLAMM

Tuesdays: DJ Madame Dutchess

Wednesdays: DJ Papi Roisterous

SEACRETS

410-524-4900

49th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Friday, Aug. 11: DJ Tuff, DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, Full Circle, Jah Works, Kono Nation

Saturday, Aug. 12: DJ Bobby O, DJ Cruz, DJ Tuff, Kono Nation, Jah Works, Cellar Sessions, Kristen & The Noise

Sunday, Aug. 13: DJ Davie, DJ Connair, DJ Bobby O, DJ Tuff, Triple Rail Turn, The Burnsiders, Amish Outlaws

Monday, Aug. 14: DJ Davie, DJ Bobby O, DJ Tuff, Blake Haley, The Burnsiders, Turning The Tide

Tuesday, Aug. 15: DJ Davie, DJ Bobby O, DJ Tuff, Opposite Directions, Zion Reggae, Cherry Crush Band

Wednesday, Aug. 16: DJ Davie, DJ Bobby O, DJ Connair, Full Circle Duo, STORM, Kono Nation

Thursday, Aug. 17: DJ Davie, DJ Cruz, DJ Bobby O, John McNutt Band, STORM, Go Go Gadjet

THE ORIGINAL GREENE TURTLE

410-723-2120

116th St. & Coastal Hwy.

Friday, Aug. 11: DJ Magellan

Saturday, Aug. 12: DJ Cuban Fire

Things To Do

Aug. 11: Artists Reception

Worcester County Arts Council in Berlin will host 5-7 p.m. three featured artists, Brigitte Bowden, Dee Brua, and Robert Johnson. Enjoy the artwork created by students attending the 2023 Summer Arts Camp while enjoying complimentary refreshments.

Aug. 12: Anglers Club Meeting

The Ocean Pines Anglers Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Ocean Pines Library. The speaker will be charter boat Captain Bill Duncan who has been plying Ocean City waters for over 30 years and seen and experienced it all aboard his Islander and Islander II. Also updates on fishing regulations and planned fishing trips. All welcome.

Aug. 13-17: Chamber Music By Sea Chamber Music by the Sea festival will present its eighth season with new treats in store. The 2023 festival, which runs from August 13-19, welcomes some of the world’s most acclaimed young musicians and branches out to new venues in both Berlin and Snow Hill. Additionally, this year’s festival welcomes the public for a behind-the-scenes peek at how the musical magic is made.

The 2023 festival schedule includes:

Sunday, Aug. 13, 3 p.m.: ticketed salon concert and reception at a private Snow Hill home (seating limited).

Monday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m.: open-air rehearsal on South Point.

Tuesday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m.: ticketed salon concert and reception at Bishop’s Stock Gallery, Snow Hill (seating limited).

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.: ticketed concert and reception at Temple Bat Yam, Berlin.

Thursday, August 17, 10:30 a.m.: Free family concert at the Berlin Public Library. Student workshop (open to the public) to follow at noon at the Berlin Public Library.

Thursday, Aug. 17, 7 p.m.: ticketed concert at the Atlantic Hotel, Berlin.

Friday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m: ticketed concert at All Hallows Episcopal Church, Snow Hill.

Saturday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m.: free open-air informal performance on the lawn of the Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, Berlin. Events benefit the Worcester County Education Foundation. Tickets at chambermusicbythesea.com.

Aug. 14-15: Auditions

Ocean Pines Players will hold auditions for two shows from 6-8 p.m. both days at the Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Pkwy., Ocean Pines. No appointment needed. First show Petticoat Regime, seeking four females and one male, cold read from the script. To be performed Oct. 7 on the Boardwalk. Second show: The British Invasion, seeking sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. Must be able to read music. Bring your own selection to sing. To be performed Nov. 18 at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club. Email: info@oceanpinesplayers.org.

Aug. 17: Free Public Talk

Local author Robert M. Craig will present a free public talk at 2 p.m. on the “History of the Postcard” providing a review of the changing styles of postcards, illustrated by postcards from Germany, Austria, and the U.S. Craig’s presentation will trace the birth and evolution of the postcard (changing

space allowances for address, message, and image), illustrate early hand-colored postcard images printed in Germany and distributed by local pharmacies, as well as the wide range of postcards produced by the Curt Teich Company, the world’s largest printer of postcards during the early and mid-20th century. The talk is in celebration of the publication of Craig’s latest book, “Ocean City’s Historic Boardwalk, Beach, and Bay: The Fisher Collection.” The new book is a companion volume to Craig’s Historic Lodgings of Ocean City: The Fisher Collection, published in May. Illustrations are primarily drawn from the postcard collection of Robert and Kathy Fisher of Snow Hill to whom both books are dedicated. The books are part of Arcadia Press’s historic postcard book series. This latest publication on Ocean City’s boardwalk, beach, and bay, is the author’s sixth book on Ocean City, and 16th book to date.

Aug. 17: NAACP Meeting

At 7 p.m. at the Berlin 50+ Center, Worcester County NAACP will host Amy Davis and Tom McKnight of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), who will share their stories about impaired drivers and how they were personally affected. Attendees will receive a goody bag.

Aug. 19: Furnace Town Music

Get ready to groove this summer at Furnace Town, showcasing a lineup of talented musicians and artists from around the shore. Enjoy live performances in a stunning outdoor venue. Bring your friends, family and loved ones for an evening filled with music, food, drinks, and fun. Cost is $10/adults, $5/kids 515. The schedule is 5-8 p.m., Ampersand – Traditional American Music.

Aug. 19: Gloves Up, Guns Down

The Old Germantown School will host the 1st Annual Gloves Up Guns Down event at 10223 Trappe Road, from noon-4 p.m. Hosted by Lamar Sturgis. Lunch will be served.

Aug. 23: Monthly Meeting

The First State Detachment of the Marine Corps League will meet at the Ocean City American Legion Post 166 on 23rd Street and Coastal Highway at noon. Any Marines and Navy Corpsman who have served in our Corps, living in Worcester and Sussex counties, are welcome to attend.

Aug. 24-27: Jeep Week

Annual Ocean City Jeep Week will feature vendors, events, beach crawl, Jeep jam and more. www.oceancityjeepweek.com for full schedule.

Aug. 25-27: Balloon Festival

Ocean City’s first annual event will feature hot air balloons with tethered rides, wine and craft beers, live music, food trucks and more. www.ocballoonfest.com

Aug. 26: Community Shred Day

Taylor Bank invites the community to Sturgis Park in Snow Hill from 9-11 a.m. for a free Community Shred Day. Each household can bring up to three banker boxes or bags of documents to be shredded. Contact J3 Mobile Shredding at j3mobileshred@gmail.com

… Hot Air Balloon Event In Question

FROM PAGE 4

said that based on the estimated attendance, the event needed more than 30 portable toilets and 11 handwashing stations.

Spies said there was room for 600 cars on the festival grounds and that he expected the rest of the attendees to park at the Park and Ride. He said organizers were in talks with the owners of nearby properties regarding the festival as well.

When asked about ticket sales, Spies said 400 tickets had been sold so far but that attendees of outdoor festivals typically didn’t buy tickets until the day of the event. He said the last balloon festival he had done had 1,200 tickets sold in advance but 7,000 people attended. He added that 65% of the tickets for the bull riding event in Ocean City, which he’d also helped produce, had been sold that weekend. Spies added that the only reason the Harford County event had been moved was because officials there weren’t getting along.

“We got caught in a political fight,” he said.

Representatives from SHA said nearly all of the information Spies was presenting was new to officials.

“For our permit, you’re probably going to have to get every agency in this room on it,” said SHA’s Ron Marvil. “We do have concerns.”

He added that SHA was initially advised all of the attendees would be parking on the festival grounds whereas Spies was now saying the majority would be

bused over.

“Now we have concerns with pedestrian traffic as well as vehicle traffic,” he said. “We needed to know this stuff months ago.”

Starner agreed that people would likely try to walk into the event. Spies said he felt that would only happen if there weren’t enough buses.

Spies stressed the balloon festival was a first-year event and he was just trying to “maybe pull something off” because Ocean City officials had been so eager for the event. Spies said it would be challenging to have the festival anywhere near Ocean City because the wind had to be less than 7 mph.

“I can’t guarantee I can ever stand up a balloon in Ocean City,” he said.

Spies said that parking could potentially be limited to the festival grounds and daily attendance could be capped. When asked about the specifics of the balloons that would be at the festival, Spies said they were coming from various states and were likely 60 feet tall. He said they would fly about 50 feet above the ground on their tethers, which would be attached to vehicles.

Officials said Spies would need approval from the county’s board of zoning appeals, which was scheduled to meet later in the week, and that he would need to satisfy the appropriate agencies and get the necessary permits in order for the festival to proceed.

“You’re kind of backed up against the wall,” Laick said.

How Blessed Are We!!!!

The fire at Hooper’s on Thursday evening, Aug. 3 was a setback, but blessings were with us for it could have turned into a major tragedy.

The overwhelming support and love we received from our family, friends, community, loyal customers, purveyors, Matt Owens and his team of firefighters, Ed Potez and Worcester County government and all the contractors truly touched our hearts.

Our dedicated staff members definitely were incredible as they helped to evacuate the entire building calmly and waited two hours to be able to get back in and clean up. We were back in business in 24 hours, and it would never have happened without all the loyal help from all involved working, literally, 24/7.

A very special kudos to our management team – they are a force like none other. They will not accept “no” and climb every mountain that comes their way. There are not enough words to express our appreciation and gratefulness for the love, support and dedication. We are truly blessed beyond measure. From our hearts, THANK YOU!

Royette, Ryan & Mike

Pines Police Secure Body Cameras

OCEAN

Police Department has adopted a policy for body cameras, with the expectation that the equipment will go into use on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Body cameras were leased by Ocean Pines at an annual cost of $30,000. However, there was a delay in implementation because police first needed to adopt a policy to use the equipment.

Police Chief Tim Robinson said he reviewed and approved a “body worn camera” policy and was able to get the equipment out to the officers of the Ocean Pines Police Department on Wednesday.

“These body cameras are an incredi-

ble tool,” he said. “First and foremost, they act almost as an independent witness to what happened. In my professional experience, they have been invaluable to ascertaining an accurate accounting of what transpired on any scene involving a police officer.”

General Manager John Viola said the body cameras will benefit both police and the Ocean Pines public.

“Safety is always a top priority, and we believe the use of these cameras will help foster mutual trust and accountability between our dedicated police force and our valued Ocean Pines homeowners and residents,” Viola said.

PINES – The Ocean Pines

Pfc. John Pianka of the Ocean Pines Police Department is pictured above with new body-worn camera equipment. Submitted photo

Robert E. Ames

YORK, Pa. – Robert “Bob” E. Ames, 76, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, at his home with his family by his side. He was the loving husband of Patricia “Patty” (Hunt) Ames, to whom he was married to for 51 years.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony was held on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023 at Heffner Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York, Pa., with the Reverend Doctor Eddie D. D. Miller officiating. Prior to the service, Masonic Rites and viewings were held. Interment followed at Prospect Hill Cemetery. For those who cannot attend in person, the celebration of life ceremony was live-streamed on HeffnerCare.com underneath Mr. Ames’ obituary.

Born Sept. 28, 1946 in Philadelphia, Bob was the son of the late George and Lillian (Kinsley) Ames. Bob graduated from York Central High School class of ‘64. After many years of working, he retired in 2012 as the co-owner of Commonwealth Supply Company alongside his partner Mary Shanaman. He was the president of GAWDA from 20082009, and a member of AWS. Bob was heavily involved with the community, and was a long time member of Zeredatha – White Rose Lodge No. 451. He was a former member of the Outdoor Country Club, where he spent many years helping with York County Special Olympics Celebrity Golf Classic.

Bob was part of the Rotary Club of York-North for 31 years, where he was proud to host four foreign exchange students who became like children to him. Many also knew him as Santa, for 40 years he would visit the homes of family and friends as Santa, as well as special events for many children. In his free time, Bob and Patty loved spending time down at their home in Ocean City with their family and friends. He enjoyed Thursday breakfasts with his high school graduating class. Bob was a selfless, caring man right to the end, who will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

In addition to his beloved wife, Bob leaves behind three daughters, Kelly M. Crone and her husband John, Jamie C. Tracey and her husband Robert, and Jody L. Kroh and her husband Todd; one son Troy D. Ames; eight grandchildren, Jeffrey, Amanda, Justin, Tyler, Kayla, Kortney, Andy and Riley; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, George Ames and his wife Connie; a sister, Deborah Beach and her husband Harry; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306, Hospice and Community Care, 4075 Old Harrisburg Pike, Mount Joy, Pa. 17552, or to the Special Olympics PA York County, 400 Mulberry St, York, Pa. 17403. Send condolences at HeffnerCare.com

OBITUARIES

Edward Daniel Wirkman

BERLIN – Edward Daniel Wirkman, 90, has passed away.

Edward was born Feb. 15, 1933, to Emanuel and Gertrude (Neumann), grew up in Jersey City, N.J. with his siblings Alvin and Florence, and graduated from Dickinson High School in 1951. After graduating, Ed worked as a draftsman for Western Electric before enlisting into the US Navy Reserve in 1950. He was activated for duty in May 1952, serving as a

navigator’s aide on the USS Quincy during the Korean Conflict. He spent almost two years at sea and was released from active duty in March 1954.

In August 1958, Ed married his love, Michele Simone Stone. Ed and Michelle bought their dream home in Cliffside Park, N.J. to raise their children, Lori, Debra, and Susan. Ed commuted to his job at the Bell Telephone Company in Newark, N.J. As an enterprising young man, he also attended night school at St. Peter’s College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing, and initiated his marketing career at Bell Telephone.

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

The Wirkman family belonged to, and was very active at, Temple Israel, where Ed served as both a Temple officer and the President of the Men’s Club. Ed and Michele loved to take their kids on camping adventures with their pop-up Coleman camper. Michele passed away in 1974.

In the early 1980s, Ed moved to Phoenix, Ariz. where he worked for Southwest Bell. After retiring in 1986, Ed moved to Maryland, and worked as a certified Property Manager in Montgomery Village. He met Mary Geraldine “Geri” Kopp and the two became close, loving partners. Geri passed away in 1999.

At the time of his death on Aug. 1, 2023, Ed had been living on Maryland’s “The Eastern Shore” for many years and was a longtime member of Temple Bat

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BOB AMES

EDWARD WIRKMAN

... OBITUARIES

FROM PAGE 77

Yam, Berlin, MD where he participated in Men’s Club activities, religious services, social activities, and holiday celebrations. He met Leslie Segall at the Temple, sharing life together until she passed away in 2017.

As a big music lover, Ed enjoyed attending live musical performances, adored musical theatre and Broadway shows, and delighted in watching musical movies with his family and friends. He always had music playing in his home. He also loved the ocean, travelling, swimming, and playing poker. Ed embraced modern technology – he was writing his memoirs on his laptop, and he initiated the family’s online family tree. Most of all he loved spending time with family and friends.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Michele; his brother Alvin; his partner Geri; and his partner Leslie. Ed will be lovingly remembered by his sister, Florence; daughters Lori (Gary), Debra, and Susan (Greg); grandchildren Sean, Rebecca, Joshua and Simone; great-grandchildren Bryan and Amiyah, plus many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He also held a place in his heart for Geri’s children, Mike, Jenny, Lisa, Jeffrey, and Jason.

Ed lived his very full life “One Day at a Time” and was always available, at the right time, to help those who needed him. He was a chivalrous gentleman -

caring, loving, and a true Mensch. His favorite charities are The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The Alzheimer's Association.

The following events will honor Ed:

Burial with Military Honors, Friday, Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery-Millsboro, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, Del.

Religious service and celebration of life, Sunday, Aug. 20 2023, 2 p.m. at Temple Bat Yam, 11036 Worcester Hwy, Berlin.

Religious service and celebration of life, Sunday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m., Temple Bat Yam, 11036 Worcester Hwy, Berlin.

David Brian Jenkins

PARKVILLE – David “Jenky” Brian Jenkins of Parkville passed away on Sunday July 9, 2023, at the age of 61.

Born in Salisbury, he was the loving son of the late Margaret (nee Kelley) Jenkins and the late Orville Dawson Jenkins; brother of Allan Jenkins of Bardstown, Kentucky and Michael Jenkins (Debbie) of Delmar, Delaware; uncle of Kyle Jenkins of Little River, South Carolina, Clayton Jenkins of Bardstown, Kentucky and several other great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by beloved and longtime friend Jennifer Diforte.

A Memorial Service will be held at Saint Alban's Episcopal Church, 302 St. Albans Drive, Salisbury, Md. 21804 on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, beginning at 1 p.m. with a burial at Parsons Cemetery, 912 N. Division Street, Salisbury, Md. 21801.

Wind Turbine Culture Wars

Editor:

In Florida, they have culture wars. Some would have you believe that Disney takes extremist views when really, they just provide an excellent entertainment venue without favoring or discriminating against any group. Others would have you believe that slavery somehow was a benefit for slaves. Neither of these views are backed up by facts.

Here in Maryland, a very vocal minority is speaking out against offshore wind turbines in a similar culture war. At the latest PSC hearing largely requested by Eastern shore politicians, 85% spoke in favor. Some in favor liked the job and economy upsides. Environmentalists like the renewable energy and the low environmental impact. Yet despite several public PSC hearings, this vocal minority would have you believe no one is listening. If you don't believe it, all the PSC hearings are online and available.

Since the PSC hearings didn't work in their favor, the opposition's latest tactic is to claim that whales and birds will be harmed. That's not what NOAA or the Audubon society say, but barely a week passes without

an OC paper carrying these claims either from a politician or letter to the editor ranting on the subject. There is never a scientific or environmental study to back it up because it's nonsense. When a whale washed up on Assateague, they claimed it was the wind turbines. Never mind that zero offshore wind turbines have been built within hundreds of miles of Maryland (yet) and there was no ongoing wind turbine surveying happening any time near the whale death. Like all animals, whales occasionally die and that's what happened here. In Europe, offshore wind turbines have been running for decades with no notable whale or bird die-offs.

The fact that Europe is so far ahead of us in this technology figures prominently in part of the culture war. Never mind the jobs created and the manufacturing will both be American.

A recent article pointed out that Ocean City lodging numbers are down for the year. Will a culture war help this? Here in Maryland, we may have a few on the Eastern

Shore that believe a culture war is fun stuff, but most Marylanders would disagree. If there are real reasons with real facts to say no to offshore wind, list the facts, but don't just make up stuff. That's the stuff of culture wars and not good for Ocean City.

Doug Miller Jessup

Canopies Best Off Beach

Editor:

I disagree with The Dispatch’s assessment that "another 'no'" would adversely affect visitors to Ocean City. I believe that banning canopies on the beach will benefit more people than it will harm. I raised the issue of canopies two years ago in a letter to the editor and copied to the Mayor and Council. At that time, The Dispatch echoed my concerns. I am disappointed your position seems to have changed.

The first assumption that you make is there is sufficient space on the Ocean City beach to accommodate the canopies. That may be true down between the Inlet and

perhaps 9th Street. This was the case in front of The Capri and the Golden Sands on Monday, Aug. 8. I regret not having taken a photo on July 4, when the beach was even more crowded. This overcrowding is caused directly by the use of canopies.

Another item that I take issue with is your suggestion that 10 feet between canopies is sufficient. If my beach umbrella is seven feet diameter, I cannot comfortably erect it between two canopies 10 feet apart. That would leave a mere 1 1/2 feet on each side of the umbrella, barely enough to pass between. Rather than making the beach less crowded, the required spacing virtually doubles the space required for each canopy.

Lastly, you open your opinion by saying another rule is not needed. You close by suggesting that a whole set of rules be implemented to control the use of canopies. How big they can be. Where they can be located. Spacing between them. And just who is going to enforce these rules? Certainly not the OCBP. A new set of rules will become just another wink and nudge like the smoking or alcohol bans.

I personally do not believe people are going to stop coming to Ocean City because they are not allowed to use canopies. They will, however, stop coming to Ocean City because the beach is overcrowded.

Karl Dickel Ocean City

Relay For Life Support

Editor:

Relay for Life is a slogan but most important it is an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). This event is held yearly and gathers people from all walks of life, such as cancer survivors, care givers, young, elderly, white, black and every other race. Cancer does not discriminate.

This event occurs every year where people gather to celebrate the survival of cancer patient, the thanking of the caregivers for their work with cancer patient and their families as well as the gratitude of the people for encouragement to donate to ACS.

I have 19 years as a cancer survivor. Unfortunately, cancer is common in my family, where I have lost a brother, aunts and uncles. This does not stop me. I have seen on TV, ads from another organization showing children suffering from this dreaded disease. To see these children being treated and finding out some survive it and some do not, encourages me to fight harder so these children and others can have a happy life.

To be at this event, I feel so satisfied to see how people are getting together to donate money to kill this disease and the friendliness of everyone working together. I am not a medical person just a member on the Original Greene Turtle team trying to raise money so that this disease can be cured. At this point, I have raised $2,700 with a goal of $3,000. My hope and wishes are to continue to raise funds, no matter what amount. We need the entire community to help.

I love quotes and this is one by Helen Keller, “I am only one, still I am one, I cannot do everything, still I can do something, I will not refuse to do what I can.”

All contributions should go to American Cancer Society, 36834 West Pond Circle, Selbyville, Del. 19975. Relay for Life will be held Sept. 23 at Windmill Creek Winery from 4-10 p.m. To my friends and loved

who have

from this disease, may God Bless You.

Nick Bartolomeo Selbyville,

ones,

suffered

Del.

PANORAMIC OCEAN VIEWS (SUNRISE) & BAY VIEWS (SUNSETS) FROM ONE PROPERTY! Very few properties in Ocean City offer both these breathtaking views in1 property! This beautiful direct oceanfront condo, located on the 11th floor of the Fountainhead Towers features 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, and new appliances throughout. Building amenities include: multiple elevators, outdoor pool, large sun deck, tennis, on-site management, and security. Located in North Ocean City at 116th St. - walking distance to gyms, local restaurants, grocery stores, shopping, and entertainment. $460 000

The Dispatch

Forever In Memory

Of Our Founder, Dick Lohmeyer (May 25, 1927-May 5, 2005)

“Iron Man” Shawn Soper (July 24, 1963-February 15, 2023)

The Dispatch, Serving Greater Ocean City Since 1984, Is Published By Maryland Coast Dispatch Inc. Weekly On Friday Mornings

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How We See It

Tourney’s Story One To Celebrate

Congratulations to the Motsko family on the 50-year anniversary of the White Marlin Open.

Though much excitement abounds for next month’s first-ever Oceans Calling music festival, the highlight of Ocean City’s annual special events calendar continues to be the White Marlin Open. This has been the case for at least 30 years of the tournament’s rich history.

There are several significant special events that annually pack an economic punch for the Ocean City area, but there’s no mistaking the most impactful of them all. It’s clearly the White Marlin Open.

Ocean City features many entrepreneurial families who started their businesses with a humble concept and a leap of faith. Though it’s not easy operating businesses in a beach resort area, there are many household names who have managed much success with common ingredients, namely hard work, dedication and ingenuity. Generations have worked in the businesses, and the Motsko family serves as another example.

Though the White Marlin Open is a week-long event, it’s a year-round effort to organize. As the tournament has said in the past, planning for the next tournament begins as soon as the awards ceremony concludes after the last day of fishing.

The tournament began in 1974 with just 57 boats with a purse of $20,000. This year there are 400 boats and a $10.3 million purse. The tournament payout has skyrocketed in recent years from $2.2 million in 2009.

The tournament’s impact is difficult to quantify, but all agree it marks the peak of the summer season each year. The energy of the White Marlin Open is unmistakable. While it’s headquartered at the Harbour Island marina, the vitality is felt regionally and especially around the marinas in West Ocean City where it’s akin to Super Bowl week for host destinations for the professional football championship.

The last economic impact report on the tournament was conducted by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development in 2009. The study calculated an estimated $16 million in local expenditures, $4.9 million in salaries and 130 jobs. The total impact on state and local tax revenues was reported as $746,000 according to the study. This evaluation was conducted the year the tournament had about 300 boats registered. When taking into account this year’s boat tally of 400, inflation and increased expenses associated with all goods, it’s a safe assumption the $16 million economic impact figure should be tripled, at least.

Indeed, the White Marlin Open continues to be the king special event because of its economic impact as well as the positive publicity it brings Ocean City worldwide. It’s especially inspiring to know the event remains family operated and has been since day one.

Between The Lines

by Publisher/Editor Steve Green

With the return to school nearing, negotiations continue between the county school system and teachers on a new contract. The original agreement included a step increase and a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for teachers and a 4.5% COLA for support staff. The deal was dropped after the county commissioners did not meet the school system’s budget request and instead funded a maintenance of effort budget, which is the lowest level allowed by law and provides funding at the same per-pupil dollar amount as the most recent year.

Over the summer, negotiations were restarted between the school system and the Worcester County Teachers Association. The new contract that has tentative approval from leaders on both sides calls for the following: one step and a longevity step to those eligible; .39% COLA due July 1 (for a total single-year increase of 1.14% based on a .75% increase instituted in April); and a one-time bonus of $2,250 paid out evenly in two installments on Oct. 10 and Dec. 15.

The bonus concept is clearly an attempt to make the best out of a tough situation, but it’s certain the new agreement will not be celebrated by county teachers. Stephen Decatur High teacher Megan Seyler addressed the possibility of only one step being approved at last month’s board of education meeting. Though there was a small COLA and the bonus added since her comments, Seyler said, “If only a step is granted, I’m slated to make $65,850. If I was teaching in Wicomico County, I would make $76,507. If I was a veteran teacher in Wicomico, I would have received a $2,500 retention bonus from ESSER. If Worcester County had followed suit and given their teachers retention bonuses, the county commissioners would not be able to hold this grant over our heads.”

Barring a major change in direction, the agreement is expected to be finalized and signed at next week’s Worcester County Board of Education meeting.

The prospects appeared dim this week for the first-ever Ocean City Balloon Festival, planned for Aug. 25-27 on the Seaside Christian school grounds in West Ocean City. Though tickets are being sold – approximately 400 or so as of now for the three-day event – some major concerns surfaced at a county meeting this week.

Based on the meeting between county officials, Maryland State Police, State Highway Administration and festival organizers, it appears the required permits have not been received or even applied for at this time. MSP Lt Earl Starner said, “I’m not saying it’s impossible but there is a process. You’re going to impact traffic in a negative way therefore you need an approved permit.” Other officials raised concerns about public safety access at the large-scale event if it’s needed.

Organizers did not seem prepared at this week’s meeting to address the concerns raised by officials, including crowd control plans, security over alcohol and live music, bus shuttle plan specifics and information about the propane tanks that will be used to keep the hot air balloons upright. An event organizer estimated about 400 tickets had been sold so far online but estimated most of the event tickets will be purchased the weekend of the event, which will feature tethered hot air balloons that will fly about 50 feet above the ground, as well as vendors, tents and stages.

The Oceans Calling Festival is less than two months away and some new information was shared this week.

First was the festival layout map, which is similar to last year’s plan with the exception of the Boardwalk from essentially the Inlet to 1st Street being included in the festival grounds this year. There will be three stages – the headliner stage (the Sea Bright Stage) will be located on the beach in front of N. Division Street with the other two stages located south of the pier. The Rockville Stage will be set up closest to the Inlet jetty like last year, while the Carousel Stage will be closer to the Boardwalk in the Inlet parking lot. Spread out throughout the festival grounds will be food options, bars, restrooms and numerous other vendors. The festival will be held noon-11 p.m., Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Ticket holders will be permitted to leave and reenter prior to 7 p.m. each day, according to the event website.

The festival’s transportation information was released this week as well. An email from the festival addressed what’s on the minds of many, saying, “We highly recommend you plan to walk, bike, or use public transportation because limited parking, congestion, and alternate traffic patterns will make it difficult to get to the southern end of Ocean City using a car or Ride Share.” The transportation plan outlines parking options, such as the park-and-ride in West Ocean City and municipal lots throughout the resort with shuttle service offered; the municipal bus shuttle changes catered to this event; a general drop/pickup location for ride shares and taxis on 4th Street; and bike parking on the beach near the festival entrance.

Though I am a live music junkie and would attend even if I were not a member of the media, it’s really going to be fascinating to see how 50,000 people move out of the festival grounds at one time. It seems clear some patience will need to be packed by attendees, but it’s exciting, nonetheless.

Puzzle Answers

by Steve Green

Is it micromanaging to scrutinize your teen’s friends?

Over the years, Beckett, 15, has opined we “grill” new friends when they come around. He maintains we may scare them off, calling us over the top compared to other parents. He might be right, but I am at peace with it. The right friend group is critical.

I am willing to take an arrow or two from my kid for being overprotective. On one hand, I am not worried about him trying out tricks on his skate ramp, surfing big waves or learning new bike moves. If he gets hurt, while not being reckless, it’s okay. He’s 15 and he will heal

However, when it comes to his mental and psychological health, friends are key. I know my son. His strengths and weaknesses have been on display his whole life. He’s amazing in many ways, but he very much is also a work in progress when it comes to decision making and understanding choosing wisely. This is part of being young, and he has shown an ability to learn from previous mistakes when it comes to hanging with the wrong folks.

Nonetheless, we remain concerned about who he is hanging with and whether they are good influences for our impressionable teenager. If that’s being overprotective, then I am guilty as charged.

A general rule for us is if Beckett wants to hang out with someone or a group of friends away from the house, say on the Boardwalk or beach, we have to meet them first. It’s not that we are going to interrogate these kids, but we want to get a sense of who they are and whether we know his or her parents. There have been some cases when that requirement prevents the group from getting together. In my mind, if a kid or kids cannot have a conversation with a parent, then I know all I need to know.

When Pam and I hear a name of someone Beckett is making plans with, we remind him we need to meet. The concept is we don’t know this new friend or that friend. We want to get to know them so we can build trust. We need to be confident it’s a positive thing and good decisions will be made as a group.

I remember years ago Beckett had a group over and we didn’t know any of the kids. We told him it was fine to have them over to skate on his ramp but reminded him to let them know the rules, such as wearing a helmet and no bad language.

As the group arrived, we may or may not have been watching from the house. We looked past one or two kids not wearing helmets when we saw they were experienced skaters, but it’s a deal breaker when bad language is shouted repeatedly. It’s disrespectful to us and our neighbors. A couple warnings were given, and no changes came, so we told the kids to leave. We knew in our hearts these were not the types of friends we wanted with our son. Beckett, being a younger teen at the time, was mad about it, accusing us of being judgmental.

What he doesn’t know is this reality – you are who you associate with. Friends are incredibly important to teens. I can reflect back on my own life and see now with the benefit of hindsight how some friends were good for me while others were not. It’s interesting to now reflect on some of my friends when I was Beckett’s age. Some I still consider great friends, while others I don’t connect with anymore. Some have had troubles all the way throughout their lives. Some have turned their lives around and are doing great.

In time, Beckett will understand our approach. He’s actually showing signs of realizing we are more right than wrong, although he’s reluctant to admit it to us.

A site I like, Raising Teens Today, touched on the topic of choosing friends

wisely this week. A graphic read, “Dear teenagers … A Harvard study found that 99% of our success depends on one thing: Who you associate with. You may not realize it, but you’re like a chameleon. You can and will absorb the attitudes, opinions and behaviors of those you choose to spend the most time with. If you spend time with winners and positive thinkers, you’ll start to become like them. Spend time with negative, underachievers and you’ll become like them. Choose your friends wisely.”

The post goes on, Dr. David M. Cullen conducted a 25-year Harvard study and found that your ‘reference group,’ (i.e. the people with whom you choose to spend most of your time with), has the power to impact you and your future in a profound way.

In fact, he found that 99% of your success depends on who you call "my friends."

If you hang with positive, successful, upbeat go-getters who are trying and growing and learning and doing their best to make something of themselves and their future, you WILL become more like them.

On the flip side, if you surround yourself with friends who don't care, skip class, don't try to better themselves, or couldn't care less about their future or improving themselves, you WILL become more like them.

Why? Because you're like a chameleon. You absorb the vibes and attitudes and behavior and ‘thinking’ of those you hang with.

Dear teens, please choose your friends wisely. Someone once said, ‘You can't change the people around you, but you CAN change the people around you.’

Think about that for a minute.”

(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.)

PUZZLE ON PAGE 59